The White Sox have finalized their coaches under first-year skipper Pedro Grifol. Chicago announced the entire staff this afternoon, including the addition of José Castro as hitting coach. Eddie Rodríguez, who had spent the past three seasons working with Grifol as the Royals’ minor league field coordinator, joins Chicago as third base coach. Mike Tosar and Geoff Head join the big league staff as major league field coordinator and senior director of sports performance, respectively.
Chicago also confirmed the previously-reported hires of Charlie Montoyo as bench coach and former MLB third baseman Chris Johnson as assistant hitting coach. Previous bench coach/interim manager Miguel Cairo and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark are no longer on staff. Pitching coach Ethan Katz and bullpen coach Curt Hasler were already known to be returning from Tony La Russa’s 2022 staff. Daryl Boston is the other holdover, as the Sox announced today he’d return as first base coach.
The most notable news is the tabbing of Castro as hitting coach. The 64-year-old has spent the past eight seasons as an assistant hitting coach in Atlanta. A native of Cuba, Castro played 14 minor league seasons between 1977-90. He’s spent the past three-plus decades in various instructional roles, including a stint as interim hitting coach with the 2008 Mariners. This’ll be his first time taking the lead role on a full-time basis.
Castro was one of two assistant hitting coaches in Atlanta, pairing in that role with Bobby Magallanes. Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Braves don’t plan on replacing him, instead letting hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and Magallanes handle those responsibilities.
Was hoping they’d hire Chip Kelly to bring in his high powered offense.
As a current Bruin, we would like to keep Chip here in LA even if DTR embarks to better places (I hope my seahawks nab him)
Ha, I see what you did there. Well played Sir/Madame, well played
Seems like the Sox could use someone to take a prominent leadership role with the team. CHW underperformed last year, in large part due to injuries, but still had fairly potent offensive team potential.
I wonder if the right team leadership would be able to right the ship.
“Team Leadership” won’t make a lineup hit better. I think it’s time people wake up and stop kidding themselves about the potent White Sox offensive. They’re still one or two sluggers away from that, and they refuse to spend the money required to fill that void. Swapping out Abreu with Vaughn will be a push, as they put up similar numbers. Only now, they’ll have Vaughn at the proper position at 1st instead of chasing down balls in the outfield. That should keep him healthy all season long. I believe he’ll be an All Star caliber player now. Ditto for Eloy at DH. Now they have two gaping holes to field at both corner outfield positions. Watch them screw this up and waste another season gambling on mediocre options. Whatever saves Jerry more dough, I guess. smdh
Yeah, I certainly agree with you there. They need more offense. I meant that their offense was far more potent (potentially) than how it performed in 2022.
They need to make a move to acquire a solid bat, at least. I don’t know that JR is going to do that, however, as they’re slated to start the season at $173MM already.
I certainly feel for you. He can do it…it’s a matter of whether he wants to.
Yes, the Sox need corner OFs and a left handed bat, but when are they going to address the problem at 2b? The FO never mentions it. If they intend to use utility players Leury Garcia and minor leaguer Romy Gonzales then it will be two seasons in a row without a 2b man.
Gleyber Torres is available…..
With the exception of missing a few games after splitting his lip due to a ricochet off a HBP, I don’t recall Vaughn missing any playing time this past season.
Maybe not, but Vaughn had tired legs most of the 2nd half and should have been rested more often.
They were 7th highest in payroll last, so Jerry is spending money, but not spending it effectively
That’s been my gripe with Reinsdorf. He consistently spends money on mediocre rosters the last 40 years. I’m don’t know what motivates him to do this purposely, but he clearly doesn’t care about winning. It’s like he signed a non-compete agreement or something. Recently, he only spends money on pitching, but ignores more pressing needs that would have instantly put the team in contention.
The Sox seem to be the only large market team that strongly believes in the ‘luck’ principle: That if you plug the lineup with enough ‘what ifs’ and ‘hopes’ that somehow you will win a WS. One can argue that is how they won in 05, but that’s not really a recipe to win or at least win consistently.. JR could go after top FAs, but asks Hahn to go find the ‘what if’s to fill out the roster and never get a guy thats good ‘now’ as that would cost too much, instead go after the guys who were good.. 5 seasons prior, and are on the scrapheap (or at least tail end of their careers) and ‘hope’ that they turn it around for the season and that your other ‘what ifs’ and ‘hopes’ pan out too.
nrd, ditto for the Halos.
