MONDAY
Q. Who created, the jump-swing?
Hint: He was accused of lying about his age to major league scouts.
Hint: Not, however, however, as you might think. They assumed he was much younger than his listed age.
Hint: Losing that argument, they then sent him home because of his height.
- HOU vs. TEX on 22-Sep-2014 top of the 8th, Altuve up following Robbie Grossman’s single. Coach hit-and-run signal. The prosaic box score says, “Altuve lined to center”. What it doesn’t say is that pitcher Roman Mendez also saw the signal. He sent a pitch way above the strike zone, roughly head high. Altuve, taking his assignment seriously, swung, and to reach the high pitch, he jumped and swung. See it here.
- Undeterred, Altuve returned for the next session, this time with his birth certificate in hand. With questions about age now answered, Altuve went out and answered questions about how well he could play despite his height. One of the people in attendance was Al Pedrique, a special assistant for the Astros. Pedrique was impressed with Altuve and encouraged the team to sign him, which they did for $15,000
FCR - Joseph Cosgriff, New York City
Incorrect answers: Vlad Guerrero, Frank Thomas, Phil Rizzuto, Mel Ott, Willie Keeler, Eddie Gaedel, Pee Wee Reese
TUESDAY
Q. What ex-Blue Jays catcher, with no previous managing experience, took over a team from the legendary manager who had won more games in history than any other manager, excepting only the two who managed the first All-Star Game?
Hint: He promptly led the team to the playoffs in each of his first four years, including a trip to the World Series.
Hint: He wrote a letter to some Little League parents that has become a manifesto for amateur baseball coaches at every level.
Hint: He is the only veteran to win the Willie Mac Award in his first year with the Giants.
- Played for TOR in 1999. Took the job managing STL after the position was vacated by Tony LaRussa. LaRussa had won 2,728 G, compared to 3,3731 for Connie Mack and 2,763 for John McGraw.
FCR - Morris Buenemann, Florissant, Missouri
Incorrect answers: Ned Yost, Cito Gaston, Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre, John Gibbons, Joe Girardi, Fredi Gonzalez, Ernie Whitt, Bob Brenly
WEDNESDAY
Q. Which future MLB All-Star hit a minor-league team record with 3 grand slams in one season?
Hint: In the majors, he and a teammate once each hit three home runs in a single game.
Hint: Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz recently tied him on the career home run list.
Hint: He’s a sneaky double-unique.
FCR - Larry Hayes, San Francisco
Incorrect answers: Matt Holiday, Prince Fielder, Jay Buhner
THURSDAY
Q. Who was the first player born south of the Equator to play in a major league All‑Star game?
Hint: He was originally signed by an MLB team by Dan Duquette.
Hint: He was the first native of his country to play in Japan.
Hint: He once bought and renamed an entire independent baseball league.
Hint: His brother signed with Cincinnati at the height of the Big Red Machine.
FCR - Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, Maryland
Incorrect answers: Yan Gomes, Chili Davis, Hector Cruz, Richie Sexson, Onix Concepción
FRIDAY
Q. Who shares the major league record of playing 99 consecutive errorless games at third base with John Wehner?
Hint: He was an All-Star before and after he led the league in double plays grounded into.
Hint: He and Hall of Famer Paul Molitor are the only Brewers bat over .320 in their second season with the team.
Hint: He played for 6 teams in his 14 seasons in the majors.
Hint: He and his son played baseball at the University of Southern California.
Hint: The first letter of the names of all three of his sons is the same letter that begins their, and his, last name.
- Career stats
- Cole played at USC
FCR - Adam Balutis, Arlington, Virginia
Incorrect answers: Ted Simmons, Don Money, Brooks Robinson, Sal Bando
SATURDAY
Q. Who is the only Northwestern University alumnus to be a major league All-Star more times than fellow alum Joe Girardi?
Hint: The year he won the Silver Slugger, he led the majors in sacrifice flies. It was the only season he had more than 10.
Hint: He was the only Padre that year to receive multiple MVP votes.
Hint: He coached Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
- Coached the Israeli team I 2012 for their run at qualifying for the 2013 WBC. They improved considerably but didn’t make the cut.
FCR - David Skelton, Woodway, Texas
Incorrect answers: Brad Ausmus, Jerry Weinstein
SUNDAY
Q. Who has played more major league games at shortstop than any other Puerto Rico native except Ivan de Jesus?
Hint: He was the first White Sox player to switch-hit home runs in a game more than once.
Hint: He was honored with the Brewers’ Unsung Hero Award.
Hint: He once stole a base and hit three home runs in the same game.
Hint: Though not Greek himself, he owned a team of Athenians for three years.
Hint: His brother played in the majors for 10 seasons. His son is currently playing for a team in Pennsylvania at the AAA level.
- Of his 1,610 G in MLB, he played at 1,216 @ SS. Ivan de Jesus had 1,303.
- HR’s from both side for CHW: 30-Sep-2000 & 13-Aug-2002.
- Unsung Hero for the 1995 Brewers
- 3 HR + SB 03-Apr-1998
- Owned the Atenienses de Manati, Puerto Rico [“The Athenians”] Could not verify if he still owns the team.
- His brother is Javier Valentin. Son’s name is Jesmuel. He’s playing for the Iron Pigs.
FCR - Bill Suphan, Scottsdale
Incorrect answers: Nate Colbert, Brad Ausmus, Ozzie Guillen, Omar Vizquel, Jose Hernandez, Don Kessinger, Alex Gonzalez, Alex S. Gonzalez
WEEKLY THEME – Players with 100+ games in consecutive seasons for the same team, but in different leagues.
1997-98 MIL - 100 G each year
2012-13 Astros
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – John Rickert, Terre Haute
Incorrect theme guesses:
Monday - Houston Astros/Houston baseball players.
Fri - All played for the Brewers in the 90's.
- They have all had the best player platoon splits by different position
- They have all been All Stars on teams that switched leagues
- Guys in the starting line-up for a team's 1st game after switching leagues.
No comments:
Post a Comment