Tag / Rocky Biddle

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#112 – Orlando Hernandez

elduqueName: Orlando Hernandez

Rank: 112

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2005

Orlando Hernandez first became a member of the White Sox organization on January 15, 2003, when he was acquired from the Yankees for Antonio Osuna.  Mere moments later, he was shipped to the Expos, along with Rocky Biddle, Jeff Liefer, and cash, in exchange for Bartolo Colon.  Nearly 2 years later, he signed with the White Sox as a free agent.  As the 5th starter, he put up a decent 9-9 record, but with a high 5.12 ERA.

Hernandez moved to the bullpen for the 2005 post-season, where he permanently etched his name in White Sox lore.  With the White Sox looking to win their first post-season series since the 1917 World Series and clinging to a 4-3 lead in the 6th inning of game 3 of the ALDS against the Red Sox, Hernandez entered in relief of Damaso Marte with the bases loaded and nobody out.  He managed to induce pop-outs from both pinch hitter Jason Varitek and Tony Graffanino before getting Johnny Damon to chase a ball out of the strike zone on a 3-2 count to escape unscathed.  2 rounds later, he pitched a scoreless inning in the 14-inning game 3 of the World Series.

Nearly two months later, Hernandez was traded, along with Luis Vizcaino and Chris Young, to the Diamondbacks for Javier Vazquez.

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

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#183 – Bartolo Colon

colon-sox

Name: Bartolo Colon

Rank: 183

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2003, 2009

After trying, and failing, to solidify the pitching staff each of the following 2 off-seasons, GM Kenny Williams went for broke again on January 15, 2003, agreeing to a 3 team deal that sent Rocky Biddle, Jeff Liefer, and Orlando Hernandez to the Expos, Antonio Osuna and minor-league pitcher Delvis Lantigua to the Yankees, and brought Bartolo Colon and minor-league infielder Jorge Nunez to the White Sox.  Colon was expected to do what David Wells and Todd Ritchie could not: lead the White Sox back to the post-season.

Colon did his part, setting career highs in innings pitched and complete games, en route to a 15-13 record with a 3.87 ERA.  Unfortunately, that was not enough, as the White Sox finished in second place, four games behind the Twins.  Following the season, Colon filed for free agency and left the White Sox.

6 years later, nearly to the day he was first acquired, Colon rejoined the White Sox as a free agent, joining the rotation as a reclamation project after injuries had limited him to just 36 appearances over the previous 3 seasons.  To say things did not go as expected would be an understatement.  First, Colon went on the disabled list with a knee injury and, when he was scheduled to make a rehab start in Triple A Charlotte, he went AWOL.  “Efforts to contact his agent have been successful,” Williams said at the time.  “Their efforts to contact their client have not been so successful.

After he was found, Colon went down with another injury, this time swelling in his right elbow.  Again, the right-hander disappeared and, eventually, the White Sox had enough.  They requested waivers on September 16 for the purpose of giving Colon his unconditional release.  His second tour of duty on the south side ended with a 3-6 record and a 4.19 ERA in only 12 starts.

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

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#240 – Antonio Osuna

osunaName: Antonio Osuna

Rank: 240

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2001-2002

When Bill Simas went down for the entire 2001 season during spring training, GM Kenny Williams struck a deal with the Dodgers on St. Patrick’s Day, acquiring Antonio Osuna for a collection of minor league talent. Unfortunately for Williams and the White Sox, a cyst in Osuna’s pitching shoulder limited him to 4 poor appearances in April before requiring season ending surgery.

Osuna bounced back in 2002, appearing in 59 games and posting a 3.86 ERA.  He, along with Damaso Marte, replaced Keith Foulke as the team’s closer at the All Star break, converting 11 out of 14 save opportunities.

In January of 2003, Osuna was sent to the Yankees as part of the 3 team deal that brought Bartolo Colon to the White Sox and sent Orlando Hernandez, Rocky Biddle, and Jeff Liefer to the Expos.

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

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#242 – Rocky Biddle

rbiddleName: Rocky Biddle

Rank: 242

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2000-2002

Rocky Biddle was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 1997 draft.  In August of 2000, with the White Sox heading towards a Central division title despite a pitching staff falling by the day, Biddle was called up and made his major league debut on August 10.  Pitching on only three days rest against the White Sox eventual ALDS foe Seattle, Biddle gave up 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings.  He ended up starting 4 games that season as the White Sox limped to the playoffs and a three game sweep against the Mariners.

Biddle spent parts of the next two seasons as one piece of the black hole that was the fifth starter for the White Sox.  Biddle started 28 of his 74 games over those two seasons, although his ERA did improve each season.

His time with the White Sox came to an end on January 15, 2003 when he was included in a 3 team trade that sent Biddle, Jeff Liefer, and Orlando Hernandez to the Expos, Antonio Osuna and minor-league pitcher Delvis Lantigua to the Yankees, and brought Bartolo Colon and minor-league infielder Jorge Nunez to the White Sox.

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

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#306 – Jeff Liefer

sportsWhiteSox_t440Name: Jeff Liefer

Rank: 306

Position: OF/1B

Years With White Sox: 1999-2002

Jeff Liefer was the 25th overall pick in the 1995 draft and signed with the White Sox in August.  He worked his way through the system, finally making his major league debut on April 7, 1999, going 2-4 in a loss to the Mariners.  Liefer would go on to split the year between Chicago and Charlotte.

During the 2000 season, which saw the White Sox take home the Central Division title, Liefer spent the majority of the year tearing up Triple A, appearing in only 5 games in the big leagues.  He got another chance in 2001, appearing in 83 games and mashing 18 home runs.  He managed to get in to 76 games in 2002, but his production dropped drastically, with only 7 home runs and a 20 point dip in his average.

Following the 2002 season, Liefer was packaged along with Antonio Osuna, Rocky Biddle, and two minor leaguers in a three-way trade that sent Orlando Hernandez from the Yankees to the Expos and brought Bartolo Colon from Montreal to the South Side.

Liefer rejoined the White Sox organization in 2008 after signing a minor league deal.  He appeared in 40 games at Charlotte before deciding to hang it up and retire.

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

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