The White Sox announced that they have hired Robin Ventura to be their new manager. The sides have agreed to terms on a multiyear deal that makes Ventura the franchise's 38th manager. GM Kenny Williams says Ventura topped his managerial wish list despite his inexperience as a Major League skipper.
“I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities," Williams said in a statement. "Robin Ventura was that man."
The 44-year-old Ventura re-joined the White Sox this June as a special advisor to director of player development Buddy Bell. He says he's looking forward to the challenge and opportunity of managing in the Major Leagues, something he has never done before.
In a 16-year playing career that lasted from 1989-2004, Ventura hit 294 home runs, made an All-Star team and won six Gold Gloves. He spent his first ten seasons with the White Sox after they selected him with the tenth overall pick of the 1988 draft.
Williams, who suited up with the White Sox from 1986-88, never played with Ventura, but he was in Chicago's front office by the time Ventura's career ended. Ventura did play with his predecessor, Ozzie Guillen, from 1989-1997.
Wait, what? Where did that come from?
I did a quick Google search to see what level Robin Ventura had been coaching at this season. Turns out he was the hitting coach for his sons’ high school baseball team. Seems like a totally logical jump to me.
Seems about right, Rios and Dunn hit like high schoolers this year anyways right?
He has experence and He is probably demanding a low salary, $2-3 Mil and 2 body guards to protect him from Nolan Ryan during Rangers games.
Gonna make trips to Texas interesting.
Brilliant
LOL, good old Robin Ventura
Interesting choice, best of luck to Ventura.
Cannot wait til they play Nolan Ryan’s Rangers.
Damn. So many people beat me to that gem. Greatest fight in MLB history, only reason why I remember who Ventura is.
The home-run-that-was-a-single was another Venutra signature….but nothing like the Ryan fight.
Not only a homerun but a grand slam.
I’m pretty sure the Sox open next year in Texas too, how perfect.
Next step: White Sox make the playoffs as the wild card, face Texas in the ALDS, and the Rangers win means NOOGIE HILARITY ENSUES (again)!
Robin Ventura is awesome, and at least I’ll be able to understand what he’s saying in post-game conferences.
There’s no way he’ll be half as funny on Twitter though.
What’s a Twitter?
Not Much, What’s a twitter with you?
If you eat enough beans, you’ll find out.
Is he even managing anywhere? Never heard of him since he retired….
My father just called me and I asked the same question. He believes Robin was working with Buddy Bell with their minor league development.
ya he was, the white sox had been trying for years according to reports to get Robin to be their hitting coach but he never wanted to leave his family in Cali. So I guess now managing persuaded him. Hopefully he turns our awful hitting around :) (excluding Konerko)
This is random.
Someone must have lost a bet.
Can’t wait until he visits Arlington.
What the hell?
This is great,I knew their was a reason I bought 500 Robin Ventura rookie cards many years ago for .11 cents each. If he does as good as I hope these cards could work out.
Ha…I have a signed picture in my office of Ryan kicking the crap out of Ventura. this one really came out of nowhere. Mike Lowell now to manage the Red Sox?
I’m thinking ManRam instead.
“I am excited to begin my career as a manager…..”
Yes, folks, Kenny Williams hired someone with no previous managerial experience (that I know of anyway).
Ozzie had to go…and he did. Williams equally had to go….and here he is still screwing up the ChiSox.
The rest of the division can relax. Chicago isn’t going to be in the hunt for years.
I wonder if he took the Lovie Smith “I don’t care how little you pay me, I just want to be in charge” deal….
Robin Ventura is a great person but you have to earn your stripes.Kenny Williams is a hot mess
Kenny needs to go now –no make that yesterday b-4 he hired Ventura
wow. I don’t think anyone saw this coming. as a Cubs fan, I wish our ownership were as trusting with Ryne Sandberg
At least Ryno has been managing for a few years now, along with being a Spring Training instructor prior to that. I hope like hell they hire him….
No kidding… People always pop up to say that Sandberg “has no experience,” but the truth is, he managed four years in the Cubs’ system (winning three minor league pennants and a close second place finish, IIRC) and one for the Phillies’ AAA team.
