Sox Machine Podcast
ByJosh Nelson
55 Comments
Record Date: 6/9/2024
Rundown
- [Intro] White Sox split a four-game series against Boston but had an excellent chance of winning the series. But Martin Maldonado, again, couldn’t muster any offense which has led to manager Pedro Grifol defending his honor
- [11:37]USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that Pedro Grifol is not at risk of an imminent dismissal.
- [16:30]Gavin Sheets and Paul DeJong are on a roll
- [25:45]Josh thinks there is too much Duke Ellis in recent White Sox games
- [30:30]Hello, Drew Thorpe
- [38:23]Series Preview: Seattle Mariners
- [49:12]Around MLB: the London Series and Aaron Judge is slugging over .700
Josh Nelson Josh Nelson is the host and producer of the Sox Machine Podcast. For show suggestions, guest appearances, and sponsorship opportunities, you can reach him via email at josh@soxmachine.com. View all posts
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Al Kohallik
1 day ago
Good morning all……..I was just wondering did CWS put a claim in on Orioles RP Bauman who was traded to Seattle seems like he filled a need the team has.
StockroomSnail
Reply to Al Kohallik
15 hours ago
Reply fail
Last edited 15 hours ago by StockroomSnail
upnorthsox
1 day ago
Korey ran a stretch of 10-11 games in a row? Are we talking about his time in the Astros minor league system or are we just lying now.
3
ForsterFTOG
Reply to upnorthsox
1 day ago
Glad someone else noticed this.
I thought maybe I misheard it when Grifoul said it.
1
Steve
Reply to upnorthsox
1 day ago
Pedro played Lee at DH regularly over that stretch when he could have rested him or kept him as a potential PH for Maldonado.
upnorthsox
Reply to Steve
1 day ago
He literally had the day off the day before on Saturday and the day off again on Sunday, and a DH day off on Tuesday, and a team day off on Monday, and a day off on the 30th, and a day off on the 27th, and a day off on the 25th…
4
upnorthsox
Reply to Steve
1 day ago
Just a reminder that Maldonado since the beginning of May is 2 for 49 with a .041/.078/.041 slash and 23 Ks.
2
upnorthsox
Reply to Steve
1 day ago
Not picking on you Steve but to complete a thought…
The only logical conclusion you can draw from this is that Grifol thinks so little of Korey Lee’s game that he would rather have a man who he admits can’t hit and who’s defensive metrics say he may be one of the worse in the league, and who’s only remaining quality is indescribable, than have Korey Lee behind the plate.
I wish someone would ask him what he thinks of Korey Lee given his stance on Maldonado.
2
roke1960
Reply to upnorthsox
1 day ago
We have already figured out that Pedro is one of the worst managers of all time, but then he opens his mouth and actually gets worse.
8
PauliePaulie
1 day ago
No Crochet trade. No Robert Jr trade.
Refusal to make the tough decisions will guarantee another decade of mired in mediocrity.
HallofFrank
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
I’ve been vocal about wanting them to keep those guys and try in 2025 but I fear you’re right: trying in 2025 only works if you try. Keeping Grifol all year already handicaps them for 2025 and I’m skeptical JR will care to re-invest money back into the team, despite all his posturing about turning things around quickly.
7
dwjm3
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
Trading them could be a mess as well. We have an inexperienced front office that isn’t proven. We could be screwed if we keep them and screwed if we trade them. There is no clear path to safety with this ownership and management team.
2
Sox-n-Oz
1 day ago
Jim, don’t snooze on the Brits. They front ran MLB with cheap looking unis and won one (V. Columbia) in last year WBC! Could be tough in ‘26.
HallofFrank
1 day ago
I made it out to the Kentucky College World Series clincher last night vs. Oregon State. I see a guy walking our way with an OSU hat and White Sox jersey—which, let me tell you, is a rarity in Lexington, KY. I elbowed by buddy and said, “Five bucks says that’s a Madrigal jersey.” Nailed it.
7
upnorthsox
1 day ago
So no blame for Grifol who is just a victim of circ*mstance but when it comes to players there is no such leniency as they have DFA’d or Optioned 29 times in the first 1/3rd of this season.
