Ventura says he’s out as White Sox skipper
Robin Ventura has decided the success-starved South Siders need a new leader.
Ventura announced Sunday that he will not return as the Chicago White Sox manager next year, insisting it was his decision and he wasn’t pushed out because of a fourth consecutive losing season. Ventura was in the last year of his contract.
“I enjoy this place, I love this place,” 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 probably will take the job, but the team did not immediately announce a replacement.
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.
Because of 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 designated hitter Adam LaRoche’s son from the clubhouse in spring training. LaRoche responded by abruptly retiring, and left-hander 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.”
Ortiz farewell: The Red Sox sent David Ortiz off before his final regular-season game with a promise that he will return.
This week, in the playoffs, when he goes for his fourth World Series title.
And next year, when they hang his No. 34 from the Fenway facade among the team’s retired numbers.
During a pregame ceremony Sunday attended by Red Sox greats like Carl Yastrzemski and teammates from Ortiz’s three World Series championship squads, the ballclub honored the soon-to-retire slugger by draping a Dominican flag over the Green Monster and bringing out his father — Big Papi’s real — to join him on the diamond.
Ortiz broke into tears when he mentioned his late mother before gathering himself to thank his teammates and members of the organization from owner John Henry to clubhouse attendant Pookie Jackson. He also thanked the fans — dropping to one knee and tipping his cap to the crowd — along with the media, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, who were both in attendance.
“He changed the Red Sox,” Manfred said before the game. “He was a key part of the amazing three wins here. It changed the course of the franchise.
“But I also think that he changed the city. He became a symbol of the strength of the city and will always be remembered for that.”
Ortiz announced in November on his 40th birthday that this would be his final year, setting up a season-long farewell tour around the majors.
Briefly: Former A’s closer Jim Johnson and Atlanta agreed to a two-year contract through the 2018 season . ... Umpire Bob Davidson announced that he is retiring after 28 seasons. Davidson, 64, is perhaps best known for his numerous balk calls.