Robin Ventura Named White Sox Manager

[Milkman delivers]

 

Haha.

 

This is the most important part. Right now I am pissed beyond all belief. I have been this mad with the organization twice. Once with the Brandon Mccarthy deal, and once when they let Robin walk away by offering a joke of a contract. Maybe he will turn out OK, but if you really want Ventura to manage, make him the bench coach for a few years next to someone with at least some coaching experience. Or let him manage in the minors. Don't make him the manager from day one. This is just awful.

 

I couldn't agree more. We've been agreeing far too much recently, and it scares me.

 

Do you agree that this was also a PR move to garner the good will of fans who loved him as a player?

[Texsox]

Does anyone see Robin as a reactionary, manage from the gut guy? I don't. I see him as the anti-Oz. He seems more of the personality of calculated and more "by the book". Yes, we're all guessing. But from watching him play, watching the few interviews and his TV work, I see him as more cerebral. I am at least willing to give him a huge chance. Personality wise, I much prefer him to Oz. I mentioned this before, much will depends on who he surrounds himself with. Coop will keep him out of too much trouble. With all the Walker hate, it will be hard to say he won't have an upgrade there. Hire a solid bench coach, one with experience, and I think it will work out better than Oz, and perhaps be the right fresh, new approach that will shake out a stale team.

[southsider2k5]

Haha.

 

 

 

I couldn't agree more. We've been agreeing far too much recently, and it scares me.

 

Do you agree that this was also a PR move to garner the good will of fans who loved him as a player?

 

I think it is a sign that Jerry is much more in control of this team than Kenny is.

[Milkman delivers]

He was for a short period of time.

 

If his last season with the Sox was 2003, how could he have been on the same bench as Ozzie?

[Texsox]

Or perhaps Kenny used hiring Robin to motivate JR into getting rid of Ozzie. It could be possible that JR was not too open to one of the other potential candidates but became more enthusiastic when Robin was on the radar.

[Balta1701]

Do you agree that this was also a PR move to garner the good will of fans who loved him as a player?

Here's the current stats on the Tribune nonscientific poll.

 

Was Robin Ventura the right choice to be Sox manager?

 

Do you like the White Sox's decision to name Robin Ventura as their new manager?

 

Yes: Former star third baseman a leader, good face for franchise. (2728 responses)

 

42%

 

No: He lacks experience that other candidates offered. (3733 responses)

 

58%

 

6461 total responses

(Results not scientific)

[Texsox]

Here's the current stats on the Tribune nonscientific poll.

 

 

(Results not scientific)

 

 

I'm embarrased a scientist such as yourself would even post that.

[Balta1701]

I'm embarrased a scientist such as yourself would even post that.

GMAB man.

 

If its a hire designed to appease the average fan, the "unscientific poll" at the tribune is closer to the "Average fan" than anything I'm posting here. In that sense, the invormation is at least useful in evaluating the claim. If you'd like to foot the several thousand dollar bill to put a scientific poll out in the field, we can get started as soon as the check clears.

[Milkman delivers]

Milkman, you know you're my boy. Let me ask you this: what part of managing are you worried that Ventura won't be able to handle?

 

I think he may be fine down the road, but he's got no experience whatsoever. And either way, contending or rebuilding, there are guys better suited to it than he was. As examples, Dave Martinez has been working with young guys for years, so he would have been much more suitable to a rebuilding team. Tony La Russa is a guy that you would bring in if you were thinking of competing right out of the gate because of his vast amount of experience with competitive, veteran teams. They didn't even bother to interview any of the other candidates, opting instead for the good PR that would come with a respected fan favorite.

[southsider2k5]

Or perhaps Kenny used hiring Robin to motivate JR into getting rid of Ozzie. It could be possible that JR was not too open to one of the other potential candidates but became more enthusiastic when Robin was on the radar.

 

That kind of goes towards JR being much more in charge than Kenny.

[Milkman delivers]

How much coaching/manager experience did Kirk Gibson have?

 

In 2003, he was named the Tigers' bench coach by new Tigers manager and former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell. He served in that position until the midway point of the 2005 season when he was moved from bench coach to hitting coach, swapping positions with Bruce Fields. As of the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, Gibson became the new Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach.

[southsider2k5]

ESPY_TEAHEN Mark Teahen

That explains it! Best of luck 2 Robin RT @kevin_house So real reason #whitesox got rid of @espy_teahen was 2 clear up #23 for #robinventura

 

[Texsox]

GMAB man.

 

If its a hire designed to appease the average fan, the "unscientific poll" at the tribune is closer to the "Average fan" than anything I'm posting here. In that sense, the invormation is at least useful in evaluating the claim. If you'd like to foot the several thousand dollar bill to put a scientific poll out in the field, we can get started as soon as the check clears.

 

yeah, and how many Cub fan polls have you voted in? It may be the best tool available, but how serious are you going to take it?

 

And, I wonder why teams don't poll more often.

[RockRaines]

I think he may be fine down the road, but he's got no experience whatsoever. And either way, contending or rebuilding, there are guys better suited to it than he was. As examples, Dave Martinez has been working with young guys for years, so he would have been much more suitable to a rebuilding team. Tony La Russa is a guy that you would bring in if you were thinking of competing right out of the gate because of his vast amount of experience with competitive, veteran teams. They didn't even bother to interview any of the other candidates, opting instead for the good PR that would come with a respected fan favorite.

Better PR would have been a coach who won a WS like TLA or Francona. Robin has years of playing and leadership experience in an MLB clubhouse. Its not that difficult to move from that to managing a clubhouse. They arent calling plays or inventing some new sort of baseball, he is leading a team that already has a player/coach in Konerko and several young kids that respect him from their offseasons and ST working with him.

