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EMSoccerCoach · 03-15-2009, 08:41 PM

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 3, Monday, May 18, 2009 (cont.)

Change In New Orleans
Knights fire skipper LaRussa after 11-23 start

NEW ORLEANS -- When the struggling New Orleans Knights take the field this evening, welcoming in arguably baseball's best team in the Memphis Strummers, they will be doing so with a new manager.

Tony LaRussa was fired Monday afternoon after the team returned from being swept by the Alabama Airmen in a three-game set. The series saw brought the Knights' losing streak to five games, and ownership simply decided it couldn't wait any longer.

"It's disappointing on multiple levels," general manager Bill Jones said at the late morning news conference. "We have a great deal of respect for Tony, both personally and professionally. But the bottom line is we have been a bad team, and for whatever reason the combination of Tony and this group hasn't worked."

Sources close to the team indicate several factors led the axe to fall on LaRussa. For one, the front office can't get past the fact the team is fourth in batting average and third in on-base percentage, yet next to last in the Southern League in runs scored. New Orleans has two of the Southern League's top hitters in Sam Thompson and Ross Barnes, as well as the top pitcher in Doc McJames. And yet, not even a quarter of the way into the season, New Orleans finds itself 12 games out of first place.

"I'm more grateful for the job they gave me than I am saddened and upset by the firing," LaRussa said during a brief statement at the news conference. "This team has some great young talent that just hasn't developed yet. But it will."

The comment seemed to be LaRussa's defense of himself, and he had a point. B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder, Evan Longoria, Fred Carroll, Mark Prior and Rich Harden are all 22 or younger and stand great chances to succeed down the line, though they have been uneven to this point.

LaRussa was one of the first managers hired when the PBL formed, which makes his early termination a shock. The questions now are who replaces him and where does LaRussa end up.

Bench coach Kevin Jones will take over the reins on an interim basis. Names reportedly being considerd as permanent replacements include Billy Southworth, Danny Murtaugh and Jim Leyland.

As for destinations, Chicago and Los Angeles on the surface look most likely, though it's hard to imagine Chicago - as disappointing as they have been - will be as quick to blame manager Joe McCarthy for their struggles. If there's someone to watch, listen for rumblings regarding Jim Mutrie in Los Angeles.

03-15-2009, 08:41 PM	#89 (permalink)
EMSoccerCoach Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,440 Thanks: 34 Thanked 104x in 88 posts	*Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly* Vol. 3, Monday, May 18, 2009 (cont.) Change In New Orleans Knights fire skipper LaRussa after 11-23 start NEW ORLEANS -- When the struggling New Orleans Knights take the field this evening, welcoming in arguably baseball's best team in the Memphis Strummers, they will be doing so with a new manager. Tony LaRussa was fired Monday afternoon after the team returned from being swept by the Alabama Airmen in a three-game set. The series saw brought the Knights' losing streak to five games, and ownership simply decided it couldn't wait any longer. "It's disappointing on multiple levels," general manager Bill Jones said at the late morning news conference. "We have a great deal of respect for Tony, both personally and professionally. But the bottom line is we have been a bad team, and for whatever reason the combination of Tony and this group hasn't worked." Sources close to the team indicate several factors led the axe to fall on LaRussa. For one, the front office can't get past the fact the team is fourth in batting average and third in on-base percentage, yet next to last in the Southern League in runs scored. New Orleans has two of the Southern League's top hitters in Sam Thompson and Ross Barnes, as well as the top pitcher in Doc McJames. And yet, not even a quarter of the way into the season, New Orleans finds itself 12 games out of first place. "I'm more grateful for the job they gave me than I am saddened and upset by the firing," LaRussa said during a brief statement at the news conference. "This team has some great young talent that just hasn't developed yet. But it will." The comment seemed to be LaRussa's defense of himself, and he had a point. B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder, Evan Longoria, Fred Carroll, Mark Prior and Rich Harden are all 22 or younger and stand great chances to succeed down the line, though they have been uneven to this point. LaRussa was one of the first managers hired when the PBL formed, which makes his early termination a shock. The questions now are who replaces him and where does LaRussa end up. Bench coach Kevin Jones will take over the reins on an interim basis. Names reportedly being considerd as permanent replacements include Billy Southworth, Danny Murtaugh and Jim Leyland. As for destinations, Chicago and Los Angeles on the surface look most likely, though it's hard to imagine Chicago - as disappointing as they have been - will be as quick to blame manager Joe McCarthy for their struggles. If there's someone to watch, listen for rumblings regarding Jim Mutrie in Los Angeles. __________________ The Pastime Baseball League The Pastime Baseball League - 10-Year Recap The Pastime Boxing Association Last edited by EMSoccerCoach; 03-15-2009 at 08:42 PM.