Rain Delays – Guest Post by Jack Benton

From time to time, the 108ers get sent submissions by other members of #WhiteSox twitter, this is from Jack Benton….ENJOY!

Rain Delays BLOW.

Back to back nights this week I was part of two different rain delays at two different stadiums. These stadiums are roughly ten miles away from each other depending on the route that you take. One event was absolutely electric, everyone on the edge of their seat waiting for what was coming next and that was Michael Kopech’s first start on 35th and Shields, the other was Pearl Jam’s second night at Wrigley Field.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Pearl Jam, but the excitement levels were out of whack down at Fenway #2 on Monday because of the rain delay that forced field and 100 level patrons to the depths of Wrigley. Now I was in the 400 level, for those unfamiliar with Wrigley, this is only accessible with certain ramps that are located randomly throughout the concourse. So after #108ing for a few hours before the show, I needed to use the Whizz Palace. I asked the closest person who was attempting to work there where the nearest Pee Tub was and he informed me that it was on the 100 level. I am no mathematician, but 300 levels is a far distance to travel after peak #108ing. So as descended down into the depths of Wrigley, people at this point are using the ramps for everything from Herb Smokage to Carnal Passions. Staircases are packed with bodies sitting or standing in puddles, the small areas packed with patrons, reek of hot breath. This is exactly what I imagine a battlefield looked like in the Civil War. Temperatures rise and the ground is starting to get unstable as I arrive to the 100 level. Place is packed, there’s nowhere to move. It looked exactly like they learned absolutely nothing from when this exact thing happened 5 years prior in 2013.

Show started, I finally arose from the depths hell only to witness a man take out what I assumed to be the same frustration as mine by degrading an ATM machine at some middle portion of some part of that damn place. In the end show was good; Wrigley Sucks for concerts and baseball games alike. Turn the page to Tuesday August 21st, White Sox Christmas Day, Kopech Day at the Cell (THAT’S RIGHT, THE CELL!).

You could feel the energy as soon as you smelled the onions. The White Sox bullpen had people around it waiting since before I walked in at 5:45. You could feel that tonight was what all of us Sox fans were waiting all year for. Waiting for a glimpse at what could be a bright future for the pale hose. Kopech comes out to warm up, place erupts. Kopech walks to the dugout and gets announced by Gene, place erupts. He strikes out Denard Span for his 1st in the bigs, gets out of two jams, and again and again the place erupts with excitement. Finally, Michael Kopech stikes out Joe Mauer and they playoff type roar that burst on Chicago’s South Side must have been too much for the clouds to hold and down the rain came.

About 20,000 people rushed to the main concourse to get out of the downpour. Even with this amount of people rushing to the main concourse with little to no notice, did I think I was at Wrigley like experience all over again. I knew that the ramps from each gate were huge, covered, and would fit all who would want to get out of the crowded concourse. I knew that all of the people in the 300 and 500 level had a place to go to the bathroom. I also knew that there were plenty of xfinity and craft beer establishments to assist with rain delay #108ing. First place I headed was the Craft Cave, took a little time but in no way was the hot stale smell of death creeping in. Got to the Craft Cave and the worst thing was the overwhelmed bar staff that in no way were expecting the 8,000 walk up ticket sales or the rush of patrons to the Bullpen Sports Bar. Waited for all of 6 minutes for my beer and then stood comfortably against the bullpen glass and waited the rain delay in pure creature comfort.

In conclusion this is not a Cubs vs. White Sox fans thought process. It is a bunch of sentences written in appreciation to a fantastic piece of property located on 35th and Shields. A place that should be looked at for concerts should Jerry want to make extra cash. A place that is easily accessible and is capable of providing a more electric crowd with 22,000+ in two innings, than a “historic” building with probably 60,000+ people on hand for one of the biggest rock in roll bands with a huge following. Rain delays suck but I would rather spend them at the Cell over the “friendly confines”

-JackBenton