5) Don Cooper
Cooper was named the White Sox pitching coach 100 games into the 2002 season. With all the issues the White Sox have had since their last postseason appearance in 2008, Cooper has largely escaped criticism.
He was the White Sox Manager at the end of the 2011 season after Ozzie Guillen left. Cooper and Guillen reportedly had a falling out. There were also rumors that Cooper had reported to management behind Guillen and bench coach Joey Cora’s back. Cooper preceded Guillen and has outlasted him on the White Sox coaching staff.
Other than the two-game stint at the end of the 2011 season, Cooper ironically managed in the Venezuelan winter league from 1991-94 (three seasons) for Caribes De Anzoategui in Puerto De La Cruz. Cooper was their first manager. In three seasons of a 60 game schedule, Cooper was 30 games under .500.
He has been a good pitching coach and initially transformed the White Sox pitching staff.
"When the White Sox hired Cooper in July 2002, they had a struggling rotation. They would improve on almost every statistic in his first full season. They finished the 2003 season in the top four in hits allowed, ERA, complete games, and strikeouts. From 2003 through 2012, the White Sox pitching staff finished in the upper half of the American League in most categories. The 2012 season was Ventura’s first."
If the White Sox would have been interested in making Cooper a manager it likely would have happened by now. He is currently 59 years old.
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