Seven segments on a Sunday

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Some quick thoughts from a cold, but busy Saturday spent on radio, at Pates Park, at Coca-Cola Park and watching too much of a 20-inning marathon in St. Louis on TV:

1. Tony La Russa's managing in the Cardinals' 2-1, 20-inning loss to the Mets was disgraceful. He ran out of players just as they did in the all-star game about seven years ago in Milwaukee. Unfortunately for La Russa, they didn't declare a tie in this one. He mismanaged the roster and had to use position players to pitch the last three innings and also had relievers bat for the first time in their career with the bases loaded. And then he lets Ryan Ludwig try to steal a base, down one, with Albert Pujols at the plate in the bottom of the 19th. Pujols doubles, Ludwick would have likely scored to tie the game and then Pujols would have scored on Yadier Molina's single. Instead, Molina's single only tied it. For a guy who prides himself on being ready for anything in a game, La Russa was badly prepared for the latter innings of this one. If they miss the playoffs by one game, I -- and many Cardinals fans -- will remember this one.

2. It may be too cold to stay out there for a full nine innings until the first of May, but the IronPigs are showing already that they're a much better team than in the previous two seasons. As long as the bullpen holds together, and the Phillies don't need too much help, they're going to finish at least 10 games over .500 and could be in playoff contention.

3. Tommy John and Jim Eisenreich are good guys. They both came up to the press box on Saturday night after throwing out the first pitch and both are very good guys in their own way. TJ doesn't shut up. He just loves to talk and is a great story-teller. Probably should be working games on TV or radio somewhere, although his broadcast partner may never get in a word edgewise. Eisenreich is more more quiet, but I always like the no-nonsense way he played the game and the guy could simply hit. He is a great example of never letting anything get in your way of making your dreams come true.

4. I know this is the second year the stand has been there, but I had my first Jaindl's turkey barbeque sandwich on Saturday night. Good stuff. If I didn't have to go back up to the press box to finish a column, I would have had two. If you're wondering why I didn't take one with me to the box, let's just say a sandwich that good deserves my full concentration.

5. The budget cuts in Easton remain the source of lots of chatter. There are no easy answers here. But the proposed cuts to middle school sports would amount to $90,800 in a $131 million budget. I don't have a calculator in front of me, is that seems like a tiny portion.To me, middle school sports programs at city schools are about saving lives and not necessarily about building winning sports programs, although they certainly do that as well. if you don't reach out to kids and get them involved in sports and positive activities at that early age, you often lose them to the streets, to non-interest, to negative influences. I know, it's not my money, but there's got to be other ways to save that $90,800 than to slash middle-school sports.

6. Interesting day of Colonial League softball at Pates Park. After watching three games, I left for Coca-Cola Park and missed the best one between Northern Lehigh and Palisades. There is no clearcut favorite in that league. Pen Argyl and Palisades, two of the favorites, lost on Saturday Saucon won, but wasn't overly impressive. Northern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh still have the best traditions in Colonial League softball and after all the scrambling and scrapping is done, I would not be surprised if they found their way to the title game at Pates on May 20.

7. Good to have old friends Bob Daday and Ted Meixell on the radio show on Saturday morning, on AM 1470. It has been nearly a week since his passing, and I am still hearing wonderful stories about the life of Mario Donnnagelo. What a legacy of memories and friends he leaves behind.

FROM KEITH GROLLER