Chicago White Sox fans react to manager Pedro Grifol being ejected by same umpire for second straight game: "Someone’s got a pulse on the south side"
Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol has had enough. A first-year manager for one of the worst teams in MLB, Grifol was ejected in the bottom of the first innings of Chicago's home game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Grifol was given the heave-ho in the second-straight game, and it was the same umpire — Marvin Hudson.
Grifol was displeased when the Tampa Bay starter plunked White Sox batter Andrew Vaughn with his next pitch after allowing a game-tying home run to Chicago's Luis Robert.
: @NBCSChicagoWhite Sox manager Pedro Grifol has been ejected for the second straight night by the same umpire
🎥: @NBCSChicago https://t.co/KQ1cEucwGg
Things were supposed to be different for the Chicago White Sox this season. The outfield was shuffled to make it less horrific defensively. The team did lose first baseman Jose Abreu via free agency to the Houston Astros. However, it was believed that the White Sox still possessed enough offense to be successful when paired with what was thought to be a starting pitching staff.
Nearly into the regular season, all of those plans have been cast asunder. The White Sox entered Friday with a 7-19 record after being pounded 14-5 in the series opener Thursday night by Tampa Bay, just days after the Rays swept Chicago at Tropicana Field.
Many fans feel Grifol is busting out all the tricks in his playbook to get his team to show some signs of life.
@StoolBaseball Someone got a pulse on the south side
@MLBONFOX @NBCSChicago At least someone is showing fire
@MLBONFOX @NBCSChicago he’s faking outrage to try and jumpstart that miserable team
Last offseason, the Chicago White Sox cast off a geriatric manager in Tony La Russa, who was caught multiple times by television cameras nodding off in the dugout. They installed a younger manager more in tune with the modern game in Grifol.
However, many fans aren't sure if the team has just traded one grouchy curmudgeon for another after seeing Grifol's antics.
@MLBONFOX @NBCSChicago Unprofessional and pathetic…and he did make contact with the Umpire! Fine them! They’d be better off with Charlie Montoyo as the Manager anyways. It was due to an injury. It’s not the umpires fault that the #WHITESOX suck as their obvious 7-19 record speaks for itself…#RAYSUP
@MLBONFOX @NBCSChicago https://t.co/7j0gPpR3SX
@MLBONFOX @NBCSChicago I see that Tony La Russa hasn’t left Chicago yet
As the Chicago White Sox continue to sink to the bottom of the American League standings, the new manager is finding himself more and more in the crosshairs of fan angst.
However, not all Chicagoans believe the team's lethargic performances are Grifol's fault. Some Kansas City Royals fans and their team are also having a pathetic start to the season, hoping Grifol would have stayed. He was a part of the Royals organization since 2013.
🏽@StoolBaseball Grifol doesn’t deserve the backlash he’s getting for this shit ass roster 👎🏽
@StoolBaseball royals should of gave him the job
Other fans just love seeing passion on the ballfield, and some think it makes for a great wagering opportunity.
@StoolBaseball Smash the moneyline. This is how you end a losing streak.
@StoolBaseball Baseball baby. Great clip.
Chicago White Sox quickly falling out of sight in AL Central
The American League Central was thought to be for the White Sox's taking before the 2022 season began. However, Chicago had to rally late in the campaign to clinch just a 81-81 record. With LaRussa out and Grifol in, as well as the roster tweaks made to the team, many figured the White Sox to be much more competitive this season.
However, as Friday's games began, Chicago was already eight games off the pace of the division-leading Minnesota Twins and threatened to drop into divisional oblivion if things don't change soon.