If Chicago White Sox fans are looking for positive signs it is a mixed bag. After the Sox 5-4 loss to the host Kansas City Royals Sunday in the 26th game of the 2018 season for the Sox, their record was 8-18.
One year ago, the Sox played game 26 in Kansas City and the Sox ended up on the short end of a 6-1 score. The one redeeming aspect at the time was that the Sox’ record was 14-12. It was strictly an illusion! The Sox ended up with a 67-95 record.
If only the Sox could schedule the Royals more often. Despite dropping the final two games of a five-game series in Kansas City last weekend, the White Sox were 5-2 against the Royals. As divisional rivals, the two teams will see more of each other this season.
One of Major League Baseball’s best moves has been to schedule divisional rivals early on, which includes Detroit, Minnesota, and Cleveland.
The 1959 White Sox played nine home games beginning May 1 before going on the road and only one of those games was longer than three hours, and, that game was only three hours and two minutes! Two of those sub-three-hour games were extra-inning affairs.
The flip side of the coin is the fact that many fans enjoy sausage and hot dog races, exploding scoreboards that require time for the smoke to clear, and host of subtle additions to the fabric of baseball games that has added time to the games.
After two games in St. Louis Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the Sox will be host to the Twins for four games Thursday, May 3 through Sunday. Two home games with the Pittsburgh Pirates will be Tuesday and Wednesday of next week then interleague play will start for the Sox. The Sox will play three games at the Chicago Cubs, each starting at 1:20 p.m., May 11-13.