White Sox hire Tony LaRussa as manager

Sad Sam Jones

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Reinsdorf is a despicable piece of trash, but I don't thinks he's completely clueless. He had to know the DUI would come to light, but he simply doesn't care. I'd be surprised if he abandons his pal LaRussa before he even makes it to the clubhouse. However, when they get to spring training or Chicago and LaRussa publicly clashes with a player(s), maybe the front office will prevail.
 

oumbi

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Sure, of course the owner bypassing all the baseball executives to hire the manager himself already tells everyone that the franchise is a shitshow even if the owner had picked a good manager instead of a washed up racist alcoholic.
It is not being an alcoholic that is the problem. There are plenty of functioning and thriving people who are also alcoholics. The problem with LaRussa is that he isn't in control of his alcoholism.

But yes, the modifier to the word alcoholic is a problem.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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It is not being an alcoholic that is the problem. There are plenty of functioning and thriving people who are also alcoholics. The problem with LaRussa is that he isn't in control of his alcoholism.

But yes, the modifier to the word alcoholic is a problem.
Only truly thriving alcoholics or drug addicts are those in recovery
 

mauf

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Only truly thriving alcoholics or drug addicts are those in recovery
For sure, but if he weren’t running afoul of the law and bringing embarrassment upon those who associate with him, his drinking wouldn’t necessarily be his employer’s concern, which I think is the point @oumbi is making. When you repeatedly get behind the wheel while intoxicated, it’s not just your personal demons anymore.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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For sure, but if he weren’t running afoul of the law and bringing embarrassment upon those who associate with him, his drinking wouldn’t necessarily be his employer’s concern, which I think is the point @oumbi is making. When you repeatedly get behind the wheel while intoxicated, it’s not just your personal demons anymore.
I agree and when one is 76 years old there are no more excuses
 

santadevil

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jon abbey

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While I do agree with you, that article was nothing but praise from the players. So unless I'm missing something, I think I'm missing something?
Yeah, my comment had nothing to do with that article, just sticking to my original opinion, sorry for the confusion.
 

soxhop411

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View: https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/1390033959921258497

Tony La Russa did not know that he could have used Jose Abreu at second base as the free runner instead of closer Liam Hendriks. Was informed of an amendment to rule by
@JRFegan
. "I'm guessing you know the rules better. Now I know," he said.
View: https://twitter.com/RyanMcGuffey/status/1387248622828498946

Imagine if this was a Red sox manager who did this type of crap
La Russa says it's 'my fault for not recognizing' that Lucas didn't have much gas left in the tank. Also says decision to go with Hamilton/Leury was because they were 'looking for a single there'. #WhiteSox
they would be run out of town by sundown
 

moondog80

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If nothing else, how is there not a non-senior citizen bench coach helping him with this sort of thing?
 

JimD

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If nothing else, how is there not a non-senior citizen bench coach helping him with this sort of thing?
This made me look up to see who his bench coach is - it's Miguel Cairo. Apparently playing for LaRussa was the primary qualification, because Cairo has had what appears to be an undistinguished career since he hung 'em up in 2013. His only time on a coaching staff was a stint as temporary bench coach for the Reds in 2013.
 

soxhop411

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Uh... TLR, you really want to throw your own player under the bus?
View: https://twitter.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1394762161491173379?
Tony La Russa was 'upset' that Yermin Mercedes hit a home run on a 3-0 count last night in a blowout win. "He made a mistake. There will be a consequence he has to endure here within our family."
"there will be a consequence he has to endure here within our family.""
does he think he is Tony Soprano?
 
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Yelling At Clouds

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I mean TLR has been so disastrous that the White Sox have the best record and differential in all of MLB
EDIT And this is without two of their best position players!
 

soxhop411

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I mean TLR has been so disastrous that the White Sox have the best record and differential in all of MLB
EDIT And this is without two of their best position players!
I am sure the CHW players are over the moon that their manager threw one of their star players under the bus, for doing what every player does in every fucking sport during garbage time (stat padding!)

Why isn't he mad at the twins for putting a position player on the mound who cant throw above 50MPH? I am sure there is an unwritten rule about that he can find in his "rule book"

View: https://twitter.com/jrfegan/status/1394773686662610950?s=21

La Russa rejected Mercedes rationale that he was just being himself: "I heard he said something like, 'I play my game.' No he doesn't. He plays the game of Major League Baseball, respects the game, respects the opponents. And he's got to respect the signs."






Edit: what the fuck kind of joke is this?
That was definitely a wild zoom with Tony. He wouldn't reveal the punishment (it's not playing time) then joked: “I could try and spank him but he’s too big and strong.”
View: https://twitter.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1394775968712101891
 
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PseuFighter

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He's the reason the White Sox won't win the world series, and it's pathetic.

That said, what was Mercedes supposed to do? Stats are stats and they help these guys. This isn't little league.
 

soxhop411

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He's the reason the White Sox won't win the world series, and it's pathetic.

That said, what was Mercedes supposed to do? Stats are stats and they help these guys. This isn't little league.
yes, he is also one of the reasons this sport struggles to bring in and keep young fans..


These "old school" managers demand players follow the unwritten rules of baseball, Fun moments like this ruin the game according to them
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Jack McKeon was fun when he came back to manage at age 104 or whatever it was (yeah, it was 72...and then for a season at 80). LaRussa not so much. His age is really showing, and I don't just mean the "old school" mentality stuff with his unwritten, play the game the right way bullshit. He seems lost in some of those media availability zoom sessions. Like Grandpa wandering down the street in his bathrobe lost.

