SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With so much emphasis on playing the game “the right way,” doing the little things and playing FAST — which in White Sox manager Pedro Grifol’s world means “fearless, aggressive, selfless, technical” — the sight of 37-year-old catcher Martin Maldonado not running hard on a dribbler near the mound caused Grifol to wince.
Maldonado was brought to the Sox to not only handle the pitching staff but also to lead a group not long on talent as Grifol and general manager Chris Getz reestablish a foundation on which to build after a 101-loss season.
Maldonado brings a very good reputation in both regards.
Granted, it was the first game of a rather meaningless Cactus League game Friday. And Maldonado is one of the slowest runners in baseball.
But it didn’t look good, especially when Cubs lefty Jordan Wicks fumbled Maldonado’s roller. Wicks bobbled again, allowing the slow-footed Maldonado, who was in a slow jog, to be safe.
The next morning, Maldonado stood up before the team.
“It’s important just to make sure that we’re on the same page as a team,” Maldonado said Sunday. “We have some goals to accomplish. I didn’t come out of the box the way I should have come out of the box. I want to lead by example.”
Maldonado’s action, Grifol said, “was a good thing.”
“We don’t play that style of baseball,” Grifol said. “It’s been taken care of.”
When Tony La Russa managed the Sox in 2021-22, some players were allowed to pick their spots to conserve energy or reduce the risk of aggravating achy legs. It didn’t look good to fans, especially when the team was underachieving. Some of that occurred last season, too, although Grifol took Luis Robert out of a game for not busting it down the line.
Former manager Rick Renteria disciplined players for not running hard, including Avisail Garcia and Leury Garcia.
“It’s not about 100%, it’s about effort,” Grifol said. “Is [Maldonado] going to go any faster than he did the other day? I’m not sure. But the optics of it, they weren’t good. And it doesn’t take a baseball purist to see that. If the optics aren’t good, it’s not good. That’s not who we are.”
Even in spring-training games, Grifol said.
“I’m not expecting these guys to go a hundred million miles an hour to first base on a ground ball that the pitcher has secured and the ball is already in flight to [first] chest-high,” Grifol said. “That’s ridiculous, right? But I’ll be [darned] if we’re going to watch lack of effort. That’s not who we are.”
Maldonado said if he expects his teammates to be accountable, he must be first.
“I feel like as a team or as a person, we should have exactly the same mentality,” he said.
He came with the reputation as a leader.
“Yes. It’s probably who I am,” Maldonado said.
In February, June or September, Grifol wants the Sox to be a big-effort team. When right fielder Oscar Colas hustled out an infield single Friday, Grifol gushed.
“Let me ask you this question: Watching the game, is that what you want to see?” Grifol said Saturday. “If you pay to come watch us play, is that something you want to see? That’s what it’s about, man. That’s who we are. That’s who we’re talking about becoming. That’s it right there.”
Grifol went on to note Rafael Ortega stealing third base in a 6-1 game because it was there for the taking.
“That’s who we are,” Grifol said. “We’re going to have some hiccups on that end. But I can guarantee you those things will be taken care of quickly.”
