The Ex Files: Jim Parque

Jim was drafted by the White Sox in 1997, in the supplemental draft of the first round. He made his debut in 1998 and helped the White Sox reach the playoffs in 2000.

Parque was a nice reliable workhorse that could be counted on for close to two-hundred innings in his prime. The future was looking good for butter. PARQUE! (Sorry. A lot of Sox fans would take that classic commercial refrain and repeat it whenever Parque would start a game.)

In 2000, Parque's troubles would begin. He would have a shoulder injury which would make his next few years atrocious. His ERA would balloon as Jim would suffer from multiple shoulder injuries.

Jim would be granted free agency after the 2002 season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. After racking up an 11.94 ERA over five starts, the Devil Rays released him. He signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, but never made it to the majors after Tampa Bay. Jim announced his retirement in 2004.

Fast forward to 2007. Parque signs a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners, after regaining is arm strength. He was released without reaching the majors, but the real excitement would leak in December 2007. His name popped up on a list of players who tested positive for steroids.

When that list came out, I physically scratched my head.I couldn't imagine little skinny Jim Parque using steroids. When the list came out, Jim denied using, but in 2009, he came clean. Parque had used HGH in his shoulder rehab, while with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. HGH was not yet banned in MLB when Jim used, but his name remains on the list.

The Ex Files: Oil Can Boyd

I can hear the first thought in your head.

"Oil Can was on the Red Sox, not the White Sox, you idiot", would be my guess. And that's where you and your thoughts would be wrong.

Dennis was selected in the sixteenth round of the 1980 amateur draft by the Red Sox. He made his debut with Boston in 1982 and went on to great success, winning forty-three games in a three year span.

Things went downhill after 1986 and found himself finishing his MLB time with the Montreal Expos in 1990 and 91 and the Texas Rangers in 1991. Boyd went off the radar for a couple years, but found himself pitching again in the Mexican League in 1993.

When the strike happened in 1994, the World Series wasn't played for the first time since 1904. The 1995 season was in jeopardy and the owners had to put some type of product on the field. Each club raided their minor leagues and relied on former MLB players and something that resembled the recruiting process in the movie Major League.

Oil Can stepped up and became the most vocal replacement player and in turn became the face of the entire movement. The White Sox signed him to a contract and he was the star player of the replacement team, which came within days of playing actual MLB games. Judge Sonia Sotomayor ruled in the players favor and the regular players started the shortened season.

Shortly after the White Sox stint, Oil Can went back to the Sioux City Explorers. He bounced around the minors until 1997, but pitched again in 2005 for the Brockton Rox, in an attempt to make it back to the majors. He announced his intentions to return to the majors again in 2009, but found no suitors.

"To be honest, I hate where Major League Baseball has gone," said Boyd. "It's so straight-laced and business orientated. There's no interaction with the fans; no joy and passion and excitement. I might be old, I might be odd, I might be a strange story at first glance, but any team that takes a shot on me will find someone who's doing it for the right reasons. For the love of the game."

The Ex Files: Greg Walker

Greg started his MLB career with the White Sox in 1982. Throughout the 80s, he put up respectable numbers in a White Sox uniform. Walker had a good size following in Chicago, in a city that was hungry to embrace good players.

He was originally drafted by the Phillies in 1977, but was taken by the White Sox in the 1979 rule 5 draft. Greg was a mainstay at first base until medical ailments forced him out of games.

When Mike Diaz, Russ Morman and Billy Jo Robidoux proved not to be long term solutions, the White Sox converted Carlos Martinez from third to first for the 1990 season. Greg's role on the team was reduced to utility player by 1990 and he was released by the end of April, after only playing in two games.

In May 1990, the Orioles signed Walker and used him as a designated hitter and occasional pinch hitter, in place of an average Sam Horn. In fourteen games, Greg had five hits, all singles, for a .147 average. He also managed three walks, two RBI and his last stolen base. The Orioles released him on July 3, 1990. It's not the best ending for a player that was once considered a power hitter.

The White Sox moved onto a very slight upgrade at first in Carlos Martinez, before giving way to the superior Frank Thomas in August 1990. The Orioles ended the Greg Walker rejuvenation experiment and yielded the designated hitter and pinch hitter role back to Sam Horn.

