Tag / ALCS

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#139 – Jerry Koosman

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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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#178 – Luis Vizcaino

Name: Luis Vizcaino

Rank: 178

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2005

On December 13, 2004, Luis Vizcaino, along with Scott Podsednik and a player to be named later, was traded to the White Sox from the Brewers in exchange for Carlos Lee.  Vizcaino had a decent year in the bullpen, appearing in 65 games and putting up a 6-5 record with a 3.73 ERA for the AL Central champions.

Vizcaino sat out the ALDS and ALCS, and made one appearance during the World Series.  He pitched 1 inning of scoreless relief during the 14 inning marathon that was Game 3.

Following the season, nearly a year to the day that he was acquired, Vizcaino was packaged along with Orlando Hernandez and Chris Young in a deal with the Diamondbacks for Javier Vazquez.

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

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#179 – Dennis Lamp

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Name: Dennis Lamp

Rank: 179

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1981-1983

Dennis Lamp joined the White Sox organization as spring training was winding down in 1981, acquired from the Cubs in exchange for Ken Kravec.  During the strike shortened season, Lamp appeared in 27 games for the White Sox, starting 10, and finished the year with 7-6 record and a 2.41 ERA.  In August, he gave up the first career hit to Cal Ripken Jr. and, 9 days later, he took a no hitter into the 9th inning against the Brewers, before Robin Yount broke it up with a leadoff double.

1982 again saw Lamp splitting duty between the starting rotation and the bullpen.  He appeared in 44 games, starting 27 of them.  He finished 11-8 with a 3.99 ERA and 5 saves.

In 1983, Lamp had mostly moved to the bullpen full time, although he still started 5 games.  He appeared in 49 games overall and lead the team with 15 saves.  He pitched in 3 out of the 4 ALCS games against the Orioles, giving up no hits or earned runs in 2 innings of work.

Following the season, Lamp became a free agent, drawing his White Sox career to a close.

Lamp’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#185 – Dick Tidrow

008-dick-tidrowName: Mark Teahen

Rank: 185

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1983

On January 25, 1983, Dick Tidrow, along with Scott Fletcher, Randy Martz, and Pat Tabler, were traded across town from the Cubs to the White Sox in exchange for Warren Brusstar and Steve Trout.  Tidrow slid in to the bullpen for the eventual AL West champions, appearing in 50 games and picking up 7 saves.

Tidrow made one appearance in the ALCS, giving up a run in 3 innings pitched in the game 3 blowout loss against the Orioles.  Following the series, the White Sox released Tidrow.

Tidrow’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#196 – Aurelio Rodriguez

91-369FrName: Aurelio Rodriguez

Rank: 196

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 1982, 1983

Aurelio Rodriguez first joined the White Sox on April 2, 1982, when he was traded from the Blue Jays in exchange for Wayne Nordhagen.

Rodriguez played decently for the 82 Sox, hitting .241 in 118 games while helping to stabilize the defense on the left side of the infield.

Following the season, Rodriguez left the White Sox as a free agent and signed on with the Orioles.  However, he played sporadically and saw his average drop to .119 before being released in mid-August.  On August 31, the last day to be eligible for post-season rosters, he re-signed with the White Sox and appeared in 22 games down the stretch.  His career came to an end with 2 appearances as a defensive replacement in the 1983 ALCS against, ironically, the Orioles.

Rodriguez’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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O Captain! My Captain!

PaulKonerkoAfter an 18 seasons, including the past 16 with the White Sox, Paul Konerko’s major league career came to an end last week as the 2014 campaign wrapped up against the Royals.  Konerko, the last remaining White Sox player from their 2005 championship team, was a 6-time All Star and had served as team captain since 2006.  He also is the only White Sox player to appear in the post season 3 different times.

After brief appearances with the Dodgers and the Reds in 1997 and 1998, Paul Konerko was traded to the White Sox on November 11, 1998 for center fielder Mike Cameron.  He started at DH on opening day in 1999, an 8-2 victory over the Mariners, going 1-4 with a home run and 2 RBI.

