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[April 13, 2012]

Ventura all business in White Sox' home debut

Apr 13, 2012 (Chicago Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- Before managing his first home game for the White Sox, manager Robin Ventura was asked if he had spent a sleepless night filled with restless anticipation.

"I don't have any sleep issues," Ventura replied with a smile. "If it was opening day and I had to play, it would be different. The players are the ones who have to perform." And afterward, when the Sox had secured a 5-2 victory over the Tigers, how would Ventura grade his home debut? "It was good for the guys," he said. "It's good to win, but the guys are doing all the work." That pretty much sums up Ventura's day _ and his philosophy. Never take credit when you can give it to others; never grab the spotlight unless it is to deflect criticism of others.

Friday was not as much about who Ventura is as it was about how he will manage. If a ballclub truly takes on the personality of its manager, then these Sox never will be in panic mode.

Asked if he wanted to have his identity compared with those of his predecessors, Ventura was his usual droll self.

"I just worry about baseball. I'm not worried about creating anything with me," he said. "I want us to be a good baseball team first. I respect what they did. They got a World Series out of it. They did a lot of great things.

"But I'm not here to create my own identity. I want us to be a good baseball team. That's my concern first." The Sox were very good Friday, beating the American League Central favorites with solid pitching, clutch hitting, risky baserunning and exceptional defense.

Ventura was fine with his X's and O's, bringing in relief pitchers at the right time, making defensive substitutions, directing aggressive moves and, in general, letting coaches and players do what they had been prepared to do.

He watched most of the game from the end of the front bench in the dugout, never pacing or gesturing. It was as if he knew he had done what he could beforehand, and the game itself was in the hands of his players.

Ventura is long on patience, short on "foofery." His pregame meeting with media lasted about seven minutes, about half of Ozzie Guillen's typical on-the-record chats that usually dragged on after the notepads and microphones had been put away.

In fact, Ventura was the first coach to throw batting practice _ "by design," he admitted, as a good reason to cut short any extra meaningless chat.

He's the same way with his team.

"He communicates well," captain Paul Konerko said. "He's around and talks to the guys. It's just all baseball. Robin doesn't say a whole bunch, so when he does, you know he means it and you pay attention to it.

"He's dialed in on the bench. There's not too much time where he's messing around." General manager Ken Williams put his professional neck on the line in hiring someone who never had managed or coached, but he said he won't be a watchdog boss.

"We're not here to dictate what his managerial style should be," Williams said. "So far, what I've seen is an aggressive, intelligent approach to making his decisions. That's all you can ask.

"He's got such a strong presence but a humbleness about him. (Combine) that with the confidence you just don't find very often ... and when you are like that and not pushing people away with their opinions, you are going to get the (best) of their knowledge." Ventura joined Guillen, Jerry Manuel, Terry Bevington and Gene Lamont in winning his first home game as Sox manager. And how did he plan to celebrate? With a quiet meal with family.

___ (c)2012 the Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services ----- PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): WHITE SOX

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