Ventura keeps attitude in check as Sox stagger through another season

Robin Ventura will be back as the Chicago White Sox' manager in 2016.

The Sox are going to fire Ventura at the end of the season.

Ventura is going to resign at the end of the season.

All three options are certainly in play as the White Sox head into the final month of another disappointing season.

There has been some speculation that Ventura might call it quits before the season ends on Oct. 4, but that is highly unlikely.

After playing 16 years in the major league - including 10 with the White Sox - and managing the last four seasons, Ventura knows how difficult the game is.

He also knows how to survive during the tough times.

"You just have to keep doing it," Ventura said. "It's part of baseball, coming in here. You can go home miserable, but I've always believed you wake up every day and get to create your own attitude that day. There are worse things you could be doing, believe me.

"I think you get to the ballpark and you create that. Every day should be a fun day, no matter how miserable you go to bed. You better be able to wake up and get a good attitude and be ready to get after it today."

Ventura always had that attitude as a player, and he hasn't changed much as a manager.

He is very aware that more than a few Sox fans think he should be out as the team's manager, given his 282-333 record in the dugout.

"I understand their frustration," Ventura said. "We had some high expectations and you don't reach them. It can be very frustrating, and you understand that. That's part of sports."

While Ventura is signed through 2016, it wouldn't be a complete surprise if he steps down at the end of the season.

Unlike most major-league managers, Ventura never campaigned hard for the job. As a matter of fact, White Sox Vice President Kenny Williams wasn't sure if he'd be able to pry Ventura away from his comparatively stress-free life in Santa Maria, California.

Ventura wound up taking the job, replacing former teammate Ozzie Guillen as the Sox' manager.

As he nears the end of what is shaping up as a third straight subpar season, Ventura sounds like he wants to come back in 2016.

"It can be a grind and you go through it," he said. "But, yeah, I enjoy coming in here every day. I think you look at your life, the things you've done as an adult and I've been around this pretty much my whole adult life. This is what it is and you're used to this."