The White Sox shocked most onlookers when they hired Tony La Russa as manager over the 2020-21 offseason, bringing aboard the three-time World Series champion a decade after the end of his previous managerial stint in St. Louis. Chicago didn’t announce specific terms of La Russa’s contract at the time, calling it only a “multi-year deal.” Jon Heyman of the New York Post added some specifics this week, reporting that the 77-year-old is under contract for 2023 and makes $3.75MM in annual salary.
La Russa is one of the most accomplished managers in MLB history, but he’s also been the subject of some controversy since taking the position. A four-time Manager of the Year award winner and a Hall of Famer, he oversaw a 93-win club that claimed the American League Central title during his first season at the helm. However, this year’s team has stumbled to a disappointing 30-31 start that has them third in the division. Like any manager, La Russa certainly isn’t entirely to blame for the team’s successes or failures, but he’s come under renewed scrutiny from outside observers after a controversial in-game decision last week.
Trailing by two runs in the sixth inning of last Thursday’s contest against the Dodgers, La Russa intentionally walked Trea Turner on a 1-2 count. The decision was meant to enable left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa to face the lefty-hitting Max Muncy, but it was a bizarre call considering Sousa has already worked himself into an advantage count over the right-handed Turner. The perplexing decision was made to look all the worse after Muncy launched a three-run homer to essentially put the game away.
One strategic lapse isn’t going to torpedo La Russa’s job security, particularly in light of the manager’s close relationship with owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The resoundingly-panned move was, however, the latest chapter in what has thus far been an underwhelming 2022 showing on the South Side. There’s still time to turn things around, of course. Chicago just completed a sweep over the Tigers to get within two and a half games of the final Wild Card spot and four and a half behind the division-leading Twins.
As part of that effort, they’ll need dramatically better performance from a few spots on the diamond. The Sox have received bottom five offensive production at both second and third base this year, by measure of wRC+. Leury García and Josh Harrison have both struggled mightily as a platoon at the former position, while Yoan Moncada went a month without a home run before snapping that streak as part of a five-hit day this afternoon. It’s hard to envision the Sox replacing Moncada given his pre-2022 track record, but there’s perhaps room for a shakeup at the keystone.
Utilityman Danny Mendick has hit .288/.337/.475 through his first 26 games of the season, far superior numbers to those of Harrison or García. Mendick has played shortstop recently with Tim Anderson on the injured list, but the latter kicked off a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte yesterday and is likely to return to the MLB lineup fairly soon. James Fegan of the Athletic wrote this morning the Sox could kick Mendick over to second base upon Anderson’s return if they want to keep him in the lineup.
Anderson is one of three regulars on the shelf, as the club is also without left fielder Eloy Jiménez and catcher Yasmani Grandal. Chicago has also placed high-leverage relievers Aaron Bummer and Liam Hendriks on the injured list in recent days, with the latter hitting the IL yesterday with an ominous-sounding flexor strain in his forearm. General manager Rick Hahn suggested the preliminary timetable for Hendriks’ recovery was three weeks, and the two-time All-Star downplayed any additional worries.
Speaking with reporters (including Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times) this morning, Hendriks said he’s “not concerned with (the strain) long term at all.” He admitted he’s pitched through a tear in the UCL in his elbow for over a decade but stated the forearm strain hasn’t done any further damage to the ligament. Signed to a $54MM guarantee over the 2020-21 offseason, the righty has an excellent 2.61 ERA across 96 2/3 innings with 54 saves in a ChiSox uniform.
One toke over the line, sweet LaRussa, one toke over the line
Sitting downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I am not alone
Just cut through all the rigmarole- extend TLR, he’s doing a fine job. I’m enjoying how dark his hair is getting. Although often Tony looks a little dazed and confused in the dugout.
And I didn’t realize, he is under contract thru 2023.
I’m guessing you’d know what to do with a bag of $@%s.
On July 12, 2018, the AAA Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League played a game in El Paso against the Chihuahuas. The Aces beat El Paso 8-2 that day. More notable, some may note, was the pitching matchup in the 7th inning. Chihuahuas reliever Colton Brewer threw a scoreless top of the 7th giving up 1 hit and striking out 2. He then gave way to his counterpart, Aces pitcher Braden Shipley, who matched with a scoreless bottom half of the inning walking one and striking out one.
And ?
“ One strategic lapse isn’t going to torpedo La Russa’s job security,”
Uh, does “strategic lapse” mean a lapse, but with a designated driver next time, or…..
