Category / Baseball

by admin

Crosstown Pitching Leaders

cws-chiLast week, with the 2015 Crosstown Cup series wrapped up, we looked at the leaders in the 63 crosstown games I’ve attended since interleague play began in 1997. Today, we look at the pitching leaders in the annual match-up between the White Sox and the Cubs, starting with:

Wins

Name Total
Carlos Zambrano 4
Mark Buehrle 3
Jon Lieber 3
12 tied with 2

Losses

Name Total
Carlos Zambrano 3
Mark Buehrle 3
Jon Garland 3
Jose Contreras 3
9 tied with 2

ERA (> 9 IP)

Name Total
Matt Thornton 0.00
Glendon Rusch 0.00
Chris Sale 0.56
Kip Wells 1.13
Freddy Garcia 1.20

Strikeouts

Name Total
Carlos Zambrano 46
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by admin

#139 – Jerry Koosman

main_1-Jerry-Koosman

Name: Jerry Koosman

Rank: 139

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1981-1983

Jerry Koosman joined the White Sox on August 30, 1981 when he was acquired via trade with the Twins for 2 minor leaguers, cash, and a player to be named later that eventually became Randy Johnson (no, not that Randy Johnson).  Koosman appeared in 8 games down the stretch, starting 3, as the White Sox finished 6th in the second half of the crazy strike season.

Koosman returned in 1982, working mostly out of the bullpen but still starting 19 games.  The White Sox got off to a quick start, winning 20 out of their first 30 games, but leveled off and finished in 3rd place in their division.

1983 would see different results for both the White Sox and Koosman.  The veteran left hander spent most of the season in the starting rotation, but saw his ERA inflate to a career high 4.77.  However, after a shaky start, the White Sox caught fire and ran away with the division crown, winning a league best 99 games.  Koosman was the starting pitcher on September 17, when the White Sox clinched their first division title and first post-season appearance since 1959.

Koosman made one relief appearance during the ALCS against the Orioles, throwing 1/3 of a disastrous inning in the Game 3 blowout, giving up 1 hit, 2 walks, and 3 runs (2 earned).  Koosman re-upped with the White Sox following the season, but was sent to the Phillies the following spring to complete the trade for Ron Reed.

Koosman’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

#140 – Cliff Politte

cliff_politte

Name: Cliff Politte

Rank: 140

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2004-2006

Cliff Politte joined the White Sox as a free agent in January 2004.  Politte was serviceable coming out of the bullpen in ’04, putting up a 0-3 record with a 4.38 ERA.

Things improved greatly in 2005, both for Politte and for the White Sox.  En route to a Central Division title, Politte put up the best numbers of his career, going 7-1 with an impressive 2.00 ERA in 68 appearances.  He continued to shine in the post-season, making 4 appearances between the ALDS and the World Series, giving up 1 run in 3 1/3 innings.

Sadly, things went horribly awry for Politte in 2006.  Trying to match or improve upon the best numbers of his career, he ignored a throbbing shoulder as his ERA skyrocketed.  On July 15, he walked off of the mound at Yankee Stadium, having given up four runs, four hits, one walk and one home run in only two innings.  His ERA stood at 8.70, and the White Sox, attempting to defend their World Series title, decided to cut bait and release the struggling pitcher.  It would mark the end of his major league career.

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

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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
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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
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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:

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by admin

Single Game Batting Leaders Revisited

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersWe’ve looked at the single season and career leaders for games I have attended, and I thought it would be interesting to take another look at the single game leaders in those categories, for the first time since 2012.

Home Runs

Name Total Date
Sammy Sosa 3 6/5/1996
Moises Alou 3 7/4/2003
103 with 2 Most recently on 5/24/2015

Hits

Name Total Date
Scott Rolen 5 4/22/2007
Mike Fontenot 5 6/25/2007
Mark DeRosa 5 9/17/2007
Alfonso Soriano 5 5/17/2008
Derrek Lee 5 6/28/2008
Ryan Braun 5 8/2/2010
Prince Fielder 5 8/2/2010
Danny Santana 5 8/3/2014
Melky Cabrera 5 6/21/2015

Runs

Name Total Date
Chris Burke 5 6/13/2006
Gary Ward 4 8/14/1984
Paul Konerko 4 6/28/2002
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by admin

#142 – Dylan Axelrod

daxelrod

Name: Dylan Axelrod

Rank: 142

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2011-2013

Dylan Axelrod joined the White Sox organization as a minor league free agent in 2009.  He made his major league debut on September 7, 2011, pitching 2 innings in relief in a White Sox loss to the Twins.

Axelrod split time between Triple A Charlotte and the White Sox in 2012.  He made 7 starts with the big league club, in addition to being the long man out of the pen.  He finished the year with a 2-2 record and an elevated 5.47 ERA.

2013 saw Axelrod stick in the major leagues for the entire season, but success was elusive.  While he started 20 games for the White Sox, his ERA was again well over 5 and he finished the year with a dismal 4-11 record.

Axelrod returned to Charlotte for the 2014 season, where he would remain until July 17, when he was purchased by the Reds, ending his White Sox career.

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

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by jim

A Pierce To The Heart

billy-pierce012015 is turning out to be a bad year for Chicago’s baseball icons of the 1950s.  Following the deaths of Ernie Banks and Minnie Minoso earlier this year, former White Sox left hander Billy Pierce passed away this morning at the age of 88.  Pierce, the franchise’s leader in career strikeouts and fourth in victories, joined the White Sox following the 1948 season and became a mainstay for the Go Go White Sox until being traded to the Giants in November of 1961.

Pierce, who had his number 19 retired by the White Sox in 1987, started All Star games in 1953, 1955, and 1956, finished 3rd in Cy Young award balloting in 1962, and finished 5th for the 1956 AL MVP.  He joined Minoso on the Hall of Fame Golden Era Committee ballot this winter, but failed to get the necessary votes.

Next month, the White Sox will honor Minnie Minoso by wearing 1950s throwbacks with Minoso’s number during a game against the Cubs.  It would be fitting to modify the plans and have the pitching staff don Pierce’s number 19.