Will White Sox changes bring victories?
GLENDALE, Ariz. — To many outside observers, the White Sox hiring Robin Ventura as new manager was akin to a Little League player missing most of the games and practices yet still being picked to play in the All-Star Game.
A homegrown star third baseman for the Sox for a decade (1989-98), Ventura never took the long bus rides managing in the minor leagues.
He never arrived at a major-league ballpark six hours before the start of a game to hit fungos before assuming his position in the first- or third-base coach's box.
After retiring as a player following the 2004 season, the 44-year-old pride of Santa Maria, Calif., stayed in the game by filling in on some White Sox TV broadcasts and analyzing the College World Series for ESPN.
Oh, yeah, Ventura padded his resume by serving as a special adviser to Buddy Bell, the Sox' director of player development, for three months last season.
Ventura's unfathomable leap to White Sox manager is shocking, but not completely crazy given the state of the franchise.
Say what you will about his lack of experience managing or coaching, but Ventura is a perfect fit on so many other levels.
And in a season of drastic change that begins Thursday when White Sox pitchers and catchers go through their first workout of spring training, it all starts with Ventura.
“I'm tired of just looking at paper and everything else,” said Ventura, who replaces old teammate and close friend Ozzie Guillen in the White Sox' dugout. “It's nice to actually get here.”
Ventura was relaxed and in typically good humor when meeting with reporters Wednesday morning at Camelback Ranch.
But some difficult work lies ahead following a 79-83 season that will be equally remembered for bad baseball on the field and bad drama off the field.
The biggest change came when Guillen opted out of his contract with two games left on the 2011 schedule, effectively ending a sparring match with general manager Kenny Williams that alternately irritated and bored most Sox fans.
Williams said he offered to step down “several times” last season but was continually rebuffed by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
And it was Reinsdorf who directed Williams to stay away from “retreads” in his search for a new manager.
Well, Ventura is as fresh as they come, and his biggest accomplishment as a rookie manager should be keeping the focus away from the foolishness and on baseball.
Getting the White Sox back into contending position in the AL Central might be asking too much of Ventura this season, especially with the Detroit Tigers adding Price Fielder to a roster that already includes two of the game's greatest players — starting pitcher Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, who is moving from first base to third to make room for Fielder.
Detroit did lose a huge bat when Victor Martinez suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, but the Tigers still are the clear favorites after winning the AL Central by 15 games last year.
While not nearly as outgoing as Ozzie — who is? — a fire does burn under Ventura's serene surface.
“We're not going to concede anything to anybody,” Ventura said. “We still have the same goal. We're here to win games, and we have to figure out a way to do that.”
Ventura has six weeks to get the White Sox ready for their April 6 season opener at Texas and the rest of the schedule.
He is the change at the top, but the Sox are expected to open with two new starting outfielders: Alejandro De Aza in left and Dayan Viciedo in right.
De Aza is a near lock to bat leadoff, and Viciedo has to drive in runs in place of the departed Carlos Quentin.
Williams trimmed payroll during the off-season, trading Quentin to the San Diego Padres and closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Williams said the Sox' bullpen depth made the Santos trade possible, but the two logical replacements — Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain — are more effective as setup relievers.
That's why rookie Addison Reed is expected to emerge as the closer, either in camp or, more likely, during the season.
And don't forget about Adam Dunn, who is coming off one of the worst seasons in baseball history.
If Dunn remembers how to hit, De Aza and Viciedo play up to their potential, and the White Sox find a closer, all of the changes could really pay off.
Under Ventura's direction, the Sox have to move forward.
“Hopefully guys can play better,” Ventura said. “That's obviously something from last year. That's just the situation we're in, and nobody's going to let them up from that until you have an extended period of playing well.
“That's just the way it is.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com