La Russa

Might as well wrap up the AL Manager of the Year trophy right now and send it to Tony La Russa. No matter what happens the rest of the way, he has done a tremendous job to keep the banged-up A's from quitting on the 1994 season. They were left for dead a month ago but have gone on a scorching run that has put them back in contention in the mild, mild American League West. Personnel-wise, it's still not a very good club, but it may not take much to get to the playoffs in that division. . . . Desperate situations call for desperate measures, which explains why the Texas Rangers recently signed veteran right-hander Tim Leary to help bolster their awful pitching staff.

Tony La Russa isn't just a manager, he's a selling point.A selling point that could help the Orioles land Roberto Alomar.Alomar already has said he would like to play with Cal Ripken. And one of his agents, Tony Cabral, said Friday that the free-agent second baseman also would like to play for La Russa.Alomar could not be reached for comment, but he sent word through Cabral that he and La Russa have spoken in the past about the possibility of one day wearing the same uniform."He has definitely thought about playing for La Russa," Cabral said.

If it works, don't change.The Oakland Athletics may have recorded a major-league first Thursday night because manager Tony La Russa followed that philosophy with his strategy.This one will require more than a little research, but it's doubtful that any team ever used seven relief pitchers in a game without any allowing a run. But that's what the A's did in a 6-4 win over the Orioles two nights ago.La Russa set the tone for this one early, using left-hander Vince Horsman to get one batter, Harold Baines, leading off the sixth inning.

PHILADELPHIA -- If not Tony La Russa, then who?That's a question the Orioles might need to start asking, assuming they plan to fire Ray Miller as manager after this season.La Russa, 54, hasn't managed in a World Series since 1990, but he has won the most games of any active manager, and reportedly is owner Peter Angelos' first choice to replace Miller.Like Davey Johnson, he possesses the confidence and experience necessary to succeed in Baltimore. But at this point, his preference is to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals.

TORONTO -- Oakland Athletics manager Tony La Russa spent a lot of time last night explaining why he brought on right-hander Jeff Russell to pitch to left-handed John Olerud in the eighth inning of the A's 4-3 playoff victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.It really isn't so complicated. His most experienced left-handed set-up man (Rick Honeycutt) has been hampered by an abdominal strain and Russell is a quality late-inning stopper. Olerud singled to tie the game, but La Russa did not second-guess his decision.

Let no one be swayed by the five straight shutouts, th bullying of inferior opponents, this exercise in stat padding disguised as a strong finish. Regardless of whether the Orioles can hire Tony La Russa, Phil Regan must go.It isn't fair. Regan is a decent man. He had everything work against him this season. But even if the Orioles can't get La Russa, it would be pointless to delay the inevitable. The next general manager deserves a clean slate. And Regan amounts to so much baggage.The team stunk, OK?

The best infield ever?Don't believe the hype.Believe Tony La Russa."Oh man, I try not to exaggerate, but it would have to be tied for first in major-league history," the St. Louis manager said last night.Seriously, Tony"You show me one better than that," La Russa shot back. "You show it to me. I don't think anyone can."Rafael Palmeiro at first base, Roberto Alomar at second, Mike Bordick at shortstop, Cal Ripken at third.La Russa -- Bordick's former manager in Oakland -- couldn't stop gushing about the Orioles' Fantastic Four.

Tony La Russa spoke with at least one representative from the New York Yankees on Thursday about possibly replacing manager Buck Showalter, and a source close to the Oakland manager believes he won't end up with the Orioles.La Russa, 51, acknowledged talks with a third team yesterday, ** although he would not specify if it was the Yankees. "I've spoken to someone else besides St. Louis and Baltimore," La Russa said. "Other than that, I have nothing to say. I'd like to get this done by sometime next week."

CINCINNATI -- If Tony La Russa had been managing chess rather than baseball he would have been in check throughout the match here last night.This was an unusual situation for the Oakland A's chief strategist. Instead of being his usual two moves ahead, he always seemed to be two plays behind. Which is exactly the situation facing his team, which is two giant steps behind Cincinnati instead of being in position to declare checkmate at home over the weekend.In Game 2 of the World Series, La Russa violated the cardinal rule of managing -- the one that says don't lose while waiting to make a move.

Oakland Athletics catcher Terry Steinbach was in fair condition in a Chicago hospital yesterday after being struck in the head by a pitch Saturday night.The nature and extent of Steinbach's injuries hadn't been determined, nor had doctors estimated how long Steinbach would be hospitalized, Joan Hession, acting director of Mercy Hospital, said.Steinbach said: "I don't think I could go and run a marathon or anything. But I feel a lot better. There's nothing broken or anything around the skull or internally.