Tony LaRussa has challenged Cardinals' management to loosen the purse strings on their club's payroll. "I think that's unfair," Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt said in an interview Friday on our 1380 AM radio show when asked if the team is cheap. "From Day One, we've always pushed payroll. It's at a very high level. We have different financial obligations than most clubs. How many teams have privately financed their own stadiums? "Clearly we have obligations there, and to have a payroll that's been in excess of $100 million over the last several years, in the top third of baseball. I think it speaks to the fact that we continue to push payroll. We've pushed player development, we've pushed scouting, we've pushed international (scouting and development). I think we've made a very strong commitment financially to this franchise. It kind of goes with the territory. But do I think it's unfair? Yes, I do."