Monday morning quarterbacking is as humorous as it is ugly.
Pretty much everyone saw the IBB as a mistake in the moment.
Watch both teams LIVe broadcast and figure out if everyone is “Monday Morning Quarterbacking”
But ask Dbacks fans if they think Tony did a good job working with their org. Fact is he got the job because he’s buddies with Jerry not because his recent track record screamed “this guy should be managing again”.
Mendick needs to be our every day 2B when TA is back.
Hey, I’m a Mendick fan. I feel bad for him being treated like a yo-yo the past few years. He’s a player, for sure, but he also has a history of going on a tear and then plummeting back down to earth. Keep him on the roster? Sure. But be prepared for his slump
I think a slumping Danny trumps a thriving Leury these days.
In Leurys defense, he’s a utility guy who’s been playing almost everyday the past couple years because of injuries. He seems like a great clubhouse guy as well as being versatile and dependable (health wise) but not suited as a starter. Hes also had a few good moments along the way.
Likable player, not a starter though.
I mean, nobody is at all excited about him playing. But looking at the other options… I liked the Josh Harrison signing when it happened, but .256 OBP isn’t going to cut it even if his glove is pretty good (2.0 UZR right now).
Still hold out hope they can find someone at the trade deadline, but it’s unclear if they’ll even be buyers at this point…
Agreed 100%
Tony Larussa has that look in the dugout like he can’t wait to get a lead late to get Eck up. I swear one day I saw him mouthing “Gene Nelson, or Honeycutt?” in the 7th of a game.
I think Chicago fans have to wait until the team is healthy then make a call on what needs to happen with Tony. It seems some fans appear to think no matter the injuries/poor player performance Tony should make up that difference. It doesn’t work that way.
The Turner call was a bad call, but he has made poor calls before. He has been a winner everywhere he has coached. It’s still pretty early in the season. It still might turn out like the fans think it should.
It’s not just one call, and never has been. It’s bizarre bullpen decisions, overusing certain players in the bullpen in general, attachment to certain players playing that goes well beyond anything logical… lineups that make no sense… it’s all stuff that would get the Riverboat Ron treatment if it actually worked and/or had a basis in logic, but since it’s not working he’s justifiably getting booed.
There’s also a fair number of us that didn’t like the hire from day one due to personal reasons – I still proudly own and wear my Sox Machine shirt with “Hall of Fame Baseball Person” on it, referring to his attempt to get out of DWI #2 …
Yeah instead of TLR, we now refer to him as HFBP
@cards78
People are not upset about Tony’s inability to make up for injuries or poor performance. They are upset because of his batshit stupid lineup choices first of all. Leury Garcia has hit leadoff 4 times, 2nd twice, and 3rd twice. He’s put them at a disadvantage before they even take the field probably at least 20 times so far. They have played sub-.500 since late July last year and been lifeless most of that time. Energy and vibe matter, and it is no accident that they’ve played like they are half dead including last October, because TLR is half dead himself. I’ve had family members in nursing homes who are younger than him. He has no business having his job at his age, and has proved that with the competency he’s failed to demonstrate for almost a season and a half after being retired for 10 years, which is where he belongs.
The physical and mental demands of coaching a professional sports team are not a good fit for somebody almost 80. Nobody within 4 years of his age has ever coached an NFL or NBA game. Only two others have managed an MLB game – one was Jack McKeon a few years ago for less than a year, and the other was Connie Mack 80 years ago. The average age of the other managers in the AL is 52. The fact that TLR is a quarter century older than that is utterly ridiculous, and is an embarrassment to the team, the city, and the fans. Hence why Espn made a point of having their MLB home page cover story last week “Was TLR’s intentional walk on a 1-2 pitch the worst ever?”. It probably was, because he is absolutely, in 2022, the worst manager of all time. And instead of owning up to his mistakes, he justifies them like an arrogant ass, which describes him and his petty/cheap assclown boss owner perfectly.
The La Russa hire was awful, and predictable considering who makes the decisions in the organization.
I wasn’t too concerned, however, given the collection of young talent on the roster. What I was, and still an concerned with is the front office’s failure to upgrade the roster at 2B and RF, given the mythical “roster flexibility” Hahn claimed would allow him to spend money on free agents.
Let’s face it though. LaRussa is a terrible manager at this point in his life—far worse than I thought possible. The significant injuries just bring his shortcomings to center stage.
Sadly, the “window of contention” is over before it started. They’ll stay exactly as they are (an injured roster fortified by corner, washed up journeymen) for the next three years. Sox fans will be forced to watch them implode in slow motion.
