Plenty of local ties as Diamondbacks-Rangers get set to meet in World Series

The Cubs gave it a spirited go this season, improving from 53-53 on Aug. 1 to 72-62 a month later before running out of gas and dropping out of the playoff race.

The White Sox stumbled out to a 7-21 start and never recovered while losing 100 or more games for only the fifth time in the franchise's 123-year history.

When the World Series opens Friday, neither team will be wearing "Chicago" on the front of their uniforms.

Instead, it will be a pair of surprises - the Diamondbacks and Rangers - squaring off in the Fall Classic.

Arizona (110) and Texas (102) both recorded triple-digit losses in 2021, so maybe there is some hope for the White Sox and every other bottom feeder moving forward.

The Diamondbacks and Rangers both feature players and staff that do have local ties.

Arizona

New White Sox general manager Chris Getz's biggest move so far was hiring Josh Barfield as assistant GM in late September.

Barfield was the Diamondbacks' director of player development the last four seasons and he also worked in scouting during his nine-year stay in Arizona.

Bolstered by a strong farm system that produced Corbin Carroll and much more, the Diamondbacks are still standing after taking down the Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies during the playoffs.

He's with the Sox now, but Barfield has a rooting interest as Arizona plays in the World Series for the first time since 2001.

"I'm on this side (White Sox) and obviously really excited about what we are doing here, but to see finished products on the field from guys I had when they were 15, 16, 17 years old and seeing where they were then to where they are now and where the organization kind of was a few years ago to where they are now, it's exciting and gives a lot of hope and optimism here," Barfield said.

Rick Short is the Diamondbacks' assistant hitting coach.

A Larkin High School graduate, Short played college baseball at Western Illinois and was with the Nationals for 11 games in 2005.

Joe Mather, Arizona's hitting coach, played in 103 games with the Cubs in 2012 and slashed .209/.256/.324 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI.

Alek Thomas has hit 4 homers in 12 postseason games.

The Diamondbacks' 23-year-old center fielder, a Mt. Carmel graduate, spent a lot of time in the White Sox's clubhouse when his dad, Allen, was director of strength and conditioning from 2004-21.

Texas

The White Sox could sure use a player like Marcus Semien as they try bouncing back from a season to forget.

Drafted by the Sox in 2011, Semien played on the South Side for two years before being traded to Oakland.

He became a star with the A's and is in his second year with the Rangers. Over his last four full seasons, Semien has 133 home runs and 377 RBI.

Dane Dunning made 7 starts for the White Sox in 2020, going 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA. After the season, the right-hander was traded to Texas for Lance Lynn.

The 28-year-old Dunning has been pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs after spending most of the regular season in the Rangers' rotation.

Aroldis Chapman helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series after coming over from the Yankees in a late July trade.

Chapman is trying to do the same thing in Texas after being acquired from the Royals in a late June deal. In 6⅓ playoff innings, the 35-year-old lefty has allowed 1 run on 5 hits and 4 walks and has 4 strikeouts.

Will Venable has an unusual title - he's the Rangers' associate manager.

Venable joined the Cubs in 2017 as a special assistant in baseball operations and was first-base coach in 2018-19 and third-base coach in 2020.