Tag / Tigers

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#168 – Mark Johnson

mjohnson

Name: Mark Johnson

Rank: 168

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1998-2002

Mark Johnson joined the White Sox organization as their first round pick in the 1994 draft.  4 years later, he made his major league debut on September 14, 1998, going 0-1 as a late inning replacement in the White Sox 17-16 victory over the Tigers.  He managed to get into 6 additional games in September, struggling with an .087 average in 23 at bats.

1999 saw Johnson making the team as the backup catcher.  His average “jumped” to .227, but he had a respectable OBP of .344.  Johnson split time behind the plate in 2000, along with Brook Fordyce.  He was behind the plate on April 23, when a brawl broke out between the White Sox and the Tigers, and managed to avoid suspension.  He was relegated back to backup duty in late July, when Charles Johnson was acquired from the Orioles for the stretch run.

When Sandy Alomar signed on as a free agent for the 2001 season, Johnson saw himself shuttling between Triple A and the major leagues.  He still managed to put together his best season as a pro, setting career highs with a .249 average and 5 home runs.  He also managed to finish 4th in the American League with 10 sacrifice hits.

He was given another opportunity to start in 2002, as he set career highs in games played and in at bats.  Unfortunately, his production fell off again, with his average dropping back down to .209 and his OBP dropping below .300 for the first time in his career.  Following the season, he was packaged, along with Keith Foulke and Joe Valentine, in a deal with the A’s that brought Billy Koch and Neal Cotts to the White Sox.

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

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#176 – Greg Norton

nortonName: Greg Norton

Rank: 176

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 1996-2000

Greg Norton was the 2nd round draft choice of the White Sox in 1993.  He made his major league debut on August 10, 1996, appearing as a pinch runner for Harold Baines in the 8th inning of the White Sox 8-7 loss against the Brewers.  The next night, he got hits in his first 2 plate appearances against the Tigers.  He appeared in only 11 games for the big league club that year, finishing with a .217 average.

He returned to Triple A Nashville in 1997 and made another token appearance with the White Sox.  He appeared in 18 games this time, putting up a .265 average in his limited playing time.

Norton stuck with the big league club in 1998, appearing in 132 games, mostly at first base as Frank Thomas transitioned to strictly being a DH.  In his first shot at extensive playing time, Norton struggled, hitting a lowly .237 with only 9 home runs and 36 RBI.

When Robin Ventura left as a free agent, Norton became the team’s starting third baseman in 1999.  He improved his average to .255 and hit 16 home runs while driving in 50.  Norton ran into some problems trying to replace a legend, as he was subjected to taunts from the fans.  Things boiled over in early September, when he committed 2 errors in one inning, leading to chants of “We want Robin” from the crowd.  Norton responded by hitting his second homer of the game, glaring at the fans as he ran to first and bowing to the crowd after crossing home plate.

2000 saw the White Sox run away with the Central Division title, but things continued to not go well for Norton.  His playing time diminished, and he was sent back to Triple A for a bit.  He finished the year with a .244 average, hitting only 6 home runs with 28 RBI.  Norton was left off the playoff roster in place of, ironically, Harold Baines, the same player he pinch ran for to start his career 5 years earlier.  Following the season, Norton was allowed to leave the organization as a free agent.

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

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#177 – Rusty Kuntz

rusty

Name: Rusty Kuntz

Rank: 177

Position: OF

Years With White Sox: 1979-1983

Rusty Kuntz, possessing one of the finest names in recent baseball history, was drafted by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 1977 draft.  He made his major league debut 2 years later, as a September call-up in 1979, starting in left field and going 0-3 in a 4-3 victory over the Tigers.  He appeared in 4 other games over the course of the final month of the 1979 season, finishing up with an anemic .091 average.

Kuntz split time between Triple A Iowa and Chicago in 1980.  He had slightly better results, finishing the year with a .226 average in 36 games.  He spent the entire strike-shortened 1981 season with the White Sox, appearing in 67 games and batting .255 in 55 at bats.

1982 saw Kuntz back splitting time between Triple A and Chicago, appearing in only 21 games with the White Sox.  His batting average fell to .192.

As the White Sox raced to their first division title in 1983, Kuntz again was shuttling between the major leagues and Triple A, appearing in 28 games through June 21, when he was traded to the Twins for a minor leaguer.

Kuntz’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#194 – Scott Sanderson

Scott_Sanderson_(1994_White_Sox)_3Name: Scott Sanderson

Rank: 194

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1994

When pitcher Jose DeLeon injured his knee during fielding drills in the early going of spring training in 1994, the White Sox offered free agent Scott Sanderson a minor league deal and a shot at making the team out of spring training.

Not only did he make the team, but he earned a spot in the rotation as the fifth starter.  Despite putting up his worst numbers since an injury plagued 1988 campaign with the Cubs, Sanderson stayed in the rotation until late July, when he was replaced by rookie Scott Ruffcorn.  “I understand,” Sanderson said at the time.  “I had two bad starts against Detroit, and their decision is to bring Scott up.”

Sanderson made 4 appearances over the bullpen in what would be the final 3 weeks of the season, before the players went on strike in mid August.  After the season, and the post-season, was declared lost, Sanderson was granted free agency, bringing his White Sox career to an end.

Sanderson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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2014 Predictions Revisited

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersBack in March, just as the baseball season was about to get underway, I made my annual predictions on who was going to win what.  Now that the regular season has come to an end, it is time to take a look back and see what, if anything, I got right.

American League

East: Rays

Well, not a great selection here, as the Rays finished 4th in the East.  Instead, the Orioles won the division for the first time since 1997.

Central: Tigers

It came down to the last day of the season, but the Tigers were able to hold off the upstart Royals and win the division for the fourth consecutive season.

