Tag / White Sox

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Cutting Bait

Never quite reaching the promise of when he was drafted, Andrew Vaughn’s tenure on the Southside ended Friday when he was traded to the Brewers for pitcher Aaron Civale.  Vaughn, the third overall pick of the 2019 draft by the White Sox, spent just 55 games in the minor leagues before making his debut with the big-league club in 2021.  Expected to be the next in a long line of mashers a first base, following Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, and Jose Abreu, Vaughn never quite lived up to that reputation.  His best season came in 2023 and, even then, he was worth only 1.1 WAR.  His struggles this year, which saw him sent back to Charlotte on May 23, wiped out all of the positive gains of his career, leaving him with a negative WAR.  He was looking at a non-tender at the end of this season, so getting something useful back for him is surprising.

Civale has a 40-37 in seven seasons with the Guardians, Rays, and Brewers.  He should fill the hole left by Martin Perez’s injury, giving the young pitching staff a veteran presence.

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

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iTunes Top 200: #8

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

Today, we continue with our in-depth look into each song in the top ten.  Two songs have tied for the eighth most listened to song in my library, with 144 plays since my stats began in late 2007.  Both have ties to the baseball team on the south side of Chicago and the various playlists I have made for them over the years.

#8: Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
iTunes stats: 144 plays, most recently on 8/27/2024
Previous ranking: #8

Originally released in October of 1981 as the second single off the band’s Escape album, the song peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and quickly became one of the band’s signature hits.  The song got a second life in the 2000s, starting locally after it became the rallying cry for the 2005 White Sox when A.J. Pierzynski and teammates heard it being sung in a bar in Baltimore.  Steve Perry, who was the band’s lead singer when the song was recorded, was on the field following Game 4 celebrating with the team and sang the song at the rally back in Chicago two days later.  It finally dropped off my White Sox victory playlist starting with the 2015 season.

In 2007, it appeared in the final episode of The Sopranos, which led to a surge in digital downloads of the song.  In 2012, it became the best-selling digital track from the 20th century, and it surpassed 7,000,000 downloads by 2017.  In 2021, the song inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

#8: Icona Pop – I Love It (Feat. Charli XCX)
iTunes stats: 144 plays, most recently on 9/28/2024
Previous ranking: #14

Featuring vocals from British singer Charli XCX, the song by the Swedish synth-pop duo became their first US hit, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 following an appearance of the HBO show Girls.  The song was written by Charli XCX after the group’s producer sent her two of the duo’s beats, but she knew she couldn’t release it on her own due to the difference in sound.

Over the last decade, the song has been played often at the former Guaranteed Rate Field both to pump up the crowd and for between inning highlight packages.  It’s inclusion on recent entries of my White Sox victory playlist has led to its rising total.

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Interleague Batting Leaders

First introduced in 1997, games between teams in the American and National leagues started occurring in the regular season.  In 2002, it expanded between the corresponding division in the opposite league to a rotation between all of the divisions.  In 2023, it expanded again with each team playing every other team regardless of league.  With the Cardinals coming to town to battle the White Sox this week, let’s take a look at the offensive leaders for the 199 interleague games I have attended since the start of interleague play in 1997, including the World Series in both 2005 and 2016:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 23
Jermaine Dye 12
Jose Abreu 12
Alexei Ramrez 10
Aramis Ramirez 9
Luis Robert 9
Carlos Lee 9

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 89
Alexei Ramirez 67
Jose Abreu 65
A.J. Pierzynski 49
Derrek Lee 49

Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 44
Alexei Ramirez 42
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iTunes Top 200: #10

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

Today, we enter the top ten, where we will go more in depth into each song.  The tenth most listened to song in my library, with 137 plays since my stats began in late 2007, was featured on many of my White Sox playlists, celebrating their World Series Championship in 2005.

#10: Queen – We Are The Champions
iTunes stats: 137 plays, most recently on 9/15/2024
Previous ranking: #9

We Are the Champions was released in 1977, coming from the group’s sixth studio album News of the World.  Written with audience participation in mind and usually played back-to-back with its B-side, We Will Rock You, it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the late 70s.  In 2005, it was voted as the world’s favorite song in a poll by Sony Ericsson.

