Several people inside the White Sox organization were reportedly surprised that Will Venable was named the club’s next manager. According to former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski, “numerous” people inside the White Sox organization expected Grady Sizemore to get the job.
“I heard from numerous people, people that are deeper in that organization than I am, that they were really thinking it was going to be Grady Sizemore,” Pierzynski said during an episode of Foul Territory. “They really really thought that this was going to be Grady Sizemore’s job.”
Sizemore was very popular amongst the players during his time as interim manager. During his first game as skipper on August 9, the team rallied to turn a seven-run deficit into a one-run game with the winning run on second base. Despite being on the wrong side of a 7-6 loss, Sizemore later told reporters that it was his favorite game as a manager of the White Sox. Players also sported Grady Sizemore t-shirts during pregame warmups later in the season.
When Chris Getz initially laid out his criteria for the White Sox next manager, it did not seem like Sizemore fit the bill. Getz stated he wanted a coach who is currently in uniform and from outside of the organization. However, when Getz met the media before the White Sox final homestand of the season his tune changed. The White Sox GM said that Sizemore had earned consideration for the permanent job. While the White Sox record is not much better than it was under his predecessor Pedro Grifol, the team responded well once Sizemore was given the reins.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, former White Sox manager Pedro Grifol tried to lead with an intense approach to the game, while Sizemore took a more relaxed and caring approach. The 42-year-old has been through it all as a player. The highs of being a three-time All-Star before the age of 25, the lows of long injury stints, and the grind of trying to stay in the show once his play began to decline. Because of this, he can relate to many of the players in the White Sox locker room at varying stages of their careers.
Despite hiring Venable there is still a possibility that Sizemore will be retained on staff. Sizemore doesn’t have much experience in the coaching realm, despite almost landing the White Sox job as a full-time skipper. He joined the South Siders with the official designation of “Major League Coach” after beginning his coaching career as an intern for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The man the White Sox chose over him Will Venable, has experience as a first base coach with the Chicago Cubs, a bench coach of the Boston Red Sox, and associate manager for the Texas Rangers. Like Sizemore, he is also a former player who is just 42 years of age. Unlike Sizemore, multiple teams have tried to land Venable as their manager.
