CHICAGO — Early in the first dugout news conference of his interim managing career, Grady Sizemore was asked lightheartedly whether he ever envisioned being the Chicago White Sox manager back when he was an All-Star outfielder for a division rival.

Now that certainly would be an oddly specific career goal for a guy from Seattle who was playing in Cleveland, but who knows, maybe he really liked the smell of grilled onions and the taunts of angry, liquored-up fans.

In any event, that’s where his life has taken him: managing the White Sox as they try to escape the throes of baseball infamy.

Sitting next to him was the Sox general manager Chris Getz, who was drafted by and debuted with the White Sox. I don’t think he ever dreamed of taking Kenny Williams’ job back when he was manning second base for the club.

But as the Chicago Cubs and White Sox started the second leg of their crosstown series, the reality is Getz is in charge of the worst team in baseball and Sizemore is in charge of managing it (while Getz looks for someone more experienced to do the job full time).

It’s not ideal, but hey, it’s not all milkshakes and hot dogs on the South Side.

Sizemore’s tenure began much like the Pedro Grifol one ended — with a loss. When Sizemore made his first pitching change in the third inning, the Sox were scoreless and down by six runs. The Sox rallied, but the Cubs ended up winning 7-6.

With 44 games left, what is left for the Sox (28-90) to accomplish this season? Well, that’s easy. Win 15 games.

Some teams strive to make history. The White Sox need to avoid it.

The 1962 New York Mets have the modern baseball record for futility with 120 losses and the Sox need to finish with (at least) one fewer defeat. They don’t want to tie the Mets and they most definitely don’t want to finish with 121 losses. Sure, 119 losses would tie them with the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the AL’s worst mark, but no one uses that Tigers team as shorthand for the “worst ever.” A lot of people outside of Chicago (and Houston) forget the White Sox won a World Series in 2005. No one will forget this team if they lose 121.

The Sox get picked on a lot, both locally and nationally, for their many, many embarrassing failures, but ducking historical mockery should be the goal for the last seven weeks.

It was 7-0 entering the 4th.
Will the Chicago White Sox win this game……of course not.
pic.twitter.com/cirPuv4uET

— Wretched 24 White Sox (@SultanOfClout) August 10, 2024

They already dodged the all-time record for consecutive losses in a season. Now comes sidestepping the season record.

They didn’t get off to a good start at silencing their haters Friday, but after this two-game set with the Cubs, they get … uh-oh … the New York Yankees. Yeah, it’s not going to be easy.

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Before Friday’s game against the Cubs, Getz reiterated what he said the day before after he mercifully fired manager Grifol after a slower-than-expected 89-190 start to his managing career — that he’s not overtly focused on the ’62 Mets. However …

“I don’t think anyone in this organization wants to be associated (with) a record we could potentially have,” Getz said.

So though it’s not an organizational mandate to avoid 120, it’s not a goal.

“There is always something to play for in this game,” Getz said. “Grady and I have talked about that at length. We want our players to play for something greater than themselves.”

In theory, a 15-29 run over the last seven weeks isn’t asking for too much. But for this Sox team, it just might be.

After all, they have only won 28 times in 118 tries. There’s not much to go on to believe they can make even a modest run. After a 3-22 start, they went 12-12. But then they lost a franchise-record 14 straight games.

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Given the state of the team — with Erick Fedde in St. Louis, Garrett Crochet’s remaining innings growing fewer, a lineup that doesn’t score runs and an often-calamitous bullpen — it’s hard to envision them catching a spark, let alone fire.

But again, 15 wins in 44 games. It’s not like asking them to even have a winning month, something they haven’t sniffed this season.

So can Sizemore, who as a Cleveland player once famously dropped a fly ball in late September 2005 that helped the White Sox clinch a division title, be the spark the team needs? Judging by his career record of talking to reporters, he’s not going to give any Knute Rockne speeches. But the players know Sizemore was a gamer and an All-Star. He’s 41, but he looks 10 years younger. They seem to respect him. Imagine if they knew about his history as a Cleveland sex symbol.

“Great attitude, great energy and we’re excited,” veteran first baseman Andrew Vaughn said.

In reality, it’s not about what Sizemore specifically brings. Change itself, a new voice, a wake-up call, could help this team end the season with a shred of dignity. That’s the idea anyway.

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Getz fired three coaches along with Grifol, but Sizemore has two bench coaches and incumbent pitching coach Ethan Katz to help him finish the season. This is all new for him. He was a $15 hourly intern for the Arizona Diamondbacks at this point last year and used his connections with Josh Barfield, now Getz’s assistant GM, to land a job on the Sox coaching staff this year.

He went from intern to “major-league coach” in a year. Now he’s a big-league manager. What a year.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in,” Sizemore said before the game. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. Just too excited, too anxious. Still doesn’t feel real.”

