Tony La Russa Speaks Highly Of Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson

May 17, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks owner (L), CEO and president Derrick Hall (R) introduce Tony La Russa (M), as the Chief Baseball Officer before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Ever since Tony La Russa was hired as the first Arizona Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer, there has been constant speculation about General Manager Kevin Towers job and rightfully so. He isn’t exactly the most popular person in the valley, and he has made some questionable moves the past two off seasons. However, it maybe more clear than ever that both Towers and Gibson are staying for 2015.

Yes you heard that right. BOTH Towers and Gibson. When La Russa was hired, it was clear that he wanted to take his time deciding the fate of Towers and Gibson, depending on how the team played the rest of the season. It is clear that he will decide in the offseason, and it is quite possibly trending in the keep direction.

La Russa spoke to New York Post MLB Writer and MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman, and praised both Gibson and Towers.

This is what Sherman wrote after talking with the Dbacks czar: “He actually praised manager Kirk Gibson and his staff for keeping the team motivated after a destructive 8-22 start (the team is 38-39 since) and he also had kind words for how hard-working Towers and the Diamondback scouts were. This is tea-leaf reading time, since the assumption was La Russa was brought in to clean house, start anew.”

Everybody needs to keep in mind that this is just talk, and it is not a guarantee that Towers and Gibson stay. However, after play today the team is 38-40 which is much better than what they were in April, and the starting pitching is actually getting better.

Even though the Dbacks aren’t playing for anything this season, the clubhouse is still loose and staying positive, and that is a testament to Gibson. Everybody is complaining about his odd bullpen moves among other things, but this team is basically playing .500 ball since April, and who knows where they would be if they had Patrick Corbin, David Hernandez, and Mark Trumbo for the whole season. It also hurts to loose A.J Pollack who was hot as anybody at the time of his injury.

Towers meanwhile is probably more likely to get fired, but it has been reported that Towers and Gibson are getting along well and given what La Russa told Sherman, who knows maybe he will stay to.

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