It looks like the Sodfather has his work cut out from him, but White Sox manager Rick Renteria trusts his groundskeeper.
Unlike the flurries that fell during the opener at Guaranteed Rate Field, Roger Bossard’s crew had to contend with a layer of wet, sloppy snow before Monday's game against the Rays, giving Renteria some pause about his players' footing.
“I'm hoping they’ll be able to put their spikes into the ground,” he said. “Those are things that we talk to them about. If they feel the ground is a little bit too firm or they can’t really get their footing, I want them to be mindful of it.
“That being said, I think Roger does a great job of getting the fields ready. I don’t see us having any problem. We spoke to him this morning and it’s funny because he says, ‘Don't worry what it looks like right now. We’ll be able to get our game.’”
The Sox tweeted around 11 a.m. that the game time was is subject to change, “but Roger is optimistic about playing today.” About half an hour or so later the Sox delayed Monday's start 20 minutes to 1:30 p.m. The team already had made the decision Friday to move the game up from 7:10 p.m. because of weather concerns.
Around noon, when the temperature was about 34 degrees, groundskeepers were watering the mound, which had been under a tarp, and were still scraping remnants of snow and slush from the field. The tarp was placed on the mound again about a half hour later as light snow began to fall.
Some cheeky technician pumped “Informer” by rapper Snow on the sound system.
"You have to fundamentally do everything as sound as possible," Renteria said of his players.
Matt Davidson said he and teammates were taking extra measures to stay warm and loose in these frigid conditions — getting in the hot tub, sitting next to heaters, running extra sprints and stretching a little longer.
“You’re constantly trying to stay warm. We’re taking care of our bodies,” he said.
“Stay warm,” Renteria advised his players. "Both sides are going to be playing in the same thing. It’s just a matter of making sure that you’re focused and continue to put yourself in the best position possible that you have to when you’re out there.”
Playing in what will likely be three straight days in the 30s isn't ideal, but Davidson said the Sox expect to trudge through it like professionals.
“This is definitely colder than last year. I’ve heard in past seasons sometimes it’s been really nice in April, so it’s just kind of one of those years that it’s bad and we’re trying to get through it, really."
Miguel Gonzalez is set to take mound for the White Sox and looks to rebound from a rough outing in his first start in the season.
Gonzales (0-1, 9.00 ERA), gave up five runs in five innings of work against the Blue Jays on April 3.
Chris Archer (0-0, 6.55) takes the hill for the Rays.
Here is the White Sox lineup:
Yoan Moncada, 2B
Avisail Garcia, RF
Jose Abreu, 1B
Nicky Delmonico, LF
Yolmer Sanchez, 3B
Tim Anderson, SS
Leury Garcia, CF
Tyler Saladino, DH
Omar Narvaez, C
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