I’m sure it felt a little more real after watching Crochet give up four homers in 2 1/3 innings. That’s the White Sox’s version of a cold shower, and if there’s a counterbalancing Sizemore Effect, maybe it takes a few games.

Neither Sizemore nor the players I talked to would take the bait about trying to avert infamy. And of course, if they knew how to win, we wouldn’t be talking about this streak.

Do you know how odd it is to ask questions about the 1962 Mets? Losing 100 games is difficult for even the worst teams. Imagine losing 120 in one season.

The trade deadline is over. Grifol is out. There is nothing left but winning those 15 games.

“Just like when you’re playing, all you can really focus on is what you can control,” Sizemore said. “My focus is not on outside factors or records of other teams, it’s on the guys. What can I do to put them in the best possible position to succeed? Focusing or worrying about outside factors is just a waste of time.”

So was this White Sox season. The very least they can do is not end it as the worst team in baseball history.

(Photo: Griffin Quinn / Getty Images)

The Dodgers had no problem toppling one of the best young pitchers in the sport Saturday night.

When it came to their own promising rookie starter, however, the team suffered yet another potential injury blow.

While the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates and rookie sensation Paul Skenes 4-1 at Dodger Stadium, they lost one of their own burgeoning arms — River Ryan — to a forearm injury in the fifth inning of his fourth career start.

A former two-way player who had blossomed on the mound in the Dodgers farm system, Ryan entered Saturday with a 1.72 ERA in his first three big-league outings. He had blanked the Pirates for the first four innings of Saturday, as well.

But then, with two outs in the fifth inning, Ryan misfired with a slider and immediately began shaking out his pitching arm. After a visit from a trainer, the right-hander was pulled out of the game. A couple innings later, the team announced he had “right forearm tightness.” The severity of the injury wasn’t immediately clear.

Ryan is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, but manager Dave Roberts said he is expected to go on the injured list. Landon Knack is expected to be called up to pitch out of the bullpen.

Still, any ailment to the forearm is a foreboding sign for the modern-day pitcher — especially a hard-throwing prospect such as Ryan, who never pitched past the fifth inning in a pro game until joining the Dodgers’ already banged-up rotation late last month.

The Dodgers still prevailed to clinch a series win over the Pirates, getting three early RBIs from streaking second baseman Gavin Lux and a towering solo home run from Teoscar Hernández in the fifth.

Against every other team in the majors this year, the hard-throwing Skenes has a 1.78 ERA in 13 starts.

In two games against the Dodgers, however, the former No. 1 overall pick has been charged with seven earned runs in just 11 innings (5.73 ERA).

The significance of that triumph, however, was deflated by Ryan’s early exit — turning the intriguing 25-year-old talent, who was beginning to look like a possible postseason weapon, into the latest question mark for an already short-handed, injury-plagued pitching staff.

Buehler returns Wednesday

If Ryan does miss any extended time, the Dodgers at least know who can replace him in the rotation. According to Roberts, Walker Buehler has completed his minor-league rehab assignment, and will likely start on Wednesday in Milwaukee.

“He’s in a good spot,” Roberts said. “I think physically he feels great.”

In his return from a second career Tommy John surgery this year, Buehler struggled in eight starts (1-4 record, 5.84 ERA) before going on the injured list in mid-June with a hip injury.

After spending time at a private facility in Florida, Buehler began a three-outing rehab assignment with triple-A Oklahoma City last month. His most recent start was his best one, a 5 ⅓ inning, one-run effort in which he struck out five batters and threw 85 pitches.

“It still matters to go out there and feel good about your last outing before coming back,” Roberts said. “I honestly think this is as confident, as good as Walker has felt — physically and mentally — this year.”

Short hops

Reliever Ryan Brasier (calf) is expected to rejoin the Dodgers next week in St. Louis, Roberts said … Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) will also travel on this week’s trip to throw a bullpen session in Milwaukee on Tuesday, and a simulated game in St. Louis next weekend … Chris Taylor (groin) has been taking live at-bats in simulated games this weekend, and is scheduled to go to the club’s facility in Arizona next week to continue his rehab.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Grinning last month, Louis Rees-Zammit shared just how much he wanted to experience his first full-contact hit as an NFL player. Rees-Zammit, the Welsh former rugby star who joined the Kansas City Chiefs in March, knew he was just a few days away from his first training camp practice in full pads.

“I can’t wait to see the difference,” Rees-Zammit said.

His true “welcome to the NFL” moment, when the intensity level surprised him, came the morning of July 28, which was the Chiefs’ third consecutive padded practice. Rees-Zammit’s one-on-one drill that day was one every running back in the NFL has had to endure: The blitzing linebacker or safety charging into the backfield, the lone assignment for the running back is to prevent the defender from reaching the quarterback.

