Chicago White Sox Manager Rick Renteria is Out to Prove Himself

Rick Renteria, the newly hired Chicago White Sox manager, is hoping to leave a much longer lasting impression during his second stint leading a young, rebuilding team.

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria has seen this scenario play out before. It took place at the conclusion of the 2013 MLB season. The day was November 7th, 2013. Renteria became the next new manager of a young, rebuilding roster in Chicago.

The pressure that came with being the “man” to lead an organization starving to win another World Series title only mounted by the second. Many highly regarded managers have come and gone over the years in the North Side of Chicago. Just look at Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella. Beloved initially, only to be casted aside in the end. What would Rick Renteria’s future hold with a struggling, yet youthful Cubs’ team?

A mere one season to be exact. Nothing more. The Cubs were coming off a 2013 season that saw them post a dreadful 66-96 record. Still in the early stages of rebuilding their now promising, championship roster, the Cubs initially believed that Renteria was the right man for the job.

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Unfortunately for Renteria, his time managing the Cubs was two years shorter than the organization’s initial plan. Renteria was signed to a three-year contract by the Cubs. His contract, if Renteria hadn’t been let go, would have ended following the team’s first World Series title in 108 years.

Oh what could have been? That’s probably what went through Renteria’s mind following what took place on November 2nd, 2016. Renteria will probably argue that his only focus since being hired as the new White Sox manager on October 3rd is squarely on improving his new, young ball-club. Still, what transpired this past season for the Cubs has to bother him.

As a competitor, how could it not? Renteria was let go from the Cubs following the conclusion of the 2014 season. A season that saw the Cubs make a jump in wins from 66 to 73. For a first-year manager, improving your team’s win total from a season ago is plenty to feel proud of.

Renteria knew the Cubs wouldn’t become instant contenders right away. The organization surely felt the same way. Remember: at that time, there was no Kris Bryant. No Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber to roll out either into the lineup card. Kyle Hendricks was still just an unproven rookie at the time. Jake Arrieta was still a reclamation project.

The organization traded away their two best pitchers at the 2014 trade deadline. Bye-bye Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Sure the Cubs obtained Addison Russell as a result, but he was still a year away from reaching the big leagues.

Hired by the Cubs in part because of his ability to connect deeply with players thanks to being bilingual, Renteria, much like Joe Maddon, is a players’ coach. He’s always cared deeply about developing positive relationships will all his players.

There wasn’t much not to like about Rick Renteria’s time as the Cubs’ manager. With his guidance over the club, Anthony Rizzo broke out of his slump from a season ago, hitting a career-high 32 home-runs in 2014. Shortstop Starlin Castro even rebounded from a rough 2013 season, raising his batting average the following season under Renteria from .245 to .292.

Renteria held his end of the bargain in guiding the Cubs towards the right direction in his lone season. He never had all the everyday talent to his disposal that Joe Maddon received right away since being hired to replace him.

Having been let go after just one season was a shock to Renteria and many Cubs’ fans. The organization liked him a ton, but felt more confident in having Joe Maddon manage the team moving forward.

After all, who could blame the Cubs’ front office for making such an abrupt move? Maddon was essentially Rick Renteria, only with way more successful head coaching experience. He led the Rays to the World Series back in 2008, while also making numerous playoff appearances. The Cubs at that time were just trying to make the playoffs. Therefore, letting go of an unproven Renteria made great sense.

Now is Renteria’s time to begin his new fresh start at managing. After proving to be the same hands-on successful motivator with the White Sox as their bench coach in 2016, his efforts within the organization were heavily rewarded this past off-season.

Much like on the North Side, Renteria is getting another chance by an organization in Chicago to prove himself. Whatever bitter feelings he might still have for the Cubs are now being put in the rear-view mirror. Renteria knows he’s being handed a young, rebuilding team in the earliest stages of a rebuild. A team in an earlier rebuilding stage than the Cubs back in 2014.

The White Sox have a surplus of young minor-league talent now that’s reminiscent of the Cubs in previous seasons. They have one of the best young prospects in baseball at their disposal, second-baseman Yoan Moncada. In addition, the White Sox have highly regarded minor-league pitching prospects to work with such as Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech. Both pitchers can become future aces for the team if all goes according to plan.

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Because the White Sox are not nearly as close to contending for a playoff spot as the Cubs were following the 2014 season, Renteria will likely have multiple seasons to prove his value as a manager.

He greatly deserves the opportunity to do so. And if there’s any indication from his lone season as a manager back in 2014, Renteria might just have what it takes to lay down a sustainable foundation of future success on the South Side of Chicago for years to come.

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