Two days after the Chicago White Sox’s historic losing streak ended, they decided to let go of their manager.
Manager Pedro Grifol has been fired, the White Sox announced on Thursday.
“As we all know, our team’s performance this season was disappointing on many levels,” White Sox senior vice president/general manager Chris Getz said in a statement. “Despite the difficulties on the field and the lack of success, we appreciate the dedication and professionalism that Pedro and the staff brought to the ballpark every day. These two seasons were very challenging. Unfortunately, the results were not there and a change is necessary as we look to our future and create a new energy for the team.”
The White Sox recently snapped a 21-game losing streak, tying the record for the longest losing streak in AL history and coming just two games shy of tying the record for the longest losing streak in MLB history.
Although the White Sox ended their losing streak with a win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, that streak was just the culmination of a bad year in Chicago. On Wednesday, the White Sox lost again, blowing a two-point lead against the Athletics and dropping their record to 28-89, the worst record in the 15-game MLB.
Chicago is on pace to finish 39-122, which would be the worst major league record since the National League’s Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134 in 1899.
Grifol was in the middle of his second season as a major league manager after a long career in football, boasting a record of 89-190.
He was the first manager to be sacked this season.
Chicago said a replacement will likely be hired after the season. Bench coach Charlie Montoyo was a possibility to take over as interim coach. He coached the Toronto Blue Jays from 2019 to 2022.
The White Sox had a 14-game losing streak from May 22 to June 6, setting a team single-season record that only stood until the losing streak following the All-Star break.
“My attitude and my perspective is that we are all in this together and I am the first to take the blame for everything that happens on this team. I am the manager, right? And that is what I have done from day one. I did it last year. I will do it again this year,” Grifol said on July 30. “I do not shirk blame. Blame is what it is. I have the position, the office, that is the chair. I would never blame our players for this season. That is not my nature.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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