diate pushback on Pedro Grifol’s “we were [bleeping] flat” comments, intended to motivate a team in the throes of the White Sox’ worst start to a season in franchise history, came from the Sox clubhouse on May 26 after the team was swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles. Entering Thursday, the Sox had not won a game as their losing streak reached 13, tying a club record, going into their game against the Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday. With each passing defeat, Grifol’s job status has become an even hotter topic of conversation two-plus months into his second season.
That’s going to happen when your record is 14-47, thin roster or not. “We’re not winning. So when you’re not winning, speculations get higher and higher,” Grifol said.
“It’s a part of what we do. This is part of the job, right?” According to sources familiar with the vibe and conversations going on among them, players themselves were speculating about Grifol’s status even before the Orioles. They’ve also wondered about some of Grifol’s lineup choices, a lack of continuity in them and the need for so many meetings called in the first two months.
And while, as one player put it, Grifol is “very respected as a good man,” that he didn’t wear a major league uniform as a player is something that will be talked about, especially after a loss to a dominant pitcher. That said, these times call for the players, who are a tight bunch in the clubhouse, to support the manager. .
