Sunday, July 8, 2018

2018-07-02 Dominican switch-hitters with 1,500 career hits

MONDAY
Q.        After Rickey Henderson's four separate stints with the Oakland A's, who was the next player to have four tours of duty with a single franchise?
Hint:     He was the first player to collect 200 hits in a season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hint:     He was born on the day of Sandy Koufax’ first no-hitter.
Hint:     He was the last 20th-century player to hit for the cycle in Yankee Stadium and did it against Rickey Henderson’s team.
A.         TONY FERNANDEZ
-  Played for TOR 1983-90; 1993; 1998-99; 2001
-  213 H in 1986
-  B. 30-Jun-1962
-  Cycle 03-Sep-1995 for NYY in a losing cause vs. OAK.
FCR -  Dave Mason, Ottawa
Incorrect guesses:  Alfredo Griffin, Chris Singleton, Matt Kemp, Roberto Alomar

TUESDAY
Q.        After Snuffy Stirnweiss in the ‘war years’, who was the next player to hit more than fifteen triples for consecutive seasons?
Hint:     He is the current active leader in career stolen bases.
Hint:     He’s back with the team that loved him the most, but even they aren’t too sure.
Hint:     His smile is one of the best in baseball.
A.         JOSE REYES

-  Hit 17 3b in each of 2004-05 and led the majors both years.  Stirnweiss had 16 & 22 in 1944 & 45 respectively and lead the AL in ’44 and led MLB in ’45.
-  Has 516 career SB as of 02-Jul-2018.  Ichiro’s 509 is not far behind.
-  After 9 seasons with NYM, spent a year playing for MIA then was traded to TOR.  Tried to replace a legend in COL, was released and is back with the Mets, this time playing multiple positions.
FCR -  Eric Savage, New York City
Incorrect guesses:  Rajai Davis, Ichiro Suzuki, Dee Gordon, Rickey Henderson

WEDNESDAY
Q.        [Never mind.]
Hint:     He twice led the majors in stolen bases, but only once in times caught stealing.
Hint:     His brother passed away during a World Series that he was playing in, but he kept it quiet until later.
A.         LUIS CASTILLO
-  ~
-  62 & 48 SB in 2000 & 2002 respectively.  22 CS in 2000.
-  His silent grief payed off as his team won the 2003 World Series.
FCR -  Barry Nelson, Guilderland, New York (who figured out who we really meant!)
Some of the more interesting guesses:  Mickey Mantle, Jimmy Rollins, Willy Taveras, Ichiro Suzuki, Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Brantley, Billy Hamilton, Jackie Bradley, Jr., Jose Altuve, Willy Taveras, Carl Crawford, Joe DiMaggio, Eric Davis, Jackie Bradley, Roberto Alomar, Jackie Bradley, Jr.

THURSDAY
Q.        Who was the last Atlanta Brave to lead the league in triples?
Hint:     He’s also the last Brave to hit three triples in a single game.
Hint:     He once led off a game with a home run then watched each of his next two teammates go deep.  A fourth teammate also homered later in the same inning.
Hint:     For good measure, he went to “Souvenir City” again in the very next inning.
Hint:     A personal highlight was turning an unassisted triple play later that year.
A.         RAFAEL FURCAL
-  10 3b in 2003, tied w/Steve Finley
-  3b X 3 = 21-Apr-2002
-  3 HR to open G 28-May 2003
-  TP = 10-Aug-2003
FCR -  Larry Hayes, San Francisco
Incorrect guesses:  Deion Sanders, Julio Franco, Ron Gant, Chipper Jones, Otis Nixon, Terry Ryan

FRIDAY
Q.        Who was the All-Star Game MVP, one of four (4!) teammate starters for his league that year?
Hint:     Two additional players with his last name were All-Stars in that game, but went 0‑for the game.
Hint:     Not only was it his only MLB All-Star appearance, it was his only season with that team and his only year in that league in his 14-year career.  NOTE:  He did have another stint in the NL.  He played for ATL in 2010, but they released him less than a week after the end of their season, no doubt influenced by his meager 4 HR in 147 regular season G and 0 H in the NLDS.
Hint:     His trade for Puckett did not make the headlines.
A.         MELKY CABRERA
-  Miguel Cabrera and Asdrubal Cabrera represented the AL that day.
-  Played for SFG in 2012, but disciplinary issues cause him to miss much of the season, including their championship postseason.
-  On 30-Jun-2017,he was traded by CHW to KCR for minor leaguers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis.
FCR -  Joseph Cosgriff, New York City
Incorrect guesses:  Ivan Rodriguez

SATURDAY
Q.        Who made the sole All-Star appearance of his 18-years MLB playing career when was named to the American League All-Star team as a replacement for an injured Hall of Fame player who was voted World Series MVP later that same season?
Hint:     He was to be the next batter when Joe Carter hit that well-known walk-off dinger?
Hint:     He was the Angels first base coach for 16 seasons.
A.         ALFREDO GRIFFIN
-  He made the All-Star appearance when he happened to be in San Francisco as a guest of teammate and All-Star, Damaso Garcia, replacing the injured Alan Trammell.
-  On deck in the 9th inning of the 6th G of the 1993 WS, having entered the game to pinch run for John Olerud in the bottom of the 8th.  He didn’t have to bat.
-  Coached for OAK 2000-2015.  Had coached for TOR 1996-97.
FCR -  Jack Fahey, Oak Forest, Illinois
Incorrect guesses:  John Olerud, Wally Joyner, Devon White, Fred McGriff

SUNDAY
Q.        Who led the majors in triples in consecutive seasons, but for two separate teams?
Hint:     He was the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit a home run in his first at-bat in the majors.
Hint:     Playing on a championship team managed by Kevin Kennedy, he was voted League Player of the Year.
Hint:     That team has since been zapped.
A.         JOSE OFFERMAN
-  13 3b for KCR in 1998 & 11 3b for BOS in 1999
-  1st MLB HR 19-Aug-1990
-  PCL POY 1990, playing for the Albuquerque Dukes
-  The Dukes are now called the Albuquerque Isotopes
FCR -  Larry Hayes, San Francisco
Incorrect guesses:  Willie Davis, Brett Butler


WEEKLY THEME – Dominican-born switch-hitters with 1,500 career hits, presented most to least.

Dominican                    Hits
Fernandez*................ 2,276
Reyes*....................... 2,115
Castillo*...................... 1,889
Furcal*....................... 1,817
Cabrera**................... 1,798
Griffin*........................ 1,688
Offerman*.................. 1,551
*BBTR     **BBTL

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – ¯\_()_/¯ !

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tuesday -  Dominican-born shortstops who collected 200 hits in a season
               -  Blue Jays All Stars from the Dominican Republic

Wed        -  Dominican all-stars who have played middle infield for the Mets.
               -  Career WAR leaders among Dominican-born middle infielders.

Thurs      -  Dominicans who have turned 900 career double plays.












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