It’s February, which means that spring training is (thankfully) right around the corner. To get ready, let’s take a look at the offensive stat leaders over all of the 658 games I’ve attended (and identified) between 1984 and 2011.
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 85 |
| Sammy Sosa | 42 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 41 |
| Derrek Lee | 40 |
| Jermaine Dye | 40 |
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 308 |
| Derrek Lee | 255 |
| Continue reading → |
Name: Scott Linebrink
Rank: 484
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2008-2010
From 2003 through 2007, Scott Linebrink had become the premier set-up man in the National League, averaging 68 games per year, which prompted Kenny Williams to sign him a 4 year, 19 million dollar deal prior to the 2008 season. Little did anyone know how horrible things would go.
The 2008 season started off well, with Linebrink filling the set-up role successfully. Things started to go south when closer Bobby Jenks went down with an injury and Linebrink was asked to slide from the 8th inning to the 9th inning, where things did not go as smoothly. Unfortunately, when Jenks came back and Linebrink could be returned to his 8th inning comfort zone, the damage, whatever it was, was done. Whether it was his confidence, the switch to the AL, overuse during his past (he had over 70 appearances in each of the past 3 years), or undisclosed arm problems, he just wasn’t the same pitcher he had been.
For each of the next two seasons, there was hope that Linebrink would return to his prior form, but it just never happened. Finally, following the 2010 season, Kenny Williams defied expectations and found a taker for Linebrink, trading him to Braves while picking up the majority of his salary. For whatever reason, things just did not work out for Linebrink on the South Side.
Linebrink’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →
Name: Javier Vázquez
Rank: 485
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2006-2008
In 2005, the White Sox defied expectations and won their first World Series championship since 1917. In an attempt to bolster the rotation for their title defense, Kenny Williams sent playoff hero Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, Luis Vizcaino, and prospect Chris Young to the Diamondbacks for Javier Vazquez, the former Expos ace who had bounced around the previous few years. On paper, it seemed like a good move, but it failed to take into account that Javier Vazquez is at his best when he is pitching for either a National League club or a team out of contention. Neither of these fit in to the White Sox plans for the 2006 season.
Watching him pitch in 2006 was frustrating, to say the least. He had a propensity for being unhittable for 5 innings, and then completely falling apart in the sixth. He finished the year 11-12 with a 4.84 ERA in 33 games and, while they won 90 games, the White Sox finished in third place.
2007 was a much better year for Vazquez, going 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA. Coincidentally, the White Sox finished the year with a 72-90 record, 24 games behind the Indians. In 2008, as the team rebounded to 89-74, winning the division in a one game playoff versus the Twins. Vazquez regressed back to a 12-16 record, with a 4.67 ERA. Thanks to the push down the stretch to win the division, the Sox were forced to start Vazquez in game 1 of the ALDS, where he was battered around by the Rays, giving up 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings. That December, his tenure on the South Side came to an end when he was moved to the Braves for a package that included Tyler Flowers and Brent Lillibridge.
Vazquez’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →
Name: Jaime Navarro
Rank: 486
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 1997-1999
Following the 1996 season, there were 2 big free agent pitchers available on the open market. One had decided that Chicago was the place for him. Intrigued by a lineup that included both Frank Thomas and Albert Belle, Roger Clemens had his agents reach out to Jerry Reinsdorf. GM Ron Schueler had other ideas, which included Navarro, who was coming off of a 29-18 record in 2 years with the Cubs. Clemens ultimately ended up in Toronto, where he won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 1997 and 1998. Navarro went completely off the rails, going 25-43 with a 6.06 earned-run average in his three seasons with the White Sox. “For me Navarro was just a better value than Roger,” Schueler said. “There wasn’t as much risk. . . . We talked to our scouts about [Clemens]. They did not recommend him for even a three-year deal. They felt like there is a danger he’s going to have arm problems.”
At the end of the day, Navarro’s most valuable contribution to the White Sox was the trade that sent him out of town. The Brewers, for reasons that I can not comprehend, sent Cal Eldred and Jose Valentin to the Sox for Navarro in January of 2000. Of course, those two helped lead the White Sox to the AL Central title later that same year. Navarro, meanwhile, pitched in 12 more major league games before being sent to the scrap heap.
Navarro’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →
Yesterday, the Cubs announced some additional renovations to the right field bleachers at Wrigley Field, replacing the family section with a new patio section that seems to have taken its inspiration from the Monster seats at Fenway Park. The Budweiser Patio will also include a 75-foot LED sign installed above the right-field wall with the capability to display game information, but not video replay.
The board will be a welcome addition, assuming it will continue to be used for its intended purpose. The previously installed ribbon boards that were supposed to serve a similar purpose seemed to show more in the way of ads than stats as time went on.
Honestly, I’m still somewhat surprised the team hasn’t taken over the Torco Sears Miller Lite billboard to use as a video board capable of handling video. That seems to be the only viable option without upsetting the rooftop owners or replacing the historic scoreboard.
