Ozzie Guillen doesn’t think that all of Yasmani Grandal’s walks are something to be celebrated.
On Saturday, the White Sox tweeted a stat saying that Grandal had set a franchise record with 12 walks in a four-game span.
Grandal walked four times on May 1, twice on May 4, three times on May 5, and four times on May 8 for a total of 13 walks in four games. He did not have a hit in those games (0-for-3), although he scored three runs.
Guillen, who managed the White Sox to a World Series victory in 2005, is not impressed. He doesn’t think that many walks is something to be ballyhooed. Guillen alluded to Grandal’s $18.25 million salary per season and suggested the White Sox should be getting more than walks from the catcher. He also noted that Leury Garcia, who is hitting .200, has more runs scored (14) than Grandal (11).
Grandal is second in MLB in walks, but he has only seven hits all season for a .121 average. The walks are nice, but Guillen may be onto something. Grandal’s approach is not working. He needs to hit more than he is, because a .121 average is not cutting it. Perhaps being more aggressive at the plate is something he should consider. It helped another player out a lot.
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