WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF OCTOBER 3, 2016 “Sale not at best in Sox season finale loss” … Scott Merkin and Rhett Bollinger, MLB.com “Ventura not returning as Sox manager in 2017” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox react to news of Ventura’s departure” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Depth issues too much for 2016 White Sox to overcome” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Robin Ventura announces he will not return as White Sox manager in 2017” … Staff, CSN Chicago “Chris Sale on Robin Ventura: We always had the same goal” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “White Sox players and coaches react to Robin Ventura stepping down” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “As White Sox reportedly hire an ex-Cubs manager, Joe Maddon reacts to the Robin Ventura/Rick Renteria news” … Patrick Mooney, CSN Chicago “Looking back at Robin Ventura’s career timeline” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “Sunday’s recap: Twins 6, White Sox 3” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox fans deserve better than this nonsense” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Robin Ventura leaving White Sox, says organization ‘needs a new voice’” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox express sadness over Robin Ventura’s departure, hope for future” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Ventura respects Sale’s desire to ‘be a teammate,’ pitch finale” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Ventura makes it official: ‘I’m not going to be back’” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Chris Sale welcoming changes on White Sox” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Ventura: It’s right time to walk away as Chicago White Sox manager” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Two tough May losses took heavy toll on Chicago White Sox” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Buxton’s inside-the-park HR fuels Twins over Sale, ChiSox” … Mike Cranston, Associated Press “Robin Ventura announces he’s out as White Sox manager” … Mike Cranston, Associated Press “Robin Ventura confirms he won’t return as White Sox manager” … Staff, CBS Chicago “Levine: Robin Ventura to address his future after White Sox finale” … Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago “Five years, no playoffs: Robin Ventura era ends, but what’s next?” … Jon Greenberg, The Athletic “Heyman: Rick Renteria will be next Sox manager” … Jon Heyman, Today’s Knuckleball

Sale not at best in Sox season finale loss

By Scott Merkin and Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com | October 2nd, 2016

CHICAGO -- Chris Sale's final pitch of an All-Star 2016 season was a slider that caught Miguel Sano looking in the fifth inning of a 6-3 Minnesota victory over the White Sox Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field. Whether that pitch will be Sale's last as part of the White Sox remains to be seen, as the left-hander serves as Chicago's top trade chip despite having contractual control over him for three more seasons. "Absolutely, it could. This is sports. Anything can happen," Sale said. "I don't anticipate that happening or necessarily really want that to happen but it could." A little more light figures to be shed on that matter Monday morning, when general manager Rick Hahn meets the media, and certainly as the offseason progresses. The first change took place postgame when

manager Robin Ventura announced his tenure as White Sox manager had come to a close after five seasons. But as of Sunday, Sale could revel in another great yearlong performance, despite the Twins getting to him for five runs on six hits, including a home run from Sano and an inside-the-park homer from Byron Buxton on the game's first pitch. Sale finished at 17-10 and with a 3.34 ERAwith a career-high 226 2/3 innings pitched, while his 233 strikeouts represent the sixth-highest single-season total in franchise history. Sale set the franchise mark with 274 in 2015. Jose Berrios picked up his third victory, holding the White Sox to four hits over five innings. The one run scored off of Berrios came in courtesy of Jose Abreu's single in the third. Minnesota closed out the season with a two-game winning streak, raising its record to 59-103 but still ending up with the worst mark in the Majors to get the No. 1 pick in next year's Draft, while the White Sox finished below .500 for a fourth straight season at 78-84. "It was great," Berrios said. "That's what I came here to do, and I knew I can do it. Being able to finish like that this year was great for my confidence. It's good for me to go home and enjoy the offseason on that note." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED That was fast: Buxton made an impact in a hurry with his leadoff inside-the-park homer over the head of center fielder Leury Garcia on the first pitch of the game from Sale. Buxton raced around the bases in 14.05 seconds, which is the fastest time recorded on an inside-the-park homer since Statcast™ debuted last year. It was nearly a second faster than the second-best time this year of 14.85 seconds from Melvin Upton Jr. "Out of the box, I just took off hard," Buxton said. "I didn't know what would happen. Between first and second, I saw he didn't catch it, so I said to myself, 'This is going to be interesting.' So I felt like I was going faster, but I'm not sure I really was." Making history: Abreu's single in the third gave him 100 RBIs for the season and made him one of seven players with at least 100 RBIs in each of his first three seasons. Abreu joins Albert Pujols, Ted Williams, Al Simmons, Hideki Matsui, Joe DiMaggio and Pinky Whitney as the only players to accomplish such a feat. "I'm very happy to accomplish that goal. That was something that was in my mind and I could do it," said Abreu through interpreter Billy Russo. "I feel very happy, and I want to thank all the people that helped me reach this goal. The White Sox, the trainers, my family, too, all the people who have been around me because it means a lot to me." Sano-doubter: Sano gave the Twins a five-run lead with a three-run blast off Sale in the third. Sano's homer left the bat at 103 mph, traveling a projected 398 feet to left. It was his 25th of the year and also was the 200th of the year for the Twins, which is the third-most in club history. "Miggy, in what people might call an off-year with inconsistency, injuries and strikeouts, still found some positives with 25 homers and almost 70 RBIs in a partial season," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Those are the things you look for." QUOTABLE "That's top tier. Home-to-home, you're not going to see many guys top that. It was fast in real-time. As soon as you saw the funny carom, you knew he was off to the races. If baseball was five bases, he probably would've been safe, too. He was gone." -- Molitor, on Buxton's inside-the-park homer. "We want to win. We want to win and that's the most important thing. And I want to win with the White Sox." -- Abreu, on the White Sox future

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Buxton's homer was his 10th of the year, which helped the Twins tie a Major League record with 11 players reaching double-digits in homers this season. They tied the record set by the 2015 Astros and 2004 Tigers. BY THE NUMBERS The White Sox clinched a winning record at home, 45-36, for the first time since 2012. But they also finished 23-44 against the American League Central.

Ventura not returning as Sox manager in 2017 Decision announced after Chicago’s season finale Sunday evening By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | October 2nd, 2016

CHICAGO -- Robin Ventura sat down in the U.S. Cellular Field Conference and Learning Center Sunday evening following a 6-3 White Sox loss to complete the 2016 season and made official what had been speculated upon for at least the past few weeks. There will be a new White Sox manager for the 2017 season, a decision initially made by Ventura well before this final week. "I'm not going to be back as the manager next year," said Ventura, whose contract expired after this season. "I just feel it's the right time. It's more of a personal decision than anything. "I love being here. The organization means a lot to me. You can go as hard as you can and really the only thing you know is how you conduct your business and how you treat people. I'm good with that. Talking to [general manager] Rick [Hahn] through September, you just realize right now is the right time to do it and you need somebody else." Sunday's loss dropped Ventura's record to 375-435 overall. The team went from 63 wins in '13 to 73 in '14 to 76 in '15 and to a 78-84 mark in his final season. There was improvement but no playoff appearances and great disappointment over the last two years when the team considered itself a contender. Ventura replaced Ozzie Guillen at the start of the '12 season and had the team atop the American League Central for 117 days before a September fade left the White Sox out of the postseason. This past season was a particularly tough one that included Adam LaRoche's surprise retirement in Spring Training, the jersey issue with Chris Sale and the good feeling of a 23-10 start that disappeared rather quickly. "What's hardest is we started off so well, so you had the optimism that was there that you were going to keep that rolling, and then it didn't continue," Ventura said. "That's the hardest stuff. The other stuff, it just happens. There's probably stuff that happens all over the place that's like that. But that had nothing to do it with being tougher." "He did a great job, and I think Robin was a great manager," White Sox closer David Robertson said. "For some reason, I can't put my finger on it, we couldn't get things done, we couldn't keep the ball rolling. We caught some tough breaks. We came out hot and kind of fell apart." With his voice cracking a few times during an eight-minute postgame interview session, Ventura explained that he talked to the team before Sunday's finale. Sale said everyone paid attention and respected Ventura's words but did not share what was said.

There was no regret for Ventura in taking the job, despite having no prior coaching or managerial experience when he was hired. At this point, though, Ventura didn't sound as if he wanted to manage again any time soon. "You never say never. But right now, no," Ventura said. "These are tough jobs. No doubt about it. I wouldn't say it's tougher. But if you win more games, it's easier. I do know that. You wish you just would have won more, but that's part of it. You'd say yes again." It was important for Ventura to finish the job he started, and he admitted that some of this week's back-and-forth in the media came from choosing not to address his status until Sunday. Ventura smiled when asked about bench coach Rick Renteria, saying he doesn't do the hiring but knows that Renteria is a great guy and capable of doing the job.

