MLB Rumors: Tony La Russa to take time with assessments of Kevin Towers, Kirk Gibson?
By Hayden Kane
Barring a significant turnaround in the coming weeks and months, 2014 looks like it might end up being a lost season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. It sounds like the new man in charge, Tony La Russa, might be content with that fact.
The futures of current general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson have been called into question with La Russa’s arrival. And while it seems inevitable that La Russa will want to to clean house and bring in his own guys eventually, that might not happen right away according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Tony La Russa plans to be patient assessing #Dbacks, and likely won't decide futures of Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson until late this year.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 17, 2014
Then again, it’s hard to imagine La Russa attaching his name to any losing effort, especially one that is as disastrous as the Diamondbacks have been thus far in 2014. That is the point made by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
Tony La Russa has been part of one losing season since 1999. The status quo in Arizona isn't an option.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 17, 2014
To contend in the National League West in 2014 is a tall order. The San Francisco Giants have charged out to a great start and the Los Angeles Dodgers will almost inevitably go on a winning streak. In that sense La Russa can afford to take his time with the Diamondbacks already so far out of first place.
On the other hand La Russa might not be willing to spend much time watching a losing product without making a change. It should be interesting to see what approach he takes in his new position.