White Sox: Which player will you cheer for in 2018?

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HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 21: Carson Fulmer /

White Sox fans unite – this is going to be a special year and the first full season of the rebuild. Who will you be rooting for?

Ok, time for a White Sox fan check-in. I’m hopeful this post will solicit many comments to the Southside Showdown page as well as comments to our re-post on Facebook. This should be a fun one.

My question for Sox nation is as follows: looking at the 60+ players in camp today, who will you root for most in 2018?

It could be a veteran major leaguer with an established history of success such as Jose Abreu or Avisail Garcia. Perhaps you fancy picking one of the younger players such as Yoan Moncada or Nicky Delmonico, or pitchers in Lucas Giolito or Reynaldo Lopez. Or you could root for one of our young horses down on the farm such as Michael Kopech or Alec Hansen.

Here’s my pick for 2018

As for me, I’ll kick things off – I’m rooting for Carson Fulmer and Delmonico. Fulmer has a world of talent, throws in the mid-90’s, and has four solid pitches each with movement. Delmonico carried the team with his scorching bat in 2017 Sox debut. Each is young and hungry, and we don’t yet know just how good they can be.

But that’s not why I’ll be rooting for them. After rocky starts in 2016 and 2017, Fulmer knuckled down and settled in for a solid 2017 close. “Filthy Fulmer” should change his nickname to “Feisty Fulmer”. Casual fans jumped all over him and questioned his capability after one poor start, but he fought the criticism and knuckled down to close a strong 2017 campaign. He is a competitor.

Delmonico has a quick bat and great eye. I noticed his ability to snap the bat and turn on the ball when he bashed 5 home runs last spring training. I saw the same thing after he joined the team on August 1st. Nicky’s story is one to root for in my opinion. The guy almost hung up his cleats in a well-documented story, but upon hearing his mother’s words, “You were born to play baseball,” thankfully reconsidered.

That’s what I like

Those are the kinds of players I root for. Players with ability, but also with a story sprinkled with challenge. Not necessarily the biggest star, not the largest physical specimen, and not the most storied acquisition. I like the underdog. I’ll take heart over pedigree any day. I’m rooting for the little guy who is not afraid to step up and take on the big guy.

12 Oct 1993: Pitcher Scott Radinsky of the Chicago White Sox stands on the mound with his head down after a home run during a playoff game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinios. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

Now then – how about you? I’m not asking who your favorite player is, that’s different than who you’ll choose to support. Favorites are favorites – we all have ‘em. Just ask your parents. Who you root for is different. That requires choice and intent. And the player you pick should be someone you want to receive your support, your advocacy, and your cheers.

Making the pick back in the day

I remember when Scott Radinsky came up with the Sox in 1990. As a rookie, he had to carry the towels out to the bullpen before games. No one knew who he was. I have a booming voice, so I would scream at the top of my lungs, “RAD!!” repeatedly during that walk. After a few games, he would hear it during that walk and turn his to see where it was coming from. I realized he was hearing me.

When the new Comiskey Park opened in 1991, the bullpens were located in the outfield with easy access for fans (not necessarily the best idea, but this is a story for another post…). During my first game there on April 27^th against the Yankees, I made my way down and there he was leaning against the back wall with Bobby Thigpen and Donn Pall. From that close distance I let my cheer rip: “RAD!!” Thigpen looked at Radinsky and said, “Hey, it’s your fan.”

Here’s a better story. Later that year in ’91, I remember sitting in the right-field seats and chatting with a woman and her grandson in the row in front of me. I had great seats in the second row of Section 106, which is the second section in front from the foul pole. She mentioned she tried to fill the void of his father who had left the family by taking him to games like most of our dads did with us. I immediately felt empathy for him, so I began playing the father figure and imparting the gems of my wisdom (sic) to this young fan.

How to be a good fan

One of the important components of being a good fan, I stated to the boy, was not only rooting for the team but picking certain players and pumping them up. “Everyone loves a Frank Thomas,” I said, who was playing first base in front of us on that day, “but for every Frank Thomas there’s someone lesser known who really needs your cheers; someone like…” I paused for a beat to look across the field and select someone not necessarily a household name.

Robin Ventura was playing third base, couldn’t pick him. Ozzie Guillen was at short, another nope. Lance Johnson stood crouched in center field, while Tim Raines stood at the ready in left. Geez, there had to be a better example to prove my point.

13 Jun 1995: Outfielder Warren Newson of the Chicago White Sox swings at the ball during a game against the Oakland Athletics. The White Sox won the game 7-6. /

Lo and behold, he was standing right in front of us. Ladies and gentlemen, playing right field for the Chicago White Sox that night: Warren Newson.

This was an easy pick

“Warren Newson” I continued matter of factly, gesturing toward him in front us. “No one knows who he is, let alone is rooting for him. We should make him our favorite player tonight and let him know he has fans.”

“The Deacon” as legendary Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson nicknamed him played 498 major league games for the Sox, Mariners, and Rangers from 1991 to 1998. That was his rookie year of 1991, and in that August 1^st game in which the Sox beat up the Rangers 13-2 he started in right field and played the entire game.

To state my case, I started around the third inning hollering his nickname. “Deacon! The Deacon! You’re awesome! You’re the best!” As I mentioned, I have a booming voice. And with a little persuasion (meaning beer) I can be quite persistent. My friend Tim cheered as well as my wingman to offer moral support. I was the “known nut” and he was my “first follower”.

And we had fun

I continued this the entire game, on purpose and to be somewhat slightly obnoxious and overbearing. I knew full well that everyone in my section and the adjacent section on each side thought I was an idiot. Still, I persisted – because not only did I suspect they were listening, I thought that maybe, just maybe, The Deacon was as well.

The boy cheered as well. We had fun trying to out-do each other on things to cheer for – even the volume of our cheers.

As the game progressed, it got into later innings. Time for the payoff, I thought to myself. I jumped on my proverbial soapbox and began espousing to the young fan that all our chatter and bombast had not been for naught.

The moment I’ll never forget

“WARREN, WE LOVE YOU!! GIVE YOUR FANS A WAVE!!”

Without a beat, Newson broke from his hands-on-knees ready defensive position, twisted his body to the left to look behind himself right at us, and raised his right hand in a deliberate open-hand wave backed by a huge smile.

Baseball fans for life

All 3 outfield sections who had been listening to our screaming the entire game erupted in cheers. Everyone loved it and began cheering for him. “DEACON!! NEWSON!! YOU’RE AWESOME, WE LOVE YOU TOO!!” The collective outburst lasted the rest of the game. I’m sure he didn’t stop smiling, and neither did we. One more fantastic family memory from Comiskey Park and Chicago’s South Side.

Next: Jose Abreu gift guide for the superfan

So, White Sox fans, make this story yours. Who’s day are you going to make? It will matter, not just to them but to you. Leave a comment and let others know your passion. Send your player a letter or better yet let them you’re behind them at a game this season.

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