White Sox react to news of Ventura’s departure Abreu: Outgoing skipper ‘has all my respect as a person and as a manager’ By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | October 2nd, 2016

CHICAGO -- The 2016 White Sox season had just come to a close when Chris Sale, the starting and losing pitcher in Chicago's 6-3 loss Sunday, was already thinking about the 2017 campaign and team improvement. "We leave with an empty feeling inside," Sale said. "But next year we have a group of guys in here, and we've talked about it in recent weeks, to make some changes around here, doing some things better collectively as players to put a better product on the field." One change already began to take place Sunday, when Robin Ventura announced his five-year tenure as manager had come to a close. Bench coach Rick Renteria, who managed the Cubs in 2014, is expected to be named as the next White Sox manager during a press conference Monday morning at U.S. Cellular Field. While the team never reached the playoffs under Ventura, coming closest when it held the American League Central lead for 117 days in 2012, the players had nothing but support for their leader. "He's a nice guy, he's a good manager and has all my respect as a person and as a manager, too," said White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu through interpreter Billy Russo. "I want to thank Robin because since the first moment I've been here he welcomed me and he supported me." "I loved working with Robin," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We talked during the game. It didn't work out the way that any of us would have wanted. It's the way things go. Somebody pays the price, and it's a good guy paying the price. It's sad." "Over the last five years he did everything in his power to help us win games, honestly," Sale said, implying Ventura did all he could with the hand the was dealt. "Obviously it didn't work out as planned, but he wasn't exactly given two aces out of the gate. He did the best with what he had, and I'm appreciative of that." Getting a new voice sometimes becomes a needed switch in a clubhouse, without assigning responsibility for failure to the past manager. And Sale praised Ventura for recognizing that fact. "If you're going to make a big change, something drastic needs to happen," Sale said. "You can't do the same things over and over and expect things to change. "More than anything people should look at what he said and respect that. Not all people can stand up in these lights and say that. You have to have respect for him, and he's as good as they get. You know that, too."

When asked if reaching the postseason drives him, Sale responded "every day, even in the offseason." Sale spoke for his teammates with that particular sentiment. "What year is this, eight that we haven't made the playoffs? It's not good. We want to change that, we've tried to change that," Sale said. "Don't get me wrong, we're as frustrated as anyone in the world. We're the ones doing it. So we're probably more frustrated. "We want to make some changes, shake things up and change the name, change the tone of the Chicago White Sox. Just be a better team, be a better organization, get to the promise land, to the playoffs to show what we've been working for the last 'X' amount of years."

Depth issues too much for 2016 White Sox to overcome By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 Rick Hahn had it pegged in July — the White Sox truly are mired in mediocrity. Despite a blistering hot start, the White Sox won’t be headed to the playoffs for an eighth straight season that wrapped up Sunday with a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field. And even though they actually improved for a third year in a row under now former manager Robin Ventura, it wasn’t nearly enough for the White Sox to finish with a record above .500. The White Sox, who are expected to name Rick Renteria their new manager on Monday, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report, posted their fourth consecutive losing season. “We had it early on, we were doing it, and it seemed right at that time,” Ventura said. “I think offensively we couldn't keep up the pace we were going on and once the injuries happened and the bullpen … it becomes a different bullpen. We just didn't have enough to do it and we didn't play well enough.” The outcome shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Oh sure, the White Sox looked every bit the postseason contender in April and early May when they won 23 of their first 33 games. But that was before the club’s biggest issue, one several prominent baseball analysts identified in January and has dogged the franchise for several years now, surfaced and sunk them. Though the 2016 White Sox boasted enough top-tier talent to potentially propel them to their first postseason appearance since 2008, analysts believed the White Sox needed most everything else to go in their favor for that to happen. The thinking was, and Hahn called the assessment “fair,” that the White Sox farm system is paper thin and was incapable of providing the necessary replacements if required. And boy were they needed. The problem initially surfaced — and remained for the duration of 2016 — a month into camp when veteran hitter Adam LaRoche abruptly retired. While LaRoche’s exit solved a playing time issue, it created bigger obstacles as the team no longer had a left-handed power threat for the middle of the lineup. Manager Robin Ventura’s only remedy was to move switch-hitter Melky Cabrera from a better fit — hitting in front of Jose Abreu — to batting behind the slugger and third baseman Todd Frazier in order to break up a right-handed heavy lineup. Cabrera succeeded with an .818 OPS in the fifth spot. But the trio who replaced him in the second spot — Jimmy Rollins, Austin Jackson and Tyler Saladino — combined for a .619 OPS in 275 plate appearances. It also meant increased plate appearances for Garcia, who originally was scheduled for part-time duty and didn’t improve as the White Sox had hoped.

By the time the injury bug rolled around, and it smacked the White Sox pretty hard, the offense was a shambles. The first of two injuries to catcher Alex Avila meant too much playing time for veteran Dioner Navarro and not enough offense from either. Jackson’s season-ending knee injury in June resulted in a starting role for outfielder J.B. Shuck, who had a .557 OPS in 237 plate appearances. Injuries to Zach Putnam and Jake Petricka, both prominent relievers the previous two seasons, sapped an already-tired bullpen. An additional injury, to Daniel Webb, had the White Sox using untested pitchers in big spots throughout the summer, a problem that became even bigger once Zach Duke was traded. When it came time to replace underperforming starting pitchers John Danks and Mat Latos, the White Sox couldn’t supply their own answers and instead took on James Shields, who allowed 31 home runs in 22 starts after he was acquired. The White Sox also didn’t have enough contributions from the supporting cast when Abreu and Frazier slumped. The combination of poor offense and unreliable pitching sunk the White Sox. And the little depththe team had has been a mixed bag. The team traded Duke for Charlie Tilson, who was lost for the season only five innings into his major league debut. Matt Davidson came up to challenge Garcia for playing time only to also suffer an injury in his debut. Brett Lawrie’s injury did, however, result in playing time for Saladino and Carlos Sanchez, who played well in his absence. Relievers Dan Jennings and Tommy Kahnle also have taken advantage of their tryouts. Miguel Gonzalez also thrived after taking over as the No. 4 starter and looks like a find. But in the end it wasn’t enough. Even with standout performances from Adam Eaton, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, a 40-homer season from Frazier, 85 RBIs and a .790 OPS from Cabrera, a strong second half by Carlos Rodon and Abreu and a good rookie season from Tim Anderson, the White Sox finished woefully short. The win-now method that has been employed for more than a decade and prompted Hahn to say the White Sox would have to look hard at their methods has depleted the team’s ability to answer its questions internally. Whereas Cleveland thrived without its best position player (Michael Brantley) and suffered injuries to key starting pitchers and Kansas City managed to stay afloat despite injuries to Mike Moustakas, Wade Davis and others, the White Sox have sunk. “We were hot early and then not so much and we never got hot again,” Ventura said. “I think baseball, it's tough to be able to recapture that. We did have a couple injuries. “We had a really good bullpen, offensively we were doing enough and then we struggled in that area for a while. It's tough to stay consistent and keep yourself afloat in a baseball season because it just doesn't stop. It just keeps coming and you're in a division that's tough.”

Robin Ventura announces he will not return as White Sox manager in 2017 By Staff / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 Robin Ventura said Sunday that he has decided not to return as manager of the White Sox. "I just feel it's the right thing," Ventura told reporters after the team's 6-3 loss to the Twins. "It's more of a personal decision than anything."

