As the Cubs and Giants prepare to kick off their NLDS series later today, it’s time to take our updated look at the pitching leaders from the 20 post-season games I’ve attended since the White Sox won the AL Central in 2000.
Wins
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Mark Buehrle | 2 |
| 18 tied with | 1 |
Losses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Matt Clement | 2 |
| 18 tied with | 1 |
ERA (> 6 IP)
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Chad Billingsley | 1.35 |
| Clayton Richard | 1.42 |
| Mark Prior | 2.20 |
| Greg Maddux | 2.57 |
| Jacob deGrom | 2.57 |
Strikeouts
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Mark Prior | 13 |
| Continue reading → |
Name: Neal Cotts
Rank: 90
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2003-2006
Neal Cotts was acquired by the White Sox, along with Billy Koch and Daylan Holt, from the A’s in exchange for Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, and Joe Valentine in December of 2002. He made his major league debut on August 12, 2003, lasting only 2 1/3 innings in a start against the Angels, walking 6 and giving up 2 hits and 2 runs. He made 3 additional starts, finishing the year with an 8.10 ERA in only 13 1/3 innings pitched.
Under new manager Ozzie Guillen, Cotts moved to the bullpen in 2004. Appearing in 56 games, he managed to lower his ERA somewhat, to a still-horrid 5.65. He did manage to pick up his first major league hit, against the Expos on June 18.
Things clicked in 2005, both for Cotts and the White Sox. He appeared in 69 regular season games and posted a sparkling 1.94 ERA as the White Sox took the AL Central crown. He faced one batter in the ALDS, getting Trot Nixon to flyout in Game 1 of the sweep against the Red Sox. He was the only White Sox reliever to appear in the ALCS, getting the final 2 outs in the Game 1 loss to the Angels. As the White Sox moved on to their first World Series since 1959, Cotts appeared in all 4 games, winning Game 2 and giving up only 1 hit in an inning and a third.
Cotts reverted back to his previous form in 2006, appearing in 70 games and seeing his ERA balloon back up to 5.17, though he did earn his first career save. Following the season, he was traded across town to the Cubs for fellow relief pitcher David Aardsma.
Cotts’ numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
As the Cubs and Cardinals prepare to kick off their NLDS series later today, it’s time to take our first ever look at the pitching leaders from the 17 post-season games I’ve attended since the White Sox won the AL Central in 2000.
Wins
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Mark Buehrle | 2 |
| 15 tied with | 1 |
Losses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Matt Clement | 2 |
| 15 tied with | 1 |
ERA (> 6 IP)
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Chad Billingsley | 1.35 |
| Mark Prior | 2.20 |
| Greg Maddux | 2.57 |
| David Wells | 2.70 |
| Jose Contreras | 2.81 |
Strikeouts
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Mark Prior | 13 |
| Continue reading → |
Last Saturday, Geovany Soto and Jeff Samardzija became the 25th and 26th people I’ve seen play in person for both the Cubs and the White Sox. Here’s a look at those players, in alphabetical order.
David Aardsma
After posting a decent season with the Cubs in 2006, Aardsma was traded to the White Sox for Neal Cotts. Aardsma lasted one season with the Sox, where he was unable to duplicate his success from the year before.
Jason Bere
Drafted by the White Sox in the 36th round in 1990, Bere debuted with the big league club in 1993, finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting. After an All Star selection in 1994, injuries marred the remainder of his tenure on the South Side, which ended in 1998. He resurfaced with the Cubs in 2001 and had a decent season, but he went 1-10 in 2002 before being let go.
Neal Cotts
Acquired by the White Sox in the Billy Koch trade, he debuted with the team in 2003. He was a key contributor in the bullpen during the 2005 championship season, and was the only relief pitcher to appear in all 3 rounds of the playoffs that season. Following the 2006 season, he was traded to the Cubs for David Aardsma, and he spent the next 3 injury filled seasons on the North Side.
Scott Eyre
Joining the White Sox organization in a 1994 trade with the Rangers, he debuted with the big league team in 1997. He split the next 4 seasons between the rotation and the bullpen, not to mention between Chicago and Charlotte, before being moved to the Blue Jays following the 2000 ALDS loss to the Mariners. He joined the Cubs as a free agent for the 2006 season and enjoyed 2 seasons of relative success, before falling apart in 2008, when he was traded to the Phillies.
Kosuke Fukudome Continue reading →
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:
Name: David Aardsma
Rank: 191
Position: P
Year With White Sox: 2007
Following a decent 2006 season with the crosstown Cubs, David Aardsma was acquired by the White Sox in exchange for Neal Cotts. 2007 got off to a good start for Aardsma, as he struck out 23 batters in 15 2/3 innings pitched while putting up a 1.74 ERA in April. Unfortunately, like the rest of the the White Sox, things took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Aardsma gave up a run per inning in May and, on June 3rd, he was sent back to Triple A Charlotte to try and get right. He was recalled 2 weeks later after Dewon Day went down with an injury. Aardsma, and the White Sox, played out the string, but did not improve any. He finished the season with a 6.40 ERA, appearing in only 25 games. Following the season, he was designated for assignment, opening up a roster spot for the signing of Octavio Dotel. In January, he was traded to the Red Sox for 2 minor league pitchers.
Aardsma’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Name: Billy Koch
Rank: 326
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2003-2004
Billy Koch rode a blazing fastball to major league success, saving 144 games in his first 4 seasons in the major leagues. After racking up 44 saves and finishing 18th in the MVP voting for the 2002 A’s, Koch was looking at a pretty decent payday at arbitration, so Billy Beane looked to move his star closer. Enter Kenny Williams, who sent Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine, and cash out west in exchange for Koch, Neal Cotts, and Daylon Holt.
Unfortunately for all involved, when Koch arrived in Chicago, his 98 MPH fastball did not. And while a closer can get by with only a fastball with no movement when it is 98 MPH, he most certainly cannot when the fastball tops out in the low 90s or upper 80s. Koch struggled during the 2003 season, finishing with only 11 saves and a 5.77 ERA. The following year, Koch was put back in the closer role and again struggled, putting up a 5.44 ERA in 24 appearances through early June, when his White Sox career came to an end. He was traded to the Marlins on June 17 in exchange for Wilson Valdez and cash. Koch finished the season strong for the Marlins, but never pitched again in the major leagues following the 2004 season.
Koch’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Name: Mike MacDougal
Rank: 387
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2006-2009
MacDougal was acquired in late July, 2006 from the Royals in an attempt to bolster the bullpen for the defending World Series champions after Neal Cotts and Cliff Politte failed to perform to the level they did the year before. Instead, what the White Sox received was an inconsistent enigma who struggled over parts of 4 seasons spent shuffling between Triple A Charlotte and Chicago, before finally cutting bait at the end of April in 2009.
MacDougal’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →