The third degree with ... Whitey Herzog.(Know It All)(baseball coach)(Interview)

Whitey Herzog managed the Rangers, Angels, Royals and Cardinals in 2,409 games, winning 1,281 of them. Herzog, who turns 73 on November 9, was a master of small ball--a style of play that almost has disappeared since he last managed in 1990. TSN's Brendan Roberts talked with the White Rat last week.

TSN: Do you still get excited about the baseball playoffs?

WH: Actually, it's so much different now with that double-tier system. When I managed, it was much tougher to get to the playoffs. I don't like the setup now. They talk about Joe Torre having the Yanks in nine consecutive playoffs. Hell, in the old one-division system, you had to win like 154 games to get into the World Series, and winning the division used to be a big thing. Nowadays, you can't even remember who loses in the Division or Championship Series. But I watch a lot of playoff ball. I'll sit back and second-guess managers, or praise them, just like everyone else.

TSN: How has the game changed since you last coached or managed?

WH: The game is out of balance because of the home run. The ERAs are bigger than your hat size. Baseball has had a history of those trends. It's a dead ball, then a live ball. But sheesh. The way it is now, all these home runs--when I managed in St. Louis, we'd have good teams that hit only 60-something homers all year. And there's no running today. Everybody is afraid to get runners thrown out because they're afraid the next guy will hit a home run. The ballparks are about the same size, basically, but the balls are flying out of 'em. But I still think there should be more running on ideal counts. Movement disrupts defenses. ...