It’s been a saga for over a month now. But, based on a new report, Tony La Russa’s time on the South Side will officially be coming to an end tomorrow.
According to Bob Nightengale, La Russa is expected to announce his retirement on Monday.
According to Nightengale, La Russa had every intention of returning to the White Sox next season. However, after doctors called him in late August and told him to come to Arizona for some tests from his pacemaker, La Russa was informed that, for his own health, he should not return to the dugout in the future. This obviously is not how La Russa wanted his career to end, but for the good of his health, he will likely only remain with the White Sox in an advisory role moving forward.
After a 93-69 campaign in his first season on the South Side since the 1980s, La Russa’s second season with the team has been anything but positive. The White Sox have struggled the entire season and will miss the playoffs in what was supposed to be the middle of their contention window. Whoever they name as their next manager will inherit a talented team that needs the right guidance to right the ship after this failed season.
The White Sox are expected to begin to gather names for their managerial interviews immediately, with Bruce Bochy, Mike Shildt, Joe Espada, Carlos Beltran, and George Lombard all mentioned as potential candidates
Once this expected announcement becomes official, we will provide additional updates.
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Featured Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s hoping that when Tony walks off into the final sunset he will bring his pal Jerry along with him.
One wonders just how “talented” this team actually is.
Moncada is a bust. Post Covid, post injuries, this guy still can’t find his form at the plate and, really, has only done so once in the handful of years he’s been here. Plus he shows some lazy tendencies as well.
Grandal is literally on his last legs and not getting any younger. Framing notwithstanding, he coughs up passed balls, his throw out rate us paltry and, oh yeah, he’s another one who lost his way with a bat in hand. Seby is okay. As a backup, nothing more.
Engel has a good glove but his promise as a hitter in the minors has never reached fruition at the Big League level.
Leury Garcia is, at the end of the day, a AAA- caliber player with a bat that would be better off in the hands of some pitchers(!)
The bullpen is simply overrated — Diekman is a joke, Bummer is really not much better. Graveman should be better and even Liam shows hiccups; neither of them are getting younger either.
I could continue my rant, but my typing finger is getting the equivalent of a sore throat…