Sullivan
fruition in 2020 with the franchise’s first postseason appearance in 12 years.
The appetizerwas delicious, and everyonewas looking forward to the entree in 2021. Instead, there’s only anger, confusion and derision over a Chicagostyle hire that appeased only two men— Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and La Russa.
Hahn, one of the more respected executives in baseball, deserved a chance to pick Renteria’s replacement. Instead he was kneecapped by his boss, who probablywanted to hire La Russa beforewe even knew Renteria was a goner. Reinsdorf then put Hahn in the unenviable spot of either saying “no” or going along with the program.
Have you ever told your boss “no”? If so, whatwas the job search like?
But herewe are, and herewe go. There is no turning back.
The start of La Russa 2.0went aswell as the Sox could’ve asked for Thursday, aside from the technical glitch that inserted AJ Hinch’s signature onto a photo illustration of La Russa thatwas emailed to some fans.
Oops.
During his introductory videoconference with the media, La Russa attempted to separate his friendshipwith Reinsdorf from his hiring, performed a 180 on his 2016 condemnation of Black LivesMatter protests over police brutality and social injustice and gave his stamp of approval— sort of— to Tim Anderson’s bat-flipping and similar celebrations as long as it’s “sincere and directed toward the game.”
Whether you believe La Russa or not, he answered all the questions in a direct manner and didn’t showany signs of senility.
Still, whatever La Russa said Thursdaywas irrelevant. It’s how he acts as manager of a team potentially on the cusp of greatness that will determine whether his hiringwas a soundmove or simply a byproduct of an Old BoysNetwork that seemingly died out with a new generation of executives frombusiness school backgrounds.
Wewon’t knowthat until the 2021 season begins, and with spring training at least 3 1⁄
2 months away, depending on the pandemic, we’ll have plenty of time to debate Reinsdorf’s decision aswe quarantine over the long, cold winter.
Suffice to say La Russa has a difficult task ahead winning over skeptical fans, many ofwhom were not even born when hewas fired fromhis first stint as Sox manager in 1986 by then-GM Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.
La Russawon right away in Oakland, and A’s fans immediately accepted him. He guided the St. Louis Cardinals to the National League Championship Series in his first season in 1996 and became a Ditka-esque figure in that baseball town over the next 15 years.
The catchy nickname fans gave him, “La Genius,” was part-mocking, part-tribute.
La Russa could have enjoyed his golden years and still felt a part of the game in front-office roles in Arizona, Boston and Los Angeles but claimed itwas “torture” watching from a suite without being able to affect games from the dugout. That speaks to a big ego, a strong desire to be a part of the action and perhaps to concerns about his legacy as one of the game’s greatestmanagers.
La Russa is only 35 wins behind JohnMcGrawfor second place on the all-time managerial wins list. Second is better than third, and that’s where he’ll wind up
No matter the reason, La Russa is here.
Dealwith it.
So what does he do now? First he must hire a quality bench coach who potentially could take over when La Russa is done, whether that’s after 2021 or ’22. It should be someone who knows La Russawell enough to offer blunt advice and also can handle a diverse clubhouse.
Fortunately there’s someone available in current bench coach JoeMcEwing, who has the advantage of having the support of current Sox stars and can be a liaison between La Russa and his players.
Next he has to reach out to the team leaders to let them know he’s not coming in to act like a dictator or kill the buzz they created in 2020. That means Anderson, Jose Abreu, Lucas Giolito andDallasKeuchel. If La Russa can get those four in his corner, it should be relatively smooth sailing.
Then he has to create a relationship with the Chicago media, as onlyWSCR-AM670’s Bruce Levine and NPR’s Cheryl Raye Stout remain from his first goround on the South Side. Reinsdorf doesn’t care about the local media, but La Russa is smart enough to knowthe beat writers will help deliver his message to Sox fans.
That doesn’t mean he has to undergo a personality transplant — though La Russa’s reputation as a serial grouch does precede him. There’s no need to emulate Renteria’s “Ricky Sunshine” approach either, but more transparency when answering questionswould be much appreciated.
It’s baseball, not the CIA.
As for winning over die-hard Sox fans, the solution is simple: justwin and let the players have their fun.
The rest will take care of itself. I’ve heard from friends who insist they no longer can root for a team managed by a polarizing figure such as La Russa, but I don’t buy it. I covered the Sox in the mid-’90s when they had Terry Bevington, the most polarizing manager in franchise history. I don’t recall anyone refusing towatch the Sox on TV or go to new Comiskey Park because the managerwas rude, crude and inept.
You don’t have to like a manager to love your team any more than you have to like the owner. And, aswe all know, many Sox fans have no love lost for Reinsdorf and are still passionate about their team.
The La Russa hiringwas shocking and disappointing to many. Maybe itwon’twork, but it’sway too early to say. Either way, it should not affect anyone’s enjoyment ofwatching Anderson, Giolito and the rest of this team do their thing.
If so, there’s another baseball team in town that no doubt will welcome your support.
No questions asked.