The subsequent Chicago White Sox supervisor was speaking with followers Thursday on a wonderful afternoon on the South Side.
There was a lot to debate, and he had no downside telling them the reality, as a result of he doesn’t know every other method to function.
Of course, it’s most likely too early to invest who will take over for Tony La Russa when the Sox supervisor decides he’s accomplished, and we’ve already established he’s not going to be fired for the group’s unimpressive begin.
Suffice to say loads of candidates might be throwing their hats into the combo, understanding the Sox are constructed to win and wish just a few fixes to recover from the hump. And the early favourite must be former catcher A.J. Pierzynski, an analyst for Fox Sports who additionally will get paid by the Sox as an envoy, the position he was in Thursday in the course of the collection finale in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Guaranteed Rate Field.
First issues first: Pierzynski doesn’t imagine the 77-year-old La Russa goes wherever quickly.
“They have a team that’s supposed to win, right?” Pierzynski mentioned in an interview exterior the Bards Room. “And I believe they nonetheless will. I don’t assume he’s going except one thing drastic or loopy occurs. I don’t assume he’s going wherever anytime quickly. He nonetheless appears to get pleasure from it after I speak to him. He nonetheless appears to benefit from the day-to-day grind.
“Tony likes coming to the park. Every time I see him he’s got a smile on his face and he’s excited.”
Connie Mack was the oldest supervisor in historical past at age 87, so perhaps La Russa needs to final 10 extra years and break the document. But this looks as if a make-or-break 12 months for the Sox supervisor. If they don’t make the postseason, it could be troublesome to rationalize one other likelihood in 2023.
Pierzynski, in the meantime, has made no bones about his curiosity in managing at some point. He has seen Aaron Boone, David Ross and others go instantly from the TV sales space to the dugout, and lots of Sox followers have advised him they’d wish to see him run the present.
“I think other people have said it more than I’ve ever really thought about it,” he mentioned. “I nonetheless clearly have numerous pals right here, they usually ship me tweets and stuff (saying that), and folks ship me articles.
“Listen, I’m not actively out there pursuing it or (hoping) for anything to happen to Tony for me to do that. But if something happened, and all the cards lined up and the chips fell into place. … If (Chairman) Jerry Reinsdorf calls me and says ‘Can you come in for this interview?’ it’s going to be really hard for me to say no.”
If that occurs, hopefully Reinsdorf would come with basic supervisor Rick Hahn within the course of.
Pierzynski is sensible for a number of causes.
He’s near Reinsdorf. Pierzynski is aware of the sport. Sox followers love him, and he loves them again. The advertising and marketing division may higher promote the group to followers with a identified entity like Pierzynski.
And of the final 4 Sox hires, two — Ozzie Guillen and Robin Ventura — have been former gamers and one was La Russa, a former Sox supervisor. The solely outlier was Rick Renteria, who helped information the rebuild by way of the powerful occasions till being booted for the La Russa reboot.
Pierzynski induced some commotion on Twitter throughout a current Cubs-Sox recreation when he questioned why La Russa left starter Johnny Cueto within the recreation. Though he’s paid by the Sox for being an envoy, it hasn’t prevented Pierzynski from talking when he’s assigned to Sox video games for Fox.
“No, because I tell the truth,” he mentioned. “I don’t criticize them. I inform the reality. And in the event that they’re taking part in dangerous … they know they’re taking part in dangerous. I work for them however not within the baseball division. I believe the followers are sensible sufficient to know (what’s happening). I’m not going to be all rainbows and unicorns a few group that’s beneath .500 after I do a Sox recreation they usually play badly.
“I attempt to be as constructive as I can. But if I see one thing and I don’t agree with it, properly. … La Russa may say, ‘Well, I don’t agree together with your life selection.’ It’s your opinion. I didn’t blast him. I simply mentioned I believe it’s best to’ve taken him out, and right here’s why. And he can argue ‘Here’s why I didn’t take him out.’
“I’m sure he probably looks back and says, ‘Maybe he was right?’ I don’t know. Right?”
Hmm. Not positive about that.
“I’ve talked with him, and I don’t think he cares,” Pierzynski mentioned. “He does the most effective job he can and that’s it. You can’t fear about what everybody else is saying. My job on TV is to inform the folks at residence what’s occurring, and you’re taking guesses.
“Sometimes you’re right. More times you’re wrong than you are right. From up here (in the booth) it’s much easier to look down and say, ‘Why aren’t they playing better?’ I’m not in the dugout. I get information, but we don’t get everything.”
Pierzynski identified objectivity is a part of his job description as an analyst, as was evident in the course of the Cubs-Sox telecast with Sox radio broadcaster Len Kasper.
“Len and I were just honest, (saying) the Sox aren’t playing well, as everybody knows,” he mentioned. “You don’t single out a player. You tell what their numbers are, what you see. The players deep down know that. I always felt that as long as you don’t get personal (it’s fair).”
Pierzynski is completely happy together with his present job, so if he by no means will get that decision from Reinsdorf, he’ll be advantageous.
But Reinsdorf is aware of the place to search out him. He’ll be right here speaking to Sox followers, and extra essential, listening to Sox followers.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com