Chris Sale on Robin Ventura: ‘We always had the same goal’ By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 They may have had their share of heated exchanges, but five-time All-Star Chris Sale said Sunday afternoon he holds Robin Ventura in high regard. Shortly after Ventura announced he wouldn’t return as White Sox manager in 2017, Sale applauded him for the suggestion that the club might be in need of a new voice after five seasons. While he and Ventura clashed several times over the years, including a July incident that resulted in the ace pitcher’s five-game suspension for insubordination and destruction of team property, Sale said both men wanted the same things. “We always had the same goal, the same vision, the same passion,” Sale said. “You get a bunch of guys in the same room and the testosterone is pumping. This is a competitive game, sports are competitive. Things happen, but that doesn’t change what I think of him personally. He’s as good as they get. “If you’re going to make a big change something drastic needs to happen. You can’t do the same things over and over and expect things to change. More than anything, people should look at what he said and respect that. Not all people can stand up in these lights and say that. You have to have respect for him and he’s as good as they get.” Following the July incident in which he destroyed throwback jerseys the team was scheduled to wear, Sale criticized Ventura’s handling of the situation in an MLB.com article. When he returned from his suspension, Sale downplayed the notion there was a rift between himself and Ventura and his manager did the same. Ventura said the focus needed to return to the field and never publicly returned fire at Sale. Recently, Sale thanked Ventura for the opportunity to pitch deep into games late in the season. He followed that by noting that Sunday’s announcement was “tough.” “He’s as good as they get, really,” Sale said. “Over the last five years he did everything in his power to help us win games, honestly. Obviously it didn’t work out as planned, but he wasn’t exactly given two aces out of the gate. He did the best with what he had and I’m appreciative of that.”

White Sox players and coaches react to Robin Ventura stepping down By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 White Sox manager Robin Ventura announced he wouldn’t return as the team’s manager in 2017. After Ventura made the announcement during Sunday's postgame press conference, White Sox players and coaches were asked about Ventura's move. Chris Sale spoke highly of Ventura after the announcement. Here are a few more reactions from around the White Sox clubhouse regarding Ventura: Justin Morneau: “One of the keys to being a good manager is not forgetting how difficult the game is and for someone who is as good as he was as a player and the career that he had, to still be able to sit there and remember this game is difficult. I don’t think he ever forgot that. For the short time I was here, I enjoyed being around him and he let the players play and unfortunately we didn’t get the job done.” Pitching coach Don Cooper: “I loved working with Robin. We talked during the game. It didn’t work out the way that any of us would have wanted. It’s the way things go. Somebody pays the price and it’s a good guy paying the price. It’s sad.” David Robertson: “It feels like a sad ending to a season. We all enjoyed Robin. We had a great time playing with him. It’s his choice to step down. He’s going to move on with the next chapter of his life, and

it’s the same for us. We’re going to move on, try to get stronger in the offseason. Hopefully we can start like we did this year and continue to hold that momentum and level of play we had early in the season. It has been a heartbreaking season for sure, but I’m definitely looking forward to next year. There is a lot of talent in this room, and I think next year maybe we’ll be able to put it together.” Jose Abreu: “I want to thank Robin because since the first moment I’ve been here he welcomed me and he supported me. He’s a nice guy, he’s a good manager and has all my respect as a person and as a manager, too.”

As White Sox reportedly hire an ex-Cubs manager, Joe Maddon reacts to the Robin Ventura/Rick Renteria news By Patrick Mooney / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 CINCINNATI — If the White Sox really wanted to shake things up on the South Side and hire an ex-Cubs manager, they should have called Dale Sveum, whose fingerprints are still on the best team in baseball. The Cubs are still paying Rick Renteria this year, and the White Sox bench coach will get another chance to manage, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report, taking over for Robin Ventura, an immensely respected ex-player who’s at the end of his fourth consecutive losing season. “I don’t know what’s going on there internally, but I think (Robin) does a great job,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Game 162 at Great American Ball Park. “As a friend — I’ve had dinner with him — he’s a wonderful man. I don’t know what’s happening there, so we’ll just wait and see.” Renteria, of course, officially got fired on Halloween 2014, ending an awkward limbo period that started as soon as Maddon opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. Team president Theo Epstein pounced on the star free agent and gave Maddon a five-year, $25 million contract, weeks after saying Renteria “absolutely” would return in 2015. Renteria’s one-and-done season featured a seven-game improvement from the year before, All-Star selections for Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, some shaky bullpen management and questions about how his rah-rah style could get tuned out in the clubhouse. But firing Renteria was always more about Maddon’s sudden availability than a bad performance review. Here’s hoping Renteria shows to the Chicago media a little more of the edge and the personality that allowed him to carve out a playing career in the big leagues and become such a popular coach with the Padres. Credit the White Sox for hiring a bilingual manager at a time when the industry’s power structure is so embarrassingly tilted toward middle-aged white guys and Ivy League kids. Ventura at first created the sense of calm the White Sox wanted — a complete change from Ozzie Guillen’s combustible personality — but the franchise couldn’t build off an 85-win season in 2012. That year, the Cubs tanked and lost 101 games, but Sveum’s staff helped create a gym-rat mentality and build trade-deadline value for short-term assets, with Chris Bosio, Mike Borzello and Lester Strode still running that pitching infrastructure now. Sveum earned a World Series ring last year as Kansas City’s hitting coach. “When you say Robin Ventura to me, I’m going to say it one more time,” Maddon said, beginning a story he’s told Cubs beat writers before. “It might have been 1995. I was a new coach with the Angels and I’m walking in the front door at Comiskey.

“I’m just a nobody. I don’t even know — I was the bullpen coach or the first-base coach at that time. He took the time to talk to me. And he knew me. And he was very, very complimentary. From that moment on, I became a Robin Ventura fan. “Renteria — I’ve only gotten to visit with him this past spring when he came up to me on the field. We just talked briefly. I know Buddy Black loved him San Diego. I know that. I know people here like him a lot, too. “So, again, until it’s official, I don’t have anything to say other than: Robin Ventura’s always going to get high marks in my book for that one day in 1995.”

Looking back at Robin Ventura’s career timeline By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 Robin Ventura announced after Sunday’s game he won’t return as White Sox manager, ending a five-year return tenure on the South Side in which his teams went 375-435. A look back at the 49-year-old’s career timeline: 1986: Ventura leads college baseball with 96 RBIs as a freshman at Oklahoma State. 1987: As a sophomore, shatters an NCAA record with a 58-game hitting streak with the Cowboys. 1988: Ventura wins a gold medal with the United States baseball team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. 1988: Ventura is drafted with the 10th overall pick by the White Sox and signs on Oct. 21. 1989: After hitting .278 with 67 RBIs as a 21-year-old in Double-A, Ventura goes 1-4 with an RBI in his major league debut Sept. 12 in Baltimore. 1990: Ventura endures a streak of 42 at-bats without a hit between April 18 and May 11, but still finishes seventh in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He finished his rookie season with a .699 OPS and five home runs. 1991: A 23-home run, 100 RBI season vaults Ventura on to the national scene, and he wins the first of six Gold Gloves, including three in a row from 1991-1993. 1992: Ventura earns the first of two All-Star game bids. 1993: On Aug. 4, Ventura infamously charges Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and gets his head pounded in by the then-Rangers pitcher. He also draws a career-high 105 walks and strikes out only 82 times in 669 plate appearances as the White Sox reach the American League Championship Series. 1996: Ventura blasts a career high 34 home runs with an .888 OPS. 1997: A gruesome compound fracture in his ankle suffered during spring training keeps Ventura sidelined until late July, though he still manages a .799 OPS and six home runs in his abbreviated season. 1998: In his final year with the White Sox, Ventura racks up 5.8 WAR — just shy of a career high — and hits 21 home runs. He’s granted free agency after the season and signs a five-year, $36.5 million deal with the New York Mets. 1999: Ventura puts together a career year, hitting 32 home runs with 120 RBIs, a .908 OPS and 7.1 WAR. He famously hits the “grand slam single,” to beat Atlanta in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS.