I agree with PseuFighter...the White Sox are going to succeed in spite of him, not because of him. They had a talented roster before he signed on. If they win the division, it won't be because of some LaRussa magic.
 

LogansDad

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So he'll throw his own players under the bus for violating the unwritten rules a week or so after he professed he was unaware of the written rules?

Strong leadership.
 

Comfortably Lomb

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He's the reason the White Sox won't win the world series, and it's pathetic.

That said, what was Mercedes supposed to do? Stats are stats and they help these guys. This isn't little league.
Right. These guys get paid based on the stats they put up. Their career trajectory is based on the stats they put up. Yermin's problem is he's 28 with less than 40 games in the majors making league minimum so he's in a terrible position to tell LaRussa to fuck off. His veteran teammates should bury LaRussa though.
 

Just a bit outside

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This is so dumb. Who cares if he swung 3-0 in a 15-4 game with a pitch being lobbed in by a position player. The game was already a joke and if TLR shut up about it the story would have lasted 2 minutes. If he didn’t want him to try he should have sent up without a bat or hitting left-handed.
 

terrynever

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You disobey a take sign any time, it’s a problem for the entire coaching staff, not just the manager.
 

EvilEmpire

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Eh. LaRussa wants his guys to follow the signs being given, that's fine.

Edit: And I say that knowing that TLR is a total asshole after meeting him once a long, long time ago. Can't stand the guy.
 

Zedia

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Are coaches giving signs with 2 out, no one on in the 9th? Unwritten rules are asinine.

edit - I guess missed the tweet where he said he had to “respect the signs”. I wouldn‘t bother even looking at a coach in that situation.
 

terrynever

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Eh. LaRussa wants his guys to follow the signs being given, that's fine.

Edit: And I say that knowing that TLR is a total asshole after meeting him once a long, long time ago. Can't stand the guy.
We old Army guys know what happens when you disobey an order. Baseball is not the Army but chain of command matters. Who else will disobey signs? Where do you stop it? That’s what La Russa is doing here. Any manager would be pissed although most would settle it privately.
 

scottyno

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So he'll throw his own players under the bus for violating the unwritten rules a week or so after he professed he was unaware of the written rules?

Strong leadership.
No he's throwing his player under the bus for ignoring a coach
 

LogansDad

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No he's throwing his player under the bus for ignoring a coach
Also strong leadership (sarcasm). My point still stands.

There were about a million better ways he could have answered any questions that the press had about it. "It's handled." or something like that would have been appropriate. Making himself sound like a mob boss was not an appropriate way to handle the situation.
 

EvilEmpire

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We old Army guys know what happens when you disobey an order. Baseball is not the Army but chain of command matters. Who else will disobey signs? Where do you stop it? That’s what La Russa is doing here. Any manager would be pissed although most would settle it privately.
Pretty much. He should have kept it within the clubhouse, but he isn't wrong about ignoring coaches. Definitely an asshole though.

Only time will tell about his current tenure with the White Sox. They're playing well right now. Maybe a disciplined, old-school style of management is working for them. They've been lousy for quite a while, even though they've had some pretty good players.

Edit: Yeah, I want to see more stolen bases in blowouts too. Let the kids play. :rolleyes:
 

scottyno

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A coach that wanted him to stop trying because it would hurt the other team’s feelings.
Who cares why he wanted the sign given. Do you want players deciding to ignore something the coach tells them to do just because they feel like it?
 

jon abbey

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As someone said on Twitter, no one is looking at signs from the third base coach in a 15-3 game or whatever it was.
 

BornToRun

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Who cares why he wanted the sign given. Do you want players deciding to ignore something the coach tells them to do just because they feel like it?
If my coach is a turd like La Russa then yeah, maybe I do. It’s not a stretch to think that the players have zero respect for him and maybe that’s something the owner should’ve considered before dusting his irrelevant old ass off to manage the team.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Ignoring a coaches signs is something a player should be disciplined for.

of course, a manager who gives a take sign in that scenario is lame as fuck, and I get why yermin would ignore it, if he even saw (heard?) it
 

terrynever

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Ignoring a coaches signs is something a player should be disciplined for.

of course, a manager who gives a take sign in that scenario is lame as fuck, and I get why yermin would ignore it, if he even saw (heard?) it
My question is more about whether the White Sox have the proper leadership and whether the obviously talented roster is listening to that leadership. Are they tuning Tony out already?
 

azsoxpatsfan

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My question is more about whether the White Sox have the proper leadership and whether the obviously talented roster is listening to that leadership. Are they tuning Tony out already?
That’s the thing, a manager needs to have his players listen to him in order for the team to be successful, but in order for his players to listen to him he has to have their respect and telling a young stud to take on 3-0 isn’t the way to go about doing that
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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That’s the thing, a manager needs to have his players listen to him in order for the team to be successful, but in order for his players to listen to him he has to have their respect and telling a young stud to take on 3-0 isn’t the way to go about doing that
I don't know if it's even the take sign on 3-0 that's the problem (though I agree the scenario didn't call for signs of any kind). The problem is airing it all through the media and making it into a way bigger deal than it deserves to be. I'm sure that Mercedes would likely respect LaRussa more if TLR went to him quietly in the clubhouse and told him he wasn't happy that he swung away in that spot. Mercedes might still disagree but at least he can respect someone that respects him.

This is Bobby Valentine publically calling out Kevin Youkilis' commitment level assholery, and it's totally unnecessary.