Pedro Grifol Takes Charge: A New Era for the White Sox
There is a new sheriff in town on the South Side, and he goes by the name of Pedro Grifol. The first-time manager sent a direct message to the fanbase. He wants the White Sox to have a clean slate in the eyes of the public.
“Just watch us play. Give us a chance, watch us play, and develop your own opinions on this year, nothing in the past. Just a clear, clean view and evaluate us on what’s happening now.”
This is a guy that can read the room. He knows fans just endured one of the most agonizing seasons in franchise history. There were reports of rifts in the clubhouse, an inconsistent showing of effort, and a record that left everyone who had the misfortune of watching this talented roster on a daily basis sick to their stomach. Grifol could see the dysfunction from the opposing dugout. He alluded to it during his introductory press conference.
The fan base is pissed, and Grifol knows that. However, it doesn’t do him or his players any good if the city is dwelling on last season.
These comments come after reports of some surprising roster developments, which include leaving the longest-tenured player on the team, Leury Garcia, off the Opening Day roster. It’s signaling a new era on the South Side. Gone are the days of falling asleep in the dugout, forgetting rules, and letting half the lineup dog it down the first base line for “injury prevention.”
Reports from James Fegan indicate that Hanser Alberto will make the Opening Day roster in his place. Alberto was brought aboard, in part because of his connections with Grfiol in Kansas City. It’s clear that Grifol has a say in the roster decisions.
Alberto, Billy Hamilton, and Andrew Benintendi are all former Royals who were all signed, in part because of their connections to Grifol. That doesn’t mean that Garcia won’t return at some point. Injuries and poor performance shake up the roster throughout the season.
As Rick Hahn put it during an interview with Chuck Garfien on the White Sox Talk Podcast, “The reality is, no team wins a championship with only 26 guys. It’s much, much closer to 35 or 40 in this core group.”
However, the move sent a clear message. You will be held accountable for your performance this season. It fits with the theme heard throughout Spring Training since Grifol has taken over the helm.
Guys are going to play hard, run hard, and respect the White Sox logo on the front of their uniform.
“There’s a level of respect to the game for people who pay to watch the game,” Grifol told reporters back in February. “I’m not asking them [on a] ground ball to the pitcher to give me 100% down the line but give me a good effort. Give me a good effort till the play ends. And if it happens to end before you get to first base, OK, then you can shut down a little bit. Just give me a good effort.
“Give us, our organization, our culture, the effort that we’re looking for. And that’s what is preached to them.”
This is why Grifol wants a clean slate. As fans, it was hard to love a team that didn’t feel like they loved us back. Baseball is a grind. It is unfair to ask guys to give it one hundred percent on every routine ground ball in the middle of July. But he wants a level of respect given to the fans.
“I’ve heard all the philosophies in the last four, five years,” Grifol said. “You know, save your legs. But at the same time, you have to respect the game, your teammates and your organization, and the fans that come out to watch.”
This should be music to White Sox fans’ ears. It sounds like the 53-year-old is laying the foundation to maximize every ounce of talent from this already-gifted roster.