As Pedro Grifol builds his Chicago White Sox coaching staff, communication skills are the ‘top of the top of the list’ of attributes
Pedro Grifol doesn’ t have a specific timeline for completing his Chicago White Sox coaching staff. “Being on the other side and knowing the potential of you losing a staff member, I think want to know sooner than later,” he said Thursday.“ And just respecting the process, the sooner we can get this going, the better that way they can fill their voids however they see fit.”.
Pedro Grifol doesn’t have a specific timeline for completing his Chicago White Sox coaching staff.
“Being on the other side and knowing the potential of you losing a staff member, I think (teams) want to know sooner than later,” he said Thursday. “And just respecting the process, the sooner we can get this going, the better that way they can fill their voids however they see fit.”
The new Sox manager knows some of the attributes he’s looking for as he assembles the group.
“Communication skills is the most important thing for me, and a lot of these guys that we’re discussing are bilingual,” Grifol said. “Relational skills is extremely important. They’ve got to be detailed. Their work ethic’s got to be off the charts.
“Creativity is important. You can’t stay the same, you’ve got to keep moving forward and attacking margins. So there are some attributes we’re looking at. But to start, communication skills are the top of the top of the list.”
The Sox announced former Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo will be the new bench coach and that pitching coach Ethan Katz and bullpen coach Curt Hasler are returning.
General manager Rick Hahn said the Sox have a “number of names” for the remaining positions and that they will go through a process with Grifol to conduct interviews. While there are some internal candidates, Hahn suspects most spots will be filled “by individuals outside the White Sox organization.”
Bringing in Montoyo was a “collaborative effort,” Hahn said.
“Charlie has a sterling reputation in this game and is viewed as one of the finer bench coaches of the last decade-plus or so,” Hahn said.
Montoyo was the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 before becoming the Blue Jays manager the following season.
“We’ve spoken a few times, but I just have so much respect for him and what he’s done in the game,” Grifol said. “Here’s a guy that was in the minor leagues for a long time as a minor-league manager, got an opportunity to get to the big leagues. … He’s extremely smart, bilingual. Got a chance to manage in the American League East. I’m really excited to bring him on board.”
Montoyo went 236-236 before the Blue Jays fired him on July 13. Grifol sees the benefits of having someone with big-league managerial experience on staff.
“You’ll hear me say this a thousand times: If I’m the smartest guy in the room, we’ve got a problem,” Grifol said. “So I think it’s extremely important. This guy’s done it, right? He’s done it the last three years. He’s had success, and I’m really happy to have him on board.”
Katz will be back for his third season as pitching coach. Hasler has been the bullpen coach since 2017.
“I heard nothing but great things about (Katz) and Has, and the pitchers love what they’re doing,” Grifol said. “And that’s an area where, as a manager, keeping a pitching coach that’s here and a bullpen coach and them having relationships built already as opposed to me, a new manager coming in having to build those relationships and then a pitching coach having to build those, that’s a really cool thing.
“The fact that he’s here already, he can help facilitate some of these relationships, which just expedites our trust for each other.”
As for what’s next, Grifol said, “These guys that we’re bringing in are all impact coaches. I feel really good about them being able to really help us.”
Grifol said his approach is “we’re all in this thing together.”
“I anticipate everybody feeling comfortable going out of their lane with respect,” he said. “I want that. I want our staff telling me what they feel we need to do on a daily basis that’s going to improve us and prepare us to play.
“It’s going to be an enjoyable environment where they’re going to be free and comfortable to go out and teach and do what they do best.”
Sox announce 2 roster moves
Pitcher Kyle Crick and outfielder Adam Haseley were outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox announced Friday.
Haseley was 5-for-21 (.238) with three walks and four runs in 14 games in 2022.
Crick was 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA in 14 relief appearances. He went on the injured list on June 14 with right elbow inflammation and missed the rest of the season.
Because Crick was on the 60-day IL and not counted against the roster numbers, the team’s 40-man roster is at 39.
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