Tony La Russa — Chicago White Sox
Many people in baseball were surprised when the White Sox sacked Rick Renteria and replaced manager with Tony La Russa. La Russa, a Hall of Fame manager with three World Series championships — one with Oakland and two with St. Louis — hadn’t managed a game since 2011. With the HoF manager being 77 years old, there are questions about whether the game has passed him by and if he is the perfect fit for a youthful team. Last season, La Russa’s team ended with 93 wins and won the AL Central. It’s now or never for La Russa and the Red Sox, who are World Series favorites entering 2022.
Tony La Russa — Chicago White Sox
Don Mattingly — Miami Marlins
Don Mattingly was on top of the world after the Marlins’ first winning season in 2020. Many analysts had the Marlins pegged as the worst team in the NL East before their unexpected playoff appearance. However, Miami’s great ’20 season raised expectations for the following year, which the Marlins were unable to meet. Miami finished with a 67-95 score. The way the Marlins closed the season was perhaps the most troubling. Miami meandered to a 43-69 record in the final four months of the season, looking lifeless the entire time. Mattingly might have missed the game.
Don Mattingly — Miami Marlins