Upon further review, Tony La Russa and Yermin Mercedes both got it wrong

Tony La Russa and Yermin Mercedes have a lot in common. They both got it wrong in the latest Chicago White Sox kerfuffle.

Tony La Russa is the manager of the Chicago White Sox. Yermin Mercedes is a player on the team.

Mercedes’ job is to perform at a high level and, yes, follow the instructions of his manager. Mercedes is allowed to miss a sign, but not to double down when you do. This isn’t the “Yermin Mercedes” show.

“I’m going to play like that. I’m Yermin. I can’t be another person because if I change it, everything is going to change. … We’re just having fun. It’s baseball,” Mercedes explained.

Change what? Taking a 3-0 pitch up 15-4 when your manager asks you to is not changing anything. It’s listening to the manager on the rare times he tells you what to do. Stay aggressive the other 99.9 percent of the time.

Mercedes did not commit a crime when he crushed a 47 MPH pitch 429 feet to dead center. He did not stand at home plate and admire his blast and stare at catcher turned pitcher  Willians Astudillo. But he erred when he defended himself.

Fall. In. Line. It ain’t that hard.

Let me be super clear, I am fine with him swinging if there was no sign. I am against a rookie rejecting authority. MVP Jose Abreu can run through a stop sign rounding third. Tim Anderson can celebrate longer than La Russa would like. They have earned it. Mercedes is still earning his roster spot.

White Sox: Tony La Russa isn’t on the right side of history here, either

As for La Russa, he has not earned it with the White Sox. He was given the keys to a Mercedes Benz and is treating it like a Yugo calling out his players for being “clueless” and backing the Minnesota Twins for throwing at his own player. Disgraceful.

When La Russa was in his managerial prime in Oakland or St. Louis, he could possibly get away with this absurd act not becoming a national story. Relic La Russa, who doesn’t know the written rules of baseball, cannot. The White Sox are receiving unwanted attention that could have an impact in a long season.

Reminder, there are countless qualified managers who could guide — stay out of the way — of this talented bunch and make the playoffs, perhaps a World Series depending on baseball fortunes.

La Russa is bringing added attention to owner and friend Jerry Reinsdorf, who has always been comfortable with drama and is probably sitting back smoking a cigar and enjoying the show. The chairman is elite at having controversy around his teams and not caring about fan or media opinion. That doesn’t usually help winning unless you have Michael Jordan to bail you out.

La Russa truly believes he is doing right by teaching Mercedes a lesson and being lenient. After all, he still let him be in the lineup the day after.

“He’s in there (Tuesday), so the consequence is not sitting him down. It’s a learning experience,” La Russa pronounced.

What a guy! La Russa does know those unwritten rules of baseball better than he knows the complicated extra-inning rules. Teaching lessons and calmly sitting back when Tyler Duffey throws a pitch one-foot behind Mercedes.

It took the umpiring crew all of 10 seconds to decide to eject Duffey who didn’t argue. La Russa acted like he didn’t know what happened to protect the beauty of baseball. Masterful cluelessness!

Meanwhile, Mercedes needs a crash course in humility even if his ‘Mercedes show’ is being backed up by teammates. Knowing who you are in life matters- a rookie still learning the big league ropes.

“I missed the sign, that was on me. Next time I will check with my third base coach.” That should not be too difficult to say.

Mercedes has been a great player for the White Sox. For less than two months. 

The White Sox are in first place. They won the series with the Twins, crisis averted for now.

They also remain in first place in managerial drama. Maybe it all won’t matter because they are just that talented, but it’s unnecessary.

This latest episode taught us one thing. It’s possible for everyone to be wrong.