Tag / White Sox

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #51 – 60

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We finish off the first 3 quarters with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #51 and 60, including 4 studio recordings, 3 compilations, 2 greatest hits collectoins, and 1 live performance.

#60: P.O.D. – Satellite
iTunes stats: 102 plays
Previous Ranking: 29

2 tunes, and former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, are responsible for this total.

#59: Garbage – Not Your Kind Of People
iTunes stats: 103 plays
Previous Ranking: 59

48 additional plays over the past 3 years gives this album the exact same ranking.

#58: Poison – Swallow This Live
iTunes stats: 105 plays
Previous Ranking: 38

The first CD I ever owned, which I received for Christmas in December of 1991, makes the list thanks to 8 tracks from the double album.

#57: Pearl Jam – Vs.
iTunes stats: 106 plays
Previous Ranking: 40

Pearl Jam’s second album, which I purchased as a midnight release at the record store in Purdue West whose name escapes me, makes the list thanks to 7 tunes.

#56: Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds
iTunes stats: 107 plays
Previous Ranking: 68

This greatest hits compilation makes the list thanks to 8 tracks, split between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

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by admin

Top 200 Albums – #71 – 79

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #71 and 79, including 5 studio recordings, 2 compilations, 2 movie soundtracks, and 1 live performance.

#79: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain
iTunes stats: 81 plays
Previous Ranking: 77

The second album from the SNL digital short maestros make the list thanks to 4 different tracks.

#79: Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
iTunes stats: 81 plays
Previous Ranking: 120

5 tracks from the sophomore album from STP make up this total.

#77: Various Artists – The First 1000 Years – Rock
iTunes stats: 83 plays
Previous Ranking: 68

7 songs, from artists like The Breeders, Everclear, and Jane’s Addiction, make up the total for this MTV sponsored compilation.

#77: John Morris – Clue (Original Motion Picture Score)
iTunes stats: 83 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

A strong debut for the score from one of my favorite movies.

#76: Various Artists – Poplife
iTunes stats: 84 plays
Previous Ranking: 127

10 different tracks, from artists like Crash Test Dummies, Meredith Brooks, and Fine Young Cannibals, make up the total for this compilation album.

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by admin

FB4: Week 10

A good week that started slow but finished strong.  The week got off to a bad start on Sunday, staying inside all day and ending up with only 2300 steps.  The bounce back started on Monday, where I surpassed 9000 steps thanks to multiple jaunts around the workplace.  Tuesday was another bad day, falling a mere 343 steps under goal, despite a post-work dinner with Jeff and a car accident for Tom.  Wednesday made up for that slightly, coming in at 7100 steps.  Thursday was the big day of the week, with a meeting with IBM in the morning followed by my first trip down to Guaranteed Rate Field for the White Sox home opener.  Friday came close to tying it, with 2 trips over to North and a post-work dinner putting me at 9800 steps.  Saturday was another trip to the South Side for exciting baseball, coming in over 7700 steps.

Total steps: 53,388

Daily average: 7626.9

 

by admin

All Time Team Records

The 2018 baseball season gets underway today, with an early start brought about due to the last collective bargaining agreement, which added additional off days for each team throughout the year.  To celebrate, it is time once again to look at the all-time team records for games that I have identified as having attended dating back to 1984. The Cubs look to avenge last year’s NLCS loss and make it back to the World Series, while the rebuilding White Sox hope to finally start seeing their young talent blossom.  The 2018 season should be an exciting one on both sides of town.

All-Time Team Records
Team Name Won Loss Winning Pctg
California Angels 1 0 1.000
Arizona Diamondbacks 13 2 0.867
Florida Marlins 15 8 0.652
Philadelphia Phillies 10 6 0.625
Toronto Blue Jays 13 9 0.591
New York Yankees 14 10 0.583
Colorado Rockies 8 6 0.571
Los Angeles Angels 16 13 0.552
Boston Red Sox 16 13 0.552
Kansas City Royals 27 24 0.529
Chicago White Sox 284 256 0.526
Chicago Cubs 209 189 0.525
Continue reading →
by admin

