Sox Manager

[jad]

I think Chicago just prevented the Red Sox from being accused of making the dumbest sports decision since trading away Ruth.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30220736/why-tony-la-russa-sincerely-curious-choice-white-sox-manager

[notin]

I think Chicago just prevented the Red Sox from being accused of making the dumbest sports decision since trading away Ruth.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30220736/why-tony-la-russa-sincerely-curious-choice-white-sox-manager

 

To be fair to the White Sox. LaRussa was not their first choice. But Whitey Herzog was unavailable...

[jad]

To be fair to the White Sox. LaRussa was not their first choice. But Whitey Herzog was unavailable...

 

Come on. They could have had Brett Favre ...

[dgalehouse]

Tony La Russa is a four time manager of the year. He has four World Series rings. He has managed six All Star Teams. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is bilingual. But I guess he is just too old to manage in today's complicated , analytics driven game. They should look for a younger person. A Gabe Kapler type, maybe. Yeah, that would be better.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Tony La Russa is a four time manager of the year. He has four World Series rings. He has managed six All Star Teams. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is bilingual. But I guess he is just too old to manage in today's complicated , analytics driven game. They should look for a younger person. A Gabe Kapler type, maybe. Yeah, that would be better.

 

Millions of Americans are voting for guys his age to run a country. If only the manager who invented the closer could run a bullpen...

[notin]

Millions of Americans are voting for guys his age to run a country. If only the manager who invented the closer could run a bullpen...

 

Arguably he invented the closer because he couldn't run a bullpen.

 

I don't get why people who hate analytics like the same guy who brought in such bizarre "innovations" as hitting the pitcher 8th, defensive replacements at 1B (that whole thing is just weird), and using Mark McGwire as a lead off hitting second baseman. But hey, those are all waaaay more sensible than a guy using a notecard, I guess... ..

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Arguably he invented the closer because he couldn't run a bullpen.

 

I don't get why people who hate analytics like the same guy who brought in such bizarre "innovations" as hitting the pitcher 8th, defensive replacements at 1B (that whole thing is just weird), and using Mark McGwire as a lead off hitting second baseman. But hey, those are all waaaay more sensible than a guy using a notecard, I guess... ..

 

It's arguable that LaRussa is to blame for a lot of last inning heartbreaks in the last 30 years of MLB history. After he converted Eckersly to the pen -- and the latter was so effective that it was actually the Eck who invented the three-out 9th inning closer position -- every other team tried to find/create their own version. Alas, the only one who was really automatic for more than a few years before burning out was Rivera.

 

Come to think of it, since I have always contended that the single one difference that often separated the Yankees from the Red Sox from about 1995 to 2005 was Mariano, Boston fans can probably trace a lot of angst back to LaRussa and Eck.

 

I don't know about the rest of the complaints on your list... but the '04 Sox were better in the infield in close games when Doug M. replaced Millar.

[dgalehouse]

One thing is certain. Should the Pale Hose win the A.L. Central next season , there will be those who give all the credit to the deposed Rick Renteria. That's how these things work.

[dgalehouse]

It's arguable that LaRussa is to blame for a lot of last inning heartbreaks in the last 30 years of MLB history. After he converted Eckersly to the pen -- and the latter was so effective that it was actually the Eck who invented the three-out 9th inning closer position -- every other team tried to find/create their own version. Alas, the only one who was really automatic for more than a few years before burning out was Rivera.

 

Come to think of it, since I have always contended that the single one difference that often separated the Yankees from the Red Sox from about 1995 to 2005 was Mariano, Boston fans can probably trace a lot of angst back to LaRussa and Eck.

 

I don't know about the rest of the complaints on your list... but the '04 Sox were better in the infield in close games when Doug M. replaced Millar.

Mariano was , without a doubt, the greatest closer in history. He certainly was a big factor in the Yankees success. But I don't think the Sox did too badly with Foulke, Papelbon, Koji and Kimbrel. And a defensive replacement for Billy Buck might have been a good idea too.

[mvp 78]

I think Chicago just prevented the Red Sox from being accused of making the dumbest sports decision since trading away Ruth.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30220736/why-tony-la-russa-sincerely-curious-choice-white-sox-manager

We don’t need another manager post.

[notin]

Millions of Americans are voting for guys his age to run a country. If only the manager who invented the closer could run a bullpen...

 

And the last time we elected a President born before these two candidates was 1988.

 

You remember 1988? “The Last Emperor” won Best Picture. Jim Rice was in LF. And Tony LaRussa was managing the A’s...

[Larry Cook]

Hope Chicago stores stock lots of depends diapers for Larussa,

 

I am so glad he and desperate Dave are long gone from Fenway!

[notin]

It's arguable that LaRussa is to blame for a lot of last inning heartbreaks in the last 30 years of MLB history. After he converted Eckersly to the pen -- and the latter was so effective that it was actually the Eck who invented the three-out 9th inning closer position -- every other team tried to find/create their own version. Alas, the only one who was really automatic for more than a few years before burning out was Rivera.

