Tag / Red Sox

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#334 – Chris Stewart

Name: Chris Stewart

Rank: 334

Position: C

Year With White Sox: 2006

Chris Stewart joined the White Sox organization in 2001 after being selected in the 12th round of the draft.  He made his major league debut with the Sox on September 6, 2006 against the Red Sox and appeared in 6 games as the White Sox failed to defend their AL Central crown.  In January, Stewart was traded to the Rangers for a minor league pitcher.

Stewart’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →

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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

Hall Of Fame Ballot Newcomers

24 newcomers, who played their last major league game in 2007, are on this year’s ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Balloting started yesterday and runs through December 31st, with the results announced on January 9th, 2013.  Here’s my quick read on the chances of these first timers.

Sandy Alomar Jr.

The former White Sox backstop had a very good career and will likely get enough support to stick around on the ballot, but he will not be joining his brother in the Hall.

Craig Biggio

The career Astro might have to wait a few years, but he will eventually be enshrined.

Barry Bonds

And this is where things get interesting.  Bonds was a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer when, by all accounts, he got jealous of the amount of attention being heaped on Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.  Barry responded by ingesting enough steroids to make his head grow three sizes, and because of that he is likely to spend the next few years, if not forever, on the outside looking in.

Jeff Cirillo

Royce Clayton

Likely to become the newest members of the zero vote club.

Roger Clemens

Clemens initially retired following the 2003 season, and had he stayed retired, he would have been easily elected on the first ballot.  Unfortunately for him, he unretired, came back with the Astros, and got himself entangled in the whole steroids scandal and a lawsuit with his former trainer.  Like Bonds, he is likely to be held up as an example.

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by jim

2012 Final Standings

Another disappointing season comes to an end today.  The White Sox, who spent 126 days in first place, sputtered through September and dropped to second place.  The Cubs managed to lose 100 games for the first time since 1966.

TeamCity TeamName Won Loss Winning Pctg
Washington Nationals 1 0 1.000
Colorado Rockies 1 0 1.000
Kansas City Royals 1 0 1.000
Boston Red Sox 2 1 0.667
Tampa Bay Rays 2 1 0.667
Chicago White Sox 18 13 0.581
Oakland A’s 1 1 0.500
Houston Astros 1 1 0.500
Toronto Blue Jays 1 1 0.500
Continue reading →
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All Star Break Standings

As we head in to the All Star Break, the White Sox are in first place and I’ve been to 20 games.  Here’s the team’s records for those 20 games.

TeamCity TeamName Won Loss Winning Pctg
Washington Nationals 1 0 1.000
Kansas City Royals 1 0 1.000
Boston Red Sox 2 1 0.667
Chicago White Sox 12 8 0.600
Seattle Mariners 1 1 0.500
Houston Astros 1 1 0.500
Toronto Blue Jays 1 1 0.500
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by jim

Nostradamus Wept – AL Edition

With 81 games in the books, we are officially at the halfway point of the 2012 season.  The so-called experts at Sports Illustrated made some pre-season predictions that are looking a little off a this point.

Team Won Lost

Predicted

Wins

 PredictedLosses Comments
AL East
New York Yankees 49 32 95 67

After a slow-ish start, a long winning streak moved the Yankees back into first place despite an injury-ravaged pitching staff.
Baltimore Orioles 44 37 63 99 One of the surprises of the first half, theOrioles need only 19 second half wins to match their predicted output.
Tampa Bay Rays 43 39 92 70 Tampa has continued to keep things togetherwhile once again losing Evan Longoria for an extended period of time.
Boston Red Sox 42 40 91 71 After their collapse at the end of last season,the Red Sox have struggled to stay above .500 in the first half.
Toronto Blue Jays 42 40 85 77 The Blue Jays were having a strong half beforelosing nearly their entire starting rotation in one weeks time.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox 44 37 67 95 While most people did not expect the White Soxto be as bad as SI did, nobody thought they would be in first place at the halfway point.
Cleveland  Indians 42 39 80 82 The Indians have been right around where expected, a little over .500 instead of a little under.
Detroit Tigers 40 42 93 69 The Tigers were expected to run away and hide in this division, but they have been unable to outhit their poor pitching performance to date.
Kansas City Royals 36 44 82 80 Eric Hosmer’s sophomore slump has held back the developing Royals.
Minnesota Twins 35 46 72 90 Could this be the end of the Ron Gardenhire era?  The Twins are woefully bad for the second straight year.
AL West
Texas Rangers 50 32 94 68 After losing back-to-back World Series, the Rangers look to be stronger than ever.
Los Angeles Angels 45 37 97 65 The Angels, and new acquisition Albert Pujols, got off to a slow start before putting things together with the arrival of Mike Trout.
Oakland A’s 41 42 68 94 The A’s have been much better than expected in the first half.
Seattle Mariners 35 49 64 98 The Mariners have struggled offensively again in the first half.

 

by jim

Saviors?

It’s been a busy couple of days in the Chicago baseball universe.  After nearly three months of futility at the hot corner, the White Sox shipped Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge to the Red Sox for the services of Kevin Youkilis on Sunday afternoon.  Less than 24 hours later, the Cubs finally decided to call up their latest superstar-of-the-future Anthony Rizzo, now that they have successfully manipulated his free agent status.

Youkilis, whose time in Boston was brought to a premature end thanks to the emergence of Will Middlebrooks, has been fighting injuries and the suggestions that he’s not the player he once was.  Even if that is true, he should be an improvement over the incumbents, who have managed to put together numbers that, to this point, have been surpassed by, among others, the Washington Nationals pitching staff.  Even a broken down Youkilis should be an upgrade as the White Sox try to make a run at the AL Central crown.  Orlando Hudson moves to the bench, but I would be surprised if he finishes the season with the Sox.

Meanwhile, the performance of the Chicago Cubs this season makes the White Sox third basemen look like all-stars.  However, the one person putting up numbers has been buried in Des Moines, with the new leadership of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer tanking the 2012 season in the hopes of securing the 2019 season.  At the end of the day, it may end up having been the correct decision, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it now for the people who have plunked down their hard earned money to watch (or not, if the empty seats and StubHub listings are to be believed) the mess that is the 2012 Cubs, who may end up with the worst record in franchise history.  Now the pressure is on Rizzo to save the season and prove that he was worth the wait.

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#380 – Wil Cordero

Name: Wil Cordero

Rank: 380

Position: 1B

Year With White Sox: 1998

Cordero was certainly one of the more despicable human beings to ever wear the White Sox uniform.  On November 4, 1997, he plead guilty to domestic abuse charges following two arrests the previous season while a member of the Red Sox.  The following March, he signed with the White Sox.  He received the lions share of his playing time at first base, with Frank Thomas becoming the DH on a more permanent basis.  While his deal included an option for 1999 as well, he was granted free agency following his one year on the south side.

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

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:

Continue reading →