"You're never really considered smart as a manager until you've got a really good closer."

So said Whitey Herzog to current Cardinals manager Tony La Russa in the early 1980's.

The year 2000 edition of La Russa's Cardinals have won ten of their first fiftenn games, and the man tabbed by La Russa for the closer's job (RHP Dave Veres, above, file photo) is a perfect four-for-four in save opportunities.

Lookin' good, Tony.