Go Figure: Unmasking some of 2020's new White Sox & Cubs
In journalism, during the era of typesetting, “30” was the reporter's sign-off symbol that told editors, “End of the story.”
But a few days ago, “30” represented just the opposite for all 30 Major League Baseball teams. On Thursday, all the clubs set their official 30-man roster to start this (highly irregular) 2020 regular season.
Let's “Go Figure” out some of the new faces on Chicago's two teams—and quickly, since some of them may not stick around very long. Rosters must be winnowed to 28 in two weeks, and then, another two weeks later, to a final size of 26 players.
Q1. One new Cubs pitcher has a 28-11 career record, including an 8-1 mark in 2018 when he pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game and had a minuscule 1.29 ERA coming out of a rival National League team's bullpen. Who is it?
(Jeremy Jeffress, Brad Wieck, James Norwood)
Q2. This Cub newcomer was originally drafted by the franchise 10 years ago. He didn't sign back then, later winding up with the Atlanta Braves. Since his 2015 MLB debut, the Effingham, Ill., native appeared in 117 games out of the bullpen, compiling an 8-2 record and fanning 115 batters in 100 1/3 innings. Who is it?
(Rex Brothers, Dan Winkler, Casey Sadler)
Q3. This first-year Cub faced the White Sox in his first MLB game nine years ago this week. He reached base for the first time by getting hit by a Gavin Floyd pitch.
Who is this lefty-batting Northbrook native who, as a Cleveland Indian, tallied nine hits, including two home runs, in the 2016 World Series against the Cubs?
(Jason Kipnis, Steven Souza Jr., Bryan LaHair)
Q4. Where did everyone go?
Seven years ago, catcher Josh Phegley made his Major League debut for the White Sox. He signed with the Cubs after setting career highs in home runs (12) and runs batted in (62) last year for the Oakland A's. Of the 15 other Sox players from his debut appearance, how many are currently on active MLB rosters?
(0, 1, 3)
Q5. In 322 games, this former Kansas City Royal has a lifetime .250 batting average, .300 on-base percentage, and exactly 100 runs scored. He is also that rare Major Leaguer whose cumulative WAR (Win Above Replacement) rating is below zero. Who is this 28-year-old seeking to turn things around on the South Side?
(Cheslor Cuthbert, Danny Mendick, Zack Collins)
Q6. Two former White Sox players, both now in their 30s, signed minor league contracts with the New York Mets after being among the final cuts made by the team. Of these three choices, who does not fit that description?
(Melky Cabrera, Alejandro De Aza, Gordon Beckham)
Q7. This White Sox pitcher is making his MLB debut after recording a 24-24 minor league record. Can you pick out this 25-year-old Fresno State product from this batch of Sox pitchers?
(Jimmy Lambert, Codi Heuer, Jace Fry)
Q8. This new Sox righthander joins at least three other Steves (Stone, Renko, Trout) who pitched in successive seasons for the White Sox and Cubs. He appeared in more games the past two seasons (150) than any other Cub pitcher before shifting to the Pale Hose. Who is it?
Q9. The first two starting pitchers of the 2020 MLB season were the Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer and the New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole. During the 2019 World Series, Cole started Games 1 and 5, while Scherzer started Games 1 and 7.
However, an even more unlikely back-to-back seasonal sequence has occurred in MLB annals. Can you pick out the pitchers who started the final game of one World Series, and then squared off as the starting pitchers of the first game of the MLB schedule the next season?
(Gary Nolan & Ed Figueroa, 1976-1977; Bruce Hurst & Ron Darling, 1986 -1987; Edinson Volquez & Matt Harvey, 2015-2016)
Answers
1. Jeremy Jeffress; 2. Dan Winkler; 3. Jason Kipnis; 4. 0; 5. Cheslor Cuthbert; 6. Alejandro De Aza; 7. Jimmy Lambert; 8. Steve Cishek; 9. Edinson Volquez & Matt Harvey
• Matt Baron is an Oak Park-based freelance writer. He supplements his baseball brainpower with Retrosheet.org for some of his research.