La Russa expected to return as manager - MLB

According to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Tony La Russa is “speeding to a conclusion” regarding a decision whether to return as Cardinals manager.

“I’m coming to an understanding of what I’m doing and intend to get it settled one way or the other shortly.”

“I don’t want to make any statements about being close to coming back,”
deferred La Russa, who has steered eight teams to the postseason since
being named the only manager under the team’s current ownership. “You
either do (come back) or you don’t. I’ve been checking the fire in my
gut. It’s one way or the other.”

Though La Russa said he hasn’t yet
discussed a contract yet with team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr, a formal
announcement is expected this week. If La Russa decides to return for
2010, pitching coach Dave Duncan is also expected to be back. It would
be their 15th season with the organization.

The Yankees placed Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain that will sideline the left-hander for at least two starts.

The move is retroactive to Monday and Cortes will be shut down for at least 15 days.

After Tuesday’s game, Cortes said the shoulder has been bothering him between starts and more so after he pitched five innings May 30 in Seattle.

“I took two days off and when I got to LA and threw that first day, I didn’t feel right,” Cortes said Tuesday. “But it was first day coming back from pitching so I knew it was going to be nagging a little bit. So I waited a little bit.

“That second day in LA was when I said something because it felt like I had pitched yesterday. So I wasn’t recovering in time.”

Cortes is 5-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 11 starts and has particularly struggled later in outings. Opponents are hitting .447 when facing him for the third time in a game.

Last year, Cortes was an All-Star and went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts.

Randy Vásquez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to take Cortes’ spot in the rotation and will make his second career start in Thursday’s doubleheader. Vásquez made his major league debut May 26 against San Diego when the Yankees needed a starter because Domingo Germán was serving a 10-game suspension for using sticky substances.