TODAY: La Russa’s interview with the White Sox has taken place, 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine reports, as La Russa spoke with team executive VP Kenny Williams and GM Rick Hahn. Levine adds that the White Sox hope to make a hire within the next 10-14 days, and that the club has spoken to other candidates besides just La Russa about the job.
OCTOBER 14: News came down on Wednesday night that the White Sox received permission from the Angels to interview Tony La Russa for their managerial opening. The 76-year-old looks more-and-more like a front-runner to land the job. For his own part, La Russa is reportedly excited about his upcoming conversations with the White Sox, per Bruce Levine of 670 the Score (via Twitter).
La Russa managed the White Sox from 1979 until 1986 – his first managerial role in the majors – so there’s certainly a nostalgic angle that makes sense here. He fits the bill as laid out by GM Rick Hahn as well: He’s a voice technically coming from outside the organization, and he hard-checks the championship experience box. La Russa has six times managed a team into the World Series, winning the ring in 1989 with Oakland and in 2006 and 2011 with St. Louis. He retired after winning the 2011 World Series with the Cardinals. He spent the past season as a special advisor to the Angels, and the White Sox’ opening is an appealing position, even without the circle-of-life angle.
For the White Sox part, Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has expressed regret in the past for allowing his GM-at-the-time Ken Harrelson to fire La Russa midway through 1986. What’s more, La Russa and Reinsdorf were often seen watching White Sox games together prior to 2020, writes the Athletic’s James Fegan. A committed La Russa must be a tantalizing possibility for ownership, but the White Sox are still early in their search process, per Fegan.
In the meantime, Hahn has his hands full trying to upgrade right field and the starting rotation. Though they have a lot of young pitching for whom they are closely tracking development (Reynaldo Lopez, Dane Dunning, Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet, Jonathan Stiever, Michael Kopech, and others), Hahn doesn’t plan on just waiting for the kids to grab the reins, per this piece from Fegan. Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, and Dunning are slotted into the rotation, but they may explore outside the organization for back-end upgrades. The White Sox have no shortage of guys who could very capably fill out those last two rotation spots, but with the Twins and Indians set to compete again, their margin for error may again be slim.
For the sake of the Chisox, I hope LaRussa still has a little lead left in his pencil.
I think it’s a sharpie, which he uses to dye his hair.
Stupid move by the WS. LaRussa has forgotten more than we combined know but his ego in my view doesn’t relate with today’s players. Not saying he’s Bobby Valentine II but he is a hothead.
Also, he managed the A’s when they were on roids and let everything happen by closing his eyes. Had he controlled the clubhouse then, perhaps PEDs wouldn’t have become as big as it did. Please don’t respond by saying it wasn’t against the rules. It was illegal to possess, distribute or use those early steroids without a prescription.
Still won. Did he not?
Wait, you’re blaming one coach, one team for the whole league using ped’s? That’s a reach.
@ Chief 2 hands. I agree chief with your comment on Tony’s hair dye. But I also wonder if the White Sox have a pair of pants that are really, really TIGHT. Tony loves those tight pants. Must wear them like that, for the ladies with overly dark hair dye.
I think it’s Great that LaRussa has the opportunity to finalize his professional managing with the first team he ever managed.
He will do a great job if the owner gives him a free reign. Plus add the players to fill in the gaps in the White Sox starting line-up.
As a Cardinals fan, I didn’t always agree with Tony’s decision’s. However, only after he’d left the Cardinals, did I gain the appreciation for his dedication of evaluating player. His Strong influence with the owners on who and what players he needed each season to make another run at a World Series——not just a goal the be the last Wild Card team to get into the playoffs.
LaRussa had tremendous influence in bringing in star quality replacement players to improve the Cardinals for their next season!! Jim Edmonds—-Scott Rolen—-Matt Holiday—-Carlos Beltran—etc, etc, etc.!!!
Without Tony LaRussa—- the Cardinals managers just don’t have the influence to over ride the president of baseball operations and go directly to the owners to pick up strong players to continue the Cardinals 21st century runs at World Series appearances and Championships!!!
Good luck in obtaining the White Sox managerial position!!!
Edmonds, Rolen, Holliday came on in a time when teams dumped salary at trade deadline, vs trading for best prospect package.. It was a different time then, GM’s didnt value prospects the same as today.
TLR retired before Beltran became a Cardinal.
Nope TLR wanted to get into the playoffs, once there its anyone’s game.. Same held true then as it does now.. That hasn’t changed.
Billionaires dont become billionaires by risking everything every year. Its farcical to act as if that is the reality.
Funny TLR won with both old school GM & a new school GM. WJ got fired because he refused to get on board with how DeWitt wanted to run his franchise.
Mo has lasted because he doesnt have losing seasons & has found ways to build contenders without tanking, while blending new school with old school.
TLR’s influence remains with Cardinals.
Jim Edmonds was literally had for Adam Kennedy and Kent Bottenfield before the 2000 season.
I think his point is is that he wanted to win the World Series and made a point to be serious about it unlike now. We now put a roster out there good enough to barely get in but honestly we have no shot unless a miracle happens. We now just get to the playoffs as a terrible seed and then tell the fan base that we’re doing good even though we really have no realistic shot to win the World Series unless our offense decides to start hitting the ball
Then LaRussa can hire Hawk Harrelson as his bench coach. TWTW!
