Grady Sizemore – Offensive Coordinator

We have a little over one week in the rearview mirror since the White Sox announced their 2025 MLB coaching staff. To the shock of some, the coaching staff that closed out the losing-est campaign in memory mostly returned. Ethan Katz, being the most tenured, stayed, as well as season long colleagues Marcus Thames, Drew Butera, Jason Bourgeois and Matt Wise. They are joined by Justin Jirschele. Who was bumped to the big club late in the season during the Grifol management team termination. However, the most interesting retention for me is Grady Sizemore.

Sizemore was the unlikely late season replacement for Pedro Grifol. This assignment came shortly after the worst losing streak in the American League in four decades. I say unlikely, because Grady was yanked straight to the big chair from the job of Major League Coach. Whatever that was.

Of course once Sizemore took over, he was lauded with compliments. The 26 man roster loved him. The front office members (Getz and Barfield) that put him in position, LOVED HIM! The reflexive behavior of all involved lead me to curiously await the announcement of the 2025 staff and see how he would be deployed.

And in turn how his deployment may directly or indirectly effect the White Sox rookie manager Will Venable. I plan to do a deep dive on the Venable hire in due time. It probably won’t be exactly like my too early deep dive on Grifol, but I feel I owe it to yous to give him the full treatment. Anywho, let’s look at this assignment and see how Sizemore could effect the White Sox dugout.

Why It’s Good He’s NOT the Bench Coach

On a recent 108 podcast, we discussed whether or not manager Will Venable should be worried about Grady Sizemore being on his bench during the 2025 season. Once you get past 90 seconds of MySoxSummer filibustering you get to the meat of the convo. If you lack the interest or attention span to watch a 7 minute video, I’ll give you the cliff’s notes below.

Sizemore interviewed for the manager job and likely wanted it, so sitting him right next to Venable could create problems with Sizemore undermining the skipper. Specific problems could be, interactions with media or other teams. These issues could also extend to the player base with which Grady already has a great relationship and Venable may be trying to establish a relationship.

Lastly and probably most importantly, the concern that Grady Sizemore could become a Daryl Boston style mole. His relationship with the front office is well established. In fact, you should read Grady taking over as manager late last season as effectively Getz taking over. A guy put in the spot to troubleshoot and share his observations with the GM. Him feeding information to the front office that Venable doesn’t want shared with them would be an inherent risk. Who wants a loose lipped employee talking to the boss behind your back? Not me. In so many words, Grady Sizemore as bench coach could’ve been a toxic situation had things gone the wrong direction.

Would a Front Office Role have been Better?

In my estimation it would’ve been a better assignment to put Grady in the front office. However, my guess is that former player Grady, is much like former player Will in that he’d like to be with the guys plying his trade on the field and so that wasn’t likely to happen. However, it would’ve allowed him to view the manager role through the eyes of Getz and crew. That’s invaluable information. Especially if he really did love his taste as the skipper and thirsts for it again.

Plus, no matter how connected to the field activity it seems, the front office always has it’s own set of gossip and politics. That could afford Venable smoother initial sailing without potential Sizemore interference. Alas, that wasn’t to be and a potentially thorny situation may lie ahead of us.

Grady Sizemore – Offensive Coordinator

The way it played out though, might be the best and most thoughtful way. Reading the tea leaves, it appears that the “Offensive Coordinator” role is going to play liaison between the front office, coaching staff and batter. Quite possibly Chris Getz’ most important hire of the off-season wasn’t even manager Will Venable. That man just might be Director of Hitting, Ryan Fuller. I previewed Fuller HERE. He is the hire tasked with fixing the hitting program. This program rivals Chicago’s rodent problem in that it’s #1 with a bullet, but in the wrong direction.

Getz and Venable (I’ll assume Will was involved here too) tasking Grady Sizemore with overseeing this process from the major league field seems like a stroke of genius. Put the highly motivated, well respected guy as a main cog in the difficult and most important process. I assume Sizemore will be working hand in hand with Fuller first to get the download (information). Then he’ll work with Thames and new assistant hitting coach Joel McKeithan to synthesize a message to the hitters, helping them understand the information and setting up their program. Then I’d expect Grady to interface with the front office (including Fuller again) and Venable providing data both statistical as well as compliance and more importantly non-compliance.

This is a side of the business that has to work, so why not put your go-getter here. And all the while out of the way of Will Venable’s larger hand in running the day to day operation. I think I kinda love it.

So while Offensive Coordinator is a newish title in MLB and one that sounds made up. I think the White Sox may have threaded the needle in keeping the employee happy (Sizemore), as well as maneuvering potential in-house politics. You don’t need dysentery in the ranks.

-BeefLoaf