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Thursday, September 01, 2022

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa, 77, out indefinitely with unspecified medical issue

White Sox manager Tony La Russa is out indefinitely as he undergoes medical tests in Arizona, according to the team on Wednesday.

La Russa, 77, missed Tuesday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals after participating in regular pregame activities. Within an hour of first pitch, doctors advised him not to manage.

“We were trying to figure out what was going on,” outfielder Andrew Vaughn said. “They mentioned a few things, maybe his heart, or something like that.”

Bench coach Miguel Cairo will continue to manage until La Russa returns. He was at the helm for Tuesday’s 9-7 loss to the Royals, Chicago’s fifth consecutive defeat.

Cairo indicated that there was no incident after pregame which prevented La Russa from managing. Instead, it was La Russa’s doctors who reached out and told him to stand down.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 01, 2022 at 11:41 PM | 28 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: tony larussa

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1. The Duke Posted: September 02, 2022 at 06:47 AM (#6094151)

Feels like a setup to me. Like Rodney Dangerfield faking the broken arm in Caddyshack. This should make it easy for Cairo to get a one month audition, TLR and Reinsdorf to decide that Tony can no longer physically do it and prevent any further fan rebellion. Maybe Cairo can turn their season around

2. Nasty Nate Posted: September 02, 2022 at 08:23 AM (#6094155)

Feels like a setup to me.

You should adopt the Costanza opposite strategy.

3. Rally Posted: September 02, 2022 at 09:51 AM (#6094162)

Hope he gets better. Kind of a crazy experiment from the start. But I think its cool that my daughter and I can both say we watched Tony manage the White Sox when we were 13.

4. JJ1986 Posted: September 02, 2022 at 09:55 AM (#6094163)

Feels like a setup to me.

You're a weird dude.

5. The Duke Posted: September 02, 2022 at 09:57 AM (#6094164)

4. He's failing as manager and a proud guy. Coming up with a get out of jail free card is a perfect way to resolve the issue - he doesn't want to be fired

6. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: September 02, 2022 at 10:34 AM (#6094166)

Well, it's now or never for the White Sox. They're 6 back of the Wild Card with 33 games left (only 4 back in the Division). Their remaining schedule is about the same as Cleveland and Minnesota, who have both exceeded expectations.

7. JJ1986 Posted: September 02, 2022 at 10:37 AM (#6094167)

4. He's failing as manager and a proud guy. Coming up with a get out of jail free card is a perfect way to resolve the issue - he doesn't want to be fired

He could just resign citing health issues then. No reason for a charade and conspiracy. No one would check.

8. Lassus Posted: September 02, 2022 at 10:57 AM (#6094171)

Well, this is the internet age. Someone would check. But more to the point probably no one would care.

9. The Duke Posted: September 02, 2022 at 11:00 AM (#6094172)

7. That's what he's doing. He'll get the famous "irregular heartbeat" and then go. Nicely timed to them falling out of race

10. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: September 02, 2022 at 11:05 AM (#6094173)

FWIW my immediate reaction to reading this was the same as The Duke's. The reason it's not just a resignation citing private health reasons is that LaRussa is keeping open the option (with Reinsdorf's blessing of course) to return for the playoffs if they get there under Cairo.

If they don't, then of course that'll be Cairo's fault and oh if only Tony were here, but alas, his health has forced him into retirement.

11. Nasty Nate Posted: September 02, 2022 at 11:14 AM (#6094175)

If they don't, then of course that'll be Cairo's fault and oh if only Tony were here, but alas....

No one on earth would think that. It's so beyond credible that the Sox PR apparatus wouldn't even bother putting out that narrative, especially if they plan on Cairo having a future role with the team.

12. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: September 02, 2022 at 11:33 AM (#6094178)

Sorry for being unclear. One person on Earth would think (and say) that: Jerry Reinsdorf.

And I was surely too pithy; it's a shortcoming of mine. Obviously not even Reinsdorf would say (or think, probably) "it's Cairo's fault." More along the lines of Miguel Cairo is a fine man and a fine manager, but he's not the legendary Tony LaRussa, etc.

13. The Duke Posted: September 02, 2022 at 12:43 PM (#6094191)

Tony never should have come without a handpicked GM coming with him. They've done very little to help put this team over the top and letting Rodon go altogether was crazy. He's the difference between missing the playoffs and winning the division imo.

14. JJ1986 Posted: September 02, 2022 at 12:52 PM (#6094193)

Rodon...'s the difference between missing the playoffs and winning the division imo.

