LaRussa has a law degree, so there's no question he's a bright man and he's been in baseball long enough to know how to give answers without giving opponents bulletin board material.

Most managers prefer small ball because managers get more credit when runs are manufactured than they do when some roid-enhanced oaf slams 60 homers. It's hard to manage a home run.

Baseball managing is a combination of being a chessmaster and a class counselor. The best ones get players motivated to play and then pushes the right buttons during the contest. LaRussa is obviously one of the best at it.