South Side Hit Men

I wonder what role Tony’s Veterinarian pal will have with the White Sox. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30220736/why-tony-la-russa-sincerely-curious-choice-white-sox-manager In November 2014, six months after the Arizona Diamondbacks named Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa their chief baseball officer, the organization announced that it had hired Dr. Ed Lewis as its first director of baseball analytics and research. His experience in the field was nonexistent. His doctorate was in veterinary medicine. Lewis came to the Diamondbacks because he possessed a quality far more important than developing algorithms or building models: For 35 years, he had been Tony La Russa's friend. The hiring of Lewis prompted snickers around the game. At the time La Russa was stripped of power three years into the job, the Diamondbacks had gone 212-274. His handpicked GM, old friend Dave Stewart, had been fired. Lewis was replaced. Cronyism in the game is as old as the spitball, and an inner circle of powerful men -- they're all men -- has spent decades in the game fomenting it. When they want something, they tend to get it.

Valid criticisms, but that was not the reason LaRussa confronted Piersall, it was his on point criticism of LaRussa’s in game management.

In a perfect world, Rick Hahn would resign, Ken Harrelson would be hired to replace him and Hawk would fire Tony LaRussa on June 19, 2021, 35 years to the day he last fired him. The fact that it would be on Juneteenth would be icing on the cake. Tim Anderson, benched multiple times throughout the 2021 season for transgressions such as hitting a grand slam on a 3-0 count with a six run lead, flipping his bat after a game winning home run, and stating his support for the thirteenth and fourteenth amendment to the US Constitution, flips his bat over the roof to celebrate and the team joins him. Sadly, Eloy Jimenez tears his ACL during the celebration and is lost for the season.

Is there’s reason the White Sox didn’t reach out to Bochy? Was there anyone else interviewed, the Score said there may have been one other candidate. Even people happy with the hire should ask why didn’t the Sox perform due diligence and use the interview process to learn the approach of other successful franchises and managers. Theo, who won two WS titles stated he learned a lot during the process, especially from Joe Espada who nearly unexpectedly won the job over favorite David Ross. 2012: Sox managerial search consists of White Sox begging Robin Ventura to take the job. Robin hesitates but ultimately signs. 2016: For some unexplained reason the White Sox once again beg Robin Ventura to stay after a dismal and embarrassing four year stretch. Robin says no and within 24 hours, the Sox sign Rick Renteria, the extent of their managerial search. 2019: After the season, the White Sox like what Rick Renteria has done, the team has developed well under Rick’s guidance, and he is given a contract extension through 2021. 2020: White Sox improve further and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Development and growth of several players continues under Rick Renteria. Lack of pitching depth and failed acquisitions at DH and RF prevent the White Sox to advance further. There were questionable bullpen moves during a few games, but for the most part the bullpen over performed during the short season, and likely would have imploded due to lack of depth under an 162 game season. The FO acquired nothing of consequence at the trade deadline, and literally did not have confidence in more than two starting pitchers heading into the playoffs. October 12: Rick Renteria is fired, Hahn announces there will be a broad EXTERNAL SEARCH conducted with an EMPHASIS on interviewing managers with RECENT championship experience. That same day rumors are reported Tony LaRussa is a candidate for the job despite the fact he hasn’t managed in a decade. October 29, 2020: In a day that will live in infamy, the White Sox send an announcement with A. J. Hinch’s signature, a candidate they did not even interview, and Tony LaRussa’s picture, announcing Tony LaRussa will manage the White Sox in 2021.

I remember when LaRussa confronted Jimmy Piersall, who Jerry ultimately fired after the season for upsetting his Prima Donna manager. Wonder if Tony will go after Stone or Jason and demand announcers more to his liking. Thom Brennaman and former White Sox Steve Lyons come to mind. Jimmy The Greek did as well but I believe he is dead at this point. Then again, I thought the same of Tony LaRussa, until earlier this month. Heard many players defend and say they loved the leadership and playing for Rick Renteria, including Lucas Giolito yesterday on the Score. Lucas also praised all the veteran signings last year, with one notable exception (hint - he signed the largest contract in club history). Still haven't heard a peep of praise for LaRussa from any player or anyone beyond non players who receive checks from Jerry Reinsdorf. Hope JR doesn't crack the whip and demand players praise LaRussa like Hahn was forced to today. Hahn at the press conference reminded me of John McCain's Hanoi Hilton interviews. That's OK, Jerry and Tony will elect Rick Hahn into the Baseball Hall of Fame when the Vetaran's Committee meets to vote on "today's era" in 2022 .