Image borrowed from The Great Orioles Autograph Project, since decent images of this card are scarce.

The Ex Files: Albert Belle

Albert Belle rose to prominence with the Cleveland Indians. His offensive production was in an elite class that was matched by only a select few players. Despite his hate for the media, the numbers did not lie.

After the 1996 season, Albert signed a five year contract with the White Sox, making him the highest paid player at the time. Belle responded by putting on a hitting clinic during the first two years of that contract. He played in every single game for the White Sox during that time and established a White Sox single season record for home runs that still stands.

Belle had a clause in his contract that stipulated if he were not one of the top three paid players, he could opt out of his contract and become a free agent, if the Sox would not give him a raise. After the 1998 season, that scenario came to fruition. Albert signed a five year contract with the Baltimore Orioles for $65 million.

How did it work out? Belle put up two solid seasons with the Orioles before retiring due to degenerative osteoarthritis in his hip. He remained on the Orioles payroll for the entire length of his five year contract, while an insurance policy reimbursed the Orioles for a good chunk of his remaining salary.

As for the White Sox, they were rid of a ridiculous contract and a player loathed by the media. Carlos Lee replaced Belle in left field and helped the Sox make the playoffs in 2000. The Sox luckily missed the decline and sudden retirement of a once powerful player. Although the decision to let Albert Belle slip to free agency was unpopular with the fans, it was the correct call given Albert's health status a short while later.

The Ex Files: Ed Herrmann

Ed started his career in Chicago as a draft pick from the Milwaukee Braves in the 1964 first-year draft. He saw two games in 1967 with the parent club. Herrmann was back up with the Sox in 1969 and remained a fixture behind the plate until 1974.

The White Sox have a long history with above average catchers and Ed is no exception. With his time on the White Sox, he was a slugger (in seventies terms) that had a decent arm for throwing out base runners. Herrmann logged a lot of games at catcher for the Sox and showed that he could handle the Pale Hose pitching staff. In his last season with Chicago, Ed made the All-Star team.

On April 1, 1975, Ed was traded to the Yankees for four minor league players and cash. Brian Downing was waiting in the wings and the Sox figured that Ed was expendable. Were they right?

Ed was only 80 games for the Yankees in 1975, more often than not as a designated hitter. His average dipped only slightly, but his playing time was greatly reduced. Ed bounced around from team to team for the rest of his career, which lasted until 1978 in Montreal.

Brian went from being a part time outfielder and catcher to a full time catcher. His average was slightly below where Ed's was and the power numbers were lacking. Brian stuck around until the end of 1977, where he was traded to the Angels with Dave Frost and Chris Knapp for Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson.

The Ex Files: Frank Thomas

When people think of Frank Thomas, they think White Sox. Frank is the all-time home run leader for the White Sox with 448. He also holds many other records for the Sox, including runs scored (1,327), doubles (447), RBI (1,465), extra-base hits (906), walks (1,466), total bases (3,949), slugging percentage (.568), and on-base percentage (.427).

You might think of Thomas as this generation's "Mr. White Sox". No offense Minnie. Minoso will always hold that nickname honor, but one could present a strong argument for Thomas.

The last few years of Frank Thomas' tenure on the South Side were steeped with injuries and fighting words. In fact, Frank was injured so much in 2005, that White Sox management decided to let him go after the season. All the good will found in a World Series championship fell by the wayside as fans endured back and forth bickering between Frank Thomas and Kenny Williams.

The Sox made a stand by trading popular center fielder Aaron Rowand and two then-minor league pitchers to Philadelphia for Jim Thome and cash. Thomas countered by eventually signing with the Oakland Athletics.

Frank responded by playing 135 games for the A's in 2006. He was forth in MVP voting that year, hitting 39 home runs and helping his new team to the postseason. Jim Thome was a slight upgrade for the Sox at DH, with 42 home runs and a slightly higher average, but the hole in centerfield was too much to overcome.

Brian Anderson and Rob Mackowiak platooned in center for the Sox. Anderson could field but couldn't hit. Mackowiak could hit for average, but wasn't the best option in center. The Sox finished with a respectable 90 wins, but it was good enough for third in the AL Central in 2006. Adding insult to injury, the wild card came from the central that year.

