The Guardian
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Branson Wright in Cleveland
analysis
Will Venable, former shooting guard for Princeton University and current manager of the Chicago White Sox, has transformed the team from a 121-loss season two years ago to playoff contenders. Using basketball tactics he learned at Princeton, such as spacing, timing, and detailed preparation, Venable emphasizes teamwork and adaptability in his baseball management style. This approach includes managing pitchers based on matchups rather than traditional inning limits, reflecting principles of the Princeton offense.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The postgame celebration songs pounded through the Bluetooth speakers in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse on Monday night, minutes after the team’s playoff victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
asserted
songs → pound → Field
The White Sox, who lost 121 games two seasons ago, have made a remarkable turnaround.
asserted
who → lose → turnaround
A team who were once so abject that they stopped tweeting out their results are now just five wins from the World Series.
asserted
they → stop → Series
They can seal their progress to the American League Championship Series on Wednesday if they beat the Guardians in Chicago.
asserted
they → seal → Chicago
But amid the clubhouse excitement in Cleveland, one individual remained the same.
asserted
individual → remain → Cleveland
“He’s the same guy every single day,” White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi said about the club’s manager, Will Venable.
asserted
Benintendi → ’ → manager
“He’s even keel.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
His consistent approach and calm demeanor have helped set the tone for a team whose manager once envisioned his future on a basketball court.
asserted
manager → help → court
Long before Venable managed a major-league team, he learned about spacing, timing, preparation, trust and precision away from the baseball diamond.
asserted
he → manage → diamond
He was first team All-Ivy League, led his team to the NCAA Tournament and once scored 21 points against Duke.
asserted
He → lead → Duke
As a baseball player, Venable was also All-Ivy, which made him only the second Princeton athlete to accomplish that distinction in baseball and basketball.
asserted
him → make → baseball
And he eventually took the Princeton concepts of basketball and used them in his baseball career.
asserted
he → take → career
“For me, my time playing basketball, especially at Princeton, helped me understand the importance of attention to detail,” said Venable, who played eight years in the majors, mostly for the San Diego Padres.
asserted
who → play → Padres
“The spacing and timing required [in the Princeton offense] helped me as a baseball player understand the importance of every little detail.”
asserted
me → require → detail
Princeton’s style of basketball taught Venable how to see baseball spatially and collectively.
asserted
style → teach → baseball
The basic concepts of the Princeton offense rely on constant player movement, precise passing, back-door cuts and read-and-react decisions rather than fixed set plays.
asserted
concepts → rely → plays
The Princeton offense is about players functioning as connected pieces rather than individuals.
asserted
players → function → pieces
This postseason, Chicago’s pitching philosophy has been a team effort – sharing the ball as in basketball.
asserted
philosophy → share → basketball
, the White Sox focus on managing matchups, not innings.
asserted
Sox → focus → matchups
It’s not about who starts but who gets the next out.
asserted
who → ’ → out
Venable essentially manages his pitching staff the way a basketball coach manages a roster: through combinations, matchups, short bursts and putting players into situations where their particular skills have the greatest advantage.
asserted
skills → manage → advantage
“That’s carried over into managing,” Venable said.
asserted
Venable → carry → managing
“The details matter: where we position guys, the timing of their pre-pitch movements, timing at the plate, all the very fine details and the precision of the game.
asserted
we → matter → game
I learned that through my time in basketball.”
asserted
I → learn → basketball
And many of White Sox players have learned from their manager.
asserted
many → learn → manager
They learned from the unconventional style but mostly from the confidence that leaks into his players.
asserted
that → learn → players
That confidence was on display Monday when rookie Braden Montgomery’s opposite-field double in the sixth inning gave the White Sox the lead.
asserted
double → give → lead
In that same inning, Montgomery scored on a single as the White Sox held on for a 4-3 Game 2 victory.
asserted
Sox → score → victory
The switch-hitting outfielder had a .430 OPS in 103 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers in the regular season, the worst among qualifying hitters from the right side of the plate.
asserted
outfielder → hit → plate
“That’s a guy that’s not going to shy away from the moment,” Venable said.
asserted
Venable → ’ → moment
“It all culminates into trusting the player and really again putting the nine best guys out there to get the job done.”
asserted
job → culminate → guys
Montgomery said Venable’s quote is special.
asserted
quote → say → ?
“I respect him so much for having that confidence in me, and that means the world to me,” Montgomery said.
asserted
Montgomery → respect → me
“I’d run through a wall for Will.”
asserted
I → run → Will
Earlier this season catcher Kyle Teel needed a dose of confidence as he struggled at the plate after he returned to the active roster.
asserted
he → need → roster
“[Will] came up to me and told me not to do too much and stay within myself,” Teel said.
asserted
Teel → come → myself
“I hit a home run right after he said that.
asserted
he → hit → that
He’s a phenomenal leader.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
I’m grateful he’s our manager.”
asserted
he → ’m → ?
Shortstop Colson Montgomery said Venable’s confidence has a strong influence on the team.
asserted
confidence → say → team
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
