Category / Baseball

by jim

Wilted Flowers

TFlowThe White Sox made another move behind the plate yesterday, declining to offer Tyler Flowers a contract for the 2016 season and making the veteran a free agent.  Flowers, acquired in the 2008 trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the Braves, became the starting catcher in 2013 after A.J. Pierzynski left as a free agent.  In his three seasons as the primary receiver, he failed to post an OPS over .700 while the White Sox averaged over 91 losses.

There is still a small possibility that Flowers could return, though it seems unlikely.  As a free agent, he can resign with the White Sox at a smaller salary than he would be entitled to through the arbitration process.  However, early reports from Bruce Levine claim that the White Sox will move quickly on shoring up the catching situation once Flowers is officially off the roster.  Combined with the signing of Alex Avila last week, the White Sox are starting to look like a much different team heading into 2016.

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

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by admin

Padres All Time Leaders – Through 2015

Padres-Friars-LogoWith 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the San Diego Padres.

The Padres began life in 1969, joining the National League along with the Montreal Expos.  I’ve seen them play 18 times at 5 different ballparks, first in 1985 at Wrigley Field and, most recently, 2014 at US Cellular Field.

Home Runs

Name Total
Adrian Gonzalez 2
Ramon Hernandez 2
Mike Cameron 2
Khalil Greene 2

Hits

Name Total
Ryan Klesko 9
Sean Burroughs 9
Brian Giles 8

Runs

Name Total
Adrian Gonzalez 7
Mark Loretta 5
Ramon Hernandez 4
Mike Cameron 4

RBI

Name Total
Khalil Greene 8
Ramon Hernandez 6
Ryan Klesko 6

Doubles

Name Total
Ryan Klesko 3
Adrian Gonzalez 3
Will Venable 3

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

#124 – Darren Lewis

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Name: Darren Lewis

Rank: 124

Position: OF

Years With White Sox: 1996-1997

Following the 1995 season, Darren Lewis signed with the White Sox as a free agent.  He became the team’s primary center fielder for 1996, but struggled.  He finished the year with a career-worst .228 batting average.

Lewis looked to bounce back in 1997, but it was not to be.  Manager Terry Bevington named Dave Martinez the starter prior to the first spring training game, and the emergence of rookie Mike Cameron pushed him further back on the bench, used mostly late in games for defensive purposes.  By August 26, he had started only 19 games all season, and his average had barely improved over the year before, to .234.  The next day, Lewis was traded to the Dodgers for a player to be named later, who would turn out to be Chad Fonville.

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

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by admin

#125 – Ron Hassey

hassey

Name: Ron Hassey

Rank: 125

Position: C/DH

Years With White Sox: 1986-1987

Ron Hassey was originally acquired by the White Sox, along with Joe Cowley, in a December 1985 trade with the Yankees for Britt Burns and some minor leaguers.  Two months later, just as pitchers and catchers were about to report to spring training, he was traded back to the Yankees, along with Matt Winters and 2 other minor leaguers, for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley, a minor leaguer, and cash.  5 months later, at the trade deadline, he was acquired again by the White Sox, along with Carlos Martinez and a player to be named later, for Ron Kittle, Joel Skinner, and Wayne Tolleson.  Hassey put up good numbers over the last 2 months of 1986, hitting .353 in 49 games, driving in 22 runs and scoring 20 himself.

Following off-season knee surgery, Hassey was limited in 1987.  He once again appeared in 49 games for the White Sox, but this time saw his average fall to .214.  Once the season came to an unsatisfactory end, for both Hassey and the White Sox, he became a free agent.

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

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by jim

Remaking The White Sox… Again

Alex-AvilaRick Hahn made his first move in remaking the White Sox for 2016 by replacing Geovany Soto, who signed with the Angels a day earlier, with Alex Avila, the former Tigers backstop.  Injuries have sapped much of Avila’s offensive production the last few years, culminating in a .191 average in only 67 games last season.  Defensively, though, he remains top notch and should provide an upgrade over both Soto and incumbent starter Tyler Flowers.

The obvious hope is that the White Sox medical team, led by Herm Schneider, can keep Avila on the field, allowing him to regain some of the offensive stroke that has been missing in recent years.  In doing so, Hahn must hope that he has plugged the whole behind the plate that has plagued the White Sox since A.J. Pierzynski left as a free agent following the 2012 season.

by admin

Phillies All Time Leaders – Through 2015

Philadelphia_PhilliesWith 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies began life in 1883, and are the oldest continuous franchise that hasn’t moved cities or changed names.  I’ve seen them play 16 times, including twice in the city of San Francisco.