2000: A balky shoulder lands Ventura on the disabled list and limits his effectiveness in Year 2 with the Mets, as he’s only worth 1.9 WAR and hits a career-worst .232. 2001: On Dec. 7, Ventura is shipped across town in a trade with the Yankees for outfielder David Justice. He finishes his three years with the Mets with 77 home runs and an .828 OPS. 2002: Ventura earns his second All-Star appearance with a torrid first half — 19 home runs, 62 RBIs and an .878 OPS — though tails off in the second half of the season. 2003: In a deadline deal, the Yankees trade Ventura to the Dodgers for outfielder Bubba Crosby and right-hander Scott Proctor. Ventura hits .220 with five home runs in 49 games as Los Angeles’ playoff push falls short. 2004: Ventura is relegated to a reserve role behind Adrian Beltre, who hits 48 home runs and finishes second in NL MVP voting. The 36-year-old plays his final major league game on Oct. 2, going 0-3 with a walk against San Francisco. He finishes his 16-year career with 294 home runs, 1,182 RBIs, an .806 OPS and 56.7 WAR. 2010: Ventura works on ESPN's broadcast team for the College World Series and Little League World Series. 2011: The White Sox hire Ventura as a special advisor for player development on June 6. Four months later, he’s hired to replace Ozzie Guillen as the club’s manager and signs a three-year contract. 2012: In his first year as manager, Ventura’s White Sox win 85 games and fall just shy of winning the AL Central. The White Sox were leading the division with nine games remaining, but wound up losing the division by three games to the Detroit Tigers. 2013: The White Sox lose 99 games, their highest total since 1970, and finish 30 games out of first place. 2014: Despite the dismal 2013 showing, Ventura signs a multi-year extension during SoxFest in January. The White Sox go on to a 73-89 record that summer. 2015: With expectations high after the offseason acquisitions of Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera, Ventura’s White Sox get off to a slow start and never recover. The White Sox finish with a 76-86 record, meaning for the first time in franchise history they employed a manager for three consecutive losing seasons. 2016: The White Sox go 23-10 in their first 33 games and look like legitimate contenders in the American League Central. But after peaking with a 6 1/2-game division lead May 9, the White Sox go on to lose 10 of their next 11 series. While the White Sox made a late June/early July push, the summer was marred by a clubhouse incident involving Chris Sale destroying the team’s throwback jerseys and later criticizing Ventura for how he handled it. Ventura on Sunday announced that he won’t return as manager after the White Sox finished the season 78-84, the franchise’s fourth consecutive losing season.

Sunday’s recap: Twins 6, White Sox 3 By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | October 2nd, 2016 Chris Sale’s first pitch of the final game of the White Sox season resulted in a rare occurrence Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. Byron Buxton hit an inside-the-park home run on the pitch, driving the ball to the wall past center fielder Leury Garcia. The ball took a high bounce at the wall that Garcia eventually scooped up, and by the time second baseman Carlos Sanchez made his relay throw, Buxton was already crossing the plate.

It was the first inside-the-park homer at U.S. Cellular Field since Ian Kinsler hit one on Aug. 23, 2013, while playing for the Rangers. Miguel Sano added a three-run homer in the third off Sale as the Twins won the final game of the season 6-3. The Sox finished the year 78-84. At the plate Jose Abreu singled to left-center field off Jose Berrios in the third inning for his 100th RBI of the season. He is one of seven players in major-league history to record 100 RBIs in each of his first three seasons. The Sox scored a run each in the seventh and eighth innings on RBI groundouts from Melky Cabrera and Omar Narvaez. On the mound Sale allowed five earned runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings. He finishes the year with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts, the sixth-most for a single season in franchise history. Sale set that record last year with 274 strikeouts. In relief Sox reliever Juan Minaya loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks in the sixth, and Jacob Turner issued a bases loaded walk to Byron Buxton for a Twins run. Injury report Garcia left the game in the bottom of the first with a sore hip and was replaced by J.B. Shuck.

White Sox fans deserve better than this nonsense By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune | October 2nd, 2016 From the Adam LaRoche saga in spring training to Chris Sale's uniform-slashing episode to the Robin Ventura finale, White Sox management put on a clinic in how to mishandle a sticky situation this season. When in doubt, they obfuscated, hid from the media, released statements stating no one would address the issue du jour, then spun their chums in the media with their own skewed version of events. The reward for a season of total ineptitude? Rick Renteria, your new Sox manager. Meet the new Sox. Same as the old Sox. Is it possible for the Sox to become any more irrelevant in Chicago? We're about to find out. It's obvious why Ventura could not return as manager. Whether any of the blame was his or not, the Sox didn't win under his guidance, and no manager can keep his job with teams that underachieve year after year. As everyone knows by now, and as Cubs manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday, Ventura is as good a guy as you're going to find in the game, as well as one of the brightest.

But he understood in spring training that he had to win to stick around, and told me one sunny afternoon at Camelback Ranch he wasn't fretting about it. "These guys are going about doing their business, and it's been good," he said. "I don't wake up every day thinking, 'Oh, my gosh, I've got to go save my job.' It's baseball. Eventually I won't be here. That's just the way the game works." That time has arrived, and now it's Renteria's turn to try to turn things around. Good luck with that. Renteria is well-liked by players, but we don't really know how good of a manager he can be. He didn't really impress during his one season with the Cubs in 2014, and mostly is remembered for his catchphrases — "We're chipping away," "that's the nature of things" and "quite frankly..." The Cubs brought Renteria in as the anti-Sveum, after former manager Dale Sveum was thought to be too tough on focus-challenged shortstop Starlin Castro, who was then considered part of their core. Renteria was a kinder, gentler manager, a would-be motivator who would get the young players to improve through positive reinforcement. At the start of his first spring training, he said he told his players not to "misconstrue my kindness for weakness." "When I bite, it makes sense to everybody because you've gone through the whole process and taken as many steps as you possibly could have to make a point, trying to teach and give information," he said. "So when you finally do lose it, it is nothing more than to emphasize what hasn't been gotten. And it's not about just jumping on people for the sake of jumping people. It may be more for a lack of hustle. It's never because you booted a ball." The Cubs weren't talented enough to win in 2014, but the feeling was that they were about to turn the corner. So when President Theo Epstein learned Maddon was available, he didn't hesitate, despite having Renteria signed for two more years. Renteria was unceremoniously booted, then spent the next year in self-imposed exile, declining to address his firing. Returning this year as White Sox bench coach under Ventura, he was seen as a positive presence in the clubhouse, particularly with Latin players. But his presence didn't make a difference. The Sox got off to a hot start and then imploded in spectacular fashion, making Ventura a lame duck by the late-May meltdown in Kansas City. No one will feel sorry for Ventura, who knew what he was getting into when he appeared out of nowhere to take the job offer from then-general manager Ken Williams. No one else was interviewed, just as general manager Rick Hahn interviewed no one before handing the job to Renteria. Sox fans turned on Ventura by his second season, and he was never able to restore their confidence. While it wasn't all his fault, Ventura wasn't totally blameless either. The onus is now on Hahn, the architect of this mess. And fortunately for Renteria, Hahn will make sure pitching coach for life Don Cooper is calling the shots on the pitching side. Despite fine seasons by Sale and Jose Quintana, the Sox are 14th in the majors in pitching this year, just as they were last year. They were 20th in 2013, and 27th in 2014. Cooper has never been on the hot seat, for reasons unknown.

Sox fans deserve better. They've put up with a lot of nonsense the last few years, and no one seems to take responsibility.

Robin Ventura leaving White Sox, says organization ‘needs a new voice’ By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | October 2nd, 2016 Robin Ventura stood at the edge of the dugout at U.S. Cellular Field for much of Sunday's game, clapping hands with or slapping the backsides of players such as Chris Sale and Todd Frazier as they jogged down the steps. But after the final out of the Sox's 6-3 loss to the Twins, he wasted little time slipping inside the clubhouse and then making his way to the interview room to announce the game was his last as Sox manager after five seasons. He called the exit, in the final year of his contract, "a personal decision," saying it was the right time for the organization to bring in a new leader for a team that completed its fourth straight losing season and eighth straight year without the playoffs Sunday. The Sox are expected to name bench coach Rick Renteria as Ventura's replacement at a news conference with general manager Rick Hahn at 11 a.m. Monday. Other coaching staff announcements are expected to be made at a later date. "I enjoy this place," Ventura said. "I love this place. At the end, it probably needs a new voice … and I have to be big enough to understand that and go down and voice that." Ventura initiated the conversation about leaving the team with Hahn in early September — making it a moot point whether the Sox wanted to retain him or not — but he wanted to finish out the season before announcing the decision. Looking back on a rocky five years, he said wouldn't have changed his decision to take the position before the 2012 season, when executive vice president Ken Williams hired him even though he had no managerial experience. But after completing his managerial career with the Sox with a 375-435 record, including a 78-84 finish in 2016, he said he leaves wishing he could have won more. Asked if he felt like he was given good enough players to win, Ventura said he controlled what he could. "We came up short, and I feel like that falls on me," Ventura said. "You just do what you can do and (control) how you conduct yourself. It's not like they're going to be putting a statue out on the concourse (of me). You do what you can, and that's all you can really do." Ventura's final season will be remembered for both the team's collapse after a 23-10 start and for bizarre off-the-field issues. Those included Adam LaRoche's retirement over his son's clubhouse time during spring training and Chris Sale's suspension after he cut up team throwback jerseys because he was upset about being required to wear them. Ventura said the losses following the high expectations were tougher to deal with than the clubhouse conflicts. "There are a lot of things that go on when you're together a lot and you're a family," Ventura said. "Part of that is there are some tough times, and some tough love and a kick in the pants some other times. I just don't publicly do it. But these guys all play hard. They went out and played hard, and that's the main thing."

