CHICAGO — Tony La Russa could have stayed in his job with the Los Angeles Angels, traveled at his leisure, flaunted his Hall of Fame ring and rode off in the glorious California sunset.
There was nothing left for the man to prove.
He already won more games than all but two managers in history, six pennants and three World Series, and left on top of the baseball world with the St. Louis Cardinals winning the 2011 World Series championship in his final game.
Yet, when White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called in October, gauging whether he was interested in one last rodeo, La Russa was all in.
The Hollywood story was to win another World Series championship for Reinsdorf, teach a young team how the game should be played, and be forever revered in Chicago as if he were Mike Ditka in spikes.
Well, nearly two months into the season, the White Sox have the second-best record in the American League, leading the AL Central Division every day for the past three weeks, but instead of being extolled, La Russa is being roasted.
Everyone is taking their shots: Writers. Broadcasters. Fans. Ex-players. Current players. Future players. Even some of his peers.
One day he’s an idiot for not knowing the rules, unaware of the new rule put in place that permits managers to keep a pitcher from being a baserunner to start on second base in extra innings, although apparently none of his coaches were aware of it either.
“I should have known the rule,’’ La Russa says. “My mistake…
