White Sox manager Pedro Grifol in the midst of a historically bad season originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White socks fired the manager Pedro Grifolannounced the team in a press release on Thursday.
The move comes on a bad day for the White Sox, who recently lost 21 consecutive games during a streak that matched the longest such streak in American League history.
“As we all recognize, our team’s performance this season has been disappointing on many levels,” White Sox senior vice president/general manager Chris Getz said in a statement. “Despite the difficulties on the field and the lack of success, we are grateful for the effort and professionalism that Pedro and the team brought to the stadium every day. These two seasons were very challenging. Unfortunately, the results have not been forthcoming and change is needed as we look to our future and develop a new energy around the team.”
Grifol has posted an 89-190 record as manager of the White Sox, with the team struggling to a 28-89 record so far this season.
The team did not immediately announce an interim manager ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs.
Grifol was in the spotlight for most of the season, but had previously said he was not worried about things he could not control.
“I don’t really think about it. I don’t have any control,” Grifol said when asked about his dismissal. “I have a contract and my contract says I will be back. I will work tirelessly every day as if I were here next year and five years after that. My responsibility and my vision is to put this organization in a place where we see white towels from corner to corner another and we play meaningful baseball games every day. That’s what I think about all day.
The South Siders hired Grifol, 54, to become the franchise’s 42nd manager on Nov. 1, 2022. Grifol came to the White Sox with a wealth of experience in multiple roles. He joined the Royals in 2013, coaching in the minor league system. He was also an assistant hitting coach and catching instructor. He became the team’s bench coach in 2020.
