Tony La Russa’s idea to combat sign-stealing is dumbest thing we’ve ever heard

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa isn’t really an idea man, and he ought to keep it that way.

La Russa is an excellent baseball mind. He’s also the ideal ‘old man yells at cloud’ personality to lead the White Sox clubhouse, somehow. It’s working out quite well for the South Siders.

But, as it pertains to solving baseball’s sign-stealing crisis…not so much. We’re going to leave that to the folks in charge, rather than TLR. No offense.

When asked how he would combat sign stealing, La Russa’s ideology was elementary level at best.

White Sox: Tony La Russa’s ideas to fix sign-stealing

This is all per Jesse Rogers of ESPN:

“Tony’s idea to the league was to require the runner on second base turn towards CF when the sign is given to the catcher. Then turn back.”

Hmm…that feels like a severe safety concern. What if the ball is hit in play in the time it takes the time it takes him to turn around? Pass.

It gets better from there.

“La Russa’s other idea was to have a fielder stand in front of the baserunner when the sign is given but he figured that would lead to some nasty confrontations.”

Hard pass.

This talk of sign-stealing and cheating isn’t necessarily a great look for a White Sox team that just won Game 3, forcing a Game 4 to potentially even the series against the Houston Astros. If Ryan Tepera and La Russa wanted to give the Astros bulletin board material, they’ve succeeded and then some.