“I’m liking what I’m hearing.”
If there is one thing to take away from Lance Lynn’s most recent interview with Parkins & Spiegel on 670 The Score, it’s that Lynn has been hearing good things from those around the league about new White Sox manager Pedro Grifol. Lynn said he does what most players do in this situation or any situation where they get a new teammate: ask those they know around the league about the new individual.
Lynn mentioned that he has heard a lot of good things and that teammates believe Lynn will enjoy Grifol: “… he brings a lot of energy and a lot of things that bring winning baseball to a team.”
In terms of what qualities stand out to people he’s talked to, Lynn also mentioned Grifol’s skills as a great communicator and someone who can get to know players on a personal level:
“You can’t have a one-way rope here… you have the ability to do multiple things, intertwine personalities… If you do things any one set way, you’re going to lose people… the ability to adapt and have respect and go about the game the right way, you can’t beat it.”
Lynn also mentioned that he talked with Mike Matheny, who was previously Lynn’s manager in St. Louis and the manager in Kansas City that Grifol worked under. Matheny spoke highly of Grifol and – in a word that was incredibly prevalent in Lynn’s interview – his ability to hold players accountable.
Indeed, the word “accountable” came up several times during Lynn’s interview, so it’s clear what the veteran felt may have been missing from Tony La Russa in the dugout in a failed 2022 season. Despite how a lot of people feel, Lynn also does see a lot of value in managers today:
“He’s your leader… they’re very important in the grand scheme of things if everybody buys into what they’re doing and what they’re about”
Lynn also mentioned that he and Grifol also spoke briefly yesterday when the news broke. While the two didn’t say much, Lynn said Grifol reached out just to say hello and let Lynn know he was looking forward to working with him and the rest of the team. While Lynn didn’t have any say in the managerial process, he’s clearly excited about what Grifol can bring to the team.
Finally, the veteran starting pitcher did mention that he did hear the news that Ethan Katz and Curt Hasler would be returning next season, and he expressed excitement about this and credited much of his and the pitching staff’s success to these two individuals.
Lynn didn’t leave the interview, however, without throwing some shade towards the division rival Cleveland Guardians. Responding to a question in which he was asked if he saw Cleveland’s celebrations in which they yelled “fuck the White Sox,” Lynn had this to say about what’s becoming a great AL Central rivalry:
“Yeah I saw it. I’ve never been one to worry about another team when I’ve been celebrating our team’s accomplishments. Obviously, they knew that we were better than them and they still wanted to talk about it. That’s just the way they feel, and that’s the beauty of rivalries in baseball … we were below them this year, and that’s what happens.”
Overall, Lynn feels that the chip on his shoulder that he and the rest of the organization will play with in 2023 will serve them well. He’s excited about bouncing back health-wise, with an understanding that his career is coming to a close and he won’t get too many more opportunities. Hopefully, he and the rest of the White Sox roster take these changes to heart and come back stronger in 2023.
“Last year for everyone… there’s a little kick in the area you don’t like in the way things went down last year… Everyone has a chip on their shoulder.”
You can listen to/watch the full interview with Lynn below.
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Featured Image: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
