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The Truth Is Out There… Again

X-Files Logo13 years after signing off the air for the last time, and 7 years after their last big screen outing, The X-Files will be returning to FOX for a 6 episode run.  Series creator Chris Carter and original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are on board for the “event series”, which has yet to be scheduled but is due to shoot this summer.  No other details were made available at this time.

In a perfect world, the event series would be used as a springboard to reboot the show without Duchovny and Anderson, bringing in a new team of agents to explore the unexplainable.  Who knows if FOX, or Carter, is interested in that.

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#162 – Marc Hill

MarcHill2_20090603845Name: Marc Hill

Rank: 162

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1981-1986

Marc Hill signed with the White Sox as a free agent just as spring training was getting underway in 1981.  When the White Sox signed fellow free agent Carlton Fisk a month later, Hill jockeyed for playing time alongside fellow backup catcher Jim Essian.  Between that, spending time in the minor leagues, and the player’s strike, which wiped out 2 months of the season, Hill managed to get into only 16 games, going hitless in 6 ABs.

With Essian gone, Hill returned to a more normal backup role in 1982.  He appeared in 53 games and managed to get a hit or 23 in 88 ABs.  Things were starting to look up for the White Sox and Hill.

The Sox were expected to contend in 1983, but got off to a slow start.  By May 26, the Sox were eight games under .500 and manager Tony LaRussa’s job was in jeopardy.  Hill, and the other veterans, helped to turn things around.  “We looked around at each other and told ourselves Tony wasn’t going to get fired,” Hill said in an interview.  “We weren’t going to let that happen.”  The White Sox got back to .500 by the end of June and caught fire after the All-Star break, earning their first division title.  Hill again provided solid defense behind the plate, even though he struggled at the plate.

Expectations were high in 1984, but the White Sox struggled to reproduce their success of the previous year.  Hill saw the most playing time he had since joining the White Sox, appearing in 77 games and getting 193 ABs, despite hitting only .233.

The White Sox rebounded to have a winning season in 1985, but Hill’s production dropped off significantly.  With the 37 year old Fisk still chugging along and young prospect Joel Skinner ready to take the next step, Hill saw his playing time reduced, appearing in just 40 games and hitting an anemic .133.

Things went downhill for the White Sox in 1986.  Hawk Harrelson was brought in as GM and he clashed with manager Tony LaRussa.  “I got along with Hawk and I got along with Tony but it was just bad,” Hill said.  “With Tony gone, it just wasn’t any fun anymore for me.  I remember Hawk came up to me in Texas and asked if I’d had enough and I did.”  Hitting .158 in only 19 AB, Hill was released on May 27.  He remained with the club for the remainder of the year as a bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher.

Hill’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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Active Pitching Leaders – Through 2014

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersLast week, we looked at the active leaders in games I’ve attended through 2014 on the offensive side of the ball.  With spring training winding down and opening day little more than a week away, let’s take a look at the pitchers.

Wins

Name Total
Mark Buehrle 31
Gavin Floyd 24
John Danks 17
Jake Peavy 11
Chris Sale 10

Losses

Name Total
Mark Buehrle 16
Gavin Floyd 15
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Sixteen Is So Sweet

As we head in to the Sweet Sixteen, I’m currently tied for first in my work pool, while I’m sure I’m trailing well behind in the other pools.  3 out of my 4 Final Four picks are still alive, but with everyone having Kentucky winning the whole thing, I’ll need to get as many points early as I can.

2015midwestsweet16Things look OK here in the Midwest region, where I have 3 out of the 4 remaining teams.  Assuming Kentucky makes it out, I should remain in the hunt.

2015westsweet16Things look about the same in the West region, although there are more opportunities for me to gain points moving forward.

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Heading To The Desert

phoenician-resortAs discussed back in December, I won another free trip, this time to Arizona, from work due to my continuing outstanding awesomeness.  Well, the time has come to cash in and today I will be heading out to the southwest, leaving the Chicago spring behind.  I’ll be spending the next three days at the beautiful Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, before heading to Phoenix and the comforts of a Hampton Inn for another three.  Hopefully, unlike last year, I won’t come down with something and be sick for most of the trip.

