Even Chris Woodward thinks Tony La Russa is wrong about Yermin Mercedes

Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward made it quite clear that he’s in disagreement with how Tony La Russa has handled the 3-0 pitch drama with his club. 

As you might have been able to guess, Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is still in the news for how terrible he’s handled the Yermin Mercedes situation with his club. La Russa continues to get bashed on social media and it’s easy to understand why.

Texas Rangers skipper Chris Woodward is among the countless folks out there who think La Russa blew it. While speaking with reporters, Woodward admitted that while he personally never swung at a 3-0 pitch, he surely regrets never doing so.

Chris Woodward thinks Tony La Russa is in the wrong for the Yermin Mercedes drama

“If you have a bat in your hand and you’re standing in the batter’s box, I’ve completely changed my opinion on it,” Woodward said via Sports Illustrated. “I never swung at a 3-0 pitch because it was never allowed. Now I look back, I’m like, ‘That was silly.’ I preach that to our guys now. As a manager, every time you look over to me 3-0, I’m giving the green light. Don’t be afraid to swing.”

Woodward of course was the center of some 3-0 controversy last year after Fernando Tatis Jr. belted a grand slam against him. Woodward was angry at the start, but then tried walking things back a bit.

The fact of the matter is that the game has changed a bit over the years. In the old days, yeah, swinging at a 3-0 pitch with the game sealed up was a big no-no. Fast forward to 2021, though, and it shouldn’t be this big of a problem. We’ll see if La Russa wakes up and joins the 21st century, but it seems unlikely.