TONY LA RUSSA

It's easy to figure out whether you're getting stale. All you've got to do is look in the mirror and be honest with yourself.

I think there's a growing number of pitchers who want to have a plan going into a game about how they're going to go after that lineup. I'd say 75 percent want to have an idea, and they plan their attack. I know that 75 percent of hitters do not have that same type of plan against a pitcher.

If the national government doesn't fix your problem, you've got a problem. You've got to fix it yourself. That's just part of the American way.

There are always distractions, if you allow them.

I've said this: If Jim Leyland had been in my place, he'd have the 2,000 wins and I'd have 1,000. Leyland is the greatest.

To me, there is no more conscientious umpire in the Major Leagues than Jim Joyce. He gives you a hellacious effort every time.

I think the guys that get to the All-Star Game deserve a lot of credit. They deserve their opportunity to get out there and let the baseball fandom see them.

If you watch the history of baseball, teams come back, and sometimes they could have come back, but they give in or give up.

Clubs are taking away the steal of home. Not only are more pitchers throwing out of the stretch position, but more third basemen are playing closer to the bag. But another reason why nobody does it much anymore is that some guys, no matter how fast they are, just aren't comfortable trying to steal home.

In the end, as a manager or coach, you have to keep your heart pure and do your best as a manager or a coach.

You can't put a price on what Mark McGwire brings to the Cardinals organization. The responsibility he accepts is as great as any number of home runs.

You know, I think when you coach or you manage, you make decisions, and there's some that are really, really tough.

I don't miss being in the dugout - I'll make that clear.

I have coaching friends, and when we get together, we often talk more about what we're doing to get players' attention than we do about the fascinating X's and O's of our sport.

I think each negotiation should be based on what's the best decision - taking everything into account, not taking one thing into account.

Anything that disturbs your comfort factor is good for you.

If you try to give them a scheme, most hitters will rebel.

I'm not going to manage again. I'm going to work for a team someday. But it won't be managing.

I'm not a big 'Moneyball' fan.

I had started law school at Florida State University as a part-timer. I would go two quarters, and they allowed me to drop out to play baseball, and then I'd get readmitted in September. I was convinced I was going to be a lawyer and was using my baseball salary to pay my way through school.

I've been so fortunate in life to have worked for such great organizations, with great owners and general managers and all the great players, along with the support of my family.

My wife and I, we started a foundation about companion animal rescue, but there's a group called Performing Animal Welfare Society just outside of Sacramento... and they offered me a job as an elephant keeper.

There's a bigger difference now than when I first got into professional baseball because that was before guaranteed contracts, before there was a lot of money, so it was mostly survival. You had more competition.

Just because you're down to your last strike, you're not out yet. You can always do more. You'll always have more at-bats to take. That's true in baseball, in rescuing animals, and in life, generally.

It's a sensitive thing, playing major league baseball.