Tag / Twins

by admin

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 admin

#342 – Jeff Bittiger

Name: Jeff Bittiger

Rank: 342

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1988-1989

Jeff Bittiger signed with the White Sox in January of 1988 after being released by the World Series champion Twins.  Getting his first sustained action in the big leagues, Bittiger had a decent year, putting up a 4.23 ERA in 25 games, 7 of those starts.  Things did not go so well the following year, as he appeared in only 2 games and had a 6.52 ERA.  Following the 1989 season, he was traded to the Dodgers for Tracy Woodson, and the major league portion of his career had come to an end.

Bittiger’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

Continue reading →

by admin

#357 – Mario Valdez

Name: Mario Valdez

Rank: 357

Position: 1B

Year With White Sox: 1997

Mario Valdez was selected in the 48th round of the 1993 draft and got his chance to move to the big leagues in 1997 when Frank Thomas went down with an injury.  Once Thomas returned, Valdez stuck with club, becoming a late inning defensive replacement and manning first base when Thomas would DH.

The following spring, Valdez was sent back to the minor leagues after new manager Jerry Manuel felt he had been rushed up by the prior administration.  Unfortunately, he never returned to the major leagues with the White Sox, and at the end of September in 1999, he was selected off waivers by the Twins.

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

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 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

#388 – Jose Paniagua

Jose Paniagua spent parts of 8 seasons in the major leagues, and exactly one game, his final one as it turns out, with the 2003 Chicago White Sox.  He lasted one third of an inning against the Twins, giving up 3 hits, 1 walk, and 4 earned runs, finishing with a 108.00 ERA.  After then-manager Jerry Manuel mercifully removed him from the game, Paniagua went out with style by flipping off an umpire on his way off the field.  He was released the next day.

The only time I saw him pitch in person was against the White Sox as a member of the Mariners in the 2000 ALDS.  In that appearance, he managed to only give up 1 hit and 1 walk over 2 innings.