What to make of Spring training statistics? The correct answer is mostly nothing. But since I have access to White Sox spring training numbers from 2006 to present, I insist in presenting ten useless facts to munch on until Opening Day.
1. No White Sox player has 50 PA and an OPS of 1.000 or better this Spring. Over the previous four Springs, however, there have been a grand total of two times this has happened.
- Josh Fields: 1.092 OPS in 78 PA Spring 2009
- Brian Anderson: 1.021 OPS in 79 PA Spring 2008
2. Paul Konerko, over his last 60 Spring Training Games (every game from 2009 to current), has two HR in 193 at-bats...but is batting .347 over that span.
3. Adam Dunn has a BBK ratio this Spring of 138 (1.63), which is way better than last Spring (0.41 BBK ratio - 11 BB, 27 K). Dunn also has seven HR in 110 Spring at-bats in a White Sox uniform; he had zero homers in 73 career spring at-bats while with the Nationals.
4. From 2006 through 2011, only two White Sox pitchers have finished a spring with 10 IP and an 0.00 ERA
- Boone Logan: 0.00 ERA in 11.0 IP Spring 2007
- Randy Williams: 0.00 ERA in 13.2 IP Spring 2010
MLB
5. Matt Thornton racked up a save Thursday against the Dodgers. His only other Spring save with the White Sox came in 2007. The White Sox spring saves leader from 2006 to present is the unforgettable D.J. Carrasco, who tallied three -- all in 2008.
6. Is it possible to be 2-0 with an 13.50 ERA? Yes it is. Carlos Vazquez pulled it off for the Sox in 2008.
7. Once over the last six springs have three White Sox players finished with 50 PA and an OPS of 1.000
Jim Thome: 1.175
Rob Mackowiak: 1.065
Paul Konerko: 1.024
(Jermaine Dye just missed at .999, by the way)
That came in 2007, when they went on to go 72-90; their worst record since 1989.
8. Chris Sale's BBK ratio of 22:2 this spring is nothing short of incredible. But of all White Sox pitchers to strike out 10 or more in a spring from 2006 to current, the best is Ryan Bukvich in 2007, with an incalculable 11:0 ratio.
9. Over the last six complete springs, a White Sox player has had 5 homers on five occasions.
Jim Thome: 8, 2006
Jermaine Dye: 5, 2006
Jim Thome: 6, 2008
Wilson Betemit: 6, 2009
Carlos Quentin: 5, 2011
Only Betemit failed to hit five in the regular season (he had none in 20 games).
10. Lucas Harrell posted a 20.25 (6 ER in 2 23 IP) spring ERA in 2011, but ended up pitching for the White Sox during the season. That's the highest spring ERA from 2006 to current to eventually pitch that regular season with the big club.