You do realize that Jerry Reinsdorf is the owner and not the GM or directly involved in baseball operations, just checking
He hired the last Manager so don’t say he’s not the GM
Spot on
He’s a terrible coach Good God watch the Games
Yes he is he hired LaRussa
All this shrill shouting and hand wringing. Underperformance relative to expectations, a big yes. But for all the “lets just blow the team up” posts they were still an 81 win team despite missing TA, Lance, Grandal, Robert et al for big stretches, and were coming off consecutive playoff teams. Not a bad place to start for new management.
They really do seem only a key acquisition or two away from having an excellent lineup. From an outside perspective, and the obvious underperformance aside, injuries really seemed to derail their team. They couldn’t get their lineup healthy and contributing at the same time…. And they still won 81 games as you point out.
Same for their pitching. Looking at the rotation of Lynn, Giolito, Kopech, Cease…. If they can stay healthy, that’s a lot of firepower.
I don’t know how true it is but I’ve heard/read a lot about the lack of leadership among the players, which can also make a big impact because they’re so young.
The problem is its always that way for the Sox.. ‘If this guy does this’ or ‘that guy does that’, if they get that one FA to round out the team, if they stay healthy..if if if if. I also think we saw Giolito’s ceiling about 2 seasons ago, he is a 3rd starter at best from appearances from last season, and Lynn is another injury away from being retired.. Kopech has to reach his potential(for the record I think he can) and Cease, well lets hope we do not see a Gio-esce type of fall after his breakout year. Lack of leadership is an interesting comment as well, considering everyone was fawning over what the ‘great leader’ Abreu was.. (was he was not last season at least).
Really? Can’t get rid of Daryl Boston? Why? The Sox just need to hang onto some outdated ineptitude tied to Jerry Reinsdorf just to keep the mediocre alive and well.
Some things never change.
Really? You’re complaining about a firstbase coach who’s done a good job from day one? It’s a clear indication you know nothing about baseball.
And what do you base that on ? He’s a good coach ? Really ? Dude keep hitting that blunt
Isn’t he the outfield coach? They had a good one last year….
You are thoroughly clueless.
For those who haven’t read: slate.com/culture/2020/01/mets-rape-accusation-spr…
what dirt does daryl boston have on jerry reinsdorf?
First TA, now Boston. I’m starting to see a trend here.
Erm, maybe you should note of the content of their character first?
He is the least Jose Castro looking guy I’ve ever seen.
Man, this coaching staff is pathetic.
miltpappas;
The Cuban thing is totally out of hand.
Father of Juan Castro.
The criteria for an MLB batting coach should be a lifetime.300 average with at least 3k at bat’s in the big leagues, it amazes me how many guys that couldn’t hit mlb pitching are hired as mlb hitting coaches. In this case, 14 years in the minors, wow.
Thats a dumb comment. The Blue Jays led baseball with a .264 avg, were 3rd in OBP, Slugging, and OPS, 4th in baseball in runs scored and 7th in HR’s. Their hitting coach? A 38 year old former White Sox draftee who never took an AB in the MLB.
Players who rarely player – most notably catchers – sometimes make the best managers and coaches because they watch so much. They don’t have to worry about their next AB or turn in the field. The smart ones watch and learn. I don’t really know anything about these new coaches but I’m willing to wait and see what they can do. can’t be worse than this season’s coaches.
leftykoufax;
Your comment is assuming that Sandy Koufax would have been a great pitching coach.
And he could have if the pitchers on his staff could throw a fastball and curve like he did.
Fact is that many natural hitters and pitchers had the ability to do things so effortlessly that they don’t have a clue what other pitchers and hitters are working through.
Arguably the best hitting coach in MLB today is Kevin Long. He never got promoted to MLB from the minors.
Samuel, actually, Sandy helped many a dodger pitcher,withou the pitching coach title. Guys like Don Sutton, Jerry Ruess etc.
@lefty, you do realize that based on just one element of your criteria, that would create a list of only 176 names. Some of those 176 names have passed on, shrinking that list even more. Add in, that’s a list that hasn’t even been checked to see if they have your required 3000 ABs.
Also on that list, Robinson Cano. What advice do you suppose he’d give a young hitter?
