CHICAGO (AP) — Grady Sizemore is staying with the Chicago White Sox, serving as the offensive coordinator under first-year manager Will Venable.
Sizemore was elevated to interim manager when Chicago fired Pedro Grifol in August. The former big league outfielder guided the team to a 13-32 record down the stretch as the White Sox went 41-121 to break the post-1900 major league record for losses in a season.
Shortly after Venable was hired in October, he said he anticipated Sizemore being a part of his first staff with his new team.
The White Sox announced Sizemore and the rest of the team's coaches on Monday. Also sticking around from the 2024 staff; pitching coach Ethan Katz, hitting coach Marcus Thames, assistant pitching coach Matt Wise, first base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois, third base/infield coach Justin Jirschele and catching coach Drew Butera.
Walker McKinven was hired as Venable's bench coach. McKinven, 35, spent the last five seasons on the coaching staff for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Evanston, Illinois, native was the run prevention coordinator for the NL Central champions this year.
Joel McKeithan was hired as an assistant hitting coach. McKeithan, 33, was the hitting coach for the Cincinnati Reds for the last two seasons. He originally joined the Reds organization as the assistant hitting coach before the 2022 season.
The White Sox said Mike Gellinger and Doug Sisson, who were added to the big league coaching staff in August, will be reassigned within the organization.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE- Chicago White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore looks on before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has been suspended two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams has been suspended one game for their roles in a fight during the third quarter of Saturday night's game.
The NBA announced the suspensions, that come without pay, on Sunday.
Alvarado will miss the Pelicans' home game against the New York Knicks on Monday and their game at the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Williams will miss Monday night's game at the Washington Wizards.
The 7-foot-1 Williams and 6-foot Alvarado exchanged punches following a foul call on Alvarado. Phoenix won 123-114 for a two-game sweep of a back-to-back set between the teams in New Orleans.
Alvarado was trying to fight through a ball screen set by Williams to keep pressure on Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie, who had made his first five 3-point attempts of the game.
Alvarado pushed Williams out of the way while playing defense and was called for a foul. Williams then shoved Alvarado in the back. Alvarado turned toward Williams and the two exchanged words before grabbing each other and throwing punches. Both players landed right hands before being separated and then ejected.
Neither player commented after the game.
Phoenix coach Jordan Ott attributed the fight to competitiveness and fatigue.
“I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,” Ott said. “Obviously, it happens. It just feels like the lack of sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen. Last night, there were a lot of free throws; tonight there wasn’t as much. They let us play tonight, which is something we enjoy. They got tangled up, and obviously they both got thrown out.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, center left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams, center right, get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
