Yasmani Grandal wasn’t shy in his assessment of the 2022 season. Grandal met the media before the White Sox game against the Padres on Friday and did not hold back when asked about the disappointing campaign.
“To put it plain and simple, we just sucked. Anything else would be an excuse, and the last thing you want to make as a team, as an individual, is an excuse.”
It’s almost like a slap in the face, Grandal continued. ” If you don’t take this year seriously, it’s going to come back to bite us in the ass next year again. Hopefully, we get everything straightened out and come back next year and give it a shot.”
Grandal is not wrong. The White Sox did suck, and he was a major reason why. Out of all the players that underachieved this season, his performance might be the most disappointing.
In his second season with the White Sox, he established career highs in on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.520), and OPS (.936). He led all major league catchers in on-base percentage and set a franchise record for most walks by a White Sox catcher with 87.
Not only did Grandal get on base, but he also hit the ball out of the ballpark at a prolific rate. For the fifth time in his career, he hit 20-plus home runs. Grandal’s 23 home runs ranked second on the team despite only playing 93 games. In fact, he averaged one home run every 12.13 at-bats, which was the third highest average in the American League behind only Mike Zunino and Shohei Ohtani.
Just one year removed from being the best offensive catcher in baseball, Grandal regressed into one of the worst hitters in baseball. The 33-year-old switch hitter was the third least valuable player by bWAR in the MLB with at least 300 plate appearances behind just Darin Ruf and Kole Calhoun.
He slashed .200/.301/..269 with just five home runs and 27 RBIs. Grandal’s barrel percentage ranked in the 23rd percentile of all MLB hitters. Meanwhile, his expected batting average ranks in the 17th percentile of all MLB hitters, while his expected slugging percentage ranks in the third percentile.
His defense hasn’t been much better. Grandal has the worst pop time to second base amongst active catchers. On the MLB catcher framing leaderboard, he finished 17th, behind teammate Seby Zavala and former teammate Reese McGuire.
Things got so bad that many would like to see him jettisoned off the roster, especially after seeing Seby Zavala blossom into an effective offensive catcher. However, the amount of money he is owed in 2023 means he will stay on the Southside for at least another season.
Grandal realizes the stakes are high and is ready to get to work.
“This offseason for me, I know the plan I want to do. I know exactly what it is I’m going to do. Next year I’m sure, is going to be a way different story.”
Grandal has a record of every other year having a down year. Hope next year is a comeback year.
Unfair, not everyone sucked. But you sure did! When you say we, your are lumping in abreu, Anderson, among others that played well or at least up their standards. Have you ever counted the number of runners you left on base. Look your own mirror
I Dread seeing this clown for another season