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08:18 AM ET 03.19 | In the event of Steve Cohen succeeding in his bid to buy the Dodgers, there may be a significant downside to Tony La Russa becoming a key player in the front office. La Russa is such a strong personality, his presence might diminish the Dodgers' chances of hiring one of the top current general managers, according to rival executives. Cohen, one of four finalists to buy the Dodgers from Frank McCourt, reportedly has talked with La Russa about joining the team in an executive position. Though the exact role they discussed is unclear, it's doubtful La Russa would serve as a mere figurehead. ... [If] the owner wants his own man, an incoming GM might balk at working for La Russa, who has zero front-office experience.

Matt Kemp, Getty Images

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March 19, 2012 10:07 AM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:03 AM ET 03.19 by TRUTH3.0

Also an egostistical lush....

He's been a winner wherever he's been. I'd say he knows the game inside and out.

Yogi-Zen

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March 19, 2012 10:25 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:07 AM ET 03.19 by Yogi-Zen

He's been a winner wherever he's been. I'd say he knows the game inside and out.

That also doesn't translate into know jack squat about running a team, salaries, and other front office decisions. Anyone who denied McGuire was a roid freak is also 100% dbag.

Sports Know it all

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March 19, 2012 01:22 PM ET

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Whose dumb idea is this anyways to put La Russa into a front office position?

THE BISHOP!

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March 19, 2012 01:37 PM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 10:25 AM ET 03.19 by Sports Know it all

That also doesn't translate into know jack squat about running a team, salaries, and other front office decisions. Anyone who denied McGuire was a roid freak is also 100% dbag.

I wasn't necessarily a fan of LaRussa throughout all the years he was here in St. Louis but there are unquestionably few in baseball, from the front office down, who know and understand as much about the game - on AND off the field - as LaRussa. (Yes, I too, along with many others, have my problems with McGuire and LaRussa's defense of him.)

The Dodger organization badly needs someone with LaRussa's knowledge, experience and expertise. Regardless of his being a longtime, multiple world series winning manager, he's also a lawyer (which has already been pointed out) and, with the Cardinals, he worked very closely with the front office - thus knowing what they did, how they did it and why they did it. He didn't necessarily agree with all of the decisions which were made by our front office over the years, but he was certainly closely involved and worked alongside them when needed - and, no question, that entailed running a team, salaries and some other front office decisions. In other words, LaRussa was never a manager who just "resided" in the dugout during games...he was involved in managing the team on multiple levels.