Chicago White Sox: The (Ad)Ventura Begins with Stunning Hire by Kenny Williams

The Chicago White Sox stunned the baseball world Thursday afternoon when GM Kenny Williams hired longtime White Sox Robin Ventura as the team's 38th manager in the team's storied history.

The only way I could be more shocked is if Williams had handed the reins of the team to Frank Thomas.

I'm glad for Ventura, who was always one of my favorite White Sox of the early '90s. However, as a writer, this decision is a head-scratcher in light of some of the other names being tossed around.

Williams wasn't going to shell out the necessary scratch to bring in Terry Francona. Rather than wait to talk to a candidate like Dave Martinez or Sandy Alomar Jr., the head man in the organization below Jerry Reinsdorf has chosen to go with another former player.

Unlike the man he is replacing, Ozzie Guillen, Ventura does not have a wealth of experience in the coaching ranks.

Ventura played 16 years in the bigs, but has spent no time as a major or minor league coach. He came back to the organization in June as a special adviser to director of player development Buddy Bell.

News of the hire is swiftly making the rounds and is being met with a collective "Huh?"

Again, I'm not saying that this is a bad hire, per se. Ventura wouldn't be the first former player to come in and have success.  He also wouldn't be the first former player who struggles, either.

Let's not forget that, according to the Chicago Tribune, Harold Baines and Don Cooper are members of his first staff. A bench coach who's been around the block might be all Ventura needs. I know I'll be rooting for him.

Let's turn some attention back to Williams in the aftermath of this hire. We don't know what kind of deal Ventura signed, but it's likely it wasn't in the neighborhood of what an established skipper would command. At least part of this decision was influenced financially.

That said, would Williams really put his job on the line so he could hire a puppet that he could control? Ventura won't cause him the grief Guillen has for the past few seasons. Is it possible that the former Gold Glover at third is the right man for the job as well as the right price?

After we catch our collective breath, I think we owe Ventura the benefit of the doubt.