Renteria, White Sox players show BLM support

Before Friday night's season opener against the Minnesota Twins, manager Rick Renteria was asked for his thoughts about any White Sox player possibly kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality.

“Everyone should have the right to express themselves,” he said.

That includes the manager, and Renteria kneeled during the pregame ceremony.

When White Sox leadoff man Tim Anderson took a knee during the anthem, Renteria put a hand on his shoulder, as did Yoan Moncada.

Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Edwin Encarnacion and opening-night starter Lucas Giolito were among the Sox players who kneeled during the anthem, as did Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli and several of his players.

“We've had team discussions about that,” Giolito said. “The way we see it is we are all a family here, White Sox, top to bottom. Obviously, there are differing view points, which is OK. That's America. It's OK to have those. All the discussions we have had have been very civil.

“We're able to express our opinions freely, and that's just the perfect kind of environment as far as an organization I want to be in.”

Crowd postseason house:

The Sox opened the 60-game season Friday with hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

MLB and the players' union agreed to expand the postseason from 10 to 16 teams this year, which gives an improved White Sox team an even better chance of playing in October.

#8220;People want to see the game of baseball,#8221; Rick Renteria said. #8220;Whatever agreements and how they worked them through has put everybody in position to have a little more baseball as the season comes to a close. Maybe that's a good thing and, lord willing, we're all healthy and able to accomplish that feat.#8221;

Remembering Farmer: