Cardinals players want Tony La Russa back for a 13th season. La Russa's contract runs out after this year, which he has described as the most difficult of his long career. Last year's World Series champions had lost 13 of 15 entering Friday's game against the Astros, dogged by injuries to key players and serious trials off the field, including the drunk driving death of reliever Josh Hancock and Scott Spiezio's monthlong departure for substance abuse treatment. Jim Edmonds said La Russa, who has left his future hanging as he usually does at the end of his contract, is not to be blamed for the team's September collapse. Edmonds and his teammates are hopeful that La Russa, who passed Red Schoendienst as the franchise leader in wins earlier in the season, returns.