Tony La Russa retires

Tony La Russa retires

I understand that perfectly well.

If you wrote the story of the "2011 Cardinals: August through October" as a work of fiction, it would be panned as "lacking in credibility" and "too contrived." That the August Cardinals - 10.5 games out of the wild card slot - would be the 2011 World Series Champions is probably less likely than "the miracle on ice." And the way that the Cards did it, with their backs to the wall again and again, was made for a sports film. It is perhaps the most improbable sports story that actually happened since Francis Ouimet won the U.S. Open 98 years ago.

No matter what LaRussa might do in baseball for the rest of his life, it will be a disappointment and a frustration compared to the past few months.

He absolutely made the right call. It's the perfect time to move on and do other things.