Emma: Spotlight's On Robin Ventura In 2016

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Robin Ventura oozes that California cool personality. It's what helped him get hired by the as the White Sox manager back in October 2011.

When the White Sox ran out of patience with Ozzie Guillen after the 2011 season, they decided to give Ventura a shot. He had never managed and had zero experience in professional baseball since his playing career had ended in 2004, but ever-loyal chairman Jerry Reinsdorf believed in one of his favorite sons.

Entering the 2016 campaign and his fifth year as skipper, Ventura owns a 297-351 record and zero playoff berths. He's in the final year of his contract.

Venutra was greeted to a mixed reaction last weekend at SoxFest. There were distant boo birds toward the back of the Hilton ballroom but mostly a polite ovation. It was comparable to what a golfer gets after sinking a 20-foot par putt.

Surely, it wasn't the reception of a White Sox great at the team's annual fan convention. While Ventura has earned the prevailing love as a local favorite, his work as manager hasn't deserved much support.

"I have one year on my contract," Ventura willingly admitted prior to SoxFest, as if he knew what was coming. "That's not a secret."

Consider this proving time for Ventura, who's entering rare grounds for a man in his position, needing to show his abilities to earn another year as manager.

So, what's next for the White Sox in 2016? They're largely hoping for turnarounds from a frustrating 2015 season -- hello, Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia -- and thinking Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie lead to different results. In a daunting AL Central division that includes the World Series champion Royals, reaching the postseason will be a tough task.

Still, Ventura seemed to be blissfully oblivious to the challenge that's ahead of him. He showed up to SoxFest wearing a comfortable fleece and jeans, matching the look of his personality. He's unfazed by what seems to be ahead.

Ventura lined up among SoxFest fans and asked Bo Jackson a joking question, drawing laughs from those on hand. He slapped hands with fans and got to know some of his new players. There seemed to be nothing different about Ventura.

Ventura stepped back into a White Sox organization that had won a World Series with Guillen in 2005. The belief of Reinsdorf was that a new personality was needed. He picked executive Kenny Williams over Ozzie Guillen during their feuds, offered Ventura a shot as skipper and then promoted Williams to a higher role and made Rick Hahn general manager.

The White Sox won 85 games in Ventura's first season of 2012, finishing three games out of the postseason. They have since earned only 63, 73 and 76 victories. A talented team has underachieved.

"Robin has a huge influence on how we play," White Sox centerfielder Adam Eaton said. "At the end of the day, it's up to us. The last two years I have been here, it was our fault. When we put our big boy pants on and get ready to play, to get the job done, you will see what a great manager Robin is. It's our job to make him look good."

While White Sox players like Eaton are willing to go to bat for their manager, he's the only skipper in baseball with at least four years on the job and no playoff appearances.

Despite the documented loyalty of Reinsdorf, it seems clear that Ventura is on the hot seat entering the final year of his White Sox contract. No matter what he accomplished as a player, the results with him as a manager aren't enough to keep him around, unless Reinsdorf is really willing to play favorites.

The California cool persona of Ventura isn't enough to save his job. It's time for the White Sox to win.

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.