Did Renteria have a say in calling up Rodon? Don Cooper was higher on the organization chart last season (reporting to Kenny) over their manager (reporting to Hahn).

Drake LaRoche may have been a better candidate, despite his lack of postseason experience when he last managed the White Sox. The New York Mets are grateful to relinquish their top spot as MLB / Professional Sports laughingstock.

Who will break the news to LaRussa he must leave a reliever in for three batters?

Not surprising, they gave their largest contract ever to fWAR Grandal, the extent of his work ethic is popping a pill and or a syringe.

I didn’t want to start the thread with my choice, but I selected other. Joe Espada, if available, would have been my first choice, at least to interview. I would have conducted a broad search, and let the interviews combined with prior experience dictate the hire. I agree @SouthWallace at minimum there should have been a thorough and legitimate managerial search. Have to go back to either Ozzie or Jerry Manuel as the last time the White Sox conducted a legitimate search of multiple external candidates. At minimum, an extended search gives you ideas outside of the organization. Hahn stated the search would not be insular during the Renteria firing press conference, which was obviously not the case. Disappointed, but not surprised, because this team was always run as a fiefdom vs. a legitimate professional organization.

Poll as to who you would hire as the next manager of the White Sox.

And this is an example of why the Chicago White Sox have advanced in the playoffs a single year entering the fifth decade under Jerry Reinsdorf. What a complete and utter joke this franchise is.

Not to mention the fact that some try to compare a league which is pro player run by media savvy professionals like the NBA, vs. a league which where JR staged a coup of any semblance of independent leadership by installing his puppet used car salesman boob commissioner after Bart died and JR eliminated Fay Vincent. JR and his puppet "brain trust" proceeded to cancel the 1994 season and destroy interest in the sport which has never recovered. Interest continues to decrease each season, dwindling like horse racing, boxing, cockfighting and bullfighting. MLB is also anti-labor/player, and JR is among the firmest hardliners. JR was happy to cancel 1994, and will be just as happy to cancel 2022 and beyond if it means a few dollars more. Compare and contrast to the NBA, where there are enough forward looking professional owners (i.e. not Jerry Reinsdorfs and the Knick's "brain trust") backing progressive leadership to work and seek a healthy relationship with their players, the only reason anyone flips a switch to watch the product. You don't see endless acrimony, cancelled seasons, or dwindling interest with the NBA. Leadership matters. Failed leadership, largely the result of JR successful coup against Fay Vincent and installation of his puppet commissioner, is why MLB has dropped over 75% in television ratings during JR's 40 years as owner. Compare and contrast to sports run by competent professionals like the NFL (Pete Rozelle) and NBA (David Stern), who ate their lunch, and then some, over the same period. JR sabotaged the NHL by recommending Count Dracula as Commissioner to $ Bill Wirtz, an older version of Jerry, who held power in the NHL to install him three decades ago. Once Bettman is gone, the league may also pass the MLB in fan interest. One league embraces intelligent independent media savvy owners like Mark Cuban, whereas Reinsdorf and MLB will fight to the death to prevent owners like Mark Cuban from purchasing a MLB team. JR voted against Cohen with the Mets not because of any concern with his business ethics, he is JR after all, but because he wanted the more malleable / controllable ownership group lead by JLo and ARod. JR is the reason the Bulls Gar/Pax era lasted as long as it did, and why White Sox fans are stuck Hahn/Williams until JR is gone. Hahn thought Renteria was such a great manager he extended his contracted less than one year ago, and then like a 13 year old girl, dumped him after two bad months. This is what happens when you have lackeys at the controls, who take less due diligence to hire a manager in 2016 than your local Dairy Queen does to hire an ice cream server. The Friends of Jerry Program is the only "thought" process with the White Sox, it's why we are reading about Tony LaRussa being a "leading candidate" by the "South Side Brain Trust". Even the pathetic Bears ownership wouldn't consider bringing Mike Ditka back, who unlike Tony LaRussa, actually won a championship in Chicago. "Baseball is a mess right now and they have zero vision to see them out of it. I’m thankful they didn’t let me buy a team." https://t.co/W6lIF7mlws — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 18, 2020

What is unequivocally creepy is speculating on adultery involving Jerry Reinsdorf or anyone else.

