A tribute piece is often the hardest kind of story to write. How is it possible to, in limited space, recount the life of someone who left a mark so significant that it qualifies as legendary? How do you capture all the failures and all the successes? How do you include the controversies and raised eyebrows, with the moments of complete clarity? What about the strategy, the knowledge, the wisdom?

There are a million moments that make up those memories. A million stories that explain the legacy left. And yet, when it’s over, we’re burdened – and privileged – with the task of recalling each one, succinctly and eloquently.

For Tony La Russa, there was perhaps no better tribute – no better final farewell – than his night as the manager of the 2012 National League All-Star team.

From start to finish, it was classic Tony La Russa.

The gang was together for one last hoorah — an 8-0 NL winner!

First, the controversy. We’ve all heard it by now: failing to select Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto was an attempt at making the final move in the “Cincinnati Reds and Dusty Baker vs. St. Louis Cardinals and Tony La Russa” grudge match. Clearly.

Then there was the decision to start Matt Cain over R.A. Dickey. Not uncommonly, we heard echoes of “What is he thinking?!” throughout the baseball world.

But then there was Tony, calmly standing his ground.

Last night, he rallied a team that was undoubtedly the on-paper underdog and watched as they faced Mr. MVP himself, Justin Verlander. And, as so often happens on a TLR-led squad, things started to happen. Good things. Unheard of things. Things that led to a five-run first inning against arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Tony La Russa things.

Matt Cain pitched two scoreless innings. Pablo Sandoval broke the game open with a three-run triple in the first.

“Cain, Sandoval make La Russa look like a genius,” the headlines read this morning. » Continue reading “Tony La Russa’s All-Star Finale”

As the inning begins: Check out the official UCB Progressive Game Blog post for all the innings up to this point. A quick summary: the score is 3-0 Mets. R.A. Dickey has thrown 64 pitches through six innings and given up five hits to the Cardinals. Victor Marte came on in relief of Lance Lynn to get the final out of the fifth and gave up one hit while getting three outs in the sixth.

Cardinals fans are, understandably, restless and wanting some action. And we are hoping for something exciting to write about.

Top of the seventh: The few boos signify that Carlos Beltran is up, and he did have the Cards first hit of the game. (And, yes, we know, it was his second double in two days but the only one that counted to the umps.) The Mets fans have nothing to worry about here — he grounds out to second baseman Daniel Murphy. One out.

» Continue reading “Onto The Seventh Inning: UCB Progressive Game Blog”