D-backs GM Towers: This can work with La Russa
May 28, 2014, 7:02 PM | Updated: 7:02 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers delved into uncharted territory when the team hired former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to be its chief baseball officer.
“The only thing that is different at least since Tony’s been hired is probably more communication with him more so than probably Derrick (Hall) just because that’s who I report to now when we make player moves or talking about the draft,” Towers said on the Doug and Wolf show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
On the show last week, Towers said he hadn’t interacted with La Russa in person, but hoped he wasn’t a “pseudo GM.”
This week, his tune seems more optimistic.
Towers said the arrangement of a GM reporting to a CBO can work, and both he and La Russa want it to work, “but only time will tell” if it actually does.
“We’re both baseball guys,” Towers said. “I’ve known him for quite some time leading back to the late 90s. I think in the few conversations we have there’s a comfort level. There’s mutual respect. I think I could certainly be in assistance to him on the calendar and timing and priorities in the front office.
“I’m sure I could learn a lot about the game of baseball and assembling a ballclub from arguably one of the great managers in the game.”
