A decent week, with nearly every day falling between 6000 and 7300 steps. The two outliers were Tuesday, which nearly hit 12,000 steps thanks to an after work trip to US Cellular Field to see the White Sox defeat the Rays, and Friday, which fell below the 6000 step goal.
Total steps: 50,094
Daily average: 7156.3
Major League Baseball released their tentative 2017 schedule yesterday. While the local squads have differing goals in mind as 2016 winds down, with the Cubs currently sitting pretty with a magic number of 1 and the White Sox playing out the string while trying to avoid their 4th straight losing season, it’s time to turn our attention to next summer for both teams.
The White Sox open their season at what will then be known as Guaranteed Rate Field on April 3 against the Tigers, with 28 of their first 34 games coming against AL Central foes. Given their lack of success in this arena over the past few years, it will be a tough test to start the new campaign.
The interleague schedule pits the White Sox against the NL West, with trips to Arizona, Colorado, and Los Angeles and home series against the Padres, Giants, and the Dodgers. The rivalry with their north side foes continues the last week of July, with Monday and Tuesday games at Wrigley Field before moving back to the south side for Wednesday and Thursday.
The season ends with a 7 game homestand against the Royals and Angels before heading to Cleveland for the final weekend. Assuming the team finds itself in contention, it could be an interesting last week.
Meanwhile, on the north side, the Cubs open the season down in St. Louis, for the first time since 1986, on April 3. They kick off the home portion of their schedule the following week against the Dodgers.
The interleague schedule pits the Cubs against the AL East, with trips to Boston, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay and home series against the Yankees, Blue Jays, and the Rays.
The Cubs end the year with a 4 game stint against the Cardinals in St. Louis before returning home for the final weekend against the Reds. One can only assume they will be celebrating their second straight NL Central crown.
3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.
We wrap things up today with the top 10, which includes only 1 new song since we first looked at the top 100 3 years ago. The remaining 9, all of which are, or were, part of my White Sox victory playlists, have simply moved around in order, including a surprising tie for the top spot.
#10: Harry Caray – Take Me Out To The Ballgame
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/30/2015
Previous ranking: #11
Moving up one spot into the top 10 is this mid-1970s recording of the Hall of Fame broadcaster, along with organist Nancy Faust, leading the Comiskey Park crowd during the 7th inning stretch.
#9: 2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage
iTunes stats: 106 plays, most recently on 5/12/2015
Previous ranking: #9
Radio highlights, courtesy of The Score, of the 2008 White Sox season, culminating in the team’s Division Series loss to the Rays.
#8: Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
iTunes stats: 115 plays, most recently on 7/19/2015
Previous ranking: #8
The rallying cry for the 2005 White Sox after A. J. Pierzynski and teammates heard it being sung in a bar in Baltimore, it finally dropped off my playlist for the 2015 season.
#7: Queen – We Are The Champions
iTunes stats: 120 plays, most recently on 7/19/2015
Previous ranking: #7
Reaching #4 on the Billboard charts in the late 70s, the song made it on to my White Sox playlist following their 2005 World Series championship.
#6: sox05_montage
iTunes stats: 126 plays, most recently on 10/24/2015
Previous ranking: #6
Radio highlights, courtesy of ESPN 1000, of the 2005 White Sox season, culminating in the team’s first World Series title since 1917.
#5: Gordon Beckham Intro
iTunes stats: 139 plays, most recently on 5/18/2015
Previous ranking: #2
The Outfield’s hit Your Love featuring Gene Honda introducing the former White Sox third baseman.
#4: Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
Continue reading →
John Danks, the longest tenured member of the White Sox heading in to the 2016 season, saw his White Sox career come to an end yesterday when the team announced he has been designated for assignment after refusing a minor league assignment. Danks, who is 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA this season, is in the final season of his contract and is due $14.25 million this year.
Danks was acquired by the White Sox, along with Nick Masset, from the Rangers for Brandon McCarthy following the 2006 season. He broke camp with the Sox in 2007 and made his major league debut on April 8, picking up the loss against the Twins at US Cellular Field. Danks, along with the rest of the White Sox, struggled through 2007, finishing the year with a 6-13 record and a 5.50 ERA.
