Category / Baseball

by jim

No No

hamels-nonoOn September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax took the mound at Dodger Stadium and threw a perfect game against the Cubs.  Yesterday was the 7,921st game the Cubs have participated in since then, and they had managed to get a hit in the previous 7,920.  Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, however, had other ideas.

To say Hamels, who is likely to be traded before next weekend’s trade deadline, had pitched poorly in his last 2 outings is an understatement.  He needed to prove to scouts that he was healthy if the Phillies had any hope of moving his salary and getting something worthwhile in return.  So, of course, he goes out and throws the first no-hitter against the Cubs in 50 years and the first at Wrigley Field since Milt Pappas’ controversial no-hitter in 1972.

Hamels is now likely to become the third pitcher traded in the same season that he threw a no-hitter, and may be the first to be moved before pitching another game.  Ironically, one potential landing spot is on the north side of Chicago, who placed a waiver claim on him last August.  And the Cubs will start a new streak, with tomorrow being game number 1 since the last time they were no hit.

nono

by admin

#143 – Joe Cowley

jcow

Name: Joe Cowley

Rank: 143

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1986

Joe Cowley joined the White Sox, along with Ron Hassey, in the December, 1985 that sent Britt Burns a couple of minor leaguers to the Yankees.  Cowley stepped in to the rotation and put together a .500 record with a 3.88 ERA.  The highlight of his season came of September 19, when he threw one of the ugliest no-hitters in major league history.  While he held the Angels hitless, he walked 7 and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly.  Cowley also goes down in history as the only pitcher to throw a no hitter in his final major league victory.

The following spring, Cowley was traded to the Phillies, in exchange for Gary Redus, ending his brief White Sox career.

Cowley’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by jim

Conor Won’t Be Back

The dismantling of the disappointing 2015 Chicago White Sox began this morning when Conor Gillaspie was designated for assignment in order to make room on the roster for another pitcher following yesterday’s 13 inning loss to the Royals.

Gillaspie was acquired by the White Sox prior to the 2013 season, when, out of options, it was clear he was not going to make the Giants roster.  He became the main third baseman for the White Sox in the 2 1/2 years since, but, aside from the first half of the 2014 season, struggled both offensively and defensively.  This year, he was relegated to a platoon with Gordon Beckham and only had 1 at bat since Tyler Saladino was recalled over a week ago.

Gillaspie is likely to be claimed on waivers, drawing his White Sox career to an end.  Honestly, I’m surprised he was moved while Emilio Bonifacio remains on the roster, but I can only imagine his days are numbered as well.

by admin

#144 – Rodney McCray

mccrayName: Rodney McCray

Rank: 144

Position: OF

Years With White Sox: 1990-1991

Rodney McCray was originally drafted by the White Sox in the 1st round of the 1982 draft, but didn’t sign.  In December of 1987, he finally joined the White Sox organization after being selected from the Padres in the minor league draft.  He made his major league debut with the White Sox on April 30, 1990, appearing as a defensive replacement in the team’s 5-4 victory against the Rangers.

McCray was used primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, appearing in 32 games but getting only 6 at bats.  He ended the season with 6 stolen bases but still in search of his first major league hit.

McCray spent most of 1991 in Triple A Vancouver, where he became internationally famous.  On May 27, McCray was playing right field and was tracking down a flyball hit by current Diamnodack manager Chip Hale.  After initially catching the ball, McCray barrelled through the plywood fence.  The video of the play has lived on through the years in sports blooper videos.

McCray later earned a call-up to the White Sox in 1991, but again saw limited playing time and even more limited batting opportunities.  This time he made it in to 17 games, but got only 7 at bats.  He did manage to get 2 hits this time around.  Following the season, McCray became a free agent and his White Sox career came to an end.

McCray’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

2015 All Star Break Pitching Leaders

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersYesterday, we looked at the leaders in the 21 games I attended in the first half of this year on the offensive side of the ball.  With the second half slated to kick off today, let’s look at the first half pitching leaders:

Wins

Name Total
Chris Sale 4
Zach Duke 2
Carlos Rodon 2
13 tied with 1

Losses

Name Total
Jose Quintana 3
Jon Lester 2
16 tied with 1

ERA (> 6 IP)

Name Total
Mark Buehrle 0.00
Tommy Milone 0.00
David Robertson 0.00
Jake Arrieta 1.00
David Price 1.00
Corey Kluber 1.00

Strikeouts

Name Total
Chris Sale 52
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by admin

