Out the Door

Our daughter had a Claude Monet book and video growing up, and the Art Institute has a new show, “Monet and Chicago,” so we all went to see it yesterday. That’s how I heard about Rick Renteria jumping/being pushed. It was announced by a soon-to-be 29-year old jumping up and down outside the garage door. Then, as we were all back in the car for the drive back home, came the update, pitching coach Don Cooper jumped or got pushed out, too. Clare judged it to be one of her best days ever. This is how I know I’m getting old, when I feel bad for someone like Renteria. Cooper? Not so much. He had all the warmth and personality of a wolverine, or badger, take your pick, and either one of those creatures would probably be better at relating to Millennial pitchers than Cooper. But Renteria was sincere to a fault, and he never tried to B.S. the media. Trying to win a playoff game with nine pitchers or thinking Carlos Rodon is ever the answer to any question that isn’t “Who do we DFA next?”, well, that’s a different story. I don’t particularly want A.J. Hinch or Alex Cora, both rumored possibilities, because they’re tainted by the Astros’ sign-cheating scandal. Roberto Alomar Jr. would probably get my vote, and, yes, Ozzie Guillen, if I could get him to sign a good-conduct pledge. The Sox have already announced Guillen won’t be a candidate. Here’s the thing to consider about Renteria—how much were Edwin Encarnacion and Nomar Mazara his fault? Yes, Encarnacion should’ve been benched well before the playoffs, but what’s to say Renteria didn’t try? The manager didn’t go out and get those two players. A general manager by the name of Rick Hahn did. If Hahn’s next pick to sit in the dugout doesn’t pan out, he should be joining Renteria in the unemployment line.