2
PauliePaulie
Reply to upnorthsox
1 day ago
Not just Grifol. No blame for anyone. Pedro, Tony, Chris ad Jerry are all doing great work. As they discussed in the pod, the total lack of accountability continues unabated.
7
As Cirensica
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
To use Jim’s words, the net of accountability is so wide and thick, you would think the FO/Coaches unit is part of Petoria
1
upnorthsox
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
Agreed.
1
South Side Hit Men
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
Agreed. Still believe Tony plays(ed) a major if not the deciding role in most key decisions this decade, with the exception of the time he was recovering from his personal illness.
- 2021-2022 Roster decisions.
- 2023 coup of Kenny and Hahn.
- Instillation of Getz, who he can control.
- Continued adding and prioritizing of playing older veterans during a time they should be evaluating prospects (Age 24-27).
Per the Baseball Cube, the White Sox where dead last in MLB payroll the final three seasons at Comiskey Park. I expect the same during the final years of the current lease as long as Jerry is alive or his heirs control the team.
3
zerobs
1 day ago
Grifool isn’t a manager, he’s a bureaucrat. Apparently that is what Jerry wants so I have no confidence any replacement approved by Jerry will be any better.
5
ForsterFTOG
Reply to zerobs
1 day ago
To me, Grifol’s more of a patsy.
1
StockroomSnail
Reply to zerobs
14 hours ago
Comrade Grifol
ForsterFTOG
1 day ago
Disagree about Duke Ellis.
He’s the fun bad this shiite show has been missing.
2
Chris
1 day ago
Don’t be surprised if Ebenezer Reinsdorf keeps Gri-Fail in the dugout in 2025 to run out his contract.
At this point all Ebenezer Reinsdorf cares about is his bank statement. Plus as long as that miserly old bastard continues to waste oxygen…. Sox won’t get anyone competent to mange the team. They keep falling further and further into the abyss. In my opinion, they have past the point of no return.
And the fact they are over estimating the value of Robert and Crochet by the other MLB teams…. They will end up with nothing when both players leave or get hurt and become untrade-able.
They are not going to be competitive next year, let alone 5 years from now. This is just a total excitement pile of a once proud franchise.
8
As Cirensica
Reply to Chris
1 day ago
I think I am alone on this, but handing out 3 years contract to managers (specially 1st year managers) is a terrible idea.
6
soxsince70
Reply to As Cirensica
1 day ago
I agree.
JazznFunk
Reply to As Cirensica
1 day ago
I imagine organizations want to avoid a lame duck situation and uncomfortable questions whether a manager will be extended
As Cirensica
Reply to JazznFunk
1 day ago
Nobody cares about lame duck and uncomfortable situations with a first year manager called Pedro Nobody Grifol.
Sure, it is a valid statement if we are talking about Terry Francona or Craig Counsell or Kevin Cash.
1
JazznFunk
Reply to As Cirensica
1 day ago
I think it is generally true that GMs don’t want to immediately answer whether they are committed to a new hire or why they didn’t give a longer deal to show they are committed. Similarly, managers don’t want to answer whether they expect to get an extension
As Cirensica
Reply to JazznFunk
23 hours ago
Well, by giving 3 years contracts to an unproven manager, they are shooting themselves in the foot, and it is a choice. It is stupid. I am 100% fine if a first time manager rejects a 1 or 2 year deal. They can’t be divas.
John
Reply to As Cirensica
1 day ago
Had this exact thought. I’m ok with giving a proven manager like Cash or Counsell a longer deal, but no rookie manager should get more than two years, maybe with a vesting manager option based on wins or playoff trips.
1
Chris
Reply to As Cirensica
23 hours ago
If they are team options…. no it’s not bad. But, two years to start with a rookie manager (especially with the clown show organization…) may not be a bad idea.
1
soxsince70
Reply to Chris
1 day ago
This is why I switched to rooting for the Phillies and Orioles.At least they are competitive and have a great chance to make the playoffs.Being a Sox fan is banging your head against the wall and wondering why you have a headache.
