Pedro Grifol amid White Sox's franchise-worst 2-14 start: 'I have great confidence in our plan even though things are not working out right now'

CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Coming off a 101-loss campaign in 2023, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol understood his second season on the South Side was going to be difficult to navigate, but the struggles have extended beyond that.

The White Sox are off to a franchise-worst 2-14 start, and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf recently refuted a report that he had considered firing Grifol in the middle of the trying 2023 season. That has put the spotlight on Grifol, who cited his family and faith when asked how he deals with the pressure and stress of the job.

“My family and I are close,” Grifol said. “They help me stay upbeat in all that I do. I have great confidence in our plan even though things are not working out right now. I believe in myself and my experiences. I believe in myself as a manager. I know I can do this. Most importantly, my faith keeps me in check. I am at peace every day.”

Calling a team meeting just two weeks into a new season may seem extreme, but that’s what Grifol recently did as the White Sox are already 9.5 games out of first place in what most projected to be a weak AL Central.

The White Sox are averaging an MLB-worst 2.1 runs per game and have been shut out six times in their first 16 contests.

“The situation has been tough for everybody,” outfielder Andrew Benintendi said. “The environment has been good. Pedro and the coaches get the credit for that. The guys in the clubhouse have really been supportive of each other. We all get along, but the reality is our job is to win games. So I think everybody is feeling the pressure of winning games and playing well.”

Grifol was hired ahead of the 2023 season with the vision of leading a veteran club into contention, but one year later, the White Sox’s goal is simply to be competitive.

“There is a master plan for this,” Grifol said of handling adversity. “There is a higher power I believe in. During this storm and last year's storm, I have had incredible peace. That doesn't mean I don't have urgency. It doesn't mean I work less. I do feel everything will turn out all right one way or the other.

“Every time I find things that I could have done differently or done better, I am tough on myself and at the same time I ask people's opinions. I truly mean it when I ask them for advice about doing better. You are never going to hurt my feelings, because I am always ready to grow. My supporting family (in baseball) are always asking if I am doing OK. I am doing fine. My strength comes from a higher power.”

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine .