CHICAGO -- The arctic sub-zero temperatures and sub-human wind chills in Chicago kept Guaranteed Rate Field closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
But the crew working on loading the truck that departed for Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Friday, with White Sox pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 13, still had to brave the elements Thursday to put in a little work ahead of time.
"It was fine," said smiling home clubhouse manager Rob Warren. "No issues with anything. My car started OK. That was my worry. I was telling the truck driver we are leaving about a week too late. As much as I love being home and in Chicago, we should have left last weekend.
"We had to get the truck out today so it's down there in time for us to unload. We came in [Thursday] and knocked out a few things, but we did a good job throughout the offseason trying to get ready."
There's somewhat of a method in getting the truck ready, a task Warren has assisted with for 14 years; four years in his present position. The staff has organized items from the baseball department, the clubhouse, the training room, the weight room, public relations, community relations, photography for picture day, scoreboard and trunks and luggage for White Sox people traveling to Glendale where the space allows.
Bats and balls are usually shipped directly to Glendale. But with the White Sox opening on the road against Kansas City on March 28 at Kauffman Stadium, travel gear also will be part of this journey.
"A lot of the new gear, we try to get sized and labeled here. All the new hoodies and shirts and shorts, once we get to Arizona, we can put it directly in [the players'] lockers," Warren said. "[We do] as much as we can to get organized knowing what's coming down, knowing what is already down there, that sort of thing.
"Through the years, you figure out what you need and what you don't need, and what can go directly there. What we can work on here to be better prepared once we get down there."
The White Sox clubhouse staff leaves Sunday for Arizona, where they'll unload Tuesday morning after the truck's Monday arrival. A cursory search of the numerous boxes, bags and trunks being loaded Friday morning didn't reveal anything related to premium free agents Manny Machado or Bryce Harper.
Then again, White Sox jerseys are ordered from Majestic, according to Warren, and are shipped directly to Camelback Ranch.
"You are asking the wrong guy," said Warren with a laugh about the team's Machado/Harper pursuit. "I haven't gotten the memo to make up a jersey. If and when it happens, we'll get on it."