And the Scales Fell From His Eyes

Color me wrong and surprised. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is in fact capable of criticizing his team, if in general terms only. It only took losing three out of four in Kansas City to get him there. The Sox lost 4-3 on a safety-squeeze walk-off, Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez looking part-sloth, part-walrus trying to field the ball. As for the rest of the game, Royals’ starter Brady Singer came in with a 2-4 record and 8.82 ERA. Holy Lance Lynn! Singer limited Sox hitters to one run on five hits and two walks over six innings. After the game, Grifol let loose, telling reporters, “We go outplayed in the series. Flat out.” Grifol also said he was disappointed by the “lack of urgency” his team shows at times. “Absolutely. I am. Absolutely. That starts with me. So we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be better as a staff. We’ve got to be better as a ballclub.” The above comes from today’s Tribune, with basically the same remarks appearing in the Sun-Times. Funny, sort of, that the team website didn’t include the “outplayed” comment. You’d almost have to wonder how beat writer Scott Merkin missed that while quoting Grifol on the lack of urgency. Interesting. Grifol wouldn’t offer specific examples for what’s bothering him, so I’ll offer a few of my own. The Sox tied the score—remember, they were handcuffed by Singer and his sky-high ERA—in the eighth with a two-out, two-run double from Luis Robert Jr. off of Aroldis Chapman. Seby Zavala could not strike out quick enough to strand Robert. The top of the ninth went one-two-three and out, after which enter Lopez. Calling on him, my friends, is playing with fire, as evidenced by his leadoff walk to Nick Pratto. One out later, Matt Duffy singled Pratto to third, and Freddy Fermin followed with his bunt. From the moment of Robert’s double, I didn’t see that sense of urgency Grifol alluded to, either from Sox hitters or Lopez, though Joe Kelly, bless him, turned in his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance. I’ve said this before, and it bears repeating—something’s wrong with Tim Anderson, as evidenced by a .253 BA and five RBIs. If Grifol wants to salvage this season and his reputation (it’s going to get ugly each time he steps out of the during this upcoming homestand), he needs to get through to Anderson. Otherwise, move over Don Gutteridge and the 1970 White Sox. You’re going to have company.