Ventura spoke to the team before the game about his departure, and afterward, he stood near the exit to the clubhouse, shaking hands and sharing hugs as players, staff and media members made their way out. The former third baseman who played 10 of his 16 seasons with the Sox said he will miss the people the most. He said he doesn't know what he will do now, and while he has no immediate plans to stay in a role with the Sox or manage again, he didn't rule it out. "You never say never," he said. As the Sox prepare to announce Renteria as the 40th manager in franchise history, Ventura offered him kind words. "I know he's a great guy," Ventura said. "I know he's very capable of doing that, but I don't hire people around here."

White Sox express sadness over Robin Ventura’s departure, hope for future By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune | October 2nd, 2016

the White Sox clubhouse emptied of players and their belongings Sunday evening, some players who lingered expressed both sadness at the Robin Ventura era coming to an end and hope the team will be better when they return next year under new leadership. Ventura said he understood the team needed a "new voice" when he announced his departure Sunday after five seasons as manager, and Sox left-hander Chris Sale said he respected that sentiment. He said players discussed what they can alter next year to put a better product on the field than the one that finished 78-84. "If you're going to make a big change, something drastic needs to happen," Sale said. "You can't do the same things over and over and expect things to change. More than anything people should look at what he said and respect that. Not all people can stand up in these lights and say that. You have to have respect for him. "Over the last five years he did everything in his power to help us win games, honestly. Obviously it didn't work out as planned, but he wasn't exactly given two aces out of the gate. He did the best with what he had, and I'm appreciative of that." Ventura wasn't one to air out issues with players in public, but he had a couple of disputes with Sale that made headlines, most notably when Sale cut up throwback jerseys he didn't want to wear in July. Sale said then that Ventura needed to back his players, but he has since downplayed the conflict and did so Sunday. "That doesn't mean I don't like him or he didn't like me," Sale said. "We always had the same goal, the same vision, the same passion. You get a bunch of guys in the same room, and the testosterone is pumping. Sports are competitive. Things happen, but that doesn't change what I think of him personally. He's as good as they get." Closer David Robertson used the word "sad" to describe Ventura's departure. But like Sale, Robertson expressed hope the team can come back better next season, even in the face of speculation the Sox could consider a rebuild. "It has been a heartbreaking season for sure, but I'm definitely looking forward to next year," Robertson said. "There is a lot of talent in this room, and next year maybe we'll be able to put it together."

Sale said he doesn't think he will be traded in the offseason — and doesn't want to be. That means he'll need to get used to new leadership under bench coach Rick Renteria, who is expected to be named manager. Sale called Renteria well-respected, genuine and competitive. "If you walked around this clubhouse, he would have the respect of every single person in here," Sale said. "I don't know 100 percent if we're going one way or another, but it wouldn't be a bad starting point." Robertson said he's "excited" to work for Renteria. "I think he's a good manager, and I'm excited to see what's in store for us when we get to spring next year," Robertson said.

Ventura respects Sale’s desire to ‘be a teammate,’ pitch finale By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | October 2nd, 2016 Robin Ventura sent his best lineup out to face the last-place Minnesota Twins on the final day of the season Sunday, a game that is expected to be his last as White Sox manager. That lineup included ace Chris Sale, whom some thought would pass on his final start for the purpose of workload preservation on a left arm which has already logged a career high 221 2/3 innings. Ventura and Sale discussed last week the possibility of Sale taking the ball and the Cy Young candidate was all in. “We had a conversation but it was going to be up to him,” Ventura said. “There’s no way you send him out there if he doesn’t have the desire to go out and pitch. We talked about it, he got to sleep on it and came back the next day and was all for it.” Sale, who has finished in the top six in his first four seasons as a starter, is in the Cy Young mix again but Ventura said he decision to pitch is “more as a teammate, and what it means to go out and compete every day. “It would be very easy for him to bow out and say ‘I’ve had enough.’ ” Ventura has likely had enough of his job after five seasons. He again declined to discuss his future, saying he would do so during the postgame media sesssion. Sale, meanwhile struggled from the very first pitch when Byron Buxton started the game with an inside-the-park homer. Miguel Sano hit a three-run homer in the third inning to give the Twins a 5-0 lead.

Ventura makes it official: “I’m not going to be back” By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | October 2nd, 2016 Robin Ventura made it official Sunday, confirming he has managed his final game for the White Sox following the team’s season-ending 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field. “I’m not going to be back as manager,” Ventura said after the Sox completed their fourth consecutive losing season under his watch. “It’s the right time.” Ventura, who was in the final year of his contract, said he let general manager Rick Hahn know weeks ago that this should be the end. He called the decision “mutual.” “I enjoy this place, love this place,’’ Ventura said. “It probably needs a new voice, and I have to be big enough to understand that and down and voice that.’’

An All-Star third baseman and fan favorite as a Sox player, Ventura guided the Sox to an 85-77 record and second-place finish in his first season, 2012, finishing third in the American League manager of the year voting. But his popularity waned when the club lost 99 games and finished in last place in the AL Central the following season, and it has not been a factor in the division since, finishing fourth the last three years. The Sox’ record improved each year since 2013, to 78-84 this year, but Ventura’s career record of 375-435 is the worst of any Sox manager lasting more than three seasons. “Talking to Rick through September, you just realize right now is the time to do it and you need somebody else,’’ Ventura said. The Sox are expected to replace Ventura with bench coach Rick Renteria, who managed the Cubs to a 73-89 record during a rebuilding year in 2014. Ventura’s contract expired after this season. Hahn is holding a press conference at 11 a.m. Monday at U.S. Cellular Field, likely to announce the hiring. Renteria stayed clear of media Sunday. Ventura, respected by players and others in the organization for his character and even-keeled demeanor, was steady to the end during his last post-game press conference, although his voice cracked slightly. “It’s more of a personal decision than anything,’’ he said. “I love being here. The organization means a lot to me. You can go as hard as you can and really the only thing you know is how you conduct your business and how you treat people. I’m good with that.’’ “It’s tough, man,” ace Chris Sale said. “He’s as good as they get, really. Over the last five years he did everything in his power to help us win games, honestly.’’ Sale, as fiery as Ventura is controlled, got into it most recently when he tore up the team’s throwback uniforms he objected to wearing. Sale, suspended by the team for subordination, later said Ventura needed to stand up more for his players in such instances. “What did we have, a couple things that made it in the news?’’ Sale said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t like him or he didn’t like me. We always had the same goal, the same vision. The same passion. “Things happen, but that doesn’t change what I think of him personally. He’s as good as they get.’’ The bottom line is the Sox didn’t win for too long under Ventura, who quite arguably did not have the talent to manage a winner. “It didn’t work out the way that any of us would have wanted,’’ pitching coach Don Cooper said. “It’s the way things go. Somebody pays the price and it’s a good guy paying the price. It’s sad.’’ Through translator Billy Russo, Jose Abreu called Ventura “a nice guy and [one who] has all my respect as a person and as a manager.’’ Ventura, a surprise hire with no experience before the Sox tabbed him before the 2012 season, said he has no plans to stay in the organization, or to manage again. “You never say never. But right now, no,’’ he said.

Chris Sale welcoming changes on White Sox By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times | October 2nd, 2016 Chris Sale liked this White Sox team’s fight to the end but walks away from the 2016 feeling “frustrated and empty inside.”

