Woody isn't goody

[NZF]

It's easy to cast the first stone though. With the horrid state of the Cardinal's bullpen last year, LaRussa and Duncan were forced to use their starters much longer than they should have.

I watched all the Cards' games, and it was painful, but when you're up 2-1 in the seventh inning, and your bullpen has an ERA somewhere around 7 or 8, you leave your guy in there and pray he can finish the game.

Yeah I agree the bullpen didn't help matters but La Russa has always liked his starters to work very hard, even in previous seasons when their bullpen was going good.

[wrveres]

I still cant figure out how La Russa and Duncan turned him into a pitcher worth owning either, it blows the mind. I mean thats what you all are talking about right?

Prior to Woody going to STL, he was at best, a league average pitcher who wasn't really worth owning, even in NL Only Leagues.
La Russa and Duncan did something magical with Woody, What? I don't know.

Will the real Woody Williams please stand up ... ?

[drunkenmonkey]

They've had some bad luck, but I would throw out the opinion that LaRussa is one of the best coaches in baseball and Duncan, likewise, is one of the best pitching coaches.

Say what you want about how they use their pitchers, but they have made careers for guys that were either washed up or average at best when they came to St. Louis.

The Cubs use their pitchers just as hard, they just haven't rolled snake eyes yet ... just watch, it's coming.