Last December, after 6 years of injuries and unmet expectations, the White Sox cut ties with Carlos Rodon, their first round pick in the 2014 draft. On February 1, they brought him back, at a reduced rate, as back of the rotation insurance. After a strong spring, he beat our Reynaldo Lopez for the fifth starter’s spot. Last night, in his second start of the season, he was perfect through 25 hitters against the Indians and, after a hit batsman, ended up with the 20th no hitter in White Sox history.
This should have been my first no hitter seen in person. But, and you knew there was going to be a but, life somehow got in the way. I had bought tickets to the entire first homestand, so that wasn’t the issue. Monday afternoon, I got my second vaccine shot and then headed down to Guaranteed Rate Field for that night’s game. Ironically, Rodon was scheduled to pitch Monday, but was scratched with a stomach bug. Tuesday, I was feeling the after-effects of the shot, the night out in the cold, or both, with a fuzzy head, chills, and body aches. I decided to skip Tuesday night’s game. By Wednesday morning, I was feeling pretty normal, but, with a forecast game-time temperature in the 40s, I decided to play it safe and stay home once again. A mistake that I will have to live with for the rest of my days.