Also in 2005, It made its way back into my world thanks to the White Sox winning their first World Series championship in 88 years.  For the next decade, the song was included in my victory playlist, bringing up the end following a collection of highlights from that championship season.  I hope to include it once again someday, but the fellows on the South Side do not seem to be as keen on making that happen.

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Moving On… Slowly

The White Sox announced on Thursday that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and minority shareholder Justin Ishbia have reached a “long-term investment agreement that establishes a framework” for Ishbia to obtain a controlling interest in the franchise within the next ten years.  As part of the agreement, Ishbia will make “capital infusions” into the White Sox in 2025 and 2026 that will be used to pay down existing debt and support ongoing team operations.  Following that, Reinsdorf will have the option to sell controlling interest to Ishbia between 2029 and 2033 and, following the 2034 season, Ishbia will have the option to acquire the controlling interest.

Reinsdorf, who has had controlling interest in the White Sox since purchasing the team for $19 million from Bill Veeck in 1981, will be 93 at the start of the initial transition period in 2029.  He has long claimed that he has no interest in selling while he remains in good health but would be 97 by the time Ishiba controls the option to buy.  Ishiba, a billionaire private equity investor, increased his stake in the Whtie Sox this spring to a reported 35%.  In a statement, Ishbia said, “I love Chicago, have always loved baseball, and am thrilled to marry two of my passions.”

Overall, this should be a good thing for the White Sox and their fans.  While Reinsdorf has had one of, if not the winningest ownership tenure in franchise history, he has also managed to successfully alienate most of the fan base, starting with his threats to move the team to Florida in the 1980s, followed by his appearance as one of the largest contributors to the work stoppages that wiped out the end of the 1994 season and the start of the 1995 season and, most recently, overseeing the team’s fall to setting the MLB record for most losses last year.  It is time to turn the page, and waiting for 2029, 2034, and/or Reinsdorf’s death is the price we have to pay for being White Sox fans.

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Chicago White Sox Baseball Is On The Air

Over a year ago, the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks announced that they were partnering with Standard Media Group to create the new television broadcast home for all three teams, which eventually became Chicago Sports Network (CHSN for short).  Starting in October, the network went live missing one small little thing: a carriage agreement with Comcast, the largest cable provider in Chicago.

Ratings for the Blackhawks this past season, their first on the new network, were down 78% from the previous year on NBC Sports Chicago.  The Bulls were looking at a 63% decrease as of February.  The White Sox, coming off a season where they set the MLB record for losses in a year, were not exactly worth the $29.99 the network was charging for streaming.

Well, that all changes today.  Word broke yesterday that the fledgling network had finally reached agreement with Comcast to be added to their channel line-up.  They are expected to be placed on the Ultimate tier plan, which will add $20 to your cable bill if you are not already subscribed.  The Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network is expected to be moved to the same tier following this season.  With live sports seemingly one of the few reasons to keep cable, it seems that providers are looking to soak their customers for as much as they can before everything moves to streaming.

 

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iTunes Top 200: #11 – 19

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

With the top of the charts in sight, we continue this week with songs ranking from 19th place with 65 plays, breaking past the century mark, and finishing with the one track with 114 plays, good enough for 11th place since my stats began in late 2007.

#19: Metallica – Harvester of Sorrow
iTunes stats: 65 plays, most recently on 11/5/2024
Previous ranking: #19

Released as the first single from the band’s fourth studio album, it was used as the at-bat music for former White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko for the majority of his career and thus featured on most of my victory playlists leading up to his retirement.

#19: The Lonely Island – Natalie’s Rap (ft. Natalie Portman & Chris Parnell)
iTunes stats: 65 plays, most recently on 11/1/2022
Previous ranking: #17

A slight drop for the second digital short from The Lonely Island, which featured Natalie Portman playing against type as a lewd gangsta.

