Future Shock Blog

KG, agree 100%. Thank you for the sanity.

I'm glad this piece is free. I think I might link to it every time something happens and everyone is freaking out about how amazing or awful it is before we actually have any information.

noogie patrol FTW!

Yep. As Kenny Williams moves go, this is far less objectionable than, say, dealing Daniel Hudson for Edwin Jackson, or signing Mark Teahen or signing Scott Linebrink, or everything he did with Nick Swisher (coming and going).

What did he start drinking after the 2006 season? And can we get him into a 12-step group for it?

Ventura had some discipline as a hitter. Maybe he'll bring that ethic to the team (Guillen sure didn't). He beats most retread names I heard.

This occurs to me every time a major college football program hires a coach who wasn't on the fans wish lists. I recall the reaction to Auburn hiring Gene Chizik being insanely negative and that turned out well enough.

Based on his SB%, maybe he'll be reluctant to send runners?

Cool factoid: He wasn't just College "Player of the Year," he was "College Player of the Decade!"

I disagree. The opinion that hiring a manager with almost no managerial experience is a bad idea is a valid one. I don't necessarily agree with it (the impact of a manager is overrated, and baseball tactics aren't rocket science) but I can't ridicule someone for thinking its a bad idea.

Maybe he'll be good, maybe he'll suck. Better than hiring a retread you know is bad. He played (and played well) for a long time in the big leagues. It's not like hiring someone who has no idea of the job description.

In the absence of facts to form opinions around, people's reactions to this decision say more about them than anything.

KG's right that you it's baseless to criticize Ventura. But you can criticize the White Sox for their decision making. They're taking an undue risk when there are other known, experience and proven managers or assistant coaches.

Normally to take this kind of risk, the upside has to be huge. Either that or they don't think it's a risk while the rest of the world does. I don't think folks see his upside as huge, and I don't think white sox nation is in the mood to take another risk (see: Adam Dunn).

"The opinion that hiring a manager with almost no managerial experience is a bad idea is a valid one."

"Managers have very little impact on what happens on the field..."

Kirk Gibson says hi.

There's plenty of data waiting to be compiled on whether previous managing experience, previous coaching experience, previous any-of-the-things-Ventura-lacks correlates with managerial success.

However you slice it, Ventura is an astoundingly inexperienced candidate. No one can claim 'knowledge' regarding that till they do or find some of the work mentioned above.

But they're not supposed to form an opinion regarding something unusual?? Ridiculous. In my opinion.

Kirk Gibson is such a badass, he can kick your ass with his eyes. Through the TV.

He's a cross between John Wayne and a Ninja!

Maybe, but Gibson has no sense of humor. Any player that can't take a joke during spring training is a red ass that loses respect from many baseball fans. Badass nothing. He manages a team put together by a solid GM. He still walks like he is injured or something. Show a little joy in what you do once in a while "Gibby."

I don't know about you, Kevin, by I had an immediate recation: Boy, they really loved that early 90s left side of the defense, huh? I have to believe that the next person to manage the White Sox will probably be Ray Durham.