Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura had a good career as a Major
League Baseball player. During his 16-year career, Ventura played the
majority of his career with The White Sox as well as stints with The New
York Mets, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Ventura helped
each organization that he played for reach the postseason which was
highlighted by him making his only World Series appearance in 2000 as a
member of The Mets. Ventura also won as an amateur. Ventura helped The
Oklahoma State Cowboys reach The College World Series in 1987 as well as
winning a gold medal at The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Unfortunately for Ventura, most people only want to talk about the
infamous headlock that was put on him by Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan
Ryan in 1993 which is something that shouldn’t overshadow a career with
294 home runs and over 1,800 hits.
general manager Kenny Williams surprisingly hired Ventura in the
offseason to replace another former White Sox player Ozzie Guillen.
Ventura and Guillen were teammates in Chicago, but they have totally
different personalities. As outspoken as Guillen was, Ventura just flies
under the radar as he allows his players to play. Guillen’s style of
throwing his players under the bus and publicly questioning White Sox
management ruffled the feathers of some in The Windy City, especially
Williams.
can be attributed to Ventura. The White Sox are currently in first place
in The American League Central and Ventura is a strong candidate to be
AL Manager of The Year. The Detroit Tigers were expected to run away
with this division, but The Sox have won more games within the division
this season than any other team.
The White Sox pitching staff is third in The American League in quality
starts with 61. This reflects on starting pitchers Jake Peavy and Chris
Sale. Peavy has been plagued by injuries since The Sox acquired him from
The San Diego Padres in 2009, but he is having his best season since
joining “The South Siders”. Peavy has a 9-8 record this season with a
3.08 earned run average which is seventh in The AL. Peavy has been the
victim of little or no run support in his starts, but his 17 quality
starts lead The American League. Sale was a first round pick in 2010 and
this is his first year in the starting rotation. Sale leads the club in
wins this season with 13 and he was rewarded by making his first
All-Star team last month.
Ventura is also benefiting from a lineup consisting of outfielder Alex
Rios, third baseman Kevin Youkilis, first baseman Paul Konerko,and
designated hitter Adam Dunn. Rios is having his best season as a member
of The White Sox since he was acquired from The Toronto Blue Jays in
2009. Rios’ .318 batting average is fourth in The American League. With
18 home runs so far this season, RIos is on pace to pass his career high
of 24 which he achieved in 2007 with The Jays. Youkilis is a man reborn
after clashing with Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. The Red Sox
traded Youkilis to Chicago on June 24. In 35 games with The White Sox,
Youkilis has already hit nine long balls while providing leadership in
the lineup as a two-time World Series Champion. Konerko is steady as
always. Konerko is having a typical year for himself with 18 homers, 54
runs batted in, and a .316 batting average. Konerko is one of the
unassuming leaders of this team as he leads by example on and off the
field. After last season Dunn was looked at as one of the worst
free-agent signings in baseball history. Dunn agreed to a four-year, $56
million deal to join The Sox in 2011 and he registered career lows in
home runs and batting average while becoming public enemy number one in
Chi-town. This season, Dunn was selected to The American League All-Star
team and he currently leads The Majors in home runs with 31. As a team,
The White Sox are third in The AL in home runs with 137 which gives
White Sox commentator Hawk Harrelson plenty to cheer about.
It is not a guarantee that Ventura’s club will win the division, but I
do believe that they will be a force to be reckoned with in October. As a
player Ventura let his play speak for him. Ventura was a two-time
All-Star and a six-time Gold Glove Award winner. With The Sox, Ventura
was overshadowed by Frank Thomas. When he was with The Mets, it was all
about Mike Piazza. When Ventura was a member of The Yankees, there was
no way that he could compete with Derek Jeter. Originally from Santa
Maria, California; The Windy City is his adopted home. Ventura hopes to
do what his teammate Guillen did in 2005, which was bring The World
Series Trophy back to The South Side which would also make The President
of The United States Barack Obama happy.
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