To me, we should have never parted ways with him, but what’s the benefit at this age? We built a very good core of young players and then hang the team’s long-term success with a manager who might not endure the rigors of even two seasons?
Tony Noooooooo!
I’m in the minority here, but I saw enough positive at bats from Mazara in the final few weeks that I wouldn’t quite give up on him yet.
If I were them, I’d non-tender and bring back at a lower rate.
As a Ranger fan – there’s always a “flash” – but it can never sustain. Nomads nickname of chill really fits him.
The difference is that you Ranger fans never saw the Mazara that the Sox saw last year. He has been one of the most consistent (consistently average) players in baseball for years, and last year, he just never clicked for whatever reason. If he could just give the Sox what he gave the Rangers on a yearly basis, it would be a substantial improvement.
Personally, I’d rather go after Joc for a platoon role with Engel (assuming they don’t go big and try to get Springer), but if that doesn’t work, I’d be fine with bringing Nomar back.
I think Springer’s age and salary demands will nix that deal. Pedersen had one good year, but disappeared this year. Personally, bringing in a front line starter should be the play. After all, this offense will score runs regardless of who is in RF. The way I figure, let Engel stay in RF. With Robert in CF, that would be two gold glovers in the same OF. That will mitigate some of Eloy’s shortcomings as a LF.
LaRussa isn’t the leadership they need. The game has passed him by. Gone are the days of Bobby Cox and Jack McKeon, both 70 somethings winning titles. The game is different. I think they should go younger and more analytical.
Non-tender and bring back at a lower rate is a move that almost never happens in the real world.
Hahn is a lawyer. He always give answers vague enough to let him wiggle out of blatant misrepresentations.
He will probably pull that only a few coaches have e err on in the past ten years, and that he’s one of them.
Ironically, Tony La Russa also has a law degree. Just saying…
Unfrozen caveman lawyer?
Your ways frighten and confuse me. But hey, I’m just a caveman.
A Federalist, I’m sure.
Youcannnn, I take it you are a big fan of a right fielder that can provide those “powerful” opposite field, doink singles? Mazara is solid on that count.
Agreed, the man seemed relaxed, was taking pitches, and yes, he did come up with several big hits in the last few weeks, and hope they might retain him, as let’s face it, he was not their problem in what went down in the last few weeks of the season, or playoffs. The dh, the manager, and some untimely injuries were, and you all know the rest
“He fits the bill as laid out by GM Rick Hahn as well: He’s a voice technically coming from outside the organization, and he hard-checks the championship experience box.”
No – Hahn said he wanted RECENT championship, October experience – and I’m sorry, but 2011 does not check THAT box. TLR’s age and nature would not mesh with the makeup of this team. So this overture seems merely to be placating Reinsdorf for his regret over allowing Harrelson to fire TLR in 1987.
The other reasoning/explanation would be to float a name to the fanbase that would not be preferred as a way to give cover from any potential scandal blowbac to the potential (likely?) hiring of Hinch or Cora.
So,to check the RECENT box,who is available post 2011?
Not many,even less including any Astro.
You could do worse.
Aside from the two cheaters, Bruce Bochy and Ned Yost are two former managers who are currently unemployed and potentially available. Each have won World Series titles since 2011. Bochy won championships with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014 while Yost earned a ring in 2015 after losing to the Giants in the 2014 Classic. Each are about a decade younger than Tony La Russa and are also former MLB catchers who bring their added knowledge of pitching to the table. Both would also check the box of being White Sox outsiders. Additionally, 68-year old Ron Washington might be a potential candidate. He managed the Rangers through 2014 with World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011, the latter loss to La Russa’s Cardinals. Washington is still very active in October baseball as the Braves third base coach.
I would be fine with the brass hiring any one of these 4 elder former managers to lead the White Sox to the ultimate promised land going forward. I would also be good with some younger voices like Sandy Alomar Jr. and Joe Espada who have deep October experience as coaches.
Give cover to the cheaters? TLR won a WS with the roided-up Bash Brothers, continued with cheater McGwire as his hitting coach in STL, and was arrested for dui in 07. He’s just as filthy as Hinch & Cora, just been doing it longer.
That’s really unfair.
If PED’s are a criteria you might just as well label every victorious World Series manager as a potential cheater since the steroid era began. MLB didn’t even add steroids to its list of banned substances until 1991, two years after Tony La Russo won his only title with the A’s in 1989. Testing for steroids didn’t begin until 2003 but even that didn’t stop PED abuse from being fairly prevalent until more recent seasons.
@quonset point
Can you let me in on how YOU KNOW that Tony LaRussa ‘knew’ that McGwire & Canseco took roids, I am really interested in your ‘intelligence’ in regard to this matter. Facts only ok, i’ll wait.
Furthermore, can you tell me what a case of DUI in 2007 has anything whatsoever to do with his potential to manage the White Sox in 2021?
can you prove he didn’t know?
Read Jose’s book. Hard to believe he didn’t know. All you had to do is look at McGwire’s rookie baseball card. Maybe he didn’t know, but it’s pretty unlikely. Pretty much all of baseball looked the other way for a long time on steroids and PEDs.
