José Ramírez Touted as Underrated MLB Star After Leading Guardians to Win vs. Rays
Oct 7, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a two RBI home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on October 07, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
José Ramírez was the toast of MLB
Twitter on Friday after hitting a two-run home run in the Cleveland
Guardians' 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the teams'
Wild Card Series.
The third baseman's sixth-inning blast
off Rays ace Shane McClanahan was the difference for the Guardians,
who also received 7.2 innings of one-run, eight-strikeout ball from
starter Shane Bieber to the delight of the home crowd at Progressive
Field.
Here's a look at some social-media
reaction to Ramírez's latest standout moment following a regular
season in which he ranked 13th among MLB hitters in FanGraphs' WAR
(6.2):
It's crazy that despite Jose Ramirez being one of the best players in baseball for the last 7 years he still manages to be criminally underrated
Tom Hamilton with a great (and accurate) statement about Cleveland’s superstar, a moment ago on the radio broadcast: “There’s not a more intelligent player in the game than José Ramírez.” @CleGuardians@MLBNetwork @LasMayores
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase also
played a key role in the series-opening victory, recording the last
four outs to secure a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three matchup.
Rays center fielder Jose Siri posted
the only run for the visitors with a solo homer in the sixth.
As expected, it was a mostly
pitching-dominated game with the two clubs combining for just 11
hits while the pitchers racked up 16 strikeouts.
Game 2 is scheduled for 12:07 p.m. ET on
Saturday at Progressive Field. The expected pitching matchup will see
Tampa's Tyler Glasnow take on Cleveland's Triston McKenzie.
A Guardians victory would send them
into a Division Series clash with the New York Yankees. A Rays win
would lead to a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.
MLB Rumors: White Sox Manager Tony La Russa Expected to Announce Retirement on Monday
Oct 2, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 16: Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa watches his team play from the dugout during a MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals on May 16, 2022, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images),
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa will reportedly announce his retirement on Monday, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
La Russa was planning to remain with the organization through 2023, but the strategy has changed after heart issues have kept him away from the team.
Chicago entered Sunday with a 78-80 record, good for second in the American League Central but not enough to compete for a playoff spot. It was a mark befitting a team that rarely strayed too far from mediocrity.
For La Russa, it didn't help that the team's performance improved once Miguel Cairo took over as interim manager.
The White Sox announced Aug. 30 that La Russa would miss what proved to be a 9-7 loss to the Kansas City Royals for health reasons. They followed up one day later to say his absence would be extended indefinitely, and Cairo continued to lead the squad as a result.
Chicago's uptick confirmed what many already believed: The franchise was going backwards under La Russa's watch.
Whatever goodwill the Hall of Famer established from helping Chicago win 93 games and claim a division crown in 2021 evaporated. Granted, there may not have been much goodwill to begin with.
The White Sox's decision to hire him in the first place was met with a lot of skepticism. The 77-year-old hadn't managed since 2011, and the game had changed a lot during the intervening years.
Beyond whether he could adjust to MLB's strategic trends and increased reliance on advanced metrics, the Yermin Mercedes saga almost immediately raised questions about his suitability within the clubhouse.
Late in a blowout victory over the Minnesota Twins in May 2021, the 29-year-old teed off on a 3-0 pitch from Willians Astudillo, who had been deputized as a pitcher with the score so one-sided. La Russa threw the hitter under the bus after the game rather than deflect any criticism away from his player, who was perceived to have run afoul of the unwritten rules.
The story eventually blew over, and there was plenty to celebrate as the White Sox returned to the postseason for the first time in a full 162-game season since 2008.
Still, the pace with which public opinion in the Windy City irrevocably turned against La Russa showed how little equity he carried over from the year before. By mid-June, he was drawing boos and calls for his ouster from the home fans.
It's difficult to list all of the puzzling tactical choices La Russa made this season, but here's a short summary.
In the sixth inning, he called for Trea Turner to be intentionally walked despite the player facing a 1-2 count. While that set up a lefty vs. lefty matchup for Max Muncy, the L.A. infielder proceeded to hit a three-run home run.
