Tag / Rangers

by admin

#386 – Sammy Sosa

Name: Sammy Sosa

Rank: 386

Position: RF

Years With White Sox: 1989-1991

Before he and Mark McGwire helped heal the remaining wounds from the ’94 strike by smashing Roger Maris’ home run record, before becoming, again with McGwire, the poster boy for performance enhancing drugs and watching his Hall of Fame chances go up in smoke, Sammy Sosa spent 2 1/2 seasons frustrating the Chicago White Sox.

Acquired with Wilson Alvarez and Scott Fletcher at the trade deadline in 1989 in the deal that sent Harold Baines to Texas, Sosa started off strong, hitting .273 with 3 HR to close out the ’89 season.  In 1990, his first full season in the major leagues, his average slipped to .233 and he finished 4th in the AL with 150 strikeouts.

Following the 1990 season, GM Larry Himes, who engineered the trade with Texas, was fired, leaving Sosa without a guardian in the organization.  Unfortunately for Sosa, his 1991 season was even worse, with his average dropping again to .203 and being sent back to Triple A Vancouver for additional seasoning.  In his “autobiography”, aptly titled Sosa: An Autobiography, Sosa blames hitting coach Walt Hriniak for most of his problems with the White Sox and takes no responsibility for his lack of production.

Following the ’91 season, Himes was hired as the Cubs new GM, and near the end of the following spring training in 1992, Sosa was sent to the Northside along with Ken Patterson for a fading George Bell, where his career skyrocketed and then plummeted back down to Earth. But that is a story for a different time.

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

by jim

Opening Day

Today will be my 15th Opening Day for the White Sox, and my 12th in a row.  The first was in 1985, a blowout win against the Red Sox in rookie shortstop Ozzie Guillen’s first game in Chicago.  Other highlights include the 2005 1-0 victory against the Indians and the raising of the championship banner on Sunday Night Baseball in 2006.

Joining me for today’s game will be my niece and nephews.  A certain mascot should be stopping by sometime during the game to wish Michael a happy birthday.  Hopefully the weather holds out and the White Sox uphold their end of the bargain.

Here’s the results of the previous 14 openers (11-3 record) I’ve attended:

Continue reading →

by jim

Book 6 (of 52) – Sosa: An Autobiography

Sosa: An Autobiography - Sammy Sosa with Marcos Breton

The so-called “autobiography” of Sammy Sosa was put together prior to the 2000 season, when Sosa was on top of the baseball world following 2 straight seasons of 60-plus home runs.  The book itself was given away by the Cubs sometime between 2002 and 2004, which is how I managed to get a hold of it and, 8-10 years later, finally gave it a quick read.

Sosa starts with his upbringing as a poor child in the Dominican Republic, where he saw baseball as a way to provide for his family.  After many false starts, he finally signs with the Texas Rangers and begins his journey to major league superstar, one that took him to Chicago, first the White Sox and eventually the Cubs, where everything eventually fell in to place.  What the book does not cover is the fall from grace that came later, amid accusations of performance enhancing drugs and the overriding theme of selfishness.

Along the way, Sosa admits to having problems, on-the-field issues caused by overbearing coaches and off-the-field clashes caused by petty jealousy, that are always the fault of others who just don’t understand him.  One instance is when he learns that Padre players were upset that fireworks had been set off in San Diego following a Sosa home run.  Of course the home town players would be upset at their team honoring an opposing player, but Sosa saw it as them being jealous of his stature in the game.  This lack of self-awareness continued until his behavior forced his way out of town and, eventually, the league.

by admin

All Time Team Records

Heading into the 2012 season, here all the all-time team records in games that I have attended.

All-Time Team Records

Team Won Lost Winning Pctg
California Angels 1 0 1.000
Arizona Diamondbacks 12 2 0.857
Florida Marlins 15 8 0.652
Philadelphia Phillies 10 6 0.625
Toronto Blue Jays 8 5 0.615
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 13 10 0.565
Chicago White Sox 191 158 0.547
New York Yankees 9 8 0.529
Chicago Cubs 188 168 0.528
Continue reading →
by jim

The Robin Ventura Era Begins

After playing alongside Ozzie Guillen on the left side of the White Sox infield for years, Robin Ventura now follows him in the dugout as skipper, starting with today’s contest against the defending American League champion Rangers.  Here’s a look at the roster with which he’ll be starting the 162 game grind.

