CHICAGO — (AP) — Tony La Russa resigned as manager of the Chicago White Sox on Monday over a pair of health issues, ending a disappointing two-year campaign. The Hall of Famer got his first job at the same location.major league captain
Three-time World Series champion La Russa, who turns 78 on Tuesday, missed the last 34 games against the underperforming White Sox. He left the team in August. 30 years old because of problems with the pacemaker implanted in February.
When La Russa left the team, he was tested for different medical issues previously diagnosed during the annual check-up. A second health issue caused him to leave the team.
“However, now that I’m going through a treatment program, it’s clear that the length of the treatment and recovery process for the second issue makes it impossible to become a manager in 2023,” Larusa said.
Chicago started the season with World Series aspirations but was plagued by injuries and inconsistent play. The team led 79-80 on Monday night against Minnesota.
Speaking in front of most of the organization, including his players, La Russa took responsibility for what happened this year.
“I understand that the ultimate responsibility for every negative number this season lies with the manager,” he said. “It’s accurate because you always have other things to do.
“I was hired to provide positive, impactful leadership and support. Our record this year proves that I’m not doing my job well.”
After La Rusa left, backup coach Miguel Cairo took over. The White Sox sparked immediately after the substitution, going 14-10. But they dropped eight straight games in late September, dashing their playoff hopes.
General manager Rick Hahn said Cairo would be interviewing for a full-time job but said it would prefer someone outside the organisation.
“I think we’re going to use this opportunity to get a different perspective,” Hahn said.
La Russa, a close friend of White Sox president Jerry Reinsdorf, was unexpectedly hired in October 2020 and led the team to an AL Central title last year.
But for most of 2022, the White Sox are in trouble and have “Fire Tony! Fire Tony!” in the guaranteed rate field.
All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson and sluggers Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert missed significant time with injuries. Receiver Yasmani Grandal and third baseman Yoán Moncada also have health issues and have struggled on the field.
There were embarrassing glitches, too, like when the White Sox broke into a three-game winning streak 8-5 for the first time in major league history when they lost to Minnesota on July 4.
“This year’s splurge is something I know personally and I’ll carry with me for a while,” Hahn said.
For fans who weren’t initially thrilled with his hiring, La Russa remains a lightning rod. His lineup has been questioned, as have his decisions in the game.
Despite scoring 1-2 on June 9, some fans chanted La Russa’s dismissal after a bizarre call for an intentional walk to the Dodgers’ Trea Turner. Bennett Sousa just bounced back with a 0-2 run, allowing the runners to advance from first to second.
With the base open, Larusa opted to walk Turner. It backfired when Max Muncy hit a 3-run homer, propelling Los Angeles to an 11-9 victory.
Another notable moment came early in the 2021 season.
In a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati, La Russa didn’t know there was a rule that would allow him to use Jose Abreu as an automatic runner for second base in the 10th inning instead of getting closer to Liam Heng Derricks.
2,900-2,514 records in 35 years in Chicago, Oakland and St. Louis. St. Louis, La Rusa is second only to Connie Mack on the baseball career wins list. He passed John McGraw last season.
But when the White Sox hired La Russa to replace Rick Renteria, there were big questions about whether La Russa was the right person for the job. He hasn’t filled out a lineup card since 2011, when St. Louis beat Texas in the World Series. Some wonder how a man known for frowning rather than smiling could work with a fun-loving team that just made the playoffs for the White Sox for the first time since 2008.
Then, shortly after he was hired, word emerged that he had been arrested for a misdemeanor DUI.
In February, after a dinner with friends, the Lexus Larusa was driving in Arizona collided with the side of the road and blew a tire. The case was filed on October 1. Jan. 28, the day before the White Sox announced they were hiring La Russa.
He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to a day of home detention, a fine of nearly $1,400 and 20 hours of community service.
La Russa also pleaded guilty to DUI in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep and smelling alcohol in the SUV he was driving at a traffic light.
La Russa won championships in 1989 with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011. The former major league infielder and Sparky Anderson is the only manager to win a World Series in both the American and National Leagues.
He got his first major league management job at age 34, when the White Sox promoted him from Triple-A to replace the fired Don Kessinger during the 1979 season. He took over that August and led them to a 522-510 record for parts of eight seasons.
The 1983 team won 99 games on the way to the AL West title — Chicago’s first playoff appearance since the Go-Go White Sox won the pennant in 1959. But in 1986, after the White Sox started 26-38, then general manager Ken Harrison fired LaRusa, much to Reinsdorf’s regret.
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Associated Press sports writer Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.
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