White Sox manager Pedro Grifol wants to “flush” his comments from Monday. Unfortunately, as the losses continue to mount so do the questions about his blunt postgame assessment of his team’s play.
Over the weekend Grifol called out his players for coming out “flat” then doubled down on his comments on Monday despite public pushback from some of his players. Korey Lee was the most vocal on Sunday.
“He has opinions, and other people are going to have their opinions,” Lee said.
Gavin Sheets chimed in on Monday as the White Sox losing streak extended to six following a 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox lone run game courtesy of a solo home run from Sheets. As their rough stretch grows rougher, frustration continues to mount inside the clubhouse.
“Right after a rough stretch like that emotions are high,” Sheets told reportets when asked about Grifol’s comments. “Everybody’s pissed off, everybody’s disappointed and that’s what happens. You go right into interviews and obviously, we had a closed-door meeting that got outside the doors. Everybody’s frustrated in that moment.”
Nicky Lopez took a similar stance on Monday and believes the abysmal 15-40 record isn’t due to a lack of effort.
“We’ve been battling and grinding, busting our butt and yesterday we didn’t have much going,” Lopez said. “The manager, he’s entitled to do what he wants to do. It’s our job to go out and play.”
Grifol was asked to clarify his “flat” comments but didn’t want to go into specifics about what playing flat looks like. However, it’s clear that Grifol is doing anything he can to try and provide a spark as he continues to search for answers.
“This is the big leagues. And if you want to take days off, then this is not the place to do it. I am even-keeled. I’ve been managing for 200 and whatever games. And everybody has that point where like, ‘Ok, we gotta turn it up,’” Grifol explained on Tuesday.
He gave the White Sox credit for competing and having better at-bats following Monday’s loss. However, the White Sox skipper also made it clear he is trying to put his comments and the stir they created behind him.
“I’ve already flushed yesterday’s game. I already flushed my comments,” Grifol said. “I’m not backing down on my comments, but I’ve flushed them already. The only reason we’re talking about them here is because you guys are asking me the questions. You ask me, I’m going to answer them.”
