Prior to this afternoon’s game vs. the Oakland Athletics, the White Sox provided an update on manager Tony La Russa.
La Russa’s team of doctors have cleared the skipper to travel to Oakland to participate in Sunday’s pregame ceremony to honor Dave Stewart. The former Athletics pitcher is set to get his uniform number retired by the Bay Area franchise.
Despite the approval to travel, La Russa’s doctors have not yet cleared his return to the dugout as an active manager. This being said, the White Sox say La Russa will travel with the team to Chicago following Sunday’s series finale.
Though we haven’t received many updates, this one comes on the heels of Jon Heyman’s earlier report that said La Russa could be back in uniform with the team as soon as their home series against the Rockies on Tuesday. Specifics of La Russa’s medical symptoms, including conditions that would necessitate further medical testing, still have not been confirmed by the team over the past couple weeks.
Interim manager Miguel Cairo has gone 8-3 this season in La Russa’s absence, including a five-run ninth-inning comeback on Friday night to put the White Sox in prime position to take yet another series as the AL Central race tightens up.
La Russa is in the second year of a three-year contract with the team, and by all accounts, the team is expecting him to return next season if the club makes the playoffs. However, it has previously been reported that La Russa could be “reassigned” within the organization should the club miss the postseason. It remains to be seen how this situation affects his long-term health and ability to manage.
As further information is made available, we will provide additional updates.
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Featured Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
“…a player on a streak has to respect the streak.” –Crash Davis
Same applies to teams.