La Russa repeated the move in a 5-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 19.
His pitcher usage in an 8-6 loss to the Texas Rangers in 12 innings on June 12 raised some eyebrows. He threw out rookie reliever Tanner Banks and appeared to be readying Dylan Cease for a possible relief opportunity only three days removed from a 110-pitch outing.
Tanner Banks, called up from Triple-A today and placed into a 3-3 game in the eighth against the heart of the order, has issued two walks to open the frame while Dylan Cease—yes—warms behind him. It’s a weird day out here.
The White Sox burned Monday's starter because today's starter got hurt in the first. They burned out the rest of their pen because their ace closer is hurt but still on the roster. And they lost after Robert tagged up to go to third when his run meant absolutely nothing. Ouch.
By mid-July, even the White Sox home broadcasters were at a loss to describe La Russa's on-field decisions at times.
A month later, the manager stood idly by as a visibly injured Luis Robert was reduced to swinging with one arm in an 11th-inning at-bat in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
It all added up to somebody who was out of his depth.
Judging a manager based on his team's performance can be tricky because there's a limit to which his input impacts a game. In the case of La Russa, it at least became increasingly difficult to believe he was making the White Sox better.
As much as a managerial change will be welcomed in Chicago, it may not be a panacea because Jerry Reinsdorf remains in charge.
Although the White Sox aren't dealing with the sort of rampant internal dysfunction that inevitably bleeds on to the field, the process that led to La Russa's hiring speaks to something that's fundamentally broken at the top.
It’ll never happen but #WhiteSox fans deserve to hear Jerry Reinsdorf explain or defend why he believes Tony LaRussa is the manager capable of leading this team to the World Series that remains the goal. It’s that bad, yes. It’s that indefensible given the way this devolved.
The team owner had a promising young roster that gave Chicago its best shot at contending in years, and he entrusted the clubhouse to a retired manager who was clearly a poor fit at the outset.
Even with the failed experiment with the White Sox, La Russa will still be recognized as one of the best managers of his generation. The Hall of Famer won three World Series titles—two with the St. Louis Cardinals and one with the Oakland Athletics—and totaled six pennants. He was also named Managers of the Year four times in this career.
Though he returned after his previous retirement in 2011, it's more likely this one is permanent.
White Sox Rumors: GM Rick Hahn 'Unlikely' to be Fired amid Team's Struggles
Sep 30, 2022
CHICAGO - APRIL 12: Chicago White Sox Senior Vice President and General Manager Rick Hahn addresses the media prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners on Opening Day at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 12, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn's job appears to be secure, at least for now.
Hahn is "unlikely" to be fired despite the team's struggles this season, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The White Sox are officially eliminated from playoff contention and sit second in the AL Central with a 77-79 record, a whopping 11 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians.
It's been a disappointing season for the White Sox. However, the team has struggled through a number of injuries to key players this year, including star shortstop Tim Anderson, outfielder Luis Robert, infielder Danny Mendick, catcher Seby Zavala, relievers Kyle Crick and Garrett Crochet and starter Michael Kopech.
The White Sox also had to work through the absence of manager Tony La Russa, who has been sidelined with a medical issue since the end of August. The team named Miguel Cairo its interim manager in his absence.
That said, there's no excuse for the team's lack of success under Hahn, who took over as general manager in 2013, replacing Kenny Williams.
After years of disappointment, Hahn enacted a full-blown rebuild during the 2017 season, trading Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, and two other minor league players. Moncada has never lived up to his status as a former No. 1 prospect, and while Kopech has mostly been solid, the White Sox were hoping he would be better.
In 2018, the White Sox finished with a 62-100 record, one of the worst in baseball. They improved slightly in 2019, finishing with a 72-89 record, and in 2020 they made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years after finishing 35-25 during the pandemic-shortened season.
The 2020 campaign marked Hahn's first postseason appearance as general manager of the White Sox, but the team lost to the Oakland Athletics in the wild card.
In 2021, the White Sox finished first in the AL Central with a 93-69 record, marking the first time since 2008 that the franchise won the division crown. It was also the team's first 90-win season since 2006.
