Or, to be more precise, third base.  Robin Ventura has been named the next manager of the Chicago White Sox.  I don’t know if anyone saw this coming.  Ventura rejoined the organization last summer as a special assistant to Buddy Bell, but he has no coaching or managing experience above the high school level.  So, was this the right move?

Let me preface this by saying that Ventura was one of my favorite players growing up.  Any problems I have with this hiring have to do with the process and not with him.  With the total lack of experience coaching at a professional level, there is no body of work on which to base an opinion on how Ventura will do leading the South Siders.

Process wise, I wonder if any other candidates were interviewed.  If yes, and Ventura blew them all away, then fine.  But if Ventura was brought in as the fan favorite that is meant to distract the fanbase from the problems with the team, than that is doing a diservice to both the fanbase and to Ventura.