Hawk & DJ's baseball blog

Game Notes For Wednesday

* Since the beginning of 2004, the White Sox have enjoyed being hosts to a certain American League team from Missouri:

White Sox, Best Home Record by AL Opponent, Since 2004 Vs.     

Kansas City Royals                18-3  .857     

Seattle Mariners                     10-2  .833

Tampa Bay Devil Rays              5-1  .833

Texas Rangers                         4-2  .667

Detroit Tigers                          12-7  .632

* The White Sox are the only team the Royals have defeated thus far in 2006 (victories on April 7 & 8). For Kansas City, long April losing streaks are an all-too-familiar story:

Royals’ April Losing Streaks – 2004-06

2004: Lost 6 straight games April 13-18 (finished month 7-14)

2005: Lost 9 straight games April 20-29 (finished month 6-18)

2006: Lost 9 straight games April 9-18 (current streak)

Overall, the Royals have had a total of nine losing streaks of six or more games since the start of the 2004 season—most for any major league team.

* Reggie Sanders is inching closer to becoming just the fifth player in MLB history with 300 homers and 300 steals over his career.

Players With 300+ HR and 300+ SB, All-time

                                                           HR                         SB

Barry Bonds                                          708                         506

Willie Mays                                           660                         338

Andre Dawson                                       438                         314

Bobby Bonds                                         332                         461

Reggie Sanders                                   295                         298

* Jim Thome has begun his tenure with the White Sox by scoring at least one run in each of his first 14 games.

Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Run to Start a Season, Since 1960

2006  Jim Thome, CWS           14

1994  Frank Thomas, CWS      14

1968  Curt Flood, StL              12

1966  Frank Robinson, Bal       11

* No active player (minimum 50 AB) has a higher career batting average against the Sox than Mark Grudzielanek.

Mark Grudzielanek, Highest Career BA by Opponent (min 50 AB) Vs.

Chicago White Sox                 .387 (24/62)

New York Yankees                 .368

New York Mets                       .332

St. Louis Cardinals                  .330

* Scott Elarton has begun the 2006 season much like he finished off the 2005 season – with very little run support.

Lowest Run Support Average, Since September 22, 2005 (min 4 starts)

Scott Elarton, Cle-KC                             1.00 (3/27.0)

Jeff Weaver, LAD-LAA                            2.16

Jason Schmidt, SF                                2.25

Jamie Moyer, Sea                                  2.41

Brian Moehler,Fla                                   2.41

Over his last seven losses, Elarton has received just five runs of support.

* The White Sox may find themselves with a lead after the first inning today.

Run Differential in 1^st Inning, 2006 Season

Kansas City Royals                -19 (lowest in MLB)  (3/22)

Chicago White Sox                 +12 (highest in MLB) (17/5)