Pair that with a HoF career and glowing reviews from everyone who’s worked with him and I’d think he’s a much safer bet than most first time managers.
CALLED IT
Terry Francona and Dave Martinez just facepalmed somewhere.
instead of becoming the next ozzie guillen, francona chose to become the next tim mccarver
worst fork in the road ever
If those were my choices, I would stab myself in the face with the fork
He’s been in the Sox organization for years. No one agreed witht he Ozzie hire either and that worked out pretty well for a few years, so I’ll reserve judgement.
it really didn’t work out that well. they won in ’05, but not because of ozzie guillen
Disagree – Ozzie was overall a very good manager until 08.
5 out of 8 years they finished above .500. The guys that hurt the team the most this year were all brought in by Kenny. Ozzie seems to have done okay. You should probably just stop talking.
“5 out of 8 years they finished above .500”
2 playoff appearances in 8 seasons (one of which was an 89-win season) while playing in the AL Central
way to aim high, hercules
You do know that while the Al Central is not a good division now at one time it was excellent. The quality of division is not set in stone it changes over the years.
sure, but it hasn’t been strong for quite awhile and they haven’t won 90 games since 2006
yuppers
Which actually proves WhiteSoxHomers point. They won 90 games and finished 3rd that season. Talk about the best division in baseball that year.
so Ozzie deserves full credit for the team finishing +500 5/8 years??
team had nothing to do with it.
don’t be dense. the team went 678-618. that’s 618 mistakes by kenny williams and the players and 678 great performances by ozzie guillen
I’m puzzled by arguments like this. I get your sarcasm, and obviously the players are the biggest thing.
But are you saying consistently winning teams accomplish that irrespective of manager?
Texas has been doing it the last two years.
He’s been in the Sox organization (as a Player Development consultant to Buddy Bell) for less than a year, less than a half a year, actually. Who cares how long he played for the Sox, tons of guys “play” in the MLB, doesn’t mean they all can manage just because they played the game.
Should have at least tried signing Francona before hiring someone with no MLB experience…
Would have cost us at least 4MM per, obviously in cost-cutting mode. Ventura’s a smart baseball guy, give him a chance.
I’ll admit I was taken back by the hire, but lets give it a chance before bitching. Wait, we’re Sox fans thats what we do. Anyway, there is no gaurantee if Martinez, Alomar or LaRussa came here, we would win. Its a crap shoot and hopefully Robin does a great job and mentors Morel.
It’ll be fun watching Ventura charge out of the dugout at Rangers games and watching old Nolan leap out of the stands to put Ventura in a headlock.
I wonder if Ventura flinched when he comes charging out to argue a call and the umpire barks back.
HELL YEAH WE GOT DAVE MART….wait, what?
Kenny Williams needs to lay off the dank.
Link to brawl with Nolan Ryan?
letmegooglethatforyoudotcom
Ozzie. Ventura. Who’s next? Melido Perez? Dan Pasqua? Craig Grebeck?
Karko…Kruk…Kittle…oh oh wait, I got it…
PLEASE bring back Bo Jackson!
Lots of ignorant people with bad opinions ITT.
Ventura is a great baseball mind, if you ask anybody who has actually played rather than the keyboard warriors in here, they’ll tell you this is a great choice.
Mentoring under Buddy Bell sure isn’t going to hurt.
but you’re a keyboard warrior too, so why should we listen to you?
You shouldn’t, I was simply stating my take on the situation.
I don’t know that you can insult people and call their opinions bad, invoke some phantom supporters who agree with you, and then claim you were “simply stating [your] take.”
If there was a definition of a keyboard warrior, that would be it.
Yes, there was a huge bidding war about to break out for Ventura. The White Sox had to act quickly, because Boston was going to lock him up with a long term/big $$$ deal.
I was really hoping for Paco Martin
Typical Chicago mentality ! Hire the local hero or name regardless of experience . Name recognition of a former player who was beloved puts fannies in the seats albeit temporary. Look next for a mentor type as the hire as bench coach to teach on the fly .
Nice, I like this signing for both sides.
I want to know if KW is going to let him select coaches, or if he already has that locked up as well.
