BY Daryl Van Schouwen — Staff Reporter
MIAMI — Five years into the job and manager Robin Ventura, his calm and cool demeanor aside, is as locked into the job as ever. But his manner, coupled with vice president Ken Williams once saying he had to persuade Ventura into taking the job before the 2012 season, has probably hindered him from winning over fans.
“I think that a lot of that was misconstrued,’’ Ventura said Sunday. “If you joke about something or you don’t go off on certain things that you’re not passionate about — when you come in here and work as hard as we do, you’re not here this long if you’re doing it as a lark.
“We’ve always taken seriously doing the work and getting them in the best spot possible.’’
Ventura’s contract is up after the season and while he wants to continue, he hasn’t broached the subject with a front office that probably deserves more blame for the Sox’ 353-412 record under Ventura’s watch than Ventura himself. That said, the Sox are on pace for a fourth consecutive losing season, which since 1950 has happened twice in franchise history – from 1986-89 and 1968-71 — and those kinds of results often demand more than cosmetic changes.
No manager in Sox history has survived more than three losing seasons in a row, and Ventura is on pace to have the worst win percentage of any Sox manager who lasted five seasons or more.
Six managers have lasted longer than Ventura – Jimmy Dykes (1934-46), Al Lopez (1957-65), Chuck Tanner (1970-75), Tony LaRussa (1979-86), Jerry Manuel (1998-2003) and Ozzie Guillen (2004-2011).
“Sometimes you look around, it goes pretty quick,’’ he said.
Anderson belongs
There are those who believe Tim Anderson might be better suited for center field, but not Ventura.
Anderson “absolutely” could play any outfield position “because of his speed and the jumps that he gets,’’ Ventura said. “But he’s a Major League shortstop. He has range and arm strength and the ability to make a tough play coming in.’’
Anderson looks more comfortable in the field and continues to impress Ventura with his quiet confidence despite up and down days at the plate. Batting .272, he hit his sixth homer and drove in his 16th run against Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning of the Sox’ 5-4 loss to the Marlins Sunday. He has whopping 70 strikeouts (two Sunday) against only five walks in 55 games.
“The one thing he has that a lot of great players have is the confidence to fight through it,’’ Ventura said.
“It’s the hardest thing to have and to keep with you because the game can beat you down. All that stuff is good.’’
This and that
Catcher Omar Narvaez, whocaught Chris Sale for the first time singled in the ninth inning to become the first Sox with a hit in each of his first eight games since Mel Simons had 10 in 1931.
*Adam Eaton (3-for-5) logged his team-high 42nd multihit game.
*Jose Abreu (RBI single, RBI double that bounced off off third base) has hit safely in 11 of 12 games. Abreu’s 42 extra base hits are second on the Sox behind Todd Frazier’s 43.
*Alex Avila tested his hamstring and could make a minor league rehab assignment later this week.
