Tag / Robin Ventura

by admin

#234 – Will Ohman

Will+OhmanName: Will Ohman

Rank: 234

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2011-2012

Will Ohman signed a 2 year deal with the White Sox on January 8, 2011.  He joined the bullpen for a team expected to compete for a division title, but which instead unraveled under the watchful eye of Ozzie Guillen.  Ohman was competent, putting up a 4.22 ERA in 59 appearances.

2012 was worse for Ohman.  Under new manager Robin Ventura, the team was actually contending, spending most of the season in first place.  Ohman, however, saw his ERA jump up to 6.41.  As June was coming to an end, so was his time on the White Sox.  He was designated for assignment on June 27 and eventually released on July 3.

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

Continue reading →

by admin

2014 Tickets – Southside Edition

Word came down yesterday afternoon that Cub season tickets had started to arrive, so imagine my surprise when I got home and found this sitting on my doorstep:

2014soxbox

Inside the box were the two ticket books, a collection of parking passes, and some miscellaneous paperwork.  The tickets themselves have returned to a portrait orientation, and feature photos of all-time White Sox greats.

Continue reading →

by admin

#263 – Chris Snopek

snopek

Name: Chris Snopek

Rank: 263

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 1995-1998

Chris Snopek joined the White Sox organization in 1992 when he was drafted in the 6th round.  He worked his way up through the system and made his major league debut on July 31, 1995, going 2 for 3 in the White Sox 6-4 win over the Royals.  Snopek bounced up and down over the next 2 seasons and had already made the club as a backup infielder in spring training in 1997, when something horrible happened.

On March 21, 1997, in an exhibition contest against the Red Sox, third baseman Robin Ventura broke and dislocated his right ankle in an awkward slide into home.  Suddenly, Chis Snopek found himself as the starting third baseman, at least until Ventura returned sometime after the All Star break.  “We have to find out if Snopek can play,” GM Ron Schueler said at the time. “Our people really like him. This is the time to find out if they’re right.”  However, it took less than three weeks for manager Terry Bevington to begin playing Tony Phillips at third against right-handed pitchers, leaving Snopek to rot on the bench.

Snopek got back in the lineup when Phillips was traded and kept it until Ventura returned in late July, having hit .223 with five home runs and 35 runs batted in and committing 15 errors.  He was sent back to Triple A on August 8th.  “Every day he got a question about replacing Robin, and that was tough on him,” said Schueler. “He was trying to hit home runs like they expected Robin to hit and that frustration carried over to his defense.”

After the season, Snopek went to Venezuela to play winter ball and, hopefully, rediscover his stroke.  After hitting .380, he returned to the White Sox in spring training of 1998 hoping to get another crack at replacing a White Sox legend, this time shortstop Ozzie Guillen.  While he lost out to rookie Mike Caruso for the starting role, Snopek did make the team as a reserve and, despite struggling at the plate once again, he stayed with the big league club until August 31, when he was traded to the Red Sox for a minor leaguer.  “It was a total shock,” Snopek said. “But it’s an opportunity for me to go to Boston and show them what I can do.”

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

by admin

#337 – Eddie Williams

Name: Eddie Williams

Rank: 337

Position: 3B

Year With White Sox: 1989

Eddie Williams was traded to the White Sox in January of 1989 by the Indians in exchange for Joel Davis and Ed Wojna.  Williams successfully battled Robin Ventura, the Sox first round draft pick the previous season, for the third basemen’s job in spring training and broke camp as the starter.

Williams ended up splitting the season between Chicago and Triple A Vancouver, putting up a respectable .274 average over 66 games for the big league club.  His opportunities in Chicago came to an end on September 12th, when Ventura made his debut for the Sox and wound up manning the hot corner for the next 9 seasons.  His time with the South Siders officially ended on October 15th, when he was granted free agency.

Williams’ numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

Continue reading →

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 jim

2012 Games Of Interest

Fireworks Night

4/28 vs Red Sox

5/12 vs Royals

6/23 vs Brewers

7/4 vs Rangers

8/25 vs Mariners

9/29 vs Rays

 

Kids Day

4/15 vs Tigers

5/27 vs Indians

6/10 vs Astros

7/8 vs Blue Jays

8/26 vs Mariners

 

Other Fun Stuff

4/13 vs Tigers – Opening Day

5/26 vs Indians – Robin Ventura bobblehead

6/3 vs Mariners – Southpaw’s Birthday Party and Southpaw Mini Plush Pal

6/24 vs Brewers – Kids 1972 Replica Jersey

8/3 vs Angels – Elvis Night

8/5 vs Angels – Kids Chest Protector Backpack

8/12 vs A’s – Spirit & Mascot Day

 

by jim

That Came Out Of Left Field

Or, to be more precise, third base.  Robin Ventura has been named the next manager of the Chicago White Sox.  I don’t know if anyone saw this coming.  Ventura rejoined the organization last summer as a special assistant to Buddy Bell, but he has no coaching or managing experience above the high school level.  So, was this the right move?

Let me preface this by saying that Ventura was one of my favorite players growing up.  Any problems I have with this hiring have to do with the process and not with him.  With the total lack of experience coaching at a professional level, there is no body of work on which to base an opinion on how Ventura will do leading the South Siders.

Process wise, I wonder if any other candidates were interviewed.  If yes, and Ventura blew them all away, then fine.  But if Ventura was brought in as the fan favorite that is meant to distract the fanbase from the problems with the team, than that is doing a diservice to both the fanbase and to Ventura.

by admin

2010 Hall of Fame Non-Inductees

The BBWAA will announce the results of their Hall of Fame voting for 2010 tomorrow afternoon.  Today, we will look at the 26 candidates and dismiss over half of them.  Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at those who have (or should have) a decent chance.

 

No Chance: The following should enjoy the experience, since they won’t make the 5% cutoff to stay on the ballot for next year.

 Slight Chance: Will never make it, but will get enough support to hang around the ballot.

  • Andres Galarraga – Remove the Rockie effect and he wouldn’t even be here
  • Dale Murphy – Was headed straight for the HOF until he fall of the cliff quicker than Jim Rice
  • Dave Parker – A tremendous arm and genuine All-Star, but not HOF material
  • Alan Trammell – Might have had a chance if it wasn’t for the SS offensive explosion that occured after he retired