Sox give Ventura 3-year deal

Robin Ventura was formally introduced as the White Sox' new manager Tuesday morning at U.S. Cellular Field.

Much like last Thursday, when he was hired to replace Ozzie Guillen, Ventura gave similar answers to similar questions.

Ventura, 44, agreed to a three-year contract with no options, and it is still way too early to predict how the former standout third baseman is going to fare in the dugout.

As a matter of fact, Ventura is still trying to come to grips with the fact that he is manager of the White Sox after spending most of the past seven years hanging out at home in Santa Maria, Calif., with his wife, Stephanie, and their four children.

Ventura admittedly was shocked when Sox general manager Kenny Williams made the first of several phone calls after Ozzie Guillen opted out of the final year of his contract on Sept. 26.

But when Williams flew out to Arizona for a face-to-face meeting with Ventura, who was watching young Sox players in the Instructional League, a deal was quickly struck.

"I would say in most instances somebody would just jump at the chance without thinking it through," Ventura said. "I realized there are challenges. I think that's part of going through it.

"It's a tremendous job. It's hard. It's fun. It has all those things to it. Just because you don't jump at it at first doesn't mean you don't want to do it or you're not passionate about it.

"For me, it's thinking through the entire thing. 'Is this the right time?' And that was what it was for me. (Williams) even asked me, 'Am I talking to you into it?' I said, 'No, you're not talking me into it. I'm working my way through it to make sure that when I commit to it I'm in. I'm ready to roll.'

"Once it got to that point, I was confident about being able to do it. I don't want to just think I'm taking the job just to take it because it's offered. I want to do a good job. I feel confident that I can do it."

Ultimately, Ventura is not going to be judged on his complete lack of experience in managing or coaching. Like everyone else, he is going to be judged on wins and losses.

Having solid talent can make even the most inexperienced manager look good, so what is the Sox' roster going to look like in 2012?

Again, it is too early to speculate, but Williams repeated that the White Sox are not going into rebuilding mode after a disappointing 79-83 season.

"If you're talking about rebuilding, the answer to the question is no," Williams said. "If we have to retool a little bit, well the answer to the question is maybe. Let's see what's available out there through the winter discussions and we'll make that determination as we go along."

Williams is hoping key players Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, Jake Peavy and Gordon Beckham bounce back big next season.

So is Ventura.

"Well, I think for right now they need a break," Ventura said. "The mental grind of baseball is probably the toughest out of any sport because it's daily, it's daunting, especially if you get yourself in a hole. I don't think there's anything I can do right away.

"For them, you come to spring training and feel fresh. You feel different as a player every year when you go to spring training. There's no guarantee that any guy on our team is going to have a better or worse year than last year."

As for Ventura's rookie year as Sox manager, he realizes every move is going to be analyzed and second-guessed.

Guillen often lashed out at the media and fans for questioning his moves, and the strain took a toll.

"It's happened to every manager, and that's part of the job," Ventura said. "I think people have the right to feel any way they want. (Getting) vicious and going after a player is one thing. To second-guess a guy, everyone has a different opinion.

"It doesn't matter. Everyone thinks a guy should hit here, or be pinch hit for, so that's just part of the job. Even as a player, people sometimes didn't like me playing, either. So that's just part of it, part of being in sports."

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