(670 The Score) Veteran manager Tony La Russa isn't taking his second opportunity to lead the White Sox dugout for granted.
La Russa, 76, is excited for Opening Day on Thursday, when the White Sox visit the Angels. He's confident his up-and-coming club will make its mark in the 2021 season.
"The real definition of how ready we are will be defined on Thursday night when the other team is preparing to beat you," said La Russa, who also managed the White Sox from 1979-'86. "I would not change anything about the effort level of the club this spring. The attention to the process has been with nobody half-stepping. We have generated a lot of playing time and lately we have won games and been more competitive. That is always more fun."
La Russa has been pleased by the White Sox's progress in spring training, and he feels at home once again in the dugout after not managing since 2011, when he retired after leading the Cardinals to a World Series title.
"We have always prepared camp through trial and error all of these years," La Russ said. "Now compared to back then, there is a lot of extra information that is available as to prepare for your opponent. As far as the work, it's the same, getting three or four at-bats a game and playing three games in a row. You always want to peak at the end of this camp."
The goals for the White Sox are clear. They want to first win the AL Central, and they believe they have what it takes to win the World Series. In his long managerial career, La Russa has never been one to boast about what his teams have done until he sees their success on the field.
So for now, he knows it's all about putting the work in.
"There is a lot of talent here," La Russa said. "In this game, it never changes. You have to execute plays, pitches and at-bats. I think we are a team that is learning. But we are fast learners."
The White Sox open their season on the West Coast, with four games against the Angels before visiting the Mariners for three games.
"You just must be ready to win a series from the get-go," La Russa said. "I will give you a recent example of what I mean. In 2019 after the Red Sox world championship year, they started the season with 11 games on the road and went 2-9. Just because the weather is nice doesn't mean much. It's who you are playing and how you are playing. We just need to be ready to play."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
