CHICAGO – APRIL 08: Manager Tony La Russa #22 of the 2021 White Sox is introduced prior to the home opener against the Kansas City Royals on April 8, 2021 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox fans are losing patience and fast with Tony La Russa, but there’s no way the club will fire him so early into the season.
Tony La Russa’s first year with the Chicago White Sox is going about just how everyone outside of the front office expected it to: not well. Despite Chicago being tied for first place in the AL Central with its 16-13 record, La Russa has made some absurd decisions throughout the campaign.
This included an extra-innings gaffe on Wednesday night in a 1-0 loss to the Reds, where La Russa didn’t know the new MLB rules and had pitcher Liam Hendriks start out at second base, not knowing he could have actually sent out Jose Abreu instead as the free runner. Come on.
It’s still way too early for the White Sox to fire Tony La Russa
While countless White Sox fans were never on board with the La Russa hire and want him canned, Chicago simply can’t make this happen just yet. It’d be different if La Russa were making these frustrating blunders each night. At the end of the day, the club is still tied for first in the division and they’ve done so while facing plenty of adversity.
That adversity has been highlighted by the injuries to superstars Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert. With Jimenez out for 4-5 months, it’s of course a massive blow for the White Sox. The same obviously can be said with Robert to be out of action for 3-4 months as well.
It will be on La Russa to help weather the storm and help the club stay above water. If the team, which has enjoyed a breakout season from Dylan Cease, can stay competitive and push for a division title, La Russa will be essential in making that happen.
It’s too early to fire him. If things continue once July or August rolls around, then there’s another discussion to be had.