Hour 1 guests:

- Ian Thomsen, Sports Illustrated senior writer

- Bryan Burwell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Click through for a commercial-free podcast of Hour 1. 

Bob Forsch has died. The former Cardinals pitcher was 61. Forsch was the 3rd-winningest pitcher in Cardinals history. He threw two no-hitters, including the one seen above in 1983.

One of the many great things about sports – including baseball – is that we generally see merit win out over other factors. This is true for individuals and teams. While we may get screwed over at work because of politics, this is less likely – we believe – to happen in the world of sports, because success and failure is so clearly defined.

This meritocratic tendency of sports has helped larger society deal with big problems. At the top of that list is race. Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, Tommy Smith, et al.

So, then. Kindly hold your nose at what appears to be a rather crude appreciation of Albert Pujols. The question: Where does Albert rank all time among Latino baseball players?

Would we have a list of greatest black NBA stars?

Tony La Russa is unquestionably one of the finest baseball intellects of his age, and probably for all time. Many of his signature strategies have been adopted across all of major league baseball. Tony’s revolutionary idea of the 9th-inning-only closer in 1987 has become de rigueur for any team choosing to be competitive for a World Series birth. 

Another signature La Russa strategy that has become commonplace is the batter-by-batter bullpen management. LaRussa, to some, micromanages his relievers and who they face. La Russa, to some, is an evil man who took baseball out of an era when Manly Men-Warriors like Jack Morris and Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan threw complete games 30 times a season. 

This perception of La Russa, like the perception of the predominance of complete-game-throwers in an earlier era, is flawed. But is does inspire passion.

And so, when La Russa’s bullpen marionette manipulator scheme goes awry in a tied Game 5 of a tied World Series…the critics get their lumps in. Some questionable baserunning decisions can also be linked to questionable decisions made by La Russa. He’s fair game after that farcical display from St. Louis. 

A warning to all baseball lovers: Be cautious in bashing Tony LaRussa. There are at least 9 innings, and hopefully more, remaining in this World Series. There is still plenty of time for him to make us all look like dunces. 

And pitchers aren’t athletes, right? That’s why they shouldn’t bat, right?

Hour 3 guests:

- Texas Rangers broadcaster Dave Barnett

Click through for a commercial-free podcast of Hour 3. 

Rays’ Evan Longoria walks off into the postseason.

The Orioles complete the Boston collapse.

Read about the equally monumental Atlanta collapse here.

Can’t wait for Rocktober baseball. Can you?

Cardinal catchers Yadier Molina and Gerald Laird did not hug it out. The 1st-and-2nd-string backstops got into a fight, or a heated argument (depends who you believe) at the Cardinals team hotel.

The team general manager says there was a disagreement.

Now. Let’s be fair. 

Tony LaRussa is a legendary manager. He won with the White Sox. He won with the A’s. He’s won with the Cardinals. His career totals are staggering.

However, his legacy will be far greater than just his numbers. Tony LaRussa is the greatest red-ass we’ve ever seen. Observe (gets good at about 0:48):

UPDATE: Oh, there’s more to this. Tony apparently got into it with Milwaukee fans after being heckled. Quite a game!