Question of the day
Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Phil Rogers says that White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf would love to hire Tony La Russa, who just retired as the Cardinals’ manager…
“I would love to,” Reinsdorf said, asked if he wanted to work with La Russa again. “We really haven’t discussed it. We’ve talked off and on about what he might do in the future, but we haven’t talked about anything specific. I’m sure now that he’s available he’s going to get a lot of opportunities, chances to do a lot of things inside the game. I just want him to do what’s in his best interest, what’s best for him.” […]
In a 2010 interview with the Tribune during spring training, La Russa said that if he were to stay in baseball after managing, he’d have to do it with an owner he already knows.
“It would have to be for an owner like Reinsdorf, the Haas family, the people here (in St. Louis),” La Russa said. “Those are the owners I’ve known, the ones I’d want to make happy.” […]
A role with the White Sox seems to make the most sense, especially given how stale management has become heading toward the 12th season of the Ken Williams era. La Russa wants a job that allows him to have an impact without the time-intensive responsibility that comes with running a team.
* The Question: Should the White Sox try to hire La Russa as a senior advisor? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:10 am:
Yes, because I loathe Kenny Williams for his systemic dismantling of the farm system.
IMHO Jerry Reinsdorf has given K Dub too much freedom, and the results speak for themselves.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:12 am:
Yes, of course they should hire him. And let him do whatever he wants to do. Just having his presence in the building will do more to help the South Siders than anything Williams and Ventura can do.
LaRussa has his faults, but he’s also a very wise baseball man. You can’t have too many of those guys on the payroll.
- bored now - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:12 am:
am i remembering wrong? i thought the white sox fired tony larussa; why would he consider coming back to a team with the same ownership???
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:14 am:
No.
He’s on record, multiple times, as saying he was unaware of anyone juicing in Oakland or St. Louis.
Virtually everyone in Oakland was juicing. His biggest star was juicing in St. Louis.
He’s either blind, or he has simply been lying for a very long time.
- x ace - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:22 am:
NO - not unless Harry and Jimmy say it’s O. K.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:35 am:
Yes, but with the caveat that Tony would be asked to put aside his (at times) bias against younger players. I think the ChiSox need a kick in the pants. Tony is obviously a good talent evaluator and motivator and has the trust of Mr. Reinsdorf. Unlike the NFL, where retired coaches come in and then leave too soon, retired baseball types are more likely to stay around the game longer - especially if it’s not a “full time” gig.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:41 am:
I’d like to see Mr. LaRussa advise them to fire Harrelson.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:42 am:
===saying he was unaware of anyone juicing===
That’s a fair point Word, but if that is the standard we’re going to use, we’ve disqualified virtually everyone who was anyone in Major League Baseball from 1980 until 2000.
LaRussa still defends McGuire, which is troubling, but it’s not like he was the only manager who looked the other way. He’s not innocent, but why should he get singled out when the juicing scandal was so wide spread. If you hold him accountable, how can you not hold everyone else to the same standard?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:44 am:
I think it makes perfect sense. He would be wonderful working with Robin Ventura and could be helpful in helping to rein in Kenny Williams when needed.
- Palatine - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:45 am:
No. It’s time for LaRussa to retire on the top.
- amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:45 am:
yes. no brainer. Reinsdorf admits he made a mistake letting Hawk make the firing call and he treats Tony as what he is, a member of the White Sox family. Tony has three rings so he knows how to win. Robin needs an old hand. Kenny needs someone around to encourage his good calls and temper his bad calls.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:46 am:
–I’d like to see Mr. LaRussa advise them to fire Harrelson.–
I’m sure LaRussa would love to oblige, since Harrelson fired him.
47, you’re right. When you’re right, you’re right. LaRussa has always rubbed me the wrong way, but I am wrong to single him out for juicing.
- Baines 4 Prez - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:48 am:
No thanks I’ll pass. He is/was a good manager, but I don’t know that I want him in any sort of a general manager or advisory position. I don’t want a team full of David Ecksteins, Nick Puntos & Skip Schumakers, thank you.
The White Sox do need to get rid of Kenny, but bringing in Tony either as an advisor (or as a replacement) I don’t think does the team a bit of good in the long run. The Sox need to get a GM that knows & has experience in drafting/developing a farm system, period.
- shore - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:50 am:
Absolutely. Having one of the best managers in MLB history in the front office can’t hurt and some adult supervision wouldn’t be a bad idea after last season.
- ah HA - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:54 am:
I vote no.
Let him retire at the top of his profession and enjoy his retirement!!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:55 am:
==with the caveat that Tony would be asked to put aside his (at times) bias against younger players.==
Team Sleep, that old “Tony hates young players” meme is just not true. Or, did you not see the number of young players contributing to the Cardinals this year? Young players who don’t mesh with LaRussa are really just headcases who for the most part haven’t meshed with any team. Most any (good) manager prefers veterans on the bench, but La Russa has given plenty of playing time to young players. Just to name a few from this team and previous young players he’s given signifcant time to: Allen Craig, David Freese, Jon Jay, Daniel Descalso, Lance Lynn, Jaime Garcia, Eduardo Sanchez, Mark Rzfdsweongski…all in their first few years, early to mid 20’s, and were major contributors this year. A few other youngsters he gave opportunities to: Adam Wainwright, Colby Rasmus/JD Drew (lazy bums who he gave many many many chances to), Rick Ankiel (headcase who he helped reshape into an everyday player), Yadier Molina, oh and some guy named Albert Pujols who he took a chance on in 2001.
