The White Sox present a very special dramatic reading of Dylan Cease’s encomium to his awe-inspiring slider…
Tag: Baseball
(Short) Week of March 30-April 2, 2023
Opening Day – March 30, 2023
➤ Washington Nationals starter Patrick Corbin, LHP throws first pitch of the season—a swinging strike against right fielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. of the Atlanta Braves—at 1:06 pm EDT at Nationals Park
➤ Sox win!
➤ Cleveland Guardians lose to Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park by a score of 0-3. Starter Shane Bieber pitches a scoreless 6.0 innings on 6 H (0 BB, 3 K) | W: Paul Sewald | L: James Karinchak | S: Andrés Muñoz
Four-Game Series at Houston Astros
Series split 2-2 | Season vs. Astros 2-2
March 30—Liam Hendriks (RHP) placed on 15-day injured list (cancer treatment), retroactive to March 27
March 30—Garrett Crochet (LHP) placed on 15-day injured list (recovery from left elbow surgery), retroactive to March 27
GAME 1
Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:08 pm CDT
Minute Maid Park
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Astros / Framber Valdez, LHP
W, 3-2, 1-0 (1.000), W1 | W: Kendall Graveman (1-0, 0.00) | S: Reynaldo López (1)
➤ Cease gives up 1 R on 2 H (0 BB, 10 K) in 6 ⅓ IP—Quality Start
Game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 2
Friday, March 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm CDT
Minute Maid Park
Lance Lynn, RHP vs.
Astros / Cristian Javier, RHP
L, 3-6, 1-1 (.500), L1 | L: Kendall Graveman (1-1, 16.20)
➤ Lynn gives up 2 R on 3 H (4 BB, 6 K) in 5 ⅔ IP
Game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 3
Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 1:10 pm CDT
Minute Maid Park
Lucas Giolito, RHP vs.
Astros / José Urquidy, RHP
L, 4-6, 1-2 (.333), L2 | L: Joe Kelly (0-1, 9.00)
➤ Giolito gives up 3 R / 2 ER on 5 H (1 BB, 6 K) in 5.0 IP
Game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 4
Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 1:10 pm CDT
Minute Maid Park
Mike Clevinger, RHP vs.
Astros / Luis Garcia, RHP
W, 6-3, 2-2 (.500), W1 | W: Mike Clevinger (1-0, 0.00) | S: Reynaldo López (1)
➤ Clevinger gives up 0 R on 3 H (3 BB, 8 K) in 5.0 IP
Game highlights from mlb.com:
Cease’s Slider is Pure Poetry
Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
White Sox ace, Dylan Cease has written a poem in honor of his legend-in-the-making slider.
O’ Slider Slide
By Dylan Cease
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Past the batsman I send my slider to hide
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Past the batsmen I send that round cowhide
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
A fortune staked on you lest I over stride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
In the strike zone indeed a win is implied
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
The humans can’t believe my 3000rpm and fastball ride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Your execution can earn you a bride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Even the back up tried
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
To the back foot of a lefty … check swing and the ump is wrong
Week of April 25-May 1, 2022
Three-Game Series vs. Kansas City Royals
Royals win series 2-1 | Season vs. Royals 2-1
GAME 16
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Royals / Daniel Lynch, LHP
L, 6-0, 6-10 (.375), L7 | L: Dallas Keuchel (1-2, 9.00)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 17
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Royals / Zack Greinke, RHP
W, 7-3, 7-10 (.412), W1 | W: Lenyn Sousa (1-0, 5.14)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 18
Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Michael Kopech, RHP vs.
Royals / Brad Keller, RHP
L, 5-2, 7-11 (.389), L1 | L: Aaron Bummer (0-1, 7.04)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Four-Game Series vs. Los Angeles Angels
Series split 2-2 | Season vs. Angels 2-2
GAME 19
Friday, April 29, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Lucas Giolito, RHP vs.
Angels / Jimmy Herget, RHP
L, 5-1, 7-12 (.368), L2 | L: Lucas Giolito (0-1, 2.57)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 20
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 3:05 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Angels / José Suarez, LHP
W, 4-0, 8-12 (.400), W1 | W: Vince Velasquez (1-2, 4.58)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 21
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Angels / Michael Lorenzen, RHP
L, 6-5, 8-13 (.381), L1 | L: Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 8.40)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Week of April 18-24, 2022
Photo credit: Tony Dejak/AP Photo
Four-Game Series at Cleveland Guardians
Guardians sweep series 3-0 | Season vs. Guardians 0-3
POSTPONED – INCLEMENT WEATHER
Monday, April 18, 2022 at 5:10 pm CDT
Progressive Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Guardians / Shane Bieber, RHP
Rescheduled for July 12 at 12:10 pm CDT as the first game of a split doubleheader
POSTPONED – INCLEMENT WEATHER
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 5:10 pm CDT
Progressive Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Guardians / Shane Bieber, RHP
Rescheduled for tomorrow at 2:10 pm CDT as the first game of a traditional doubleheader
GAME 10
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 2:10 pm CDT
Progressive Field – Makeup of 4/19
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Guardians / Shane Bieber, RHP
L, 1-11, 6-4 (.600), L1 | L: Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 16.50)
➤ Eloy Jimenez will sit out today’s doubleheader due to foot soreness and swelling.