Not my cat. Not my box.
Nonetheless, I prefer to ask for evidence than proof, which rarely exists.
I much prefer “not my monkeys, not my circus”
So guilty until proven innocent. It’s the accusers who need to prove of wrong doing or knowing.
Look at any rookie card, then fast forward 5 to 10 years and watch their bodies change, esp after being exposed to advanced training.
Yeah Mac & Jose used roids, but lets into act like they were built guys before they got into roids.
Funny how some are holding on to roids as the ultimate cheat, yet the Trashtro’s cheated with the biggest advantage a hitter can have and thats knowing what pitch is coming..
IDK if TLR is to old to manage or not.. But neither does anyone else on here.. And those saying TLR cant handle the “”modern game”, child please TLR was the biggest innovator of the modern game.
Let them have the steroids! I for one , get tired of watching fly balls getting caught!
Hey everyone we found the guy who NEVER made a mistake in his entire life..
Nor has he achieved anything other then looking like a butt-hat on the internet
Everyone was doing PEDs lol. If you talk about anything with roids multiple people could be included. Why not talk about the giants manager when bonds was there and broke the hr record. You could say that about almost any manager in that era.
Bochy?
Would be a great call but I hope they go with some analytics drone.
Drone. lol
If that’s the case just put a robot or some computer nerd in the dugout to make lineups and strategize and just hire a real human to communicate with the players, coaches and media.
I’m good with advanced technology to enhance and umpire the game on the field but less enamored with some of the changes its made to the overall quality of MLB including the grading and performance of its players. We just overcame an era of PED’s. MLB continues to experiment with other artificial changes like ‘enhanced’ baseballs. What’s next? Artificially enhanced managers and players. I’d rather see humans play the game, not AI.
“We just overcame an era of PED’s.”
I think that’s a huge assumption. We still get a half-dozen or more players a year getting caught. Those are just the ones getting caught. I believe the testing regimen is extremely porous and can be and is being gamed left and right. How about the postseason for example? The Astros were lame all season and now they’re hitting home runs in bunches! I would guess there are several dozen players using PED’s in any given year.
Still have to hit the ball. So due to roids the astros weren’t squaring the ball up on the bat and now with roids the bat magically finds the center of the ball? Also roids don’t take affect over night
I know a pitcher the Sox would love to add that has some experience with drones
LaRussa is the obvious choice if available. I thought Ozzie would be a great fit but LaRussa is even better. As an Indians fan I hope they go with some dime a dozen analytics drone but I don’t think they’ll go that route.
Ozzie would be a terrible fit. He was terrific in 2005, but after that, he started throwing his players under the boss after losses, giving profanity-laced tirades to the media, and more. The sideshow was too much.
And I disagree on La Russa being the obvious choice if available. Bochy has more recent championship experience and has won three titles since 2010. Ned Yost managed the Royals club that took the WS, and I think a lot of those guys not only outperformed what was expected of them, but really gelled as a team. Maybe La Russa is the best pick (though I think not), but it’s certainly not obvious.
He’s the mean age of two people running for president so if they can do that for four years this guy can win a championship for the White Sox in 3
Baseball’s done better than ok dealing with you, COVID. Time to stuff off.
I don’t believe LaRussa will relate to the young players well.
He related to young players a few years ago. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be qualified a few years later.
easy throwaway knock on older managers. who says older guys cant? who says younger guys tend to? (see Gabe Kapler’s Philly tenure) and the biggest question…who gives a darn if you are a good game strategist and get the most out of your players anyway? lets not forget, the guy is a HoF manager.
Ha-ha, It’s been a proven fact that an elder manager can relate well enough to much younger players. The Florida Marlins pulled 72-year old Jack McKeon out of retirement in May of 2003 when the team was floundering at 16-22 and just out of the NL East basement. He rallied the team to a wild card berth and the World Series championship. Sometimes young people respect and “relate” to their grandpas more than their dads!
Isn’t that a little bit of ageism?
I actually think LaRussa would be a solid hire if they do so with a succession plan. You find a bench coach you’d be interested in grooming into a manager, let him work on LaRussa’s staff, and in 2 or 3 years he takes the reigns.
Dusty Baker took a practically rookie pitching staff with the Astros to the ALCS and the knock on Dusty has been his preference for veterans. LaRussa has been around long enough to be able to adapt. And while the White Sox have a young core there are plenty have veterans around (Abreu, Grandal, Keuchel, Encarnacion)
Its almost 2021 and you want to bring in a guy who managed your team in 1979… LaRussa won’t last one season in modern baseball. His interviews (see the one about Harold Baines) show how out of touch he is. The Dbacks were totally incompetent with him at his exec position. White Sox are insane if they do this.
He was last managing in 2011.
Everyone thought the Marlins were crazy for bringing in Jack McKeon in 2003 and look how that turned out
Please god no. Hasn’t managed in a decade. The game’s passed by Tony LaRussa. He’s going to bat a pitcher in the 8 hole as the whole league is moving towards the DH.
um.. managing the Whitesox he would already have a dh and no need for a pitcher to bat 8th. Also didnt joe madden bat the pitcher 8th and make it acceptable because he’s a top manager right?
