Fans of the Chicago White Sox had a lot of things to say about manager Tony La Russa after being swept by the New York Yankees and none of them were nice.
White Sox fans are well and truly fed up with Tony La Russa.
The final straw may have been different for each individual, but Sunday’s loss to the Yankees represented a new low for the manager’s relationship with the fan base.
New York completed the three-game sweep with a 5-4 win on a walk-off walk thanks to some questionable managerial decisions.
White Sox fans think Tony La Russa costs them games.
La Russa rustled up the ire of White Sox fans when he brought in closer Liam Hendricks in the ninth inning only after Aaron Bummer had loaded the bases. Hendricks went on to walk Aaron Judge to bring the winning run home in the bottom of the ninth.
It was the second time in as many games La Russa mismanaged the closer.
Any support La Russa held before the losing streak wasn’t sticking up for him on Sunday.
All the Tony La Russa backers are awfully quiet right now.
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) May 23, 2021
Costing the White Sox wins seems to be the biggest complaint from fans.
I don't recall ever seeing an MLB manager cost his team this many wins this early in a sesson than Tony La Russa has to his White Sox right now.
— alexquigley (@alexquigley) May 23, 2021
If WAR could be a managerial stat, Tony La Russa's would be -10
— ۟ (@feebleyanks) May 23, 2021
name one positive contribution Tony La Russa makes to this baseball team
— ethan (@okcfanethan) May 23, 2021
What will happen in October when every managerial decision matters? Fans are not confident.
Tony La Russa IS GOING TO COST THE WHITE SOX IN OCTOBER. FIRE HIM NOW
— JuJu (@JuJu_Da_Gamer) May 23, 2021
The White Sox' best chance to win the World Series in 2021 is to fire Tony La Russa mid-season send tweet
— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) May 23, 2021
The link between the recent losses and La Russa’s disagreement with Yermin Mercedes hasn’t been lost on fans.
1-4 since Tony La Russa put down Yermin Mercedes and also told one of his best pitchers that is why he has a locker, and he has an office. Complete embarrassment.
— GREGO (@GregoLando) May 23, 2021
The #WhiteSox have been a mess since Tony La Russa got mad at his own batter for hitting the ball.
— Chris Dixon (@cdixon25) May 23, 2021
While people may want La Russa out, there are pessimists on the possibility of that happening.
One fan had an unconventional idea to solve the problem.
I'm half joking but the White Sox players should tank so they fired Tony La Russa midseason. I think I've heard of that happening in the NBA but not much in the MLB.
— Jake Leopold (@jakeleopold225) May 23, 2021
Who knows, maybe the tank has already begun. Chicago has lost four of their last five since the Mercedes incident.
They may be struggling, but the White Sox are still in the lead in the AL Central. Cleveland is 1.5 games behind and they just lost designated hitter Franmil Reyes to an injury.