Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa did the unthinkable yesterday during the team’s series finale with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the Dodgers ahead of the White Sox 7-5 in the top of the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, Trea Turner stood at the plate against left-hander Bennett Sousa.
Sousa got the count to 1-2 against the Dodgers’ star shortstop, but La Russa made the mistake of the century and opted to walk Turner after first base opened up.
Max Muncy followed it up with a three-run homer.
Freddie Freeman was on second base, and the video below captures his reaction to what La Russa did.
Freddie Freeman’s reaction to Tony La Russa walking Trea Turner with a 1-2 count is classic. Also the fan with the “Tonyyy what are you doing?” pic.twitter.com/Oiz26ChqJy
— Jeff (@jamfan40) June 9, 2022
Has La Russa Gone Mad?
Has he?
The White Sox were literally one strike away from escaping the top of the sixth trailing just 7-5.
Instead, they got out of it trailing 10-5 as a result of La Russa’s blunder.
Freeman’s reaction was perfect, as was that of the fan who can be heard in the video yelling, “Tony, what are you doing?!”
What was he doing?
Why walk a guy when you’re one out away from escaping a jam?
That shows a stunning lack of confidence in his pitcher and a complete lapse in judgment on La Russa’s part.
Freeman was just as shocked as everybody else was.
You really have to feel sorry for Sousa.
He was so close to escaping the inning with having just allowed one run.
Instead, he gave up four runs, which is something that could have easily been avoided had La Russa not blanked.
It’s safe to say that Tony clearly was not thinking straight when he made this decision.
It’s a pretty embarrassing mistake to be quite honest.
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