Ozzie vs. LaRussa

Growing up, there was one baseball player that I wanted to be like – Ozzie Smith. My baseball jersey’s always had a number 1 plastered to the back. He comprised amazing defensive abilities, uncanny athleticism, and flare for the dramatic. There has never been (or ever will be) a shortstop that played with the skills, abilities, and charisma of the Wizard of Oz.
As the years past, I knew the inevitable was bound to come to pass - The Oz would have to retire. Only on the Field of Dreams can a person play baseball forever. But I was not alone, all fans of the St. Louis Cardinals dreaded the day when the player they embraced for so long, the player who was the face of the Cardinals, would step away from the game. At the age of 41, the great Ozzie retired from the game of baseball in 1996 and he was just as quick and just as nimble as ever.
Which made Tony LaRussa’s decision to platoon the shortstop position between Ozzie and Royce Clayton so disturbing. Here was the greatest shortstop ever and the most beloved player to hit St. Louis since Stan “the Man” Musial and Bob Gibson, and LaRussa was essentially ‘benching’ him. Of course, LaRussa claimed it was to protect Ozzie because of injuries the previous year and to slowly integrate Clayton to that position. Critics may agree with LaRussa, but he should have given Ozzie the chance to prove himself. If Ozzie could not compete, then Ozzie would have relinquished playing time, because that is the type of person and player he is. Now there is a clash of pride between The Wizard and LaRussa that we are currently reading about in the news – a feud that has lasted these 10 years. Ozzie felt hurt because of the way he was treated his final year in St. Louis, and he rightly deserves to feel that way. However, he could be such an influence to the Cardinal organization. I hate to say this but Ozzie needs to humble himself and rekindle his relationship with “management.” LaRussa needs to take a few steps forward in repairing his hurt pride along with Ozzie’s pride. LaRussa is a great manager (though he sometimes has questionable strategies because he ‘thinks’ too much), but he did not handle this situation well in 1996 and he is not handling it well now.