White Sox manager Will Venable forgets key rule in inexplicable blunder, costs team in loss

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable was forced to remove his starting pitcher in the first inning after forgetting a rule. (This video contains AI-assisted content)

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable has done a tremendous job in his first season with the club, with many fine moments throughout the season.

However, in the White Sox’s 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field on Friday, Venable did not have one of his finer moments, as he forgot a key rule and cost his team dearly.

Just four batters into the game, White Sox starting pitcher Noah Schultz had loaded the bases, drawing a mound visit from pitching coach Zach Bove. One batter later, left fielder Angel Martinez ripped a two-run single.

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Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable talks with umpire Andy Fletcher after the team's second mound visit during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Venable then went to the mound to talk about an appeal play but forgot that he wasn’t allowed to do so.

Under official rule 5.10(l), "a manager or coach is allowed only one visit to the mound per pitcher in a single inning without penalty. If the same coach or manager makes a second visit to the same pitcher in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position."

Venable’s visit to the mound meant that he had to remove Schultz from the game just five batters in. His gaffe was especially costly, because the team lost in 13 innings the night before and taxed its bullpen.

Venable’s blunder meant that his already taxed bullpen was going to have to work 8 2/3 innings. David Sandlin, who replaced Schultz, hadn’t even