ARLINGTON, Texas — St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa blamed himself for the ninth-inning stolen base that proved so costly for the Cardinals in Game 2 of this World Series. La Russa was convinced that the Texas Rangers Ian Kinsler would not test the arm of catcher Yadier Molina, so he only called for a single throw from closer Jason Motte toward first base.

As he explained before tonight’s game, La Russa wanted Motte to focus on throwing strikes against shortstop Elvis Andrus. With Motte’s delivery to the plate slowed down, Kinsler stole second and kick-started his team’s game-winning rally.

“So that was my screw-up,” La Russa said.

From the dugout, La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have the responsibility of controlling the Rangers’ running game. They do not want to overload the pitchers and catchers and cause them to lose concentration on the hitters, La Russa explained.

“You take that responsibility off them,” he said. “And you try to read the situation.”

The Rangers remain steadfast with their treatment of ailing outfielder Josh Hamilton, who is suffering from a lower-body injury initially diagnosed as a groin strain. Before Game 3 of the World Series, both Hamilton and general manager Jon Daniels gave indications that Hamilton could have a sports hernia, but no tests had been conducted yet. And none would be, at least until the season is over.

“There’s really no update,” Daniels said. “We don’t know if that’s the case. It may be.”

Either way, Hamilton remained in the No. 3 hole of the Rangers lineup, despite his diminished productivity. He has yet to record a hit in this series. His shining moment, a game-tying sacrifice fly in Game Two, was aided by La Russa’s decision to use in that situation soft-tossing reliever Arthur Rhodes instead of Jason Motte and his 99 mph fastball.

After Game 2, Hamilton told reporters he would prefer to no longer discuss his condition. And manager Ron Washington continues to downplay the severity of the injury, despite Hamilton’s obvious discomfort. Hamilton has said that if this were the regular season, he would be on the disabled list.

On Friday evening, La Russa shared dinner with Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, whose star forward, Dirk Nowitzki, threw out the first pitch tonight. La Russa is friendly with a variety of well-known coaches in other sports — he referred to New England’s Bill Belichick as “charming” — and credits them with helping him learn tips about communication.

“I asked (Carlisle) what we do to get an edge in this series,” La Russa said. “And he said, ‘Hand the ball to Dirk.’ And I said, ‘I can’t do that.’”

For more World Series coverage, follow Andy McCullough on Twitter at twitter.com/Ledger_NYMets

Andy McCullough: amccullough@starledger.com

Tony La Russa said reaching 5,000 games as a manager is something that’s a credit to everyone he’s worked with in three different organizations.

La Russa became the second man to that milestone on Friday night when the St. Louis Cardinals started a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

“We all prepare about the same. You got to have ownership that supports you and gives resources to the general manager. The general manager has to be smart. It’s really a combination of all that. Anything that drops out lessens your chance to be around. Then you got to put in your piece,” La Russa said.

La Russa came into Friday’s game with a career mark of 2,676-2,319-4 with the White Sox, Athletics and Cardinals. He’s managed the most games in history in both Oakland (1,471) and St. Louis (2,494).

“Well, I have had many more good moments than the other kind,” La Russa said. “You can ask any coach, you suffer the losses more than you enjoy the wins. I have 2,000 losses.”

When told he had more than 2,300, he joked that any enjoyment he might have during his 5,000th game managed was over. But the 66-year-old was honored before the game on the field with an announcement and he acknowledged the big ovation with a quick wave to the crowd. There were also several signs by fans commemorating the milestone.

“I wasn’t aware of it until a couple weeks ago,” La Russa said. “Big number. You had to be around some good places to have that kind of opportunity and so I have been. I treat that like career wins.”

La Russa is second on the all-time list to Connie Mack, who managed 7,755 games over 53 years with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

La Russa has won the AL Manager of the Year award three times and the NL award once over a 33-year career that also includes World Series titles with Oakland in 1989 and St. Louis in 2006. He’s the only active manager who is also a lawyer, having passed the bar exam in 1979, and he said he’s not sure if anyone else will ever reach 5,000 again.

“Five-thousand is unbelievable for a manager,” Brewers first-year manager Ron Roenicke said. “He’s not just hanging around. He’s winning a lot. He has with different organizations. It is pretty incredible. That is really hard to think about a guy being around that long and manage that many games.”

