What a dreadful game from La Russa. This might be the worst managing job I've ever seen, and I've seen some beauties over the years.

Twice, Craig was thrown out trying to steal second with Albert Pujols up. WTF. Even if he was successful, you know the Rangers would then walk Pujols with Holliday having a lousy series. La Russa claimed it was "to open up a hole on the second base side". Newsflash: Pujols has hit the opposite way into the hole 11 times all year; meanwhile, he's hit 42 home runs. He's four times more likely to hit a HR than to pound it into a gaping hole vacated by a 2B. Kind of a big deal when you're trying to go ahead (as in the case of the 7th inning) and when you're trying to tie the game (as in the case of the 9th inning).

And, seriously, you're going to blame your bullpen screw-ups on the BP coach not hearing you clearly? Everyone knew that Lance Lynn was unavailable, yet you're going to bring him in to intentionally walk a guy and then pull him, then claim that the BP guy didn't understand? C'mon, Tony, you've been managing a thousand years by now, you gotta have a system in place for communicating with the BP. Then you leave in Rzepczynski to face a righty in Napoli when Motte was available (or should have been)? If you say that there was a miscommunication about bringing in Lynn, then why not stand right there on the mound and get the BP coach's attention that you want the other guy warming up NOW? He knows how to look over into the bullpen and see if somebody's warming up or not.