Monday, May 11, 2015

May 4-10, 2015 Mothers' Day Walk-Offs in the Pink Bat era

MONDAY
Q.         Who is the only Florida (or Miami) Marlin ever to lead the league in home runs?
Hint:     Since his debut, no other National Leaguer has hit more home runs.
Hint:     There is proof, solid proof, that, unlike his “namesake”, he actually exists.
Twint:    He was once a “Mike”.
A.         GIANCARLO STANTON (2014 NL leader 37 HR; 160 HR since 08-Jun-2010 second only to AL sluggers Miggy C. (186) and Joey Batts (192); Nickname: “Bigfoot”; 2010-11 he played under the name “Mike” Stanton)
FCR -    Andrew Distler, New York, NY
Incorrect answers:  Miguel Cabrera, Fred McGriff

TUESDAY
Q.         Who is the only player to win an MVP for the Cincinnati Red and never appear in a World Series with them?
Hint:     Only he, Barry Bonds and Rogers Hornsby have led the NL in on-base percentage for four consecutive years.
Hint:     He is the only Red to thrice lead the NL base-on-balls.
Hint:     And that was in consecutive years.
Twint:    After not missing a single game one season, the next year he missed 100 games, having to quell concerns about his attitude by saying “I didn’t elect to be injured”.
Twint:    He was probably referring to some quirk of the parliamentary system.
A.         JOEY VOTTO (2010 NL MVP, Reds not in WS since his 2007 debut; ; NL OBP leader 2009-13, Bonds 2001-4, Hornsby 1920-25 for a record 6 consecutive years; BB lead: 2011-13  110/94/135 – tied with Dan Uggla 2012; 2013 played in all 162 games, but only 62 games in 2014; He is Canadian.)
FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY
Incorrect answers:  Barry Larkin, Frank Robinson, Ernie Lombardi, George Foster, Ted Kluszewski, Vada Pinson

WEDNESDAY
Q.         Who was the first slugger since Mark McGwire to hit a home run in the first four games of the season?
Hint:     He is the most recent player with seven RBIs in a game to account for all of his team’s runs.
Hint:     He is the most recent Ranger to appear in the All-Star Game home run derby.
Twint:    He made the last out in the last one game Wild Card playoff.
A.         NELSON CRUZ (1-, 2-, 3-, 4-Apr-2011, McGwire March 31-Apr 4 1998; Tied by Chris Davis 2013; 07-Sep-2014 7RBIs 7-5 BAL over TBR; 2009 HR Derby, finished 2nd to Prince Fielder; 163rd game Rangers lost 5-2 to Tampa 30-Sep-2013)
FCR -    Pat Goodson, Cheyenne, WY
Incorrect answers:  Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Who is the only player to appear in every one of his team's regular-season games in 2013 and 2014?
Hint:     He only missed two games in 2012.
Hint:     He is the only player to hit a walk-off homer on a one-pitch appearance by Jose Mesa.
Hint:     His first big league homer was a grand slam.
Twint:    He doesn’t wear a red cape with black polka-dots, but if you say his name really fast, you might wonder…
A.         HUNTER PENCE (His streak was broken this season; 2012 PHI 101 G, SFG 59G; b13 03-Jul-2007 5-4 HOU over PHI; First HR 05-May-2007; Spoken quickly, his name sounds like “Captain Underpants” – a superhero character in a children’s novel that wears underpants and a red cape with black polka-dots.)
FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY
Incorrect answers:  Evan Longoria, Adrian Gonzalez

THURSDAY
Q.         Who, along with Pedro Martinez and a bottle of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice, gave what is considered the world’s largest toast at a single venue?
Hint:     His greatest contribution to baseball may have been getting walked by “Mo’” and subsequently lifted for a pinch runner.
Hint:     He was (is) a self-proclaimed “idiot”.
Twint:    “Got heeem!”
A.         KEVIN MILLAR (Celebrating Fenway’s 100th Anniversary on 20-April-2012 before 32,904 “participants”; Down 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS, he managed a Game-4 9th inning lead-off walk (against Mariano Rivera) that led to PH Dave Roberts famous steal of 2nd followed by a game tying hit that tied the score. The Sox came back to win the game and the ALCS; He called his 2004 Red Sox teammates “idiots” – a name quickly adopted by his fellow players, fans and the press; His enthusiastic signature phrase from “Intentional Talk”, on MLB Network)
FCR -    Joseph Brunn, Washington, DC
Incorrect answers:  Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Mark Grace, Bill Lee