FB4: Week 8

A tremendous week, with my highest one week total falling just 2500 steps shy of the mythical 100,000 steps.  Things got off to a great start on Sunday, thanks to my trip to Las Vegas and gallivanting around town, including a trip up to Caesar’s Palace to see Absinthe.  The 23,780 total is currently good enough for my second highest daily total of all time.  Monday continued the good times, as I traipsed back and forth between the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay for the IBM Think conference.  Tuesday finished with my second highest total of the week, and 16th of all time, thanks to more conference fun followed by a Barenaked Ladies concert.  Wednesday used a post-conference concert by The Chainsmokers to get its total, my 4th straight 10,000 step day.  Thursday was the last day of the conference, followed by a trip to Phoenix, which ended up with my 5th straight 10,000 step day, my longest streak in a year.  Friday was the low point of the week, with 8500 steps, thanks to a trip to Camelback Ranch to see the White Sox battle the Mariners in spring training action.  Saturday was back over 10,000 steps, thanks to a morning walk and an evening trip out to Peoria to see the Cubs battle the same Mariner squad.

Total steps: 97,417

Daily average: 13,916.7

by admin

Active Pitching Leaders – Through 2017

baseballs3Last week, we looked at the active leaders in games I’ve attended through 2017 on the offensive side of the ball.  With spring training winding down and opening day less than a week away, let’s take a look at the defensive side of the ball and the active pitching leaders, which will be losing a couple of former White Sox starters from their 2008 Division Championship team.

Wins

Name Total
Chris Sale 21
Jake Peavy 11
Jon Lester 8
Jose Quintana 7
Nate Jones 6
C.C. Sabathia 6

Losses

Name Total
Jose Quintana 15
Chris Sale 12
Jake Peavy 9
Carlos Rodon 7
Tom Gorzelanny 7

ERA (> 35 IP)

Name Total
David Robertson 2.17
Nate Jones 2.28
Zach Duke 2.38
Johnny Cueto 2.43
Hector Santiago 2.43

ERA (> 70 IP)

Name Total
Jon Lester 2.89
Chris Sale Continue reading →
by jim

2018 Games Of Interest

Due to some ill-conceived (in my opinion) changes to my ticket plan by the White Sox, there are a smaller number of games this year.

Fireworks Night

April 20
August 17 (Elvis Night)
September 7

Other Fun Stuff

April 7 – White Sox Winter Hat
May 5 – Los White Sox Soccer Jersey
May 19 – Star Wars Night and Hawk Solo Bobblehead
June 2 – 1983 Replica Road Jersey
June 6 – Wrigley Field Scoreboard Clock
June 16 – Hawaiian Floppy Hat
June 18 – Jason Heyward Bobblehead
July 23 – Javy Baez Bobblehead
August 11 – Jim Thome Bobblehead

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #151 – 158

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #151 and 158, including 7 studio recordings, 2 soundtracks, and 1 live performance.

#158: Icona Pop – This Is… Icona Pop
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

A single entry, used as part of my White Sox playlist, allows this album to make its debut.

#158: R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous Ranking: 141

5 songs, led by the first single Drive, make up this total for the Athens, Georgia based group.

#158: Various Artists – OST – Veronica Mars
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous Ranking: 100

2 different tracks, from The Dandy Warhols and Tegan & Sara, make up the total for the soundtrack from the cult television show, which suffered a huge drop.

#151: Bon Jovi – VH1 Storytellers
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

A strong debut for this live offering from the boys from New Jersey, thanks to 8 different tracks.

#151: The Strokes – Is This It?
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous Ranking: 127

One of the 4 songs making up this total, New York City Cops, was dropped from the American version of the album, released weeks after the 9/11 attacks.

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by admin

All Time Batting Leaders – Through 2017

baseballs2Last week, we took our annual look at the all time leaders in pitching stats for the 882 games I’ve attended (and identified) between 1984 and 2017. With the full White Sox roster reporting to camp on Saturday, it’s time to move over to the other side of the ball and take a look at the offensive stat leaders for those games, starting with our first category:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 93
Sammy Sosa 42
Aramis Ramirez 41
Derrek Lee 40
Jermaine Dye 40

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 366
Alexei Ramirez 300
Derrek Lee 255
AJ Pierzynski 239
Aramis Ramirez 234

Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 200
Derrek Lee 140
Alexei Ramirez 134
Aramis Ramirez 120
A.J. Pierzynski 106

RBI

Name Total
Paul Konerko 235
Aramis Ramirez 158
Alexei Ramirez 140
Derrek Lee 134
Jermaine Dye 108

Doubles Continue reading →