Tag / Luis Castillo

by admin

LCS Batting Leaders

baseballs213 years ago tonight, the Cubs were 5 outs away from the World Series before an incident saw their season unravel.  1 year ago, they prepared to return to the NLCS for the first time since, a series they ultimately lost to the Mets.  Tomorrow night, they head back for the second straight year, hoping to end a 71 year World Series drought.  With the Dodgers coming to town, let’s look at the offensive leaders in the 7 LCS games I’ve attended, games 1, 6, and 7 of the 2003 NLCS, games 1 and 2 of the 2005 ALCS, and those ill-fated games 3 and 4 of the 2015 NLCS.

Home Runs

Name Total
Daniel Murphy 2
Miguel Cabrera 2
Moises Alou 2
15 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
Daniel Murphy 6
Juan Pierre 6
Jeff Conine 5
Luis Castillo 5
8 tied with 4

Runs

Name Total
Daniel Murphy 4
Juan Pierre 4
Miguel Cabrera 4
Continue reading →
by admin

Playoff Batting Leaders

baseballs2Now that the Wild Card game is complete and we know the Cubs will face off against the Giants in the NLDS, it’s time to take an updated look at the offensive leaders from the 20 post-season games I have attended since 2000.  So, without further ado, we start off with:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 3
B.J. Upton 3
Moises Alou 2
Kris Bryant 2
Miguel Cabrera 2
Chipper Jones 2
Eric Karros 2
Daniel Murphy 2
A.J. Pierzynski 2
Scott Podsednik 2
Manny Ramirez 2
Kyle Schwarber 2
Jorge Soler 2

Hits

Name Total
Moises Alou 9
Juan Uribe 8
Derrek Lee 8
A.J. Pierzynski 7
Mark DeRosa 7

Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 6
A.J. Pierzynski 5
Jorge Soler 5
Continue reading →
by admin

Marlins All Time Leaders – Through 2015

marlinsWith 4 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins began life in 1993, joining the National League along with the Rockies.  In 2012, they rebranded as the Miami Marlins in conjunction with the opening of their new, tax payer funded stadium in the city of Miami.  I’ve seen them play 25 times, including 3 victories during their unlikely triumph in the 2003 NLCS against the Cubs.

Home Runs

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 4
Cody Ross 3
Dan Uggla 3
Ivan Rodriguez 3

Hits

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 18
Luis Castillo 17
Juan Pierre 17

Runs

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 14
Juan Pierre 13
Luis Castillo 10

RBI

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 13
Ivan Rodriguez 10
Alex Gonzalez 9
Dan Uggla 9

Doubles

Name Total
Alex Gonzalez 6
Derrek Lee 3
9 tied with 2

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

2016 Hall Of Fame Ballot – The Newcomers

baseballhof

The BBWAA released their ballot for the Hall of Fame class of 2016 last Monday.  The results of the vote are due to be revealed on January 6th, with induction taking place next July. After Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz were elected in last year’s voting, the new ballot contains 17 holdovers along with 15 newcomers, which may start to cause a bit of a problem.  The current BBWAA rules continue to limit the number of votes on one ballot to 10, and there may be more than 10 deserving candidates, so there will be too many qualified candidates fighting for limited spots in a shorter amount of time.  Once again, the BBWAA and the Hall may find themselves with a mess on their hands.

Last Thursday, we looked at the returning candidates.  Today, it’s time to look at the newcomers and who will be thankful come January.

Garret Anderson

The long-time Angel had a proud career, but has no chance to stay on the ballot for another year, let alone earn election at some point.

Brad Ausmus

It should be a quick one and out for the current Tigers manager.

Luis Castillo

Again, a perfectly acceptable career, but will be lucky to get a sympathy vote from a hometown writer.

David Eckstein

Wow, this batch of newcomers is starting to look a little weak.

Jim Edmonds

The defensive whiz will likely get some support, but not enough to get elected in this, or any other, year.

Troy Glaus

Another long time Angel who has no chance of being elected.

griffeyKen Griffey Jr.

The former Mariner, Red, and White Sox outfielder is likely to be the only newcomer elected in his first year of eligibility.  630 career home runs, without a hint of PED suspicion, will let him easily surpass the 75% threshold.

