White Sox general manager Rick Hahn once again said the status of manager Robin Ventura and his coaches will be addressed after the season. But the front office is also considering changes in the scouting and development departments, he said.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Hahn said Tuesday.
The Sox, who took a 65-72 record into their game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, are headed to their fourth straight losing season and 10th in 11 years without a postseason appearance. With that kind of history, it’s safe to say the organization’s flaws go beyond the 25-man roster and major league staff, so the “behind the scenes” branches of it are being looked at, “whether it’s from an advanced scouting standpoint or major-league scouting standpoint,” Hahn said.
“But it really does go all the way down to our operations on the amateur level and player development.”
The Sox are happy with how the 2016 draft is panning out early, “and you see areas you can be hopeful about,” Hahn said. “[But] when things aren’t going the way you want in Chicago, everything is fair game to be looked at.”
Ventura et al
Hahn on the manager and coaches working with uncertain futures: “No one enjoys that. … at the same time, everyone here knows this is the business we’ve chosen and with that comes certain difficulties from time to time when a team doesn’t achieve to the level we anticipated, that we all had hoped for.”
Ventura’s contract is up after the season.
“Again, it’s not a situation any of us wanted to be in, but this is where we’re at and as a result we’re going to have to make some tough decisions over the coming weeks and months,” Hahn said.
Abreu nominated for Clemente Award
Jose Abreu is the Sox nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
“All of this comes from the education I get from my mom,” Abreu said through translator Billy Russo. “She was the one who always told me how to help people to help the needy. Once I signed the contract here with the Chicago White Sox, that was always one of my first thoughts, try to help people, no matter if it was in this country or in Cuba. Once I was here, my priority was to help people here, to give something back for all of the things I’ve been given.”
Excellent return for Gonzalez
Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez took a shutout into the seventh inning in his return from the disabled list, allowing six hits before exiting with a 2-0 lead and two Tigers on base and one out. Gonzalez’ line: 6 1/3 innings pitched, six hits, no walks, six strikeouts.
