This popped up in the Trib. I guess if I was a Sox fan,I might ask this,too. Ventura looks like he needs a nap most of the time:
By Colleen Kane Tribune reporter 5:30 p.m. CST, January 25, 2014 The fan with the microphone faced Robin Ventura on stage and admitted aloud that he wondered in 2013 whether the White Sox manager had a pulse.
“I do have a pulse, I swear,” Ventura responded to chuckles in the crowded ballroom.
Ventura’s laid-back demeanor was one of several topics under fire from a group of fans Saturday during a session with Ventura and general manager Rick Hahn on the second day of SoxFest at the Palmer House Hilton. The fans were livelier than during a similar session Friday night, booing the Sox catching situation and cheering a fan who expressed frustration with Adam Dunn’s hitting.
Related Video: Hahn on 'getting message' to Sox fans Paul Konerko relieved to know this is his final White Sox season Video: Adam Eaton on future with Sox Photos: 2014 Sox Fest White Sox sign manager Robin Ventura to multi-year contract extension Jose Abreu traveled a long way to join White Sox Video: Dunn on Sox's logjam at first base Hahn said afterward he enjoyed the chance to communicate his message with passionate fans.
“Look, we lost 99 games last year and these people (came) out in the dead of winter to show their support for the team, but have some questions on their mind,” Hahn said. “It’s completely understandable.”
After the question about demeanor, Hahn jumped to the defense of Ventura, who agreed to a multi-year contract extension Friday.
“You need to understand that outside the organization you only get to see a percentage of what goes on,” Hahn said. “You don’t see what happens on the plane, you don’t see what happens when the clubhouse is closed, you don’t see what happens when he’s in his office 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 with a player. That’s how we prefer it.
“Yeah, it’s a little more satisfying when you see a guy who’s seething and you know he’s feeling that anger that you feel, and it helps you vent for a little bit because you know he’s chewing somebody’s rear end out. But just because we don’t air our dirty laundry publicly, just because we don’t throw players under the bus publicly, doesn’t mean that that message isn’t being communicated in a very effective manner behind closed doors.”
Ventura has heard the criticism of his managerial personality and said it doesn’t bother him.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t care or I’m not mad,” Ventura said. “You realize that you are on TV and it’s stuff you can’t take back. I prefer to do it inside. … Not everybody likes every tactic or every style. Everybody will have an opinion about it.”
The Sox situation at catcher was also a popular topic, and the first fan asked why the Sox let A.J. Pierzynski walk before the 2013 season.
Hahn preached patience with the reshaping of the Sox roster, noting that the search for the right fit could take time and that the team may have to allow internal candidates like Tyler Flowers, Josh Phegley and Adrian Nieto a chance to improve in the meantime. He alluded to Brian McCann, who signed as a free agent with the Yankees for an $85 million deal, as the only catcher who has made a move this offseason who the Sox thought would fit their long-term goals.
“Outside of that, we could have signed some guy on the other side of 30, couple-year contract, spend a few million on it, and I could have sat here right now and been like, ‘Hey it’s different, so it’s going to be better,’” Hahn said. “But it wouldn’t have been consistent with what we’re doing, which is trying to fit for an extended period of time.”
Among other notable responses, Hahn said that Erik Johnson and Felipe Paulino are the top two candidates to round out the Sox rotation, though he said others could provide competition. He also said “odds are” the Sox will take a pitcher with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, considering four of the top five candidates likely will be pitchers.
_________________ favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."
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