Chicago White Sox: Musings from a Day at the Cell with the Kids

The Chicago White Sox closed out a six-game home stand Sunday afternoon with the Washington Nationals, which seemed as good a reason as any to whisk the kids off for a day of live major league action.

As most of my epic plans develop, this was totally spur of the moment.  My nephew was in town, Phil Humber was slated to pitch and all kids tickets were a buck.  Guess what we're doing tomorrow, guys?

June 26, 8:45 a.m.: We depart DeKalb County for the CTA Blue Line, which after a transfer to the Red Line will bring us to the stadium gates.  From the Cumberland stop on the Blue Line, there are two distinct groups heading into the town.

Those would be White Sox pilgrims and marchers in the Gay Pride Parade downtown.  Either way, great weather for the day's activities.

11:15 a.m.: We always aim to arrive early at Comiskey (which is what I refer to the ballpark if I'm not writing factually about it) so that we can be assured of tickets in the main level.  Unless you are right behind the plate, sitting in the upper deck is something I've never enjoyed.  Every pop up looks like a homer to me.  We settle for "Lower Reserved" seats in right-center for $48.

Apparently this is a "Prime" game in the White Sox dynamic pricing system (their term).  I had considered presenting my 16-year-old nephew as 13 to get him in for a buck, but he's 6'3".  At least my two kids (ages 12 and seven) are dollar tickets.

11:30 a.m.: We've got time to kill, so it's off to Fundamentals, where the kids race Scotty Pods (Last year, the attraction was out of order.  Groin pull.) and take some swings (did I see Adam Dunn getting some pointers?) before departing to generally raise cane on the fan deck in center.

First Inning (I don't really follow the clock once the game starts): It's Humber for Chicago and...it shall be Livan (Hernandez) for the Nationals.  The White Sox waste a leadoff double by Juan Pierre when Dunn strikes out with runners on second and third.

Third Inning: At this point my two kids have started to stray from the focus of the game.  Actually, that's not entirely true.  The 12-year-old hasn't looked up more than once or twice since he finished his hot dog. 

Paul Konerko, whose name I coached both kids to say as infants ("one more time...KON...ER...KO!"), gives Chicago the lead with an opposite field single.  Dunn strikes out (it's a theme, folks) and Alex Rios strands Carlos Quentin on third.

Fourth Inning: Some guy in the section next to us is heckling Rios in a very non-creative fashion.  He points out that Rio is overpaid, then urges him to "think about hitting above the Mendoza line."  I point out to my nephew that at .226, Rios is in fact hitting above the Mendoza line at the moment.

Ten minutes later, that fan is approached by security, as he's holding a ticket for a seat on the opposite side of the park from where he currently is. Turns out the guy had been drinking.  Never would have guessed.

Rios may be overpaid, but at least he's in the right position on the field.  Meanwhile, Humber has not allowed a hit for the first five innings.

Sixth Inning: Jerry Hairston breaks up the no-hitter while we all go for a slice of pizza.  I promised we'd get up after the fifth, which ended with...wait for it...Dunn striking out.

Watching him live intensified the awkwardness of a guy who is awash at the plate.  Even the family-oriented Sunday crowd reign boos down on him, which I'm sure just tightens the screws on Dunn.

The seven-year-old, who routinely boos me for indiscretions from passing the Dairy Queen to enforcing bedtime, stops playing with peanut shells under his seat long enough to join in.

"You don't have to boo," I say.  "He's trying.  He's just not very good."

Of course, Adam Dunn is making about $120K for each of his 100 strikeouts this year.  That could take some of the sting out of it for him.

Seventh Inning: Phil Humber has been the best pitcher in the rotation, which looks to be a five-man one for the next few weeks with John Danks out.  Even when he gives up a towering two-run shot to right by Danny Espinosa and is chased in the seventh, he gets a big ovation from the home fans.

Has Humber done enough to merit a spot in the all-star game?  A win here would have helped, but we don't seen to have the required run support today. 

Chris Sale finishes the remainder of the game as my kids fidget and campaign for funnel cakes.  Ignoring the proceedings on the field would have burned through my stomach innings ago if I hadn't paid two dollars for their seats.

Konerko gets the fans on their feet in the bottom half, sending a two-out pitch from reliever Tyler Clippard to the warning track before Hairston hauls it in.  Dunn will lead off the eighth.  I'm guessing that even an interim manager will know to have a left-hander facing him.

Eighth Inning: Dunn teases with a couple of hard hit foul balls before whiffing and Chicago is set down in order in the eighth and ninth.  Hernandez was far from overpowering, but struck out nine White Sox batters and made Espinosa's blast hold up.  The Sox have lost the first interleague series in their last 18.

Time to hustle out the ballpark, find a seat on the train and begin collecting my many thoughts.