DEFENSE: After giving up a run in the 1st, this is how Dallas Keuchel‘s 2nd inning went down: E6, 1B, 1B, RBI 1B, RBI 1B, GS, 1B to 2B on WP, 1B, RBI 1B, RBI E6, RBI 1B, making it 1-10 Guardians with no outs. Tanner Banks puts an end to the misery, and the inning, with DP, GO. Banks returns in the 3rd to pitch three more clean innings, retiring all 11 batters he faces on the day (0 BB, 2 SO in 4.0 IP). Nice! Matt Foster goes 1-2-3 (2 SO) in the 6th. Anderson Severino finishes out the 7th and 8th, giving up 1 R/ER on 1 H (2 BB, 1 SO). OFFENSE: Tim Anderson RBI 2B scores Adam Engel (singled) in the 6th. Guardians starter Shane Bieber pitches a gem, giving up just 1 R/ER on 4 H (0 BB, 7 SO) in 6.0 IP. The Guardians bullpen keeps the Sox from scoring through the last three innings, collectively allowing just 1 H (1 BB, 3 SO). NOTABLE: Tim Anderson struggles on defense, posting 3 E6s. Jake Burger is charged with an E5.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 11
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at the latter of 5:10 pm CDT or one half hour after Game 1
Progressive Field
Jimmy Lambert, RHP vs.
Guardians / Triston McKenzie, RHP
L, 1-2, 6-5 (.545), L2 | L: Jimmy Lambert (0-2, 5.40)
➤ Injury: Josh Harrison exits in the 7th with back and shoulder spasms.
DEFENSE: Starter Jimmy Lambert gives up 2 R/ER on 5 H (2 BB, 5 SO) in 3 ⅔ IP. Reynaldo Lopez ends the 4th and makes quick work of the 5th by retiring 4 in a row (1 SO). Bennett Sousa goes GO, K, 1B in the 6th. Kyle Crick ends the 6th with a K, then goes BB, K in the 7th. Aaron Bummer ends the 7th with K, GO. José Ruiz throws a clean 8th (1 SO). OFFENSE: Danny Mendick RBI 2B scores Reese McGuire (walked, advanced to 2B on Adam Engel BB) and Engel is put out at HP. Guardians starter Triston McKenzie and the Guardians bull pen give up just 1 R/ER on 3 H (4 BB, 9 SO).
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Josh Harrison injury:
Josh Harrison Day-to-Day
April 20—Josh Harrison won’t play in tomorrows final game of the Guardians series. He is expected to return by Sunday.
GAME 12
Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 12:10 pm CDT
Progressive Field
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Guardians / Zach Plesac, RHP
L, 3-6, 6-6 (.500), L3 | L: Dylan Cease (2-1, 3.38)
➤ Injury: Luis Robert exits in the 8th with a leg injury.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Luis Robert injury:
Three-Game Series at Minnesota Twins
Twins sweep series 3-0 | Season vs. Guardians 0-3
GAME 13
Friday, April 22, 2022 at 7:10 pm CDT
Target Field
Michael Kopech, RHP vs.
Twins / Bailey Ober, RHP
L, 2-1, 6-7 (.462), L4 | L: Kendall Graveman (0-1, 2.45)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 14
Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 3:05 pm CDT
Target Field
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Twins / Dylan Bundy, RHP
L, 9-2, 6-8 (.429), L5 | L: Vince Velasquez (0-2, 6.75)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 15
Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Target Field
Lucas Giolito, RHP vs.
