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Ventura returns


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Ah, this is awesome. Such good memories of watching him and Hurt back in the day. I just hope the new growing list of former Sox in the organization works out better than the current (Ozzie, Walk, etc.).

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Here's the official summary version with quotes & stuff.

Ventura, who played 10 years for the White Sox and became a true fan favorite, will return as a special advisor to Bell, the director of player development. The plan for Ventura is to have him visit each of the organization's Minor League affiliates throughout the summer, starting in July, and evaluate the player performances and report to Bell.

 

Actually, Ventura turned down earlier overtures because he was committed to being with his wife and raising his three daughters and one son in California. With his children getting older and the White Sox giving him flexibility in his work schedule, Ventura acknowledged during a Monday conference call that he felt entirely comfortable with this particular opportunity.

 

"I have a little more free time than I did before," Ventura said. "[White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] and Buddy gave me the opportunity to be a little flexible. That's the part that intrigued me.

 

"It would have been a difficult sell if it would be six months. But going to coach just for three or four days [at a time] was appealing."

 

Bell said it was not a difficult decision to bring back Ventura and it certainly wasn't a hard sell to convince Reinsdorf of the hire. Bell added that Ventura's job will evolve as he goes, but there might be instances in which Ventura works with specific players either because they need Ventura's help or Bell wants another set of eyes on him.

 

"Jerry has been pushing this for a long time," Bell said. "We were trying to find the right time to talk about it. I think it was April that Robin and I sat down and came to terms on this is really what he wants to do. That was great."

 

"Awesome, great idea," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of the return of his friend and former infield mate. "He's a baseball man and he loves this organization."

 

This hire isn't looked upon by Ventura as his first step toward a Major League job, with Ventura joking that he doesn't plan on becoming president of the team.

 

"I'm willing to put my foot in the water and see what happens," Ventura said. "I'm excited to be able to do this within the White Sox organization."

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 6, 2011 -> 08:49 PM)
I get hard just thinking about Robin teaching Morel the finer points of 3B.

 

TMI dude... Bettin' Robin is hitting coach in the next year...2 at the most.

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My guess is that Robin wont seriously coach until his youngest child is done with high school. Part of the reason he took this job is that the Sox are going to give him extreme flexibility.

 

So maybe 5 years from now youll see Robin in a dugout, but until then I see him in a role where he can be with his family.

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I don't see Ventura as a manger. That would be like Baines as a manager. Both very smart and good baseball people but not great communication skills. He's more the front office type. I bet he is shotting for a GM position.

 

Fisk would never make a good manager. The players wouild hate him within a month. He can't get along with anyone and if you got in his doghouse you would never see daylight again. Talk about a guy who holds grudges. It took him about 25 years to talk to the Red Sox again because they wouldn't re-sign him as a free agent.

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QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 6, 2011 -> 10:13 PM)
My guess is that Robin wont seriously coach until his youngest child is done with high school. Part of the reason he took this job is that the Sox are going to give him extreme flexibility.

 

So maybe 5 years from now youll see Robin in a dugout, but until then I see him in a role where he can be with his family.

 

Agreed. It's almost the same situation with Maddux in the Cubs org.

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