La Russa quiets critics by steering Cards into lead

The major league baseball season hasn't yet reached its halfway point, but right now the Cardinals are doing considerably better than most prognosticators thought they would.

While Tony La Russa shouldn't be anointed the National League's manager of the year just yet, I guess it's about time the many La Russa bashers -- not only in St. Louis but around Southeast Missouri, where that faction seems to dominate based on conversations I've had -- give the guy some credit.

Hey, I've never exactly been a big La Russa fan myself, but if you're going to blame the guy when his team is stinking up the joint, then you've got to praise him when his squad is playing well, as St. Louis has for much of the season.

The Cardinals were thought to be short of quality pitching -- particularly the starting variety -- but their rotation has been among the most steady and consistent in all of baseball, even though supposed ace Matt Morris has been up and down. And the bullpen has gotten stellar contributions from a variety of members.

Offensively, Scott Rolen is having a monster season -- he's probably the NL's most valuable player at this point -- while Albert Pujols appears to have rounded into form after a slow start and then a hamstring injury. Other key components are also starting to pick things up.

If the Cardinals continue playing like they have over the first 75 or so games of the season, there just might be a Central Division title in their future -- and perhaps even more in a National League that appears devoid of any super teams at this point.

Of course, now that the Cubs are finally getting healthy, it's not going to be a picnic holding them off. The Reds and Brewers have been surprises -- how long they remain that way is anybody's guess -- and the disappointing Astros figure to be a major factor before all is said and done.

The bottom line is the NL Central appears to be up for grabs, and there is still plenty of time for the Cardinals to either remain in contention or fall back in the pack.

And there is still plenty of time for La Russa bashers to jump all over his case if the Cardinals do falter. It's the nature of the business.

Two players with local ties have played key roles for the Show Me Believers, a St. Charles-based team that has clinched a playoff berth in the National Indoor Football League. The Believers were 9-4 heading into Saturday night's regular-season finale.

St. Vincent High School graduate Scott Pingel, who went on to set numerous NCAA receiving records at Division III Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. -- he now coaches at his alma mater -- leads the 24-team NIFL in receptions with 110, good for 1,301 yards. He also has scored 24 touchdowns. Pingel caught 78 passes last year to make the Pacific Conference all-star team.

Don Brown, a former Southeast Missouri State University assistant football coach who lives in Jackson, is not receiving as much time at running back as he did last year due to the presence of first-year player Ricky Brown from the University of Texas.

But Don Brown has still been a valuable role player for the Believers, scoring three touchdowns while combining for nearly 200 rushing and receiving yards.

The Believers have set a torrid pace in the wide-open world of indoor football, leading the NIFL in scoring at 58.1 points per game and total offense at 680 yards per game.

Also around the NIFL, former Southeast linebacker Donovan LaViness is second in the league in tackles with 96 as a member of the Omaha (Neb.) Beef, who played the Believers Saturday night.

Advance High School product Garrett Broshuis and Sikeston High School graduate Blake DeWitt, both selected in baseball's amateur draft earlier this month, were recently assigned to their first professional teams in various rookie leagues.

Broshuis, a University of Missouri product taken in the fifth round by San Francisco, is with the Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Valcanoes of the Northwest League. Entering the weekend, the right-handed pitcher had not yet made his pro debut.

DeWitt, who bypassed a college career after being selected in the first round by Los Angeles, is with the Ogden (Utah) Raptors of the Pioneer League. Entering the weekend, the third baseman was batting .381 (8-of-21) with two doubles and four runs batted in.

It will be interesting to follow the progress of both Broshuis and DeWitt, not only the remainder of this season but also for the next few years as they attempt to beat long odds and make it to the majors.

I, like most people who enjoy throwing back a few cold ones while talking sports, was saddened by the Pladium's recent closing.

Life just won't quite be the same without listening to "Beav" spinning one yarn after another in his trademark shorts.

It's not too early to make plans for the National Baseball Congress World Series that the Plaza Tire Capahas will host July 9 through 11 at Capaha Field.

The Capahas used to dominate the regional but, despite fielding strong teams the past two years, have finished just second in the tournament both times. They'll be out to make sure that doesn't happen again.

For the second time in four years, the Ohio Valley Conference was represented in the NBA draft as Morehead State guard Ricky Minard went to the Sacramento Kings in the second round. He was the 48th overall pick.

Like Austin Peay's Trenton Hassell -- a second-round pick in 2001 who has turned into a solid NBA player -- I would be very surprised if the athletic Minard does not make it in the NBA. He's that good of a talent.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.