White Sox-Angels rain delay: Weather makes Chicago grounds crew look as useless as team itself
Baseball is finally back, giving all 30 MLB fan bases some semblance of hope that 2025 might be their year. Perhaps the only series in the first week of the season that featured two teams with absolutely no hope consisted of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels, two American League clubs likely to finish in last place in their respective divisions.
For the most part, this series has been dominated by pitching. It appeared as if that was going to change on Sunday when the Angels and White Sox traded two-run innings, but each of these teams traded zeroes for the next five innings, keeping the game knotted at two apiece heading into the seventh inning.
Bryse Wilson kept the Angels off the board in the top half. Ryan Zeferjahn hoped to do the same in the bottom half, but after surrendering a one-out double to former Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, didn’t even get an opportunity to finish the inning. The game was being halted due to rain.
The conditions went from fine to absolutely brutal. So brutal, in fact, to the point where Chicago’s grounds crew looked almost as useless as the White Sox themselves.
The rain delay started 10 minutes ago but the tarp is stuck.
For more news and rumors, check out MLB Insider Robert Murray’s work on The Baseball Insiders podcast, subscribe to The Moonshot, our weekly MLB newsletter, and join the discord to get the inside scoop during the MLB season.
Conditions at Rate Field make White Sox grounds crew look as useless as the team itself
While it was not their fault to any extent, the White Sox grounds crew served as a microcosm of Chicago’s 2024 season, which notably did not end well. The Sox are hoping to improve some in 2025, especially after trading Garrett Crochet away for prospect capital. There is a good chance Luis Robert Jr. could be sent away at the trade deadline as well
Rain delays are part of this sport. There are plenty of outdoor ballparks, and we’d prefer to keep it that way. Every now and then, delays offer humorous moments like the one witnessed above. Given the weather in Chicago, which is not great for what it’s worth, it’s a fair expectation that the White Sox may struggle to make it out of this storm on Sunday.
Per the hourly forecast, there is a chance this delay could end if both teams agree to play the game at night
Red Sox lock up ace starting pitcher on massive contract extension
The Boston Red Sox have made starting pitcher Garrett Crochet their new franchise ace, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Monday that the team has agreed to a six-year, $170 million extension with the lefty.
Red Sox sign Garrett Crochet to long-term extension
Crochet was acquired by the Red Sox from the White Sox in exchange for four prospects. The left-hander flamethrower has established himself as one of the top pitchers in the league and the Red Sox have now locked him up on a long-term deal.
Crochet has made one start with Boston, which was Opening Day against the Texas Rangers. He pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs, five hits, walked two and struck out four in a 5-2 season-opening win.
Last season with the Chicago White Sox, Crochet broke out into an All-Star with 209 strikeouts in 146 innings and a 3.58 ERA. He was rumored heavily to be traded at last year’s deadline but remained in Chicago throughout their treacherous campaign before landing in Boston during the offseason.
The Red Sox are building a strong core for the future
The Red Sox made a handful of other big additions this offseason, including the signings of Walker Buehler and Alex Bregman in free agency. A rotation with Crochet and Buehler at the top has a real chance to take down the Yankees for the American League East division title.
They are also led by a young core of promising players including Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Kristian Campbell. The team is building a strong group for the long-term future, and Crochet will be a part of that as the ace of the rotation.
