Author / admin

by admin

Playoffs?

2015playoffsFor the first time since 2012, a Chicago team is in position to start selling playoff tickets to their season ticket holders.  The Cubs hold a slight lead on the second wild card and are preparing for their first post-season appearance since 2008.

Thanks to a randomly selected combination assignment, I would end up with tickets to a home Wild Card game, should the Cubs overtake the Pirates, all Division Series home games, the first 2 home games of the Championship series, and games 3 and 4 of the World Series.  Unlike past playoff appearances, it seems I would have my normal tickets for the entire run.

The Cubs still have some work to do on the field to make sure all this preparation isn’t for naught, but the organization is starting to reap the benefits of the years of work starting with the hiring of Theo Epstein in 2011.

by admin

Crosstown Batting Leaders

cws-chiLast weekend, the 2015 Crosstown Cup wrapped up, with the White Sox taking home the cup for the second straight year and the fifth time since the cup was introduced six years ago.  Now that the dust has settled, let’s take a look at the offensive leaders for the 63 crosstown games I have attended since the start of interleague play in 1997:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 15
Carlos Lee 9
Aramis Ramirez 8
Sammy Sosa 8
Jermaine Dye 7

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 50
Carlos Lee 41
Sammy Sosa 29
Derrek Lee 28
Magglio Ordonez 26

Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 26
Magglio Ordonez 19
Continue reading →
by admin

Fitbit Week 28

Week28_FBDespite a slow start, the week ended up being pretty successful.  Sadly, my streak of 5500 step days was snapped on Sunday.  I bounced back on Monday, followed by a huge day on Tuesday.  After being denied a donut due to my “unfavorable” biometric numbers, I came home from work and took a long walk around the neighborhood, which gave me my 13th highest total overall and my best day since July 6th.

The rest of the work week was pretty even, avoiding the typical Wednesday through Friday drop-off I usually see.  Saturday was a nice combination of a shorter walk around the neighborhood combined with the south side edition of the Crosstown Cup.

Total steps: 55,632

Daily average: 7947.4

by admin

Mix Tape Monday Revisited Roundup

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Last week, we finished up the last of the 20 volumes.  The 287 songs from 144 different bands or performers have been played an average of just over 8.5 times each, according to my iTunes stats, up from just over 5 times 3 years ago. Let’s take one final look back at the bands and songs that made up my youth.

Most Played Song

30 – Veruca Salt – Seether

28 – Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye

25 – Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

22 – Motley Crue – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

22 – Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise

22 – Cher with Beavis and Butthead – I’ve Got You Babe

22 – Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Most Played Song – Largest Total Increase

16 – Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

13 – Pearl Jam – Go

12 – 10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night

11 – Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye

11 – Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise

Most Played Song – Largest Percentage Increase

800% – REM – Bang and Blame

700% – Roxette – The Look

500% – Collective Soul – Gel

500% – Green Day – Geek Stink Breath

400% – 6 songs

Most Represented Band

11 – Poison

10 – Aerosmith

10 – Pearl Jam

7 – Def Leppard

7 – Guns N’ Roses

Most Played Tape

Continue reading →

by admin

Single Game Pitching Leaders Revisited

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersThree years ago, we took our first look at the single game statistical leaders for all of the games I have attended.  Last week, we focused on the offensive side of the ball.  Today, we shall look at the pitchers, keeping in mind that in some cases, leading a category can be a bad thing.

Innings Pitched

Name Total Date
55 with 9 Most recently on 7/12/2015

Hits

Name Total Date
Homer Bailey 15 7/26/2008
Jose Lima 13 5/2/2000
Glendon Rusch 13 5/12/2003
Carlos Silva 13 4/23/2006
Mark Buehrle 13 7/2/2006
Carlos Zambrano 13 8/14/2007
Tommy Hanson 13 6/22/2010
Gavin Floyd 13 9/9/2010
Edwin Jackson 13 9/11/2010
Roy Oswalt 13 7/3/2012

Runs

Name Total Date
Mark Buehrle 11 7/2/2006
Jeff Suppan 11 4/30/2008
Roy Oswalt 11 7/3/2012
Jose Lima 10 5/2/2000
Clay Hensley 10 4/16/2007

Earned Runs

Name Total Date
Mark Buehrle 10 7/2/2006
Continue reading →
by admin

#141 – Steve Sax

stevesaxName: Steve Sax

Rank: 141

Position: 2B

Years With White Sox: 1992-1993

Steve Sax, the 1982 NL Rookie of the Year, was acquired by the White Sox from the Yankees in January 1992 in exchange for Domingo Jean, Bob Wickman, and Melido Perez. Called “one of the finest offensive second basemen in the game” by White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, Sax took over the middle of the infield for the White Sox, but struggled to replicate his past success. He finished the 1992 season .236 average, the lowest of his career to this point.