Twins / Chris Archer, RHP
L, 6-4, 6-9 (.400), L6 | L: Liam Hendriks (0-2, 6.14)
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Week of April 11-17, 2022
April 12—Lucas Giolito (RHP) placed on 10-day injured list (abdominal strain), retroactive to April 9
April 12—AJ Pollock (OF) placed on 10-day injured list (strained right hamstring), retroactive to April 10
Three-Game Series vs. Seattle Mariners
Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Mariners 2-1
GAME 4
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 3:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field – White Sox Home Opener
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Mariners / Matt Brash, RHP
W, 2-3, 3-1 (.750), W3 | W: Reynaldo López (1-0, 3.38) | S: Hendriks (1)
DEFENSE: In his White Sox debut, starter Vince Velasquez gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 2 SO) on 4.0 IP. In the 5th, Bennett Sousa throws LO, 1B and would have retired the side, but for Leury Garcia‘s substandard fielding on what should have been a routine 6-4-3 DP. Instead, Bennett gives up 2B on a wild pitch and issues a BB. Reynaldo López takes over with 2 outs and 2 on, striking out the next batter to end the 5th, then throws a 1-2-3 (1 SO) 6th, then a near-miss FO in the 7th that would have been a HR, but for the incoming wind. Aaron Bummer finishes out the 7th with 2 BB and 2 SO. Kendall Graveman throws GO, 2B, GO, SO in the 8th. Liam Hendriks gets his first save of the season, but it isn’t pretty. In the 9th, Hendriks throws K, 1B, K, 1B, RBI 1B, K. OFFENSE: Tim Anderson RBI FC scores Josh Harrison (walked, advanced to 3B on Reese McGuire 1B) in the 3rd. Luis Robert solo HR (1) in the 6th. Eloy Jiménez RBI FC scores Luis Robert (walked, stole 2B, stole 3B) in the 8th. NOTABLE: The White Sox signed veteran righty Vince Velasquez on March 14. Starting for the Mariners in his major league debut, Matt Brash (23) logs his first and second career strikeouts (both Ks) vs. Luis Robert and José Abreu in a 1-2-3 1st.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 5
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Mariners / Robbie Ray, LHP*
W, 4-6, 4-1 (.800), W4 | W: Dallas Keuchel (1-0, 5.40) | S: Hendriks (2)
*2021 AL Cy Young Award winner
➤ Possible injury: Josh Harrison exits with lower back stiffness, after 7
DEFENSE: On a soggy night in Chicago, Dallas Keuchel gives up a HR on his sixth pitch, but ends up with a decent outing, giving up 3 R/ER on 6 H (0 BB, 6 SO) in 5.0 IP. With the help of a perfectly-timed jump catch at the wall by Adam Engel that robs Jesse Winker of a game-tying HR, Kyle Crick walks 1 and retires 3 (1 SO) in the 6th. José Ruiz (2 SO) and Kendall Graveman (2 SO) pitch clean innings in the 7th and 8th. Liam Hendriks gets his second save of the season but, again, it’s not pretty. In the 9th, Hendriks throws 2B, K (runner advances to 3B on passed ball by Yasmani Grandal), RBI 1B, SO, GO. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez solo HR (1) in the 2nd. Also in the 2nd: Jake Burger RBI 1B scores Andrew Vaughn (singled, advanced to 2B on WP, advanced to 3B on Josh Harrison FC) and Tim Anderson 2-RBI 2B scores Harrison and Burger. Tim Anderson (1) and Luis Robert (2) launch back-to-back solo HRs in the 7th—in heavy rain.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 6
Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Jimmy Lambert, RHP vs.
Mariners / Logan Gilbert, RHP
L, 5-1, 4-2 (.667), L1 | L: Jimmy Lambert (0-1, 6.00)
DEFENSE: Despite losing the game, starter Jimmy Lambert‘s performance isn’t terrible. He gives up 2 R/ER on 2 H (1 BB, 1 SO) in 3.0 IP. Tanner Banks pitches a scoreless 4th and 5th (1 BB, 0 SO). Matt Foster holds the line through the 6th and first out of the 7th (1 H, 0 BB, 2 SO). Bennett Sousa completes the 7th, giving up 2 R/ER on 1 H (1 BB, 0 SO). José Ruiz pitches the first ⅔ of the 8th, giving up 1 R/ER on 3 H (1 BB, 2 SO). And making his MLB debut, hard-throwing, Dominican lefty Anderson Severino (27) finishes out the game without incident (0 H, 1 BB, 3 SO). Severino takes the mound in the 8th with bases loaded and strikes out the first batter of his career (Adam Frazier, top of the lineup) on a 3-2 count to end the inning. Sensational! OFFENSE: On a blustery day in Chicago (29 MPH at first pitch), gusts of wind save the White Sox from three routine pop outs in the 5th, leading to their only (unearned) run of the game. The first two wind gusts benefit Adam Engel who ends up at 2B after his first pop fly blows foul and the wind renders his second fly ball uncatchable (scored as E2). Then Jake Burger reaches 1B on a pop fly, scoring Engel as the wind outsmarts Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (scored as RBI 1B). Starter Logan Gilbert and the Mariners bullpen keep the White Sox bats in check, allowing just 4 H and 0 ER over 9.0 innings (1 BB, 9 SO). NOTABLE: The White Sox signed free agent Anderson Severino to a minor league contract in November 2020. He had been bouncing around the Yankees Organization since 2013.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Three-Game Series vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Ray 2-1
GAME 7
Friday, April 15, 2022 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field – Jackie Robinson Day – 75 Years
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Rays / Drew Rasmussen, RHP
W, 2-3, 5-2 (.714), W2 | W: Dylan Cease (2-0, 1.69) | S: Hendriks (3)
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease turns in a respectable 5 ⅔ IP for his second win in as many starts. He gives up 1 R/ER on 3 H (2 BB, 8 SO). Cease exits in the 6th after walking 1 and striking out 2 (score is 0-3 Sox). Enter Aaron Bummer with 2 outs and a runner on 1B. Bummer gives up an RBI 2B that scores the inherited runner, followed by another RBI 2B that scores the previous batter. A LO ends the 6th. It’s 2-3 Sox. Bummer returns in the 7th to make a better showing—allowing a 1B, then retiring the next three. Kendall Graveman pitches a 1-2-3 (2 SO) 8th. Closer Liam Hendriks is more himself today and doesn’t make things complicated—1-2-3 for the save. OFFENSE: Gavin Sheets (hit ground-rule 2B, advanced to 3B on Leury Garcia GO) scores on a Drew Rasmussen WP in the 2nd. Jake Burger solo HR (1) off his first-ever pitch from Drew Rasmussen (his second career HR) in the 3rd. Jake Burger 1B scores Leury Garcia (doubled, advanced to 3B on Andrew Vaughn GO) in the 5th. NOTABLE: Tim Anderson tallies his first SB of the season in the 1st. Leury Garcia‘s 2B in the 5th breaks an 0-18 slump, and man is he happy!
