Nov. 12--When Rick Renteria still was reflecting on his abrupt departure from the Cubs about a year ago, White Sox manager Robin Ventura reached out to see if there might be a fit for a "quality guy" like Renteria on the South Side.
Renteria wanted more time, but the potential marriage came up again when the Sox fired bench coach Mark Parent at the end of last season. he waited to see if he might reunite with former Padres manager Bud Black with the Nationals, but when Black didn't get that job Renteria said he decided the pairing with Ventura could be "a pretty good fit."
"I think our personalities will mesh," Renteria said Wednesday during his introductory conference call. "As a bench coach, I'm coming on board to make his job as easy as possible and transition into one of the rest of the staff. The conversation we had made it pretty easy for me to see myself coming on board with the Sox."
Ventura and Renteria haven't had much other interaction, but Ventura said Renteria's reputation precedes him. His broad experience and ability to speak Spanish are two big positives.
"When you have a bench coach who comes in being able to read the room and see what's going on inside the clubhouse and what's going on in the game, (that helps)," Ventura said. "He's great at it."
Ventura has one year left on his contract and, after his troubled four years as manager, some wonder whether Renteria would be seen as Ventura's replacement if the Sox get off to another bad start in 2016 -- and if that would create tension.
Indians first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. declined the Sox's request to interview him for the position, telling the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he "didn't want it to seem like I was coming in to replace Robin in case they stumbled out of the gate."
Ventura and general manager Rick Hahn brushed off the idea that it creates an awkward situation.
"That stuff doesn't bother me," Ventura said. "I don't expect any rift or anything else with Rick. I'm excited to have him come in. He's excited to be here. We are trying to do things to win games. For me, the quality of person you are bringing in is the key thing, not any of the other issues people might try to create."
After a year away from the game, Renteria said he is excited to work with players again.
"When you've been in this for a while, there are a lot of things you want to be able to impart," Renteria said. "Obviously, we all know the game is always going to be about the players, but hopefully we as coaches and staff can impart something that will help them move forward."
ckane@tribpub.com