Sarcasm is not your strong suit.
LaRussa popularized the practice. The point is the game moved past him.
That’s not what sarcasm is
TLR has forgotten more about baseball then you have ever known.
Just because you don’t understand the concept of hitting the pitcher 8th, doesn’t mean it’s a bad strategy… If anything, that shows he was ahead of his time.
“TLR has forgotten more about baseball then you have ever known.”
Yeah, that’s the problem with hiring an 80 year old for the job
Nah I was calling you stupid bruh… Guess your to stupid to catch the insult
So much to unpack in one little post
hes 76. Hes forgotten everything… example= see joe biden
He was creative, but not ahead of his time. Unless you have some magic data, it will be hard to convince that getting the worst hitter in your lineup…by far…more ABs than your next worst.
…..and Mitch McConnell.
Tony started that
‘Genius’ Joe Maddon won a championship with the Cubs in 2016 and regularly batted his pitcher in the #8 hole for the majority of his 5-year managerial run in Chicago. Clearly you are lacking in the genius department since the White Sox and the AL implemented the DH for good back in 1973.
I was at the mets game and Dontrelle willis batted 7th. .. Beat pedro 2-1
I wonder if Jerry is losing it mentally.
I also consider this a possibility. Hopefully he has good people around him.
Not nearly as bad as the guy currently residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue who is 12 years younger. The 84-year old White Sox ‘Chairman of the Board’ also surrounds himself with much smarter people who he actually listens to on occasion. lol
No politics
Jerry Krause has entered the chat..
Dont forget Organizations win championships, not players.
@Aaron, come now, you’re arguably the most respected White Sox fan in this forum. Don’t sully that by bringing politics into it. Some of us come here to escape the constant politics.
You should be paying attention to politics..
Your life & lives of everyone you care about depends upon it on Nov 3rd
It’s not like I don’t understand what’s going on or what’s at stake. But that doesn’t mean I want to hear about it everywhere. This is a baseball forum. I’m interested in reading and commenting about baseball here. There are other sites and venues for political commentary.
Agreed, no politics unless someone in government learns to hit a 90mph fastball, and wants to pull a Michael Jordan and try baseball as a 2nd act.
MJ was actually pretty good for a 31 yr old rookie who hadnt played baseball in 14 years..
You cannot escape politics, especially now as we head down the home stretch toward November 3rd. It’s everywhere. I can’t drive out of my own neighborhood without seeing political signs. You can’t listen to the radio or watch TV without getting bombarded by political ads. News and social media are dominated by it. How many political ads have we all been subjected to while taking in the MLB postseason?
Aaron, for once I totally agree with ya!!!
If they believe that they have a 3-5 year window opening, wouldn’t they want someone who they are convinced would see it all they way through? btw, I’m in this age group myself
My first thought was Bochy, but I also like Alomar or Espada.
White Sox considering Johnny Cash as their next manager?
The legendary ‘Man in Black’ would have been a great look for the White Sox back in the day. Unfortunately, his peer nickname of ‘The Undertaker’ might be more appropriate since his passing.
Great no BS type manager. I like it.
I became a White Sox fan in my teenage years in the early 1980s and was a fan of Tony Larussa then. But he doesn’t seem like the right choice now.
And if 2020 had been a regular full year of baseball, I’d be more open to Hinch (or Cora), but after just this weird 60-game season, for either of them to be rewarded with a managerial job now — for an exciting young team that can legitimately compete for championships in the immediate future, in one of the greatest sports cities in the country — seems like no punishment at all. I don’t think they need to be canceled, but they need to be put on pause for at least a full normal season.
So add me to the list of those hoping it’s Alomar or Espada.
If Bochy says no, I’d rather have Yost ahead of Alomar, but Alomar is my third choice and Espada fourth. I honestly don’t think they’d go wrong with any of them.
I don’t see someone 76 years old having the stamina to deal with the travel involved in managing. He has something to contribue to the Sox, just not in the mangerial role.
Totally agree. How long can ANY person 76 years old maintain a position like that? The only way I’d feel it’s a good move to hire him is if it’s down to him and candidates who have never managed at the major league level before.
They’ve got pills for that now.
Would be so White Sox to botch this opportunity by hiring LaRussa.
REALLY hope it’s just Jerry saying nice things about an old friend and not a legit possibility.
Like Cooper, baseball has long since passed Tony by. Like Renteria, he doesn’t have the analytical chops to get the most out of whatever roster hahn gives him.
Bochy
Hinch
Alomar JR.
U of Michigan pitching coach to replace Coop.
While I absolutely agree with 99% of this, I don’t believe he needs “analytical chops” to get the most out of whatever roster Hahn gives him. You can make good decisions without relying on analytics; unfortunately, analytics or not, Ricky was never smart enough to figure that out.
This is such a Rick Hahn/JR move.
Get rid of an average incumbent by swinging for the fences with an aging alternative who has achieved great success in the past, even though signs suggest they are washed up.
And for JR, it’s a nepotism hire. He’s part of the family.
I don’t care about his age as much as the fact that he hasn’t coached in years. This only works if he brings in a solid younger staff around him. Otherwise, this could be an absolute disaster.
