If there is any concern about how well Tim Anderson and old school manager Tony La Russa would be doing, Chicago White Sox fans can breathe a sigh of relief at the start of spring training.
Anderson, who said with a laugh that he would not “change my style, my way of playing” after the White Socks hired La Russa, 76, in October, said he arrived at camp early to sit down and talk to your new manager.
Anderson, 27, who won .322 in 2020 after winning the American League bachelor’s degree in 2019, said he had a chance to get to know him and likes what he sees.
“Just seeing what page it’s on is definitely amazing,” Anderson told the press Monday in Glendale, Arizona. “Just have conversations with him, very motivating.
“The will to win, he has it. I’m behind him 110 percent. That’s the ultimate goal, it’s to win and win a World Series here. I’m behind him.”
The Russian, in her second stint with the White Sox 34 years after she was fired, is 2,728-2,365 with six pennants for 33 seasons with Chicago, Oakland and St. Louis. Louis. Only Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGray (2,762) have received the most victories.
But he hasn’t filled any lineup cards since the Cardinals beat Texas in the seventh game of the 2011 World Series, and he’s well aware of that.
“One of the players asked me,‘ Hey, you were nervous [after addressing the team Monday]? “” The Russian said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ … It means you care and you understand that what you don’t know is out there. The challenge of competition.”
Anderson said, “I think he’s pretty solid. So far, everything has been fantastic. The things he’s been preaching have been good. I think we’ve got the right man. I hope so.”
The Russian is no stranger to the management of great personalities. He had Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco in Oakland. And his closest place, Dennis Eckersley, was known for pumping his fist, pointing at opponents, and shooting them with imaginary guns after the attacks.
Anderson said he’s at a time when “I can tell him everything I want” after his individual meeting.
“I’m not afraid of him,” Anderson joked. “Tell him that.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.