Tag / White Sox

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.

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by jim

So Long Sergio

In a somewhat bizarre move, the White Sox began their rebuilding by moving Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays for a minor league pitcher.  Santos emerged as a closer last season in just his second year in the major leagues and his third as a pitcher.  The bizarre part was that he was under club control for 6 more years and was relatively cheap, signed for only $1 million for next season.

In games I’ve attended over the past 2 years, Santos has racked up the following stats:

Career Pitching

Wins Losses ERA Saves IP Hits Runs ER Walks Strike Outs HR Pitch Count Strikes HBP Appearances
3 2 4.13 10 28.333 22 13 13 8 37 2 443 281 0 29
by jim

Our Long National Nightmare Is Finally Over

Ron Santo has been elected to the Hall of Fame.  The former Cub (and, for a brief time, White Sox) third baseman waited for years to get elected and wore the disappointment on his sleeve every time he was passed over.  Now, one year after his death, he is selected by a veteran’s committee made up by his peers.  It’s almost as if they were waiting for him to pass on before bestowing him with the honor.

Passed over for induction was former White Sox outfielder Minnie Minoso, who got a major push and support from the team and the New York Times.  Falling a few votes short, Minoso seems to be penalized for the stunt late in his “career” to become a 5 decade player, returning for a few at-bats in the late 70s and early 80s.  Which is a shame, because he was a tremendous player in his day, becoming the first dark skinned Latin superstar.  Hopefully the voters are not waiting for him to die before they will elect him to Cooperstown.

by admin

Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Photo Edition

Today is the delivery day of my new iPhone 4S (currently on the vehicle out of Harvey), so it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have taken a picture or two.  Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order.

In October of 2008, I spent a weekend in Chicago for my friend Tina’s wedding.  Saturday afternoon, I took a trip to Millennium Park for the first time and caught my first glimpse of the Bean.

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by admin

Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Music Edition

As I wait for tomorrow’s delivery of my new iPhone 4S, it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have listened to a lot of music.  Here is every song (all 1597 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary!

He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 100
Gordon Beckham Intro 91
Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 87
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 84
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 83
sox05_montage 75
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 73
Boom P.O.D. Satellite 70
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 69
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 65

No surprise that the top 10 are all part of (or were part of) my White Sox victory playlist.  This gets played on the way home from every White Sox winner, plus the occassional ride to a game.  Continue reading →

by jim

That Came Out Of Left Field

Or, to be more precise, third base.  Robin Ventura has been named the next manager of the Chicago White Sox.  I don’t know if anyone saw this coming.  Ventura rejoined the organization last summer as a special assistant to Buddy Bell, but he has no coaching or managing experience above the high school level.  So, was this the right move?

Let me preface this by saying that Ventura was one of my favorite players growing up.  Any problems I have with this hiring have to do with the process and not with him.  With the total lack of experience coaching at a professional level, there is no body of work on which to base an opinion on how Ventura will do leading the South Siders.

Process wise, I wonder if any other candidates were interviewed.  If yes, and Ventura blew them all away, then fine.  But if Ventura was brought in as the fan favorite that is meant to distract the fanbase from the problems with the team, than that is doing a diservice to both the fanbase and to Ventura.

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
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by admin

2011 Predictions Revisited

6 months ago, I looked into my crystal ball and tried to predict the outcomes of the upcoming baseball season.  Now that the season has (mercifully) come to an end, and my predicted divison winners finished an average of just over 13 games back, let’s take a look back at how wrong I was.

American League

East: Red Sox

National League

East: Braves

Wow.  Neither team won their division, though both had commanding Wild Card leads heading into September.  Both ultimately blew those leads, missing out on the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.  The Red Sox actually were one of, in not the best team in baseball for 4 months this summer, but they were horrible in the other two, April and September.  The Braves can at least point to injuries to their starting rotation as the cause for their collapse.

 

Central: White Sox

Central: Brewers

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by admin

Who’s Next?

2004 – 2011

Rumored for nearly 2 years, the Ozzie Guillen era for the White Sox came to an end last week, as Guillen was released from his contract and allowed to take his talents to South Beach.  Guillen wrapped up his tenure as the third winningest manager in team history, in terms of victories, and the only manager to lead the team to multiple post-season appearances.  That said. his act had started to grow stale and it became apparent that a change was needed in the clubhouse, something to shake up the underachieving bunch that has been run out for the past two years.  So, as Guillen prepares to lead the re-christened Miami Marlins into their new stadium next season, who will take his place on the end of the White Sox bench?

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