 

Come to think of it, since I have always contended that the single one difference that often separated the Yankees from the Red Sox from about 1995 to 2005 was Mariano, Boston fans can probably trace a lot of angst back to LaRussa and Eck.

 

I don't know about the rest of the complaints on your list... but the '04 Sox were better in the infield in close games when Doug M. replaced Millar.

 

 

Well, LaRussa had an odd take on the late inning defensive 1b replacement. For him, it was Mike Squires. Squires was a weak hitter who often came into games late for Tom Paciorek. Nothing unusual. Except that LaRussa was so god of Squires’ defense, he toyed with the idea of using Mike as a defensive replacement for his 3b, Vance Law. Now first of all, Squires, as you might have guessed, is left-handed. But still, he got in 14 games as a southpaw 3b.

 

You don’t remember when LaRussa managed the Cardinals and used to bat the pitcher 8th so he could have his two speediest hitters hit back to back? Also he could get more plate appearances for his pitchers! Yeah!

 

And then also when he used to bat an injured Mark McGwire first in road games so Big Mac could give him a 1-0 lead in the first inning before being replaced, effectively using him as a pinch hitter for the leadoff hitter. Many questions from me. Like, if you’re that confident in him homering, why not save him for an at bat with men on base? Why take away the plate appearance from your actual lead off hitter, whom I think was Placido Polanco? Why cut your bench down by a man before the first inning is over? This whole idea seemed silly.

 

LaRussa strikes ma as a guy who is constantly in search of some Revolutionary Strategy that he can be remembered for. I don’t think he cares which one we choose....

[Bellhorn04]

Tony La Russa is a four time manager of the year. He has four World Series rings. He has managed six All Star Teams. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is bilingual. But I guess he is just too old to manage in today's complicated , analytics driven game. They should look for a younger person. A Gabe Kapler type, maybe. Yeah, that would be better.

 

As a manager, his teams have won 6 pennants and 3 championships, and made the playoffs 14 times. (The other ring was as an executive with the Red Sox.)

[Kimmi]

Tony La Russa is a four time manager of the year. He has four World Series rings. He has managed six All Star Teams. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is bilingual. But I guess he is just too old to manage in today's complicated , analytics driven game. They should look for a younger person. A Gabe Kapler type, maybe. Yeah, that would be better.

 

Despite all the sarcasm, this post is spot on.

 

The White Sox are a young team. Besides the whole old school versus new school argument as far as decision making goes (which really is not the important part of a manager's job), I'm not sure La Russa can relate well to these younger players, and as one writer put it, the way players do things these days. This is pure speculation on my part, of course. I think the White Sox would be better off with a younger manager.

 

I think this was also a problem with Roenicke and the Sox this year.

[Kimmi]

One thing is certain. Should the Pale Hose win the A.L. Central next season , there will be those who give all the credit to the deposed Rick Renteria. That's how these things work.

 

I would not give any credit to the previous manager. I would give credit to the previous GM, if that were the case here.

 

The White Sox have a pretty good team, a contending team, do you agree? The White Sox should be projected to finish at or near the top of their division next season, do you agree? And this would be the case despite who the manager is.

 

Therefore, if the White Sox don't contend, barring any serious injuries, I think it would be fair to question whether La Russa was the right choice. If the White Sox win the World Series next year, then La Russa will have been the right choice.

[Thunder]

Paul Konerko strikes me as somebody that would be a good manager

[notin]

As a manager, his teams have won 6 pennants and 3 championships, and made the playoffs 14 times. (The other ring was as an executive with the Red Sox.)

 

He also oversaw the most roided team in MLB history - a team so chock full of chemicals, they were legally classified as a pesticide.

 

I don’t overtly blame him for this behavior. But it does enhance his track record a bit....

[Bellhorn04]

He also oversaw the most roided team in MLB history - a team so chock full of chemicals, they were legally classified as a pesticide.

 

I don’t overtly blame him for this behavior. But it does enhance his track record a bit....

 

We don't really know how many guys were enhanced in those days, though. We probably don't want to know.

[dgalehouse]

I would not give any credit to the previous manager. I would give credit to the previous GM, if that were the case here.

 

The White Sox have a pretty good team, a contending team, do you agree? The White Sox should be projected to finish at or near the top of their division next season, do you agree? And this would be the case despite who the manager is.

 

Therefore, if the White Sox don't contend, barring any serious injuries, I think it would be fair to question whether La Russa was the right choice. If the White Sox win the World Series next year, then La Russa will have been the right choice.

 

So , the bar is set pretty high for La Russa . He has to not only win the division , but the "crap shoot" that is the post season as well. Even then , the G.M. gets the credit. The White Sox have some potential , but they are not exactly the 2020 Dodgers or the 2018 Red Sox. Not even close. How many managers are held to that standard ?

