A poor substitute for the original, but will do what I can while John is taking some time off.
Game wraps follow the jump.
Belated Friday Roundup – AL Edition
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Author Archives: Doug
Quiz – Time Warp Trivia
All of these players were active in the 1960s or 1970s. All were journeymen, and all played for at least three franchises.
Besides the above, what is the more specific common thread that unites these players?
Congratulations to yippeeyappee! He identified (in just 28 minutes) that these players played for a 1960s or 1970s expansion franchise in its inaugural season, and are natives of that team’s state/province. Where there were multiple such players, these are the ones who played the most games in that season.
No players on the 1969 Royals or 1977 Blue Jays matched these criteria.
Adam Dunn and triple-W games
In a recent post, John Autin identified that Jim Thome has the most career games with at least one of each of the TTO components – a walk, a strikeout and a home run. John called this phenomenon the “Thome Trifecta”, but I’m going to try a different moniker – triple-W, for a walk, a whiff and a whallop.
The leader in this category for 2012 is Adam Dunn of the White Sox, with 14 triple-W games so far this season, including 3 in a row against the Royals coming out of the All-Star break. After the jump, I’ll take a closer look at this phenomenon.
Ichiro and 2500 Hit Teammates
With Ichiro‘s arrival in the Bronx, he joins Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriquez as Yankees with 2500 or more career hits.
How unusal is that? I’ll take a look after the jump.
End of an era – Ichiro leaves Seattle
Everyone has heard the news now of Seattle trading Ichiro to the Yankees. On one level, just a seller/buyer trade and one that probably wouldn’t have been made but for an injury on the buying team. But, perhaps more significantly, an icon moving from his only team late in his career and not voluntarily, leaving his fans a little perplexed and bewildered but, in this circumstance, also happy for the player who now has a good shot at finally winning a championship.
Johan and the Mick: a story of platoon advantage
June 1st this season was a milestone date for the New York Mets. The Mets hosted the Cardinals that day and achieved something never previously accomplished in the team’s first 50 seasons of play. That was the day, of course, of Johan Santana‘s no-hitter, the first ever by a Met.
After the break, I’ll take a look at this and other similar games.
Quiz – Nifty fifty
My apologies for botching this quiz. I somehow left two names off the list below, which I’ve added now. The answer is that these are the only players since 1918 with careers including 50 or more games for each of the following:
– 3 or more walks
– 3 or more strikeouts
– 3 or more hits
Thanks for playing, and sorry again for messing this up.
Since 1918, these are the only players to appear on certain statistical lists at least 50 times. What are these these statistical lists?
| Player |
|---|
| Mickey Mantle |
| Harmon Killebrew |
| Jim Thome |
| Mark McGwire |
| Jeff Bagwell |
| Jack Clark |
| Eddie Mathews |
| Adam Dunn |
Hint: the third time is the charm
Have bat (or glove, or arm), will travel
As the dog days of summer approach, a lighter bit of trivia for you. No heavy analysis here, just some idle fun with the Play Index.
Johnny Damon signed on with the Indians earlier this season. Cleveland is Damon’s 7th club, and 4th in 4 seasons. What you might not be aware of is this: Damon leads in games played for all players who have played for exactly 7 clubs.
Another active player close to the top of his list is Omar Vizquel, now with his 6th team. Omar needs another 33 games (possible, but unlikely) to move past Dave Winfield for the most games played for players appearing for exactly 6 franchises.
After the jump, I’ll take a look at other weary travelers.
Quiz – Seinfeld hitters
HHS reader with the moniker “Insert Name Here” was lamenting that a recent quiz was too easy, and was pining for something really challenging as in days past. So, just for INH, here’s something a bit harder.
The 12 players in this quiz have achieved a hitting feat related to the television series Seinfeld. This has been accomplished only 13 times in the game-searchable era, so one of the twelve has done it twice.
Can you figure out what that accomplishment might be?
Click on the link below to see the list of players and get started on your sleuthing.
Congratulations to Richard Chester! He identified that these are the only players since 1918 to compile a 0-0-0-0 box score line in a game with 5 or more PAs. Like Seinfeld, a game about “nothing” (at least as far as the box score is concerned).
Independence Day Heroics
Perhaps nothing is more quintessentially American as taking in a ballgame on Independence Day. Even better is if the game features some special and memorable plays.
After the jump, I’ll recount some heroic Independence Day performances at the ballpark.