Yankees: CC Sabathia’s NSFW rant on Tony La Russa is amazing
Need another hot take about White Sox manager Tony La Russa’s response to Yermin Mercedes’ home run on a 3-0 count? Look no further than former New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia.
It was only a matter of time before the big man gave us one of his trademark “f— you” rants that almost every baseball fan can relate to.
Why was this one different? Because it was unfiltered … to the max. We’ve heard dissenting opinions from various current and former players, but none as incensed as this one.
On the R2C2 Podcast with Ryan Ruocco, the topic of La Russa and baseball’s unwritten rules came up. And let’s just say the version of Sabathia from that 2018 series against the Tampa Bay Rays surfaced.
Sabathia stood by his take from earlier in the year that the White Sox hiring La Russa to manage one of the best teams in the American League was the wrong call.
But he didn’t exactly say it that nicely.
https://twitter.com/R2C2/status/1395380726493810691?s=20
Former Yankees star CC Sabathia went off on White Sox manager Tony La Russa.
Sabathia’s biggest gripe with it all is that La Russa is simply out of touch with the game. Yes, the 76-year-old has pedigree as a Hall of Famer and manager with 34 years of managerial experience, but baseball has changed a whole lot … even since La Russa last managed in 2011!
Players are more expressive. Nobody cares about the unwritten rules, because, well, they’re not written down. The sport is becoming more entertaining rather than a blue collar “do your job” product. This is supposed to be fun, isn’t it? Why are we still trying to restrict players’ abilities and emotions?
The fact of the matter is that the Twins were getting beaten down so badly they decided to put in a position player to pitch … and that player (Willians Astudillo) decided to throw 48 MPH to one of the White Sox’s best sluggers.
As a fan, what would you rather see? An eephus pitch being taken on a 3-0 count or a hitter uncorking a bomb to dead center on that lollipop of a throw?
Like CC said, if you don’t want to be put in these positions, play better. The Twins are among the biggest disappointments in MLB to start this year. They shouldn’t be left off the hook for it. And La Russa not backing his players presents an entirely different problem.
At the very least, fans can only hope this discussions and Sabathia’s rant shifts the tides once and for all when it comes to the unwritten rules.