West: Angels

Well, what do you know?  Year after year, I pick the Angels to win the division and year after year, they disappoint.  This year looked to be no different, but they caught fire just as the A’s started to fade, leading to their first divisional title since 2009.

Wild Cards: Red Sox, Rangers

Oof.  The Rangers, thank to injury after injury, finished the year with the worst record in the American League.  The Red Sox, fresh off a World Series title, were not too far behind.  Instead, the small market A’s and Royals took the wild card spots.

AL Champion: Tigers

Cy Young: David Price

MVP: Mike Trout

Only 1 of these still seem like viable choices.  The Tigers managed to get swept in the ALDS by the Orioles and David Price has little to no chance of bringing home another Cy Young Award. Mike Trout, meanwhile, is certainly still in the MVP conversation.

National League

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2014 Final Standings

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers

The 2014 baseball season came to an end this past Sunday.  I made it to 35 games this year, in 4 stadiums across 3 states.  Here are the final standings for those games, and the 17 different teams that I saw in person.

Team Won Loss Winning Pctg
New York Yankees 2 0 1.000
San Francisco Giants 1 0 1.000
Pittsburgh Pirates 1 0 1.000
Cleveland Indians 1 0 1.000
Arizona Diamondbacks 1 0 1.000
Kansas City Royals 3 1 0.750
Chicago Cubs 3 2 0.600
San Diego Padres 1 1 0.500
Toronto Blue Jays 1 1 0.500
Houston Astros 1 1 0.500
Detroit Tigers 1 1 0.500
Chicago White Sox 14 17 0.452
Minnesota Twins Continue reading →
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More Looking Forward To Next Year

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersMajor League Baseball released their tentative 2015 schedule earlier this week and, with little more to be concerned with for this season, let’s take a look at what’s on tap for next summer for the North Siders.

The Cubs open the season at home against the Cardinals on Monday, April 6.  If one were to try and determine when super-phenom Kris Bryant is likely to be called up, the early May road trip to visit the Cardinals and Brewers would seem like a good bet.

This year’s inter-league slate is against the AL Central, with the Royals, Indians, White Sox, and Tigers making trips to Wrigley Field, while the Cubs hit the road to visit the Tigers, Indians, Twins, and White Sox.

The Cubs finish the season on the road against the Reds and Brewers, which would make for a great pennant race should the team be in contention.

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Looking Forward To Next Year

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersMajor League Baseball released their tentative 2015 schedule earlier this week and, with little more to be concerned with for this season, let’s take a look at what’s on tap for next summer for the South Siders.

The White Sox open the season on the road against the Royals on Monday, April 6.  The home season begins that Friday, when the Twins come to town for a 3 game set.

This year’s inter-league slate is against the NL Central, with the Reds, Pirates, Cubs, and Cardinals making trips to US Cellular Field, while the Sox hit the road to visit the Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals, and Cubs.

The White Sox finish the season at home against the Royals and Tigers, which would make for a great pennant race should the team be in contention.

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#211 – Ken Patterson

kpattersonName: Ken Patterson

Rank: 211

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1988-1991

Ken Patterson was acquired by the White Sox in the August 1987 trade that sent Jerry Royster to the Yankees.  He made his major league debut on July 8, 1988, his 24th birthday, in a 10-7 White Sox loss to the Red Sox.  He spent 5 days with the White Sox before returning to Vancouver.  When Ricky Horton was traded to the Dodgers in late August, Patterson was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.  All told, he appeared in 9 games for the 88 White Sox, finishing with a 4.79 ERA.

Patterson made the team out of spring training in 1989 when Jack McDowell was sent back to Triple A for more seasoning.  Patterson would join him on May 21st, when he was sent back down after early struggles with the White Sox.  He returned in early June and stuck with the club for the remainder of the year, appearing in 50 games despite an uncanny inability to get left handers out.  Through August 20, the left handed hurler had “limited” left handed hitters to a .303 average.

Patterson returned to the White Sox bullpen in 1990, where he became the long man, a role he did not particularly care for.  “I don’t like it,” he said in the middle of a stretch that saw him pitch once in 16 days.  “I accept it.  But I don`t like it.”  He eventually moved to a left handed specialist role and, as the White Sox closed down Comiskey Park with a surprising 94 win season, he finished the year with a 3.39 ERA in 43 games.

In 1991, Patterson got off to an auspicious start, getting the first mock standing ovation during  the first game at New Comiskey Park after striking out Pete Incaviglia in the fourth inning.  The previous 7 batters he had faced had all reached base safely in a 16-0 thumping at the hands of the Tigers.  Patterson rebounded, however, and put together arguably his best season as a pro.  He went 3-0 with a career low 2.83 ERA in 43 games.

Despite coming off of his best season, Patterson was in a competition to earn a bullpen spot in 1992.  It was not to be, however.  With spring training winding down, Patterson was packaged along with Sammy Sosa and sent across town to the Cubs in exchange for George Bell.

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

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#216 – Russ Morman

russmormanName: Russ Morman

Rank: 216

Position: 1B

Years With White Sox: 1986, 1988-1989

With their second selection in the first round of the 1983 draft, the White Sox selected Russ Morman out of Wichita State.  He made his major league debut on August 3, 1986 in a White Sox blowout against the Tigers, where he became the second player in major league history to get two hits in the same inning during his first game.  Morman finished out the year in the big leagues, appearing in 49 games and hitting .252.

1987 saw Morman back in Tripe A for the entire season.  He managed to have multiple stints with the White Sox in 1988, appearing in 40 games, but seeing his average and power numbers drop.

1989 was more of the same for Morman.  He again split time between Triple A and the big leagues, and his games played and average both continued to drop.  Following the season, he was released.

Morman’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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