Tony La Russa Just Intentionally Walked a Batter with Two Strikes and Two Outs … And the Next Guy Hit a 3-Run HR (UPDATE)
Tony La Russa picked a really bad time to make one of the strangest managerial decisions you’ll ever see. After all, highly-accomplished, veteran managers (like Joe Maddon and Joe Girardi) are being fired for their performance all over the league lately. And this is about as weird as a move gets.
Here’s the scene: With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Trea Turner stepped up to the plate against White Sox lefty Bennett Sousa, with Freddie Freeman at first. During the at-bat, Freeman reached second base on a wild pitch (no one was on first or third). That’s when La Russa decided to call for an intentional walk against Turner mid at-bat. Except, again … Turner already had two strikes and there were two outs in the inning.
Watch (and listen) to the confusion in the broadcast booth.
Tony La Russa intentionally walked Trea Turner on a 1-2 count… then Max Muncy hit a 3-run HR!
(via @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/TwFjZ4xGGT
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 9, 2022
In other words, Sousa was one pitch away from getting out of the inning and there was no reason to set up the double play, because there were already two outs.
Well, the next batter, Max Muncy took offense to that particular choice, and sent a high fly ball over the wall in left field for a three-run homer.
Welcome back, Max Muncy! pic.twitter.com/Umij8joYAQ
— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2022
Just like that, a two-run deficit becomes a five-run deficit. I really can’t believe it.
And, seriously, Muncy did take it personally, which … LOL. Good for him.
Tony La Russa walked Trea Turner in a 1-2 count after first base became open.
Max Muncy followed that up with a 3 run bomb
"You fucking walk him with two strikes? Fuck you, bitch!" pic.twitter.com/SqJ6Mil9WM
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) June 9, 2022
Needless to say, White Sox Twitter is freakin’ out (understandably so!).
Tony La Russa decided to intentionally walk a batter with two strikes on him so Max Muncy could hit a three run home run.
This team has NO CHANCE to win anything of significance with him in the dugout. None.
— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) June 9, 2022
TLR intentionally walked Trea Turner with a 1-2 count to get to He's Mad, He's Bad, Max Muncy. 10-5 Dodgers because Max might be mad and bad but Tony La Russa is crazy
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) June 9, 2022
The White Sox could have taken a series from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tony La Russa gave it away.
— Southside Showdown (@SoxShowdown) June 9, 2022
Although, apparently, this is not quite as rare as I would’ve guessed! (It’s still a terrible decision, particularly with two outs).
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, Trea Turner's IBB in the 6th inning today was the first 2-strike IBB of the season. (count was 1-2) There were 2 last season — both like today — came after first base opened up due to a steal or wild pitch.
Max Muncy followed with a 3 run HR
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 9, 2022
UPDATE: La Russa explained his decision after the game, and I can’t think of a reasonable response other than to laugh and laugh and laugh:
Tony La Russa on the decision to walk Trea Turner with a 1-2 count and face Max Muncy: “Is there some question about whether that was a good move or not? … That wasn’t a tough call.”
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 9, 2022
Tony La Russa: “(Max) Muncy is there (on deck), it’s an easy call. I mean, it’s an easy call for me. If (Trea) Turner gets a hit there, I might walk into the lake or something because that would be stupid.”
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 9, 2022
