Tag / Scott Podsednik

by jim

Transaction Tree

WhiteSox-rosterA few weeks back, when Corey Kluber won the Cy Young award, a New York time reporter tweeted how the Indians had, through multiple trades, turned Eddie Taubensee’s 1991 roster spot in to Kluber.  The fine folks at Grantland took it a step farther, and looked at the longest such chain for all 30 teams.

The White Sox fall smack dab in the middle of the league, having the 15th longest chain, dating back to the February 8, 1994 signing of amateur free agent Carlos Lee.  Lee made his major league debut on May 7, 1999, and quickly became a mainstay of the White Sox lineup, holding down left field through the 2004 season.  New manager Ozzie Guillen had tired of the station to station team he inherited, and was looking to implement some small ball, so Lee was shipped to the Brewers for a package that included Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaino.

Vizcaino spent just the one season with the White Sox, earning a World Series championship ring for his troubles.  With general manager Kenny Williams looking to repeat, he packaged Vizcaino with Orlando Hernandez and outfielder Chris Young in a trade to the Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez.

Vazquez lasted 3 seasons with the White Sox, up to and including their 2008 AL Central title-winning year.  As the White Sox battled the Twins for the title, Vazquez turned out to be the one weak link in the rotation.  With the season stretching to a 163rd game, Guillen was forced to turn to Vazquez to start the first game of the division series against the Rays.  Vazquez responded to the challenge by giving up 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings, putting his team in an early hole in the best of 5 series.

Feeling that he couldn’t open the 2009 season with Vazquez still on the roster, Kenny Williams moved him, along with Boone Logan, to the Braves for, among others, Brent Lillibridge and Tyler Flowers.  Flowers made his debut in 2009 and became the full time starting catcher in 2013.  His production has been lacking over the course of his major league career, and, should an opportunity to upgrade arise, this chain may come to an end.

by admin

All Season Batting Leaders – Through 2014

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersThree years ago, we took our first look at the offensive stat leaders per season for the all the games I’ve attended since 1984.  While there hasn’t been a whole lot of movement in the 3 seasons since, I figured the time was right to take another look.  So, without further ado, here’s the updated list.  We start, as always, with everyone’s favorite offensive stat:

Home Runs

Year Name Total
2010 Paul Konerko 17
2004 Mosies Alou 15
2004 Corey Patterson 13
2004 Sammy Sosa 13
2003 Moises Alou 12
2008 Carlos Quentin 12

Hits

Year Name Total
2003 Mark Grudzielanek 67
2004 Moises Alou 57
2003 Moises Alou 57
2007 Derrek Lee 57
2006 Orlando Cabrera 56

Runs

Year Name Total
Continue reading →
by jim

Active Batting Leaders – Through 2013

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersLast month, we looked at the overall leaders on both sides of the ball from all of the games I’ve attended between 1984 and 2013.  With Opening Day right around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to take another look at those numbers, limiting it to players that are still active heading in to the 2014 season.

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 89
Aramis Ramierz 41
Carlos Quentin 28
Corey Patterson 26
Adam Dunn 26

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 352
AJ Pierzynski 237
Continue reading →
by jim

Active Batting Leaders – Through 2012

Last month, we looked at the overall leaders on both sides of the ball from all of the games I’ve attended between 1984 and 2012.  With Opening Day right around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to take another look at those numbers, limiting it to players that are still active today.

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 88
Aramis Ramierz 41
Jim Thome 35
Carlos Quentin 28
Corey Patterson 26

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 340
Aramis Ramirez 234
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

#382 – Jamie Burke

Name: Jamie Burke

Rank: 382

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 2002-2005

Jamie Burke appeared in only 64 games with the White Sox spread over three seasons, including just one during the 2005 season, but an argument can be made that he played a large role in bringing a World Series title to the south side.

Burke was acquired as a free agent following the 2002 season, and he was brought up for a brief cup of coffee in 2003, hitting .375 in only 6 games.

In 2004, Burke spent more time with the big league club, appearing in 57 games and hitting a respectable .333 in 133 at bats.  His defining moment, however, came behind the plate.  In September, the White Sox and the Twins were locked in a tight race for the AL Central crown when the Twins came to town for a three game series.  Late in the game, Burke was bowled over by Torii Hunter, enraging the crowd and giving the Twins a win in game one of the pivotal series.  Later in the series, Carlos Lee had an opportunity to give the Twins some payback going in to second base on a double play attempt.  Rather than go in hard, Lee pulled up, infuriating rookie manager Ozzie Guillen and, rumor has it, leading to the off-season trade that sent Scott Podsednik to the Sox and freed up the money to allow for the signing of AJ Pierzynski.  And that is how Jamie Burke played a pivotal role in the 2005 World Championship.

Burke himself appeared in only 1 game for the eventual world champs and was granted free agency following the season.

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

Continue reading →

by admin

All Season Batting Leaders – Through 2011

Offensive stat leaders per season for the all the games I’ve attended from 1984 – 2011.

Home Runs

Year Name Total
2010 Paul Konerko 17
2004 Mosies Alou 15
2004 Corey Patterson 13
2004 Sammy Sosa 13
2003 Moises Alou 12
2008 Carlos Quentin 12

Hits

Year Name Total
2003 Mark Grudzielanek 67
2004 Moises Alou 57
2003 Moises Alou 57
2007 Derrek Lee 57
2006 Orlando Cabrera 56

Runs

Year Name Total
Continue reading →
by admin

30 Day Picture Challenge Day 05 – A Picture Of Your Favorite Memory

As a partial season ticket holder, I was able to get tickets to Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. Paul Konerko connects on the first pitch for a grand slam to give the White Sox the lead.  I also could have gone with the Scott Podsednik walkoff later in the game, but this one actually gave me the feeling that 1) we could win the game and 2) we could win the series.