A Dallas Keuchel tweet has White Sox fans wondering if the front office is targeting his former manager
The Chicago White Sox made the somewhat surprising move to fire Rick Renteria on Monday. He oversaw a talented roster that collapsed at the end of the regular season and subsequently fell in the Wild Card round to the Oakland Athletics.
Part of the reason for his firing is likely due to the top candidates available. Former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch will be free to be hired once his suspension is up following the conclusion of the World Series. A tweet from former Astro and current White Sox pitcher Dallas Keuchel has fans wondering if Hinch is headed to town.
Big things ahead for the #WhiteSox !!!
— Dallas Keuchel (@kidkeuchy) October 12, 2020
White Sox set to make a splash
There are plenty of moral arguments against hiring someone like Hinch or Alex Cora. But that has never stopped a team before and Hinch is already a top managerial candidate. White Sox fans also seem to be putting the clues together.
Connect the dots ladies and gents.... pic.twitter.com/9vPNvJiusO
— Ryan Wilson (@ryanswilson21) October 12, 2020
Say hi to AJ for us we know he’s with you rn
— Chicago Bob (@ChicagoBob10) October 12, 2020
Dallas, thank you for changing the culture of this team. Ricky was never the choice for manager, continuously managed himself out of games. Now bring AJ Hinch to the South Side!!!
— #FirePhillips (@MitchTruBUMsky) October 12, 2020
Keuchel saying big things are ahead should mean he has some insight into who the team plans to target for the next manager. However, Hinch being a top candidate is not exactly a secret.
You're at Chipotle having lunch with AJ right now aren't you
— CWS Piss Missiles (@CWSPissMiss) October 12, 2020
AJ Hinch to the White Sox! We going after that chip we excited #WhiteSox
— 🇺🇸Joey H 🇩🇪 (@RadioJoe7) October 12, 2020
Hope you still got Cora and Hinch in your contacts 👀
— James Gordon (@JGordonCHI) October 12, 2020
Hinch essentially served as the fall guy for the Astros. All the players got off without any punishment, even though they orchestrated the cheating scheme. Hinch losing his job almost helps his reputation as he actually had to pay for what his team did. This does not absolve him of what happened, but it does work in his favor and has White Sox fans quickly moving past any hate toward him.
You called AJ Hinch yet?
— Skyler Tinkle (@theironschenk) October 12, 2020
If you know Hinch is coming here, blink twice
— Jonny U (@IAmJonnyU) October 12, 2020
Hinch confirmed
— John B (@drwinzlow) October 12, 2020
They are going to hire A J Hinch. They should. He's a great manager and a great guy.
— xxxJDxxx (@xxxJDxxx3) October 12, 2020
Hinch managed the Astros from 2015-2019 and took the team to the World Series twice, winning it all in 2017. How valid that title is remains up for debate, yet it is impossible to ignore Hinch did manage his team well. Winning at least 101 games every year from 2017-2019 speaks to him doing plenty right even if the offense got extra help.
The manager also has a past in scouting and should be able to work well with all the talent on the White Sox. He is still technically suspended, but don’t be surprised if he is suiting up in a new uniform as soon as the final out is made in this year’s World Series.