Sunday, September 22, 2024

2024-09-16 Triple Avians

MONDAY  — 16-Sep

Q.  Which pitcher’s final start one season resulted in…

a.) …his twentieth pitching win for the year, a career high;

b.) …his securing the voting lead for the Cy Young Award, his franchise’s first, over a previously favored New York Yankee starter;

c.) …giving him a secure lead for pitching WAR in the majors for the year;

d.) …his surrendering the home run that set a new record for most in a year for the franchise of the opposing team?

Hint: #1  A real workhorse, he led the majors twice in innings pitched, both times with more than 260.

Hint: #2  His team physician described him as the most fit, most athletic player he had ever had the chance to work with.

A.  PAT HENTGEN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Pivotal G:  29-Sep-1996.  It was Hentgen’s 20th W against 10 losses that year.  NYY’s Andy Pettitte’s 21-8 record made him appear to many as the favorite.  Hentgen led MLB that year in WAR for pitchers at 8.6.  In the first inning of the G above, Brady Anderson hit Hentgen’s 5th pitch deep into the right field seats of SkyDome for his 50th HR for the year, breaking the tie he’d had with Frank Robinson for the most in a season in Oriole history.  The Os’ Chris Davis is the current record holder with the 53 he hit in 2013.

-  #1  Hentgen threw 265⅔ innings in 1006 & 264 in 1997.

-  #2  Ron Taylor a doctor (and former Mets closer) made the statement when questioned at an autograph session in New York City in 2002.

FCR -  Waker Arnold, Jay, Vermont

Incorrect guesses:  Mike Mussina, Phil Niekro, Greg Maddux, Gaylord Perry, Dean Chance, Tracy Stallard, Shane Bieber, Nolan Ryan

 

 

TUESDAY  — 17-Sep

Q.  Who was the first first-round draft pick to make his major league debut for a first-place team in the same year he was drafted?

Hint: #1  He played in four decades in the majors.

Hint: #2  He surrendered home runs to Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds.

Hint: #3  He gave up Mark McGwire's sixty-first home run in 1998.

A.  MIKE MORGAN  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Drafted #4 overall in 1978 by OAK.  Debuted 11-Jun-1978.  Standings that day.

-  #1  1978-2002:  1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s.  He pitched for 12 MLB teams, a total of 597 G & 2,772⅓ IP.

-  #2  Bonds’ HRs = 25-Aug-1979; 13-Jun-1993 & 15-Aug-1993.

-  #3  McGwire’s 61st = 07-Sep-1998

FCR -  Jeremy Frank, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Steve Trachsel, Jesse Orosco, Charlie Hough, David Price

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 18-Sep

Q.  Who said, “In the show they don’t necessarily like long hair and the redneck folks.”?

Hint: #1  He and his brother were in the Little League World Series championship.

Hint: #2  Some of his award-winning, All-Star teammates include: Jose Altuve, Mark Buehrle, Carlos Correa, R.A. Dickey, Troy Glaus, Evan Longoria, Manny Machado, Mark McGwire, Albert Pujols, John Smoltz and Blake Snell.

A.  COLBY RASMUS  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Rasmus was commenting on not winning the AL OF Gold Glove Award for his quality work on HOU in 2016.  His defensive numbers were worthy—his 31.0 UZR/150, best among AL OFs (min. 800 d. innings), per FanGraphs.  The AL GG winners that year were Brett Gardner, Mookie Betts & Kevin Kiermaier.

-  #1  Colby and Cory Rasmus played in the 1999 Little League World Series for Phenix City, Alabama.  Their parents were recognized for their long involvement with Little League baseball.  Their team won the U.S. championship G before losing in the finals to Osaka, Japan, 5–0.

-  #2  In his 10-year career, Rasmus played for 5 MLB teams.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Todd Frazier, Rick Ankiel

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  — 18-Sep

Q.  Which second-year pitcher recorded the final out of the World Series, earning a franchise its first World Championship?

Hint: #1  Only seven pitchers have appeared in more major league games.

Hint: #2  He had two and a third scoreless innings the following season, helping the team win its second World Series.

A.  MIKE TIMLIN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Sixth G 1992 WS 24-Oct-1992.  ATL’s Otis Nixon bunted in front of home plate & Timlin threw him out to Joe Carter at first base.  Nixon was the only batter Timlin faced that day.

-  #1  Timlin ranks 8th, just ahead of Kent Tekulve.

-  #2  In the 1993 WS, Timlin appeared in the 2nd & 4th Gs.

FCR -  Gregory Koch, Falls Church, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Pat Hentgen, Tom Henke, Charlie Hough, Mordecai Brown

 

 

THURSDAY  — 19-Sep

Q.  Who was the first pitcher to win the Baseball Digest Rookie of the Year award?

Hint: #1  In the game where his younger brother, also a pitcher, debuted in the majors, he was the opposing moundsman.  Although only he went the distance, Junior and his team got the win.

Hint: #2  He was named Howard County, Indiana's Greatest Athlete of the 20th century.

A.  TOM UNDERWOOD   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  BD’s ROY = 1975, ref. December 2001 issue, p. 35

-  #1  Debut G for Pat Underwood was on 31-May-1979.

