Tim
Anderson, flanked by manager Rick Renteria and Yoan Moncada, and
Jose Abreu kneel during the National Anthem on Friday. | Getty
Anderson took a knee before Friday’s game, and appreciated the
support of his teammates.
The moments before Friday night’s opener were emotional for
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.
“I tried not to shed too many tears because we are going
through something where the world needs to change,” Anderson said
Saturday. “But you know it speaks a lot of the guys that were
right there in my corner. I am the only Black guy so it was only
right that I had to show my love, I had to support.”
In support of Black Lives Matter, Anderson, Jose
Abreu, Edwin Encarnacion, Lucas
Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Luis
Robert and coaches Joe McEwing and
Daryl Boston took a knee during the National
Anthem, while manager Rick Renteria and
Yoan Moncada put a hand on Anderson’s shoulders.
Renteria and reliever Jace Fry went to one knee
before the anthem.
Anderson appreciated the support, and said Abreu approached him
pregame and told him he was in Anderson’s corner.
“For them to be right there beside me, it speaks a lot of
them,” Anderson said. “We are all brothers and we all love each
other and I think it showed. They supported me through it
all.”
Anderson, who praised the league’s response to the moment,
said he will not continue to kneel.
“I feel like (Friday) was definitely big enough to actually
spread the love that is needed,” Anderson said.
Goodbye, Fulmer
Designated for assignment Thursday, Carson Fulmer
was claimed Saturday by the Tigers, ending one of the most
disappointing Sox tenures for a top pick in team history. The Sox
had hoped Fulmer would make it through waivers and remain in the
organization, but that was not the case.
“It’s unfortunate obviously because as you guys know, Carson
is a tremendous kid, an extremely hard worker,” general manager
Rick Hahn said Thursday. “He’s filled, or
attempted to fill, a variety of different roles for us over the
years with varying degrees of success.”
Taken eighth overall in 2015, Fulmer pitched 51 games for the
Sox, going 6-9 with a 6.56 ERA.
A Grandal day off
Yasmani Grandal did not start. Renteria said he
wanted to get James McCann into the lineup, and
recognized that Saturday was a good chance to get Grandal a
breather.
The decision, Renteria said, gives him an opportunity to now use
Grandal on many consecutive days as the season ramps up.
Thursday’s off-day will also help.
“I know he wants to be in there,” Renteria said. “I want
to keep him fresh, but the opportunity for me to just give him (a
rest) after we’ve just come off of this grind of the preparation
to get everybody ready, today’s a perfect opportunity.”
Heuer’s debut
Codi Heuer made his big-league debut Friday night
by throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Heuer said that, in normal
circumstances, his family and friends would’ve been at his debut.
Some people, Heuer said, even asked if they could get into
Guaranteed Rate Field but were obviously rebuffed.
Still, Heuer shared moments with those closest to him, including
an emotional voicemail from his dad.
“He said, ‘That was awesome to watch you play. It’s such a
long road to get here and a lot of hard work. You deserve it,’”
Heuer said “It means a lot, especially coming from my old man. I
wouldn’t be here without him, like I said. So that was
nice.”
