Cease and Desist

Obviously, I can’t leave some things alone, like injuries. I see that Christian Yelich is back on the IL with back issues; Juan Soto’s shoulder is relegating him to DH duties; and George Springer looks to be suffering from “old man legs.” (I told you so on that one.) So many strong young men (except maybe for the 31-year old Springer who some White Sox fans wanted the team to sign), so many injuries. Now, if you’ll step into the time machine with me and consider these Sox immortals: Nellie Fox, the 5’10” second baseman who went twelve straight seasons with 600-plus at-bats; Luis Aparicio, the 5’9” shortstop who went fifteen straight years with 500-plus at-bats and had an eighteen-year career of never fewer than 436 at-bats (that at age 38); and Minnie Minoso, like Fox a 5’10” player who strung eleven straight seasons of 500-plus at-bats, this despite getting hit by pitches 178 times; as I recall there were some serious beanings among those HBPs. But maybe this is apples and oranges, HOFers (plus someone who should be in Cooperstown) compared to ballplayers too muscled for their own good more than anything. You decide. And, while you’re at it, tell me if you agree with Ozzie Guillen’s call for putting Sox starter Dylan Cease in center in place of the injured Luis Robert. Guillen was kidding, of course (I think), this after Cease went three-for-three in his first-ever major-league at-bats in last night’s start in Cincinnati. Forget the hits. Cease pitched lights’ out for a second straight start, shutting out the hot-hitting Reds over six innings in a 9-0 Sox win. It was Cease’s second straight start where he struck out 11 batters. More of that, please. In his postgame interview, Cease credited fellow pitcher Lance Lynn for giving him valuable hitting and pitching tips; unlike Guillen (I think), he was serious. OK, now we know who the good influence is on this young man. Let’s keep those two together.