2
roke1960
Reply to Chris
1 day ago
Q. How does Pedro still have a job?
A. Jerry is still alive.
3
JazznFunk
1 day ago
There is a logic to hanging onto Grifol longer so he becomes a fall guy, create the sense the team is turning the page. That only works until fans realize they have been duped or if things actually get better. We saw this after TLR. A hope that he had been the core of the problem.
1
Steve
1 day ago
Live look in on Jim’s drive Knoxville.
StockroomSnail
1 day ago
Does Pedro stammer more when he knows he’s wrong?
As Cirensica
Reply to StockroomSnail
1 day ago
I think he talks more
1
upnorthsox
Reply to StockroomSnail
1 day ago
Are you saying he’s tipping his pitches?
3
MonicaMG
1 day ago
Josh hating on Paris for dropping baseball for the Olympics when London did the same thing in 2012.
But I guess the series boils down to where they can sell tickets.
bobsquad
1 day ago
TLR repeatedly surfacing in the Smokies gives off a lot of smoke of Sergio Santos managerial grooming.
3
bobsquad
Reply to bobsquad
1 day ago
My Charlie Day Pepe Silvia conspiracy board has Getz having already decided on Santos for manager, but waiting out the Barons to win the AA first half to give Pedro the boot.
A bunch of AA guys are already on the roster (Eder, Iriarte) or needing to be added before the Rule 5 deadline (Veras, Tatum, Bush, Hoopii-Tuionetoa). Santos would be the logical manager for when Getz directs Project Birmingham 2: Chicago this fall.
Adam
Reply to bobsquad
1 day ago
100% behind this idea. I’ve heard Santos on a few podcasts, he’s already a way better communicator than Pedro. His built in relationships and history of winning with Birmingham bring rapport and credibility to at least a portion of the team. He can relate to both sides of the ball. I think he’d be the perfect guy to start to grow with. I think as a former Sox player there is also more of a positive pr wise from the fans.
GrinnellSteve
Reply to Adam
1 day ago
He’s the perfect candidate for the Sox.
1
PauliePaulie
Reply to bobsquad
1 day ago
Ticks every box of a JR hire/promotion. Almost too obvious.
Can already picture the gushing praise fron Merkin, Garfein and Thomas and blathering how important familiarity and continuity are.
2
Adam
Reply to PauliePaulie
1 day ago
In fairness to Sergio, this is his first year in the org as a minor league manager. He managed the Yankees high A to the playoffs last year so there is a difference of having success elsewhere in a highly thought of organization. Obviously 2 minor league seasons isn’t the greatest resume but if Birmingham continues he can at least say he’s won every year he’s managed. That does beat out the current guys credentials by miles
upnorthsox
Reply to Adam
1 day ago
I would still prefer a manager with experience but I at least acknowledge the attraction.
1
Adam
Reply to upnorthsox
1 day ago
Yep, understood. It’s probably the smarter way to go. We’ve royally screwed up the last 2 managers so get a known commodity you can trust.
My preference for Santos is thinking the spending in fa probably won’t happen to the degree it solves problems, so the max ceiling is to ensure the kids thrive as much as possible. Santos is starting to see some traction there. He had Thorpe and Spencer Jones last year and hell pretty much every Baron has progressed (except Ramos) this year. It could be a mirage of having top talent or it could be something he’s doing right.
bobsquad
Reply to Adam
1 day ago
Some recent ex-players have become managerial fixtures with arguably less experience.
Stephen Vogt: 1 year Mariners bullpen/QC coach
Alex Cora: 1 year Astros bench coach
Gabe Kapler: 3 years Dodgers PD director, managed Team Israel
Craig Counsell: none
StockroomSnail
Reply to bobsquad
14 hours ago
Maybe they just have good booze there?
RayHerbert
1 day ago
Why DFA Drohan?
upnorthsox
Reply to RayHerbert
1 day ago
He’s not worth a 40-man spot?
Or, He’s not worth a 40-man spot.
1
Ben
1 day ago
It seems like everyday there is a new topic that Grifol refuses to talk about everyday.
1
As Cirensica
Reply to Ben
1 day ago
And yet, he still talks a lot about it.
upnorthsox
1 day ago
Stassi just got season ending hip surgery, so any chance of him replacing Maldonado just got hip checked.
Last edited 1 day ago by upnorthsox
