It’s a beautiful day for a Blackout Game, though a little bit on the toasty side for Chicago White Sox fans heading out to the Rate for Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
Do Sox fans have to worry about being overhyped?
Column: Sunny forecast for the Chicago White Sox after years of gloom and doom
“I hadn’t thought about that,” manager Will Venable said. “We’re in the spirit of putting our foot on the gas here. Whatever that means for the fans, obviously we’re not going to put any governors on that or want to do anything but embrace the excitement and embrace the energy.
“I think that our guys are going to respond to what should be an electric environment.”
Here’s what to know before Game 3 against the Cleveland Guardians.
The parking lots began filling up immediately with tailgaters, with long lines of cars waiting to get in. Arrive early if you plan on driving.
The Sox are asking fans to arrive earlier than a regular-season game for a few special treats before Game 3, including videos and a first pitch by an old favorite. (Sorry, not former President Barack Obama).
They wouldn’t reveal their plans, but sources said the team’s now famous pregame dugout dance ritual
More Top Picks Best Smartwatches With Stress Tracking
will be shown live on the video board in left field so fans can join in on the rhythmic clapping and foot stomping.One of the Sox’s regular dancers said this is the first time they’ve had a set start time, but he wasn’t worried anyone would forget their role.
Chicago’s own The Empty Pockets will play on the field before the game and were seen practicing before batting practice. Players were pleasantly surprised to hear the band’s version of the team’s theme song, “Strokin’,” being played.
The 1986 R&B hit is Munetaka Murakami’s favorite and was adopted by the Sox early in the season. Band member Josh Solomon told the Tribune, “We had to play ‘Strokin” for the boys.”
Asked if they also have “Don’t Stop Believin'” in their repertoire, Solomon said they considered it but decided that the 1981 Journey classic should continue to be associated with the 2005 team and that, because this is a new era, it’s time for something new (even if it’s from 1986).
The playing field at Rate Field is immaculate and got a special cut for Game 3. Head groundskeeper Roger “The Sodfather” Bossard said it has been cut to three-fourths of an inch, a little shorter than the usual seven-eighths of an inch.
“It’s like a putting green,” Bossard said.
There was no special request for the deeper cut, but it should make for a faster surface. Bossard compared the pregame atmosphere to two of the biggest games in his memory: Game 3 of the 1983 American League Championship Series in the first postseason game at old Comiskey Park since the 1959 World Series, and the 2008 tiebreaker game, which was the first Blackout Game at the Cell.
Here’s the Sox lineup, with left-handed opener Sean Newcomb getting the start:
- Sam Antonacci DH
- Miguel Vargas 3B
- Munetaka Murakami 1B
- Kyle Teel C
- Chase Meidroth 2B
- Tristan Peters CF
- Braden Montgomery RF
- Randal Grichuk LF
- Colson Montgomery SS