Starting Pitchers

John Danks, Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd, Chris Sale, Phil Humber

With Mark Buehrle gone, John Danks moves up to the top of the rotation, getting his first Opening Day start today.  Peavy looks to have his first injury-free season on the south side.  Chris Sale attempts to move from the bullpen to the rotation and fulfill the promise he showed in college.  Humber was a surprise success last season and hopefully can continue that success.

Relief Pitchers

Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain, Will Ohman, Addison Reed, Hector Santiago, Zach Stewart, Nate Jones

Continue reading →

by jim

2012 Predictions

Continuing the tradition started last year, here are my picks for the upcoming baseball season.

American League

East: Yankees

Central: Tigers

West: Angels

Wild Cards: Rays, Rangers

AL Champion: Angels

Cy Young: C.C. Sabathia

MVP: Albert Pujols

National League

East: Braves

Central: Brewers

West: Giants

Wild Cards: Phillies, Dodgers

NL Champion: Braves

Cy Young: Zach Greinke

MVP: Jason Heyward

by admin

#454 – #463 – The Unknowns Part 3

More unknown players from the Chicago White Sox past.

 

Name: Miguel Dilone

Rank: 463

Position: CF

Year With White Sox: 1983

Dilone spent 6 days with the White Sox in September of 1983, acquired from the Indians on September 1st and traded to the Pirates on September 6th.

 

Name: Lou Frazier

Rank: 462

Position: CF

Year With White Sox: 1998

Frazier wrapped up his big league career with 7 games for the ’98 White Sox.

 

Name: Dave Schmidt

Rank: 461

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1986

Acquired from the Rangers for Ed Correa and Scott Fletcher, Schmidt went 3-6 with a 3.31 ERA for the ’86 squad.

Continue reading →

by jim

2012 Games Of Interest

Fireworks Night

4/28 vs Red Sox

5/12 vs Royals

6/23 vs Brewers

7/4 vs Rangers

8/25 vs Mariners

9/29 vs Rays

 

Kids Day

4/15 vs Tigers

5/27 vs Indians

6/10 vs Astros

7/8 vs Blue Jays

8/26 vs Mariners

 

Other Fun Stuff

4/13 vs Tigers – Opening Day

5/26 vs Indians – Robin Ventura bobblehead

6/3 vs Mariners – Southpaw’s Birthday Party and Southpaw Mini Plush Pal

6/24 vs Brewers – Kids 1972 Replica Jersey

8/3 vs Angels – Elvis Night

8/5 vs Angels – Kids Chest Protector Backpack

8/12 vs A’s – Spirit & Mascot Day

 

by admin

It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

Earlier this winter, the MLB Network re-aired the 2005 World Series Championship video and, for the first time, there was an undertone of sadness to it, knowing that this day was likely coming.  Now that it is here, it is a dark day indeed.  Mark Buehrle, the most successful White Sox pitcher of my lifetime, has moved on, signing a new deal with the Miami Marlins.

Buehrle first came up during the 2000 season, working out of the bullpen for the eventual division champions.  He moved into the rotation the following season, and stayed there for the next 11 seasons.  During that time, there were numerous memorable appearances, many of which I was privileged to see in person.

The 2007 no-hitter against the Rangers.

The 2009 perfect game against the Rays.

Winning Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS against the Angels, thanks to AJ’s heads-up baserunning, and starting the streak of 4 straight complete games.

The 1 hour 36 minute game against the Mariners in 2005.

The no look, through his legs flip to Paul Konerko on Opening Day 2010 against the Indians.

And, of course, his performance in the 2005 World Series, starting Game 2, getting a no decision, and coming in to pitch the 14th inning and earning the save in Game 3.

It’s always difficult to see your favorite players move on, and this will be no different.  Seeing Mark Buehrle joining Ozzie Guillen in South Beach, and someone else getting the Opening Day nod for the White Sox for the first time since 2007 will certainly be odd.  While I had prepared myself for this eventuality, there was a part of me that thought Jerry Reinsdorf would step in as he did last winter to keep AJ Pierzynski in town. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and Chicago’s loss is Miami’s gain.

In White Sox annals, Buehrle is currently fifth all-time in strikeouts, sixth in games started, and eighth in wins and innings pitched.

Continue reading →

by admin

2011 Final Standings

I “only” went to 43 games this year, the ninth highest total of my life, and only hit the two local stadiums.

TeamCity TeamName Won Loss Winning Pctg
Los Angeles Angels 2 0 1.000
Detroit Tigers 3 0 1.000
New York Yankees 1 0 1.000
Boston Red Sox 2 1 0.667
Baltimore Orioles 2 1 0.667
Chicago White Sox 24 18 0.571
Continue reading →