Wondering what to think about Sox naming Ventura

Robin Ventura officially was reintroduced Tuesday and, yes, he still is the White Sox' manager.

Honest he is, a full five days after getting the job.

Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf really did hire someone who hasn't managed or coached anywhere before.

It would be nice if Ventura succeeds. Count me among those who respect how he conducted himself as a Sox player and beyond.

Sorry, though, I also have to be counted among those who believe it's absurd to hire someone to manage in the big leagues who never managed or coached anywhere before.

When I first heard that this was happening it sounded like an Onion, National Lampoon or “Saturday Night Live” spoof.

Or maybe it was an October Fool's Day joke.

After it became clear that the Sox weren't kidding, all sorts of thoughts followed.

Like, the second-worst thing about hiring a manager who never managed anywhere is that it insults all Sox fans.

The first-worst is that so many of them don't realize it.

One school of thought is that the Sox needed to bring in one of their popular ex-players to boost attendance.

Another is that Williams and Reinsdorf believe that since fans aren't coming out anyway, they have nothing to lose with something as unorthodox as this.

If the move was Williams' idea, Reinsdorf should fire him. If it was Reinsdorf's, Williams should resign.

Was Terry Francona ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on the top step of the dugout?

Wasn't Mike Scioscia's latest bench coach available? Isn't there another Ron Washington on the horizon? Did the Sox hire an unlikely suspect because none of the likely suspects ever had lunch with Reinsdorf in Arizona?

First former Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen. Now former third baseman Ventura. Next former second baseman Julio “Cruiser” Cruz?

Isn't there a worthy managerial candidate out there with a temperament somewhere between the wild-mannered Guillen and the mild-mannered Ventura?

One question is whether Ventura favors Guillen's DH-by-committee or Williams' single-lug-DH. Want to guess?

The closest to this hire that I can think of in Chicago history was Bill Veeck naming Don Kessinger the Sox' player-manager in 1979.

Kessinger, as respected as a player for his baseball savvy and dignified demeanor as Ventura is, lasted 106 games before Tony La Russa succeeded him.

Veeck sold the Sox two years later. So will Ventura last longer, will La Russa replace him this summer, and will Reinsdorf sell the team in 2013?

Do you think Williams and Reinsdorf acted so quickly because Tom Ricketts was poised to make Ventura the Cubs' new manager?

How do the managers and coaches toiling in the Sox' minor-league system feel about the job going to somebody who mostly has watched games on TV since retiring as a player?

How many times now will we have to watch tape of the beat down Nolan Ryan gave Ventura? More relevant, how often is Ventura going to have to watch it?

As odd as hiring Ventura as manager seems, it still can work. The right relief pitcher can give up a home run sometimes and the wrong one can get out of the inning.

Heck, Veeck's pinch-hitting little person Eddie Gaedel might have hit one out of the park if he got the swing sign.

mimrem@dailyherald.com