Let it be written. Let it be known. On September 23rd, 2021 at approximately 4:00 PM local time in Cleveland, the Chicago White Sox won the American League Central Division title and ensured themselves a playoff spot for the second consecutive year. This marks the first time in their history the Sox have managed to make the playoffs two years in a row. It's been a LONG time coming but for those of us who witnessed today it was worth the wait.

It hasn't been an easy slog, though the division title has been a foregone conclusion for several weeks now. Cleveland traded Cesar Hernandez to the Sox at the trade deadline pretty much surrendering and admitting they weren't going to catch our Boyz this year. However the Sox promptly took that surrender and sat on it, playing .500 ball over the remainder of the year while fighting niggling injuries and roller coaster offensive output while trying their best to walk the fine line between resting players and locking up the division. Mission accomplished at last. Well at least in part. There's still another week+ to go and then come the playoffs themselves. Right now that's a big mountain, but at least the team appears to be finally getting healthy with only Ryan Tepera currently still unavailable from the expected playoff roster.

The game itself was never in doubt. Tim Anderson led things off with a solo shot and then tacked on another 3-run blast in the second after both Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez added solo shots of their own. By the time the smoke had cleared the Sox were up 7-0 after 1.5. The offense didn't add anymore, but the pitching was solid and Tony LaRussa wasn't playing games. He yanked starting pitcher, Reynaldo Lopez in the 4th when he started struggling with control and gave up his second solo shot to close the lead to 5. The Sox brought in Garret Crochet who gave up a single but then got a double play grounder to end the inning. After that, it was bring in the late inning guys and watch them do their stuff. Bummer was masterful. Kimbrel was wild but effective and Hendriks was his usual beastmode self, not even allowing a bungled double play grounder to throw him off before blowing away some hapless batter for the final out to clinch the title and start the party. Well sort of, like everything else this season, the champagne would have to wait. There was still that little issue of a second game to be played...

Naturally the second game was anti-climatic with a full on bench emptying lineup that included only Yasmani Grandal at DH and Cesar Hernanez at 2B among the regular starters. Semi-starter Gavin Sheets did hold down 1B and for a nice surprise Andrew Vaughn returned and found himself at 3B. He made at least one nice play there and looked much better at the plate including a long at bat to tire the Cleveland reliever and drive in the tying and go-ahead runs when he got the meatball he needed. Sadly the Sox went on to lose the second game on a walk-off homerun, but honestly WHO CARES?!?!?! Let Cleveland have their little water bottle party at home, the Sox will pour some champagne and celebrate a much bigger win.

Two weeks from now the long awaited and anticipated second season begins. Looks like the Sox will be on the road facing Houston. Many recall that horror filled series there earlier this year but the Sox were not full strength back then. They will be this time. They'll also be rested, focused and ready to rock and roll. We got this...