Will La Russa come back to manage White Sox in 2022?
"We have more to do."
That was Tony La Russa after the White Sox lost to the Astros 10-1 in Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday, ending their season.
La Russa is right, and the big question is: Will he be back as the Sox's manager next year?
After retiring in 2011 and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the 77-year-old La Russa made a shocking return to the White Sox's dugout this season.
Does he want to come back for another year?
"Every year since I had some security, and I understood the importance, you have a contract and I always waited so the ownership and the front office said, 'We want you back,'" La Russa said. "If they didn't, I just walked away. But if you fool them and the players don't want you, then you walk away. So I always do, if those two are true, and I'll check and see, then you check and see whether you've got the desire to continue to manage.
"So I do, and I've been doing it for years. A lot of people that know me know that that's what I go through. I think it's a fair thing. It's fair to the ownership, fair to the players. You don't get stuck with a guy that doesn't belong there."
Taking Tepera to task:
The Astros weren't too happy about White Sox relief pitcher Ryan Tepera's accusations following Game 3 of the American League Division Series Sunday night.
After pitching 2 scoreless innings in the Sox's 12-6 win at Guaranteed Rate Field, Tepera said the game wasn't the same as the first two played in Houston.
"Obviously, it's a different game here at our field," the White Sox's right-hander said. "You play at Minute Maid (Park) and they're doing something over there that's a little different. They've obviously had a reputation of doing some sketchy stuff over there."
Major League Baseball came down on the Astros for using electronics and banging on trash cans to steal signs in 2017, when they won the World Series and again the following season. Houston was not stripped of its championship in '17, and the Astros were pelted with "Cheaters!" chants throughout Games 3 and 4 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Tepera pitched against Houston again on Tuesday, but there were no incidents.
After the Astros won and knocked the Sox out of the playoffs, shortstop Carlos Correra said Tepera actually provided motivation.
"It's sad he said those words because we came out hungry," Correra said.
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr., who had to leave Tuesday's game after 4 innings with right forearm tightness, also addressed Tepera's comments.
"I don't think they're going to allow a comment from someone like that bother them," McCullers said. "It's a laundry list of people now: media, fans, players. I don't think it's going to stop anytime soon. All we can do is just keep doing our thing, keep winning."