The White Sox are addressing their primary concern heading into the new season by overhauling their coaching staff. Following yet another disappointing season, they’ve made significant changes. Outfield coach Darryl Boston and hitting coach Jose Castro have been relieved of their duties, while bullpen coach Curt Hasler and assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson have been reassigned to minor league roles. It’s important to note that the team’s pitching issues can’t solely be attributed to Hasler, Boston, or Johnson.
It appears that perhaps Pedro Grifol wasn’t the right fit for the job, leading the team to make these staffing adjustments, potentially grasping at straws to improve performance.
Additionally, long-time front office members Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams have been let go. All six individuals could be scapegoated for the previous season’s disappointments, with blame placed on coaching or front office decisions. However, the team’s struggles were also influenced by health issues and a lack of investment in key positions such as catcher, second base, and right field, as well as starting pitching depth.
This is a common scenario across sports, where firing the general manager or manager every season isn’t feasible. Instead, adjustments are made, such as replacing coordinators or assistants. Chicago has gone through three full-time managers in the past seven seasons, demonstrating that constant managerial changes don’t always yield positive results.
The new front office, led by Chris Getz, believes that tweaking the coaching staff will address the team’s issues. In a move reminiscent of the NBA or NFL, they’ve brought in veteran coaches to support first-time manager Pedro Grifol. Charlie Montoyo, a former MLB manager, joins as a valuable addition. Despite this, four long-time coaches have been retained.
New additions to the coaching staff include Marcus Thames as hitting coach, Matt Wise as bullpen coach/assistant pitching coach, Jason Bourgeois as first base-outfield coach, Grady Sizemore as an outfield coach, and Drew Butera as catching coach. These experienced individuals aim to provide Grifol with the necessary support to lead the team effectively.
The rationale behind this move is to equip Grifol with veteran coaches, thereby improving the team’s performance. If the team shows improvement, it validates Grifol’s hiring. Conversely, continued struggles may lead to Grifol’s dismissal after the second season. The pressure is on Grifol to guide the 2024 Chicago White Sox to competitiveness, or he may find himself seeking employment elsewhere.
