by Joe Harris
senior editor

So far it seems as though the Cardinals' 1999 season has been nothing but a bad sequel to their 1998 season. The plot: a lot of towering homeruns and not enough pitching.

The improved bullpen has been a bust. Ricky Bottalico has been inconsistent, Scott Radinsky is injured, and Mike Mohler has had control problems.

The starting pitching lost it's three best starters to injury. Eric Davis has been a bust in the outfield, J.D. Drew has been inconsistent and Ray Lankford has been injured.

Now the heat has been turned up on Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa. Traditional Cardinal heroes Whitey Herzog, Ozzie Smith, and Andy Van Slyke have been openly critical of LaRussa's managerial style.

LaRussa doesn't need the criticism. There are many other major league clubs willing to take him off our hands if we as a community don't wise-up.

Though many consider LaRussa's critics Cardinal icons, their criticism is merely a case of sour grapes. Smith holds a grudge against LaRussa because he was the only one with enough guts to tell Smith to call it quits. Smith did not make it easy either, but through the whole situation LaRussa handled himself, and Smith, with class.

Again, in Van Slyke's case, LaRussa was the only one strong enough to stand up to him as well. Last year Van Slyke attempted a comeback with the Cardinals. Knowing he was a fan favorite, Van Slyke tried to force LaRussa's hand when he didn't make the club. By refusing an assignment to class AAA Memphis, Van Slyke tried to play on the fans' support. It didn't work, and now lo and behold, he is one of LaRussa'a harshest critics.

Herzog's another story. Though heralded as a God in the 1980's, in reality he only won one World Series when he should have won two or three. Also, this is the same guy who quit on the Cardinals and their fans in 1989 when the team was stuck in last place.

LaRussa is a leader who won't quit on the team in times of adversity. He lives to win and he will win in the future. Whether or not it is in a Cardinal uniform remains to be seen.