Johnny Cueto and Vince Velasquez have combined for 3.8 WAR (all Cueto). Rodon is at 4.2.

15. sunday silence (again) Posted: September 02, 2022 at 12:56 PM (#6094196)

Well, this is the internet age. Someone would check

If LaRussa resigned citing health issues, someone would check? But if we pretend LaRussa is sick so he can resign, no one will check?

The logic seems weird.

16. PeteF3 Posted: September 02, 2022 at 02:14 PM (#6094207)

How would someone even go about "checking"? How many 77-year-olds don't have health issues of some sort? Especially ones with chronic drinking problems?

17. cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE

Posted: September 02, 2022 at 02:40 PM (#6094212)

You're a weird dude.

Wait, are you saying Al Czervik could have kept playing?

18. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: September 02, 2022 at 03:54 PM (#6094227)

Losing Robert and Jimenez (for a good part of the year) sunk the White Sox. LaRussa had little to do with it.

19. Walt Davis Posted: September 02, 2022 at 04:57 PM (#6094234)

Robert has missed about a month total with 3 smallish injuries. He's a fine player but that's at most one win. Jimenez is basically an average player -- good hitter, lousy defender -- and has been fragile in his short career so hardly a surprise that he's missed time again.

What sunk the White Sox?

Moncada 65 OPS+
Pollock 87 OPS+
Grandal 65 OPS+
L Garcia 300 PAs despite a 47 OPS+
Giolito 76 ERA+
Lynn 86 ERA+ (but much better lately)

They have been lousy at C, 2B, 3B and RF. Fair enough, the only one of those things that is directly LaRussa's fault is Leury Garcia's playing time and that might be more the lack of options provided by the GM.

Lynn's last 8 starts: 48.1 IP and a 56/4 K/BB. Getting killed on HRs and maybe getting BABIP lucky but still a 2.61 ERA, 3.66 FIP. But 56/4 is just crazy.

20. The Duke Posted: September 02, 2022 at 05:25 PM (#6094238)

14. Why would you assume that Cueto was signed to replace Rodon? There were months between those transactions. Did the GM tell TLR, don't worry about Carlos, in about 4 months im going to sign an old broken down free agent that will come in and provide 4 WAR? They likely sign Cueto regardless.

Rodon is going to get Cy Young votes - hard to believe the Sox didn't need more of that.

21. Mayor Blomberg Posted: September 02, 2022 at 06:38 PM (#6094241)

Cueto was cheap (slightly more than TLR), and no reason not to keep Rodon.

22. Ron J Posted: September 02, 2022 at 11:07 PM (#6094274)

Further to #20, If you're going to count Cueto it is worth noting that Dallas Keuchel was the first choice for Rodon's spot and he gave them 8 starts with a 7.88 ERA. Cueto didn't make his first start until mid-May. And was still a fill in (6 days between his first and second start) until they gave up on Keuchel.

Joe Kelly's inability to throw strikes isn't precisely unprecedented but he was coming off two very good years (sample size alert though). That's done as much damage as a middle relieve can do as he was used a fair amount in high leverage situations and ... well a .417 OBP allowed isn't what you're looking for then.

23. Walt Davis Posted: September 03, 2022 at 04:08 PM (#6094311)

Hmmm... does an IBB count as a batter faced in terms of a reliever having to face three batters?

24. vortex of dissipation Posted: September 03, 2022 at 11:42 PM (#6094428)

From the comment to Rule 5.10 (g):

"An intentional walk counts toward fulfilling the number of required batters."

25. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: September 04, 2022 at 09:43 AM (#6094436)

How old is Tony LaRussa?

The day before he was born, the St. Louis Browns clinched the American League pennant.

EDIT: Or to put it another way: LaRussa's birth is closer to the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings than it is to today.

26. The Duke Posted: September 04, 2022 at 12:05 PM (#6094450)

White Sox now on a roll. Looks like this may be the best division race of Sept. three mediocre teams fighting to the death. I have a hard time believing that either NY team will give up their division.

27. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: September 04, 2022 at 02:32 PM (#6094464)

(T)hree mediocre teams fighting to the death.

And the winner eventually sweeps the Dodgers in the World Series.

28. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: September 04, 2022 at 03:02 PM (#6094466)

The Yankees slump is almost 1978-esque, except the Yankees have the WC to fall back on, so, they will very likely make the post season tournament. Most likely. The O's are 7.5 games out, in 4th. The Yankees are in whispering distance of them.

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Thursday, September 01, 2022

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa, 77, out indefinitely with unspecified medical issue

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