Tony La Russa sizes up World Series’ matchup, works on new pet project

SANTA CLARA – Tony La Russa, a decade into his Baseball Hall of Fame membership, appreciates the impending World Series’ historical overtones pitting the New York Yankees with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“The unique part about this: they’re both facing a tremendous amount of pressure,” La Russa said in an exclusive interview with this news organization. “The Yankees are the Yankees, and haven’t been there for a while. The Dodgers paid for Ohtani. The team that loses will catch a lot of heat and be a disappointment.

“It’s a very special pressure this year.”

La Russa knows World Series heat. He managed the 1989 Oakland Athletics, as well as the 2006 and 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, to World Series crowns; he won another ring as an advisor for the 2018 Boston Red Sox. On the flip side, he lost managing the 1988 and ’90 A’s, and the 2004 Cardinals.

“I’m a fan of baseball. I’m a fan when the fans are excited, and this is a match up that will get fans excited,” La Russa said. “There were some games with exciting late, lead switches and heroics, and it’s been one of the most exciting postseasons. The ratings should be off the charts. I like it because the teams are really good.”

La Russa, 80, spent the past season as a senior advisor to the Chicago White Sox, who lost a record 121 of 162 games and are searching for a new manager.

La Russa is again investing time with literally new pet projects. On Thursday, the PenFed Foundation announced it’s teamed with La Russa to aid veterans care for their service dogs. The long-time Alamo resident will be launching the La Russa Rescue Champions, having cut ties last year with the Animal Rescue Foundation he and his wife, Elaine, founded in 1991. A Stars to the Rescue Revival, featuring A-list musicians and entertainers, will be held in January in Walnut Creek for their fundraising efforts.

Heading into Friday’s World Series opener between the Yankees and host Dodgers, La Russa calls the matchup a “toss up.” The Yankees are seeking their first World Series title since 2009 and their 28th overall. The Dodgers are vying for their eighth crown, with their most recent coming in the truncated 2020 season.

Here is La Russa’s World Series scouting report:

STAR POWER

The Yankees and the Dodgers have among baseball’s top-five payrolls, so they’re getting what they’ve paid for — to this point.

La Russa: “You look at the Yankees with (Juan) Soto and (Aaron) Judge. And when (Giancarlo) Stanton gets hot, he’s dangerous. The other side, it depends on the (Freddie) Freeman situation (with an ankle injury), but you’ve got (Shohei) Ohtani and (Mookie) Betts, who I was with in Boston and he was a great player.

“Another thing very consistent with both clubs is guys in the rest of lineup go up and take a tough at-bat. ‘We’re getting to 7-8-9 and we can cruise.’ No, they do a good job of everybody taking tough at bats. If you look at the history of how often an unsung guy gets a big hit or has a big series, that’s because he’s ready to be aggressive and do damage. You also can’t pitch the seventh, eighth guy like you’re going to pitch the second, third, fourth. They’re dangerous one through nine.”

PITCHING PROSPECTS

It’s been a while since Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 Yankees-Dodgers World Series. Come Friday’s opener, Gerrit Cole gets first crack at matching that feat in Yankees history, when he opposes Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.

La Russa: “On paper the Yankees have a slight edge with their starting rotation. The bullpen on both sides are capable. Here is the reality and you see it with teams. Remember last year, Betts and Freeman didn’t hit much, and Judge got started off bad, too. Then suddenly Stanton got hot. But if you pitch really well and don’t miss over the plate, you can limit the damage of those great players.

“If these guys go out to pitch them tough, and if they’re sharp, hitters don’t hit. With (Gerrti) Cole and (Carlos) Rodan, there’s probably a little edge with the Yankees starters. The bullpens both have a lot of depth.”

MANAGERIAL CONTROL

Only Connie Mack’s 3,731 wins are more in baseball history than La Russa’s 2,884, compiled over his tenures with the White Sox (1979-86; 2021-22), the A’s (1986-95), and the Cardinals (1996-2011). It’s no surprise that La Russa believes managerial moves – and/or analytics — could decide this World Series.

“I know the Dodgers have caught some heat over the years for being script-oriented, especially how they handle their pitching. I know the Yankees don’t lack for metrics but Aaron (Boone) played a long time.

“There’s an advantage to the team that allows the manager and the coaches to trust their gut. Because the game is so dynamic that no matter the information you have, percentages, little details and big details, once the game starts, it’s very human.

“There’s confidence, there’s struggle. The team that allows its manager and coaches to take charge of the game will have an advantage.”