(670 The Score) In Chicago, firing Rick Renteria is a signal that a baseball team is truly ready to contend and that at least one candidate for immediate improvement at the position is available.
So it is for the White Sox on Monday, as general manager Rick Hahn announced that he was firing both Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper, one after four years on the job and the other after nearly two decades as a presumed franchise fixture. It was perfunctory and businesslike in a way that sent a serious message about a desire to compete for a championship right now -- the kind of swift ruthlessness usually seen elsewhere.
There are no secrets in this case, with two factors right out in the open that explain why and when Hahn chose to act.
First were the issues in how the pitching staff was handled, both throughout this unique season and into the playoffs. There had already been misgivings in the front office over both Renteria's budgeting of pitches for veteran starters and bullpen chess-matching that was too often late and reactive, sources told 670 The Score. Examples of both were clear, such as left-hander Dallas Keuchel developing a minor back issue after throwing 114 pitches in an August start and then 93 in his final regular-season start that preceded his deflating playoff outing.
On that same day, left-hander Carlos Rodon came off the injured list to blow a save in a disastrous appearance against Cleveland, with Renteria claiming he was testing a potential playoff relief role for the starter, saying, "Do I want to find out then or find out now?"
Turns out, it was both. Despite what he claimed to have learned, Renteria put Rodon right back in to surrender two earned runs in the deciding third game on the wild-card round in Oakland that featured a complete meltdown by the relief corps.
Second is the fact that two better managers are hitting the market the moment their respective suspensions for cheating expire at the conclusion of the World Series. Either AJ Hinch or Alex Cora would represent a significant and clear upgrade, and each fits how Hahn described his ideal hire to reporters: "Someone who has experience with a championship organization in recent years -- recent October experience with a championship organization."
That suggests that Hahn may already have some indication of interest from one or both of the aforementioned, either of whom would be wise to own their wrongdoing as fully and publicly as possible upon taking the reins of the White Sox. Hahn also made sure to cross Ozzie Guillen's name off the managerial list in no uncertain terms, putting a lid on that speculation.
This is the kind of real action that tells us the White Sox know that nothing is promised to even the most carefully constructed and well-developed young teams. Where the firing of a coach or manager often results in soul-searching on the part of players, wondering what more they could've done to support their now-deposed leader, this isn't one of those examples. In fact, it's the opposite.
Hahn is telling his dynamic young core that it's his responsibility to do right by them and better optimize their chance to succeed. He knows he has an opportunity to lure a World Series winner to Chicago for the purposes of going back there again, and he'll move aggressively to that end.
It's time for the White Sox to compete for titles, and a better manager makes that more likely.
Dan Bernstein is the host of the Dan Bernstein Show on middays from 9 a.m. until noon on 670 The Score. You can follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.