Tag / Giants

by admin

All Time Team Records

baseballs3Another exciting baseball season is upon us, and it is time once again to look at the all-time team records for games that I have attended.  Despite disparate seasons on the two sides of town last season, both the White Sox and the Cubs saw their overall winning percentage drop.  The 2016 season looks to be hopeful for both teams, so this trend should reverse itself.

All-Time Team Records
TeamName Won Loss Winning Pctg
California Angels 1 0 1
Arizone Diamondbacks 13 2 0.866666666666667
Florida Marlins 15 8 0.652173913043478
Philadelphia Phillies 10 6 0.625
Toronto Blue Jays 12 8 0.6
New York Yankees 12 9 0.571428571428571
Colorado Rockies 7 6 0.538461538461538
Los Angeles Angels 15 13 0.535714285714286
San Francisco Giants 8 7 0.533333333333333
Chicago White Sox 250 222 0.529661016949153
Chicago Cubs 197 177 0.526737967914439
Detroit Tigers Continue reading →
by admin

2016 Predictions

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersThe 2016 baseball season is scheduled to kick off today, with 3 games scheduled for the first time.  For the sixth consecutive year, I’ve looked into the crystal ball to make my picks for the upcoming season.

American League

East: Blue Jays

Central: Indians

West: Rangers

Wild Cards: Red Sox, White Sox

AL Champion: Blue Jays

Cy Young: Chris Sale

MVP: Mike Trout

National League

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by admin

Dodgers All Time Leaders – Through 2015

dodgersWith 4 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers began life in Brooklyn in 1883, moving to their current home on the west coast , along with their rival Giants, in 1957.  I’ve seen them play 19 times, including the first two games of their 2008 NLDS sweep against the Cubs.

Home Runs

Name Total
Matt Kemp 2
James Loney 2
Manny Ramirez 2

Hits

Name Total
James Loney 20
Matt Kemp 14
Russell Martin 14

Runs

Name Total
James Loney 12
Russell Martin 8
Rafael Furcal 8

RBI

Name Total
James Loney 12
Matt Kemp 9
Casey Blake 7

Doubles

Name Total
James Loney 5
Matt Kemp 3
Juan Pierre 3

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

Giants All Time Leaders – Through 2015

giantsWith 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants began life in 1883 in New York, before moving west to San Francisco in 1957. I’ve seen them play 15 times, first at their old home at Candlestick Park in 1999 and most recently last year at Dodger Stadium during my time in LA.

Home Runs

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 2
8 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 8
Rich Aurilia 6
Bengie Molina 6

Runs

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 4
Rich Aurilia 4
5 tied with 3

RBI

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 4
Ray Durham 4
Bengie Molina 4
Pablo Sandoval 4

Doubles

Name Total
6 tied with 2

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

Mets All Time Leaders – Through 2015

21st-CENTURY-METS_01With 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the New York Mets.

The Mets began life in 1962, joining the National League following the abandonment of the New York market by both the Dodgers and Giants in 1957.  I’ve seen them play 14 times, including Tom Glavine’s 300th career victory and, most recently, the final 2 games of last month’s sweep against the Cubs in the NLCS.

Home Runs

Name Total
Daniel Murphy 2
Cliff Floyd 2
13 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
David Wright 7
Daniel Murphy 6
3 tied with 5

Runs

Name Total
David Wright 7
Daniel Murphy 4
Carlos Beltran 4

RBI

Name Total
Lucas Duda 6
Cliff Floyd 5
4 tied with 4

Doubles

Name Total
Carlos Delgado 3
Lucas Duda 2
David Wright 2
Jeromy Burnitz 2

Triples Continue reading →

by admin

2015 Predictions Revisited

baseballs2Six months ago, as the 2015 baseball season was scheduled to kick off at Wrigley Field, I made my annual predictions as to who would win what.  Now that the regular season has come to an end, it is time revisit those predictions and see what, if anything, I got right.

