Chicago White Sox: A Fan's Take on Robin Ventura's Rookie Managerial Season

As the 2012 season has passed its quarter mark, White Sox fans seem to learn a little bit more each day about their new skipper Robin Ventura.

Entering May 21 with a 21-21 record, Ventura has experienced his ups and downs.

Like every first-year employee in any line of work, this varied range of results is to be expected.

Going into the season, numerous baseball "experts" pegged the South-Siders for fewer than 70 wins. To this point, Ventura and company seem to think otherwise.

While they may not be the Texas Rangers, this Sox team is certainly better than 70 wins. With the way the Sox are pitching and the middle of their lineup is hitting, they may win 85.

Whatever that number will be at season's end, this team, like its new manager, will reach new peaks and fall into new valleys.

The only thing we know for sure is that the rest of this season will be a learning experience for all parties involved.

Oh, and Ventura isn't as goofy as former skipper Ozzie Guillen.

To think that I almost confused Robin for Ace...

Jim Carrey references aside, here are some facets of managing that will take time for Robin to master.

Move Up the Cuban Tank

As the weather has heated up, so has Dayan Viciedo's lumber.

Over the past week, the 23-year-old has wreaked havoc at the plate. Since the Detroit series, the youngster has mashed four long balls while driving in 10 runs.

In order for the Sox to compete, this trend needs to continue. With the early success of Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski, Viciedo will be able to see better pitches if he's permanently moved from eighth to sixth in the lineup.

By sliding Viciedo up, opposing teams will have to pick their poison when pitching to the White Sox lineup.

Much of Viciedo's early season struggles can be attributed to the lack of protection behind him. Like many young hitters, Viciedo is up there to hit, not walk.

Because the light-hitting Brent Morel doesn't necessarily instill fear in major league pitchers, Viciedo grew inpatient at the junk he was constantly being thrown. The end result: he swung at garbage.

News flash, American League: It looks like the Tank is done fishing.

Another note: When the Sox play the Cubs later in the season, do you think Cubs manager Dale Sveum will position one of his outfielders on the U.S. Cellular concourse after the slugfest this weekend?

Let's See the Bench

To this juncture in the season, I've been okay with how Ventura has handled the bench. Nonetheless, Brent Lillibridge needs to get more at-bats to be an asset for this team.

His defensive versatility, speed and surprising power definitely hold value on a team that has Eduardo Escobar and Brent Morel. Last season, Lillibridge's OPS was through the roof at .845. Morel, in contrast, hasn't made it to second base since high school (a little harsh, but he can't hit the ball out of the infield).

With the signing of Orlando Hudson, it seems like Lilli's role will continue to dwindle.

Just last season, Lilli hit 13 dingers in 186 at-bats. That's pretty ridiculous for a guy who weighs a sleek 185 pounds.

So far this season, he's struggled in his limited time on the field. With a guy like Lillibridge, it's all about repetition.

With Morel's injury or inability to hit the ball with any semblance of authority, Ventura should plug in Lillibridge at third more often than Escobar.

Other than that, I have no qualms about how Ventura has rotated his outfielders and catchers—though watching Kosuke Fukudome hit dribblers to the right side of the infield drives me absolutely crazy.

Tyler Flowers, the masher of a mammoth shot Sunday at Wrigley, hasn't really gotten his chance to shine with Pierzynski's hot streak. I guess Tyler will have to wait at least another year to show what he can do.

Trust the Starters

Other than the need for a muzzle, this aspect of the game is the biggest difference I've noticed between Ozzie Guillen and Robin Ventura in terms of managing.

Whereas Ozzie would leave his starters in a batter too long, Ventura doesn't leave them in long enough. As a fan, I'll be the first one to tell you I advocate a quick hook for a pitcher in any type of jam.

But that's why he's the manager and I'm not. Ventura has to build relationships with his pitchers and give them the greatest chance of succeeding. At the end of the day, that's his only job.

Two days in a row, Ventura pulled John Danks and Jake Peavy in the middle of the seventh inning of good outings. While the skipper might be trying to get his starters out on a good note, this practice will destroy a bullpen. Especially a bullpen as shaky as the White Sox's.

I understand the rationale behind his madness, but it could end up biting him in the butt one day.

On another note, I'm all for naming Addison Reed as closer whenever it is deemed appropriate. For a variety of reasons, Reed is the right man for the job. The righty throws gas, has a decent slider and has the grit necessary to stare down a batter or two.

Learn Your Relievers' Tendencies

This is one of the hardest parts of being a manager of a Major League team. Understanding the nuances and tendencies of your relievers is absolutely essential to having success as a skipper. For Robin, this will take some time.

This trait can only be learned by watching pitchers perform in specific situations and then developing a gut feeling for when to put them on the mound.

For years, I've said that relief pitching is like catching lightning in a bottle. There are so few relievers who perform consistently from one year to the next. It looks like Matt Thornton is starting to lose it. His velocity is there, but his breaking ball is flat as can be.

Nevertheless, several pitchers will likely be tested in the White Sox bullpen all season long. I hear the flight from Charlotte or Birmingham to Chicago isn't that bad. At least it's better than the way back.

Only Father Time can sharpen this skill for Ventura. Hopefully, he'll be a quick learner and sense when putting in Hector Santiago against a guy like Yoenis Cespedes might be a bad idea.

Don't Live in the Shadow of Ozzie Guillen

As much as Sox fans are glad to see Ozzie Guillen making a fool of himself in Miami and not in Chicago, the media surely misses him.

Whenever Ventura is interviewed, the media secretly wishes that he would say something controversial so we can jump on him. For the same reasons we wanted Guillen gone, people want Ventura to speak his mind.

Ironic, I know.

Nevertheless, Ventura will never be Guillen, and that's certainly not a bad thing. As enthralled as I was with Ozzie during my youth, it was time for things to come to a close. If I ever want to produce a reality TV show, I'll be sure to contact Guillen. But for now, Ventura's the manager of the Chicago White Sox.

While it's safe to say Ventura won't be hosting a talk show after his playing days, I certainly hope he's not afraid to speak his mind.

He has to have some personality—something for fans to relate to.

It's important for him to realize that Sox fans are behind him and fully support him. You don't have to be a shadow or an afterthought.

Robin Ventura, create your own legacy.