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Chicago White Sox: Hiring Tony LaRussa is a strange decision

By Vincent Parise

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Inductee Tony La Russa gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, New York. La Russa managed for 33 seasons with 2,728 victories and led his teams to six pennants and three Worls Series titles. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Inductee Tony La Russa gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, New York. La Russa managed for 33 seasons with 2,728 victories and led his teams to six pennants and three Worls Series titles. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago White Sox have hired Tony LaRussa to be their manager.

Well, the Chicago White Sox did exactly what their fanbase has been asking them not to do since the rumor started earlier in October. They have hired Tony La Russa to be their new manager. They fired Rick Renteria earlier in their offseason and now La Russa is their guy. It is a strange pick for a variety of reasons but now White Sox fans just have to hope that they know what they were doing.

It is less than ideal because of what is out there. The White Sox are the best team without a coach. They have a legit World Series window opening and they hired a 76-year-old manager who hasn’t managed a baseball game since 2011. In the decade since leaving baseball as a manager, he has been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of course, he was a great manager and that is why he is in the Hall of Fame. His coaching record is 2728-2365 for a winning percentage of .536. He has won the pennant six times, the World Series three times, and been a manager of the year four times. He used to be a real good coach and all of the numbers show it.

He started his managerial career with, you guessed it, the Chicago White Sox. This is his second go-around with them and he is hoping that it goes better than the first. He also managed the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals in his time. His friendship with Jerry Reinsdorf had to have a lot to do with this hire.

The problem is that this move leaves managers like AJ Hinch and Alex Cora out there who have both won the World Series within the last half-decade. They are both labeled for their involvement in the Houston Astros cheating scandal but they are both also very good managers.

As much as this hire isn’t the best, it could be worse. It is probably an upgrade from Rick Renteria but it wasn’t the best available option. That is why it has to be considered a “strange decision”. With that said, as long as he can construct a good lineup and handle the pitching the right way, they should be able to win a lot of baseball games. It would also help if he has adjusted to some of the new (more fun) ways baseball is being played in 2020.

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No matter what, the White Sox have a very talented roster that is only going to get better. If La Russa can put them in a good position to win then this might not be the worst thing to ever happen. With his age, it probably isn’t a long-term option either so if it doesn’t work out right away it probably won’t last very long. Hopefully, they are able to just win and make everyone happy.

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