He looks ahead to 2017 bent on doing something to change that. Sale, who finished on a flat note himself, giving up an inside-the-park homer to Byron Buxton on the first pitch before serving up four runs in the fourth in the last-place Twins’ 6-3 season-ending win over the Sox, said the players have talked in recent weeks about “making changes around here” next year, “doing some things better collectively as players to put a better product on the field.’’ Sale, who finished 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts – the sixth most in club history after he set the club record in 2015 — doesn’t want to be known as one of those All-Star pitchers who has never seen the inside of a postseason. He noted the Sox’ eighth straight season without one and winced. “It’s not good,’’ he said. “We want to change that, we’ve tried to change that. … Want to make some changes, shake things up and change the name, change the tone of the Chicago White Sox. Just be a better team, be a better organization, get to the promised land, to the playoffs to show what we’ve been working for.’’ Sale, who had his share of spats with Robin Ventura — who managed his last game Sunday after five years on the job — played it down the middle by paying respect to Ventura and applauding him for agreeing it was time for a change. “If you’re going to make a big change, something drastic needs to happen,’’ Sale said. “You can’t do the same things over and over and expect things to change. More than anything people should look at what he said and respect that. Not all people can stand up in these lights and say that.’’ Sale’s name came up in trade talks before the Aug. 1 deadline and will again this winter, although the Sox might not deal him – unless the get a bundle in return. “Absolutely, it could [happen],’’ he said. “This is sports. Anything can happen. I don’t anticipate that happening or necessarily really want that to happen but it could.’’ Sale called Rick Renteria, who is expected to replace Ventura as manager, as an “awesome” choice. “Very well respected,’’ Sale said. “In this clubhouse he would have the respect of every single person in here.’’ This and that Jose Abreu’s RBI single gave him 100 to become the seventh player and the first Sox to record 100 or more in each of his first three seasons, joining Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Pinky Whitney. *Todd Frazier finished with 98 RBI but became the first Sox leader in both homers (40) and stolen bases (15) since Jorge Orta in 1976. *The paid attendance of 21,828 (80 dates) put the season total at 1,746,293, the sixth straight year under 2 million. The Sox ranked 26th of 30 teams. *Sunday’s season finale was the last game at “U.S. Cellular Field” before the ballpark’s new name, Guaranteed Rate Field, takes effect Nov. 1. *The Sox will have the 12th pick in next year’s draft.

*Both television (Ken Harrelson, Steve Stone, Jason Benetti) and radio (Ed Farmer, Darrin Jackson) broadcast teams are expected back next year. *Closer David Robertson on bench coach Rick Renteria: “Rick’s a great guy. I’m excited to have him. It’s nice that he speaks Spanish, too, so that helps. I’m excited to see what’s in store for us when we get to spring next year.”

Ventura: It’s right time to walk away as Chicago White Sox manager By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | October 2nd, 2016 When he was a third baseman from 1989-98, Robin Ventura was quite good at helping the Chicago White Sox win games with his bat and with his glove. Unfortunately for Ventura, his success as White Sox manager never came close to matching the impact he made as a player. So, after five years in the dugout, a 375-435 record and no playoff appearances, Ventura is out as Sox manager. According to a source, bench coach Rick Renteria is going to replace Ventura. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Renteria becoming the White Sox's next manager. The Sox reportedly were open to Ventura returning as manager, but he decided to move on. "I just feel it's the right time," Ventura said after Sunday's season finale at U.S. Cellular Field, a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "It's more of a personal decision than anything. I love being here. The organization means a lot to me. "You can go as hard as you can and really the only thing you know is how you conduct your business and how you treat people. I'm good with that." Ventura just wasn't good at managing the White Sox to winning records, and it finally took a toll. While he always seemed to be handed rosters with gaping holes, Ventura wasn't pointing any fingers while his voice cracked from time to time in his final meeting with the media. "When you don't win, everybody looks at it that way," Ventura said of not having enough talent to win. "But you go out and compete. We came up short and I feel like that falls on me." Everything seemed to fall on Ventura this season, starting in spring training when Adam LaRoche retired and vice president Kenny Williams stepped up and clashed with starting pitcher Chris Sale and outfielder Adam Eaton. In July, Sale and Ventura got into a heated argument after the left-hander balked at wearing throwback uniforms, which he cut up. While serving a five-game suspension for his bizarre behavior, Sale criticized Ventura for not being fully committed to winning. After starting Sunday's final game, Sale said he got along with Ventura. "I think a little too much emphasis gets put on that," Sale said. "You can't really believe everything you read. You guys have had friends or bosses for five years. What did we have, a couple things that made it in the news? That doesn't mean I don't like him or he didn't like me. We always had the same goal, the same vision, the same passion.

"You get a bunch of guys in the same room and the testosterone is pumping. This is a competitive game; sports are competitive. Things happen, but that doesn't change what I think of him personally. He's as good as they get." Sale's teammates agreed. "I want to thank Robin because since the first moment I've been here, he welcomed me and he supported me," first baseman Jose Abreu said through a translator. "He's a nice guy, he's a good manager and has all my respect as a person and as a manager, too." "It feels like a sad ending to a season," closer David Robertson said. "We all enjoyed Robin. We had a great time playing with him. It's his choice to step down. He's going to move on with the next chapter of his life, and it's the same for us. "We're going to move on, try to get stronger in the off-season. Hopefully we can start like we did this year and continue to hold that momentum and level of play we had early in the season." The White Sox roared out to a 23-10 start this season and there was talk of Ventura landing a contract extensions. But the bottom quickly fell out, and the 49-year-old manager knew it was time to move on. "It was personal, and when it's personal you make a decision," Ventura said. "I enjoy this place, I love this place. At the end, it probably needs a new voice and I have to be big enough to understand that." Renteria is going to be the new voice, and he is expected to be named the White Sox's new manager Monday morning when general manager Rick Hahn meets the media. "Awesome," Sale said of Renteria. "Very well expected. Just a nice guy. Genuine, competitive. If you walked around this clubhouse he would have the respect of every single person in here. I don't know 100 percent if that's where we're going one way or another, but it wouldn't be a bad starting point."

Two tough May losses took heavy toll on Chicago White Sox By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | October 2nd, 2016 When did the season take a bad turn for the Chicago White Sox? Before Sunday's final game of the year game against the Minnesota Twins, a 6-3 loss at U.S. Cellular Field, outfielder Adam Eaton and outgoing manager Robin Ventura had differing opinions. Actually, Eaton didn't come right out and offer a specific turning point. "I have a game in mind, but I'm going to keep that to myself," Eaton said. "There was a time where there were a couple games where we really should have won. And we didn't. "You can almost break down a season with a just a couple of games, which is crazy to say, but it's true. When you have a week stretch where you should have won three or four games out of the week and you're 1-7, it can kind of turn the tide a little bit. I think that's what happened to us." Eaton obviously was referring to a brutal stretch in late May, when the Sox lost seven in a row to the Indians, Royals and Mets. On May 28, the White Sox held a 7-1 lead at Kansas City before the Royals scored 7 runs in the ninth inning for a stunning comeback. For Ventura, who is out as manager after five seasons in the dugout, the defining loss came at Texas on May 11, when the Rangers scored 7 runs in the eighth inning and defeated the Sox 13-11.

"We had some tough ones," Ventura said. "We lost some tough ones late and they were unique in a lot of different ways. In Texas, we lost one that really changed that series and going on from there that seemed to happen a little bit more." Trade talk: Ace starter Chris Sale again said he wants to be back with the White Sox next season, but he also realizes a trade might be coming. "Absolutely, it could," Sale said. "This is sports. Anything can happen. I don't anticipate that happening or necessarily really want that to happen, but it could." Historic season for Abreu: Jose Abreu singled home Adam Eaton in the third inning Sunday, giving him 100 RBI for the season. Abreu is one of only seven players in major-league history drive in 100 or more runs in each of his first three seasons, joining Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Al Simmons and Pinky Whitney. "I'm very happy to accomplish that goal," Abreu said through a translator. "That was something that was in my mind and I felt I could do it. I feel very happy" Third baseman Todd Frazier was attempting to become the sixth player in White Sox history to have a 40 HR/100 RBI season. Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, Albert Belle, Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome all accomplished the feat. Frazier did lead the Sox with 40 home runs, but he finished the season with 98 RBI.

Buxton’s inside-the-park HR fuels Twins over Sale, ChiSox By Mike Cranston / Associated Press | October 2nd, 2016 CHICAGO -- Although he had Byron Buxton lead off Sunday's season finale, Twins manager Paul Molitor said beforehand he doesn't envision the talented rookie as a top-of-the-lineup hitter just yet. Molitor may need to reconsider. Buxton hit the game's first pitch for an inside-the-park home run and Minnesota beat Chris Sale and the White Sox 6-3 in manager Robin Ventura's final game with Chicago. According to MLB's Statcast, it took Buxton just 14.05 seconds to circle the bases, the fastest since it began tracking in 2015. "Home to home, you're not going to see many guys do that time," Molitor said. "If baseball was five bases, he probably would have been safe, too. He was gone." The speedy Buxton drilled Sale's 93 mph fastball to center field, where Leury Garcia got turned around in pursuit. It landed over his head and bounced against the wall as Garcia fell awkwardly. Garcia complained of a sore hip and left an inning later. "Out the box I just took off hard," Buxton said. "I didn't know what would happen. Between first and second I saw he didn't catch it and said, 'This is going to be interesting.'"