It seems unlikely anyone will approach La Russa for several decades. Tigers manager Jim Leyland, 66, is closest but he’s nearly 2,000 games behind — the equivalent of about 12 major league seasons.

Dusty Baker of the Reds and Bruce Bochy of the Giants are the only active skippers with at least 2,600 games managed.

“You’ve got to have a crystal ball,” La Russa said. “Somebody would have to do this for 30 years and have the organizational support.”

___

AP freelance writer Todd Welter contributed to this report.

Before the season even began, they lost their best pitcher, the Cy Young Award runner-up two years running, for the season because of a bad elbow.

Their next-best pitcher, one with a career record of 50 games above .500, has just one win in 12 starts and a 4.58 ERA. Their best hitter, perhaps the best hitter in all of baseball, one with a career average of .331, is hitting only .257 and homered just twice in the month of May.

Their shortstop has a league-leading 10 errors.

And just this week, they placed the league’s leading hitter and the pitcher with the second-most wins on the staff on the disabled list.

Yet when you picked up the paper today and looked at the standings, somehow the St. Louis Cardinals are in first place in the National League Central Division.

It’s a long way to Tipperary, but right now manager Tony La Russa is doing one of the best jobs in a Hall of Fame career.

Adam Wainwright, who won 39 games over the last two seasons while posting ERAs of 2.63 and 2.42, respectively, blew out his elbow in one of his first spring-training bullpen sessions and underwent Tommy John surgery.

That looked like a death knell for a staff that was considered questionable to begin with, and when you consider that Chris Carpenter, with a career mark of 133-83 entering the season, is just 1-5, the doomsayers would appear to be on the mark.

But a pair of Kyles – Lohse and McClellan – have ably filled the void. Lohse has rebounded from two years of arm miseries to post a 7-2 record with an NL-low 2.13 ERA.

And McClellan, whom pitching coach Dave Duncan elevated from last year’s long-relief role to become Wainwright’s replacement, is 6-2 with a 3.86 ERA, although he is now on the DL with a hip-flexor strain.

Then there is left-handed Jaime Garcia, who won 13 games as a rookie last season but has shown no signs of a sophomore slump. Garcia is 5-1 with a 3.28 ERA.

Things are going so well on the mound that even La Russa sees the silver lining in McClellan’s injury.

“Maybe there’s a positive there,” he said of McClellan, whose 67⅓ innings pitched thus far are just eight frames short of his career high. “Give him a June break. It’s money in the bank for later in the season.”

Things have broken right for St. Louis in the bullpen as well. Incumbent closer Ryan Franklin struggled early and was moved to a set-up role.

His replacements, Mitchell Boggs and Trevor Miller, were found wanting before La Russa and Duncan turned to rookie Fernando Salas, who entered the weekend 10-for-10 in save opportunities and had an ERA of 1.82.

The conventional wisdom preseason was that the Cardinals would be defensively challenged, and they are in the middle of the NL pack in fielding. Shortstop Ryan Theriot has 10 errors, although he is hitting .302, confirming his reputation as a good-hit, no-field player.

Hitting hasn’t been a problem for the Cards, who lead the NL in runs, batting average, slugging and on-base percentage.

The big surprise is that they’re doing it with minimal contributions from Albert Pujols, who is batting .265/.335/.412 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) and suffered the worst power drought of his career last month with just two homers in 126 plate appearances.

That slack – if you can call it that because Pujols still has nine homers and 31 RBIs – has been picked up outfielders Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman. Holliday, who went on the DL earlier in the week with a quadriceps injury, is hitting .342/.433/.542 with six homers and 31 RBIs, while Berkman is at .329/.449/.595 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs.

Perhaps the biggest indication of their impact in the lineup is that Pujols has been walked just once intentionally after leading the league in that category with 38 last season.

For Berkman, who split his time between Houston and the Yankees last season after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Astros, the move to St. Louis has been a godsend. He gushes about La Russa and the feeling from the Cardinals about him is mutual.

“Love him,” Berkman says about the manager. “He’s great. He’s such a players’ guy. When you think of Tony La Russa, being a players’ manager is not the first thing that jumps through your head. At least, not from watching him from the other side. But he’s got a bunch of guys here who will run through a wall for him.”

“He’s unbelievable,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak says of Berkman. “He’s a gentleman and a class act. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him.”