If it had been 15 or 20 years, & TLR had been out of baseball, you would have a good point.
But its been 9 years for TLR, & he has remained in baseball in several capacities.
If TLR has the hunger to manage 162 plus playoffs, then Sox would be negligent in dismissing him due to age.
What part of “I don’t care about his age,” did you not understand?
He has not been on a bench for nearly a decade. The game has changed significantly since that time.
Acting as an advisor is not the same as managing a ballclub in the modern era for 162 games.
And for the record, it’s also why I would not want Ozzie, who has been out the dugout for the same length of time.
Dusty Baker is just 5 years younger than Tony La Russa, today he left in Greinke when ‘the analytics said’……….and guess what, he did the right thing sticking with Greinke.
It’s 2020 and selective discrimination and ageist discrimination is very alive, you only have to read some of the comments here for proof of same.. I am sure that the guy who rode his bike 10 years ago can’t get on and ride again either, well just because of his age………
I don’t care about his age. I’m more worried he hasn’t coached a game in almost ten years.
That rarely works out well, and even more so for older coaches, not because they don’t have the energy, but because they can’t put the band back together, because they are all retired.
The game has changed significantly. It’s a huge risk.
I care about his age…you have a core of players that are signed for the next 4-5 years and LaRussa is not going to manage until he’s 82. Why have to change managers 2 or 3 years from now?
Why don’t they just get Lasorda, since they want dinosaurs in the dugout. I can’t believe they’re considering Larussa, when they could have virtually anyone else available with this roster.
@howiedontthandle It’s because Godzilla is a winner and dinosaurs are huge, and the rest are apprentices hoping to one day be as good.
At least LaRussa has the most important qualifier, being: Anybody but Ricky Renteria.
Honestly, I’d rather Renteria than Hinch or Cora. The other two are probably better at actually managing, but Renteria hasn’t cheated, at least that we know of. Integrity should count for something.
So should competence – Ricky has already proven time and time again that he has no idea what he’s doing. Give me Hinch or Cora 100 times out of 100.
Perhaps they are semi-serious about TLR, but from a business perspective it can also be a signal to Hinch that they are NOT going to get into any sort of bidding war for him. If he wants his redemption return to be taking over a talented roster, it won’t come with a desperation of paying top managerial $ as though he is the only option they truly wish to have.
Why they don’t want to hire Ozzie back? He is the only White Sox Manager with a WS tittle. I know he wasn’t great with the press in Chicago but c’mon…
A 76 yr old manager? Is there not 1 person in their minors coaching staff who already know these players?…
At least now when an officer pulls him over for being asleep in his car, he has the “Hey, I’m seventy-six” excuse.
hell forget larussa, go for broke and get lasorda. Hes only over 90.maybe the work will keep him from his fellow h.o.f.’ers recent demises
Marking calendar for a slow motion “why you I oughta” managerial fight between Chisox and Astericks.
LaRussa is 76. Isn’t that too old to manage. So the Hawk fired him. Got that wrong
Our next President will be 78.
Heaven help us if he wins..and he won’t be president by his next birthday anyway
Can we go without the dumb political comments?
Baseball IQ.
Funny one about former ChiSox GM Ken Harrelson
Hawk was a far worse GM then play by play guy
how is THAT possible
Fired La Russa
Traded Bonilla
Made Fisk play LF
There is a great and quite humorous article about LaRussa today in the Chicago Sun Times. About sums it up. I hope Bochy and Pierzynski are in the mix.
Whoever they hire for manager, I hope they have the good sense to raid the Indians or Rays for their next pitching coach. I don’t know how they do it, but both of those teams are outstanding in scouting and developing pitching talent, something the Sox could really use with Cease, Kopech, Dunning, Stiever, and, if they feel like giving him one more chance, Lopez.
I think this is much more important for the organization than whoever they choose to be manager
One name I’m surprised at NOT hearing for this opening is Brad Ausmus.
I don’t believe you ask for permission to speak to LaRussa if you aren’t going to hire him, so this is likely happening.
Not necessarily true. You wouldn’t ask for permission if there wasn’t interest, but he still has to interview. I think the White Sox view him as a serious candidate, but it’s not a given that he gets the job.
Mike Scioscia’s name rarely comes up in conjunction with openings. Does he have any interest in returning to the dugout?
The better question is does anyone have interest in Scioscia? Mike managed the Angels to the playoffs while the AL West was mostly a weak Division. Angels dominated the AL West for much of the early 2000’s but only made the playoffs once (2014) after 2009
Now there’s a scenario…Scioscia as manager and Pierzynski as bench coach.
L:aRussa has been an excellent manager and will be good for a year or two, but can handle the job at this age?? Travel and the grind is tough. Frankly. I’d like to see Ozzie come back. Either way either A J Pierzinksi or Paul Konerko should be the bench coach to then step in as head manager in a few years.
Frank Thomas should be the hitting coach.
Who will be the pitching coach. Maybe Mark Buerhle??
I’m a huge fan of both Tony and Ozzie, and I will cherish those memories but this team needs better. Not knocking either of them. Most of us are life long fans because of them. The Sox have an incredible window to win, thanks to the efforts of Rick Hahn and JR. Lets go get the best available manager and roll. I like Hinch. Buehrle as pitching coach would be fun. But if they do go with Tony then it would only be appropriate for Nancy Faust to unretire and play the organ again.