But, to answer the question, I think La Russa takes some time off, goes home to California for a while, then takes some role with the Cardinals organization if he wants it.
- Kilroy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:57 am:
I dunno…what’s his position on ComEd?
- Old Shepherd - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:57 am:
Tony’s stock has risen considerably in the last week. Many Cardinal fans–myself included–were ready to run him out of town two months ago. Now he has reached Whitey Herzog status. He is a great, yet frustrating manager. However, any team would be lucky to have him.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:05 pm:
Anon, those players you mentioned contributed to this year’s team because of injuries and the age of key players on the team. Don’t think for a second that Tony wouldn’t have kept Allen Craig or Daniel Descalso on the bench if Matt Holliday were healthy all year and if Rafael Furcal had begun the year with the Cards. He has typically played veterans over younger players. The bullpen is no exception, although things change when bullpen arms are too expensive and you are FORCED to use call-ups and cheap talent. Remember - John Mozeliak put this team together. Many of the Cardinals teams constructed by Walt Jocketty were populated by veterans and the veterans played at the expense of younger talent. Tony always preferred using older, established vets and got along well with Walt Jocketty. Mo has a lot of juice in the organization and it showed when veterans gave way to players such as Jaime Garcia, Jason Motte, John Jay and David Freese.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
Team Sleep, Allen Craig saw significant playing time even when Holliday was healthy. Daniel Descalso is a utility guy used all over the infield. Like I said, any manager worth anything wants veterans on their bench. It does young kids little good to ride the pine for most of the year instead of getting at bats and playing time in the minors. La Russa has used many young players in significant roles when they earn it (do I have to go all the way back and even bring up guys like Bud Smith, Stubby Clapp, Joe McEwing, and Jose Jimenez?). Mo has been the GM for a while now, and has been a part of Cardinals scouting and player development for 16 years. This wasn’t his first team.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:24 pm:
PS: please name me all this “young talent” that La Russa kept from playing time, who presumably then excelled elsewhere. The kids who were truly young talents and prospects all got their shot early (JD Drew, Pujols, Ankiel, Wainright, Rasmus, etc.)
- Burnham Wannabe - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:45 pm:
My goodness. An alltime great manager in a part-time capacity to lend his advice and wisdom to the decision makers of another team? White Sox or not, who the heck would say NO?! Hire him, pay him 50 K, and he can semi-retire but still be around the game. Seems like a win-win. Nobody’s made a reasonable argument for NOT hiring a HOF coach to simply lend advice and wisdom!
- David W. Aubrey - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:00 pm:
Yes! With Ozzie departed, the White Sox need someone in management who can lead a team to victory like LaRussa has consistently. Kenny Williams is out of control lately. I think that reality show got to his head.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
Yes! and while their at it give Rick Hahn a chance
to be GM. I liked the kids can play mode. Williams
time has passed,along with Dunn and Rios. He spent his way out of a job. Tony LaRussa would make a great VP and he should FIRE HAWK.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:58 pm:
“That was a wonderful feeling. I think I got as much pleasure from him winning as I would have if (the White Sox) had won. I think so much of the man. I truly love the man. He’s just an incredible human being.”
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, to the Chicago Tribune, on La Russa’s World Series victory.
- Just Asking - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:06 pm:
Wouldn’t his presence cause KW to self destruct from an attack of insecurity and leave? One can only hope.
- Poilitical Junkie - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:11 pm:
Baines 4 Prez- The last time that i checked all of those players that you said that you dont want on your team like Skip Schumacher just helped the cards win the World Series and David Eckstein was a World Series MVP
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:20 pm:
Sox should try to at least go through the motions, but why would La Russo to go want to back to any team? Expert TV analysis contracts will be readily available for the picking. No hassle, minimal prep, good money, work as he wants to, and he can simply walk away from any ego problems.
- Masters Phil - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:42 pm:
I said no because they just hired a manager with ZERO experience managing (or coaching for that matter). Some would say bringing LaRussa in to mentor would be good but I think coming off retirement and knowing his ego, he’d be a little hands on. Not to mention the ego in the GM’s office.
- Levois - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:05 pm:
Not a Sox fan, but I’d say give it to him. He has a proven track record of winning. He can bring that with him to the very organization that let him go.
- Robert - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:23 pm:
Yes, solely as a bench coach/advisor to Robin Ventura. Or as a spring training instructor
No to any sort of player evaluation role, as he wasn’t good at that for the Cardinals; he tended to pick favorites who couldn’t hit. The Cardinal GMs Jocketty and Mozeliak built the teams for LaRussa
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:32 pm:
===he’d be a little hands on. ===
And that would be bad, how?
- Fredbird - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:59 pm:
I have one word: Freaking Genius. If there is a chance to bring that to the the Sox in any capacity at all, The Chairman would be foolish not to pursue it. TLR loves Chicago, btw.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 6:32 pm:
I am 100% anti-LaRussa since his bungling in the 1983 playoffs, followed by his failure to get any results from the team the following year (or thereafter).
I don’t care if he won 10 World Series elsewhere, I only care what he did with the White Sox. He took a 99 win team and overmanaged his way out of the playoffs.
At least in those days he wasn’t blaming the dugout telephone system. Stay classy, Tony!!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 8:04 pm:
Winning % with Sox, 51. No juice, no roids, no HGH.
Winning % with the A’s and the Cardinals, almost 60. Juice, roids, andro, HGH, whatever else Lance Armstrongs “doctors” could create.
If he can bring all of those supplements, sure.