Former Cardinals manager LaRussa joins Leyland at Tigers camp

LAKELAND, Fla. (WXYZ) - Between the two of them, there is 54 years of Major League managing experience.

Combined, they've managed 8,272 MLB games.

But now, only one of them is still in the game. While the other is visiting a friend, lending expertise.

Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa, longtime friends, will spend the next two weeks together. The former Athletics and Cardinals manager arrived in Lakeland Tuesday morning to be a part of Tigers spring training.

As Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters last week, LaRussa is not wearing a Tigers uniform - or even a Detroit cap.

He's in Florida to support his friend, and to be around the game he's known since he played in his first major league game in 1963.

Hounded by autograph requests as the pair walked onto the field, LaRussa told fans: "I'll get you later. I've gotta go watch the Tigers."

Enthusiastic, relaxed, an for good reason. The pressures of a 162 game schedule and all that goes with it - an afterthought for LaRussa.

But while he's here, he does have some motives. In fact, he has two goals.

He told print reporters Tuesday morning he's trying to get Leyland "to eat tofu and stop smoking."

There are challenges that go with being a major league manager - but even LaRussa may not be able to take down that beast.

Brad Galli is a Sports Reporter for WXYZ Detroit. Follow Brad on Twitter @BradGalli