In 1993, Sax lost his starting role to Joey Cora, and found himself bouncing around the field in an attempt to get playing time, only appearing once at second base for a total of 2 innings.  While the White Sox would go on to win the Western Division title, Sax struggled on the bench, appearing in only 57 games and setting a career low with a .235 average.

As the start of the 1994 season came around, Sax was placed on the disabled list, surrounded by rumors that he’d been asked to accept a demotion to the minor leagues.  After finishing a rehab stint in Double A Birmingham, Sax found himself in limbo.  Schueler had tried to trade Sax, but found no takers and, eventually, Sax was released.  “I just didn’t play well there,” Sax said of his two-year Sox tenture. “I blame nobody but myself.  I just never fit in.”

Sax’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

Continue reading →

by admin

Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street

sesamestreetThe answer to that question, heard by children for nearly 45 years, will be slightly different for the next 5 years.  Sesame Workshop, the people behind the iconic children’s television show, struck a deal with HBO to give the pay network and its streaming services access to the show.

With the money from HBO, the number of original episodes of Sesame Street per year will double, and PBS, the longtime home of the show, will continue to get access to the show, for free, but after a 9 month exclusivity window.  In addition to 5 seasons of Sesame Street, the deal will also allow Sesame Workshop to produce a Sesame Street spin-off series, as well as develop a new educational series for children.  Plus, PBS will now get the show for free, freeing up funding that can now be used on other programming.

The deal also gives HBO a new entry in the kids programming game.  The one-time home of Fraggle Rock, cousin to the Sesame Street franchise, will now have the granddaddy of children’s programming and will hopefully breathe some new life into the show for the next generation of children waiting to learn.

by admin

Sprinting And Striding Again

2015sprintstrideFor the second year in a row, I’ve registered for the Sprint & Stride 5K race held on the campus of the old workplace next month.  I’ll be trying to break my time from last year of 55:43 at a minimum, if not my “personal record” of 54:10, from the first BTN 5K I did back in 2012.  Standing in my way will likely be the same issues as last year, walking with friends and narrow terrain that makes it hard to pass slower walkers.

Either way, it should be a fun event and one that benefits a good cause.  Not to mention getting an afternoon away from my desk.

by admin

Fitbit Week 27

Week27_FBAnother pretty good week, as my streak of days surpassing my daily goal of 5500 steps reached 49 days and, after a week off, I managed to surpass 10,000 steps during the week.  Things got off to a slowish start on Sunday, where a trip to US Cellular Field was barely able to push me past my goal.  Monday got the work week off to a decent start, followed by Tuesday’s 10,000 step day, thanks to after-work activities with Danny and Michael.

Wednesday consisted of 2 trips over to North Plaza, which made for an impressive total.  Thursday was the ISG picnic, which made for some extra steps.  Friday again had some after work activities, again with Danny and Michael.  Saturday was a day without baseball, yet managed to again barley pass my daily goal.

Total steps: 52,512

Daily average: 7501.7

by admin

Mix Tape Monday Revisited – Volume 20

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

We wrap up our look back with Volume 20, which stretches over late 1995 and the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college.  At some point, I noticed that the tape players on my boom box were slowing down and, despite multiple attempts, apparently could not be repaired, which spelled the end for these collections.

Side A

Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings

A healthy doubling plus for the first single from the Pumpkins double album opus.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 6/25/2015

Melissa Etheridge – Your Little Secret

The first single from Melissa Etheridge’s under-performing followup to her smash hit album is still missing from my collection.

Lisa Loeb – Do You Sleep

The first single from Lisa Loeb’s major label debut doubled its plays in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/27/2011

2015 iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015

Goo Goo Dolls – Name

A slight 3 play increase over the past part 3 years for the first hit from the Goo Goo Dolls.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/21/2012

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/3/2015

Collective Soul – The World I Know

The latest middling hit from Collective Soul was only heard once in the past 3 years, on my 40th birthday.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 6/2/2012

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 10/27/2014

Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You

The hit from the Empire Records soundtrack has yet to be heard.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: Never played

Garbage – Queer

The breakthrough hit for Shirley Manson and the boys picked up only 4 new listens over the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/21/2012

2015 iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 7/24/2015

Side B

Continue reading →