LaRussa managing White Sox

[patrickgpe]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2913193-tony-la-russa-announced-as-white-sox-manager-after-rick-renteria-firing

 

This one floors me. I know they boxed themselves in by saying they wanted someone with championship experience, which pretty much they were hiring him, Hinch, or Cora. There has been so many young managers succeeding of late. The white sox are a young and up and coming team, and they can't bring in someone to grow with them. He hasn't managed in 9 years too, its a different game then when he left the cards.

[owbc]

This should be quite entertaining. It sounds like TLR is familiar with analytics through his more recent work with the Red Sox. I would consider his stance on social justice issues to be a more significant concern. Can't believe he's back.

[NYChez]

People who have to watch White Sox games are thankful this is occurring after MLB made the 3-batter pitching substitution rule. A Sox / Cleveland game could have taken 5 hours with LaRussa and Francona making multiple pitching changes each inning.

[RollieTime]

Lol, this is funny and sad at the same time. Funny that they would sign him and sad that they would even consider going this route

[Lathund]

An old-school "unwritten rules" type of guy (For a recent example, look up what he said about Tatis and that 3-0 count grand slam) managing Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson etc? What a strange decision.

 

Has Jerry Reinsdorf written all over it, reports that many within the organizations are very unhappy at the hire and thet process behind it. Hahn's comments: "White Sox GM Rick Hahn: "Once it became clear that Tony was very much open to this, the process did change, the focus was how do we make it work with Tony.''. Some reading between the lines required of course, but doesn't sound like he's happy.

 

Or how about this... White sox released this image in announcing the signing: https://i.redd.it/5cdzwq8jf3w51.jpg

 

Take a look at the signature below "manager", and then google AJ Hinch's autograph.

[trwi7]

We just need to be ready to pounce when Anderson, Jimenez, Moncada and Giolito ask for a trade.

[Baldkin]

I mean, talk about not being able to read the room.

[folly412]

There has been so many young managers succeeding of late. The white sox are a young and up and coming team, and they can't bring in someone to grow with them.

 

An old-school "unwritten rules" type of guy (For a recent example, look up what he said about Tatis and that 3-0 count grand slam) managing Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson etc? What a strange decision.

 

They really are the AL's Padres in terms of a young, flashy roster. Looking at how San Diego's hire of Tingler finally churned out a good team after all their rebuilds and spending kept amounting to nothing and it's weird that the White Sox choose to take the opposite approach.

[CheezWizHed]

I hope we aren't restricted to playing central teams next year. I'd hate our teams to be thrown at if we smile a bit too much after hitting a home run.

[Eye Black]

The Tigers are on the verge of hiring AJ Hinch and it somehow isn’t even the worst managerial hire made in the AL Central today thanks to the White Sox.

[GenoSeligPrieb]

The 2011 White Sox under LaRussa: Steroids, sign-stealing, throwing at opposing batters. Then, Tim Anderson will homer, flip his bat into the mezzanine, and taunt the pitcher.

[kestrel79]

Love how the trend in pro sports coaching as been to go younger the past 5 years across the board...and the Sox go complete opposite and hire a nearly 80 year old man to coach a young talented team. Seems a head scratcher to me but I guess we'll wait and see.

[patrickgpe]

i think it will be interesting to see who the bench coach is. if LaRussa hires one of his boys, it could be trouble. if its a young up and coming manager in waiting, it may make sense. Learn from LaRussa, players can relate to bench coach, etc. Still think the game passed him by and its a bad hire though.

[Jopal78]

I don't know, Dusty Baker is about the same age (71) and he did just fine with the Astros, and taking over what could not have been a worse situation.

 

If La Russa is truly committed to managing I'm sure he'll do just fine. However, since retiring in 2011 he has worked for MLB under Joe Torre, run the front office of a team (Arizona), been VP/Assistant GM (Boston...and got another WS ring), and has been an special advisor for the LA Angels. That is a lot of different hats and organizations in ten years. He very well manage the Sox for one year and ride off into the sunset again.

[MrTPlush]

I lot of people critical over hiring a manager with 6 pennants in his career and a 50% success at winning the World Series once there.

 

I would have expected a younger manager since they are so early into what looks to be a promising window...but hardly seems like a terrible choice. Figure they would have wanted someone more interested in the long haul...I would guess LaRussa will bounce if they win a World Series much like he did in St. Louis. I guess that isn't a bad problem to have...but interesting they went this route.

[homer]

I lot of people critical over hiring a manager with 6 pennants in his career and a 50% success at winning the World Series once there.

 

I would have expected a younger manager since they are so early into what looks to be a promising window...but hardly seems like a terrible choice. Figure they would have wanted someone more interested in the long haul...I would guess LaRussa will bounce if they win a World Series much like he did in St. Louis. I guess that isn't a bad problem to have...but interesting they went this route.

 

Last game he managed:

During an interview session at Busch Stadium, La Russa said he twice called to get Motte ready. La Russa says the first time, he might have mentioned Motte after bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist had hung up the phone.

 

The second time, La Russa says he wanted Motte, but Lilliquist instead heard the name of reliever Lance Lynn.

 

"Hey, it's my fault," he said. "Maybe I slurred it, whatever it is. It comes down to who has the responsibility when there's those kinds of miscommunications."

 

And this was 9 years ago.

[trwi7]

Off to a great start! Also, Chris Carpenter, son, etc.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30288007/chicago-white-sox-manager-tony-la-russa-charged-dui-stemming-february-arrest-court-docs-show

[homer]

Off to a great start! Also, Chris Carpenter, son, etc.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30288007/chicago-white-sox-manager-tony-la-russa-charged-dui-stemming-february-arrest-court-docs-show

 

[Zad Fnark]

If they ever play in Milwaukee, everyone should hold up a "DUI" sign.

[Outlander]

The White Sox and Reinsdorf in particular look pretty bad as they appear to have known about this before he was officially hired.

[WV Brew]

Just like the Sox. They do everything right and then blow it with one bad decision. Maybe they just wanted the extra television commercials that result from a 5 hour game.

[MrTPlush]

If they ever play in Milwaukee, everyone should hold up a "DUI" sign.

 

I don't think the people of Wisconsin really have room to make jabs at people over drunk driving.

[Zad Fnark]

 

I don't think the people of Wisconsin really have room to make jabs at people over drunk driving.

 

My conscience is clear.

[TURBO]

Can you imagine signing this guy with all the headaches involved right now?

 

Geez, what a complete failure by the White Sox.

[trwi7]