By Roger Wallenstein
The first year of The Rebuild
Is now in the past.
But it wasn’t so awful
The Sox didn’t finish last.
Hahn warned us,
“Have low expectations,
Keep an eye toward Charlotte
For future sensations.”
We enjoyed a few highlights
Like Abreu’s 33 and a hundred-two.
He also hit .304.
Well, that’s not so new.
Avi Garcia lost weight
But remained very sturdy.
Finishing second to Altuve,
The guy hit three-thirty
Carlos became Yolmer.
This Sanchez was much better.
He hits, he fields,
A leadoff man and table-setter.
Our shortstop Anderson,
The errors were too much.
But the past two months,
Tim regained his touch.
We waited patiently
For the arrival of Moncada.
Unfortunately once he got here,
He hit close to nada.
But that’s the point.
These things will take time.
The fans all recognize
That Yoan will be fine.
The Sox began the season
Missing Eaton and Sale.
But that was just the beginning
As Hahn continued to deal.
First it was Quintana.
He didn’t go far.
Now he pitches for the Cubs.
Will he smoke a victory cigar?
In return the Sox got Jimenez.
This could be a great deal.
The kid’s only 20.
We think he’s for real.
Hahn kept on dealing.
He showed us some spine.
The fans were in suspense
Until the trade deadline.
Frazier departed
Followed by Melky.
The bullpen was emptied.
We were left with Pelfrey.
But we liked the new faces,
Surprises like Delmonico.
Then came Lopez
Followed by Giolito.
Fulmer stumbled at first
Then suffered a blister.
But when he was healthy,
He added to the mixture.
The prospect Kopech
Looks hungry and lean.
He just might make it
In 2018.
The fans seemed to buy it.
They’re content to wait.
An average of 20-thousand
Showed up at The Rate.
Ticket prices remained reasonable
Just what you’d expect.
But once the Sox contend,
It will cost more, I suspect.
Despite all the losses,
Renteria liked his outfit.
One thing about Rickey’s boys,
They never said, “Quit.”
How long will it take
Before the Sox are a winner?
Stay tuned, Sox fans
We’ve seen things much dimmer.
Will it be next season
Or the year thereafter?
Be assured when it happens
We’re going to enjoy this chapter.
–
Roger’s previous season-ending poems:
* Ode To 2014.
* The Season In Verse | Could Hardly Be Worse (2015).
* The Season In Verse | Back Up The Hearse (2016).
–
Former Bill Veeck bar buddy Roger Wallenstein is our White Sox correspondent. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on October 2, 2017