There has been a major shakeup on the Southside of Chicago. On Monday Rick Hahn announced a series of significant changes that will take place this offseason.
White Sox, Renteria agree to part ways
In a shocking move the 40th manager in Chicago White Sox history has been fired. General Manager Rick Hahn announced on Monday that Rick Renteria and the team have agreed to part ways.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 12, 2020
Over the course of four seasons with Rick Renteria at the helm the White Sox have gone just 236-309. Renteria also managed the Chicago Cubs in 2014 which brings his career record as a manger to 309-398 (.437). However, the move comes as a surprise after Renteria helped guided the White Sox to a 35-25 record in 2020 and the organization’s first playoff appearance since 2008.
His in game decision making has always been questionable but the team’s playoff performance is what ultimately may have been Renteria’s downfall. The White Sox were terrible down last stretch of the regular season. Then proceeded to blow a 1-0 series lead and dropped their final two games. The nail in the coffin was a bullpen pitching carousel in Game 3, which the White Sox used nine different pitchers.
Rick Renteia initially joined the White Sox as a bench coach in 2015. After spending two season’s there he took over managing duties in 2017. The team he inherited was a rebuilding project. Early on he helped establish a culture of hustle. Players who did not run hard down the line were benched. The team soon developed a motto, “Rickies Boys Don’t Quit”.
By all accounts he was also respected by his players. Renteria can speak spanish and english which was a plus on roster filled with Cuban born players. James McCann, one of the teams most respected members offered nothing but praise for his manager after their postseason loss.
“One thing that I respect a lot about Ricky is how he pushes to get the most out of each individual player”
However Ken Rosenthal reported that some veteran players felt Renteria needed to hold players more accountable.
Some White Sox veterans felt Renteria needed to hold players more accountable, but this is the Cubs’ situation all over again. CWS moving on in large part because more proven candidates (Hinch, Cora) are becoming available. Can anyone seriously imagine them hiring someone else?
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 12, 2020
The White Sox have slowly been improving under Renteria’s leadership but the front office decided his in game decision making was too much of a handicap moving forward. They want a guy who can help the White Sox take the next step, much like the Cubs did with Joe Madden in 2015.
Don Cooper Fired After 18 years
Rick Hahn also announced during his Monday press conference that pitching coach Don Cooper’s run with the White Sox has also come to an end.
Cooper has been the White Sox pitching coach since 2002 and won a World Series with the team in 2005. The White Sox saw Mark Buehrle and Philip Humber pitch perfect games under his tutelage. Mark Buehrle and Lucas Giolito also tossed a no-hitter under his watch.
Rick Hahn expressed the need to hear some “fresh ideas” in the future,as a factor in the decision. Cooper has been with the team for 18 seasons which is an usually long life span for a pitching coach.
The coaching staff will be further evaluated and a new manager will be determined moving forward.