Before the Chicago White Sox took game one from the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon, some quotes came out from Jose Abreu about his manager. Tony La Russa took a lot of heat early in the season for the way that he managed.
There were some things that a lot of us disagreed with and there were some losses to show for it. However, since about mid-May, things have started to turn around for La Russa and the club. Their record was never worrisome but the way they were playing was.
Now, it seems like the players all appreciate him and play hard for him. Jose Abreu’s words reflect that notion big time. He is all in on Tony and what the organization is trying to do as a whole. As long as Tony La Russa does his part, the team is talented enough to make a deep run. They lack experience in the clubhouse but the manager surely doesn’t.
Abreu gave a direct quote that should excite all fans:
"He’s been there since day one of spring training. He’s been our leader. We know the kind of person that he is and the kind of manager he is. We all play hard for him."
Hearing that from any player would make a White Sox fan feel good. However, some players carry a bit more weight than others in terms of what they say and Jose Abreu is one of those players. He is an MVP that has respect earned in his own right. With these guys leading the way, there is a lot to look forward to.
The Chicago White Sox need Tony La Russa to be the best manager that he can be
Some of the things Tony La Russa did in this win over the Cubs even worked out well. That Cubs team is a shell of themselves and they still played the White sox well. The White Sox were vulnerable when they allowed the Cubs to tie it but they did not quit. They shut them down in the 9th and went into the 10th inning with some fire. It was the type of win that you hope gets them going offensively again because that flame has been out for a few games now.
La Russa and the Sox need to take advantage of dismantled Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins teams over the next few games before they head to Iowa for the Field of Dreams. It will be a lot of fun to see Tony and the boys compete on such an amazing stage. Hopefully, the leadership group in this organization can keep it going. If they do that, they have a real chance of making 2021 a really special year.