It's tough.,
They tried to do the "Braves" thing by signing long term deals with their your players before they proved themselves. Then hired Biden-esque Tony LaRussa who ceded control of the team to the team.
The team was too young and inexperienced for that and though they were paid like professionals, they were not professionals and we heard nothing but stories about sleeping in the lockeroom and bull pen during games, not practicing, poor behavior, etc.
We all have repeated heard a coaching staff has to be tough on team early on and then grant them some leeway if they deserve it later. The White Sox staff did not do that. And after the wheels fell off they couldn't make these guys "pros"
They had what I consider to be a great plan in drafting and signing young talent. However, their plan ended there. I think hiring LaRussa was just hiring his name. He was NEVER the right person for the job and the fans said this when the hire was made. How is a 76 year old manager whose best days were in the 80s going to relate to a bunch of 20 year old primarily from outside the US. La Russa last managed veteran teams and if you look back in his career, had not really had to manage or develop an up-and-coming team since his first stint with the White Sox in the early 80s. The "hungry" 1980 La Russa was exactly what the Sox needed. Instead, they got the "overfed" 2021 La Russa.
Coincidentally, 34 year old La Russa went straight from managing the Knoxville Sox for half a season to being on the coaching staff in Chicago then back to manage AAA for a season before getting the big job. Jerry Reinsdorf always regretted two things- hiring Hawk Harrelson as GM and allowing Hawk to fire La Russa in 1986.
would still hold interest, to me anyway.
thx