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It's a narrative crushing hire. They didn't hire the LaRussa guy, the cheap guy or the ex-Royal guy. They hired the best available young manager who has turned down other manager jobs which means Chris had to sell him on his vision for the organization. It's a very exciting hire.

I know it's your bit to take things to the extreme, but it just makes you look like a clown. Will Venable may be a good hire. Maybe he won't. None of us really know. I agree it's a positive that it isn't a former Royal or someone with close ties to La Russa, but as Ray was pointing out, it's sad the bar is low enough that excitement comes from the Sox not doing what they always do. But that's what happens when you've turned into one of the worst franchises in sports. Expectations become so low, that anything slightly different feels like a huge win. Everyone on this board hopes this is the start of a new chapter of Sox Baseball. But it's absolutely asinine to look down or judge a fan for having doubts about this organization putting in a real effort to turn this franchise into a perennial winner.

This is a good post. It’s hard to be excited about the White Sox, but this is a really good move.

All of this has gotten very annoying. If you are going to think everything they do is meaningless then why are you still putting yourself through this?

This is the biggest part for me, bringing in (seemingly) smart people from outside the insular bubble is progress.

Hire is meaningless? Every single move matters at this point if we ever hope to get back to even mediocrity. This is a very nice move on paper and Sox fans should be excited accordingly.

Just getting this started for the folks that want to vent. I've gone from excited for manager changes all the way up to and including Ricky. To ho hum new guy, same s%*# IDK Grifol. Now I'm negative from the start. My first reactions are all the reasons he's not a good fit. Thank you Jerry.

"...out his fanbase to get what he wants"

Controversial take, at least by internet standards: I don't have an opinion on this hiring yet. There. I said it. Decidedly undecided. I hope that's not too controversial.

Chuck Tanner took over the 1971 team that was coming off a 106 loss season. 1972 the Sox were in 1st place as late as August 28th, ahead of the A's who went on to win 3 straight WS. 1972 was my favorite baseball season outside of 2005. To this day I still find joy in that 2nd place team. The White Sox will be contenders again, it is going to happen, and this could be the beginning of the process.

Yea because the white Sox are on the wrong side of both of those events, normally

Ray Ray, there are people in life who suck at their job, do some self reflection, and then try to do things differently. There are also people who suck and will always suck because they are too stupid or too stubborn to make changes. This hire COULD mean Getz falls into the first category. Do we know that for sure? Of course not. But it’s better than the alternative of hiring from within again or hiring somebody from the Royals again. Like you said, the manager of this team will not make a big difference in the win/loss column, especially this year when the roster is so bad. But it’s ok to at least have some hope that the overall big-picture thought process could be headed in the right direction. Yes, the key word is “could” and none of this could mean anything positive. But there’s nothing wrong with being a little optimistic and having some hope. There’s also nothing wrong with saying “What in the world has this organization ever done to give me hope?” One managerial hire (who I have no clue as to whether they are a good manager) means nothing to me. I always lean toward optimism because that’s how I’m wired.

Looking beyond what we know already about the ineptitude of the White Sox and how bad the last three years have been, the thing with this hire...if these are true is that He was the heir apparent to Bochy in Texas Turned down the Mets last off season leaving Cohen out of the conversation, Sterns is guy you want to work for Has worked with Theo - best baseball mind around and would assume a mentor Resume that checks all major boxes His connections and resume lead me to hope there was a plan laid out to him as to why this job is worth taking. Sure it is all pie in the sky s%*# that I look at and hope I can be a fan again but unlike Grifol I don't have to squint really hard to like this hire. Yes there are only 30 of these jobs but I think we can assume he was in a position like Ben Johnson with the Lions in that he can have his pick and he isn't risking it without a plan. Is there a sale? A move? A new Stadium? Why would he take this job? The Bears job will be highly sought after, the White Sox, not so much. Maybe I just want to fan again

Just to stress, the White Sox were 26th in fWAR from their pitching staff and 24th in fWAR from their starters last year. Their bullpen was historically bad even though people said "I think the bullpen might be ok" coming into the season. Multiple guys were dumped and got better when they went elsewhere. Pitching "Wasn't as bad as hitting" but no, it didn't "work". These guys shouldn't be graded on a curve.

