White Sox's Kenny Williams: Robin Ventura has 'gotten exponentially better'

DETROIT -- While Robin Ventura's status has been discussed in internal team meetings, Chicago White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams said Friday the manager is on solid footing.

The subject was broached in the wake of the news Friday that Philadelphia Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had resigned.

Sandberg, in his fourth season, is the fourth major league manager to leave his post already this season, as changes also were made with the Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres.

"With regards to Robin, listen, you only have so much control as a manager on your overall team play," Williams said ahead of his team's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park. "He will be the first to admit they haven't played and they haven't followed the direction as much as he would have liked. But what we have to look at in management is, have we given him the right pieces?

"If they are underperforming to this degree as a whole, then I would have to say right now -- and I've told the chairman [Jerry Reinsdorf] this -- at the end of the day, it falls on my desk. I hired the manager. I hired the general manager."

Williams then doubled down on the subject, saying that not only is Ventura in good standing despite the club's 32-40 record entering Friday, but he is essentially improving as a manager.

"[Ventura] understands the gig," Williams said. "His first year, he almost won manager of the year if it wasn't for two bad weeks at the end of the season. You don't go from that to what people are talking about now because you've gotten worse at your job. As a matter of fact, he's gotten exponentially better and more adept in a lot of situations."

Ventura wasn't seeking the managerial position when he was approached by Williams after the 2011 season, Ozzie Guillen's last as White Sox manager. Williams sold Ventura on the job, though, and since then, the team's former third baseman has been committed to the position.

"I'm committed to getting [solid play] out of these guys; I believe in these guys," Ventura said. "I'm not even speaking of [Sandberg's] position or what is going on over there, but where I'm at and the people I work with, if they didn't have faith in me, I'd already be gone. Yeah, there is mean stuff [being said by fans], but that's part of doing the job, really."

In no way is Williams accepting of the play on the field, though.

"I told my mother I wouldn't cuss in the newspaper anymore, so I can't tell you," Williams said when asked what it's been like to watch the product on the field. "You have to imagine the words I have to describe how I'm feeling on this. We have a lot more people around here that are a lot more patient than I."

Asked if the White Sox still can be a playoff team, Williams said he remains hopeful but is also a realist.

"You can imagine going on that kind of a run, and we do have the pieces," Williams said, mentioning the starting pitching in particular. "Certainly right now, if I'm being honest, I don't see any indication of that, but you never know what's going to click at a given time and you go on a roll.

"And when you've got this kind of starting pitching and the bullpen to support it, this is the kind of thing you just need a little offense to support it and a little fundamentally sound baseball. We don't need anybody to make the great play; we just need them to make the plays they should make."