-  #2  Honor was announced in 1999 per his obituary.

FCR -  Tom Bowen, Dallas

Incorrect guesses:  Phil Niekro, Carl Erskine, Pat Underwood, Fernando Valenzuela

 

 

FRIDAY  — 20-Sep

Q.  Who was named to the Baseball America and USA Today first-team All-America teams; was selected by USA Baseball as its Amateur Player of the Year; and chosen as the Baseball Coaches Association's co-national high school Player of the Year?

Hint: #1  In his career in the majors, he played for seven different teams, one of them twice.

Hint: #2  His younger brother was nearly as peripatetic, playing for four major league teams over five seasons.

A.  COREY PATTERSON  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Indeed:  Named to the Baseball America & USA Today first-team All-America teams, and was selected by USA Baseball as its Amateur Player of the Year and as the Baseball Coaches Association's co-national high school Player of the Year.

-  #1  In order, Patterson played for CHC (2000-05); BAL (2006-07, 2010); CIN (2008); WSN (s009); MIL (2009); TOR (2011); & STL (2012).

-  #2  His brother Eric Patterson is 4 years younger.  They barely missed playing on the Cubs at the same time.  Their father Don Patterson, played briefly in the NFL.

FCR -  Mack Longpre, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Cesar Izturis, B.J. Upton, Jason Giambi

 

 

SATURDAY  — 20-Sep

Q.  Which German-born BRTR pitcher, on the occasion of his major league debut and twentieth birthday, outpitched Randy Johnson?

Hint: #1  He was a member of Team USA in 2020.

Hint: #2  After making the All-Star team in the previous season, playing for his fourth team in the majors, he threw a no-hitter against his second team.

A.  EDWIN JACKSON  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Jackson started, went 6 innings, gave up 4 H, 1 XBH & 1 ER on 09-Sep-2003 in Arizona.  Jackson got the W Johnson got the L.  (Jackson bats right and throws right.)

-  #1  He & his team won the Silver Medal in 2020.

-  #2  On 25-0Jun-2010, Jackson no-hit the Rays of Tampa Bay  He had pitched for them both when they were the Devil Rays (2006-07) & simply the Rays (2008).

FCR -  Jerry Miller, Liberty Hill, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Craig Lefferts, Max Scherzer

 

 

SUNDAY  — 20-Sep

Q.  Which Gold Glove-winning, All-Star shortstop played in the majors for the first thirteen seasons of this century?

Hint: #1  His namesake son played several years in the minors, but was a regular in major league clubhouses as a youngster.

Hint: #2  He played for his powerful national team in the World Baseball Classic.

Hint: #3  His brother would have been a double-unique had he not been in MLB 3 years after his brother.

A.  CESAR IZTURIS   [B-R Bio]  

-  Ans.  Played 2001-13; GG in 2004; AS in 2005;

-  #1  Cesar Izturis, Jr. signed with SEA.  Seen with Dad.

-  #2  He played for the Venezuelan national team in the 2009 WBC.

-  #3  Maicer Izturis.  Chronology has historically been the bane of many a younger sibling.  D-U list.

FCR -  Dan Greder, Ames, Iowa

Incorrect guesses:  Omar Vizquel

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Major leaguers who played for all three major league avian teams:  The Baltimore Orioles, the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays:

 

Player                           BAL                 STL                TOR                                      WAR

Hentgen....................... 2001-03.......... 2000.............. 1991-99, 04........................ 32.6

Izturis.......................... 2009-10.......... 2008.............. 2001......... 6.1

Jackson........................ 2017............... 2011.............. 2019......... 8.9

Morgan........................ 1988............... 1995.............. 1983....... 26.2

Patterson...................... 2006-07.......... 2011.............. 2011......... 9.7

Rasmus........................ 2018............... 2009-11......... 2011-14.. 20.2

Timlin.......................... 1999............... 2000-02........ 1991-97.. 19.0

Underwood.................. 1984............... 1977.............. 1978-79.... 9.9

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Mack Longpre, Toronto (After Timlin)

 

 

These fine gentlemen also qualify for this week’s theme:

 

Player                           BAL                 STL                TOR                                      WAR

Alberto Castillo............ 2007............... 1999.............. 2000-01.... 1.7

Preston Guilmet.......... 2014................ 2018.............. 2018......... -1.2

Dan Johnson............... 2013................ 2015.............. 2014.......... 3.3

Paul Kilgus.................. 1991................ 1993.............. 1990.......... 2.1

Nerio Rodriguez.......... 1996-98........... 2002.............. 1998-99.... -1.0

Breyvic Valera............. 2018............... 2017.............. 2019, 2021... -0.3

 

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Toronto Blue Jays born in the United States who are in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

            -  The eight players who played for the Orioles, Cardinals and Blue Jays

 

Tue      -  Pitchers who played for the Orioles, Blue Jays and Cardinals

-   Players for he Toronto Blue Jays

 

Wed     -  Top WAR among players who played for the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Cardinals (the three teams named after birds)

 

Thu      -  Players to play for all three avian teams who finished with a career WAR above 0

 

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