The Chicago White Sox finally ripped the bandage off. Amid a dismal and historically disastrous 2024 season (they’re currently 28-89, worst in MLB by 14 games), the team fired manager Pedro Grifol on Thursday after less than two years at the helm.
“As we all recognize, our team’s performance this season has been disappointing on many levels,” said White Sox general manager Chris Getz, who was hired to replace longtime GM Rick Hahn during the most recent offseason. “Despite the on-field struggles and lack of success, we appreciate the effort and professionalism Pedro and the staff brought to the ballpark every day. These two seasons have been very challenging. 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.”
Bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar were also let go.
A search for a new manager will begin “immediately,” but won’t be announced until the end of the current season. Grady Sizemore will take charge as interim manager for the remainder of the 2024 season. He will be joined by bench coach Doug Sisson, third base coach Justin Jirschele and assistant hitting coach Mike Gellinger.
Grifol was hired in November 2022 to replace Tony La Russa, who had stepped away from managing due to heart issues. He was chosen in an attempt to modernize the team’s management while building on what worked. While La Russa may not have been the best choice to relate to the younger and Latin American players in the clubhouse, his 2022 White Sox finished with an 81-81 record. The year before, the 2021 White Sox finished 93-69, the franchise’s best since 2005 (when they won the World Series).
Grifol was hired to build on past success, but that is not what he ended up doing. The Southside Sox won just 61 games in 2023, 20 fewer games than the season before. But in 2024 the White Sox have been truly putrid. With a 28-89 record, they are in the running to be one of the worst teams in MLB history, and Grifol’s winning percentage is third-worst all-time.
391 managers have managed at least 279 games.
Pedro Grifol’s .319 winning percentage is the third-worst among them. Only John McCloskey (Louisville, 1895-1896; St. Louis, 1906-1908) and Doc Prothro (Philadelphia, 1939-1941) were worse.
— David Salituro (@DavidSalituro) August 8, 2024
The 2024 White Sox are on pace to lose 120 games, which would easily beat their current team record of 106 losses set in 1970. It’s likely they’ll hit that mark, especially considering they recently snapped a 21-game losing streak that is now the second-longest in modern MLB history. (They came two games short of tying the 1961 Phillies’ record 23-game losing streak.)
If the Sox keep losing at this rate, their 120 losses will tie the worst season in modern MLB history. That was played by the 1962 Mets, who went 40-120-1 in their first year as an MLB team. To avoid hitting that mark, they have to win 15 of their final 45 games. Maybe without Grifol they’ll avoid tying one of the worst records in MLB history.
