Category / Baseball

by jim

Another Carlos Dump For Cubs

The Carlos Marmol era, which started with great promise in 2006 and almost ended over the winter in a trade with the Angels for Dan Haren, officially came to a close yesterday when the Cubs designated the beleaguered reliever for assignment.  Marmol’s Cubs career almost came to an end this offseason, when he was nearly traded to the Angels in exchange for starter Dan Haren, but that trade fell apart at the last minute.  Looking at this performance this year in a Cubs uniform, it may have been best for all parties had he moved on at the time.  Marmol was thought to have lost his role in the beginning of December when the Cubs signed Japanese free agent closer Kyuji Fujikawa.  When Fujikawa was injured early and often, Marmol was given another chance to close and failed spectacularly.

After failing as a starter in 2006, Marmol resurfaced in 2007 as a setup man and helped the Cubs capture back-to-back division titles in 2007 and 2008.  Over those two seasons, Marmol battled Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood for the closer spot, getting his opportunity in both years thanks to injury to the incumbent.  In 2009, he finally replaced an ineffective Kevin Gregg as closer, and that is where he mostly stayed, until now.

Marmol’s strength was in his ability to strike out opposing batters, averaging 16 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, breaking the record for highest K/9 ratio by a pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched, previously held by Eric Gagne.  However, with this came extreme wildness.  For his career, he has also averaged 6 walks per nine innings pitched.  He’s also managed to hit 46 batters over his career.

These past two seasons have seen Marmol start to fall out of favor with Cubs fans and management.  In 2011, he  finished with the worst save conversion percentage of his closing career thanks to 10 blown saves.  2012 got off to a similar start, although he did end up with the second highest save conversion percentage of his career.  This past offseason, the Cubs imported Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa to handle ninth inning duties, but elbow reconstruction has put him out of commission and gave Marmol another opportunit to close.  Unfortunately, Marmol failed spectacularly, putting up a 5.36 ERA in 31 games, picking up only 2 saves and averaging 2 HR allowed per 9 innings pitched.

Personally, Marmol ranks third overall and first among Cub pitchers in games pitched that I have attended.  His 7 saves are either tied with or behind such luminaries as LaTroy Hawkins, Kevin Gregg, and Joe Borowski.

Marmol’s numbers in a Cubs uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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by admin

Ballpark Tour: County Stadium

Stadium Name: County Stadium

Location: Milwaukee

Home Team: Braves, White Sox, Brewers

Years in Service: 1953 – 2000

Visits: 1

Milwaukee County Stadium was built with the intention of drawing a major league baseball team to Milwaukee, and it worked quicker than anybody would have expected, as the Braves announced they would be moving from Boston 3 weeks before the stadium, and the 1953 season, opened.  The Braves would call Milwaukee home for the next 13 seasons before leaving for Atlanta for the 1966 season.

Across the 1968 and 1969 seasons, the struggling Chicago White Sox wound up playing 20 home games at County Stadium in an effort to keep the baseball fandom alive in Milwaukee.  In 1970, local businessman Bud Selig purchased the expansion Seattle Pilots out of bankruptcy court and moved them to Milwaukee and rechristened them the Brewers.  The Brewers would call County Stadium home until 2000, when they would move next door in to the newly built Miller Park.

I made one trip up to County Stadium for a White Sox/Brewers tilt on July 18, 1993.  The White Sox were victorious thank to a 2-run single by Bo Jackson in the 9th inning. I remember sitting out in the bleachers, but, beyond that, have no particular memory of the stadium or what amenities, if any, it offered.

by admin

#299 – Bill Long

billlongName: Bill Long

Rank: 299

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1985, 1987-1990

Bill Long was acquired by the White Sox along with Ozzie Guillen, Tim Lollar, and Luis Salazar from the Padres in exchange for LaMarr Hoyt in December of 1984.  Long made his major league debut that July against the Indians, going 5 innings and getting a no decision in the White Sox loss.  Long finished the year with a disappointing 10.29 ERA in 4 games with the big league club.

That performance helped keep Long at Triple A for the entire 1986 season, but he bounced back in 1987, making 23 starts for a White Sox team that finished in 5th place.  1988 saw Long spend more time in the bullpen, finishing the season with a career high in appearances.  The next year was even better, as Long put up a career best 3.92 ERA in only 30 games.

April of 1990 saw Long appear in 4 games, giving up 5 runs in less than 6 innings before GM Larry Himes decided it was time for Long to move on.  As the month drew to a close, Long was traded across town to the Cubs in exchange for a minor league pitcher.

Long’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →

by admin

#300 – Carlos Torres

09-03-09-kim-cubs24.jpgName: Carlos Torres

Rank: 300

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2009-2010

Carlos Torres joined the White Sox organization as the 449th selection of the 2004 draft out of San Jose State.  He slowly worked his way through the system and, when John Danks was unable to make a start in July of 2009 due to a blister, Torres was recalled to make his major league debut, holding his own en route to a White Sox victory over the Rays.  Torres ended up starting 5 games for the 2009 White Sox, finishing with a 1-2 record and a 6.04 ERA.

His 2010 season was even worse, as his ERA hovered over 10 until he managed to toss 2 scoreless innings in his final appearance of the season.  His White Sox career came to an end following that season, as he was given his unconditional release.

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

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by admin

#301 – Guy Hoffman

ghoffName: Guy Hoffman

Rank: 301

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1979-1980, 1983

Guy Hoffman, hailing from Ottawa, IL, was signed by the White Sox as an amateur free agent on July 17, 1978.  Less than a year later, he was making his major league debut, throwing 2 innings of scoreless relief in a blowout victory against the Indians.  The rest of the 1979 season did not go as well for Hoffman, as he finished with a 5.34 ERA in 24 appearances.

