Category / Baseball

by admin

2015 Predictions Revisited

baseballs2Six months ago, as the 2015 baseball season was scheduled to kick off at Wrigley Field, I made my annual predictions as to who would win what.  Now that the regular season has come to an end, it is time revisit those predictions and see what, if anything, I got right.

American League

East: Blue Jays

After a middling first half, the Blue Jays turned things around after the All Star break, especially after acquiring David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the trade deadline, earning them their first division title since 1993.

Central: Indians

Well, I correctly predicted the end of the Tigers reign after four seasons, but I wrongly assumed that the Royals would regress after their World Series appearance last year.  Instead, they went and ran away with the AL Central crown while the Indians struggled to stay out of the cellar.

West: Angels

It came down to the final day, but the Rangers, who finished in last place in 2014, managed to hold off the Astros and the Angels to win the division.

Wild Cards: Tigers, Mariners

I completely missed the boat here, as both teams failed to live up to their pre-season expectations.  The Yankees return to the post-season and so do the surprise Astros.

AL Champion: Angels

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

MVP: Mike Trout

Only one of these seems like a possible choice at this point, with Mike Trout the frontrunner for the MVP award.  The Cy Young award is up in the air at this point.

National League

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by jim

Small Shakeup For 2016

EP-701249829The White Sox officially announced the disappointing, but not totally unexpected news that Robin Ventura will return as manager for 2016.  Bench coach Mark Parent has been let go, and has decided to skip the final 3 games of this season.  Assistant hitting coach Harold Baines has decided to transition into a team ambassador role.  The rest of the coaching staff is expected to return in their current roles.

Given the disappointment that was this season, one would have expected heads to roll.  But Jerry Reinsdorf never follows expectations, and he has his favorites.  Ventura will be given another chance, but I don’t see him surviving a fourth straight losing season.

by admin

Ballpark Tour: Rogers Centre

rogerscentre

Stadium Name: Skydome/Rogers Centre

Location: Toronto

Home Team: Blue Jays

Years in Service: 1989 – Present

Visits: 1

Following the Grey Cup game in 1982 at Exhibition Stadium, dubbed the Rain Bowl due to a torrential rainstorm, tens of thousands of people attended a rally at Toronto’s city hall chanting “We want a dome”.  After years of studies, they got their wish on June 3, 1989 when Skydome opened as the new home of the Blue Jays, featuring the first functional retractable roof in North America.

While the stadium quickly became an albatross for the province of Ontario, due to cost overruns and a recession, the Blue Jays became a force to be reckoned with.  The Jays won the AL East crown in 1989 and 1991, losing to the eventual World Series champions both years.  In 1992, they again won their division and became the first Canadian team to capture a World Series title.  They repeated as champions in 1993, becoming the first team to win back-to-back Series since the Yankees in 1977 and 1978.

Since then, things have been relatively quiet for the Blue Jays.  In 2005, the stadium was renamed Rogers Centre, after the new owners of both the stadium and the team.  After years of failed expectations, the Blue Jays finally find themselves back in contention this year, leading the AL East and looking for their first post-season appearance in 22 years, the longest current drought in the major leagues.

I attended my first game at the Rogers Centre last month when I was visiting Toronto.  In addition to adding a new stadium to my resume (the 19th overall and 13th still active), former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle was scheduled to start, so I was really looking forward to the game.  Sadly, Buehrle was bumped a few days due to a sore shoulder, so I ended up having to see David Price take on the Orioles.  He handled them with ease, picking up his 100th career victory.  I didn’t have the best seats in the house, sitting out in left field, but was in the shade, which was in short supply during a hot afternoon with the roof open.  I certainly hope to return one day.

by admin

#134 – Josh Fields

Name: Josh Fields

Rank: 134

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 2006-2009

Josh Fields joined the White Sox organization as their first round pick in the 2004 draft.  He made his major league debut on September 13, 2006 as a defensive replacement in the White Sox 9-0 victory over the Angels.  6 days later, Fields became the third White Sox player, following Carlos Lee and Miguel Olivo, to homer in their first major league at bat.

Fields entered the 2007 season rated as the second-best prospect in the White Sox organization, and got his first chance at extended playing time in the major leagues when Joe Crede went down with a season-ending back injury.  Fields appeared to be one of the bright spots on that miserable team, finishing the year with a .244 average and 24 home runs in only 100 games, good enough for one third place Rookie of the Year vote.

