Sizemore bringing new energy to White Sox

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Ask Chris Getz how deep the list of candidates for the next White Sox manager currently runs, and the organization’s general manager will talk of how that list is still being built.

His response makes sense, considering it hasn’t even been one week since Getz dismissed Pedro Grifol.

Names such as Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Tigers bench coach George Lombard and Cubs third-base coach Willie Harris figure to be three of the many who will be under consideration, with Getz looking for someone outside the organization but in uniform. Let’s also not forget about Grady Sizemore.

• Sox dump whatever's at hand on Sizemore in first-win celebration

Sure, it’s been three games since Sizemore moved from Major League coach for the White Sox to interim manager on Aug. 8, but there’s a noticeable difference in the team. It’s there in the manner of play. It’s the energy in the dugout and the clubhouse -- evident by Sizemore’s animated reaction to Andrew Benintendi’s two-out walk loading the bases in the ninth inning of Friday’s 7-6 loss to the Cubs for further proof.

It's the way Sizemore has carried himself with the players and with the media. And this is from a 42-year-old who admittedly didn’t love doing interviews when he was an All-Star outfielder with Cleveland, making his answers purposely bland 15 to 20 years ago.

“I just always felt uncomfortable,” Sizemore said. “If I could go back, I’d probably tell that younger self to embrace it more and have fun with it. But I really just didn’t like the attention.”

Media attention now covers two press sessions per day for Sizemore, and he’s handled it with honesty and humor. Look at his response concerning Triple Crown threat and American League Most Valuable Player contender Aaron Judge in questions prior to Monday’s series opener.

“We’re going to be extremely careful,” said Sizemore of how they would manage Judge. “That guy does a lot of damage.”

"Don’t people come out to see Judge play?" Sizemore was asked.

“Yeah, I’m not worried about anyone else,” a smiling Sizemore said. “They can go buy another ticket somewhere else. I’m going to try to minimize his damage, as much as I can.”

Sizemore has spoken about love for his players and his pride in the way they have performed over three games, while his charges have talked about the respect they have for an individual who played at least 157 games every season from 2005-08. An interesting question arises from this connection to Sizemore: What exactly do White Sox players want to see in their next manager?

“You want someone that’s well respected in the clubhouse,” White Sox catcher Korey Lee said. “You want someone that is easy to talk to. You want someone who is going to be fair for you.”

“The biggest thing is just a guy who is always positive, has experience with the game, whether he played or has been around for some time,” first baseman Andrew Vaughn said. “Someone that brings a vibe and helps get the guys together.”

This Sizemore support certainly isn’t meant as direct shots at Grifol and his staff, where Sizemore began. It wasn’t so much that Grifol didn’t work out based on wins and losses, as the next manager potentially will have to deal with his share of lean times during the rebuild.

Something just seemed to be missing, and Sizemore almost immediately has provided that boost, that intangible. Maybe it’s because Sizemore is managing for the moment and not thinking about 2025.

“Nothing’s guaranteed,” Sizemore said. “So I feel like I’ve got something good and [I want to] hold onto it right now and play it like it’s my last opportunity.

“Guys are in this career their whole lives, and maybe you never even get an interview or maybe you never get that job. I don’t know where I’ll be. I didn’t walk in here this year ever thinking this was a possibility.”