(670 The Score) A leadership void in the White Sox's clubhouse has been a hot topic since veteran first baseman Jose Abreu left the team in free agency last offseason.
While first-year White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and his staff have done everything expected of them, according to the front office and players alike, it seems there's a missing ingredient for a struggling team that was expected to contend at a higher level this season.
"Veteran leadership is important," Grifol said Sunday. "It becomes tough to lead when you are going through your own adversity. That is why most great leaders are guys who play every day. They are not necessarily great, great players but are out there battling each day. This is a team game, but it's also played individually. So when you are fighting through adversity, the (leadership box) goes to the bottom of the list while you try and find yourself. The exceptional guys can battle though things and still lead. We have a few of those guys here."
The theory that the White Sox (34-46) go as shortstop Tim Anderson goes isn't a new revelation. Hampered by injuries and personal struggles, Anderson has struggled mightily in 2023, hitting .236 with a .552 OPS in 55 games. Laying the leadership responsibility totally on Anderson may be the wrong expectation at this time.
"That thinking is a little bit unfair, because at some point everyone goes through a little bit of adversity," Grifol said. "However, that thinking is a compliment to him and the type of player he is. When he is at the top of his game and is on, he creates so much havoc to deal with for the other teams. He can do a lot of great things on the baseball field. But to put the leadership totally on one guy, I think that is unfair. He will get it going, and we have to weather the storm until that happens."
So where should the White Sox go for inspiration? It starts with having yourself prepared, reliever Kendall Graveman said.
"First and foremost, if we all come to work mentally and physically prepared to play and can give you 100% on the field, those are things we can control," Graveman said. "I think that is the basis for leadership on the field. Off the field is about how selfless you can be to help to control you and your teammates' outcomes with conversation and friendship. Conversation on a daily basis within the group creates trust and motivation.
"We have leaders and also a lot of guys learning in here. This game we play is really hard. It's hard to win in the big leagues. We have young guys who have never struggled and learned from that experience yet. We have played better since May and stayed together as we try and improve."
For the White Sox, leadership is an evolving process.
"A leader in any situation leads by example," catcher Seby Zavala said. "A leader is vocal when they need to be. They are also silent when the situation calls for that. It's all about having a feel for what the team needs at that time. We must be people first. That way we can understand what the team and its group need at that moment. A leader on this team – not naming names – is anyone who plays hard in the moment and provides what we need to do to win, doing things the right way despite how things are going defines leadership. We have some of those guys, and hopefully people take notice and follow suit."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
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