Tony LaRussa’s 2012 All-Star Snub-a-Palooza: When Pettiness Trumps Performance
2012 was the year Tony LaRussa, the man with a hairstyle that could make a comb weep, decided to take his personal vendetta to the All-Star Game. This wasn’t just about questionable fashion choices; this was about leaving deserving players off the roster for reasons that had more to do with personal grudges than baseball.
The Snubbed Trio
Enter Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto, and Brandon Phillips. These guys were tearing it up in 2012. Greinke was sporting a 3.57 ERA with the Brewers and was striking out batters like it was going out of style. Johnny Cueto? The guy had a 2.39 ERA with the Reds and was pitching like a man possessed. And let’s not forget Brandon Phillips, who was hitting .288 and playing Gold Glove defense at second base.
LaRussa’s Petty Parade
So, why weren’t these studs at the All-Star Game? Tony LaRussa, that’s why. The man who should have been focusing on celebrating the best in baseball seemed more interested in settling scores.
LaRussa had a history with the Reds, especially with Cueto and Phillips. There was bad blood, stemming from a 2010 brawl between the Cardinals and Reds. Cueto, during the brawl, ended up injuring a Cardinals player, and it seemed like LaRussa had the memory of an elephant when it came to this incident.
The Fallout
By leaving Greinke, Cueto, and Phillips off the All-Star roster, LaRussa sent a message that personal vendettas could overshadow performance. It was like watching a soap opera unfold on a baseball field.
The players were understandably miffed. Cueto was quoted as saying that LaRussa’s decision was a case of him “sticking it to him again.” The fans were robbed of seeing some of the best players of the season showcasing their talents.
The Bigger Picture
The All-Star Game is about celebrating the best in baseball. It’s about giving the fans a chance to see the players who have earned their spot through blood, sweat, and tears. When personal issues start dictating the roster, it cheapens the experience.
Tony LaRussa, a man who should have been an ambassador for the game, let pettiness dictate his decisions. In doing so, he not only robbed deserving players of their spots but also robbed the fans of the chance to see the best of the best.
The Final Out
What does this saga cement for Tony LaRussa? Well, aside from his legacy of strategic acumen, it also solidifies his place in baseball lore as the guy with the hair of the Little Dutch Boy and skin thinner than sushi paper.
Seriously, if LaRussa’s hair got any more “Dutch Boy,” it’d be holding a paintbrush on a paint can. And that skin? We’re talking rice paper levels of thinness here. It’s one thing to have rivalries and competitive spirit, but when you’re in a position to honor the game's best, that’s when you’ve got to put personal beefs in the rearview mirror.
LaRussa’s 2012 All-Star snubs were a missed opportunity to rise above the fray. Instead, he let old grudges dictate his decisions, and in doing so, he did a disservice to the players, the fans, and the game itself.
So, as we look back on this chapter of All-Star Game history, let’s remember it as a cautionary tale. Baseball is a game of passion, talent, and, yes, sometimes personal drama. But at the end of the day, it’s about honoring excellence and celebrating the players who make the game great.
Here’s to keeping the focus where it belongs – on the field, and not on petty squabbles. And as for Tony, maybe it’s time for a new haircut and a thicker skin.
Badder on!