American League

East: Blue Jays

After a middling first half, the Blue Jays turned things around after the All Star break, especially after acquiring David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the trade deadline, earning them their first division title since 1993.

Central: Indians

Well, I correctly predicted the end of the Tigers reign after four seasons, but I wrongly assumed that the Royals would regress after their World Series appearance last year.  Instead, they went and ran away with the AL Central crown while the Indians struggled to stay out of the cellar.

West: Angels

It came down to the final day, but the Rangers, who finished in last place in 2014, managed to hold off the Astros and the Angels to win the division.

Wild Cards: Tigers, Mariners

I completely missed the boat here, as both teams failed to live up to their pre-season expectations.  The Yankees return to the post-season and so do the surprise Astros.

AL Champion: Angels

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

MVP: Mike Trout

Only one of these seems like a possible choice at this point, with Mike Trout the frontrunner for the MVP award.  The Cy Young award is up in the air at this point.

National League

Continue reading →

by jim

A Pierce To The Heart

billy-pierce012015 is turning out to be a bad year for Chicago’s baseball icons of the 1950s.  Following the deaths of Ernie Banks and Minnie Minoso earlier this year, former White Sox left hander Billy Pierce passed away this morning at the age of 88.  Pierce, the franchise’s leader in career strikeouts and fourth in victories, joined the White Sox following the 1948 season and became a mainstay for the Go Go White Sox until being traded to the Giants in November of 1961.

Pierce, who had his number 19 retired by the White Sox in 1987, started All Star games in 1953, 1955, and 1956, finished 3rd in Cy Young award balloting in 1962, and finished 5th for the 1956 AL MVP.  He joined Minoso on the Hall of Fame Golden Era Committee ballot this winter, but failed to get the necessary votes.

Next month, the White Sox will honor Minnie Minoso by wearing 1950s throwbacks with Minoso’s number during a game against the Cubs.  It would be fitting to modify the plans and have the pitching staff don Pierce’s number 19.

by jim

Conor Won’t Be Back

The dismantling of the disappointing 2015 Chicago White Sox began this morning when Conor Gillaspie was designated for assignment in order to make room on the roster for another pitcher following yesterday’s 13 inning loss to the Royals.

Gillaspie was acquired by the White Sox prior to the 2013 season, when, out of options, it was clear he was not going to make the Giants roster.  He became the main third baseman for the White Sox in the 2 1/2 years since, but, aside from the first half of the 2014 season, struggled both offensively and defensively.  This year, he was relegated to a platoon with Gordon Beckham and only had 1 at bat since Tyler Saladino was recalled over a week ago.

Gillaspie is likely to be claimed on waivers, drawing his White Sox career to an end.  Honestly, I’m surprised he was moved while Emilio Bonifacio remains on the roster, but I can only imagine his days are numbered as well.

by admin

Franchise Four – NL West

Major League Baseball is asking its fans to vote for the four most impactful players who best represent the history of each franchise.  The winners will be announced in July at the All Star Game in Cincinnati.  Today, I will give my Franchise Four picks for the National League West.

F4Dbacks

The Diamondbacks have only been around since 1998, so there isn’t a ton of history to choose from.  6 of the 8 nominees played on their 2001 World Championship team.  My selections would be Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams, and Steve Finley.

F4Rockies

The Rockies franchise dates all the way back to 1993, so they are in a similar boat as the Diamondbacks, but without the championship to boost their roster.  Not surprisingly, no pitchers made their list of 8 nominees.  I would go with Todd Helton, Larry Walker, Dante Bichette, and Troy Tulowitzki.

F4Dodgers

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by admin

#155 – Steve Carlton

leftyName: Steve Carlton

Rank: 155

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1986

Less than a week after announcing he was retiring from the Giants, Steve Carlton signed with the White Sox on August 12, 1986.  Carlton started 10 games down the stretch for the White Sox going 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA in his first American League action after spending the first 21+ seasons of his career in the National League.

With the departure of general manager Hawk Harrelson, Carlton was not offered a contract for the 1987 season as was allowed to leave as a free agent.

Carlton’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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