Frank moved on to Toronto in 2007, and hit his 500th career home run, before playing briefly with the Athletics again before retirement. After Frank took his last at-bats with Oakland in August 2008, the Sox returned to the postseason.

Currently, Frank Thomas can be seen on pre and post game shows for White Sox games on ComcastSportsNet, alongside former White Sox favorite Bill Melton. Back in the fold, Thomas' number 35 will be retired by the team on August 29, 2010, in an on-field ceremony, as part of "Frank Thomas Day".

The Ex Files: Nick Swisher

The 2009 World Series starts today and that means that Nick Swisher will be involved in the game somehow. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to review his tenure with the Sox and his time after.

Nick came to the Sox from Oakland in January 2008. He cost the Sox three promising young prospects. Two have made iffy contributions to the A's and one is still in the minors. Swisher arrived with a lot of fanfare. He waltzed in and tried to take the city over with his charm. He nearly did it too.

In the first half of 2008, Nick didn't bat very well, but he managed to come through when the team needed him most. When not producing on the field, he became the clown player of the dugout. This is a role that every clubhouse needs to loosen things up.

Eventually, Swisher's playing time was reduced. Instead of continuing his comic stylings and keeping everybody loose and into the games, Nick pouted. He pouted when he wasn't playing and he pouted when his role was late inning defense. For a guy who pouted so much, he played in 153 games that year. That doesn't sound like a reason to pout to me.

Nick wore out his welcome and was shipped off to the Yankees with a minor leaguer for three players. None of those three players have done much for the Sox. Swisher landed on a team that made it to the World Series. How did he fare for the entire year?

Swisher wasn't setting the world on fire, but he did a little better than he did with the Sox. He even pitched an inning of relief. The Yankees used him in three less games than the Sox did a year before. Did Swisher pout? There were signs of him starting to pout, but it was nothing compared to his tenure on the South Side.

So far Swisher is bombing in the postseason. Will he step it up in the World Series? Only time will tell. My guess is no. I can write this while Nick is still playing because I can say with utter assurance that he will never play in a White Sox uniform again. He's a likable guy, but not a team player. As Swisher's time with the Yankees has proven, he's willing to do the work but only if it's his idea.

The Ex Files: Jack McDowell

Jack McDowell was a first round pick for the White Sox in the 1987 draft. By September 1987, he was pitching in the Sox rotation. That's even faster than Gordon Beckham's rise!

The Sox were that bad in 1987 and Jack was just that good. It was a perfect combination for a meteoric rise through the Sox system. After some growing pains in 1988, Jack was sent down to the minors in 1989. He returned stronger than ever and eventually appeared in three All-Star games and won a Cy Young award with the White Sox.

How did Jack McDowell fare after the White Sox? On December 14, 1994, Jack was traded to the New York Yankees for a minor leaguer and a player to be named later, which turned out to be Lyle Mouton. Jack did well in 1995, but had a very rocky relationship with the Yankees and their fans. After getting shelled by his former team, he famously gave the booing New York fans the finger. Still, he posted a 15-10 record that year.

After New York, Jack spent years in Cleveland and Anaheim. The Sox sold at the right time on Black Jack, but the return was nothing spectacular. His last appearance was in 1999, with the Angels. He spends his time now with his band, stickfigure, and does an occasional broadcasting gig and blogs about the White Sox.

The Ex Files: Scott Fletcher

Scott Fletcher's first tenure with the White Sox was from 1983 until 1985. He was dealt to the Texas Rangers as part of a deal that brought pitcher Dave Schmidt and infielder Wayne Tolleson to the South Side.

While his arrival in 1983 helped spark a division title, his departure left a noticeable void in the middle of the infield, starting in 1986.

How did he fare in his first season away from the White Sox? He excelled in his first year in Texas with a career high .300 batting average and Scott was named AL Player of the Month in July 1986.

The void left by Scott was so bad, that in 1989, the White Sox traded for him (along with Wilson Alvarez and Sammy Sosa), dealing Harold Baines and Fred Manrique. With Scott back in the fold, the Sox dragged themselves out of last place and took a shot at the division once again in 1990.