*fortified by CORNY…
This team was flawed defensively prior to TLR. So many baserunning mistakes as well. I get TLR gets the blame for this year but they were problems with this team prior to his hiring. White Sox fans refused to believe this team was average on paper against the big boys in the AL because of how horrible the AL Central has been the last few years. The prospects are a few years away as well and this team needed to capitalize this year but it seems like their giving wins away that World Series title contending teams do not. Getting rid of TLR won’t solve the bad baserunning, the defensive miscues, the lack of urgency with this ball club. There’s only one person to blame all of this and that’s Jerry. If you’re a title contending team like he’s proclaimed, why didn’t you add more to your payroll, rather then do contractual swaps involving Pollock and Kimbrel? I get it, the RF has been a hole a while but Jerry has always said he’ll spend money if it’s worth spending money. So why didn’t he add a guy like Story who could’ve helped this team at 2B? These are the type of decision makings that Sox fans should question with Jerry. I’m not a White Sox fan or Cubs fan but I see the real problem with this team and TLR is just an escape goat to me.
Escape goat?
I think I could use one of those.
Sorry, but who keeps letting these mistakes, miscues, and errors occur? It falls on the manager, same with the lack of heart this entire club has. One has to question if Renteria who have really done worse than LaRussa last or this season. Sure Ultimately the fault mostly lay with management for the small market minded approach to ‘winning it all’ but LaRussa has been awful for this club.
The Russa is an awful person and somehow an even more awful manager. There was zero reason to hire him and zero reason to feel bad about firing him last time. Both of his DUI’s were incidents where he was caught because he was driving like an ass; neither one was a situation where he just happened to get popped by chance. He could have killed someone.
Easily the worst part of that entire intentional walk debacle (and there were many bad parts) was the fact that he was actually surprised that there were people who thought that was a stupid move. And keep in mind this was AFTER it blew up in his face. Keeping him at the helm after that shows that something has to be seriously wrong with Reinsdorf in some respect. No sane owner would insist he stay.
Why is he an awful person?
He’s an awful person because he consistently risks the lives of innocent people.
He abandoned his children from his first marriage, he has multiple DUI’s, instead of just saying he disagreed with the anthem protests he questioned the sincerity of the people protesting. I won’t even get into his weird animal rescue thing.
You forgot to add..when he pathetically threw out the race card in an lame attempt to make it looked like he had his players backs…
Nothing wrong with Jerry, he just doesn’t care. Having an owner of a sports franchise who isn’t passionate about winning is like a curse to a city. Chicagoans are suffering from the gross negligence of billionaires who, frankly, couldn’t care less.
He said “The Russa is an awful person.”
Read the OP’s ENTIRE post.
There’s no way to judge the White Sox until they get players on the field. Was the LaRussa hire questionable? Smart? Bad? If nothing, in my opinion, it just shows how prescient little manager means to either a world series hopeful or one riddle with injuries. It’s an entire staff we’re talking about right down to trainers that is on the job.
LaRussa is just a whipping boy. I’ve enjoyed my own good natured swipes. But he’s 77. Age is a reality. The 1-2 walk was wild. But that’s always been his thing. Always that wink like a guy who discovered the latest thing….that didn’t really matter…15 years after someone discovered it really didn’t matter. He’s a people manager. His people.
LA russa is old school and people can’t relate that to that anymore.
My thing is he wasn’t old school. He thought he was cutting edge by doing things like letting the pitcher bat 8th.
I;m old school and can clearly see the senile alcoholic is in way over his senile head. He needs to go back the retirement home.
This is a talented team that has been devastated by injuries, and almost everyone has under performed, add this to the poor bullpen management, crazy lineups, and head scratching decisions by TLR. and this is the result. LaRussa was a terrible hire, I get it he is a hall of fame manger, but Frank Thomas is a hall of famer, doesn’t mean I want him as the DH of this team. His time has come and gone years ago.
I want Pierzynski to manage the Sox. Catchers make good managers.
Brad Ausmus disagrees with your comment
I love AJ, but he’s too snarky to manage a big league club. Half the locker room would hate him.
Someone in the comments wanted to know why LaRussa is a terrible person. OK listen he is a cheater he knows he’s a cheater and it would take very little detailed investigation to show he was complicit in Oakland and St.Louis. Hawk Harrelson is the only person to have the balls to fire LaRussa. Hawk knows what kind of person Tony is.
