Tag / Paul Konerko

by jim

2013 Games Of Interest

408542_10151670598888298_1264282517_nFireworks Night

June 7
June 28
July 3
July 19
July 27
August 9
August 23 (Elvis Night)
September 14 (Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day)

Family Day (Replaces Kids Day)

April 7
April 21
April 28
May 26
June 9 (1983 White Sox Kids Jersey)
June 30
July 21
July 28
August 11 (Spirit & Mascot Day)
August 25
September 15
September 29

Other Fun Stuff

April 6 – 1983 White Sox Knit Bomber Hat
April 20 – White Sox Puzzle Cube
April 27 – Harold Baines Bobblehead
May 11- Paul Konerko Bobblehead
June 8 – Southpaw’s Birthday Party
June 29 – Billy Pierce Replica Statue
July 20 – 1983 White Sox Replica Batting Helmet
August 10 – Ron Kittle Bobblehead

by admin

And Then There Was One

A.J. Pierzynski’s White Sox career officially came to an end Thursday when the free agent catcher signed a contract with the Texas Rangers, leaving Paul Konerko as the last remaining member of the 2005 World Series champions to play for the South Siders and the White Sox without their most popular backstop since Carlton Fisk.

Pierzynski signed with the White Sox on January 6, 2005 following a year with the Giants that called his professionalism into question.  He rewarded the White Sox organization with 8 seasons of stability behind the plate the included 1 All-Star selection, 2 playoff appearances, and, of course, the 2005 World Series championship.  Over those 8 seasons, Pierzynski was involved in many key moments that endeared him to the White Sox faithful, including:

The walk-off home run, and resulting bat flip pictured to the left, against the Dodgers in 2005.

The two home runs in a thrashing of the Red Sox in game one of the 2005 ALDS, the first White Sox home postseason victory since 1959.

The controversial dropped third strike that led to a White Sox victory in game two of the 2005 ALCS against the Angels.

The 2006 brawl against the Cubs where Michael Barrett sucker-punched him after Pierzynski enthusiastically scored a run against the crosstown rivals.

Hanging on to the throw from Ken Griffey Jr. to preserve the shutout in the 2008 tie-breaker game that pushed the White Sox into the playoffs over the Twins.

Being behind the plate for Mark Buehrle’s no-hitter in 2007 and Philip Humber’s perfect game in 2012.

In games I have attended, Pierzynski ranks 2nd in games, doubles, at bats, runs, and hits, third in RBIs, sixth in triples, and seventh in home runs.

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

Continue reading →

by jim

2012 Final Batting Leaders

As we close the books on the 2012 season without a post-season appearance by a Chicago team, here are the offensive leaders for the games I attended this year.

Home Runs

Name Total
AJ Pierzynski 7
Dayan Viciedo 7
Alex Rios 7
Kevin Youkilis 7
Adam Dunn 4
Tyler Flowers 4

Hits

Name Total
Alex Rios 44
Alexei Ramirez 38
Continue reading →
by admin

Single Game Batting Leaders

We’ve looked at the single season and career leaders for games I have attended, and I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the single game leaders.

Home Runs

Name Total Date
Sammy Sosa 3 6/5/1996
Moises Alou 3 7/4/2003
97 with 2 Most rcently on 8/4/2012

Hits

Name Total Date
Scott Rolen 5 4/22/2007
Mike Fontenot 5 6/25/2007
Mark DeRosa 5 9/17/2007
Alfonso Soriano 5 5/17/2008
Derrek Lee 5 6/28/2008
Ryan Braun 5 8/2/2010
Prince Fielder 5 8/2/2010

Runs

Name Total Date
Chris Burke 5 6/13/2006
Gary Ward 4 8/14/1984
Paul Konerko 4 6/28/2002
Continue reading →
by admin

All Star Break Batting Leaders

As we close the books on the first half of the 2012 season, here are the offensive leaders for the games I attended.

Home Runs

Name Total
Dayan Viciedo 6
Adam Dunn 4
Alex Rios 4
Kevin Youkilis 3
Paul Konerko 2
Jason Kipnis 2
Jarrod Saltalamacchia 2
Ichiro Suzuki 2
AJ Pierzynski 2
Hits

Name Total
Alexei Ramirez 28
Alex Rios 26
Continue reading →
by jim

Perfect

Going in to yesterday’s White Sox – Mariners game, there had been only 20 perfect games thrown in the 143 year history of major league baseball.  9 innings and 96 pitches later, there are 21, as Phil Humber becomes the third White Sox hurler, following Charles Robertson in 1922 and Mark Buehrle in 2009, to achieve perfection.

Humber was in control for most of the game, but was clearly nervous as the 9th inning unfolded, hitting ball 3 twice, the only times in the game he had done so.  The final batter, Brendan Ryan, was retired on a check swing dropped third strike, with AJ Pierzynski throwing him out at first while Ryan argued the strike call with the home plate umpire. As Paul Konerko stepped on first base for the putout, Humber dropped to his knees and then stood up in time to be tackled by Jake Peavy and the rest of the Sox roster.

Unlike Buehrle’s perfect game, I was able to watch most of this one live.  Thanks to the outdated backout rules that MLB uses, especially for games broadcast on Fox, not many people outside of Chicago and Seattle were, unfortunately.  Since the Yankees were battling the Red Sox, only 2% of the country were able to see the game as it unfolded.  I guess not everything about it was perfect.

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

Continue reading →

by admin

All Time Batting Leaders – Through 2011

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.

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 85
Sammy Sosa 42
Aramis Ramirez 41
Derrek Lee 40
Jermaine Dye 40
Hits 

Name Total
Paul Konerko 308
Derrek Lee 255
Continue reading →
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 →