On Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians shocked the baseball world, clinching their first American League Central crown since 2018.
Before the start of the 2022 season, there were not many baseball pundits pegging the Guardians to win the division. After all, they were the youngest team in the MLB. According to the oddsmakers, analysts, and fans, the White Sox were the universal favorites to win the division.
But entering Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians magic number was just one. All they needed was a victory or a White Sox loss. They got both. The Guardians took care of business in Texas, defeating the Rangers 10-4.
Meanwhile, the White Sox dropped their sixth straight game, losing 4-1 to the lowly Detroit Tigers. After being overlooked all year, the Guardians relished their moment of glory by trashing the White Sox.
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Before the White Sox victory in Cleveland on September 15th, infielder Elvis Andrus gave the Guardians some bulletin board material.
“They’ve been playing perfect until now,” Andrus said. “If we keep winning series, we know that sooner or later they’re gonna crumble, the closer we get.”
Cleveland did not forget this comment. Following their title-clinching victory, they posted a video of their mascot, Slider, eating bar branded Guards Granola. The bottom of the wrapper read ” A Delicious Snack Guaranteed To Make You Crumble.” It was a double shot at the White Sox stadium name and Andrus comments. Slider eats the bar, and crumbs fall onto the table to form the message “AL Central Champs.”
Crumbled our way to a division title.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/gCPaRBEKhm
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 25, 2022
Their Twitter account also made sure to throw a jab at White Sox Talk. The NBC Chicago, White Sox account made a post back in April poking fun at the seemingly weak competition in the AL Central. Their Tweet read, “Us wondering if the rest of the division is going to show up.” The Tweet was accompanied by a photo of Will Smith looking around an empty house.
The Guardians clapped back five months later, saying, “All moved into the new place.”
Tip of the cap to @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/RRsKvUbUD5
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) September 25, 2022
The players also had a field day. Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase went on Instagram live to record the locker room celebration. In the background, someone can be heard shouting, “fuck the White Sox!” The rest of the clubhouse responded by erupting into cheers
“Fuck the White Sox” pic.twitter.com/3ZNm8tRriX
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) September 25, 2022
The players continued to mock the White Sox by chanting “fire Tony” while posing for a team picture. It referenced chants that broke out multiple times this season at Guaranteed Rate Field, calling for manager Tony La Russa’s job.
They also support Fire Tony pic.twitter.com/o6u3XEq2Jt
— NMR Burner (@NMRBurner) September 26, 2022
The White Sox can choose to be angry, but the sad truth is they brought this upon themselves. The White Sox embarrassed themselves by playing the entire season with a complete lack of urgency, and it came back to bite them. Cleveland has every right to dunk on them.
