Chicago White Sox continue to compound Tony La Russa mistake

The Chicago White Sox are continuing to stick by Tony La Russa despite all the evidence saying that they should not.

The Chicago White Sox decision to hire Tony La Russa as their new manager was controversial from the beginning. It was a move made entirely by owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who was essentially attempting to right his perceived wrong in firing La Russa back in 1986.

This hiring did not exactly spark warm and fuzzy feelings from White Sox fans or the front office. There were questions as to how well he would connect with the younger crop of players. La Russa had not managed in a decade, leaving one to wonder if the game had passed him by from a tactical standpoint as well.

All of those concerns have taken a back seat to the news that La Russa was charged with another DUI before his hiring. To make matters worse, the White Sox were aware of this incident, and hired him anyway. And, La Russa reportedly will not face any discipline from the team.

One can understand why Reinsdorf had pined for La Russa. He had gone on to a Hall of Fame career after leaving Chicago, reaching the World Series six times and taking home three championships. La Russa is currently third in MLB history for managerial wins, and would likely overtake John McGraw for second in the coming season.

But there were major concerns even without this DUI. Free agent Marcus Stroman already stated that he will not play for La Russa, removing the White Sox from consideration. One has to wonder if other free agents will look at La Russa the same way, given his previous comments regarding athletes protesting police brutality and taking a knee during the anthem. La Russa had also failed to reach out to at least one of the White Sox star players, leaving one to wonder why.

There is now a growing mountain of evidence showing why this was the wrong decision for the White Sox. Nonetheless, they are standing firm, refusing to even discipline La Russa for his second DUI arrest. And it is all because ownership cannot move past what happened 34 years ago.

The Chicago White Sox made a mistake hiring Tony La Russa. They have continued to compound that mistake by refusing to discipline him for his latest DUI.