White Sox fans received an off-day treat when the team announced the end of manager Pedro Grifol’s tenure. They shared the news of his dismissal early this morning.

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— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 8, 2024

The ax finally fell on Grifol as the White Sox careen towards their most disastrous season ever. A 28-89 record, bookended by a horrific 3-22 start and a post-All-Star collapse, made the decision inevitable. Breaking a 21-game losing streak was a cruel twist of fate and only a temporary reprieve. It was clear months ago that the South Siders needed a new voice in the dugout, as the leash on Pedro stretched far beyond its breaking point.

For a couple of hours, fans eagerly speculated about who would step in as the interim manager. The organization finally ended the suspense by dropping a press release outlining the temporary skipper and additional moves.

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— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 8, 2024

Grady Sizemore, a former All-Star player for the Cleveland Guardians, joined the Sox coaching staff earlier this season and will slide over to the hot seat. His previous experience included serving in the minor leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Guardians. According to General Manager Chris Getz, Chicago selected Sizemore in the interim because players have gravitated toward and related well to him during his time in the clubhouse this season.

Then, at 11:30 a.m., Getz addressed the media and answered reporters’ questions for 45 minutes. There was A LOT of information to sort through in this one. Here are some of the highlights:

• Ultimately, the decision regarding the departure resulted from “misalignments” and different philosophies. Conversations have been going on for some time regarding the direction of the team and whether or not Pedro should be a part of it moving forward.
• A new manager will come from outside the organization and is someone who is currently in uniform with another team. The search will be broad, and Getz already has some targets, but they will not announce a decision until after the season ends.
• The new manager will also get to choose their own staff, although the front office and new skipper will discuss some of those individuals already on board and possibly retain them.
• Getz will be addressing the players tomorrow about why the decision was made and what to expect in the future.
• The Sox are not “too far off” from being competitive, but he did not provide a specific timeline. He emphasized that the team will spend money to supplement the roster when the time comes.

Finally, when asked to evaluate his own progress, Getz said he was proud of the good things that had happened so far in his tenure. He touted the improvement in the farm system and the fact that change takes more than six months.

As fans, we know that the firing was simply an optics move. Shuffling the deck chairs does not really change anything systematically, and I believe a comprehensive search will occur when I see it. Call me skeptical because of how the last four years have played out.

I’m most optimistic about how Sizemore and staff will handle the flux of young, minor-league talent that should be arriving in Chicago soon. With Grifol’s handling of players like Oscar Colás, it can only get better, I hope. So, here’s to the last 45 games, White Sox fans! Sit back and strap it down.