At that point, Hahn's White Sox had made the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, but Chicago was eliminated by the Houston Astros in the divisional round of the playoffs
Now in 2022, the White Sox are back to being a non-playoff team, and something needs to be done about the club's lack of success. If Hahn isn't fired by season's end, he'll surely be on the hot seat entering 2023.
Carlos Correa Talks Future with Twins, Says Minnesota Will Have to Pay Up to Keep Him
Sep 29, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 21: Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) as seen during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals, September 21, 2022, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images),
Carlos Correa sure sounded like a man set to decline his $35.1 million player option with the Minnesota Twins for the 2023 season and become a free agent Thursday.
"When I go to the mall and I go to the Dior store and I want something, I get it. I ask how much it costs and I buy it," he told reporters. "So if you really want something, you just go get it. I'm the product here, so if they want my product, they just gotta come get it."
Correa signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins this past winter after spending the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros. The deal included player options in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, however, each worth $35.1 million.
Turning down $70.2 million over two years can't be an easy decision, though the 28-year-old Correa is likely hoping to find the security that comes with a long-term contract while he's still in his prime.
The question is whether Correa will be able to secure one of the lucrative deals he's seen his contemporaries at the position sign in recent years, like Francisco Lindor (10 years, $341 million), Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million) and Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million).
Teams had the opportunity to sign him to such a deal this past offseason and abstained, so Correa opted for a short-term windfall—his $35.1 million this year led all shortstops in base salary—and the chance to hit free agency again in any of the next three offseasons.
He won't be the only high-profile shortstop on the market, however. Trea Turner will be the headliner in that regard, while Dansby Swanson is also hitting free agency, and Xander Bogaerts could opt out and join the fray.
Correa has had a strong 2022 campaign, hitting .287 with 21 homers, 61 RBI, 68 runs and an .826 OPS. But he isn't going to be the top option at his position on teams' free-agency boards, and it's fair to question if his market might play out in a similar fashion to last winter.
Guardians Clinch 2022 AL Central Title with White Sox's Loss to Tigers
Sep 25, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Josh Naylor #22 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates his two-run home run with Jose Ramirez #11 against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 21, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Guardians are American League Central champions for the first time since 2018.
Thanks to the Chicago White Sox's 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, the Guardians clinched their fifth playoff berth and fourth division title in the past seven seasons.
Manager Terry Francona has Cleveland in the playoffs for the sixth time in his 10 seasons with the club. It made the postseason once in the previous 11 years before his arrival.
Coming off an 80-82 record in 2021, expectations were understandably muted for the Guardians this season. Ownership continued to keep costs down with the fourth-lowest payroll in Major League Baseball.
The first indication of positive vibes this season came right before opening day. All-Star third baseman José Ramírez agreed to a seven-year contract extension that runs through the 2028 season.
The $124 million in new money for the 30-year-old more than doubled the previous franchise record for a contract (Edwin Encarnación: three years, $60 million).
In addition to Ramírez deciding to remain with the franchise, Cleveland was able to make significant strides this season thanks to many surprise performances.
Andrés Giménez, who was acquired from the New York Mets in the Francisco Lindor trade, was arguably the Guardians' best player in 2022. He ranks fifth among all AL position players in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (5.9) and was named to the All-Star team.
Steven Kwan made the 26-man roster out of spring training. The 24-year-old is likely going to be a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year after posting a .295/.371/.392 slash line and elite defense in left field.
The Guardians' offense stands out for how they succeed. They are a throwback group with a lot of contact and stolen bases, but minimal power. Their 121 homers are the second-fewest in MLB, but they are third in stolen bases (109) and first in strikeouts (1,032).
Per FanGraphs, the Guardians have the highest contact rate on pitches swung at both in (88.3 percent) and out of the zone (70.9 percent).
Cleveland's reputation as a pitching factory continued to produce big results this season. Former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber is on pace to have his lowest ERA in a 162-game season (2.81). Triston McKenzie, a first-round draft pick in 2015, has taken a huge step forward with a 3.04 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
The bullpen, led by All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, ranks second in the AL in FanGraphs WAR (5.8) and third in ERA (3.10).