2008 was a different story for both the White Sox and Danks. Posting a career-best 3.32 ERA, Danks finished the year at 12-9 and had quite possibly the best outing of his career in game 163, throwing 8 scoreless innings of 2 hit ball against the Twins to secure the Central Division title. Less than a week later, he picked up the lone White Sox victory in the ALDS against the Rays.
Danks had continued success in both 2009 and 2010, combining for a 28-22 record over the two years, with an ERA in the 3.70s both years. 2011 went south for both the White Sox and John Danks, as his ERA jumped to 4.33 while manager Ozzie Guillen lost control of the team before leaving in the final week to head to the Marlins. Following the season, the White Sox signaled their faith in Danks, signing him to a 5 year extension worth $65 million.
Danks struggled through 9 starts in 2012 before hitting the disabled list with a mysterious shoulder injury. When he finally underwent surgery, doctors found a torn shoulder capsule. Very few pitchers have undergone this surgery, and even fewer have successfully returned to the same level they were before the injury.
Sadly, Danks’ recovery did not happen as anyone would have wanted, though not for a lack of effort. He returned in 2013, making 22 starts and going 4-14 with a 4.75 ERA. 2014 was more of the same, as his ERA was 4.74, though his record improved to 11-11. And last year, again, saw Danks put up an ERA of 4.71 in 30 starts.
With the White Sox in contention after a successful April and John Danks earning half of the teams losses, being an innings eater was no longer good enough. Unfortunately, the injury robbed him or what should have been his prime, and one hopes he can reinvent himself somewhere and continue his major league career.
Name: Brian Anderson
Rank: 99
Position: CF
Years With White Sox: 2005-2009
Brian Anderson joined the White Sox organization as the 15th overall pick in the 2003 draft. He made his major league debut on August 16, 2005, going 2-7 in a 9-4 loss to the Twins at US Cellular Field. He appeared in only 13 games for the big league club in 2005, as the White Sox battle for the division crown went down to the final weekend. Anderson was left off the playoff roster, but still spent the time with the team, joining Aaron Rowand in doubting the walk-off home run Scott Podsednik hit in Game 2 of the World Series.
When Rowand was traded to the Phillies prior to the 2006 season, Anderson became the new starting center fielder. Unfortunately, he was unable to reproduce his minor league success at the major league level, eventually losing playing time to Rob Mackowiak. He finished the year with a .225 average, striking out 90 times in only 365 at bats.
2007 turned in to a lost season for Anderson, as he lost his starting job to Darin Erstad and appeared in only 13 games, with an anemic .118 average, before being sent back to Triple A Charlotte. He managed to boost his average back up in the minors, but an injury ended his season early.
Anderson returned to the big leagues in 2008 with a renewed focus, but it did not translate to better results in the field. He spent most of the year as a backup and as a late inning defensive replacement for Ken Griffey Jr. The highlight of his season was the diving catch he made to end the tiebreaker game 163 that sent the White Sox to the playoffs. This time, Anderson made the playoff roster, but he went hitless in 5 at bats across 3 games in the White Sox loss to the Rays in the ALDS.
Anderson found himself in the same position in 2009, until the trade deadline approached, when he was traded to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay.
Anderson returned to the White Sox organization on January 15, 2015, signing a minor league deal, but he was released on April 2nd, ending his professional career.
Anderson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Name: Dewayne Wise
Rank: 101
Position: OF
Years With White Sox: 2008-2009, 2012-2013
Dewayne Wise signed with the White Sox organization on March 5, 2008. He started the year at Triple A, but was recalled to the big leagues in May when Juan Uribe landed on the disabled list. He returned for good in late July when Paul Konerko got hurt, becoming a defensive replacement for the newly acquired Ken Griffey Jr. and gaining additional playing time when Carlos Quentin broke his wrist in early September. The high point of his season came on September 14, when, with the White Sox battling the Twins for the Central division title, he answered a grand slam in the top of the 8th by Marcus Thames with one of his own in the bottom of the inning, pushing the Sox to an 11-7 victory over the Tigers and retaining their first place standing.
Wise returned to the White Sox in 2009, earning the Opening Day nod in center field. A separated shoulder 7 games into the season put him on the shelf until early June. He made the play of his career on July 23, when he entered the game against the Rays as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning. The first hitter, Gabe Kapler, hit a deep fly ball to center field which Wise first leaped to keep in the ballpark, then juggled the ball as he fell to the ground, finally grasping it with his bare hand. The catch preserved Mark Buehrle’s perfect game, which he wrapped up two batters later.
