The Chicago White Sox currently have an MLB-worst record of 15-41. The ChiSox's lack of success comes despite team owner Jerry Reinsdorf being incredibly committed to winning. At least, that’s the stance offered by manager Pedro Grifol.

Grifol told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times that nobody wants to win more than Reinsforf. He cited the owner's time spent around his coaches and his long tenure as the White Sox owner to show that he knows what he’s doing and that he's competitive.

“I’ve known Jerry for a year and a half,” Grifol said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “Nobody wants to win more than he does. I know that for a fact because I’m the one who gets phone calls, and I talk to him. I get text messages. He is 100% committed to winning. And he is extremely knowledgeable about the game of baseball. He’s not just a fan. The questions he asks, he knows exactly what’s going on. He knows the game. You’re not in the game for 44 years, around 1,000 coaches, sitting in on meetings and listen and listen and listen and watch and watch and not know the game. He’s passionate, he’s extremely competitive.”

Grifol went on to say that Reinsdorf is a smart mind in both business and baseball and that he’s “a good evaluator” as well. He also talked about how much he enjoys being the team's manager despite its lackluster season.

If there’s an award for Company Man of the Year, Grifol should win it. If there isn’t one, it should be invented solely for this reason. Reinsdorf has been a horrendous owner when it comes to making his team competitive. If he truly does want to win more than anyone, it’s at something other than baseball.

White Sox have been mostly a mess under Jerry Reinsdorf 

Save for 2005, the White Sox do not have much success to talk about since Reinsdorf purchased the team in 1981. They have won just that lone pennant and World Series and have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons just one time, falling to get past the divisional round. They’re on pace to end the season in one of the bottom two spots of the AL Central for the eighth time in the last 12 seasons.

White Sox fans have been through a lot and have seen and heard some insane stuff over the years. But this quote from Grifol is really something else. The reactions from fans have featured a wide range of incredulous replies.

 

Look, a manager (especially a first-time one) speaking positively about the guy who writes their check is nothing super shocking. But Grifol's staunch support just comes off as crazy when it’s about a team and owner with so little success. Since Reinsdorf purchased the club, the Sox rank 13th in winning percentage but are one of just five teams that hasn’t won 20 playoff games in that span. At best, they have been a painfully mid team.

White Sox fans chanted for Reinsdorf to sell the team in their last game. Reinsdorf is certainly not going to oblige and will instead (ostensibly) try to get that ironclad desire to win of his to translate to success on the baseball diamond.