Pedro Grifol doubles down on his criticism of White Sox: 'This is all about respecting the game'

CHICAGO (670 The Score) — White Sox manager Pedro Grifol on Monday didn’t back away from his criticism of his team following a 4-1 loss the Orioles on Sunday.

After referring to the White Sox’s effort as “(expletive) flat,” Grifol stood by his comments Monday morning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Grifol was in large part bothered by the lack of adjustments against Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish on Sunday.

Grifol’s harsh assessment was met by disagreement from his White Sox players, but that didn't change his viewpoint.

"I am doubling down on what I said yesterday." Grifol said. "I thought we were flat, and that is where I am going to leave it. We have to make adjustments today and play the game as hard as we can. They have their opinion, and I have mine. This doesn't mean we are divided by any means. It’s not them against Pedro or Pedro against them. I thought we were flat. They didn't think we were flat. It's over, and we have to go out there and play baseball.

“This is all about respecting the game. We all have a responsibility to go out and give it our best effort, every single day. We have a responsibility to the owner, the uniform we wear and to the fans to come to watch us play. We have a responsibility to do this every single day. It's not once in a while, not four out of five days. (It should be) every single day. I have to cross-check myself as well, but I will be damned if I let it keep happening. If I come out flat, I have to kick myself in the (butt ) and make sure I am giving everything I got."

Grifol stated that he’s done discussing the topic, which returned to the spotlight as White Sox players shared their disagreement.

“I am not sure how to take it," White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets said. “I thought we ran into a pretty good pitcher and his numbers speak for themselves. He had a really good year last year. I think it was a way to try and motivate us. That is the way yesterday felt and hopefully, it works. We will see today. For Pedro, I think it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. I don't think he wanted it to get out like that, but it did. Frustration comes with losing."

White Sox catcher Korey Lee felt the players and Grifol were both entitled to their opinions.

"Pedro is going to feel that way, and he is entitled to his own opinion,” Lee said. “Some of us are entitled to ours. We come every day to play. That is a really good team over there, and we tried to take some wins away from them. Just didn't work out that way."

Entering play Monday, the White Sox were an MLB-worst 15-39 after being swept by the Orioles in a four-game series. In his second season as White Sox manager, Grifol is 76-140 overall.

Grifol believes in his approach and demeanor in leading the White Sox forward.

“I am even-keeled, " Grifol said. "I have been managing for over 200 games. Everybody has that point you hit where you say, 'We have to turn it up.' That was what happened yesterday. I am not about saying things from the group in public. That is not what I am about. I just describe the game with you guys every single day. I talked about what happened yesterday. That's it."

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