Rick Renteria expected to replace Robin Ventura as White Sox manager

Robin Ventura (center) will reportedly be replaced by bench coach Rick Renteria (left). (AP)

 

Despite reports suggesting the door was open for Robin Ventura to return as Chicago White Sox manager in 2017, it appears his five-year tenure will officially end on Monday.

According to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. general manager Rick Hahn is expected to name current White Sox bench coach Rick Renteria as the team’s new manager at press conference on Monday morning. What’s not clear is whether this means Ventura will be fired, reassigned or has simply decided to step down after suffering through a fourth straight losing season.

 

Here’s more from the report:

Indications are the Sox are preparing to name Renteria, 54, as their new manager on Monday. The Sox on Saturday announced an end-of-the-season press conference with general manager Rick Hahn for 11 a.m. Monday at U.S. Cellular Field, increasing growing speculation a change would be made soon.

Hahn’s customary practice has been to address media on the last day of the season.

Perhaps there’s more reading between the lines here than actual concrete evidence, but there’s also enough smoke to suspect a fire.

Whatever the circumstances, it’s become clear that Ventura isn’t the answer as the White Sox manager. Perhaps he’ll go on to find success elsewhere, but his style never really seemed to mesh with the players in Chicago. Not to mention the disconnect that seemed to exist between him and the front office. Beyond that, he always seemed a step behind his counterparts when it came to in-game decisions.

Ventura’s managerial career started out promising, as the White Sox posted 85 wins in 2012. The team and the manager took a huge step back in 2013, winning just 63 games. It’s been a slow climb back to respectability since, with Chicago posting 73, 76 and currently 78 wins over the last three seasons. The latter being hugely disappointing given the internal expectations coming into the season and the team’s hot start.

There are just too many negatives to justify Ventura keeping his job. He always had the support of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf though, which made the difference. Maybe we’ll find out if that has changed too.

As for Renteria, he’s long been respected around MLB. He oversaw a rebuilding Cubs team that won 73 games in 2014, only to be replaced when Joe Maddon became available. If hired and given an extended look, it’ll be interesting to see what he can bring to the table. It’ll also be very interesting to see what direction Hahn takes his roster after falling short of expectations.