I was a fan of Ozzie, but his antics got to be too much. Hinch is a better manager than Renteria, no doubt, but I don’t think the team needs the distraction of having a recent cheater at the helm. There are better choices out there. Buehrle was a good pitcher, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a good pitching coach. I’d rather get someone from the Indians or Rays because they have been developing pitching talent very well for years now. IMO, the best available manager is Bochy.
He must really hate his family
Why would laRussa at 76 do this to himself? It is very stressful. He should stay home and play with his grandchildren.
Some people don’t want to retire. My father-in-law has no plans to retire; it’s just part of who he is. I don’t know La Russa, of course, but it could be he’s that type of person.
Yeah, My late father ran a small manufacturing business until his passing at 84.
Hold Baines must come back as a DH. But can he run?
Larussa is 1 reason the games are longer now… he started that idiotic lefty/ righty pitcher garbage, which mlb made even more dumber with the new rule this yr regarding it……. i will never understand why a guy with 2 outs in the inning with a 10 run lead has to be taken out because the guy is batting the opposite way of their throwing arm….if the guy hits a 7 run homer i will gladly go to citifield next yr and cut off my manhood during the 7th inning stretch and broadcast it on fb
Whoever commented that Menechino was a better hitting instructor than Steverson was a fool. National writers just panned the White Sox for no selectivity. That was Steverson’s mantra. Selective Aggression. Be more aggressive on selected, i.e. in the hot zone pitches early. Menechino had way better players than Steverson ever did during the rebuild. Steverson changed Anderson, McCann, and Moncada and turned Abreu into an RBI champ. Moncada regressed.
You make some good points but bashing Frank Menechino is unfair in light of an abbreviated 60 game season.
Yoan Moncada’s struggles in 2020 were directly related to his COVID-19 infection, something that sapped his energy through the entirety of the season. Rick Renteria needed to monitor Moncada all season and frequently gave him extended breaks. Because of the coronavirus, Moncada struggled with all aspects of his game including his defense at 3B. Similarly, Nomar Mazara was negatively impacted by a virus in 2020 although his was a bad case of strep throat that had him on the IL for 2 weeks and which seemingly threw off his rhythm at the plate until the last couple of weeks. Mazara never did hit for the one thing he was known for as a Ranger, power!
Most all of the White Sox hitters you mentioned aside from Moncada remained strong under Menechino. Jose Abreu won the RBI title in 2019 under Todd Steverson and repeated it in 2020 when he had an even better season under Menechino. Abreu’s 2020 dominance will likely make him this season’s AL MVP. He has already been named the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year. Tim Anderson battled for a second consecutive AL Batting Title this season but lost out to DJ Lemahieu with a poor stretch run that coincided with the White Sox slide from the AL’s best record to a seventh seed in the postseason. Of course, Anderson finished 2020 magnificently with his hitting in the 3-game playoff loss to the A’s. McCann had a career offensive turn around under Todd Steverson in 2019 but hit equally well under Menechino in 2020.
Say what you will about Steverson but the White Sox under Menechino were at or near the top of most every offensive category in 2020. They had a historic month of August with their HR and power numbers.
Rookie phenom Luis Robert had a typical up and down rookie season under Menechino but was no different than what Eloy Jimenez experienced under Steverson in 2019. Jimenez was far more consistent in 2020 and I would expect the same from Robert next year. The White Sox other rookie starter was 2B Nick Madrigal who is so adept with his contact skills he could probably hit over .300 with an eye patch on or one hand tied behind his back. He nearly did the latter in light of the fact he hit .340 with an unstable left shoulder that required postseason surgery. Finally, there is the case of Adam Engel who had such a good year with the bat that most White Sox fans were clamoring for him to be the team’s regular RF. Sure, veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion struggled mightily in 2020 but that might have been a factor of age catching up with him and could have happened regardless of who the hitting coach was.
Ironically, Menechino stands to lose his job next season since Rick Hahn will allow his new manager to appoint his own coaching staff. The only official fire was long standing pitching coach Don Cooper who was basically ‘forced’ on the White Sox most recent skippers including Renteria, Robin Ventura and Ozzie Guillen because of his past success.
See my reply to you AaronSapoznik above if comments are ordered chronologically by newest first
The White Sox simply would have hit better this year with the better talent, under Steverson. Steverson turned around 4 careers. His hitting philosophy was directly adapted from Ted Williams’ philosophy and which the Royals employed to win their World Series. Steverson was scapegoated because he he was hitting coach during a REBUILD. Robert lost his ROY either because Ricky left him with no protection (does not make Robert responsible for his own lack of discipline) or Menechino did not help him with a well-founded approach. Selective aggression is the best hitting philosophy. You should read about it. Menechino’s philosophy is “communicate with your players and walking is a by-product of approach.” Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, and McCann DIRECTLY attributed their success to Steverson and they told the media this FACT after Steverson was let go. PERIOD. END OF ARGUMENT. Three players did well in 2020 because they didn’t change their approach from 2019. Moncada could have used Steverson’s voice in his ear to cut down strikeouts by hitting the best pitch earlier in the at-bat. The White Sox were wrong to scapegoat Steverson.
