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Sunday, October 02, 2022

Tony La Russa expected to announce retirement Monday as White Sox manager

Tony La Russa, who was hoping to lead the Chicago White Sox to the World Series, instead is expected to announce his retirement Monday at a news conference in Chicago.

La Russa, who turns 78 on Tuesday, certainly gave it everything he had, but his heart gave out.

He planned on returning to fulfill his contract in 2023, but was in his office on Aug. 29 when he received a telephone call from his doctors. He was instructed to leave the ballpark immediately, go home, and come in the next day for testing. He was on a flight the next day back to Arizona and underwent a procedure to repair his pacemaker.

La Russa, feeling much stronger, still planned to return as manager. He flew to Oakland on Sept. 10 to attend Dave Stewart’s jersey retirement ceremony, spent time visiting with his team, and felt refreshed. He flew back on the team plane to Chicago, and watched the White Sox’s next two home games from owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s suite.

It was the last time he was with his team.

La Russa returned to Arizona and underwent more testing, and there were further procedures. The doctors sat him down and provided their expert medical opinion: He should not manage again.

Not only this season.

But ever again.

La Russa listened, and will walk away. He likely will stay in the White Sox organization as a special assistant, but those long, demanding and stressful days are over.

This is not the way he envisioned his career to end.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: October 02, 2022 at 12:48 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: tony larussa, white sox

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1. The Duke Posted: October 02, 2022 at 03:55 PM (#6098747)

The star chamber from the 2011 cardinals World Series team is packing up and leaving. TLR, Albert, Yadi, and likely Waino. Even the Pist-dispatch writer is retiring this year.

2. Cris E Posted: October 03, 2022 at 12:27 PM (#6098868)

No one ever envisions the end of their career how it usually turns out. Ted F'ing Williams gets to hit a home run in his last at bat, but the rest of us get real jobs after school, or head to the DL in August and never come back, maybe start coaching, or get married and the wife ends it, or end up in AAA or Korea or Mexico until there's simply no call back one winter. How was it supposed to end for a guy in his mid-70s signing a three year deal?

3. mathesond Posted: October 03, 2022 at 12:29 PM (#6098870)

Obligatory

4. Greg Pope Posted: October 03, 2022 at 12:42 PM (#6098875)

How was it supposed to end for a guy in his mid-70s signing a three year deal?

I get what you're saying, but this White Sox team was touted as a World Series contender. So it was supposed to end with three playoff berths and then walking away on his own terms. Instead he gets a sub-500 team and doctor's orders to retire.

5. SoSH U at work Posted: October 03, 2022 at 12:54 PM (#6098878)

No one ever envisions the end of their career how it usually turns out. Ted F'ing Williams gets to hit a home run in his last at bat,

Do you know who had an even better walking out the door moment? Tony LaRussa, saying goodbye after winning the World Series in 2011.

6. Cris E Posted: October 03, 2022 at 01:48 PM (#6098888)

Do you know who had an even better walking out the door moment? Tony LaRussa, saying goodbye after winning the World Series in 2011.

See, this is how it should have been done. Was done, then undone.

7. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: October 03, 2022 at 02:13 PM (#6098891)

The guy turns 78 tomorrow. This kind of ending was likely.

8. The Duke Posted: October 03, 2022 at 02:23 PM (#6098893)

The good news is that he'll be a "special advisor". That should go well.

9. Karl from NY Posted: October 03, 2022 at 03:08 PM (#6098907)

What are the odds he's on the Marlins bench by opening day?

10. SoSH U at work Posted: October 03, 2022 at 03:24 PM (#6098913)

What are the odds he's on the Marlins bench by opening day?

I'm going to give Kim Ng more credit than that.

11. Walt Davis Posted: October 03, 2022 at 03:33 PM (#6098918)

One hell of a career in terms of both highlights and lowlights.

12. The Duke Posted: October 03, 2022 at 04:37 PM (#6098926)

Kim Ng isn't going to be around much longer. You don't have that much turnover and the GM survives. Owners seem to want a new start

13. The Duke Posted: October 03, 2022 at 04:46 PM (#6098929)

Somewhat do we have:

Girardi
Montoyo
Maddon
Mattingly (ok, they say it's mutual )
TLR
Woodward

That leaves Matheny and my dark horse, Aaron Boone yet to be fired. Dusty Baker/Francona may go. In the offseason it was Tingler, Shildt and Rojas. I guess you could argue that Melvin left too.

So that could be well over a third of the managers gone since the end of last season, almost half.

That's a lot of turnover

14. SoSH U at work Posted: October 03, 2022 at 04:47 PM (#6098931)

Kim Ng isn't going to be around much longer. You don't have that much turnover and the GM survives. Owners seem to want a new start.

She seems to be overseeing the turnover, rather than becoming a victim of it. She may not have a terribly long shelf life, given the organization, but I bet she's there past Opening Day 2022.

15. asinwreck Posted: October 03, 2022 at 07:02 PM (#6098951)

All the decision-makers in place for the 2022 debacle will collaborate on hiring La Russa's replacement. Cleveland fans should rejoice.

16. Dag Nabbit: Sockless Psychopath Posted: October 04, 2022 at 08:18 AM (#6099003)

All the decision-makers in place for the 2022 debacle will collaborate on hiring La Russa's replacement.
You mean Jerry Reinsdorf? Because by all accounts that hire was entirely his doing.

17. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 04, 2022 at 12:25 PM (#6099033)

She may not have a terribly long shelf life, given the organization, but I bet she's there past Opening Day 2022.

Uh....

That leaves Matheny and my dark horse, Aaron Boone yet to be fired. Dusty Baker/Francona may go.

I could definitely see Boone going. I forgot Dusty was on a one year contract; unless things go terribly in the playoffs I bet they bring him back (he could decide to leave if they low ball him or something). Unless Francona leaves for health reasons, there's no way the Guardians would fire him. In addition to Matheny, there's got to be a few other guys on the hot seat, right?

18. SoSH U at work Posted: October 04, 2022 at 01:21 PM (#6099035)

Uh....

See, I win the bet.

I think she'll also be there in April 2023.

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Sunday, October 02, 2022

Tony La Russa expected to announce retirement Monday as White Sox manager

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