North: Too early to give Ventura an extension
I've heard several people comment or write that White Sox manager Robin Ventura should get an extension.
How quickly we forget.
That's not to say that Ventura shouldn't get a new deal … but not now - not yet.
C'mon now! I was on Comcast SportsNet Chicago a few weeks back and told the audience that if the Sox finished in the playoffs or above .500 for the season, then Ventura should get an extension. Host David Kaplan said the Sox could win 82-85 games and that's a darn good prediction, and I, half-kiddingly, said why so low?
But in the last three weeks, it looks like the stakes have been raised because the Sox could win 90 games and their division.
The players are playing hard this year for Ventura, which they also did last year in the dog days of the season. In all the games played so far, I can only think of two games in which I could question his moves, but that has been offset by some very well managed games.
Pitching coach Don Cooper and Ventura have handled the pitching staff extremely well, and the club filled the holes with veterans who might not hit all the time, but are consistent and dependable on the field.
Can they sustain a .600 winning percentage for five more months? Well, I think there is a good chance that could happen.
It also seems the Adam LaRoche situation galvanized this team when I thought it might do otherwise.
Then there is the powerful impact of Chris Sale, an ace pitcher who can do many things for you. He can extend a winning streak and stop a losing streak.
While it has been said that a manager matters in about 10 games when you're talking wins and losses, I couldn't disagree more!
From basic preparation to in-game managing to the handling of individuals, they matter in some way every day.
Also let's give a tip of the cap to bench coach Rick Renteria, who lost his Cubs managerial job to a pretty good manager, Joe Maddon.
Right now we can say Maddon and the Cubs are phenomenal, but Ventura and the White Sox are the bigger surprise.
My question is: would Ventura have the Cubs playing this well?
I doubt it, but here's the second part of the question: would Maddon have this Sox team in first place? Unlikely.
Program notes:
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