Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

10-27-89 The World Series has resumed following an eleven-day layoff caused by the San Francisco earthquake. (Actually, the epicenter of the quake was near Santa Cruz, to the southwest of the bay area.) Oakland won tonight’s game, 13-7, to take a three-games-to-none lead over San Francisco. Tony LaRussa, manager of the Athletics, juggled his pitching rotation to take advantage of the layoff. Dave Stewart, the ace of his staff, pitched tonight, winning his second game of the series. Tomorrow’s starter is Mike Moore, who won game two. That strikes me as unfair to the other pitchers on the Oakland staff, in particular Storm Davis and Bob Welch. These pitchers were part of a rotation that got the Athletics to the World Series, so they deserve to start at least one game. LaRussa disagrees. He argues that his job as manager is to win the series, not do what is fair or right. Imagine: You work hard for several years to play in a World Series; you’re an important part of your team’s success; and when finally you get to the Series, an earthquake strikes and your manager decides to go with his two “best” pitchers. I’d rather lose the World Series than treat my players so shabbily. Of course, these aren’t the only choices. I’m sure that Davis and Welch could have done as well as Stewart and Moore. Stewart gave up several runs tonight but managed to win because of strong offensive support.