Hey, we know these guys
Both ‘Sox’ teams have committed to some, well, ‘new’ managers if that is what you want to call them. After firing Alex Cora a year ago due to his involvement with the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal (Cora was also suspended for the season by the MLB), the Boston Red Sox brought in their old flame after the teams abysmal 2020 season. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox brought 76-year-old former World Series-winning manager Tony La Russa out of retirement. Both hirings are peculiar, yet intriguing for different reasons
Cora’s success with the Red Sox, including multiple trips to the playoffs and a World Series victory in 2018, coupled with his reputation as a players’ first manager may have forced the Red Sox hand. While Cora’s name will forever be attached and perhaps stained by his role as a cheater. A quick turnaround in Boston could make Red Sox fans forgive him sooner rather than later. Winning cures all in sports. Ask Tyreek Hill and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cora has also helped himself by owning up to his mistakes.
“I deserved what happened this year. I’m not proud of it.”
Cora’s second chance may even lead to a team giving Carlos Beltran another shot at skipper as he was fired before managing a game for the Mets after he was named as one of the leaders of the Astros cheating scandal.
La Russa’s hiring was met to some dismay from fans and players. His reputation speaks for itself. He is a three time World Series champion as manager and has 34 seasons of managerial experience under his belt.
However, his old-school style of coaching coupled with the young ‘let the kids play’ White Sox roster has the makings of a strange concoction.
Chicago’s roster has the talent to be a potential World Series contender not just now, but for multiple years to come, so La Russa’s hiring is a massive risk for ownership if the growth of the young stars on the team is stunted.
There is also the matter of La Russa’s criticism of Colin Kaepernick after the quarterback kneeled for the national anthem in 2016 that has caused some backlash.
La Russa questioned the sincerity of “a guy like Kaepernick” and said disrespecting the flag was “not the way to do it.”
Now, four years later, La Russa was questioned about his comments soon after he was hired.
“I know in 2016 when the first issue occurred, my initial instincts were all about respecting the flag and the anthem and what America stands for. A lot has gone on in a very healthy way since 2016, and not only do I respect but I applaud the awareness that has come into not just society but especially in sports.”
“If you talk about baseball, specifically, I applaud and support the fact they are now addressing, identifying the injustices, especially on the racial side. As long as it’s peacefully protested and sincere.”
While this may put to bed any questions La Russa’s players may have on their new manager’s stance on the protests against racial injustice, there is now the question of whether La Russa’s second stint with Chicago (he managed the team from 1979-1986) may be short-lived.
La Russa was charged with a DUI in late October from an incident that occurred in February.
In the incident report obtained by ESPN, La Russa told the officers, “Do you see my ring? I’m a Hall of Famer baseball person.”
A blood test revealed La Russa’s BAC to be .095 the night he was arrested. Right now the White Sox and La Russa are in wait and see mode on the pending case.
It certainly has not been the most ceremonious transition for the White Sox with their new skipper, and in light of the new details of his DUI charge, letting La Russa go is still on the table
However, if La Russa is indeed the one on the top dugout step for Chicago in the spring, he will be expected to win, and win fast as patience with fans and his players may already be running low. La Russa said it himself, he is in fact a “Hall of Famer baseball person” so finding early success with his team is absolutely possible.