2015 All Star Break Batting Leaders

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersNow that the All Star Game is behind us and we await the start of the second half of the season, let’s take a look at the first half offensive leaders, if you can call them that, for the 21 games I attended:

Home Runs

Name Total
Gordon Beckham 3
Brian Dozier 3
Jose Abreu 2
Josh Donaldson 2
Avisail Garcia 2
Alexei Ramirez 2
Adam LaRoche 2

Hits

Name Total
Alexei Ramirez 23
Melky Cabrera 19
Jose Abreu 18
Avisail Garcia 17
Adam Eaton 17

Runs

Name Total
Jose Abreu 11
Avisail Garcia 9
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by admin

2015 All Star Break Standings

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersAs the baseball world turns its sights to Cincinnati for tonight’s All Star Game, it’s time to take a look at the team records for the 21 games I attended, at 3 different stadiums, in the first half of the baseball season.

2015 Team Records

TeamName Won Loss Winning Pctg
Detroit Tigers 2 0 1.000
St. Louis Cardinals 1 0 1.000
Minnesota Twins 3 2 0.600
Chicago White Sox 11 9 0.550
Toronto Blue Jays 1 1 0.500
Cincinnati Reds 1 1 0.500
Baltimore Orioles 1 1 0.500
Chicago Cubs 1 2 0.333
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by admin

#145 – Bryan Little

bryanlittleName: Bryan Little

Rank: 145

Position: 2B

Years With White Sox: 1985-1986

Following the 1984 season, the White Sox acquired second baseman Bryan Little from the Expos for Bert Roberge.

Little appeared in 73 games for the White Sox in 1985, hitting .250 with a career high 2 home runs.  He returned to the south side for the 1986 season, but saw his playing time, and production, drop significantly.  On July 2, his tenure with the White Sox came to an end when he was purchased by the Yankees.

In 1993, Little returned to the White Sox organization as a roving minor league instructor and became an advance scout in 2001, a position he still holds today.

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

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by jim

Honoring 2 Legends

minosouniform.0With the annual renewal of hostilities between the Cubs and the White Sox set to get underway this afternoon at Wrigley Field, the two teams announced earlier this week that they would be honoring both Ernie Banks and Minnie Minoso during the interleague series, both this weekend at Wrigley Field and in August at US Cellular Field.

Sunday, the Cubs will wear throwback home uniforms from 1958, the year of Banks’ first MVP award, and every Cub will take the field wearing number 14.  The White Sox will wear corresponding road uniforms from the same era.

Next month, the tables will be turned.  On Friday, August 14, the White Sox will don their home whites from the 1950s, all with Minoso’s number 9, while the Cubs will don the road grays of the time.

There has been some fan clamoring for the trophy awarded to the winners of the season series, the Crosstown Cup, to bear the name of both Banks and Minoso.  The cup was introduced back in 2010, when some marketing genius introduced the trophy as the BP Crosstown Cup.  The title sponsor has since dropped away, but the cup, for some reason, remains.  As long as it is going to exist, it may as well honor two of the best to wear the respective uniforms.

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#146 – Joel Skinner

joelskinnerName: Joel Skinner

Rank: 146

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1983-1986

Acquired in 1982 by the White Sox as a free agent compensation pick from the Pirates organization, Joel Skinner made his major league debut on June 12, 1983 in a victory over the A’s.  He appeard in only 6 games for the eventual AL West champions, garnering 3 hits in 11 at bats.

Skinner again split time between the minor leagues and the major leagues in 1984, though he had more of a lasting impact at the big league level than the year before.  He appeared in 43 games for the White Sox, struggling at the plate and hitting only .213.

Skinner got another opportunity with the White Sox in 1985, when backup catcher Marc Hill went down with a hip contusion.  He appeared in 22 games and hit a surprising .341.  This convinced incoming general manager Ken Harrelson that he was ready to take over behind the plate in 1986.

To accomodate Skinner, Harrelson had manager Tony LaRussa move Carlton Fisk to left field.  The White Sox stumbled out of the gate and Skinner struggled to hit.  On May 9, with Skinner hitting in the .150s and LaRussa’s job on the line, he moved Fisk back behind the plate and the White Sox proceeded to win 10 of their next 13 games.  Skinner got another chance behind the plate in July when a virus knocked Fisk out of the lineup, but his days with the team were numbered.

As the trade deadline approached at the end of July, Skinner, along with Ron Kittle and Wayne Tolleson, were sent to the Yankees in exchange for Ron Hassey, Carlos Martinez, and a player to be named later, who eventually became Bill Lindsey.

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

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