Jimmy Piersall is waiting in the afterlife to kick LaRussa in the junk.
Managing under the influence.
MUI.
I think way too much has been made of this Trea Turner/Muncy decision. Quite frankly, even with two strikes, Turner is a .269 hitter, FAR better than Muncy’s (current) 156/323/279 line (and that’s AFTER the homer). What Larussa was also unable to say without throwing his pitcher under the bus was he clearly had no confidence that his hurler could nibble or “pitch around” Turner.
As for the White Sox’ overall performance, injuries and poor performances have clearly hurt the club.
I don’t like Larussa personally but he’s got a track record that says he’s a damn fine manager. The backlash and distaste for him from the court of public and pundit opinion seems excessive and personal vs. professional..
He’s 77 years old. Even the best of humanity has difficulty adapting to change, or even having the energy and creativity to adjust on the fly.
He’s probably forgotten more things about the game than most young managers know, but that has an effect on one’s decision making ability.
@ChiSoxCity
I hear you on him forgetting more than young managers know. But if that were truly impactful….they’d have won a World Series. I think LaRussa is a classic “baseball man” and there’s nothing wrong with that. But baseball has left the day and age of rewarding people for qualities we always assumed they possessed. LaRussa has been exposed to that for a long, long, time. His time was with Dave Duncan in Oakland managing a game he understood, and was more amiable to his whims. My issue was his capacity to hold grudges over winning…and his capacity to soak up these accolades for being some kind of “savant”.
He was a “Winners Manager” in the Stengel mode. Joe Madden is as well. He was the cap you put on a team for the world series run. Not a developer. And now…he’s a little like the cream you found in the back of the fridge….susceptible to the smell test.
Yep, I think this was conventional wisdom on TLR prior to the Sox hire. The only person who didn’t see what you just described is Jerry.
@chisox
I have knocked Tony LaRussa for a solid 20 years. And that’s probably unfair. It’s hard while someone is still around to appreciate their legacy. He’s managed some egos and a lot of big expectations where he’s been. There’s likely some great stories floating around from former players that would paint a very convincing story of his intangibles.
But, yeah…this was a Reinsdorf hire. But the Sox are ALWAYS about Jerry and his whims. This current era dates from the “White Flag” sale.
Every year one team blows apart. Injuries mount and they never get the ball rolling.
TLR aside, This was not surprising to those paying attention. This team lacks heart and motivation to perform aptly to ‘win it all’ (and did last year as well and nothing changed in the offseason). They wilt when facing good teams (the occasional series aside) and are 3rd place in what is really a godawful division. Players out of condition as well., and labeling above average pitchers as ‘aces’. Its sad when the supposed ‘Ace’ of this team (Giolito) is getting out performed by legit aces (albeit it past their primes) in Lynn and Cueto. To be honest its like Katz wants these guys trying to make pinpoint control pitches then causing high pitch counts in their outings. Poor defensive play as well, bad base running mistakes.. People complained about time manipulation on the younger players.. Yeah, Eloy getting hurt fielding a meaningless ST homer last season and not knowing how to run to first this season I think shows the skills lacking. Then you have the bargain hunter Hahn who was bringing in FAs to ‘win it all’ and settling for mediocre talent..
If I were GM:
-Id drop Garcia and Harrison in one swoop.
-Bring up another starter and Yolmert Sanchez (can he ready do worse than Harrison or Garcia at this time?)
-Warn Moncada that it may be time to demote him (if he has any options left anyway) and if I could drop him to A ball to send a message.
-Force BP to be taken with the ‘bases loaded’ situations, and have these guys dance around and do whatever to try to distract the hitters as its obvious this messes with them, or their nerves….. I mean really, how many times have the Sox left bases loaded with 1 or 0 outs? (spoiler: once is too many)
Id also talk to:
– Katz about his pitchers inability to get past the 5th inning.
-To the conditioning staff about why my millions of dollars is currently polishing the bench with their @$$es (Im talking about these soft tissue injuries like Calf, Quad, Groin, lat, Ab injuries).
-To the team about under-performing and the apparent lack of want on the club.
This was supposed to be a ‘win it all’ team and they cannot even be competitive against mediocre teams much less true Playoff contenders.
Oh by the way where are all the fanboys talking about over reaction and that the Sox would be in first by the AS break?
Funny how everyone seems to forget the new post season rules. The game has changed to be fired up and clicking for the playoffs. Nobody cares if you win 100 games and don’t have that “thing” once the playoffs start.