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 100 White Sox fans how to describe the 2022 season, and some form of the phrase “highly disappointing” will come up in two-thirds of their responses -- if not more.

But Pedro Grifol, as the Royals' bench coach, had a slightly different view of last season’s 81-81 Chicago squad. The new White Sox manager shared his thoughts when asked about the talented White Sox being mired in mediocrity.

“Well, yes and no, right? There were a lot of injuries, so very rarely did we play a full Chicago White Sox team,” Grifol said. “Them going 81-81 and at times playing with not the energy they’re capable of playing with and winning 81 games is, you almost look at them like, ‘Damn, you guys really are talented, because you had the injuries, the energy was off and on and you still won 81 games.'”

Don’t mistake Grifol’s cup-half-full answer as unwavering and somewhat unrealistic optimism. He was very impressive at the opening press conference and clearly won the interview process as referenced by White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, but now, the real work begins.

Grifol mentioned the club's energy -- or lack thereof -- five or six times during his introductory press conference and ensuing 30-minute interview session with media members. He understands that defense needs to improve, as do fundamentals and overall approach.

There was talk of incorporating more analytics to improve that process. He also stressed accountability and then reinforced the point with days off as an example.

“We’ve got to use our full roster,” Grifol said. “If we’re going to carry four extra guys, then we have got to use them and not just use it for them. We’ve got to use it to rest some of our main guys, and pair it up with days off, scheduled days off, which now gives them 48 hours to recover. My experiences are when they know when their days off are and when they can expect things, they give you a little extra knowing that they have light at the end of the tunnel.

“Some guys don’t need days off; some guys do. But you can definitely hold somebody accountable if you’re telling them they’re going to have a day off on Sunday and Monday, and they’re not giving you their very best on Friday. That’s the accountability stuff that I’m talking about, and that comes straight from communication and empowering them to be part of the process.”

Grifol’s first regular-season game as a manager will be on March 30 at Minute Maid Park against the World Series-champion Astros.