MLB – Baseball: Indefinite absence for Tony La Russa

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa will be out indefinitely due to an unspecified medical condition.

The 77-year-old La Russa missed Tuesday night’s game on the advice of his doctors. The White Sox lost that game 9-7 to the Kansas City Royals.

The management of the White Sox also indicated that La Russa must undergo additional examinations « over the next few days » in Arizona, with his personal doctors.

Assistant Instructor Miguel Cairo will remain as interim manager.

« It’s incredibly difficult, » outfielder Andrew Vaughn said. We don’t really have any information about what’s going on. »

La Russa’s absence on Tuesday was announced about an hour before the first pitch was made. In his pre-game meeting with reporters, La Russa showed no signs of a health issue, nor in a discussion with general manager Rick Hahn and former Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart. , before the start of the game.

Right fielder Gavin Sheets spent the day Tuesday with La Russa and said he was « completely taken aback » when informed of his manager’s absence after batting practice.

« I heard (the news) on Twitter, » Vaughn said. I saw the White Sox posting something, and I was like, « Oh my God. This is crazy. » And then we had to go out there and play. »

Cairo said he spoke with La Russa and exchanged text messages Wednesday about the roster and potential matchups during the game before the veteran manager headed to Arizona.

« I’ll call him as soon as I can, » Cairo said. I’m going to text him or call him to see how he’s doing. But he will be back. »

La Russa is in the second season of his second stint as White Sox manager. The team entered the campaign with championship hopes, but instead want to be one of the most disappointing rosters in major league baseball in 2022.

Heading into Game 2 of their series against the Royals, the White Sox had suffered five straight losses and were 63-66. It was possible to hear White Sox fans calling for La Russa to be fired during games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

« I understand that we want to be competitive, win, prepare and do the best we can, and that’s what we get paid for, » noted reliever Kendall Graveman.

“But at the end of the day, there are things that I think are vital and much more important than playing baseball.

“He needs to be with his family and take care of him right now. I’m not sure what’s going on and the details, but hope to hear more in the future and that it will be good news for him. »

La Russa, a close friend of White Sox president Jerry Reinsdorf, was named manager in October 2020, and he led the team to the American League Central Division championship last year.

He began his major league managerial career with the White Sox in 1979. He won the World Series with the Athletics in 1989, and with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.

Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, La Russa is one of two managers in baseball history to have won the World Series in the American League and the National League. The other is Sparky Anderson.