Tag / Guaranteed Rate Field

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Turning The Page To Next Year

baseballs3Major League Baseball released their tentative 2017 schedule yesterday.  While the local squads have differing goals in mind as 2016 winds down, with the Cubs currently sitting pretty with a magic number of 1 and the White Sox playing out the string while trying to avoid their 4th straight losing season, it’s time to turn our attention to next summer for both teams.

The White Sox open their season at what will then be known as Guaranteed Rate Field on April 3 against the Tigers, with 28 of their first 34 games coming against AL Central foes.  Given their lack of success in this arena over the past few years, it will be a tough test to start the new campaign.

The interleague schedule pits the White Sox against the NL West, with trips to Arizona, Colorado, and Los Angeles and home series against the Padres, Giants, and the Dodgers.  The rivalry with their north side foes continues the last week of July, with Monday and Tuesday games at Wrigley Field before moving back to the south side for Wednesday and Thursday.

The season ends with a 7 game homestand against the Royals and Angels before heading to Cleveland for the final weekend.  Assuming the team finds itself in contention, it could be an interesting last week.

Meanwhile, on the north side, the Cubs open the season down in St. Louis, for the first time since 1986, on April 3.  They kick off the home portion of their schedule the following week against the Dodgers.

The interleague schedule pits the Cubs against the AL East, with trips to Boston, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay and home series against the Yankees, Blue Jays, and the Rays.

The Cubs end the year with a 4 game stint against the Cardinals in St. Louis before returning home for the final weekend against the Reds.  One can only assume they will be celebrating their second straight NL Central crown.

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They’re Calling It What?

guaranteed_rateAfter being known as US Cellular Field for the past 13 years, the White Sox announced earlier today that, beginning on November 1, their home stadium will now be known as Guaranteed Rate Field.  The team and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority signed a 13 year agreement with the national mortgage broker based in Chicago.  A name change had been thought to be in the works for the past 4 years, since US Cellular exited the Chicago market.

The new name will take some getting used to, as it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.  That said, the name of the stadium isn’t as important as the action taking place inside it, and a winning team, should one ever deem to locate itself on the south side again, will wipe away any concerns over the name.

Going into tonight’s action, the White Sox were 220-186 in games I’ve attended at US Cellular Field.  There will be a few more opportunities to add to that record over the final month of the 2016 season, before we turn the page and start anew at Guaranteed Rate Field.