This was a disappointing year overall for the AL Central. The defending division champion White Sox never found consistency, while the Minnesota Twins dealt with a number of injuries to key players and poor pitching.
The Kansas City Royals and Tigers remain mired in obscurity as their rebuilds have yet to pay off.
This wasn't expected to be a big year for the Guardians, but they took advantage of the opportunities presented to them and have a chance to compete for a World Series in October.
Tony La Russa Won't Return as White Sox Manager This Season After Heart Surgery
Sep 24, 2022
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa heads to the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa will not return to the team this season after undergoing surgery to repair his pacemaker, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Tony La Russa, as expected, will not return as manager with the Chicago #WhiteSox this season. His doctors advised him not to return this season after undergoing surgery to repair his pacemaker. He has one year remaining on his contract for 2023.
The White Sox confirmed that La Russa, who has been out since Aug. 31, will not return through a statement released Saturday. Miguel Cairo will remain the interim manager.
The 77-year-old La Russa, a three-time World Series champion and four-time manager of the year, is in his second season with the White Sox in his latest stint with the franchise.
La Russa also managed Chicago from 1979-1986 and led the team to the 1983 American League West crown and an American League Championship Series appearance.
As Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote, La Russa's status for 2023 is unclear at this time. He is under contract for the 2023 campaign after signing a three-year deal.
La Russa has largely been out of the public eye since leaving the team, but he did tweet congratulations to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols after he hit his 700th career home run on Friday.
.@PujolsFive could always do everything a player can do to help his team. But right at the top of his talents was an amazing ability to produce in clutch pressure times. Like tonight!!
La Russa managed Pujols from 2001-2011 when both were with the Cardinals. They won a pair of World Series titles together.
As far as the present date goes, this year's White Sox team had playoff potential for much of the season, but Chicago has since slid eight games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first in the American League Central.
Their postseason hopes have all but been eliminated, although the team is still mathematically alive. The White Sox will look to break their four-game losing streak Saturday when they face the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
MLB Rumors: Giants' Scott Harris Hired as Tigers President of Baseball Operations
Sep 19, 2022
San Francisco Giants general manager Scott Harris during a news conference at Oracle Park Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in San Francisco. The Giants hired Scott Harris from the Chicago Cubs to become general manager, filling a void of more than a year after the club had gone without a GM during president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi's first season in the position.(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The Detroit Tigers will reportedly hire Scott Harris as the team's newest president of baseball operations, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Harris has spent the past three seasons as the general manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Al Avila had been the Tigers' executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager for seven years before being fired in August. Detroit has already been eliminated from the playoffs and entered Monday with a 55-91 record, fourth-worst in the majors.
It will be the seventh straight year without a playoff appearance for the Tigers, who haven't had a winning record since 2016.
Harris will try to turn things around after some up-and-down seasons in San Francisco.
The Giants missed the playoffs in 2020 and are just 69-77 in 2022, but the team had the best record in baseball last year at 107-55. Several unheralded additions like Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Darin Ruf and LaMonte Wade Jr. helped key the surprising success.
Prior to his time in San Francisco, Harris spent seven years with the Chicago Cubs and was in the front office during the team's World Series run in 2016. He ended his time with the team as the assistant general manager under GM Jed Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein.
The fast-rising executive will now look to turn around a Tigers franchise that has struggled at the major league level and has just one prospect (Jackson Jobe) ranked inside the top 50 across baseball, per MLB.com.
Tony La Russa Says He's 'Uncertain' When He'll Return to White Sox amid Medical Issue
Sep 11, 2022
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 23: Manager Tony La Russa #22 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Tony La Russa said Sunday that he's "uncertain" when he'll return to managing the Chicago White Sox amid a medical issue that has sidelined him since Aug. 30, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
La Russa, 77, has been dealing with heart-related complications and is still not cleared to manage.
La Russa received medical clearance to travel with the team to Oakland on Sunday because the A's are retiring Dave Stewart's No. 34, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. He managed Stewart and the A's to three AL pennants and a World Series title during his tenure with the franchise from 1986 to 1995.
