As the second half begins, the Chicago White Sox are sitting in third place, 3.5 games out of the AL Central lead. After going into the season with an 86% chance of making the playoffs, they're the American League's most underachieving team -- while employing its most controversial manager.
"When you have realistic expectations, you want fans to get excited about them," La Russa told ESPN before the break. "If there are disappointments, then there is no free lunch.
"There is no free lunch for the manager."
That was clear throughout the first half, when chants of "fire Tony" had become the ballad in the stands at Guaranteed Rate Field.