Like most White Sox fans, I was not a critic of Todd Steverson as their hitting coach for six seasons from 2014-2019. That said, it’s preposterous to conclude that “Steverson turned around 4 careers” considering he was the only hitting coach that most of the White Sox core hitters had until Frank Menechino was hired last offseason. How can you conclude that Steverson turn around the hitting careers of Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada when he was their exclusive MLB hitting instructor for the White Sox until this past season?
Anderson and Moncada struggled mightily at the dish when they debuted under Steverson. If anything, Abreu regressed following his historic Rookie campaign under Steverson and only met or exceeded those numbers in 2020 under Menechino. Eloy Jimenez had his ups and downs last season debuting under Steverson just as Luis Robert did this year under Menechino. Jimenez developed more consistency at the plate this season when he wasn’t killing himself in LF or on the bases, something that likely would have happened regardless of who his hitting instructor was with his elite talent at the dish. I would expect Robert to do likewise in 2021 no matter who gets the job as batting coach.
We all know that Steverson came to the White Sox from an A’s organization noted for plate patience and their ability to draw walks. Most of that never materialized with the White Sox statistically during his 6 year reign as their hitting coach, be it rebuilding under Rick Renteria or as a mostly veteran team that was “mired in mediocrity” under Robin Ventura. Last I checked, Anderson is a little better at being more selective at the plate but will probably never have a high OBP unless it is generated mostly from an elite BA. There’s little doubt that Anderson and Moncada made huge strides with their offensive game under their only White Sox hitting instructor until this season but there is less evidence that they will regress because Steverson was missing in 2020, or in the future.
The White Sox as an organization have struggled with low OBP’s and too many SO’s in recent memory, including when Steverson coached their hitters for 6 seasons. They set an MLB record for whiffs under Steverson in 2018 until the Tigers beat it by one SO in 2019. For many reasons, mostly because of talent and perhaps because of their recent youth, the White Sox have failed to be a high OBP hitting team. That figures to change going forward with an organizational philosophy that now puts more emphasis in the acquisition of hitters with better OBP ability (FA Yasmani Grandal) while also drafting college batters who can reach base and/or make solid contact (Zack Collins, Jake Burger, Nick Madrigal, Andrew Vaughn).
It’s not preposterous to conclude that “Steverson turned around 4 careers” when all 4 admitted as such to the press. Did you miss that part of my comment? McCann was nothing until he came over to the White Sox. Moncada had to learn the philosophy. Abreu was on the decline. Anderson was going nowhere until he bought into the philosophy. You see, these are elite ballplayers who get to the major league level and they don’t necessarily buy in until they are open to the coaching. That’s why all coaching isn’t absorbed if the player doesn’t buy in. All 4 credited Steverson for their turnarounds. White Sox had low OBP because they were in a rebuild with replacement players. I’d love to keep repeating myself all day but you seem to be a know it all.
I did not miss your comments. In fact, I started my own by saying, “You make some good points”. My problem was your dismissal of Frank Menechino as a quality hitting coach and many of your counterpoints defending Todd Steverson. There is little doubt that James McCann had a turnaround as an offensive player in 2019 under Steverson. McCann also showed some hitting ability with the Tigers including a pretty solid 2017 before tailing off in 2018 which led to his non-tender and the White Sox signing him. Clearly Steverson had a positive impact on the hitting development of Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada who was also their coach when they struggled early on. As for Abreu, he had Steverson as his hitting instructor for his first 6 seasons with some noted regression until 2019 when you suggest he might have finally bought into his “philosophy”. Additionally, Steverson can’t be faulted for the acquisitions of veteran hitters like Todd Frazier who always had OBP issues and whiffed far too much or the drafting of similar amateur talent.
To conclude, for the record and unlike most White Sox fans I was not doing cartwheels when Todd Steverson was fired following the 2019 season. For the reasons you pointed out, I felt he deserved another opportunity to coach the young White Sox hitters as they were about to transition from rebuilding mode to contention.
Similarly, I was not dancing in the streets like the majority of White Sox fans this past week with Monday’s announcement that the organization was “mutually parting ways” with manager Rick Renteria.(lol). As with Steverson, I felt that Renteria deserved another year to manage a White Sox team he helped develop and actually got into the postseason in 2020.
I was fine with the dismissal of pitching coach Don Cooper. My guess is that the Cooper decision played into the Renteria firing. I believe that Renteria relied on Cooper heavily with his pitching decisions as manager including his use of the their bullpen down the stretch and into the postseason. When Rick Hahn had his conversations with Renteria and the coaching staff following the season my speculation is that the manager favored Cooper returning and that might have been “the final nail in the coffin” for his ouster.
“I took what (Steverson) gave me,” Anderson said. “That’s my routine. He taught me my routine and taught me everything I knew in the box. I’m going to stick with it.
“I never really had a teacher. Then I met (Steverson). I was able to lock in on hitting besides just doing it. So when he showed me the recipe, I kind of learned it. I know what I’m doing now when I’m in the box.”
NOTHING FURTHER!
Aaron – Go write ur book elsewhere.
