Sox don’t worry about low attendance
Sweeping the Yankees in a three-game series earlier this week was big news for the White Sox.
Alas, so was the low attendance at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Sox drew 27,561 on Monday, 24,247 Tuesday and 26,319 Wednesday. Capacity at the Cell is 40,615.
Considering the White Sox and Yankees are both in first place and New York is baseball’s most popular team, much bigger draws were expected.
The Sox struggled to fill seats earlier in the season, but they were very encouraged after attracting crowds of 30,000-plus six times in seven games in late July and early August.
Good or bad, attendance always seems to be an issue on the South Side and this season is no different.
“We really don’t focus in on it too much,” Paul Konerko said. “No doubt, the more fans you have at home the better. When you go on the road, it can be tough when you play in a place where the whole place is against you. It shouldn’t but at times it can make you do things out there that you normally wouldn’t do.
“But it really doesn’t play so much into our thoughts day to day. We come in and have a job to do and we do it. I still have a feeling that when we get down to the end here, we’ll have a lot of fans and certainly if we make the playoffs.”
The Yankees series was deemed “Premier” and box seats cost $53. The same tickets were $78 for the three-game Cubs series in June, another disappointing draw.
Friday night, a “Prime” game against the Mariners, box seats were $43 and the crowd was 25,058.
“If there’s nobody out there or whatever, it doesn’t change what our job is,” Konerko said.
De Aza update:
Eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Sept. 2, White Sox center fielder Alejandro De Aza (bruised left ribs) said he’s feeling much better Friday and resumed baseball activities.
“Some exercise, massage, heat,” De Aza said. “It got loose. I’m feeling very good.”
Manager Robin Ventura said he’d like De Aza to go on a rehab assignment before he comes off the DL. De Aza bruised the ribs sliding into second base at Kansas City on Aug. 17.
“I would expect him to go and at least play a few games just to make sure everything’s fine,” Ventura said. “You’re looking at how he’s feeling when he comes back. I don’t want him limping back in thinking we’re going to have to have him play hurt. Dewayne (Wise) is doing a great job so you just let Dewayne play until he gets healthy.”