Across from Rees-Zammit on the field was linebacker Cole Christiansen, who like Rees-Zammit is trying to earn one of the final spots on the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes holding the ball in the pocket, Christiansen attacked from the B gap. Upon impact, Rees-Zammit lost his leverage and found out just how badly he could lose a pass-blocking rep. Christiansen de-cleated Rees-Zammit.

“It’s very physical,” Rees-Zammit said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’ve had to learn to adapt and lower my body height. In rugby, that’s not too much of a big deal. The blows you take here are pretty big. To be honest with you, it’s a completely different sport.

“I’ve never had to pass protect before. It’s actually illegal in rugby. I have to try to pick it up as quickly as possible. I’m not going to be amazing to start with.”

#Chiefs Louis Rees-Zammit working on pass protection during Sunday’s training camp practice pic.twitter.com/BLjhyi0ZLC

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) July 28, 2024

Reps like the one against Christiansen, were to be expected, though. No newcomer on the Chiefs’ 91-man roster is as new to the sport as Rees-Zammit, 23, who will play in the first organized football game of his life Saturday when the Chiefs face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason opener.

For Rees-Zammit, Saturday’s game — and training camp, for that matter — is about showing the Chiefs how fast he can learn and improve with each new experience on a football field.

Just seconds after his most embarrassing moment in camp, Rees-Zammit stood up, wiped the sweat from his eyes and got back in his two-point stance. When the next one-on-one rep began — against Christiansen again — Rees-Zammit did a better job of withstanding his teammate’s strength, pushing him away from Mahomes.

“The transition’s been fantastic for him,” Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco said of Rees-Zammit. “Being that player that is a (leader) in the (running backs) room, (I’m) putting in his ear, ‘Just keep working hard, keep finishing.’”

With just three exhibition games before Aug. 27, the NFL’s annual cutdown day, Rees-Zammit will attempt to accomplish with the Chiefs what he did in rugby: Excel faster than anyone expected.

At 18, he signed his first professional contract with Gloucester, becoming the club’s youngest-ever Premiership player. Rees-Zammit was an impact player as a rookie, too. Not only was he Gloucester’s youngest European try scorer in 2019, but he also scored 12 tries in 15 appearances, improving at a rapid pace that doesn’t happen often in professional rugby. His most undeniable trait as one of the emerging wingers in world rugby was his elite speed, which led to his nickname Rees-Lightning.

Fans gravitated to Rees-Zammit because of his confident playing style, his looks and his appetite to be an international celebrity at a young age.

In 2021, Rees-Zammit helped lead Wales, his home country, to win the Six Nations championship. He produced his greatest highlight during the event, too, a clutch, game-winning try that featured plenty of his skills — speed, hand-eye coordination and bold creativity. In the final minutes of a road match against Scotland, Rees-Zammit caught the ball on the perimeter of the field and knew he had just one defender to beat. A sprinting Rees-Zammit chipped the ball over the defender with his right foot and sprinted past him to catch the ball off the first bounce for the match-winning score.

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In 32 international appearances for Wales, he scored 14 tries.

A few months after the Six Nations tournament, Rees-Zammit received one of the greatest honors in the sport: He was named to the British & Irish Lions squad — featuring players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. But during his offseason in 2022, he began his plans to switch sports, working in Atlanta with longtime performance coach Chip Smith, who has trained more than 3,000 professional athletes, in hopes of becoming a viable NFL player.

“I achieved everything I wanted to in rugby,” Rees-Zammit said in early May. “I’ve always wanted to live in America. This was the perfect time to try to make it in the NFL and live over here.”

The winner of the #GuinnessSixNations Try Of The Championship is… 🥁 Louis Rees-Zammit! 👏 pic.twitter.com/yUR12z8lwE

— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) April 5, 2021

Rees-Zammit’s move to the NFL was the biggest coup for the league’s International Player Pathway — which recruits athletes from around the world in hopes of increasing the league’s ranks of international players — since the program’s launch in 2017. Rees-Zammit ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at his pro day in March in front of scouts from 31 NFL teams.

He signed a three-year, $2.83 million contract with the Chiefs because he wanted to join a Super Bowl contender and felt coach Andy Reid could best use his skills in a versatile role as a running back. General manager Brett Veach said the Chiefs are committed to giving Rees-Zammit plenty of time to showcase his capabilities in the NFL. Even if Rees-Zammit struggles in the preseason, much of his rookie season could be spent further developing his skills on the practice squad.

“We know he’s got incredible top-end speed,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said of Rees-Zammit. “He’s got to learn in pass pro, how to sit down and how to take on blocks. He’s got to learn the in and outs of the game, but he’s a great athlete and that’ll come with time.”

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Since joining the Chiefs, Rees-Zammit has gained the admiration of his teammates through his enthusiasm to learn as much as he can about the sport, the business of the NFL and how he can best use his skills at running back.