“José Abreu credits his return to the high level of offensive production he showed during his first two seasons with the White Sox to tireless work and help from three people in particular: hitting coach Todd Steverson and assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks — who helped him with his approach and mechanics, and his son, Dariel, who he turned to for inspiration and family comfort.” I can continue on with quotes from Anderson, McCann, and Moncada about Steverson, if you like? Renteria deserved to be fired. There were a hundred reasons in this past 60 game season, but theorizing that Rodon was put in a high-leverage situation at the end of the year and failed as just an exercise in learning if he can handle the situation in the regular season as opposed to the playoffs and then putting him in a higher-leverage situation in the playoffs was icing on the bonehead cake. He gone!
Time to go for broke with a top free agent ace pitcher.. A power hitting right fielder who hits for average would make the team perfect. also keep Mcann. Bring up Andrew Vaughn to DH
and play first alternating with Abreu.
What free agent power hitting right fielder comes to your mind?
The top pending free agent RF’s in their prime years are George Springer, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig.
There’s talk that the Nationals will not pick up the 2021 option on RF Adam Eaton’s contract. If that’s the case, he would offer the White Sox an excellent option as a free agent, a much cheaper one than Springer. Eaton has a cannon arm, bats left-handed with some pop and unlike Pederson can hit RHP and LHP. Like Springer, Eaton would give the White Sox another top of the batting order option who can play all the outfield positions including CF. Similarly to Springer, he also comes with his share of injury concerns. All things considered including his solid OBP and decent contact ability, I like the idea of Eaton becoming the White Sox regular in RF and either the leadoff or #2 hitter in 2021. While Eaton never accumulated high SB numbers, perhaps in part due to nagging injuries, he does possess excellent speed on the base paths. His percentage of success stealing bases with the Nats was outstanding with 30 thefts in 35 attempts.
Trevor Bauer looks to be the only true pending free agent TOR in his prime this offseason. There will be a handful of FA starters at the next level including Marcus Stroman, Masahiro Tanaka and Jake Odorizzi. A few more could join the list if their 2021 contract options are declined along with some potential non-tenders candidates later this offseason. Contract options need to be picked up or declined within the 5-day period following the conclusion of the World Series. Non-tenders will be fully known by December 2nd.
The Sox blew it by not signing Marcel Ozuna.. Dont’ know, who is available? Who is a great free agent outfielder.
Unfortunately, Marcell Ozuna plays the same position as Eloy Jimenez, LF. Ozuna is 6 years older and is restricted to LF because of his weak arm. Signing Ozuna would require a timeshare with Jimenez at LF/DH or utilizing the latter as the White Sox regular designated hitter. The White Sox already face the potential of having Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn as a timeshare at 1B/DH beginning in 2021. All four of these hitters also bat right-handed which does nothing to help balance out a White Sox lineup that could use another left-handed hitting slugger to supplement the switch-hitting power of Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada.
The White Sox were an astounding 15-0 versus southpaw starting pitchers in 2020 but struggled versus RHP. Finding one more solid lefty bat for their batting order makes the most sense this offseason. The obvious position to fill it would be RF through free agency or a trade.
Springer would be the ideal guy. He hits righties just as well as any left handed hitter. Ozuna has really good numbers vs righties also. He could certainly play right field as he has in the past, even if he is not great out there. There is no way they would sign Ozuna unless they intend for him to play RF.
But I hope their big FA splash is Springer, unless they can land Bauer. Springer just one of those epic clutch guys, would make their offense the best in baseball I would think. I like the idea of Hinch and Springer as a package deal.
Each day that passes, I’m getting more convinced that the Sox are going after Hinch. Hinch’s suspension ends after the WS, and I think right now they are lining up others (i.e. LaRussa) in case they can’t sign Hinch sometime next week (or this weekend, depending on the WS result).
There could be a surprise out of left field. I’d like to see AJ Pierzinski as bench coach with Paul Konerko or Frank Thomas as hitting coach. AJ was a smart,and tough minded player..
Agree. It’s gonna be Hinch.
Nice reply. Hey Aaron, did you have a sister or relative that was a competitive swimmer? i seem to remember the name ftom the Horwich JCC from years ago.
Erin, maybe?
Considering LaRussa’s connection to Reisendorf, there is no way they’d have leaked this and called him in unless they plan to hire him. Strange.
It’s a smokescreen. They are hiring Hinch, and this is a cover for questions about hiring a cheater. Would you rather have Hinch or Great Grandpa is the framing they want.
Have you ever been covered with invisible spiders? How is this going to stop people asking questions about hiring a cheater? If they hire Hinch, within five minutes a million people are going to be asking questions about hiring a cheater.
Second chance. Made a mistake. Paid his dues. Suspension ends with WS.
It’s gonna be Hinch. And he is bringing Springer with him.
It’s not. It’s about creating an alternate reality with an inferior option. People would go nuts if they hire LaRussa over Hinch. They wouldn’t care about the cheating if these are the two options. The cover is already working.
@chisoxfan, I’m down with Hinch/Springer!!
Yep, let’s hire Tony Ditka to coach a team full or minorities. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then listen to Dan Bernstein on 670 the score.
seeing La Rusa back at the helm would be cool
But would hiring him be wise?