Bob Nightengale

USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago White Sox have decided they want embattled manager Robin Ventura back for 2017, and their fan base reacted as if ace Chris Sale was just traded to the New York Mets for Tim Tebow.

The White Sox front office and ownership show loyalty by expressing their intent to keep him, choosing to blame themselves for the team’s struggles the last five years instead of Ventura, and Sox fans act as if they’re the ones now being betrayed.

It makes no sense.

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After a high-ranking White Sox executive told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday that the club plans to soon extend an offer to bring Ventura back for next season, waiting only to see if he has a desire to return, there was immediate resentment and anger expressed among White Sox fans. The White Sox official spoke only on the condition of anonymity since contract negotiations have yet to commence.

The biggest question is whether Ventura, 49, who earns about $1.5 million, wants to return for his sixth season. He told Chicago reporters three weeks ago that he wanted to continue managing, but before Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays he said he would delay any decision until after the season.

Still, with all the rampant speculation that Ventura would be dismissed at the season’s conclusion and the decision that it will be Ventura’s call whether or not he returns, folks responded on social media as if the White Sox just tore down the statues of Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko.

Sure, the White Sox (76-81) are on the brink of finishing in fourth place in the American League Central for the third season in a row. The White Sox would have to win their remaining games to avoid a fourth consecutive losing season, which has happened only twice in franchise history.

Certainly, Ventura, a fan favorite as a player and management favorite as a person, has yet to distinguish himself as a manager. He is 373-432, the worst winning percentage (.463) of any White Sox manager lasting at least three seasons. The White Sox, in fact, have had only six managers who have lasted longer than five seasons: Jimmy Dykes (1934-46), Al Lopez (1957-65), Chuck Tanner (1970-75), Tony La Russa (1979-86), Jerry Manuel (1998-2003) and Ozzie Guillen (2004-11).

Still, the White Sox believe in Ventura, still convinced he’s the right man for the job. They aren’t about to fire him simply to find a scapegoat to appease an angry and frustrated fan base.

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Perhaps instead of the White Sox being condemned, they should be praised for their fearlessness, making unpopular personnel decisions to the outside world but revealing their deep loyalty to everyone inside the baseball industry.

What’s wrong with that?

Does anyone really believe the White Sox would have reached the playoffs this year, or in any of the previous four seasons, if someone besides Ventura were in the dugout?

Come on, it wouldn’t have mattered if Bruce Bochy, Buck Showalter, Dusty Baker, Joe Maddon and Connie Mack were in the dugout together. The White Sox still were going to be sitting at home during the playoffs.

Now, if Ventura wants to walk away at the season’s conclusion, tormented by the losses and battered by the constant abuse, who could blame him?

Yet at least the man can walk away with dignity, knowing it will be his call, staying put or leaving on his terms.

It sure beats the fate of several of his peers who by this time next week won’t have that choice.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is expected to be fired, with Phil Nevin the leading candidate to replace him.

The Atlanta Braves boast about Brian Snitker’s admirable job since replacing Fredi Gonzalez, but they still would like a fresh face to usher them into their new ballpark, with Bud Black as the heavy favorite.

The Colorado Rockies are undecided on Walt Weiss’s fate; it’s the same with Bryan Price, who has managed the Cincinnati Reds the last three seasons.

The others on the hot seat at the season’s outset? Well, you can watch John Farrell managing the Boston Red Sox in the postseason, if not the World Series. New York Mets manager Terry Collins is being lauded for keeping his depleted team in the wild-card race, fending off rumors he would be dismissed. And no one has been fired by more media outlets than Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, who has his team in the thick of the wild-card race.

Who knows, maybe everyone’s coming back and not a single soul gets fired.

That wouldn’t be such a bad thing, would it?