Grady Sizemore, a former Boston Red Sox outfielder, got his first break at managing a big league club last season and it took a historically awful turn.
The Chicago White Sox promoted Sizemore to interim manager following their firing of Pedro Grifol in August, giving the 42-year-old a chance to showcase his leadership qualities. However, regardless of who stood at the top footstep of Chicago’s dugout, the franchise’s destiny was cemented and nothing could change that.
Still, Sizemore doesn’t consider Chicago’s 121-loss campaign, the all-time worst of any team in the modern era (since 1901) discouraging at all.
“It was quite a year,” Sizemore told MLB Network Radio Friday. “Not really having a lot of expectations going in and then kind of finishing where I did. I learned not only a lot about the team and the organization but you learn about yourself and just how you handle certain situations and how you work together as a unit. But it was a fun experience. It still kind of doesn’t feel real. For the first year, I think it went as good as it could’ve gone, personally.”
It’s hard to find a silver lining in being a member of baseball’s laughingstock franchise in 2024, but Sizemore wasn’t expected to uplift an already dead season. Chicago went 8-31 under Sizemore’s management, battling the lows of setting the American League record of 21 consecutive losses. But Sizemore’s patience and tutelage could pay off as the former All-Star player is expected to be considered as the full-time replacement as the newest White Sox skipper heading into 2025.
Needless to say, Sizemore would be all for the opportunity.
“I learned that I like working with players,” Sizemore said, per MLB Network Radio. “I like making an impact and I’m just trying to continue down that path of continuing to help guys, give back and be a difference maker any way I can.”
The White Sox have a few major decisions to make this offseason, besides filling their manager’s seat. Chicago already parted ways with infielder Yoán Moncada and has been linked to an outpouring of rumors centering around trade packages for pitcher Garrett Crochet. Considering the pitching market is in high demand, Crochet’s value could benefit the White Sox as they undergo a much-needed rebuild.
Chicago has reached the playoffs only twice in the past 16 seasons, suffering an early wild-card elimination both times.