“Anything I can take from any of these boys that have been playing the sport for a long time is amazing,” Rees-Zammit said. “Isiah has been helping me out massively.”

Pacheco often teaches Rees-Zammit techniques during individual periods in practice. In a video released by the Chiefs, Pacheco offered pass-blocking advice to Rees-Zammit, sharing the same lessons he learned as a rookie two years ago from Jerick McKinnon.

“We can both help each other out”

Chiefs starting RB Isiah Pacheco coaching up Louis Rees-Zammit is so awesome to see (via @Chiefs) pic.twitter.com/1oMMX08jVr

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— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) July 31, 2024

The 6-foot-2 Rees-Zammit gained 16 pounds in the summer, reporting to camp at 209 pounds, to help him be better prepared to endure the league’s physicality. He hasn’t missed a practice, showing durability and strong conditioning despite training in hotter temperatures than he was accustomed to. Certain details have been refined, too, such as being consistent with his pre-snap stance and body language when he lines up so he doesn’t tip off the defense about the upcoming play.

“The biggest difference is just mental,” he said. “I’m nonstop trying to learn this playbook because as soon as I can play fast, that’s the biggest thing. We don’t finish meetings until 8 (p.m.), so I spend an extra two hours (after) just learning the plays because I’m playing catchup. There’s no time to rest for me. I’ve got to give this my all because ultimately this is my dream.

“The first goal is to make the team. I know special teams are going to be massive for me.”

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The best and most direct way for Rees-Zammit to earn a roster spot is by excelling as a kickoff returner. At the end of most of practices, special teams coordinator Dave Toub has had Rees-Zammit and receiver Nikko Remigio as the Chiefs’ top two kickoff returners.

“We always tell the guys that three or four guys make the team because of their special teams play,” Reid said of Rees-Zammit and Remigio. “Those two would probably fit into that category, but they’ve still got to do well at their position. For them to make the team, they’ve got to help out in that area.”

Toub believes Rees-Zammit could be the perfect player to fit the NFL’s new kickoff rules.

Louis Rees-Zammit returns a kickoff 👀 pic.twitter.com/VYiD7qrOMW

— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) July 31, 2024

The NFL modified its kickoff to return the play to relevance. Last season, the kickoff had a return rate of just 21.8 percent, the lowest in the league’s 104-year history. No kickoff was returned in Super Bowl LVIII. League officials want the return rate this season to increase to at least 30 percent.

The Chiefs hope Rees-Zammit can make an impact on kickoff returns in the preseason by blending the ball-carrying skills he perfected in rugby with the improving vision, acceleration and elusiveness he has shown in camp when he has the ball in the open field.

“We’re trying to get him all the work we can to bring him up to speed,” Toub said of Rees-Zammit. “He’s been great. He’s doing a good job as a returner.”

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Rees-Zammit didn’t join the Chiefs simply to be known as a kickoff returner.

He wants the ball in his hands as much as possible, proving to the Chiefs that he can be a competent running back. He also wants to be successful for Joseph Zammit, his father who introduced him to the NFL. Growing up in Penarth, Wales, Rees-Zammit watched many NFL games alongside his father, who became so passionate about American football that he played in the British American Football Association in 1987 for the Cardiff Tigers as a receiver and running back.

“I’ve told him about training camp, how tough it’s been,” Rees-Zammit said of his father. “He’s been giving me some tips and tricks on pass protection — getting in close, shooting my hands and dropping my height.”

Stackin’ those reps ⚡️ @LouisReesZammit pic.twitter.com/dK3IeHbwfh

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 28, 2024

Rees-Zammit has earned some small victories in camp. The Chiefs’ first padded practice was rough for Rees-Zammit, who was hit and tackled behind the line of scrimmage over and over again. The next day, he missed a wide-open running lane, instead running into the back of tight end Irv Smith Jr. But the next day, he showed better vision and patience on a stretch play by sprinting through the correct lane, the rep ending with no defender touching him.

Last week, Rees-Zammit’s most impressive rep was as a receiver in a one-on-one drill against linebacker Leo Chenal. Rees-Zammit flashed his speed on a fade route near the sideline, as he sprinted by Chenal, tracked the deep pass and caught the ball 30 yards downfield. And Rees-Zammit even won a one-on-one battle in pass protection against rookie linebacker Swayze Bozeman, the rep ending with Pacheco shouting in celebration.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself and the journey I’ve been on,” Rees-Zammit said.

One of the best parts of Saturday’s game for Rees-Zammit is that his parents, Joseph and Maxine, will be in the stands at EverBank Stadium to watch him perform.

“Oh, he’s just as excited as I am,” Rees-Zammit said of his father. “It’s going to be amazing, a dream come true to be able to put the uniform on and embrace the moment. I’m going to go out there and focus on my job fully and go for it.”

(Photo: Denny Medley / USA Today)