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
GAME 8
Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Michael Kopech, RHP vs.
Rays / Corey Kluber, RHP
W, 2-3, 6-2 (7.50), W3 | W: Reynaldo López (2-0, 4.91) | S: Liam Hendriks (4)
DEFENSE: Starter Michael Kopech pitched well against a tough lineup, and got better as he went along—a hopeful sign?! He gives up 1 R (0 ER) on 1 H (2 BB, 5 SO) on 5.0 IP (a Josh Harrison E5 in the 1st allows Brandon Lowe to advance to 3B, rendering the subsequent run unearned). Reynaldo López throws 2B, SO, LO, BB, RBI 1B/PO) in the 6th. López is properly charged with 1 ER, but ends up as the technical game winner. José Ruiz (3 K) and Bennett Sousa (2 K) pitch a 1-2-3 inning each in the 7th and 8th. In an “exciting” (?) finish, closer Liam Hendriks goes 1B (advances to 2B on WP), FC (out at 3B), FO, 1B (steals 2B), IW, K, for the save. Okay, fine. OFFENSE: José Abreu 2-run HR (1) scores Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on a pickoff E1) in the 4th. Abreu is .340 lifetime vs. Corey Kluber. Yasmani Grandal 1B scores Luis Robert (reached on E6, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on José Abreu FO) in the 6th. NOTABLE: Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena ejected by HP umpire Junior Valentine for tossing the bat straight up in the air after he is called out looking in the 6th.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
April 16, 2022 – Sox v Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field
GAME 9
Sunday, April 17, 2022 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Vince Velasquez, RHP vs.
Rays / J.P. Feyereisen, RHP
L, 3-9, 6-3 (.667), L1 | L: Vince Velasquez (0-1, 4.15)
DEFENSE: Starter Vince Velasquez gets off to a rocky start, giving up 4 R/3 ER on 3 H (3 BB, 2 K) in the 1st, then pitches 3 scoreless innings. He exits with 2 outs in the 5th after allowing a 1B. Velasquez posts 5 H and 5 SO on 4 ⅔ IP (no additional R or BB after the 1st). Tanner Banks retires the side with a K, then throws 2B, K, GO, FO in the 6th. Matt Foster walks 1 and retires 3 (0 SO) in the 7th. He exists in the 8th after throwing GO, BB. Anderson Severino takes the mound with 1 on. After 3 unsuccessful pickoff attempts, the inherited runner advances to 2B on a wild first pitch. Severino’s second pitch hits Kevin Kiermaier, then he gives up 3B and 2B after making a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Next, he allows a 2-RBI 1B that scores the inherited runner and the HBP, followed by GO, RBI 2B, WP gives up 3B, RBI 2B, PB gives up 3B, K, making it 8-2 Rays. Ouch! Kyle Crick goes GO, 1B, 1B, RBI 1B, L1-3 DP in the 9th. OFFENSE: Gavin Sheets RBI HBP scores José Abreu (singled, advanced to 2B on Yasmani Grandal BB, advanced to 3B on Eloy Jiménez BB) in the 4th. White Sox again load the bases in the 5th (Adam Engel 1B SB(2) WP, Tim Anderson BB SB(2), José Abreu BB), but Engel scores the only run on a PB. Gavin Sheets solo HR (1) in the 9th. NOTABLE: Rays lineup have sharp eyes today, taking a bunch of close changeups. This is the first game of the season in which the Sox allow 5 runs.
Watch game highlights from mlb.com: