The status of Tony La Russa is a story that has been hovering around the Chicago White Sox for the past month. Some may even call it a distraction. However, the speculation of whether he will be back or not has finally been put to rest.
On Saturday, the White Sox announced that La Russa will not return for the remainder of the 2022 season. La Russa underwent additional testing and medical procedures over the past week. According to the White Sox, doctors instructed the 77-year-old to take the rest of the season off. Miguel Cairo will finish out the season as the acting manager.
Cairo has posted a 13-10 record at the helm and immediately provided the White Sox a spark. The White Sox won nine of their first twelve games when Cairo took the reins.
However, it appears his influence is wearing off. The White Sox have lost their last four games, including getting swept by the Cleveland Guardians. It was a series that exposed some of Cairo’s shortcomings as a manager. The recent slump has put the White Sox 6.5 games back in the American League Central and effectively eliminated them from playoff contention.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 24, 2022
La Russa hasn’t managed since August 28th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The White Sox lost the game 3-2. Two days later, as the White Sox were preparing to take the field for a game against the Royals, he was forced to leave the stadium due to his heart condition.
La Russa has a 169-144 record during his second stint with the White Sox. Despite leading the White Sox to a 93-win season and a division title in 2021, his tenure has been mired in drama.
Between scolding one of his own players to intentionally walking someone on a 1-2 count, the circus never ends with La Russa in town. The 2022 season marks the second year of a three-year contract that the Hall of Famer signed back in October of 2020.
Now attention will shift to the offseason to see if the White Sox will retain him, if his doctors allow him to return.
