The 2022 season was a memorable one for White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
The 26-year-old was the owner of a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA (184.0 IP/45 ER), 227 strikeouts, 3.10 FIP, 1.109 WHIP, and 227 strikeouts in 32 starts. Despite being one of the more notable All-Star snubs, Cease finished the season ranked second among qualified AL starters in ERA, strikeouts, and opponents average (.190) and third in strikeouts per nine innings (11.10). Though he also fell just short of several league-wide honors, the right-hander made this year’s campaign his best to date and even impressed off the field as well.
In a video posted by the White Sox after their July road trip to San Francisco, Cease revealed he wrote a poem about his slider. The right-hander said it came to him after listening to “piano music” in the shower and after writing it, he ironically followed it up with an impressive performance in his next outing.
“The other day I was listening to piano music in the shower. And I don’t know if you’ve ever listened to piano music, but sometimes it just stimulates your mind. It just came to me and I wrote a poem about my slider. And then I struck out 11 guys with my slider the next game. It’s pretty ironic.”
– Dylan Cease via White Sox/YouTube
A little over a month after the YouTube video was released, so was Cease’s poem on the back of t-shirts. Many of Cease’s teammates, who had already heard the poem beforehand, were sporting the shirts. Of course, the White Sox highlighted the author, himself, wearing his masterpiece.
For your reading enjoyment, we have included the full poem below.
“O’ Slider Slide” by Dylan Cease
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Past the batsman I send my slider to hide
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Past the batsmen I send that round cowhide
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
A fortune staked on you lest I overstride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
In the strike zone indeed a win is implied
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
The humans can’t believe my 3000rpm and fastball ride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Your execution can earn you a bride
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
Even the back up tried
O’ slider slide o’ slider slide
To the back foot of a lefty … check swing and the ump is wrong
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Featured Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
