Chicago White Sox: Ventura Showing Patience with Struggling Brent Morel

Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura is sticking with Brent Morel despite the young third baseman's continuing struggles at the plate. That includes keeping him in the second spot in the batting order.

Coming off three straight losses, one has to wonder if and when that patience is going to be rewarded.

"...I’ve been through troubles before like that when I was playing. So it is a process, I am patient and I believe in them and that they will figure it out,” Ventura told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine Tuesday before Chicago's game with Baltimore.

Morel was batting .103 going into the game. He was 1-for-5in a 3-2 loss to the Orioles, raising his season average to .118 but failed to convert on an opportunity to tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Morel came up with two outs and the sacks packed with White Sox runners. However, a slow roller to third ended Chicago's hope for a walk-off winner.

The good news is that Morel had a hit in the contest. The bad news is that he has only three hits in his other eight games. He has struck out 15 times in 39 plate appearances.

You have to look hard for a silver lining to Morel's bat, but here goes.

Morel took his second walk of April on the 14th. It took until June 28 last season for him to collect that many passes. Despite a .167 on-base percentage, Morel has managed to score seven runs, putting him right behind team leader Alejandro De Aza's eight.

Morel has three sacrifices, showing that he can move runners over. If he could just start hitting the ball with any kind of consistency, he has potential in the second slot.

Morel has batted second in all but one of his starts. Ventura seems determined to give him every chance to click in that role. Of course, he has few options without shaking up his current lineup.

Gordon Beckham is even more inept with a bat than Morel so far, hitting .103 going into Wednesday's game with Baltimore. A.J. Pierzynski is too hot to move out of the five hole. No other Chicago candidates for that spot are hitting right now.

Morel has the patience of his skipper. Now all he needs are some multi-hit games.