ADIOS JOCKETTY!

by Jack Cobra, Cobra Brigade

Although something called the 'playoffs' started yesterday, probably the biggest news coming out of baseball was that the reigning World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals have decided to part ways with their General Manager, Walt Jocketty, even though he has one year left on his contract. The folks over at Yahoo! give us a nice little rundown of the situation.

Team president Mark Lamping said Jocketty's departure with a year remaining on his contract was a mutual decision, and that he'd be paid. Team chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr. said Jocketty and the Cardinals had "cordially and respectfully parted ways."

"We were in agreement our arrangement had likely run its course," DeWitt said.

It's unclear how Jocketty's departure affects the status of manager Tony La Russa, whose contract expired after the season. Jocketty hired La Russa in 1996.

DeWitt spoke with La Russa on Wednesday, reaffirming the franchise's commitment to building a competitor after injuries and ill-advised moves led to a 78-win team that collapsed in the final month.

While it is interesting that the Cardinals would let go the GM who helped take them to the World Series just last season....the more interesting question is whether this signals the end of the Tony LaRussa Era in St. Louis? It's been rumored that LaRussa and Jocketty are a package deal, so this should make for quite an intriguing story this offseason.