How recent new White Sox managers have fared

As a player, Robin Ventura was productive and popular.

As a manager, Ventura already is following the same path.

Hired to replace Ozzie Guillen on Oct. 6, Ventura has yet to face any scrutiny for his dugout decision-making, but give it time.

You just know Ventura is going to catch intense heat the first time Adam Dunn strikes out with the game on the line or when Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain, Addison Reed or Hector Santiago blow a save opportunity that costs the White Sox a game.

Some gloomy days are coming — it’s just an inevitable part of the game.

Ventura broke in with the White Sox in 1989 and played a decade of baseball on the South Side and some latter seasons in New York, so he knows what kind of scrutiny to expect.

But he already has developed his own style, a much different one from recent White Sox managers such as Guillen, Jerry Manuel, Terry Bevington and Gene Lamont.

While many critics have ripped the White Sox for hiring a manager with no experience at any professional level, Ventura has approached the job the way he did as a player. Ventura is putting in long hours to get it right, and he appears to paying attention to every little detail.

The 44-year-old Californian remains as popular as ever among uniformed personnel, and that includes the outspoken Guillen, his longtime teammate on the left side of the infield and new manager of the Miami Marlins.

He may have learned a lot about managing by watching Guillen, and probably what not to do as well.

“I swear to God, the only way I root for the White Sox is because Robin is the manager, that’s it,” Guillen told reporters in February. “If Robin wasn’t the manager, I don’t. But I really root for the White Sox because the manager’s my friend.”

Ventura is introverted, the complete opposite of Guillen. But he has been warmly welcomed by his new players, many of whom grew weary of it being all Ozzie, all the time.

Wins and losses will ultimately decide Ventura’s true place among Sox managers.

But enough about the new guy. Let’s review how his recent predecessors fared in their first year in the dugout:

Ozzie Guillen (2004-2011)

First-year record: 83-79

In 2004, Guillen did a solid job as a rookie manager, guiding the White Sox to second place in the AL Central.

The White Sox acquired starting pitcher Freddy Garcia in a June 27 trade with the Seattle Mariners, setting the stage for the 2005 World Series run.

Guillen closed out his White Sox career with a managerial record of 600-535 and one World Series title.

Jerry Manuel (1998-2003)

First-year record: 80-82

He was the bench coach in 1997 for Jim Leyland when they led the Florida Marlins to a World Series title that year, so the hiring made a lot of sense, especially with his history as a scout for the White Sox.

When Manuel took over for Bevington in 1998, he guided the Sox to a second-place finish in his first season.

Manuel consistently made the right moves with the offense, although it helped having Albert Belle, Frank Thomas and a third baseman named Robin Ventura playing every day.

The pitching staff was a much different story. Of the five starters, Mike Sirotka had the lowest ERA at 5.06.

Manuel ended his Sox run with a record of 500-471, and his 2000 club won 95 games before being swept in the ALDS. But he had just one playoff appearance with the White Sox and four seasons with fewer than 85 wins.

Terry Bevington (1995-97)

First-year record: 57-56

He took over for Gene Lamont (11-20) early in the 1995 season when the White Sox fired him on June 2. Bevington directed the White Sox to a third-place finish and an overall record of 68-76.

That was a talented Sox team that let itself go during the strike of 1994.

Bevington lasted two more years in the White Sox’ dugout and gradually lost the respect of his players, fans, the media, and, ultimately, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Bevington finished 222-214 with no playoff appearances.

Gene Lamont (1992-95)

First-year record: 86-76

Lamont replaced Jeff Torborg in 1992 and led the Sox to 10 games over .500 record, good for third place in the old AL West.

Aided by talented young players such as Thomas, Ventura, Jack McDowell and Alex Fernandez, Lamont was voted Manager of the Year in 1993 after guiding the White Sox to their first playoff appearance in 10 years.

Lamont had the White Sox in first again in 1994, but the strike wiped out the season in August.

When the White Sox got off to a slow start in 1995, Lamont was gone, finishing at 258-210 with just one playoff appearance.

sgregor@dailyherald.com