La Russa will travel back with the White Sox to Chicago after Sunday's series finale.
With La Russa sidelined indefinitely, the White Sox named Miguel Cairo acting manager. The team has gone 9-3 under Cairo and is firmly in the American League playoff race with a 72-68 record.
While the White Sox are 6.5 games out of a wild-card spot, they sit second in the AL Central, 1.5 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians. They'll earn an automatic playoff bid if they win the division.
According to FanGraphs, Chicago has a 34.3 percent chance to win the division and a 35.4 chance to make the playoffs.
La Russa, a Hall of Fame manager, got his first MLB managing gig with the White Sox from 1979 to 1986. He then managed the A's for 10 seasons before being hired as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, serving in the role from 1996 to 2011 and leading the team to three NL pennants and two World Series titles.
After 10 years away from managing, the White Sox hired him in 2021. The team has gone 165-137 since he was rehired.
Tony La Russa Not Yet Cleared by Doctors to Return to Dugout as White Sox Manager
Sep 10, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 26: Tony La Russa #22 of the Chicago White Sox looks over the dugout during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 26, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa will be with the team for Sunday's series finale against the Oakland Athletics, but not in his normal role.
The White Sox announced their medical staff has given La Russa approval to travel to Oakland to participate in Dave Stewart's retirement ceremony before tomorrow's game, but he is not yet medically cleared to manage games yet.
La Russa has been away from the team since Aug. 31 to undergo tests for an unspecified medical condition. Bench coach Miguel Cairo has filled in as interim manager in the 77-year-old's absence.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Sept. 8 that La Russa is hoping to return to his managerial duties with the White Sox "as early as next week" following an extensive medical checkup.
Friends of La Russa told Heyman the legendary skipper "is going to be OK."
After leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011, La Russa retired as a manager. He did continue to work in Major League Baseball in various roles for the league and teams.
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf convinced La Russa to come out of retirement in October 2020 to manage the team. He began his managerial career with the club when he replaced Don Kessinger midway through the 1979 season.
La Russa went 522-510 with one playoff appearance in nine seasons during his first run with the White Sox before being fired midway through the 1986 campaign.
Chicago won the American League Central for the first time since 2008 in La Russa's first season back with the club in 2021. The team lost to the Houston Astros in the ALDS.
Things haven't gone smoothly for the White Sox so far this season, but they are making a late charge up the AL Central standings. They have won eight of their last 10 games and trail the Cleveland Guardians by 1.5 games for first place in the division.
The White Sox play two home games against the Colorado Rockies early next week before beginning a four-game road trip starting on Sept. 15 at Cleveland.
Report: Tony La Russa Hoping to Return to White Sox as Soon as Next Week
Sep 8, 2022
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 23: Manager Tony La Russa #22 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is hoping to return to the team "as early as next week" after stepping away because of a medical issue, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The 77-year-old is hoping to be with the team for Sunday's road game against the Oakland Athletics that will feature a ceremony retiring the jersey of Dave Stewart. La Russa managed the pitcher during his time with the A's, winning the World Series together in 1989.
La Russa stepped away from the White Sox on Aug. 31 because of an unspecified medical condition.
"Following a medical evaluation [Wednesday] morning, Chicago White Sox Manager Tony La Russa now is scheduled over the coming days to undergo additional testing in Arizona by his personal physicians," the team said in a statement. "His absence from the club will be indefinite pending the results of these evaluations."
Miguel Cairo has served as the White Sox interim manager with La Russa unavailable, leading the team to a 6-3 record during this span. The squad has won all three series it's played to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
Chicago entered Thursday with a 69-68 record, two games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central. The team is 7.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild-card spot.
The White Sox begin their four-game series against the Athletics on Thursday before returning home for a two-game series against the Colorado Rockies starting Tuesday.
La Russa is in his second season as part of his second stint with Chicago, returning to the sport last year after a 10-year absence. He led the team to a 93-69 record in 2021, winning a division title before losing to the Houston Astros in the divisional series.
The Hall of Fame manager has won three World Series titles with six pennants in his career, which began with the White Sox in 1979.