#18: Foo Fighters – My Hero
iTunes stats: 67 plays, most recently on 9/30/2024
Previous ranking: #19

The highest-ranking tune from the Foo Fighters, up one spot from five years ago, is this live version from their previously mentioned concert in London’s Hyde Park.

#16: P.O.D. – Boom
iTunes stats: 94 plays, most recently on 9/25/2022
Previous ranking: #12

The entrance song for former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, it made a number of appearances on my early victory playlists.

#16: Blues Brothers – Sweet Home Chicago
iTunes stats: 94 plays, most recently on 9/15/2024
Previous ranking: #170

Getting added to my White Sox victory playlist helped make this classic jump up the chart. Continue reading →

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iTunes Top 200: #19 – 27

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

With the top of the charts in sight, we continue this week with songs ranking from 27th place with 56 plays up to those with 65 plays apiece, good enough for 19th place since my stats began in late 2007.

#27: Veruca Salt – Seether
iTunes stats: 56 plays, most recently on 2/5/2024
Previous ranking: #29

The group’s debut single was ranked as the 10th greatest grunge song of all time by Paste magazine in 2014.

#27: Garbage – Bad Boyfriend
iTunes stats: 56 plays, most recently on 10/26/2022
Previous ranking: #23

This lead track from the band’s fourth album features Dave Grohl, of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame, on drums.

#27: Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench
iTunes stats: 56 plays, most recently on 10/28/2024
Previous ranking: #36

The first single from the band’s second album, chronicling the disintegration of singer/song writer Dave Grohl’s four-year marriage to Jennifer Youngblood.

#27: Barenaked Ladies – If I Had $1,000,000
iTunes stats: 56 plays, most recently on 2/5/2023
Previous ranking: #23

This live version of the song was recorded at Chicago’s own Metro theatre.

#26: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Mustard
iTunes stats: 57 plays, most recently on 2/5/2023
Previous ranking: #22

A short interlude from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer about the joys of dry cleaning.

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iTunes Top 200: #31 – 38

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

We continue this week with the two remaining songs tied for 89th place with 42 plays and begin the first batch of tunes with 43 plays apiece, good enough for 77th place since my stats began in late 2007.

#38: 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
iTunes stats: 52 plays, most recently on 8/12/2024
Previous ranking: #51

The lead single from the band’s fifth studio album, it topped Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart in November of 1992.

#38: Metallica – Wherever I May Roam
iTunes stats: 52 plays, most recently on 2/26/2024
Previous ranking: #47

Used by former White Sox closer David Robertson as his entry music during his stint with the club, which got it added to some editions of my White Sox victory playlist.

#38: Foo Fighters – All My Life
iTunes stats: 52 plays, most recently on 8/1/2024
Previous ranking: #28

Only three new plays for this live version of the song from the Live in Hyde Park bootleg.

#34: Taylor Swift – Bad Blood
iTunes stats: 53 plays, most recently on 2/12/2024
Previous ranking: #60

Swift’s fourth #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, it was one of many walkup songs used by Anthony Rizzo during the 2016 season, earning it a place on my Cubs victory playlist.

#34: Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl
iTunes stats: 53 plays, most recently on 8/17/2024
Previous ranking: #33

Perry’s debut single, it was ranked as the 66th top song for the decade of the 2000s by Billboard magazine.

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Fitbit XI – Week 16

I was heading towards another nice week, and a second straight week finishing over 30,000, until my battery died prematurely on Saturday, cutting my night off short.  The week got off to a slow start on Sunday, needing 11 additional steps just to get to 3300.  Monday saw a nice improvement, coming 7 steps shy of 4700.  Tuesday fell back down again to 4000 steps.  a slight improvement on Wednesday left me 9 steps away from 4100.  The worst day of the week came on Thursday, as I managed only 2200 steps.  A night out at the ballpark on Friday helped me to my best day of the week, ending up 34 steps away from 5800.  Another trip to see the White Sox at Rate Field on Saturday was headed in the same direction, but the battery gave up the ghost at 4600 steps.

Total steps: 28,746

Daily average: 4106.6