TGIF BONUS
Q.         Among the regular starters, which player for the World Champion 2007 Red Sox went the entire regular season without being hit by a pitch?
Hint:     Also, he didn’t receive an intentional base on balls the same season.
Hint:     Perhaps this was because he wasn’t feared as an offensive threat.
Twint:    The same season, however, his base stealing did contribute as he led the team in the category.
Twint:    As a result, he and Coco Crisp became the first Red Sox duo to each steal over 25 bases in the same season since 1914.
Twint:    ¡Mes mas caliente!
A.         JULIO LUGO (Red Sox 2007 stats; 2007 stats all lowest for starters that season; 33 SB – the second highest season total of his career (39 in 2005); 1914 Tris Speaker (42) and Al Janvrin (25) accomplished the feat; Julio also means July in Spanish.)
FCR -    Bob Flynn, Chandler, AZ
Incorrect answers:  Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz

FRIDAY
Q.         Who replaced Jose Reyes at shortstop after Reyes was granted free agency?
Hint:     He lost the starting job the year after that, but regained it this past season, only to lose it again this season.
Hint:     When he came up to the majors, he was the 3rd youngest player.
Twint:    His only 2012 homer was a lead-off home run against Matt Cain, who had pitched a perfect game just seven weeks earlier.
A.         RUBEN TEJADA (Reyes free agent end of 2011 season went from NYM to MIA; Omar Quintanilla started 2013 NYM; 2015 NYM Wilmer Flores is the regular SS; HR off Cain: 01‑Aug‑2012.)
FCR -    Michael William Newman, Fairfield, CT
Incorrect answers:  Wilmer Flores

START-OF-THE-WEEKEND BONUS
Q.         Who is the only player to hit 30 homers in a season with a batting average under .200?
Hint:     He averaged over 200 strikeouts per season.  (Tom Seaver only averaged 190!)
Hint:     Only one player, with his suspect total of 57, has hit more home runs in a season for the Arizona franchise.
Twint:    He.is the only slugger in the past 40 years to lead his league in strikeouts 4 consecutive seasons.
A.         MARK REYNOLDS (2010 BA .198 with 32 HR; 201 K/162 G avg.; 44 HR in 2009 vs. Luis Gonzalez w/57 in 2001; K leader 2008-10 ARZ and 2011 BAL since Reggie Jackson 1968-71.)
FCR -    Mike Massaroli, Staten Island, NY
Incorrect answers:  Mark Trumbo, Adam Dunn, Dave Kingman, Rob Deer, Richie Sexton, Matt Williams, Graig Reynolds, Gorman Thomas, Brady Anderson

SATURDAY
Q.         Who was the only opposing player never retired in either of Justin Verlander’s no hitters?
Hint:     He had the lowest batting average, OBP, OPS and fewest total bases of the Brewers starters in their first National League postseason.
Hint:     His first homer as a regular starter resulted in the bat earning a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Twint:    Two years after leaving the Brewers, he had a perfect performance.
A.         BILL HALL (12-Jun-2007 issued 3 BB in 3 PA, 07-May-2011 all players retired at least once [Hall did not play.]; 2008 Brewers lost LDS 3-1 to eventual WS Champion PHI; 2006 he became the regular starting 3B and his first HR was the Opening Day for the new STL Busch Stadium 10-Apr-2006; 28-May-2010 he pitched a perfect 9th inning for BOS with 11 pitches and only one ball in a 12-5 loss to KCR)
FCR -    Mark Pattison, Washington, DC
Incorrect answers:  Prince Fielder, J.P. Arencibia, Rickie Weeks, Justin Verlander

MOTHERS’ DAY BONUS
Q.         Who was called up to the majors to replace the injured Mike Piazza?
Hint:     He proceeded to hit six home runs in his first seven games with the team.
Hint:     He joined Adam Dunn and Jason Giambi as the only players this century to lead their leagues the same year in strikeouts and bases on balls.
Twint:    He led his league three consecutive years in strikeouts.
Twint:    He now runs a baseball academy in New Jersey with his father.
A.         JACK CUST (Joined the A’s 06-May-2007; 2008 Cust 197 K/111 BB, 2003 Giambi 140 K/129 BB, 2012 Dunn 222 K/105 BB; Led AL in Ks 2007-09; Diamond Nation Management)
FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Incorrect answers:  Mike Jacobs, Jason Phillips, Todd Hundley