Plans for the trip include my first foray in to the Cactus League, including trips to both the newly re-chsitened Sloan Park and Camelback Ranch.  Beyond that, I will be playing things by ear, hopefully enjoying some downtime in the sun.

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Fitbit Week 7

Week7_FBAnother impressive week, which featured my first 10,000 step day since acquiring the Fitbit nearly 2 months ago.  The week got off to its usual slow start on Sunday, although it was pretty close to 5000 steps.  The entire work week was above average, with the worst day still coming in at over 6700 steps.  Tuesday crossed the 10,000 step plateau for the first time thanks to multiple meetings in North Plaza with IBM, along with the usual afternoon coffee run.  Things went south on Saturday to wrap up the week, as I was trying to nip a cold in the bud before leaving on vacation tomorrow.

Total steps: 46,565

Daily average: 6652.1

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 1 Revisited

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.

Volume 1, again, was started in 1989 when I was a sophomore and stretches to early 1990.  It features a steady stream of hair metal, with a smattering of pop, rap and dance thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Warrant – Heaven

The massive hit that put Warrant on the map doubled the number of times I listened to it in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/1/2014

Young MC – Bust A Move

One of the first tunes I bought on cassingle, this one hit wonder had an impressive increase, despite not having been heard in nearly a year and a half.

2012 iTunes stats: 13 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/23/2013

New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer

I doubt I will ever track down this parody song from the Welch & Woody morning show on Z95.

Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name

The old hit from Bon Jovi has only gotten 1 play in the last 3 years, and that was nearly 2 years ago.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/10/2013

B-52s –  Love Shack

I’m still waiting to pick up the full version of the song on MP3, which may explain why I’ve only listened to it once in the last three years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 7/2/2014

Paula Abdul – The Way That You Love Me

Paula Abdul got her first listen earlier this month.

2012 iTunes stats: 0 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 1 play, most recently on 3/12/2015

Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

The smash ballad that gave Marx his third straight #1 increased its play total by 2.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/26/2014

Side B

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#163 – Ramon Castro

castroName: Ramon Castro

Rank: 163

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 2009-2011

Ramon Castro came to the White Sox from the Mets via a May 30, 2009 trade for Lance Broadway, replacing Corky Miller as the backup to AJ Pierzynski.  A little less than 2 months later, on July 23, Castro was behind the plate for Mark Buehrle’s perfect game against the Rays.  After the game, Buehrle credited Castro, saying he did not shake him off during the entire game.

Castro resigned with the White Sox for the 2010 season, remaining as the backup catcher.  He appeared in 37 games and finished the year with .278 average and 8 home runs.

The 2011 season saw Castro’s production regress, as his average dropped back down to .235.  A broken hand suffered in July limited him to only 23 games and 68 at bats.  Following the season, he became a free agent and never played in the major leagues again.

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

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#164 – Dave Stieb

Dave Stieb (1993 White Sox)

Name: Dave Stieb

Rank: 164

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1993

After 13 seasons with the Blue Jays, Dave Stieb signed with the White Sox as a free agent on December 8, 1992.  He battled for the fifth starter spot during spring training of 1993, but struggled and found himself on the disabled list to start the season.  After 4 rehab starts for Triple A Nashville, Stieb was recalled and he made his season debut on April 29 against the Brewers.

Less than a month later, and after only 4 major league starts, Stieb was released after walking 14 batters in only 22 innings.  “I figured they’d at least look at me for nine starts, then make a decision,” Stieb said. “The next salary bump is at 10 starts.”

Stieb’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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Active Batting Leaders – Through 2014

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersLast month, we looked at the overall leaders on both sides of the ball from all of the games I’ve attended between 1984 and 2014.  With Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn hanging up their spikes after last season, we should see some new names on this list.  Now that Opening Day is right around the corner, let’s take another look at those numbers, limiting it to players that are still active heading in to the 2015 season.

Home Runs

Name Total
Aramis Ramirez 41
Alexei Ramierz 28
Carlos Quentin 28
Alex Rios 23
AJ Pierzynski 20

Hits

Name Total
Alexei Ramirez 261
AJ Pierzynski 237
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