Name: Nick Swisher
Rank: 487
Position: OF/1B
Year with White Sox: 2008
In January 2008, Kenny Williams pulled the trigger on a deal that would send three prospects to the Oakland A’s in exchange for Nick Swisher, a switch hitting outfielder/first baseman who could get on base and provide some pop. Swisher was also supposed to be a great clubhouse presence, someone who could keep the team loose throughout the course of the season.
With Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye entrenched at first base and right field respectively, the plan was to plug Swisher into left field. Unfortunately, another off season pickup, Carlos Quentin, managed to earn the job out of spring training, leaving Swisher to play out of position for most of the season in center field.
To say things did not go as planned would be a bit of an understatement. As the season wore on, and Swisher continued to not perform, his demeanor changed and you could say his attitude hurt the team almost as much as his .219 average. When manager Ozzie Guillen dared to sit him on the bench occasionally down the stretch while trying to win the division, Swisher showed his true colors by complaining. When he did play, he was so interested in trying to walk that the easiest way to get him out was to lay one right down the middle.
After the playoff loss to the Rays, Williams wasted no time in shipping him out to the Yankees, less than a year after he had been acquired.
Swisher’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →
By my estimation (and by “my”, I mean the good folks at Baseball-Reference), there have been 487 different men to take the field as a member of the Chicago White Sox between 1983 and 2011. My mission is to rank them, from my least favorite to favorite. There is a very good chance that I will fail in this endeavor, or that it will take years to complete, but its not like I have anything better to do. We will start tomorrow, with #487, my least favorite White Sox player of the past 28 years. Any guesses?
As expected Barry Larkin got the only call to Cooperstown yesterday, joining Ron Santo in the Hall of Fame class of 2012. As I explained earlier, I think he is well deserving and was somewhat surprised his election took this long. Another surprising thing, as I look at the stats of the games I have attended, is that he, by far, has the worst numbers of any Hall of Famer I’ve seen play in more than 1 game.
| BA | At Bats | Runs | Hits | RBI | Walks | Strike Outs | Doubles | Triples | HR | SB | GIDP | Errors | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.111 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
After his .111 average, the next lowest is (again, those I’ve seen more than once) is Carlton Fisk at .302. Anyway, let’s take a look at the overall election results and see if there are any interesting tidbits. Continue reading →
A career that showed much promise closed a chapter today, as the Cubs traded Carlos Zambrano, their one-time ace and current problem child, to the Florida Miami Marlins, where we he will join fellow former Chicagoans Ozzie Guillen and Mark Buehrle. Zambrano is almost the polar opposite of Buehrle, by far the more talented pitcher, but, due to his frequent meltdowns, was not able to utilize that talent. When he was on his game, which he was for much of his early career on the Northside, he was one of the best in the game. More recently, though, he has been known more for the troubles he has caused, whether it was fighting with Michael Barrett, Derrek Lee, and a Gatorade machine to finally walking out on the team after a disasterous start against the Braves last summer. This is one of those moves where it was probably best for all involved to move on.
Personally, it will be a little difficult to see him go. Discounting a brief callup the year before, Zambrano basically started his career in 2002, the year I first had season tickets to the Cubs. From the run to the NLCS in 2003, the frequent drubbings on opening day starts, the back-to-back sweeps in the 07 and 08 NLDS, and, sadly, the constant fights with teammates, it feels like we’ve been through it together.
Here are his career numbers in games I have attended: Continue reading →
Earlier this winter, the MLB Network re-aired the 2005 World Series Championship video and, for the first time, there was an undertone of sadness to it, knowing that this day was likely coming. Now that it is here, it is a dark day indeed. Mark Buehrle, the most successful White Sox pitcher of my lifetime, has moved on, signing a new deal with the Miami Marlins.
Buehrle first came up during the 2000 season, working out of the bullpen for the eventual division champions. He moved into the rotation the following season, and stayed there for the next 11 seasons. During that time, there were numerous memorable appearances, many of which I was privileged to see in person.
The 2007 no-hitter against the Rangers.
The 2009 perfect game against the Rays.
Winning Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS against the Angels, thanks to AJ’s heads-up baserunning, and starting the streak of 4 straight complete games.
The 1 hour 36 minute game against the Mariners in 2005.
The no look, through his legs flip to Paul Konerko on Opening Day 2010 against the Indians.
And, of course, his performance in the 2005 World Series, starting Game 2, getting a no decision, and coming in to pitch the 14th inning and earning the save in Game 3.
It’s always difficult to see your favorite players move on, and this will be no different. Seeing Mark Buehrle joining Ozzie Guillen in South Beach, and someone else getting the Opening Day nod for the White Sox for the first time since 2007 will certainly be odd. While I had prepared myself for this eventuality, there was a part of me that thought Jerry Reinsdorf would step in as he did last winter to keep AJ Pierzynski in town. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and Chicago’s loss is Miami’s gain.
In White Sox annals, Buehrle is currently fifth all-time in strikeouts, sixth in games started, and eighth in wins and innings pitched.