Renteria To Replace Ventura as White Sox Manager

BY ESPN

Rick Renteria will replace Robin Ventura as Chicago White Sox manager, the team announced Monday.

Ventura said Sunday that he would not return to the position next season.

Renteria spent 2016 as bench coach for the White Sox. He also managed the Chicago Cubs in 2014 to a 73-89 record.

"I'm extremely excited," Renteria said at his introductory news conference. "It's a little bittersweet because I became good friends with Robin."

General manager Rick Hahn said the organization might have found candidates as good -- but none better -- had they looked elsewhere. He also insisted Renteria would be the right man to lead the team whether it is undergoing a major overhaul or trying to contend.

To that end, Hahn said the White Sox know which way they want to go; he just wasn't about to reveal it.

"Regardless of the direction, we think he's capable of winning a World Series with the right personnel behind him," he said. "Even if we do go to the extreme of tearing this thing down, so to speak, our goal is to get ourselves back to the World Series, and our hope is to do it with this manager."

Marlins Fire Bonds

After only one season as hitting coach, Barry Bonds has been fired by the Miami Marlins, according to multiple reports.

Miami's offense suffered from inconsistency this season. The Marlins were fourth in the majors in batting average at .263, but that didn't translate into runs -- Miami was 27th with 655.

The effort wasn't helped by slugger Giancarlo Stanton's early struggles and then injury later in the season.

Bonds was seen as standoffish with media and even teammates during his playing career, so he was a surprise selection as hitting coach for the Marlins.

He is Major League Baseball's career leader in home runs with 762 and a seven-time National League MVP, but he has not been admitted to the Hall of Fame because of suspicion over performance-enhancing drug use.

According to reports, the Marlins also let go third-base coach Lenny Harris and bullpen coach Reid Cornelius.

Diamondbacks Fire Manager, General Manager

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale and general manager Dave Stewart were fired Monday afternoon, after the team finished 69-93, 22 games out of first place, and missed the playoffs again.

The team announced in a release on Monday that it will discuss an appropriate role for chief baseball officer Tony La Russa in the future, but managing general partner Ken Kendrick said La Russa will not be the manager.

"We are very grateful to Dave and Chip, who are widely respected throughout the game of baseball," Kendrick said in a statement. "Ultimately, the results have not been what we had hoped, and while that responsibility is shared by all of us, we have decided that a change is necessary."

The Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001 and had a brief resurgence a decade later, winning the NL West. Arizona has been in a steady decline since then, posting five straight non-winning seasons.

Monday, October 3

No games scheduled

Tuesday, October 4 Schedule (Time Central)

Baltimore at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 5 Schedule (Time Central)

San Francisco at New York Mets, 7 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME

Thursday, October 6 Schedule (Time Central)

Boston at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 1

Friday, October 7 Schedule (Time Central)

Boston at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 2

Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington, 4:30 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 1

Saturday, October 8 Schedule (Time Central)

Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington, 3 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 2

Sunday, October 9 Schedule (Time Central)

Cleveland at Boston, 3 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 3

Monday, October 10 Schedule (Time Central)

Washington at Los Angeles Dodgers, TBD
    
NLDS - GAME 3

Cleveland at Boston, TBD

ALDS - GAME 4