White Sox: Rick Renteria is Correct Choice for Manager
White Sox made correct decision in quickly hiring its next manager. If team chooses to contend next season, they will have an experienced leader as manager.
The Chicago White Sox finally made a logical decision this year on Monday. With the announcement of Rick Renteria becoming the Sox manager, the franchise made one of its best decisions of 2016.
Renteria last managed for the Cubs in 2014. After being dismissed by the Cubs, Renteria took a year off from baseball. The Sox added Renteria as its bench coach for the 2016 season. Although the Sox started the season 23-10, they quickly faded into obscurity and finished the season 78-84.
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Robin Ventura, who was finishing his fifth season as Sox manager decided to step away from the team. His replacement, Renteria is capable of leading this team to success. The Sox front office believed this as well. General Manager Rick Hahn stated Renteria was more qualified than many other managerial candidates.
"“We felt that there was simply not going to be a chance that we were going to come out of an interview with somebody else and feel better about their ability to lead this club, their communication skills, experience, baseball acumen, open-mindedness. Many of the important, the ability to teach. Many of the things we felt were important characteristics"
Many Sox fans might feel the team should have explored interviewing other candidates. Although the Sox did fail previously when they didn’t interview any candidates and hired Ventura, this time the team hired someone with previous managerial experience in MLB. The Sox could have interviewed Bud Black, but Renteria has experience working with current Sox players.
With that familiarity already in place, the decision to hire Renteria as manager is a no-brainer. If the Sox intend on contending next season, they will have a manager that can lead them to success. Ventura never had any business being a MLB manager, but Renteria is well-respected around the league and in the Sox clubhouse.
Renteria should have engineered the Cubs turnaround but he was unfairly fired by the organization after one season. With the Sox, Renteria gets his second opportunity to turn a franchise around. This isn’t afforded to many individuals. The Sox finally have a credible manager at the helm for the first time since 2011.
Ventura was a likable player with the Sox, and he’s still well-liked by most fans. However, his managerial reputation suffered mightily with the Sox. Ventura’s time with the Sox was poor at best, but he can rest assured he will still be remembered as the best third baseman in franchise history.
Next: Ventura Resigns as White Sox Manager
The Sox should certainly improve next season with Renteria, no matter what direction they go in during the offseason. Renteria will be a welcome change for Sox fans as they won’t have to spew venom towards Ventura anymore. It would be an even better story if Renteria can have championship success with the Sox, given the Cubs were quick to let him go.