Polling place
Back in February, in his first public comments since losing his job with the Astros and being suspended by Major League Baseball for his role in a signstealing scandal, A.J. Hinch was asked in an interview with MLB Network if he hoped to manage again.
“I do,” he said. “It’s up to other people to determine whether I’m the right fit, but I lovemanaging. I love players. I love the competition. … I’m not proud of talking about the issues in 2017 with the sign stealing, but I’m not going to let that deter me from my hope and desire to have a long career in major-league baseball doing what I love.”
So there you have it. Just in case anyone was wondering if Hinch might be as interested in the White Sox as they seem to be in him.
Who will be the manager to replace Rick Renteria? In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter, voters made it clear they expect it to be Hinch, 46, who is highly regarded for his interpersonal skills with players and his understanding of modern analytics.
Not that “highly” includes everyone, mind you.
“We need a fresh face that isn’t a cheater,” @JBIRD1268 commented.
Afresh face such as, ahem, Tony LaRussa? Voters didn’t buy the ex-Sox manager of long ago as a candidate.
“What about La Russa’s win total benefitting from steroid-using players?” @latilleon wrote. “Doesn’t he have cheating, too?”
There is that to consider, we suppose. La Russa, having managed the “Bash Brothers” in Oakland and in St. Louis during the height of a home-run explosion, certainly has a role in a shameful part of baseball’s history.
Ah, well. On to the polls: