Tony La Russa’s lineup decisions get criticized on a daily basis and even the Dodgers broadcast couldn’t resist calling out the White Sox manager on Wednesday for having Leury Garcia as the leadoff hitter.
The White Sox lost 4-1, and were mostly shutdown by Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin, however they did have one great chance to score multiple runs in the fifth inning. After Jake Burger’s leadoff home run, Gavin Sheets doubled and AJ Pollock walked. Danny Mendick hit into a fielder’s choice and with one out the White Sox had runners at the corners trailing 3-1.
Tony La Russa’s Horrible Lineup Decision
Who was due up to hit as the lineup rolled over back to the top? Leury Garcia.
La Russa doesn’t need anyone to defend him, but I will say that this year hasn’t particularly been easy putting a decent lineup together for the White Sox, which as a team has been one of the worst offenses in MLB. A combo of injuries and flat out bad performances has sometimes led to uneasy choices when trying to figure out who you even want in your starting nine, let alone where everyone should be batting for the White Sox.
Yet, with all that being said there is no excuse for Garcia ever being your leadoff hitter.
Dodgers Broadcast Calls Out Tony La Russa
The Dodgers broadcast called out La Russa for having Garcia as the leadoff hitter, as he came up to bat in that pivotable fifth inning, when the White Sox were threatening to add on after Burger’s home run.
Even the Dodgers broadcasters are shocked Garcia is batting Top of the order. 😂 pic.twitter.com/DX77jxtE4l
— SWC (@SwiftChanceIIor) June 9, 2022
Garcia struck out swinging on four pitches, as he finished the night going 0-for-4, with three strikeouts. He is now slashing .184/.193/.257, with two home runs in 40 games for the White Sox this season.
Tony La Russa Mismanaging Leury Garcia
Entering Wednesday night’s game, Garcia had a 29 wRC+.
Broadcast is trying its damndest to throw shade at La Russa’s lineup. No ground ball percentage, no batting average with two outs, just cutting straight to the cold, hard, wRC+. pic.twitter.com/XNrOnAf8be
— Patrick Nolan (@SoxMach_pnoles) June 9, 2022
By the way, what’s worse, Garcia leading off or Yoan Moncada batting third with his embarrassing numbers?
And what kind of sucks is that of course fans feel shitty constantly piling on a guy, but it’s hard not to when the manager keeps putting him into situations that aren’t best suited for him and he ends up hurting the team. Garcia is a perfectly fine player off the bench and can contribute further down in the lineup. Again, no reason he should ever be leading off.
Wow.. But, he’s “wild and woolly”. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/Mgz1fKge34
— Nick Murawski (@Nick_GGTB) June 9, 2022
La Russa’s lineup decisions was one of many topics we covered this week on the Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast, Chicago’s #1 Cubs and White Sox podcast. Hosted by Matt Zawaski, Aldo Soto, Kevin Fiddler and Mitch Kaminski.
Follow them on Twitter @SouthsideZo, @AldoSoto21, @KFidds and @MitchKaminski99. Join the conversation live every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. as they recap all the latest news and rumors about the Cubs and White Sox and cover the biggest stories around MLB. Download and listen to every episode on your preferred podcast app and follow the show on Twitter @PinwheelsIvyPod.
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