A Shocking Percentage Of Fans Want Tony La Russa Fired

It's no secret that White Sox fans are unhappy. A team that entered the season with championship aspirations has drastically underachieved. The White Sox have been horrible defensively along the way, sloppy on the basepaths, and sometimes look disengaged. Many of these things point to coaching. Much of the fan's anger has been directed at manager Tony La Russa. According to a poll from SB Nation, 87 percent of White Sox fans want Tony La Russa fired. La Russa does have a solid track record as a manager. He won manager of the year in 1983 after guiding the White Sox to a 99-63 record. During his 10-year stint with the Oakland Athletics, he won manager of the year two more times and led the Athletics to a World Series title in 1989. He then joined the St Louis Cardinals in 1996. In 16 seasons in St. Louis, he captured two more World Series and added another manager of the year award to his collection in 2002. After his retirement, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. After firing Rick Renteria, the White Sox lured him out of retirement in 2020. However, La Russa's hiring was controversial, considering he had multiple DUIs and hadn't managed in over a decade. His hiring was met with vitriol across White Sox Twitter. La Russa was mainly hired because his buddy Jerry Reinsoft felt bad about the White Sox firing him in 1986. The fan's disdain has only grown since his hiring. In 2021 La Russa forgot a rule, then made headlines when he scolded Yermin Mercedes for hitting a home run on a 3-0 count. Adding insult to injury, the White Sox were eliminated from the ALDS in dominating fashion. This season La Russa has implemented a variety of head-scratching lineups, got mocked by the Dodgers broadcast team for batting Leury Garcia leadoff, and intentionally walked Trea Turner on a 1-2 count. On June 11th, a chorus of "Fire Tony" chants filled Guaranteed Rate Field after the White Sox blew a 5-0 lead against the Texas Rangers and lost 11-9 in extra innings. After the game, La Russa addressed the chants saying,

"I hear it with one ear and see it with one eye...I like it when they care enough to be upset."

That was just the start, however. Another loud "Fire Tony" chant broke out on June 23rd against the Blue Jays. Fans have plenty of reason to be upset. Entering Monday's game against the Angels, the White Sox are just 34-37 and six games out of first place in the AL Central. Not all of this is La Russa's fault. Injuries have hampered the White Sox, and Rick Hahn has failed to address some of their most significant needs this offseason. Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal having the worse statistical seasons of their careers does not help matters. But, La Russa is clearly not the manager he once was. His shortcomings have transformed him from one of the greatest managers of his generation into a laughing stock.