When Lajoie left as GM, he was responsible only for the major league roster, and faced restrictions in relatively tight budgets and in the veto power of Anderson. In his first few years, he participated in the scouting and farm departments, as well as serving as major league general manager. Perhaps no other major league GM tried to do as much as Lajoie did in those days. In 1986, believing the load had become too great, president Jim Campbell removed Lajoie's farm and scouting duties and hired McDonald to do them. But it bothered Lajoie that he no longer had input into the farm department and scouting, and that he couldn't overrule McDonald. Had he returned, he would have answered only to Ilitch. "With Bill having made his decision, I guess we're pleased we still have him," said the Braves' Schuerholz, who openly pushed Lajoie for the Tigers job. "He's a good man and very talented. He will continue to help us in player acquisitions, no doubt." Today, Lajoie will be in St. Louis for the scouting assignment he intended to commence last Friday before Ilitch entered his life - ever so briefly.