Buxton, formerly the top prospect in baseball, hit .287 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 29 games after rejoining Minnesota on Sept. 1. It was a pivotal turnaround for the potential five-tool talent after batting .193 with minimal power prior to September. Miguel Sano added a three-run homer off Sale (17-10), who allowed five runs and six hits over five innings. Ventura said after the game that leaving was "a personal decision." He was in the last year of his contract. The White Sox (78-84) finished their fourth straight losing season. "I just feel it's the right time," Ventura said. "It's more of a personal decision than anything. I love being here. The organization means a lot to me. You can go as hard as you can and, really, the only thing you know is how you conduct your business and how you treat people. I'm good with that." Jose Berrios (3-7) allowed one run and four hits in five innings. The Twins (59-103) closed with two straight wins after setting a team record for most losses since the franchise began play in Minnesota in 1961. Brandon Kintzler got the final three outs for his 17th save in 20 tries. Amid speculation Sale could be dealt in the offseason to start a rebuilding effort, the lefty got off to a bad start. After Sano's 25th homer in the third, Sale got out of further trouble and retired his final seven batters. He struck out six to leave him with 233 and a 3.34 ERA. Chicago's Jose Abreu singled to left in the third to become the seventh player to collect 100 RBIs in each of his first three seasons in the majors. VENTURA OUT, WHO'S NEXT? The Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday that bench coach and former Cubs manager Rick Renteria will likely take over, but the team did not immediately announce a replacement. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is scheduled to address reporters Monday. "I think he's got a lot of qualities that Robin has. Maybe a little more vocal," outfielder Adam Eaton said of Renteria. "He definitely will get his point across a little more, vocally." Ventura went 375-435 in five seasons with the White Sox. After an 85-77 debut in 2012 that wasn't good enough for the playoffs, Ventura suffered through four consecutive losing seasons. NO DOZIER Twins second baseman Brian Dozier's season ended two home runs shy of a record and one RBI short of 100. Dozier sat out after exiting Saturday's game with right oblique soreness. "If we were play for anything, I'd be out there," Dozier said. "But it would be dumb for me to go out there today." Dozier hit 40 of his 42 homers while playing second, two shy of the major league record at the position shared by the Braves' Davey Johnson and the Cardinals' Rogers Hornsby. UGLY YEAR

Molitor summed up the season as "disappointing" and surprised "to have it blow up as quickly as it did." HITS & MISSES White Sox 3B Todd Frazier went 1 for 4 without an RBI to finish with 98. Frazier hit a career-best 40 homers, but batted only .225. UP NEXT Twins: The 2017 season opener is April 3 at home against Kansas City. White Sox: Will host Detroit on April 3 to open next season.

Robin Ventura announces he’s out as White Sox manager By Mike Cranston / Associated Press | October 2nd, 2016 CHICAGO -- Robin Ventura has decided the success-starved South Siders need a new leader. Ventura announced Sunday he will not return as Chicago White Sox manager next season, insisting it was his decision and he wasn't pushed out due to a fourth consecutive losing season. Ventura was in the last year of his contract. "I enjoy this place, I love this place," a stoic Ventura said after Chicago's season-ending 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "At the end, it probably needs a new voice." The Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday that bench coach and former Cubs manager Rick Renteria will likely take over, but the team did not immediately announce a replacement. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is scheduled to address reporters Monday. Ventura said he "initiated" the departure. "You just realize right now is the right time to do it and you need somebody else," Ventura said. Ventura went 375-435 in five seasons with the White Sox. After an 85-77 debut in 2012 that wasn't good enough for the playoffs, Ventura's teams regressed. The White Sox finished 78-84 this year despite a 23-10 start that gave them a six-game lead in the AL Central on May 9. Thanks to injuries, a slumping offense and a shaky bullpen, the White Sox stumbled to a 55-74 mark the rest of the way and a fourth-place finish amid a couple of bizarre off-field incidents. Executive vice president Ken Williams, whose future is also uncertain, banned DH Adam LaRoche's son from the clubhouse in spring training. LaRoche responded by abruptly retiring, and ace Chris Sale ripped Williams. In July, Sale was suspended five days for cutting up collared throwback jerseys he didn't want to wear for his start. Sale later criticized Ventura for not sticking up for him in his dispute with the marketing staff. "You have moments - I don't know if they're disagreements - but there are some terse conversations that you have," Ventura said. "That's just part of being together and part of a lot of competitive people being in a room. That just happens. But at the end of the day I know they went out and competed. And that's the biggest thing."

Sale allowed an inside-the-park home run to the speedy Byron Buxton on the first pitch Sunday. Miguel Sano added a three-run shot in the third as Sale was denied his career-best 18th win after allowing five runs and six hits over five innings. Sale, who finished with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts, denied there was any trouble with his manager. "What did we have, a couple things that made it in the news?" Sale said. "That doesn't mean I don't like him or he didn't like me. We always had the same goal, the same vision. The same passion. "You get a bunch of guys in the same room and the testosterone is pumping. This is a competitive game, sports are competitive. Things happen, but that doesn't change what I think of him personally. He's as good as they get." The easygoing, friendly Ventura had fans in the clubhouse. Right-hander James Shields called him "one of the better managers I've been around." Third baseman Todd Frazier said "I love him to death" and outfielder Adam Eaton praised the 49-year-old's demeanor and communication skills. "He hasn't had an easy road while he's been here, I'll tell you that much," Eaton said. "For me, in the three years I've been here, you put it on the players. Players haven't played up to expectations. It's our fault." Ventura was a fan favorite as a slick-fielding third baseman on Chicago's South Side. The 10th overall pick of the 1988 draft won six Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star over a 16-year career, mostly with the White Sox and Mets. Ventura had no managerial experience and was a surprise hire of then-GM Williams after the 2011 season following Ozzie Guillen's messy exit. The White Sox have tried to contend in recent seasons by bringing in high profile players such as Adam Dunn, Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, Eaton, Frazier and LaRoche. But the White Sox didn't improve under Ventura, and the team's recent struggles have coincided with the resurgence of the crosstown Cubs, who have the majors' best record and have drawn over three million fans. The White Sox drew under 1.75 million this season. "You look throughout sports, not only baseball, when teams that are supposed to do well don't do well, changes are made," catcher Alex Avila said. "Not only with coaching staffs and personnel off the field but on the field as well." The White Sox may be turning to a former manager of their rival. Renteria went 73-89 with the Cubs in 2014, only to be let go after one season when Joe Maddon became available. The 54-year-old Renteria just finished his first season as bench coach with the White Sox. "I think he's got a lot of qualities that Robin has. Maybe a little more vocal," Eaton said. "He definitely will get his point across a little more, vocally. Not that he has more passion than Robin or anything like that, but he's a little more upbeat, a little more bouncy. He's kind of a bundle of baseball joy." Renteria's bilingual skills and history of working well with younger players would be strengths for a team potentially heading for a rebuild with many Spanish-speaking players. "It would be a little bit more comfortable or make communication easier but I was good with Robin," Cuban slugger Jose Abreu said through an interpreter. "I didn't have any kind of trouble with Robin to communicate."

Hahn earlier this season called the team "mired in mediocrity" and hinted at tearing down the roster, something 80-year-old chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has resisted in the past. Since winning the World Series in 2005, the White Sox have just one playoff appearance, in 2008. Sale, who has a team-friendly contract, could bring in a large haul of prospects. So could fellow lefty Jose Quintana. "This is sports. Anything can happen," Sale said. "I don't anticipate that happening or necessarily really want that to happen, but it could."

Robin Ventura confirms he won’t return as White Sox manager By Staff / CBS Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 (CBS) Robin Ventura confirmed he won’t return as manager of the White Sox. After a five-year tenure as the organization’s manager, Ventura made the announcement after Chicago’s 6-3 loss in to Minnesota in Sunday’s season finale. Ventura “initiated” the decision to not return from the White Sox, he said, adding he wasn’t pushed out. Ventura’s contract was set to expire at season’s end. Bench coach Rick Renteria will be promoted to manager Monday, sources told 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine. Ventura expressed disappointment in the team’s lack of success while he was manager. The White Sox went 85-77 in his first season in 2012, then had four straight losing seasons. They never made the playoffs with him in charge, compiling a 375-435 (.463) record. “We came up short,” Ventura said. “I feel like that falls on me. “It’s not like they’re going to be building a statue out on the concourse.” Ventura currently has no plans to manage again, though he added, “You never say never.” Ventura praised Renteria as well. “I know he’s a great guy,” Ventura said. “I know he’s really capable.”

