Why Bother?

Around the fourth inning of last night’s White Sox-Mariners’ game at Guaranteed Rate Whatever, a message flashed on the electronic ribbon that circles the stadium between the first ad second decks: Show Us Your Energy. Why bother? The 32,000-plus fans should’ve answered back. You guys aren’t. No, Jose Abreu looked all-of-a-sudden old, instead, with a double play (one of three by Sox hitters for the game) and zero hits. Tim Anderson has suddenly grown quiet and lost his swagger, picking up an error with his increasingly peculiar throwing mechanics at shortstop. And the bullpen turned a 3-1 deficit after five into a 9-3 route. Nothing like stinking up the joint in front of a mostly full house. Another game like this, and the boo birds will start to sing. If only we could be serenaded by a constantly exploding scoreboard. Such music that would be.