With a healthy Crede back in the fold for 2008, Fields returned to Triple A, where he had a disappointing, injury-marred season.

Fields became the starting third baseman in 2009, with Joe Crede moving on to the Twins.  Fields appeared in 79 games, but struggled to hit with consistency and was eventually replaced by rookie Gordon Beckham.  The highlight of his season came on July 23, when he hit a grand slam and recorded the final putout in Mark Buerhle’s perfect game against the Rays.

Following the season, Fields, along with Chris Getz, was traded to the Royals for Mark Teahen.

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

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by admin

#135 – Brian Daubach

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Name: Brian Daubach

Rank: 135

Position: 1B

Year With White Sox: 2003

Brian Daubach joined the White Sox on January 27, 2003, signing as a free agent.  As Paul Konerko struggled in the first half, Daubach saw plenty of playing time.  But a second half surge from Konerko limited Daubach’s appearances, and his production suffered.  He finished the year with a .230 average and only 6 home runs in 95 games.

On December 10, Daubach was released, ending his time on the south side.

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

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by admin

#136 – Darin Erstad

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Name: Darin Erstad

Rank: 136

Position: CF/1B

Year With White Sox: 2007

Darin Erstad signed with the White Sox as a free agent prior to the 2007 season.  His White Sox career started with a bang, as he hit a home run off C.C. Sabathia in his first at bat on Opening Day.  Sadly, things deteriorated from there for both Erstad and the White Sox.

He appeared in only 87 games for the White Sox as the team, only 2 years removed from their World Series championship, found themselves losing 90 games for the first time since 1989.  After the season, Erstad left as a free agent.

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

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by admin

Looking Ahead To Next Year

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersMajor League Baseball released their tentative 2016 schedule earlier this week and, while the 2015 squad focuses on taking the second Wild Card slot, let’s take a look at what’s on tap for next summer for the North Siders.

The Cubs open the season on April 5 on the road against the Angels, the first time they will start the year in inter-league play.  The home slate kicks off the following Monday with a night game against the Reds.

This year’s inter-league slate is against the AL West, with the Rangers, Mariners, and Angels making trips to Wrigley Field, while the Cubs hit the road to visit the aforementioned Angels, A’s, and Astros.  The club also has a 2 and 2 series with the White Sox during the last week of July.

The Cubs finish the season on the road against the Pirates and Reds, which should make for a great pennant race if the team is once again in contention.

by admin

Moving On To Next Year

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersMajor League Baseball released their tentative 2016 schedule yesterday and, with little more to be concerned with for this season, let’s take a look at what’s on tap for next summer for the South Siders.

The White Sox open the season with a 4 game set on the road against the A’s on Monday, April 4.  The home season begins that Friday, when the Indians come to town for a 3 game tilt.

This year’s inter-league slate is against the NL East, with the Nationals, Braves, and Phillies making trips to US Cellular Field, while the Sox hit the road to visit the Mets, Marlins, and Phillies.  A 2 and 2 set with the Cubs occurs the last week of July.

The White Sox finish the 2016 season at home against the Rays and Twins, with 23 of their final 29 games coming against the Central Division.  Should make for a great pennant race if the team can be in contention.

by admin

#137 – Mark Salas

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Name: Mark Salas

Rank: 137

Position: C

Year With White Sox: 1988

Mark Salas came to the White Sox from the Yankees, along with Dan Pasqua and Steve Rosenberg, on November 12, 1987 in exchange for Richard Dotson and Scott Nielsen.  Salas backed up Carlton Fisk during the 1988 season, appearing in 75 games and hitting .250.

In spring training 1989, the White Sox decided that Ron Karkovice was ready to ascend to the big leagues for good, so they cut Salas loose in late March.  Salas returned to the White Sox in 1995 as the bullpen catcher, a position he held through 1999.  He returned again in the same role in 2007 and remains there to this day.

Salas’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

#138 – Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek

Name: Doug Drabek

Rank: 138

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1997

Doug Drabek first joined the White Sox organization as their 11th round draft pick in the 1983 draft.  Little more than a year later, he was traded, along with Kevin Hickey, to the Yankees for veteran Roy Smalley.  After establishing himself elsewhere, and on the downside of his career, Drabek rejoined the White Sox, signing as a free agent prior to the 1997 season.

Drabek struggled with the White Sox, putting up a 12-11 record with a 5.74 ERA, the worst of his career to this point.  Following the season, he became a free agent and left the White Sox for the second, and final, time.

Drabek’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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