SUNDAY
Q.         Other than Andrew McCutcheon, who was the only other position player from the Pirates to make the 2014 All-Star Team?
Hint:     His batting average led the Bucs that same season.
Hint:     He also led in triples and doubles.
Twint:    In 2014 he was featured on the MLB Channel’s “Plays of the Week” with plays made while playing 4 different positions.
Twint:    J-Hay
A.         JOSH HARRISON (Tony Watson pitched 0.1 innings and all Pirates got playing time; 2014 PIT STATS .315BA, 38 2B/7 3B; nicknamed J-Hay)
FCR -    Timothy Kearns, Washington, DC
Incorrect answers:  Neil Walker, Russell Martin, Tony Watson, Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte

Due to circumstances related to today’s action, we are required to add additional players that fit this week’s theme.

SUNDAY 1st ADD ON
Q.         Who was the White Sox third baseman since Robin Ventura to make the Topps Rookie All-Star team?
Hint:     Among position players, he had only the second highest vote total for Rookie of the Year despite having a higher batting average, OBP, SLG, and more HR, RBI’s and walks.
Hint:     He and his father played quarterback for the same private Atlanta High School.
Hint:     He led the team to its only undefeated season, breaking his father’s single season record for touchdown passes by one.
Twint:    He went on to become a Bulldog, and his junior year was SEC Player of the Year – the 4th shortstop to do so.
Twint:    He had an angelic dalliance.
A.         GORDON BECKHAM (Topps Rookie 3B AS Robin Ventura 1990, Beckham 2009; Elvis Andrus was 2nd overall despite the weaker offensive performance, and Beckham was 5th, but 2009 ROY Andrew Bailey and two other pitchers took 1st, 3rd and 4th place; Both he and his father attended The Westminster Schools; attended U. of Georgia and was SEC POY 2009; On CHW his whole 7-year career save 26 games last year with LAA)
FCR -    No one
Incorrect answers:  Joe Crede

SUNDAY 2nd ADD ON
Q.         Of the currently active National League catchers (min 200 career games), who has the lowest career batting average this century?
Hint:     Despite his weak offensive production, he once literally ripped the cover off a ball getting a single when the fielder’s throw “dribbled” to first.
Hint:     The previous year he had a cup of coffee appearing in three games, striking out in his only at bat.
Twint:    He came up to the majors his official rookie season to replace a catcher who had a suitcase dropped on his wrist by his wife.
A.         MARTIN MALDONADO (BA.219, 222G from 2011-current; He was brought up 2012 – his official rookie season – when Jonathan Lucroy suffered a wrist fracture due to a “luggage incident”; 17-Sep-2011 faced Travis Woods t9th; 18-Aug-2014 he hit the ball to the PIT 3B Pedro Alvarez who would have easily thrown him out if not for the mangled ball cover)
FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY
Incorrect answers:  Yasmani Grandal

SUNDAY – 3rd & FINAL ADD ON
Q.         Who is the last player to qualify for this week’s theme?
Hint:     He is the only San Francisco Giant to go yard off Boone Logan.
Hint:     As of today, this is the only homer off Boone this season.
Hint:     Last year he became a utility infielder, helping the Giants to replace the injured Marc Scutaro.
Twint:    He was a Lancer, as was Damion Easley and over a dozen other major leaguers.
Twint:    One man’s opinion, but he doesn’t LOOK like a major leaguer.
A.         MATT DUFFY (Logan’s HR log from 15-Apr-2015, b8 in a losing cause for SFG; Duffy stayed with the team this year and last as an ample utility fielder; KCR v DET only in the 2nd inning; Attended)
FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY
Incorrect answers:  Joe Panik

WEEKLY THEME – Guys with walk-off hits on Mothers’ Day in the pink-bat era, beginning in 2006.


First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No on

Player                      Pink Bat/Mother’s Day Walk-off Hit
Millar             14-May-2006
Hall                14-May-2006        HR with his mother in the stands
Cust              13-May-2007
Cruz               13-May-2007
Lugo              13-May-2007
Pence            09-May-2010
Votto             13-May-2012        Grand Slam
Harrison         13-May-2012
Stanton          13-May-2012        Grand Slam
Reynolds       11-May-2014
Tejada           11-May-2014
Beckham       10-May-2015
Maldonado    10-May-2015
Duffy             10-May-2015



Incorrect theme guesses:

Wed.   -  All Star players with the lowest batting average against the Red Sox
           -  Current players who have hit walk-off Home Runs against the Yankees


Horsehide Trivia blog has the questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/





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