Robin Ventura to address his future after White Sox finale By Bruce Levine / CBS Chicago | October 2nd, 2016 CHICAGO (CBS) — Being a professional until the end, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said before Sunday’s season finale that he will wait to address his baseball future after the game. The White Sox on Monday will replace Ventura as manager with bench coach Rick Renteria, sources confirm. Ventura’s in the fifth and final year of his contract. “The biggest thing is that the players are ready to play today,” Ventura said before the after White Sox-Twins game at U.S. Cellular Field. “That stuff is important to me, so we need to respect that until the end of the day.” Ventura did allow for one question before he asked to table the conversation until postgame. “I enjoyed my time here if it is (the last game for him),” he said. “Mostly I will talk to you after the game. Guys are still close to numbers, Chris (Sale) is in the Cy Young conversation. Today is important for our

players, and I respect the purity of that and to be able to finish the season that way. I will talk after the game about what is going on.”

Five years, no playoffs: Robin Ventura era ends, but what’s next?” By Jon Greenberg / The Athletic | October 2nd, 2016 It was the worst-kept secret in Chicago, but after Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Twins, manager Robin Ventura announced he won’t be managing the White Sox next season. Ventura’s five-year contract was expiring and given that he never managed the Sox to a playoff appearance and just finished four straight losing seasons, one would think the Sox would want him out. A scapegoat if nothing else. But Ventura was respected for his demeanor and personality, if not always for his in-game management ability. He said it was his decision not to explore another contract after talking with general manager Rick Hahn throughout September. “Because it was my decision, it becomes mutual,” he said in his last postgame media session. “It was me that initiated it.” Mutual is probably the best way to describe the parting. The 49-year-old Ventura, a White Sox draft pick and All-Star third baseman in the 1990s, went 375-434 (46.4 win percentage) as a manager. He replaced his old infield partner Ozzie Guillen despite having no coaching experience. Ventura got off to immediate success with an 85-77 rookie season, albeit one with a late fade that kept the team out of the playoffs. But the next season, they lost 99 games, setting the tone for the rest of his tenure. In the ensuing three seasons, they lost 89, 86 and 83 games. With this season sputtering to a close, of course, in confusing Sox style, someone in the front office leaked that it was Ventura’s decision to come back to USA TODAY last week. Then on Saturday, someone else (presumably) leaked to the Sun-Times that bench coach Ricky Renteria, the prohibitive favorite, was slated to take over before Ventura officially stepped down. Throughout the tumult, Ventura said he would address the situation after the season and he did after Sunday’s loss. “I’m not going to be back as manager next year,” Ventura said. “I just feel it’s the right time. More of a personal decision than anything. I love being here. The organization means a lot to me. You can go hard as you can and really the only thing you know is how you conduct your business and how you treat people. I’m good with that.” Ventura expressed a desire to keep managing going into his lame-duck season. After an all-time weird spring training incident with Adam LaRoche retiring because his teenage son Drake was getting his clubhouse time limited by vice president Kenny Williams, the Sox started off 23-10 and everyone was talking Crosstown World Series. Then reality set in. While the season did see the debut of shortstop Tim Anderson, a rare homegrown position player prospect, it also saw the addition of James Shields. Aside from the LaRoche debacle, the most memorable moment of Ventura’s last season was the time Chris Sale cut up the team’s throwback jerseys and then blamed Ventura for not sticking up for his known hatred of said uniforms. To Sale’s credit, he stuck up for Ventura on Sunday. But Sale was never the problem anyway.

Sox fans loved Ventura the third baseman. How will they remember Ventura the manager? “It’s not like they’re going to be building a statue out on the concourse,” Ventura said in his typical deadpan style. While Ventura’s managing is certainly up for criticism, he didn’t have playoff rosters to work with, as Williams and Hahn tried to cobble together rosters every season, failing to find the right combinations. Ryan McGuffey @RyanMcGuffey Most games under Robin Ventura: Alexei 628, Abreu 457, Beckham 455, Eaton 432, Viciedo 416, Dunn/De Aza 406, Flowers 375. Wow. #WhiteSox 6:26 PM - 2 Oct 2016 Renteria, who went 73-89 with a rebuilding Cubs team in 2014, isn’t going to snap his fingers and create a perennial postseason contender either. That’s on the front office and ownership, and on the players themselves. You could make a movie out of Ventura making subtle, but disbelieving faces on the dugout rail as guys screwed up in numerous, creative ways. But he never showed up guys in public, never ratted them out to the media. Was he boring in the wake of Guillen? Yes. Was he a great manager? No. People will remember him as a nice guy with a wry sense of humor that never should have gotten the job and was adequate at doing it. At least Renteria has a wealth of coaching experience, not to mention that one year of managing in the majors. Ventura was hired with no experience, outside of his time in the game. Sox players respected Ventura and they all have good things to say about Renteria. But will those players be a part of the future? The big debate among Sox fans is the future of Sale and Jose Quintana as the team needs to pick a path back to respectability. The Sox haven’t made the playoffs since 2008 and one playoff appearance since winning a World Series is a serious organizational failure. “If you’re going to make a big change, something drastic needs to happen obviously,” Sale told reporters Sunday. “You can’t really do the same things over and over and expect a change, right?” That being said, Sale “doesn’t anticipate” getting traded this offseason. Given his immense talent and affordable contract, he would normally be an untouchable. But the Sox should be dangling him for a big package of position player prospects this winter just to see what he would command with 29 other teams bidding for his services. The same with Quintana, not to mention Jose Abreu, Todd Frazier and Adam Eaton. Sale, and every Sox fan on Twitter, is right. The White Sox need to stop making the same mistakes. Stop signing the Adam Dunns and LaRoches of the world and hoping for the best. The organization does do some things well (OK, just pitching), but the lack of scoring and poor fundamentals (baserunning, defense, pitch recognition) at the big league level have to change, starting now. As for Ventura, he knows he won’t be here next year. He wasn’t looking for a managing job when Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf approached him five years ago, so it’s doubtful he’ll get another one. While he’s competitive enough to regret not winning more games as a manager, I don’t think he’ll miss spring rains or August dog days on the South Side. He’ll be back in California, worrying more about his golf handicap than his team’s low on-base percentage.

But Ventura will be missed behind the scenes. He’s a warm-hearted, funny, authentic person, a past White Sox hero diminished by the present state of the organization. “I enjoy this place,” he said. “I love this place. It probably needs a new voice.” It needs more than a new voice. We’ll see what it gets.

Heyman: Rick Renteria will be next Sox manager By Jon Heyman / Today’s Knuckleball | October 2nd, 2016 Rick Renteria will be elevated from bench coach to replace Robin Ventura as White Sox manager, sources say, confirming/advancing earlier reports that he was likely to be the guy to replace Ventura. General manager Rick Hahn has a press conference scheduled for Monday, at which time he may make Renteria’s ascension official. Renteria’s hiring isn’t exactly a surprise, as he’s been rumored to be the guy in line for the job for several weeks, after making a strong early impression as a positive, high-energy force inside the White Sox clubhouse. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Saturday that Ventura was expected to be replaced by Renteria. Ventura confirmed Sunday that he would be stepping aside in a departure that was as “amicable” as possible. It has become clear in recent weeks that a change would be made, and Ventura, a White Sox through and through, may have understood this as well as anyone after a fourth straight disappointing season after an excellent initial one on the South Side. The Renteria hiring won’t score big points publicly in Chicago, as some may view him as a Cubs reject. He managed the Cubs for one year, 2014, before the Cubs replaced him by making the bold Joe Maddon hire that’s become a major part of the great recent Cubs story. Renteria didn’t necessarily receive rave notices in guiding the Cubs to a 73-89 record that year, but his Cubs bosses intended to keep him for another year – that is, until Maddon became available. People around the White Sox have been very impressed with Renteria, lauding his preparation as well as a personality that’s made him a hit with the players. They also say he is extremely loyal, and suggest he wouldn’t have taken Ventura’s job if things were different and a change was contemplated midseason. The phrase “tireless worker” is heard often about Renteria, who previously served as a Padres coach and was a major-league infielder when he was more often known as Rich Renteria. If this hiring is decidedly low-key it will be well-received in the commissioner’s office, as Renteria will become the only Latino manager at a time when a quarter of the players are Latino. Fredi Gonzalez’s firing early this year left MLB without a Latino manager.