White Sox Name Tony La Russa Manager

**pwaldo** · 10-30-2020, 09:45 PM

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/...a-manager.html

The White Sox announced today that Hall of Famer Tony La Russa is returning to the organization as their new manager for the 2021 season. La Russa has agreed to a multi-year deal, tweets Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

This is, of course, the second managerial stint for La Russa with the White Sox organization. His first began more than four decades ago in 1979 and ran through the 1986 season. While others were connected to the White Sox vacancy, most notably former Astros skipper A.J. Hinch, it appears that La Russa was owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s pick from the beginning. Indeed, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets that the move to hire La Russa was purely a “Reinsdorf decision” while noting that others in the organizations “have concerns” about La Russa’s ability (or lack thereof) to connect with the club’s young core.

It’s been nine full seasons since La Russa last managed at the MLB level, with the Cardinals, and the game has changed considerably since that time. Data from clubs’ analytics departments has increasingly made its way into in-game decision-making, often generating polarizing reaction from fans, and the sport as a whole has moved to embrace aggressive defensive shifts and pitching strategies that defy the conventional wisdom which permeated big league dugouts during La Russa’s last run.

**Devlin** · 10-31-2020, 08:25 AM

good luck with that

**mrveggieman** · 10-31-2020, 04:13 PM

I actually like this move for the ChiSox.

**pwaldo** · 10-31-2020, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by mrveggieman View Post

I actually like this move for the ChiSox.

I like it too as a 1 year or a 2 year tops for the team. They are young and inexperienced and this is basically the most experienced manager you can get that's still alive. I know it isn't a long term option but if he does well I could easily see this team going to the World Series next year. They are loaded on young talent.