Chicago White Sox: Who Will Be the New Batting Coach?

The Chicago White Sox have one coaching vacancy on Robin Ventura's staff.

Who will be tapped to rectify an anemic performance from the team at the plate?

The 2011 White Sox were unimpressive at the plate, thanks to some truly poor performances by Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham. Minus Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin, the Chicago lineup was devoid of power for much of the season.

This team finished near or at the bottom of the American League in runs (11th), slugging percentage (11th) and doubles (last). In a place where the ball carries as well as it does in U.S. Cellular Field, finishing ninth in the league in homers doesn't cut it.

Someone needs to come in and help resuscitate Dunn and other run producers. Here are some candidates that have been mentioned for the batting coach position.

Jeff Manto

Right now, it seems that Manto is the likely man for the job.

Formerly the White Sox minor league hitting coordinator, his position was recently given to Triple-A hitting coach Tim Laker. The inference is that Manto takes over the open position on Ventura's staff.

Manto, a journeyman player who bounced around eight major league teams, spent two seasons as Pittsburgh's hitting coach from 2006-2007.

He's a lifetime.230 hitter who never could stick in the bigs. It's the same ironic pedigree as a lot of good hitting coaches.

He's been in the system and knows the young players in the organization. Manto's hiring could be announced after the World Series.

Frank Thomas

The Big Hurt certainly could share with Dunn the adjustment from first base to full-time designated hitter. But what kind of coach would he make?

Thomas has hinted that he wouldn't mind going into coaching, but with such an inexperienced manager in Ventura, would the club consider its greatest slugger as mentor to young hitters?

Could Thomas, a disciple of former Chicago hitting guru Walt Hriniak, impart those lessons on players with his own physical gifts?

Jim Thome

Daryl van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times suggested that the White Sox could target Thome.

Thome looks like he'll be hanging up the spikes after his 21st season and is a favorite of Jerry Reinsdorf. Is this the way Chicago gets Thome back into the fold?

The man hit 604 home runs and could show Dunn a thing or two about working on his craft in the offseason. He has no prior coaching experience, but he'd be a great guy to have on the bench.

Whoever comes aboard to help the White Sox bats, he'd better be ready to get Dunn on track and infuse a little more pop to the lineup.