The White Sox announced on Tuesday night that manager Tony La Russa will miss the first game of the series against the Kansas City Royals for health reasons.
According to the team, his absence is under the direction of his doctors, and he will undergo further medical testing in Chicago on Wednesday. They will revisit his status before Wednesday’s game. The announcement came less than two hours before the first pitch.
Bench coach Miguel Cairo will serve as the interim manager during La Russa’s absence. Cairo went 2-0 as the White Sox acting manager in 2021, with his signature victory coming on August 12 vs. the Yankees at the Field of Dreams Game in a dramatic walk-off finish. He also guided the White Sox to a 7-2 win on September 17 at Texas.
The 162-game season of major league baseball is very demanding, especially when you are 77 years old, like La Russa. Travel, long hours, and stress can take their toll. La Russa has already been caught napping in the dugout once this season.
The pressure to turn around the disappointing 2022 campaign only compounds issues. The White Sox have lost nine of their past 11 and scored four runs or fewer in 10 of their last 13 games entering Tuesday.
Tony La Russa has not only had a front-row seat to this train wreck of a season but has been one of the conductors driving it. He is unhappy as anyone, and it was apparent on Sunday.
After the White Sox dropped their fourth consecutive game, Tony La Russa vented to the media.
“I don’t like ‘frustration,’ ‘discouragement,’” La Russa said. “That’s loser crap. Just seeps energy out of your body. I just get angry and want to do something about it.”
Some time away may be the reset that La Russa and his body need. Perhaps Cairo can spark the team in his absence.