2000 saw Konerko get off to a quick start with an inside the park home run on April 11 against the Devil Rays, the first by a White Sox player since 1990.  In his second full season, he helped lead the surprising White Sox to their first Central Division title.  He, along with the rest of the White Sox offense, struggled during the Division Series against the Mariners, going 0-9 in the three game sweep.

After steadily improving in 2001 and 2002, Konerko ran into trouble in 2003, with his average under .200 for the first half of the season.  He found himself coming off the bench as manager Jerry Manuel seemingly lost confidence in him.  He bounced back in the second half and re-established himself as the starting first baseman.

Konerko bounced back in a big way in 2004, hitting 41 home runs and knocking in over 100 RBIs en route to the Comeback Player of the Year award.  2005 saw him put up a second consecutive 40 HR, 100 RBI season as the White Sox found themselves back in the playoffs for the second time in his career.  This time, things would go much differently for both Konerko and the White Sox.

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Konerko homered twice and drove in 4 runs during the three game sweep against the Red Sox, catching the final out that sent the White Sox to the ALCS for the first time since 1993.  Konerko hit another 2 home runs and drove in 7 against the Angels during the 5 game series.  Once again, Konerko caught the final putout that sent the White Sox to their first World Series since 1959.  Following the victory in game 5, Konerko was named ALCS MVP.

Konerko cooled down during the World Series, hitting only one home run against the Astros, but what a home run it was.  With the White Sox trailing in the 7th inning, Konerko came up to face new pitcher Chad Qualls with the bases loaded.  Konerko made contact on the first pitch, sending it into the left field seats for a grand slam and the lead.  Like the previous 2 series, Konerko caught the final putout at first base in Game 4, giving the White Sox their first World Series title since 1917.

With the afterglow of winning the World Series starting to subside, Konerko became a free agent.  Despite rumors of him getting more lucrative offers from both the Dodgers and the Orioles, Konerko finally resigned with the White Sox, inking a 5-year, $60 million contract that would keep him on the south side through 2010.

Konerko battled through injuries in 2008, leading to his worst season since 2003, but he did manage to help the White Sox reach the post-season for the third time during his career.  He hit 2 solo home runs in the 4 game series against the Rays, in what would be his final playoff appearance.

Konerko had two more chances at free agency, signing a 3 year deal with the White Sox prior to 2011 and, finally, re-upping for one last season last fall.  He finishes his career as the White Sox all time leader in total bases and second all time in home runs, RBIs, and games played.

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

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#206 – Jerry Dybzinski

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Name: Jerry Dybzinski

Rank: 206

Position: SS

Years With White Sox: 1983-1984

Jerry Dybzinski came to the White Sox in the trade that sent Pat Tabler to the Indians on April 1, 1983.  He split time with Scott Fletcher at shortstop for the eventual AL West champions, but came under fire for a base-running blunder in the 6th inning of game 4 of the ALCS against the Orioles.  With the game scoreless and Vance Law occupying third base, Dybzinski overran second, running the White Sox out of the inning and costing them the winning run that would have tied the series at 2 games a piece.  Instead, the Orioles scored 3 runs in the 10th inning to win the series and went on to win the World Series.

Dybzinski returned to the White Sox in 1984, backing up Fletcher and hitting a robust .235.  The following spring, 2 years to the day after he was acquired, he was released.

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

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#217 – Kirk McCaskill

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Name: Kirk McCaskill

Rank: 217

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1992-1996

Kirk McCaskill signed with the White Sox as a free agent heading in to the 1992 season.  He entered the starting rotation and put up a respectable 12-13 record with a 4.18 ERA.

While things went better for the White Sox in 1993, as they finally broke through and won their first division title in a decade, the same could not be said for McCaskill.  He lost his spot in the starting rotation in June after going winless in 7 starts.  “I like to think Kirk can get it back together as a starter, but I’d like to say it won’t happen this year because if it does, that means something happened to our rotation,” manager Gene Lamont said.  McCaskill finished the year in the bullpen, even recording his first save.  During the post-season, he made 3 appearances in the 6 game ALCS against the eventual World Champion Blue Jays, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

In 1994, McCaskill posted his best season as a member of the White Sox, working entirely out of the bullpen.  He appeared in 40 games, racked up a career high 3 saves, and posted a 3.42 ERA.  Unfortunately for McCaskill and the White Sox, the season came to a premature end thanks to the players strike that wiped out the last month and a half of the season and the post-season.