After opening the 1980 season back in Triple A, Hoffman came back strong, posting a 2.63 ERA over 23 appearances.  Good fortune was not on his side, however, as he spent the entire 1981 and 1982 seasons back in Triple A.  1983 saw his valiant return to the major leagues, just in time for the White Sox to run away with the American League West title.  Hoffman spent the entire 1984 season back in Triple A once again, and following the season, the White Sox released him.

In a post-script to the Guy Hoffman era, his supposed female cousins were sitting behind me at the White Sox/Rays game back on April 27th, which they were sure to announce to the guys they were with.  Hopefully it got them the play they were hoping it would.

Hoffman’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

#302 – McKay Christensen

51VCBoan9tLName: McKay Christensen

Rank: 302

Position: CF

Years With White Sox: 1999-2001

McKay Christensen was obtained by the White Sox, along with Andrew Lorraine, Bill Simas and John Snyder, from the Angels in exchange for Jim Abbott and Tim Fortugno in 1995, while Christensen was in Japan as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He made his major league debut for the White Sox on April 6, 1999, going in as a defensive replacement in the White Sox 11-3 victory over the Mariners.

Christensen spent bits and pieces of the next three seasons with the big league club before getting shipped off to the Dodgers in July of 2001 for a minor league pitcher.

Christensen’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

#303 – Dewon Day

Chicago+White+Sox+Photo+Day+DTGVwRS1MaylName: Dewon Day

Rank: 303

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2007

Very little went right for the White Sox in 2007.  The bullpen, which GM Kenny Williams had stacked with power arms, imploded, and when one of those arms was sent down to the minors for more seasoning, young Dewon Day was called up to take his place.

Day was acquired by the White Sox in December of 2005 as a Rule 5 draft pick out of the Blue Jays organization.  He made his major league debut on May 28, 2007 against the Twins, giving up 2 runs in 1 inning of work.  Unfortunately, this was pretty indicative of how his season would go, as he ended up with an 11.25 ERA over 13 games in 2 stints with the big league club.  He made his final appearance on July 23, throwing a scoreless inning in a loss to the Tigers.

Day spent the entire 2008 season in the minor leagues, and, following the season, he was placed on waivers and selected by the Red Sox.

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

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by admin

#304 – Chad Bradford

chad bradfordName: Chad Bradford

Rank: 304

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1998-2000

Chad Bradford was first drafted by the White Sox in the 34th round of the 1994 draft, but he didn’t sign.  They tried again 2 years later, taking him again in the 13th round, and this time he signed 2 days later.  He worked his way through the minor leagues and eventually made his major league debut in 1998, getting called up to take Matt Karchner’s place after he was traded to the Cubs for minor league pitcher Jon Garland.

For the next 3 years, Bradford bounced back and forth between Chicago and Charlotte, putting up tremendous numbers in Triple A and pretty good numbers in the big leagues.  While the White Sox seemed unsure about Bradford’s prospects as a full time major league pitcher, he caught the eye of Billy Beane, and following the 2000 season, the A’s traded for him, sending minor league catcher Miguel Olivo as a player to be named later to seal the deal.

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

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by admin

#305 – Tim Lollar

timlollarName: Tim Lollar

Rank: 305

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1985

Tim Lollar was acquired by the White Sox in December of 1984 from the Padres along with Bill Long, Luis Salazar, and a minor league shortstop named Ozzie Guillen in exchange for 2 minor leaguers and former Cy Young award winner LaMarr Hoyt.  Lollar started the 1985 campaign in the rotation for the South Siders, but by late May, his spot was getting skipped and he started getting work out of the bullpen.  It seemed that his time with the White Sox would be short.

Trade rumors around Lollar started swirling in June, with the Red Sox looking like a likely landing spot.  Initial reports had Boston offering Wade Boggs, Bruce Hurst and Mark Clear in exchange for Richard Dotson and Luis Salazar.  The White Sox countered with Lollar, Salazar and a relief pitcher for Boggs.  While a blockbuster involving the future Hall of Famer obviously never materialized, the two Soxes eventually came to a meeting of the minds on Lollar, with him heading to Boston in early June in exchange for outfielder Reid Nichols.

Lollar’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →

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#306 – Jeff Liefer

sportsWhiteSox_t440Name: Jeff Liefer

Rank: 306

Position: OF/1B

Years With White Sox: 1999-2002

Jeff Liefer was the 25th overall pick in the 1995 draft and signed with the White Sox in August.  He worked his way through the system, finally making his major league debut on April 7, 1999, going 2-4 in a loss to the Mariners.  Liefer would go on to split the year between Chicago and Charlotte.

During the 2000 season, which saw the White Sox take home the Central Division title, Liefer spent the majority of the year tearing up Triple A, appearing in only 5 games in the big leagues.  He got another chance in 2001, appearing in 83 games and mashing 18 home runs.  He managed to get in to 76 games in 2002, but his production dropped drastically, with only 7 home runs and a 20 point dip in his average.

Following the 2002 season, Liefer was packaged along with Antonio Osuna, Rocky Biddle, and two minor leaguers in a three-way trade that sent Orlando Hernandez from the Yankees to the Expos and brought Bartolo Colon from Montreal to the South Side.

Liefer rejoined the White Sox organization in 2008 after signing a minor league deal.  He appeared in 40 games at Charlotte before deciding to hang it up and retire.

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

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