Tony La Russa has been embroiled in multiple controversies since being hired by the Chicago White Sox as their new manager prior to the 2021 season. His decision-making during Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers twice came into question, with one involving Trea Turner.
Despite Bennett Sousa getting ahead 1-2 in the count, La Russa elected to intentionally walk Turner. That put two runners on with two outs, but also set up a left-on-left matchup with Max Muncy in his first game back from the 10-day injured list.
Muncy promptly lined a three-run home run out to left field and showed a fiery display of emotion as he crossed home plate and celebrated with teammates in the dugout. Muncy’s blast extended the Dodgers’ lead and wound up proving to be the difference in their 11-9 win.
Although the decision to intentionally walk Turner backfired, La Russa defiantly stood by it when asked about the thought process to have Sousa face Muncy, via WhiteSoxTalk.com:
“So let me ask you a question. Is there some question about whether that was a good move or not? … Do you know what he hits against left-handed pitching with 1-2, 0-1, or two strikes? Do you know what he hits? Well, do you know what Muncy hits with two strikes against a left-handed pitcher? I mean, is that really a question? Because it was 1-and-2? Turner with a strike left against a left-hander is something you avoid if you can. And we had an open base and Muncy happened to be the guy behind him. That’s a better matchup. Again, somebody disagrees, that’s the beauty of this game. Welcome to it. But that wasn’t a tough call.”
Turner has hit a career .258/.310/.390 against left-handed pitching after a 1-2 count. Muncy has fared marginally better, batting .252/.366/.499 in those same situations. And even with Muncy having endured a slow start to this season, he’d already hit a two-run double the inning prior.
Freddie Freeman, who stole second base just before Turner’s intentional walk, looked incredulously at White Sox infielders and asked if he was seeing correctly. Turner joked during a postgame interview he wasn’t sure if the intentional walk was a reality.
La Russa stuck with Cease
La Russa intentionally walking was his second curious decision in the loss, as he previously stuck with Dylan Cease as he came unraveled in the fifth inning.
Cease largely had his way with the Dodgers lineup through four innings, but then faced nine batters and threw 45 pitches in the fifth. He exited after walking Will Smith to put two on and the Dodgers leading 5-4.
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