Despite a report to the contrary, Tony La Russa says Chip Hale isn't on the hot seat with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"There's no sense to that —€“ none," La Russa said. "I have a lot of respect for [the writer that made the suggestion]. I don't know how he figured that. Maybe it's because of the expectations.

"But if you backed up five days, we're at .500, a (half-game) out of first place. We had a difficult three against Colorado. We've lost two in Miami. You take a snapshot when you take it. But no, the issue is not Chip Hale."

The Diamondbacks finished 79-83 under Hale last season, an improvement of 15 wins.