Mark Grudzielanek

Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

Mike Hampton

The one-time poster child for bad long term contracts is unlikely to get much support in what should be his one HOF election.

Trevor Hoffman Continue reading →

by admin

Mets All Time Leaders – Through 2015

21st-CENTURY-METS_01With 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the New York Mets.

The Mets began life in 1962, joining the National League following the abandonment of the New York market by both the Dodgers and Giants in 1957.  I’ve seen them play 14 times, including Tom Glavine’s 300th career victory and, most recently, the final 2 games of last month’s sweep against the Cubs in the NLCS.

Home Runs

Name Total
Daniel Murphy 2
Cliff Floyd 2
13 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
David Wright 7
Daniel Murphy 6
3 tied with 5

Runs

Name Total
David Wright 7
Daniel Murphy 4
Carlos Beltran 4

RBI

Name Total
Lucas Duda 6
Cliff Floyd 5
4 tied with 4

Doubles

Name Total
Carlos Delgado 3
Lucas Duda 2
David Wright 2
Jeromy Burnitz 2

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

LCS Batting Leaders

baseballs3The ghosts of 1969 will be in full force this year as the Cubs will battle the Mets in the NLCS.  The Cubs will be looking to end 70 years of World Series frustrations against the rival who came from 9 1/2 games back in early August to catch and surpass the Cubs in that fated summer, finishing 8 games ahead as the Cubs en route to their first World Series title.  With the series scheduled to kick off tomorrow night in the Big Apple, let’s look at the offensive leaders in the 5 LCS games I’ve attended, games 1, 6, and 7 of the 2003 NLCS and games 1 and 2 of the 2005 ALCS.

Home Runs

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 2
Moises Alou 2
Robb Quinlan 1
Ivan Rodriguez 1
Mike Lowell 1
Kerry Wood 1
Juan Encarnacion 1
Garret Anderson 1
Alex Gonzalez 1
Troy O’Leary 1
Joe Crede 1
Sammy Sosa 1

Hits

Name Total
Juan Pierre 6
Jeff Conine 5
Luis Castillo 5
Miguel Cabrera 4
Moises Alou 4
Sammy Sosa 4
Ivan Rodriguez 4
Alex Gonzalez 4
Mark Grudzielanek 4

Runs

Name Total
Juan Pierre 4
Miguel Cabrera 4
Continue reading →
by admin

Playoff Batting Leaders

baseballs3Now that the Cubs have gotten past the Pirates in the Wild Card game and will face off against the Cardinals in the NLDS, it’s time to take our first ever look at the offensive leaders from the 17 post-season games I have attended since 2000.  So, without further ado, we start off with:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 3
B.J. Upton 3
Moises Alou 2
Miguel Cabrera 2
Chipper Jones 2
Eric Karros 2
A.J. Pierzynski 2
Scott Podsednik 2
Manny Ramirez 2

Hits

Name Total
Moises Alou 9
Juan Uribe 8
Derrek Lee 8
A.J. Pierzynski 7
Mark DeRosa 7

Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 6
A.J. Pierzynski 5
Continue reading →
by jim

10 Years Ago Today

BartmanGameAfter taking 2 out of 3 games in Florida, the Cubs returned home needing to win 1 game to go to their first World Series in 58 years, and their top two starters, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, were scheduled to take the bump for games 6 and 7.  Prior was dominant in Game 6, giving up only 3 hits heading in to the 8th inning.  The crowd was starting to anticipate that, after years of futility, their team was about to make it to the promised land.  With only 5 outs standing between the Cubs and the World Series, Luis Castillo came up to bat against Prior and hit a foul ball down the left field line.

That’s when things started to fall apart, and one man’s life was, at least temporarily, destroyed.

Tonight is the 10 year anniversary of what has become known as the Steve Bartman game.  From my vantage point in the upper deck down the left field line, I couldn’t see the play as it happened.  The ball disappeared as the 400 section blocked my view, but, based on the crowd’s reaction, you could tell instantly that something could happen.  The replays quickly showed what we had missed, that a young man, decked out in a goofy sweatshirt, Cubs hat, and bulky Walkman headphones, tried to catch the foul ball, getting in the way of left fielder Moises Alou, who was not exactly hiding his displeasure.  The crowd grew angry and, as we would later learn, Bartman had to be escorted from the stadium for his own safety.

Continue reading →