The remainder of 2009 was uneventful, as the White Sox fell from contention. Wise finished the year with a .225 average, and became a free agent following the season.
Wise returned to the White Sox in 2012, signing a minor league deal on August 3rd. Barely a week later, he was called up to the majors when Paul Konerko landed on the 7 day concussion DL. Wise appeared in 45 games over the final two months of the season, hitting .258 as the White Sox blew their division lead over the last few weeks of September.
Wise re-upped with the White Sox for the 2013 season, but was used sparingly. He appeared in only 30 games, hitting .234, before being released on August 3rd, which drew his major league career to an end.
Wise’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Another exciting baseball season is upon us, and it is time once again to look at the all-time team records for games that I have attended. Despite disparate seasons on the two sides of town last season, both the White Sox and the Cubs saw their overall winning percentage drop. The 2016 season looks to be hopeful for both teams, so this trend should reverse itself.
| TeamName | Won | Loss | Winning Pctg |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Angels | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Arizone Diamondbacks | 13 | 2 | 0.866666666666667 |
| Florida Marlins | 15 | 8 | 0.652173913043478 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 10 | 6 | 0.625 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 12 | 8 | 0.6 |
| New York Yankees | 12 | 9 | 0.571428571428571 |
| Colorado Rockies | 7 | 6 | 0.538461538461538 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 15 | 13 | 0.535714285714286 |
| San Francisco Giants | 8 | 7 | 0.533333333333333 |
| Chicago White Sox | 250 | 222 | 0.529661016949153 |
| Chicago Cubs | 197 | 177 | 0.526737967914439 |
| Detroit Tigers Continue reading → |
Name: Octavio Dotel
Rank: 106
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2008-2009
Octavio Dotel joined the White Sox as a free agent on January 21, 2008, signing a two-year deal. He became a work horse out of the bullpen for Ozzie Guillen during the 2008 season, going 4-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 72 games as the White Sox took home the Central Division title. Dotel then appeared in all 4 games of the ALDS against the Rays, giving up 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
2009 was more of the same for Dotel. In 10 fewer appearances, he went 3-3, lowering his ERA to 3.32. Following the season, Dotel became a free agent, ending his White Sox career.
Dotel’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
All eyes turned towards Cooperstown yesterday as the votes were tallied and two new members were announced as the Hall of Fame class of 2016: Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza. Griffey, in his first year of eligibility, set the all time record by being named on 99.3% of the ballots, eclipsing Tom Seaver’s mark of 98.8% in 1992. Piazza earned 83% of the vote in his 4th year of eligibility, an increase 13.1 point increase from last year.
Four others tallied greater than 50% of the vote, led by Jeff Bagwell, who fell a mere 15 votes shy of election. Next was Tim Raines, who only has one more chance to boost his total from 69.8% to the required 75%. Trevor Hoffman had a surprisingly strong showing in his first year, garnering 67.3% of the vote. Finally, Curt Schilling showed a big improvement in his 4th year on the ballot, going from 39.2% to 52.3%.
The news continued to be bleak for the alleged PED users, as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa still failed to gain entry. McGwire, in his 10th year of eligibility, now falls off the ballot, as does former Tigers shortstop Alan Trammel. 13 others failed to reach 5% and will also fall off the ballot.
As for the newest Hall of Famers, I’ve seen Griffey play 37 times, mostly during his stint with the White Sox in 2008, including the ALDS against the Rays. I only saw Piazza play 7 times over the course of his career.
Ken Griffey Jr’s numbers in games I attended were:
Name: Clayton Richard
Rank: 123
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2008-2009
Clayton Richard was selected by the White Sox in the 8th round of the 2005 draft. He made his major league debut on July 23, 2008, starting and going 4 innings in the White Sox 10-8 victory over the Rangers. He ended up pitching in 13 games that year, starting 8, as the White Sox took home the division crown. He made 2 appearances during the division series against the Rays, giving up 1 run in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
Richard started the 2009 season in the bullpen, before eventually moving in to the starting rotation. He would make 14 starts before the trade deadline, when he, along with Dexter Carter, Aaron Poreda, and Adam Russell, was traded to the Padres for Jake Peavy.
Richard’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: