Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa could be the guy that can get the Chicago White Sox over the hump.
There are plenty of things to complain about with Tony La Russa. Showing incredibly poor judgment with multiple DUIs, not knowing the rules, and his handling of the Yermin Mercedes situation are a few examples. All are valid criticism. But like it or not, La Russa is a strength of the team.
No other active manager in baseball has as impressive of a resume as La Russa. He has amassed over 2800 wins, six pennants, and three World Series rings.
He is a Hall of Fame manager for a reason. Not many people would have been able to navigate the number of injuries the White Sox did in 2021 and still manage to win 93 games. Before La Russa’s arrival, the White Sox had not won a division since 2008. If his plaque in Cooperstown isn’t enough to convince you he is an asset, take it from his players.
The White Sox love playing for him. You could see an immediate buy-in. Many were worried about his ability to connect with the younger players, specifically Tim Anderson. Anderson has since turned into one of his biggest supporters.
"“He’s always there. I call him, text him, talk to him. After a game, before a game, whatever. He’s like a best friend,” Anderson said about La Russa on NBC Sports Chicago’s White Sox Talk Podcast. “You always have access to him. He’s going to always keep it real with you, and that’s what you need when you’re playing a struggling game like this. You don’t want someone just telling you stuff just to tell you. He’ll hold you accountable as well.”"
Anderson even went as far as to call La Russa “a best friend with the title of a manager.”
His wealth of experience and the talent at his disposal will make it tough for opponents to beat the White Sox in a strategic chess match. All of these strengths will help the White Sox win a lot in 2022.