I guess I don’t really feel like Getz “selling his vision” to Venable is all that exciting since he did the same with Reinsdorf and that’s how he got to crash the org into the side of a mountain last season

Me, I care

^This tells me it was a terrible move. The team is screwed.

Kennedi Landry who covers the Rangers said Venable was the outfield coach for that team and Adolis Garcia credited him alot when he won the gold glove.

I predict this team will not win for months with this new guy on the job....pathetic.

We’ve got a massive uphill battle ahead of us no matter what. That being said, making blatantly dumb decisions along the way will certainly set us back. This particular hire appears to be a sound one on paper. It doesn’t make us a good team overnight, but to your point hopefully it’s a step in the right direction.

Especially the owner 😆

Thinking the White Sox are going to build a contender through the draft and trades is a fantasy with the current braintrust.

One difference, Houston and Baltimore were rewarded with high draft choices and multiple #1 picks, we set the all time MLB record for futility and are rewarded with the #10 pick under the new rules. BIG difference. Can nothing go right for this organization?

If you want civility, start acting civil.

@Look at Ray Ray Run and @46DidIt put each other on ignore. I don’t want to have to ban anyone on this most blessed day and your back and forth is not fun to read. thank you for your attention

Fair. I have had to delete “Fire Dave McGuinness” and “Fire AJ Hinch” threads in the past.

Maybe a manager doesn't gain wins necessarily, but a good manager can prevent stupid losses. How many times did Grifol make a dumbass decision with a pitcher or the lineup that aided in a loss? We could go back and scrub the game threads and see how many times we types something about Grifol doing something stupid. Spoiler alert - many times, including those in here saying the manager doesn't matter.

Honestly, yes.

Especially with the anti-tank rules now enforced. 10th pick instead of 1st is a huge hit.

I think we are smart enough to recognize that Grifol was so inept that he actively contributed to the losing and absolutely needed to go, while also acknowledging that Venable looks like a solid hire that breaks the mold of standard White Sox M.O. And also that no managerial hire alone will lift a 120 loss team devoid of talent back to contention. All of these things can simultaneously be true.

Who is in here saying they trust all of this? People want to be cautiously optimistic. That's it. They HOPE it's a step in the right direction. What do you want people to be doing about this? Be mad?

This hire makes me think (hope) that they are serious about improving and getting back to being a competitive ballclub. I don't think any of us are under the illusion that it will happen overnight or even in 2025 or 2026. But this is the first step in a new and potentially exciting direction. Time will tell, of course, but the fact that they didn't hire TLR's guy or stick with Grady or grab an ex-Royal no one wanted is encouraging.

Maybe it is a good first step, hopefully. I'm getting somewhat interested, but time will tell.

I just overheard someone at the airport saying their cousin's podiatrist has a friend who knows a realtor in the Nashville area and they have been showing homes to Venable's wife 👀

This is a nice hire on paper and definitely not what I expected them to do. I still don't really see any reason to be excited though, team is still ass and were all going to wait for baseball to be back only to watch another 100+ loss season. At least its a step in the right direction.

*puts torch and pitchfork back in the closet*

Lets see how much autonomy he has to hire his own staff... Still, I'm pleasantly surprised its not Nevin.

Normally big news like this would keep me up reading the comments. Unfortunately, they've trained me to not care very much. I'll check in tomorrow for the general consensus.

Nice win for Chris Getz. Maybe the stuff about internal conflict on the hire was overblown, either way, good for him. He turned down the Mets and Steve Cohen, so I wonder how Getz sold him on this opportunity. Maybe he’s intrigued by having an opportunity to build something from the ground up

Fantastic hire. Great work, Men.

Well this is a nice surprise.

Oh, got it. The guy who just lost 120+ games after turning over a roster he didn't like should be trusted to turn the org around.

Oops, we accidentally did something right.