Home Runs

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 4
Mike Lieberthal 2
Bobby Abreu 2
Aaron Rowand 2

Hits

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 20
Ryan Howard 11
Pat Burrell 8
Shane Victorino 8

Runs

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 6
Ryan Howard 5
Pat Burrell 5
Carlos Ruiz 5

RBI

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 15
Ryan Howard 5
Aaron Rowand 4

Doubles

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 6
Ryan Howard 4
Pat Burrell 3
Jayson Werth 3

Triples Continue reading →

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Braves All Time Leaders – Through 2015

bravesWith 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves began life in Boston, moving to Milwaukee in 1953 and landing in Atlanta in 1966.  I’ve seen them play 16 times, including games 3 and 4 of the 2003 NLDS against the Cubs.

Home Runs

Name Total
Chipper Jones 3
Brian McCann 2
9 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
Chipper Jones 10
Vinny Castilla 9
Brian McCann 8

Runs

Name Total
Chipper Jones 6
Andruw Jones 6
3 tied with 3

RBI

Name Total
Chipper Jones 7
Brian McCann 7
Rafael Furcal 5

Doubles

Name Total
Brooks Conrad 2
Gary Sheffield 2
15 tied with 1

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

#126 – Brook Fordyce

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Name: Brook Fordyce

Rank: 126

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1999-2000

Brook Fordyce came to the White Sox via trade from the Reds towards the end of spring training in 1999.  The defensively challenged catcher became the team’s starter, and put up the best offensive numbers of his career, finishing with a .297 average, 9 home runs and 49 RBIs.

A broken foot during spring training delayed the start of his 2000 season.  When he returned in mid-May, he wound up splitting the catching duties with Mark Johnson.  He had raised his average to .272, though with only 21 RBIs, when, on July 29th, he, along with a triplet of minor league pitchers, was traded to the Orioles for catcher Charles Johnson and familiar White Sox target Harold Baines.

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

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by admin

2016 Hall Of Fame Ballot – The Newcomers

baseballhof

The BBWAA released their ballot for the Hall of Fame class of 2016 last Monday.  The results of the vote are due to be revealed on January 6th, with induction taking place next July. After Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz were elected in last year’s voting, the new ballot contains 17 holdovers along with 15 newcomers, which may start to cause a bit of a problem.  The current BBWAA rules continue to limit the number of votes on one ballot to 10, and there may be more than 10 deserving candidates, so there will be too many qualified candidates fighting for limited spots in a shorter amount of time.  Once again, the BBWAA and the Hall may find themselves with a mess on their hands.

Last Thursday, we looked at the returning candidates.  Today, it’s time to look at the newcomers and who will be thankful come January.

Garret Anderson

The long-time Angel had a proud career, but has no chance to stay on the ballot for another year, let alone earn election at some point.

Brad Ausmus

It should be a quick one and out for the current Tigers manager.

Luis Castillo

Again, a perfectly acceptable career, but will be lucky to get a sympathy vote from a hometown writer.

David Eckstein

Wow, this batch of newcomers is starting to look a little weak.

Jim Edmonds

The defensive whiz will likely get some support, but not enough to get elected in this, or any other, year.

Troy Glaus

Another long time Angel who has no chance of being elected.

griffeyKen Griffey Jr.

The former Mariner, Red, and White Sox outfielder is likely to be the only newcomer elected in his first year of eligibility.  630 career home runs, without a hint of PED suspicion, will let him easily surpass the 75% threshold.

Mark Grudzielanek

Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

Mike Hampton

The one-time poster child for bad long term contracts is unlikely to get much support in what should be his one HOF election.

Trevor Hoffman Continue reading →

by admin

Giants All Time Leaders – Through 2015

giantsWith 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants began life in 1883 in New York, before moving west to San Francisco in 1957. I’ve seen them play 15 times, first at their old home at Candlestick Park in 1999 and most recently last year at Dodger Stadium during my time in LA.

Home Runs

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 2
8 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 8
Rich Aurilia 6
Bengie Molina 6

Runs

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 4
Rich Aurilia 4
5 tied with 3

RBI

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 4
Ray Durham 4
Bengie Molina 4
Pablo Sandoval 4

Doubles

Name Total
6 tied with 2

Triples Continue reading →