QUICK STARTERS: Despite their troubles with the designated-hitter slot in the lineup, the Yankees are outscoring their opposition 43-16 in the first inning and 83-44 over the first two innings.

Those early leads help a still pretty thin rotation keep its footing.
While many people think the Yanks will have to add an arm or two to fend off Boston and Tampa Bay in the American League East, they also might have to swing a deal for a DH.

Entering the weekend, Yankees DH’s were hitting .185, slugging just .350 and had scored just 21 runs, the least productive in the AL. Compare that with Boston, whose DH’s are the most productive, batting .315 with a .565 slugging percentage and 34 runs scored.

OZZIE AND THE FANS: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen blasted the home fans this week for forgetting that the Sox brought a World Series title to Chicago in 2005.

“The monuments, the statues they have for you, they pee on it when they drunk,” he said.
Guillen then ripped the media, saying he wasn’t misquoted but that his words were twisted around.

Only in Ozzieland, folks.

Contact Rick Freeman at rfreeman@njtimes.com.
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By Alex Fritz

– Contributor

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MARCH
DATE	TRANSACTION
March 31, 2011	Selected the contract of RHP Miguel Batista from Memphis (PCL). Placed RHP Adam Wainwright on the 60-day DL and INF Nick Punto on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 22.

APRIL
DATE	TRANSACTION
April 5, 2011	Signed RH/LHP George Wheeler after manager Tony La Russa insisted on having an ambidextrous pitcher.
April 6, 2011	Released RH/LHP George Wheeler, who has been dead for 65 years.
April 13, 2011	Placed RHP Brian Tallet and RHP Bryan Augenstein on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Fernando Salas and RHP Eduardo Sanchez from Memphis (PCL).
April 17, 2011	Purchased the contract of Mayor McCheese, assigned to Memphis (PCL).
April 18, 2011	Released the rap album John Mozeliak: Trader, Playa
April 19, 2011	Placed 2B Skip Schumaker and OF Allen Craig on the 15-day DL, Schumaker retroactive to April 16 and Craig to April 17. Activated INF Nick Punto from the 15-day DL. Recalled 1B Mark Hamilton from Memphis (PCL).
April 22, 2011	Traded LHP Trevor Miller to Los Angeles Dodgers for UIF Aaron Miles. John Mozeliak severs the phone line in manager Tony La Russa’s office, forbids La Russa from imitating him. Traded UIF Aaron Miles to Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP Trevor Miller. Traded four dollars for a new box of tissues in La Russa’s office.

MAY
DATE	TRANSACTION
May 1, 2011	Signed Ted DiBiase. No reason, really.
May 2, 2011	Placed 3B David Freese on the 15-day DL. Activated INF-OF Allen Craig from the 15-day DL.
May 9, 2011	Activated Go-Go-Gadget-Arms.
May 17, 2011	Claimed RHP Jess Todd off waivers from the N.Y. Yankees. Transferred RHP Bryan Augenstein from 15-day to 60-day DL.
May 18, 2011	Placed INF Nick Punto on the 15-day DL. Recalled INF Pete Kozma from Memphis (PCL).
May 19, 2011	Placed into therapy for having to recall Pete Effing Kozma to the major league roster.
May 21, 2011	Claimed to have invented frozen yogurt.
May 23, 2011	Placed C Gerald Laird on the 15-day DL. Activated 2B Skip Schumaker from the 15-day DL. Recalled C Tony Cruz from Memphis (PCL). Optioned RHP Mitchell Boggs to Memphis. Announced Rule 5 draft RHP Brian Broderick was returned by Washington and assigned to Memphis.
May 25, 2011	Traded 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr for 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco, 1988 Score Gregg Jeffries, and 1993 Stadium Club Todd Van Poppel.
May 28, 2011	Placed SS Ryan Theriot into “timeout” for ten minutes following Icy Hot being found in Brian Tallet’s jock strap.

JUN
DATE	TRANSACTION
June 1, 2011	Placed RHP Kyle McClellan on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Lance Lynn from Memphis (PCL).
June 2, 2011	Placed OF Matt Holliday on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Springfield (TEX). Set self on fire.
June 3, 2011	Recalled graphic childhood nightmare involving Judith Light, Dick Van Dyke, and a Capri Sun pouch.

