Health issues force La Russa to step down as White Sox manager

CHICAGO >> Tony La Russa stepped down as manager of the Chicago White Sox Monday because of health issues, ending a disappointing two-year run with the team where the Hall of Famer got his first job as a big league skipper.

La Russa, a threetime World Series champion who turns 78 Tuesday, missed the final 34 games with the White Sox. He left the team on Aug. 30 because of problems with a pacemaker implanted in February.

While La Russa was away from the team, he got checked for a different medical issue previously diagnosed during an annual exam.

“Now however that I’m in the treatment program, it’s become obvious that the length of the treatment and recovery process for the second issue makes it impossible to be the manager in 2023,” La Russa said.

Chicago began the season with World Series aspirations but was plagued by injuries and inconsistent play. The team was 79-80 heading into Monday night’s game against Minnesota.

Speaking in front of much of the organization, including players, La Russa shouldered the blame for what happened this year.

“I understand the ultimate responsibility for each minus this season belongs to the manager,” he said. “That’s accurate, because there’s always something else you could do. “I was hired to provide positive, differencemaking leadership and support. Our record this year is proof I did not do my job.”

Bench coach Miguel Cairo took over after La Russa stepped away. The White Sox showed a spark right after the change, winning 10 of 14. But they dropped eight straight in late September, dashing their playoff hopes.

General manager Rick Hahn said Cairo will get an interview for the fulltime job, but indicated a preference for someone outside the organization.

La Russa, close friends with White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, was a surprise hire in October 2020, and he directed the team to the AL Central title last year. But the White Sox sputtered through much of 2022, and there were chants of “Fire Tony! ” at Guaranteed Rate Field.

All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson and sluggers Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert missed significant time because of injuries. Catcher Yasmani Grandal and third baseman Yoán Moncada also had health issues.

“The squandering of this year is something that I know individually I will carry with me for a while,” Hahn said.

With a 2,900-2,514 record over 35 years with Chicago, Oakland and St. Louis, La Russa trails only Connie Mack on baseball’s career wins list. He moved past John McGraw last season.

Mets, Nats rained out

NEW YORK >> A scheduled game between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was postponed by rain Monday and will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader Tuesday at Citi Field.

The first game is set to begin at 4:10 p.m., though the forecast Tuesday is similarly soggy.

New York (98-61) began the day two games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East with three to play. The Mets have led the division for 175 days, but their chances of winning it all but disappeared last weekend when they were swept in three games at Atlanta.

The only way the Mets take the NL East and bypass a best-of-three wildcard series is by sweeping three games from the last-place Nationals while Atlanta loses all three at Miami.

“We’re hoping they lose three and we win three,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said before the game was postponed. “I ain’t giving in. Never know.”

Neither team had announced pitching plans for the doubleheader. Carlos Carrasco was slated to start Monday for the Mets against Cory Abbott. The listed starters for Tuesday were Taijuan Walker for New York and Paolo Espino for Washington. Pujols hits HR 703

PITTSBURGH >> Albert Pujols hit his 703rd home run Monday, breaking a tie with Babe Ruth for second place in career RBIs.

The 42-year-old connected for the Cardinals off Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, pulling a two-run shot into the left-field stands to snap a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. It was Pujols’ 35th career home run at PNC Park, his most at any visiting ballpark.

The drive gave Pujols 2,216 RBIs, passing Ruth on the all-time list. Hank Aaron holds the record with 2,297.

Pujols has 24 home runs this season. He’s one of four players in major league history with 700, joining Barry Bonds (762), Aaron (755) and Ruth (714). Pujols had been hitless in eight career at-bats against Keller.