All thats left is really the bench coach…Cooper (who is great) got a 4yr deal and Baines was retained as well….it’s all a fricken sham man…a puppet! KW for last 8yrs has had Ozzie pushing back now wants his CHEAP “yes man”…while they cut salary and slip even further into SUCKDOME. Welcome to mediocrity KW!
Walker is departing as well.
Hey, I bet Kenny signs Frank Thomas as the hitting coach, we’ll have batman & robin back!
Don’t know how I feel about this signing, Sounds like Kenny is trying to save money, hopefully this pans out, have to give the guy a chance. Good Luck Robin!
Good news for the (Red) Sox’ search, at least.
WHAT A JOKE! “F” Kenny Williams!
Red sox should take a page out of Kenny Williams notebook and hire Lowell to manage next year… unless of course oil can boyd is still alive
If this is a joke, I’m not laughing.
My God it’s getting real hard to be a Sox fan.
Agree wholeheartedly….how do you back this????? I usually LOVE most KW moves…love his attitude….but THIS?? I’m really at a loss for words…I just keep thinking….ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? really???? Also, FYI….I was and still am a Ventura fan….but NO WAY does he deserve this job..for YEARS they tried to get Ventura more involved in the organization….he always said “No I dont wanna make that kind of commitment, I’m enjoying my time away from the game…wanna spend time with my kids”…and now to BOOM, you’re the next manager of the Chicago White Sox! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
Considering my user icon, I think this post should be moved to the top of the comments here…
Edit: I guess I should write something about Robin Ventura though… He led the AL in intentional walks in 1998!
What do you REAALY need to know to be a manager in the bigs? You need to know and understand the GAME, how to lead and instruct, conduct yourself in a manner that your PLAYERS respect. I think Robin will do GREAT. He was one of the most highly respected players in the game, and was HUGE in the clutch! I think he’ll make a great manager, given the talent needed to compete. Francona, as nice a guy as he’s supposed to be, let his Red Sox team continue to fall apart at the end of 2011. I think Ventura would have himself activated and put in thte lineup if need be to get his guys fired up (like Kurt Gibson). He’s a WINNER, and that type of attitude is contagious. Whether Ken Williams made this decision in desperation or calculation, I think it will pay off for them.
Winner? Was Ventura on any teams that won a WS?
Seems to me that there is a lot of hate for a guy who hasn’t done a thing wrong. Granted, it is a surprising/shocking move, but wouldn’t it make sense to give it a little time before making an assessment? In terms of experience, by the way, Martinez and Alomar have never managed a game either, and I never saw Francona or Larussa as fits for this current Sox team.
What exactly does experience get you? Look across town, and ask that same question in reference to the great Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella.
As a Sox fan, there’s no doubt I’m taken aback by this. And no, I’m not a blind supporter of Kenny Williams. All I’m saying is, why don’t we see how this pans out. You never know…
Did Kirk Gibson ever manage before? Give Robin a chance. Needs strong bench coach.
Carlton Fisk?
I think they should make Harold the bench coach and dig up Rock Raines wherever he is and make him first base coach. Not really sure if Big Hurt would make a good hitting coach. He was awesome because of his unorthodox hitting off of his front foot approach. Much like Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron. You cannot teach that. I don’t know who is a big time hitting coach that would be available to the White Sox this year.
awesome,…white sox moving to top of the chain, for sure…look out Yankees….Central division is coming your way
2 possible scenarios:
– Kenny had to go shopping at the dollar store for the next Sox manager
– Ventura has pictures of Kenny Williams in womens clothing
This is Kenny, waiving the white flag, admitting he’s made really, really bad moves and is not given the green light to spend anymore. This is a “rebuilding” type of managerial move and you’re not going to hire an expensive/experienced manager, if you’re not going to make the playoffs for a while. This is admission of defeat.
Here in Baltimore, we have the worst owner in MLB. The White Sox have the worst GM in MLB. I believe they should get together.
Can’t believe Ventura’s going to bat Adam Dunn LEADOFF!
I still remember Ventura charging the mound after Nolan Ryan hit him, and Ryan with Robin in a headlock, punching the top of his noggin many times. I think Ryan was in his 40s at the time.