St. Louis ? Tony La Russa’s not certain he wants to return for a 15th season as St. Louis Cardinals manager. For one thing, he didn’t expect to begin so soon the decision-making process that begins every time his contract expires.

The Cardinals were the first National League team to clinch a division title, loaded with star power in the lineup and two Cy Young candidates at the top of a strong rotation. They were the first team to go home after getting swept in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

La Russa fully intended to be managing the team in Game 4 on Sunday instead of packing for his trip home to the West Coast. He was disappointed in his team’s response after Matt Holliday’s dropped fly ball for what would have been the final out in Game 2, allowing the Dodgers to rally and then put away a reeling team with a 5-1 victory Saturday in St. Louis.

“I’ve just started thinking about it,” La Russa said while attempting to organize his cluttered office at Busch Stadium. “I really thought we’d make a series of it.”

The 65-year-old La Russa asks himself the same questions: Does ownership want me back? Do the players want me back? After all these years, are they still responding to his brand of leadership?

“Is what you’re saying not helpful?” La Russa said. “Those thoughts go through your mind.”

General manager John Mozeliak said La Russa has a job if he wants one but hadn’t spoken with the manager about the future. The GM was optimistic pitching coach Dave Duncan, disgruntled earlier in the season after the trade of his son, Chris Duncan, and other organizational issues, wanted to return.

“We need to sit down and talk,” Mozeliak said. “We don’t need to do it today because it’s still pretty fresh, the wound.”

St. Louis batted .133 with runners in scoring position, numbers that La Russa contends are somewhat misleading because of many hard-hit balls that were right at fielders.