Yes, the first time in human history someone has said something positive about someone publicly before that person ultimately got fired.

Maybe. I have no idea if Venable is a good manager or good at developing young players and the person evaluating that ability... told me Pedro Grifol was sharp. People here hated Renteria but he was actually good at those things.

White Sox aren't going to get back to mediocrity with a managerial hire.

I hope he is being given great latitude in picking his coaching staff.

I am a happy camper with what I am reading about Venable. His credentials are so impressive, Princeton, Special Assistant to Theo, bench coach under a future HoF manager in Boche. Getz came through to get Will onboard, good job.

Will Venable would be an intriguing choice for a baseball team looking to develop young talent with an emphasis on offensive growth. Known for his intelligence and a multicultural understanding of the game (stemming from his time in Japan and experiences with MLB teams), Venable’s approach is widely respected. He has built a reputation as a coach who can connect effectively with players, making him relatable and capable of nurturing young talent in both strategic and developmental capacities. Venable's experience spans several MLB organizations, including the Red Sox, Cubs, and Rangers, where he worked closely with players to improve their skills. His background as an MLB outfielder, along with coaching roles that involved responsibilities for outfielders and offensive strategy, means he brings a balanced, on-field understanding to his coaching. This versatility can be highly beneficial for a team focused on developing offensive skills among younger players, as he not only provides insights from his own MLB career but also understands the structure of player development from bench coach and associate manager perspectives. His blend of strategic awareness, player rapport, and deep experience with offensive development would make him a strong managerial candidate for a team focused on growing young offensive talent. =========== Will Venable has demonstrated an openness to modern analytics, blending traditional baseball insights with advanced data to inform his coaching strategies. Venable has gained experience in analytically progressive organizations like the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, where he was exposed to sophisticated statistical tools and advanced metrics as these franchises embraced a data-centric approach to decision-making. His tenure with these teams likely involved using player metrics to shape in-game strategies, defensive alignments, and development plans, especially in support of young players who benefit from analytical feedback on mechanics and performance adjustments. Venable’s analytical background is paired with an ability to communicate complex data in ways that young players can understand and apply. His player-centric approach and openness to innovation position him well to support a team in cultivating its offensive potential through data-driven improvements, such as optimizing batting approach and launch angles or tracking swing paths and exit velocities to maximize hitting outcomes. This blend of traditional and analytical coaching gives Venable an edge in both understanding and applying data to player development—an essential skill in today’s analytics-driven baseball landscape. His style mirrors that of other analytically inclined managers, aligning well with a team focused on nurturing emerging talent with actionable insights from advanced metrics. =========== Will Venable has a fascinating background, blending athletic excellence, Ivy League education, and a unique journey in baseball. Here are some interesting facts about him: Dual-Sport Athlete at Princeton: Venable is one of the rare athletes to excel in both basketball and baseball at the Ivy League level. At Princeton, he played varsity basketball and baseball, even earning All-Ivy League honors in both sports. Basketball Runs in the Family: Venable initially pursued basketball more seriously than baseball. He nearly played professionally before switching to focus on baseball, influenced by his mother, who saw baseball’s long-term potential for him. Late Start to Baseball: Venable didn't fully commit to baseball until college, making his achievements even more impressive. Despite limited focus on baseball before college, he rapidly developed into a top player and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2005. Son of MLB Veteran Max Venable: His father, Max Venable, also played Major League Baseball, and they briefly shared time in the Padres’ system. This legacy has given Will a rich understanding of the game’s culture and demands. Multi-Role MLB Career: After his playing career, Venable quickly transitioned into coaching, taking on multiple roles with the Cubs and the Red Sox before joining the Texas Rangers as an associate manager. This experience across teams and responsibilities has contributed to his reputation as a well-rounded and player-focused coach Analytical Approach: Venable is known for his openness to baseball analytics, which he combines with his own in-game insights. Working in analytically forward organizations like the Cubs and Red Sox, Venable has grown adept at using data to guide player development and on-field decisions.

This is one of the very few decisions the Sox have made over the past five years that doesn’t seem like the wrong move the moment it is announced.