White Sox Shake Up Coaching Staff Amid Historically Bad Season
The Chicago White Sox have parted ways with manager Pedro Grifol after a dismal start to the 2024 season, a campaign marked by historically poor performance and an array of coaching changes. The team's record stands at 28-89, placing them on pace for over 120 losses—a grim milestone in Major League Baseball.
Pedro Grifol's tenure as manager concludes with an overall record of 89-190, translating to a .319 winning percentage over two seasons. Grifol, who joined the White Sox after a decade with the Kansas City Royals, was initially seen as a beacon of hope for the struggling franchise. However, the anticipated turnaround never materialized.
White Sox General Manager Chris Getz expressed his disappointment: "As we all recognize, our team's performance this season has been disappointing on many levels." He acknowledged the effort and professionalism that Grifol and his staff brought daily, despite the lack of results. "Unfortunately, the results were not there, and a change is necessary as we look to our future and the development of a new energy around the team," Getz added.
Grifol's departure follows a woeful stretch where the White Sox set a new record for the longest losing streak in franchise history—twice. The first streak lasted 14 games from May 22 to June 6, while a second, even more disheartening, 21-game losing streak was recently snapped. Such performance has left the White Sox faithful with little to cheer about this season.
Accompanying Grifol on the unemployment line are bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar. The decision to overhaul the coaching staff indicates a sweeping shift in the organization's approach. The White Sox have named Grady Sizemore as the interim manager for the remainder of the 2024 season. Sizemore, a former Major League star, is tasked with leading the team through this turbulent transition period.
Despite a disappointing tenure, Grifol remains steadfast in his belief in his managerial capabilities. "I think I am. I really do," he said. "And I think managing is motivating people to play and work hard every single day. I think managing is preparing and making good decisions and serving people and including people. It's not up for me to decide. I don't make decisions on whether I'm a good manager or not. That's for other people to decide."
The managerial change comes as Chris Getz, now in his role as the team's general manager, initiates a rebuild of the roster—a process that began last offseason. Getz hopes these changes will lay the foundation for a brighter future for the club. At the trade deadline on July 30, the White Sox traded away key players Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, and Tommy Pham, signaling a shift towards long-term development rather than immediate success.
Looking back, the decline is stark. The White Sox ended the 2023 season with a 61-101 record, a sharp fall from their 81-81 finish in 2022. This season's catastrophic results have made it clear that fundamental changes are necessary. The search for a new permanent manager will commence immediately, but any official naming of Grifol’s full-time replacement will occur once the season concludes.
Grady Sizemore, stepping into his new role as interim manager, will need to navigate these troubled waters, aiming to restore some sense of competitiveness and pride to a team that has endured one of the most challenging periods in its history. As the White Sox embark on this next chapter, the organization and its fans can only hope that these changes are the first steps back toward respectability and contention.