[Bellhorn04]

So , the bar is set pretty high for La Russa . He has to not only win the division , but the "crap shoot" that is the post season as well. Even then , the G.M. gets the credit. The White Sox have some potential , but they are not exactly the 2020 Dodgers or the 2018 Red Sox. Not even close. How many managers are held to that standard ?

 

Yes, I was a little surprised Kimmi said they'd have to win the Small Sample Crapshoot.

[notin]

We don't really know how many guys were enhanced in those days, though. We probably don't want to know.

 

But we do know the Bash Brothers were.

 

And yet in spite of that, I still support putting McGwire in Cooperstown...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We don't really know how many guys were enhanced in those days, though. We probably don't want to know.

 

But we probably know that their managers knew about more enhanced guys than we did... and still do. That doesn't make Tony or his coaches or their peers in other dugouts any more guilty or innocent than modern-day mortals like Cora, Hinch, Beltran, Boone, etc.

 

We might even want to respect LaRussa coming out of retirement to risk his reputation in dealing with modern player generation gaps. He's also -- at the high-risk age of 76 -- risking his life, until there's a vaccine...

[notin]

Tony La Russa is a four time manager of the year. He has four World Series rings. He has managed six All Star Teams. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is bilingual. But I guess he is just too old to manage in today's complicated , analytics driven game. They should look for a younger person. A Gabe Kapler type, maybe. Yeah, that would be better.

 

Your sarcasm aside, there may be some truth to players not being on the same page with LaRussa. If it was all about track record and track record alone, Bobby Valentine would have been a better Sox manager than Alex Cora...

[dgalehouse]

Despite all the sarcasm, this post is spot on.

 

The White Sox are a young team. Besides the whole old school versus new school argument as far as decision making goes (which really is not the important part of a manager's job), I'm not sure La Russa can relate well to these younger players, and as one writer put it, the way players do things these days. This is pure speculation on my part, of course. I think the White Sox would be better off with a younger manager.

 

I think this was also a problem with Roenicke and the Sox this year.

 

La Russa has always related well to the players. The young ChiSox , who have yet to proves themselves , should listen to and respect a senior manager who has three rings , four manager of the year awards and is in the Hall of Fame . If they don't, shame on them and their parents.

[notin]

La Russa has always related well to the players. The young ChiSox , who have yet to proves themselves , should listen to and respect a senior manager who has three rings , four manager of the year awards and is in the Hall of Fame . If they don't, shame on them and their parents.

 

Right. All 25 would be out of line, and not a case of the one guy being wrong. Always easier to blame the masses, I guess.

 

That’s like saying if a teacher can’t control her classroom, the classroom is at fault...

[dgalehouse]

Your sarcasm aside, there may be some truth to players not being on the same page with LaRussa. If it was all about track record and track record alone, Bobby Valentine would have been a better Sox manager than Alex Cora...

 

Bobby Valentine is another guy who is a convenient target. He took over a bad situation in Boston. He was brought in ostensibly to instill some discipline to a team that had gotten a bit out of hand , but when he tried to do so he received no backing . And when the team struggled , they unloaded ( and rightly so ) some of the top players. The team predictably tanked completely. Bobby V. was the wrong fit at the wrong time. They would have been better off keeping Tito. But Valentine knew how to manage. He was highly respected in Japan . And he managed the 2000 Mets to the N.L. pennant and a World Series vs. the Yankees. Also , he is truly one of the good guys in sports . Currently the Athletic Director at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where he is setting up a Jackie Robinson scholarship. It might be time for folks to get off his case.

[notin]

Now one positive LaRussa comp.

 

While at 76, LaRussa is the second oldest manager in MLB history to take over a new team, he is still only about 5 years older than Dusty Baker. And while Baker has his quirks (such as his infamous refusal to play rookies), he is also an extremely successful manager and has taken multiple teams deep into the postseason in his 23 seasons.

 

Of course, it’s still fun to take potshots at LaRussa. And I plan to..,

[dgalehouse]

Bobby Valentine is another guy who is a convenient target. He took over a bad situation in Boston. He was brought in ostensibly to instill some discipline to a team that had gotten a bit out of hand , but when he tried to do so he received no backing . And when the team struggled , they unloaded ( and rightly so ) some of the top players. The team predictably tanked completely. Bobby V. was the wrong fit at the wrong time. They would have been better off keeping Tito. But Valentine knew how to manage. He was highly respected in Japan . And he managed the 2000 Mets to the N.L. pennant and a World Series vs. the Yankees. Also , he is truly one of the good guys in sports . Currently the Athletic Director at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where he is setting up a Jackie Robinson scholarship. It might be time for folks to get off his case.[/quote

Edited October 31, 2020 by dgalehouse

[dgalehouse]

Right. All 25 would be out of line, and not a case of the one guy being wrong. Always easier to blame the masses, I guess.

 

That’s like saying if a teacher can’t control her classroom, the classroom is at fault...

 

You would have to check with Kimmi or Moon about the classroom situation. I wouldn't know. I flunked algebra. But it wasn't the teacher's fault.