Read More: Gerald Laird (C – STL), Nick Punto (SS – STL), Skip Schumaker (2B – STL), Miguel Batista (P – STL), Mitchell Boggs (P – STL), Mark Hamilton (1B – STL), David Freese (3B – STL), Allen Craig (LF – STL), Lance Lynn (P – STL), Tony Cruz (C – STL), Bryan Augenstein (P – STL), Brian Broderick (P – STL), St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers

Follow @sbnstlouis on Twitter, and

Like SB Nation St. Louis on Facebook.

Do you like this story?

By Alex Fritz

– Contributor

Follow @sbnstlouis on Twitter, and

Like SB Nation St. Louis on Facebook.

MARCH
DATE	TRANSACTION
March 31, 2011	Selected the contract of RHP Miguel Batista from Memphis (PCL). Placed RHP Adam Wainwright on the 60-day DL and INF Nick Punto on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 22.

APRIL
DATE	TRANSACTION
April 5, 2011	Signed RH/LHP George Wheeler after manager Tony La Russa insisted on having an ambidextrous pitcher.
April 6, 2011	Released RH/LHP George Wheeler, who has been dead for 65 years.
April 13, 2011	Placed RHP Brian Tallet and RHP Bryan Augenstein on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Fernando Salas and RHP Eduardo Sanchez from Memphis (PCL).
April 17, 2011	Purchased the contract of Mayor McCheese, assigned to Memphis (PCL).
April 18, 2011	Released the rap album John Mozeliak: Trader, Playa
April 19, 2011	Placed 2B Skip Schumaker and OF Allen Craig on the 15-day DL, Schumaker retroactive to April 16 and Craig to April 17. Activated INF Nick Punto from the 15-day DL. Recalled 1B Mark Hamilton from Memphis (PCL).
April 22, 2011	Traded LHP Trevor Miller to Los Angeles Dodgers for UIF Aaron Miles. John Mozeliak severs the phone line in manager Tony La Russa’s office, forbids La Russa from imitating him. Traded UIF Aaron Miles to Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP Trevor Miller. Traded four dollars for a new box of tissues in La Russa’s office.

MAY
DATE	TRANSACTION
May 1, 2011	Signed Ted DiBiase. No reason, really.
May 2, 2011	Placed 3B David Freese on the 15-day DL. Activated INF-OF Allen Craig from the 15-day DL.
May 9, 2011	Activated Go-Go-Gadget-Arms.
May 17, 2011	Claimed RHP Jess Todd off waivers from the N.Y. Yankees. Transferred RHP Bryan Augenstein from 15-day to 60-day DL.
May 18, 2011	Placed INF Nick Punto on the 15-day DL. Recalled INF Pete Kozma from Memphis (PCL).
May 19, 2011	Placed into therapy for having to recall Pete Effing Kozma to the major league roster.
May 21, 2011	Claimed to have invented frozen yogurt.
May 23, 2011	Placed C Gerald Laird on the 15-day DL. Activated 2B Skip Schumaker from the 15-day DL. Recalled C Tony Cruz from Memphis (PCL). Optioned RHP Mitchell Boggs to Memphis. Announced Rule 5 draft RHP Brian Broderick was returned by Washington and assigned to Memphis.
May 25, 2011	Traded 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr for 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco, 1988 Score Gregg Jeffries, and 1993 Stadium Club Todd Van Poppel.
May 28, 2011	Placed SS Ryan Theriot into “timeout” for ten minutes following Icy Hot being found in Brian Tallet’s jock strap.

JUN
DATE	TRANSACTION
June 1, 2011	Placed RHP Kyle McClellan on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Lance Lynn from Memphis (PCL).
June 2, 2011	Placed OF Matt Holliday on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Springfield (TEX). Set self on fire.
June 3, 2011	Recalled graphic childhood nightmare involving Judith Light, Dick Van Dyke, and a Capri Sun pouch.

Read More: Gerald Laird (C – STL), Nick Punto (SS – STL), Skip Schumaker (2B – STL), Miguel Batista (P – STL), Mitchell Boggs (P – STL), Mark Hamilton (1B – STL), David Freese (3B – STL), Allen Craig (LF – STL), Lance Lynn (P – STL), Tony Cruz (C – STL), Bryan Augenstein (P – STL), Brian Broderick (P – STL), St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers

Follow @sbnstlouis on Twitter, and

Like SB Nation St. Louis on Facebook.

Do you like this story?