Hawk & DJ's baseball blog

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

* This will be the fourth All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium. The AL won, 3-1, in 1939 and the NL took the other two contests: 6-0 in 1960 and 7-5 in 1977. * Including a 5-4 victory at AT&T Park in 2007, the American League has won 10 straight All-Star Games (excluding the tie in 2002). The NL currently leads the all-time series, 40-36-2. * With the addition of Carlos Marmol to the squad, the Cubs now have eight players selected to the All-Star team—tied for most ever by a National League team (last done by the 1960 Pirates). * There are a total of 28 first-time All-Stars in tonight’s contest (13 in the NL and 15 in the AL). 2008’s leading vote getter, Alex Rodriguez will be making his 12th career All-Star Game appearance—tied with Manny Ramirez for most of any player on either squad. * There are eight players in the 2008 ASG that switched teams following the 2007 season: NL players—Miguel Tejada, Brad Lidge, Dan Haren, Edinson Volquez: AL players—Josh Hamilton, George Sherrill, Carlos Quentin, Milton Bradley. * When he takes the hill in the first inning, Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.85 ERA) will become the first Brewers pitcher to start an All-Star Game. Sheets has made three other All-Star Game appearances (2001, 2004 and 2007) and has not allowed a run (2.1 IP). * Cliff Lee (12-2, 2.31 ERA) is the starting pitcher for the AL. This will be Lee’s first ever appearance in an All-Star Game and he becomes the first Indians’ pitcher to start a Mid-Summer Classic since Charles Nagy did so in 1996 (the last time the NL won an All-Star Game). * Cub backstop, Geovany Soto is the first NL rookie catcher to start an All-Star Game and just the second rookie catcher all-time in either league to do so (Sandy Alomar Jr. started for the AL in 1990). * Derek Jeter has hit .500 (8-for-16) in his first eight All-Star Games—tied for the best batting average all-time among players that have had at least 10 ASG at-bats. * Josh Hamilton’s 95 RBI in 2008 are the fifth-most all-time by any player before the All-Star break (Hank Greenberg-103 in 1935, Juan Gonzalez-101 in 1998, Carlos Delgado-97 in 2003 and Manny Ramirez-96 in 1999). * Ichiro was named the 2007 MVP after going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, including the first ever inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history. The last time a National League player won MVP honors was in 1996 (Mike Piazza of the Dodgers) and the last time a pitcher took home the award was in 1999 (Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox).

Copyright 2008 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

*The White Sox are just 8-9 vs. the AL West this season despite having a 3.26 ERA vs. that division. ** More than 60 percent of Josh Hamilton’s RBI this season have come in home contests (56). With 93 RBI already, he is just one shy of Michael Young’s team-leading total for the entire 2007 season (94). *The White Sox leads the majors with 7 grand slams and the Rangers are right behind with 6. *John Danks has posted a 1.48 ERA on the road this year. ** Ian Kinsler has the longest active hitting streak in the majors, 23 games. He is the second Texas player with a 23-game hit streak this season after Michael Young did it earlier.

Copyright 2008 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

* This is the first meeting of the year between these teams. Texas won four of the six meetings in 2007. * Although they lost 11-10 to the Angels on Thursday, the Rangers have still won seven of their last eight games decided by one run. * Gavin Floyd’s 10 wins this season are two more than his combined total (8) in his first four M.L. seasons. * Paul Konerko is just 2-for-11 since coming off the DL on July 8. Konerko missed 20 games with a left oblique strain. * Ian Kinsler’s 22-game hitting streak is the longest active one in the majors. Kinsler is the second Ranger to have a 20-plus game hit streak this season, as Michael Young hit in 23 straight games from May 14 to June 10. * Josh Hamilton’s 91 RBI not only lead the majors in 2008, they are just three less than Michael Young’s club-leading season total from last year (94).

Copyright 2008 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's no fun to lose your closer and we hope a little rest is just what the doctor ordered for Bobby Jenks. The Sox are in good shape though with Octavio Dotel and I totally agree with the plan to have him close. He's been there before and that's the whole key. Knowing what it's like to be in that position totally gives him an edge - we saw the results last night. Dotel is throwing well and we've found the right guy.

Hawk

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by WGN Sports at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vote now to send Dye to the All-Star Game. While you're at it vote former White Sox Aaron Rowand in the NL column. Go to www.whitesox.com to vote.

White Sox fans can help Jermaine Dye, one of five American League candidates for the 2008 All-Star Final Vote, make the Midsummer Classic and be automatically entered to win an autographed Jermaine Dye White Sox Jersey! A total of six lucky winners will receive one Jermaine Dye autographed jersey after the All-Star Final Vote. Hurry – voting closes on Thursday, July 10 at 4:00 CT.

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

*The Sox have been alone in first place for 73 days, second only to Arizona's 91 days reign in the NL West. *The Sox have lost their last six AL road games. * Chicago’s overall team ERA (3.38) is the lowest by any White Sox team since 1972 (3.12). * David DeJesus is an MLB-best 27-for-57 with runners in scoring position this season. *In his 5 starts since June 10, Jose Contreras is 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA.

Copyright 2008 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye is among the candidates for the 32nd and final spot on this year's American League All-Star team. To vote JD onto the team go to www.whitesox.com.

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)