Tag / Ozzie Guillen

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#320 – David Riske

David RiskeWimmer5206

Name: David Riske

Rank: 320

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2006

David Riske came to the south side on June 15, 2006 from the Red Sox in exchange for Javier Lopez and took Sean Tracey’s spot on the roster.  One week later, Riske was suspended for three games for intentionally throwing at the Cardinals’ Chris Duncan, which ignited a war of words between Dave Duncan, the Cardinals pitching coach and Chris’s father, and Ozzie Guillen.  And that was the highlight of his White Sox career.  Following the season, Riske left the White Sox as a free agent.

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

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#367 – Sean Tracey

Name: Sean Tracey

Rank: 367

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2006

Sean Tracey’s White Sox career nearly came to an end on June 14, a mere 6 days after it started.  After AJ Pierzynski had been hit by 2 pitches and with the White Sox down by 8 against the Rangers, Sean Tracey was brought in to the game with one mission: retaliate against Hank Blalock.  Tracey threw to inside pitches to Blalock, before getting him to ground out.  He was quickly removed from the game, berated in the dugout by manager Ozzie Guillen, and demoted the next day.  He returned later in the season, and then his career actually did come to an end.

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

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#382 – Jamie Burke

Name: Jamie Burke

Rank: 382

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 2002-2005

Jamie Burke appeared in only 64 games with the White Sox spread over three seasons, including just one during the 2005 season, but an argument can be made that he played a large role in bringing a World Series title to the south side.

Burke was acquired as a free agent following the 2002 season, and he was brought up for a brief cup of coffee in 2003, hitting .375 in only 6 games.

In 2004, Burke spent more time with the big league club, appearing in 57 games and hitting a respectable .333 in 133 at bats.  His defining moment, however, came behind the plate.  In September, the White Sox and the Twins were locked in a tight race for the AL Central crown when the Twins came to town for a three game series.  Late in the game, Burke was bowled over by Torii Hunter, enraging the crowd and giving the Twins a win in game one of the pivotal series.  Later in the series, Carlos Lee had an opportunity to give the Twins some payback going in to second base on a double play attempt.  Rather than go in hard, Lee pulled up, infuriating rookie manager Ozzie Guillen and, rumor has it, leading to the off-season trade that sent Scott Podsednik to the Sox and freed up the money to allow for the signing of AJ Pierzynski.  And that is how Jamie Burke played a pivotal role in the 2005 World Championship.

Burke himself appeared in only 1 game for the eventual world champs and was granted free agency following the season.

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

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by jim

Opening Day

Today will be my 15th Opening Day for the White Sox, and my 12th in a row.  The first was in 1985, a blowout win against the Red Sox in rookie shortstop Ozzie Guillen’s first game in Chicago.  Other highlights include the 2005 1-0 victory against the Indians and the raising of the championship banner on Sunday Night Baseball in 2006.

Joining me for today’s game will be my niece and nephews.  A certain mascot should be stopping by sometime during the game to wish Michael a happy birthday.  Hopefully the weather holds out and the White Sox uphold their end of the bargain.

Here’s the results of the previous 14 openers (11-3 record) I’ve attended:

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by jim

The Robin Ventura Era Begins

After playing alongside Ozzie Guillen on the left side of the White Sox infield for years, Robin Ventura now follows him in the dugout as skipper, starting with today’s contest against the defending American League champion Rangers.  Here’s a look at the roster with which he’ll be starting the 162 game grind.

Starting Pitchers

John Danks, Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd, Chris Sale, Phil Humber

With Mark Buehrle gone, John Danks moves up to the top of the rotation, getting his first Opening Day start today.  Peavy looks to have his first injury-free season on the south side.  Chris Sale attempts to move from the bullpen to the rotation and fulfill the promise he showed in college.  Humber was a surprise success last season and hopefully can continue that success.

Relief Pitchers

Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain, Will Ohman, Addison Reed, Hector Santiago, Zach Stewart, Nate Jones

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by jim

#487 – Nick Swisher

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 →

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Goodbye Big Z

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 →

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It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

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.

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Who’s Next?

2004 – 2011

Rumored for nearly 2 years, the Ozzie Guillen era for the White Sox came to an end last week, as Guillen was released from his contract and allowed to take his talents to South Beach.  Guillen wrapped up his tenure as the third winningest manager in team history, in terms of victories, and the only manager to lead the team to multiple post-season appearances.  That said. his act had started to grow stale and it became apparent that a change was needed in the clubhouse, something to shake up the underachieving bunch that has been run out for the past two years.  So, as Guillen prepares to lead the re-christened Miami Marlins into their new stadium next season, who will take his place on the end of the White Sox bench?

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