Sad, but expected. Cheapen the regular season to the point where it's just a 162 exhibition season. It was bad enough with the addition of a wild card, allowing also rans which couldn't win a four or five team division to be "champion". 16 teams (+ perhaps they'll go to 22 teams like the NHL this year) makes the season a complete farce. With World Series ratings the lowest ever, hard to argue "expanded playoffs" has increased fan interest. Another short term money grab at the expense of long term fan interest and upholding the integrity of the regular season. Several Rotisserie League teams is my primary tie-in to the sport at this point.

The "world has changed", yet the "South Side brain trust" is turning to 1983 for their managerial candidate. Simple concept, though beyond the ability for Reinsdorf / Hahn bots to comprehend. The world has also moved on from MLB. Over 40M average viewers watched the 1980 World Series, the year before Reinsdorf and Einhorn bought the White Sox and began managing league MLB national contracts in the 1980s. Since JR/EE involvement, World Series viewership has cratered by over 80% with to under 10M viewers, despite the Dodgers presence as the second largest television market and profile team. JR's and EE's stewardship of television contracts over the decades has led to this reality. The same type of decisions which lead to the destruction of White Sox fan interest in Chicago, from parity to over 2 to 1 Cubs dominance.

Who is the leading White Sox managerial candidate? https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/report-white-sox-have-interviewed-tony-la-russa-others-manager-job

Laughable. JR and EE were the architects of the pay per view scheme both locally and nationally, steal what you can now scheme be it television or raping taxpayers across the country to pay for their capital expenses. Also destroyed interest by cancelling the 1994 season .When you cut out long term interest and erode your customer base for short term greed, you get flaccid interest in baseball that endless erectile dysfunction and gambling ads cannot remedy. It's how a two team baseball city became a one team city, and how the NFL pwned MLB and continues to pull away like Secretariat.

No other stations exist in Chicago? JR / EE did not destroy the parody Sox and Cubs fans shared here until they nuked it with their On-TV / Sportsvision debacle, and doubling down currently does not impact current viewership or interest in baseball, and continued erosion of the audience?

No. Hiring an actual pitching coach residing mentally and physically in the current millennium should help improve the current staff. Still surprised Kenny’s clubhouse snitch was finally shown the door, must have been a quid pro quo for Renteria or something else.

Sad Reinsdorf and his fellow owners stripped interest in the sport to the point of having the lowest televised interest and ratings in the history of the sport, despite record population. https://www.thewrap.com/world-series-game-1-least-watched-ever-dodgers-rays-fox/ This is what happens when you strip all local over the air broadcasts. White Sox and Cubs both eliminated all local broadcasts in 2020, would expect continued erosion of interest.

Rick Renteria without hesitation. Having trouble coming up with a worse living ex White Sox manager, unless one counts 1-1 Don Cooper. Was more happy he was eradicated than Rick Renteria, who was merely the symptom.

Joe Espada may not be available, but he’s the one candidate I have not seen mentioned but a few times here that I would like to see interviewed. From what I’ve read during the Cubs process last year, he provided their FO with a lot of valuable insight, and was the unexpected final candidate opposite their first choice heading into the process. Joe may already have an informal agreement as the next permanent manager after this season with Houston. Have concerns regarding the inability of Hinch to stop what was going on in Houston despite the fact he allegedly was opposed to it by reports of his destroying the first video monitor. LaRussa is the one candidate I really don’t want.

Also extended Rick Renteria last offseason, after failing to convince another winner (Ventura) to stay, and signing Renteria after an exhaustive 24 hour job search in 2016, because why bother. Perhaps he’ll land LaRussa to ensure the hits just keep on coming on the managerial front. Not to worry, just give Hahn five more years after 2025 for another rebuild if nothing happens, he is an Executive of the Year after all. No doubt his peers want him around forever.

About as logical as Hahn winning this “award”. Sadly the Sox and their AL pier Seattle haven’t won a goddamned thing during Hahn’s tenure, well except for this ridiculous award. Hahn still is a losing GM, even cherry picking the years he was allegedly “trying” to win (2013-2016 & 2020), and dumping players like Tatis.