When the work stoppage finally ended and the 1995 season got underway, things went south, for both McCaskill and the White Sox.  His ERA jumped by nearly a run and a half as the White Sox fell to third place.

1996 did not go any better.  McCaskill appeared in 29 games through the end of July and saw his ERA jump to nearly 7.00.  After giving up 4 hits and 2 runs in 1 inning of work against the Royals on July 20th, McCaskill was released by the White Sox.  “I don’t think you’re ever prepared for it,” McCaskill said.  “I’ve had a long career and it happens to a lot of people.”  Manager Terry Bevington said “It’s always tough to let someone go.  You don’t like seeing someone lose his job.  Kirk has had a good career with the White Sox.”  Thus endeth the major league career of Kirk McCaskill.

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

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Concert Flashback: Tegan & Sara

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The night started early, as I left work a little early to head down to the city to Rock Bottom in order to catch the end of Game 3 of the ALDS, with the White Sox looking to sweep the Red Sox and win their first post season series since the 1917 World Series.  After the game, which, of course, the White Sox did win, Tina, Andy, and I hopped on the Red Line and headed north to Wrigleyville to check out Tegan and Sara at the Metro.

Apparently, there were 2 opening acts, neither one I remember or have even heard of.  To be honest, I don’t remember much about the show at all.  The album they were touring in support of, So Jealous, is one of my favorites and I’m sure I enjoyed the performance.  But, my favorite baseball team was headed for the ALCS, I’d just been to two playoff games, and the Weezer and Foo Fighters show was earlier that week.  It’s all sort of jumbled together at this point.

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Ballpark Tour: Comiskey Park II/US Cellular Field

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Stadium Name: Comiskey Park II/US Cellular Field

Location: Chicago

Home Team: White Sox, Marlins

Years in Service: 1991 – Present

Visits: 361

On the evening of June 30, 1988, with time literally stopped, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that provided the financing for a new stadium for the White Sox, stopping them from moving to St. Petersburg, Florida.  2 and a half years later, on April 18, 1991, Comiskey Park II opened, the first new major facility built in Chicago since the erection of the Chicago Stadium in 1929.  Sadly, the White Sox were destroyed by the Tigers 16-0 in the opening of their new park.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, the new Comiskey Park was also the last stadium to be built prior to the wave of retro ballparks that started with the opening of Camden Yards the following year.  Because of this, there have been numerous renovations to the park, starting in 2001 with the addition of nearly 2000 seats and the relocation of the bullpens.  More extensive renovations began in 2003 in preparation for that season’s All Star Game and using the money generated from selling the naming rights to US Cellular, and conrinued through 2007, when the replacement of the blue seats with green seats was completed.

In 2004, the reigning World Series champion Florida Marlins called the stadium home for a series against the Montreal Expos thanks to Hurricane Ivan, the first time the defending World Series champions had played a home game in Chicago since 1918.  One year later, the stadium hosted its first World Series game, the first to be played in Chicago since 1959, as the White Sox went on to sweep the Houston Astros and win their first World Series since 1918.

I attended my first game at the new Comiskey Park on April 20, 1991, the second game in the stadium’s history.  Since then, I’ve been to 360 other games at the stadium, the majority coming from 2005 on, when I became a season ticket holder.  I went to both games of the 2000 ALDS, which the White Sox lost to the Mariners, both games of the 2005 ALDS, which the White Sox won against the Red Sox, both games of the 2005 ALCS, which the White Sox split against the Angels, and game 2 of the 2005 World Series.  I attended game 163 of the 2008 season to break the tie between the White Sox and the Twins. and then the two ALDS games against the Rays, the first time I saw the White Sox actually end a post-season series, either in victory or defeat.

Notable regular season games I’ve seen at US Cellular Field include the September 13, 2004 game between the Marlins and the Expos, the April 16, 2005 game where Mark Buehrle defeated the Mariners in 1 hour and 39 minutes, the April 2, 2006 season opener against the Indians when the World Series championship banner was raised, the April 4, 2006 game where the players received their World Series rings, and the September 16, 2007 game where Jim Thome hit his 500th career home run against the Angels.