The White Sox have more problems than most teams with the best record in their league.
In the days after manager Tony La Russa ripped his own player, Yermin Mercedes, for swinging on a 3-0 pitch he was told to take while up 15-4 and hitting a home run, the 76-year-old doubled down on his stance against breaking baseball’s “unwritten rules.”
“Do you think you need more [runs] to win, you keep pushing,” he said, via Bob Nightengale. “If you think you have enough, respect the game and opposition. Sportsmanship.”
La Russa added, “If you’re going to tell me that sportsmanship and respect for the game of baseball and respect for your opponent is not an important priority, then I can’t disagree with you more.”
It became very clear that his players disagreed. Pitcher Lance Lynn made it clear after Tuesday’s game, telling 670 The Score that “there are no rules” when a position player is pitching and “the more I play this game, the more those (unwritten) rules have gone away.”
La Russa’s response?
“Lance has a locker. I have an office. … I don’t agree.”
If La Russa was hoping his other players would back him, he would be wrong. White Sox star Tim Anderson has taken to multiple social media to express his support for Mercedes, posting on an Instagram (captured via screengrab on Twitter): “The game wasn’t over! Keep doing you big daddy.”
Mercedes responded with, “Yes sir, let’s do it baby!”
Anderson also appeared to back up the 28-year-old catcher by tweeting, “don’t see and don’t hear… keep pushing.”
Mercedes came back with, “Yeah, yeah brotha.”
La Russa was a surprising choice to manage the young White Sox in the offseason, as he had not managed professionally since 2011 with the Cardinals. His old-school mentality was always viewed as an odd fit with the Sox’s young roster, and he was also arrested for DUI around the exact time he was hired, generating more controversy.
It appears those concerns are playing out before our eyes, as La Russa appears to be on the verge of losing the locker room.
The White Sox still sit atop in the American League at 25-16 despite the whirlwind of drama surrounding their manager.
Leave a Reply