“Avoid the clap.”
-Jimmy Dugan
@Trumbo:…..”and don’t whizz on your cleats”….like a piker would.
Nashville!!!!!!!!!!! Where have you been all my life friendo?!?!?!? Pikers are munning amok on this site as of late!!! We need your prescence!.
Lol. Hey Trumbo….been dealing w/holiday issues. I’ll be around more once the Hot Stove heats up during/after the Winter meetings next week.
Haven’t you ever heard the saying those that can’t do teach??
Some of the best hitting coaches were never the best hitters themselves. Just like some of the best pitching coaches are not and have not been amazing pitchers themselves back in their day…
I wonder how many guys with that criteria are even interested in being MLB hitting coaches? Sure some, and I am sure you and others can rattle off their names.
Darren Balsley was a highly touted pitching coach for SD for many years. He never played in the majors.
I think a lot of people who go into MLB coaching are interested in getting 10 years in the majors to get the pension. I don’t know if Jose Castro can make it.
Daryl Boston = The Worst
Ozzie Guillen is a big fan of Castro.
I read this as Jason Castro. I was very confused..
Grr, hate to see Nachi leave us!
I’ve never seen a First Base Coach garner as much disdain as Darryl Boston is right now.
That said, I’ve always wondered, when Darryl Boston played for the Yankees in 1994 was it hard for Yankee fans to root for a guy named “Boston”?…
Read up about his days with the Mets…it is ugly…off the field!
Its widely known that Boston is Kenny Williams’ eyes and ears in the clubhouse. That is why he keeps his job.
Do a Google search about Daryl Boston and his alleged association/involvement in some seriously wrong behavior while a New York Met. It is not a pretty read…tragic and sad….and criminal. As stated…allegations but this is one of the results that Google search would find:
slate.com/culture/2020/01/mets-rape-accusation-spr…
Quick glance it looks like Mark Melancon just older lol
The problem with this Sox team has not been improved at this time from what I have seen done so far. Yeah there is a lot of time between now and even Spring training, but seeing the track record for the Sox over 30 years I hold out little hope it gets better.. hoping Hahn and Co surprise me, but I doubt it will happen.. Cancelling Sox fest should speak volumes about the FO’s ‘plans’ for this off season.
The problem still is lack of heart, you still have the same guys that spent more time on the bench, than producing in the lineup, in the lineup for this coming year. One hopes that the new coaching staff kicks these guys in the butt and demands more out of them, but last I checked the ‘conditioning staff’ (to put it loosely) is coming back again as well, so expect more injuries that athletes should not even get (and do not see in such numbers on other clubs in the league).
Also expect more injuries to guys like Lynn (that dude is big and his knees are not getting any younger), and now Clevinger, so expect the Sox to be missing probably about 2/5ths of their rotation throughout the year. Figure the Sox will also be missing most of their ‘core’ players due to injuries to where at least 1/3rd of their lineup is on the shelf throughout the year as well. Pessimistic? Sure, but what have the Sox really shown us over the past 2 seasons that tells us any different?
This team does not look like a team to even be going for a playoff spot this season, they just do not… All I see from the optimist fans comments are filled with a lot of ‘what if’ ‘hopes’ and ‘buts’ when talking about the upcoming season for this club. The hard facts are you see all the names bantered about in the league that are available and what do the Sox do? Sign a starting pitcher with a bad recent injury history. They let Abreu go as well, but I do not see that as much of a loss as many others apparently do. Here is to hoping more is done, but Im not holding my breath, not with this front office.
I agree on the Abreu thing. As I’ve stated before, Vaughn can pretty much hit at the level Abreu did last season. His power numbers were better than Abreu’s last season with less AB’s.
The Sox did bring in a new conditioning guy from the Reds so we’ll have to see how that goes. Lynn pitched fine after he got over his injuries and frankly I’m more concerned with Kopech. I’m not ripping on him but he seems fragile much like 2 or 3 position players. I didn’t mind the Clevinger signing until I saw it was for $12 mil. but that’s how Hahn works.
Hahn needs to get a quality 2B and a corner OF and hope that Colas is ready. If he does that AND the team stays pretty healthy I think they can win the divison. Yep, lots of if’s but it’s till a talented team. That they kind of raided the Royals coaching staff is concerning but it’s the White Sox way.