[Milkman delivers]

Better PR would have been a coach who won a WS like TLA or Francona. Robin has years of playing and leadership experience in an MLB clubhouse. Its not that difficult to move from that to managing a clubhouse. They arent calling plays or inventing some new sort of baseball, he is leading a team that already has a player/coach in Konerko and several young kids that respect him from their offseasons and ST working with him.

 

I think this fan base is different than most. We love our nostalgia and bringing back former players. And you mention Konerko, but aren't they two extremely similar people?

[southsider2k5]

Laurence Holmes

Sox apologized for not getting him on last night. Robin Ventura will join me and Terry at 1:05. Make plans to listen: 670AM/670thescore.com

[Balta1701]

This is just a whole lotta ugh feeling. Greenberg.

Williams raised eyebrows as he set low expectations for Ventura -- "We do not expect him to hit the ground running and be the guy he's going to be two or three years from now. ... I don't expect him to be Tony La Russa on day one." -- but I don't completely buy it. Williams always thinks he's the smartest guy in the room. He won't put expectations on Ventura, but I have no doubt he believes in him.

 

So don't get caught thinking this is going to be a conventional rebuilding year, either. I've heard that story before. Williams likes to make a splash, and he's addicted to the limelight. Now that he's got Reinsdorf enthused again, I expect Trader Kenny to be in full effect this winter. Some veterans will go, but this won't be Kansas City -- unless Williams starts trading for Royals again.

 

And there's the rub. Williams' decision-making ability hasn't been trustworthy in years. His gut is gone, or at least in Weight Watchers. I wouldn't let him order me lunch right now. That's the real reason I have skepticism. It's not because I don't trust Ventura and his 16 years in the majors.

 

The other reason to doubt this move is that Ventura had to be talked into the job. This isn't a volunteer gig. It's a life-consuming job.

 

"There was a lot of [apprehension] when I first went home to talk to my wife about it," Ventura said. "It turned us upside down. I have a good thing going, and it was easy getting back into the game doing what I was doing. I had the freedom to coach and come back home. I think there was a lot of comfort in talking to the family that this was the White Sox, which for us is an extended family."

[bmags]

Teddy has written a number of great articles over the years, but I think his average radio presence sours me on him.

 

edit: his "in search of frank thomas" article about 8 years ago was great, at least it was when i was 16.

Edited October 7, 2011 by bmags

[southsider2k5]

And if you miss Ventura on WSCR...

 

ESPN 1000 Chicago

New White Sox manager Robin Ventura joins Carmen, Jurko & Harry today at 2pm.

[fathom]

Well, it's obvious that Cooper orchestrated this whole thing so Ventura quits after a few months (due to his heart not being into coaching) and Cooper can be named manager so he can finally get what he wants.

[GoodAsGould]

Well, it's obvious that Cooper orchestrated this whole thing so Ventura quits after a few months (due to his heart not being into coaching) and Cooper can be named manager so he can finally get what he wants.

 

I think Cooper is a great pitching coach but I absolutely hate his personality based off interviews ive heard him in and would not enjoy having him as manager one bit. Not to say he is the devil cowley says in his column just my opinion over the years about Cooper.

[Chisoxfn]

Amazing column by Cowley.

Wow. Cooper was THAT MUCH of a snake?

Wait til the players read this. Horrible joke of a franchise.

I just knew KW was sucking up and this proves it. And Cooper? The people who have said what a rotten personality he has? This just makes sense he'd look out for No. 1. I LOVE Ozzie's text to Coop. It's Ozzie's way of letting him know bout Judas.

If this is true, Cowley deserves a sports Pulitzer for the scoop.

 

And to think I today was thinking Coop deserved the job over Ventura.

Coop sounds like he may ruin the clubhouse next year when this story is made public to the players. Nobody likes a backstabber. Nobody!

Dude. That is it. You are freaking nuts. Cowley is a complete an utter asshole. The players know it, the fans know, it, everyone knows it. Ozzie was the asshole. I don't know how you can't see that.

[Chisoxfn]

Amazing column by Cowley.

Wow. Cooper was THAT MUCH of a snake?

Wait til the players read this. Horrible joke of a franchise.

I just knew KW was sucking up and this proves it. And Cooper? The people who have said what a rotten personality he has? This just makes sense he'd look out for No. 1. I LOVE Ozzie's text to Coop. It's Ozzie's way of letting him know bout Judas.

If this is true, Cowley deserves a sports Pulitzer for the scoop.

 

And to think I today was thinking Coop deserved the job over Ventura.

Coop sounds like he may ruin the clubhouse next year when this story is made public to the players. Nobody likes a backstabber. Nobody!

Why don't you ask the Sox pitchers what they think of Coop? Oh wait, they freaking love him.

[GoodAsGould]

Dude. That is it. You are freaking nuts. Cowley is a complete an utter asshole. The players know it, the fans know, it, everyone knows it. Ozzie was the asshole. I don't know how you can't see that.

 

I think greg has gone past the point of just having an unpopular opinion to that of obvious troll. Either that or related to cowley/guillen. People should just stop trying.

[RockRaines]

I think this fan base is different than most. We love our nostalgia and bringing back former players. And you mention Konerko, but aren't they two extremely similar people?

Why would you say they are similar?

 

Everyone who has commented on this that knows Robin are saying he was easily the most respected player on the teams he was on. Even Joey (Ozzies Buttplug) Cora came out and said he was more respected in the locker room. Managing a team of players who have vets who dont really need much managing and players that already respect the guy since he's been around with them the last few years shouldnt be that hard. I love this hire, much more than if it was TLR or Sandy.