Late last week, we took our annual look at the all time leaders in pitching stats for the 755 games I’ve attended (and identified) between 1984 and 2014. With the full White Sox roster due in camp today, it’s time to take a look at the offensive stat leaders for those games, starting with our first category:
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 93 |
| Sammy Sosa | 42 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 41 |
| Derrek Lee | 40 |
| Jermaine Dye | 40 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 366 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 261 |
| Continue reading → |
My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.
Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, after months of counting down, we crack the top 50 of the list and look at the 8 albums ranked between 53 and 46 with 58-65 listens.
#46: Various Artists – Monster Madness
iTunes stats: 65 plays
9 tracks, from exciting artists like Faith No More, Lita Ford, and Nelson, make up the total for this hair metal compilation.
#46: Various Artists – The Transformers: The Movie
iTunes stats: 65 plays
6 tunes, from the likes of Stan Bush and Weird Al Yankovic, make up the total for this soundtrack from the animated TransFormers film from the mid-80s.
#48: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 64 plays
10 of Tom Petty’s biggest hits make up the total for this greatest hits compilation.
#49: Various Artists – ’90s Style
iTunes stats: 62 plays
9 tracks, from exciting 90s artists like Jill Sobule, Green Jelly, and MC Hammer, make up the total for this compilation album.
#50: Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Snoop Dogg’s debut album uses 5 songs to make up this total.
#50: Various Artists – Millenium Rock N’ Roll Party
Continue reading →
Name: Ross Gload
Rank: 184
Position: 1B/RF
Years With White Sox: 2004-2006
As spring training wound down in 2003, the White Sox acquired Ross Gload from the Rockies in exchange for minor league pitcher Wade Parrish. Gload spent the entire 2003 season in Triple A Charlotte, but made the White Sox roster out of spring training in 2004, backing up Paul Konerko and, prior to his season ending injury, Magglio Ordonez. Gload made it into 110 games and finished the year with a .321 batting average. Despite the limited playing time, he finished 7th in voting for AL Rookie of the Year.
In 2005, Gload missed time due to shoulder inflammation, which kept him either on the disabled list on in Triple A Charlotte between April 25 and July 22. When Frank Thomas went down with a foot injury, Gload was recalled to take his roster spot. A little more than a week later, Gload was sent back down when Geoff Blum was acquired from the Padres. He rejoined the team when rosters expanded on September 1. Gload was left off the playoff roster for all three rounds.
With his shoulder fully healed, Gload returned to the White Sox full time in 2006. While his playing time was again limited, he did manage to put up .327 average. Following the season, Gload was traded to the Royals in exchange for relief pitcher Andy Sisco.
Gload’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Three years ago, we took our first look at the offensive stat leaders per season for the all the games I’ve attended since 1984. While there hasn’t been a whole lot of movement in the 3 seasons since, I figured the time was right to take another look. So, without further ado, here’s the updated list. We start, as always, with everyone’s favorite offensive stat:
Home Runs
| Year | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Paul Konerko | 17 |
| 2004 | Mosies Alou | 15 |
| 2004 | Corey Patterson | 13 |
| 2004 | Sammy Sosa | 13 |
| 2003 | Moises Alou | 12 |
| 2008 | Carlos Quentin | 12 |
Hits
| Year | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Mark Grudzielanek | 67 |
| 2004 | Moises Alou | 57 |
| 2003 | Moises Alou | 57 |
| 2007 | Derrek Lee | 57 |
| 2006 | Orlando Cabrera | 56 |
Runs
| Year | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Continue reading → |
Another season has come to a disappointing end, with both Chicago teams left on the outside looking in to the post-season. Let’s take a look back at the offensive leaders for the 35 games I attended this season.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jose Abreu | 6 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 4 |
| Dayan Viciedo | 4 |
| Paul Konerko | 4 |
| Oswaldo Arcia | 3 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Eaton | 38 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 36 |
| Jose Abreu | 29 |
| Dayan Viciedo | 26 |
| Conor Gillaspie | 23 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Eaton | 19 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 19 |
| Jose Abreu Continue reading → |
After 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.
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:
My best week of the year so far, and my highest weekly total since the San Diego trip in April, thanks mainly to the Sprint and Stride event on Tuesday, which turned out to be my 4th highest single day total since starting this whole experiment. The work week saw every day above 6000 except for Friday, which still came in over 5500. Saturday nearly hit 10,000 steps thanks to a walk around the neighborhood and a trip to Grandstand before Paul Konerko night at US Cellular Field. Sunday was the one low point of the week, as the baseball season came to an end.
Total steps: 52,612
Daily average: 7516
What started with such promise back on December 2, 2010 finally came to an end today as Adam Dunn’s White Sox career came to an end when he was traded to the A’s. Dunn was supposed to add some left handed power to a White Sox team that was predominately right handed, but wound up disappointing every one associated with the franchise for the last four years.
The White Sox first showed interest in Adam Dunn during the 2009 season, while he was playing for the Washington Nationals. The speculation of a deal increased when Kenny Williams pulled the trigger on a deal that sent young pitcher Daniel Hudson to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Edwin Jackson, whom the Nationals were reportedly interested in as part of a package for Dunn. However, Dunn balked at having to play designated hitter and, as the trade deadline passed, no deal was made.
Following the season, Dunn apparently came to terms with playing designated hitter, signing a four year deal worth $56 million with the White Sox. As the 2011 season got under way, things looked to be off to a great start. Dunn was hitting .286 with 1 home run, an opening day blast against the Indians, and 5 RBIs when he came down with appendicitis on April 6, a mere four games in to the season. When he returned, things completely fell apart.
As the 2011 season went on, things started crumbling for the White Sox. The relationship between Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen had worsened to the point of no return, and Dunn, their big free agent signing, had completely gone off the rails. Despite missing time due to his appendicitis, Dunn managed to rack up 100 strikeouts before the end of June. Continue reading →
With the All Star Game on the books for tonight, we close the books on yet another disappointing first half for the 2014 season. Here are the offensive leaders for the 17 games I attended:
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 4 |
| Alejandro de Aza | 2 |
| Jose Abreu | 2 |
| 20 tied with | 1 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Alexei Ramirez | 18 |
| Adam Eatorn | 17 |
| Gordon Beckham | 14 |
| Dayan Viciedo | 13 |
| Paul Konerko | 10 |
| Jose Abreu | 10 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Eaton | 9 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 7 |
| Continue reading → |
Prior to last night’s finale of this year’s Crosstown series on the north side of town, the Cubs honored Paul Konerko, who is retiring at year’s end. Jeff Samardzija, who hit Konerko in the head during a 2012 clash at Wrigley Field, presented Konerko with a number 14 from the scoreboard. Despite not getting in to the game, Konerko finished his career at the Friendly Confines with a .311 average, 7 home runs and 26 RBIs in 35 games.