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Monday, February 08, 2010

El Dugouterino

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Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 08, 2010 at 12:56 PM | 70 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 01:38 PM (#3456711)

Dugout!

2. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:05 PM (#3456763)

Well that worked. I guess Der-K and AG#1 are on vacation.

3. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:12 PM (#3456767)

Kind of a slow time for the Dugout in general. Let's try some trivia, cribbed from my Baseball Trivia Question a Day Calendar:

Match These Players with the World Series Accomplishment

1. Whitey Ford
2. Bob Gibson
3. Babe Ruth
4. Darold Knowles
5. Jim Palmer

A. Pitched the longest World Series game (14 innnings) and won
B. Pitched in seven games in one Series
C. Youngest pitcher (20) to throw a shutout
D. Struck out 17 batters in one game
E. Hurled 33 and 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings

I went 3-for-5, FWIW. Although the one the pair I screwed up was dumb, I should have known better.

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:16 PM (#3456772)

Well that worked. I guess Der-K and AG#1 are on vacation.

Present and accounted for!

1-E
2-D
3-A
4-B
5-C

5. RJ not in TO

Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:17 PM (#3456775)

1. E
2. D
3. B
4. A
5. C

6. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:19 PM (#3456780)

AG#1F has it right, RJ flipped the #3 and #4. I flipped #1 and #3, which was foolish, since Whitey Ford took over Babe's record, and the chance of him throwing 14 innings, even in a World Series game, was pretty low.

7. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:23 PM (#3456783)

Next Questions:

How many of the nine players who have won MVPs with the Chicago Cubs can you name?

I came up with 4, plus one who didn't win the MVP but would have in different circumtances.

In which World Series was the first night game played?

A. 1939
B. 1951
C. 1957
D. 1969
E. 1971

I had no idea on this one.

8. Tom Nawrocki Posted: February 09, 2010 at 03:29 PM (#3456793)

Hartnett, Cavaretta, Sauer, Banks, Sandberg, Dawson, Sosa.... I'm probably missing someone obvious.

9. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:07 PM (#3457005)

O's sign Mark Hendrickson, DFA P Armando Gabino, sign P Will Ohman and P Will Startup to minor league deals

Indians sign P Jamey Wright to minor league deal

A's release OF Wily Taveras

Marlins sign C Vinny Rottino and IF Hector Luna

Nats sign P Shawn Estes

Dodgers sign C JD Closser

10. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:09 PM (#3457007)

How many of the nine players who have won MVPs with the Chicago Cubs can you name?

Sammy Sosa, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Phil Cavaretta, Hack Wilson, Ernie Banks, Tinkers to Evers to Chance

11. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:17 PM (#3457023)

Shawn Estes? The Shawn Estes? He must be like, 400 years old.

The Cubs MVP are, going back: Sosa, Dawson, Sandberg, Banks, Sauer, Cavaretta, Harnett, Hornsby, and Schulte.

Hack Wilson did not win one--I guessed him too--because 1930 (his 190 RBI season)was the weird yesr between the League Awards being given out and before the BBWAA took over voting. Had they given a MVP that season, he surely would have won it.

12. Davo the Magnificent Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:19 PM (#3457028)

OK, I have a trivia question I don't know the answer to. Tons of fun!!!

Which team had the most combined career wins by their pitching staff?

To get things started, I'll nominate the 1998 Braves.

Maddux - 350
Glavine - 300
D. Martinez - 250
Smoltz - 210
Milwood - 150
Neagle - 120
P Burd - 110
O. Perez - 70
N Charlton -50
A Embree- 40
--------------------------
1650 career wins (so far), give or take.

Can anyone beat them?

13. RJ not in TO

Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:33 PM (#3457046)

2002 Yankees are at 1688 with a couple guys still active.

Clemens - 354
Mussina - 270
Wells - 239
Pettitte - 229
Ted Lilly - 103
Jeff Weaver - 99
El Duque - 90
Hitchcock - 74
Mo - 71
Stanton - 68
Mendoza - 59
Karsay - 32

14. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 09, 2010 at 07:39 PM (#3457052)

What about the Yankees team that had Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown on it?

15. Craig in MN Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:10 PM (#3457089)

Twins sign Jacque Jones to a minor league deal. The final piece of the puzzle.

16. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:14 PM (#3457105)

What about the Yankees team that had Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown on it?

That's the 2005 Yankees:

RJ: 303
Brown: 211
Mussina: 270
Leiter: 162
Gordon: 138
Pavano: 80
Wright: 68
Stanton: 68
Wang: 55
Mo: 71
Mendoza: 59
Chacon: 45
Embree: 39
Quantrill: 68
Sturtze: 40
F. Rodriguez: 38

That's 1700+, Leiter's cameo on that team pushes them over the top.

17. Cris E Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:15 PM (#3457111)

Speaking of The Final Piece, Jason Pridie was grabbed by the Mets.

So who is the organizational CF backup in the case of a major Span injury? Wait, don't tell me Jacques Jones is....

18. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:18 PM (#3457117)

Twins sign Jacque Jones to a minor league deal. The final piece of the puzzle.

That's funny, the Twins used to have a player by the exact same name. Wonder what happened to him.

19. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:19 PM (#3457120)

That's funny, the Twins used to have a player by the exact same name. Wonder what happened to him.

I saw him batting third (ahead of Carl Everett) for the Newark Bears last year.

20. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:20 PM (#3457122)

So who is the organizational CF backup in the case of a major Span injury?

Nick Punto. There's nothing that man can't do.

21. Cris E Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:21 PM (#3457127)

That's funny, the Twins used to have a player by the exact same name. Wonder what happened to him.

Funny, very funny.

22. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:24 PM (#3457129)

Brewers sign P Scott Schoeneweis

Jarrod Washburn might retire because nobody loves him

23. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:29 PM (#3457135)

In which World Series was the first night game played?

A. 1939
B. 1951
C. 1957
D. 1969
E. 1971

The answer is E

24. Ron Johnson Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:32 PM (#3457143)

1406-1093 (1923 Yankees) is pretty impressive from what is really a 7 man pitching staff. (Their #8 guy was a position player who went 0-0)

25. Craig in MN Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:34 PM (#3457146)

So who is the organizational CF backup in the case of a major Span injury?

Willie Taveras, here we come.

Seriously, though, Pridie is gone? And the Mets took him? I can't understand either side of that. Hopefully the Twins have a plan to trade for a useful CF. One better than Jones, Pridie or Taveras.....that can't be that hard, can it?

26. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:34 PM (#3457147)

The answer is E

Correct. And what's the reverse, as I don't know. That is, the first World Series that was exclusively night games?

27. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:40 PM (#3457153)

When was the last World Series day game? I can't remember one, but I may be exaggerating.

Games at 5:30 PM in California don't really count.

28. Davo the Magnificent Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:43 PM (#3457155)

1406-1093 (1923 Yankees) is pretty impressive from what is really a 7 man pitching staff. (Their #8 guy was a position player who went 0-0)

Have you added Babe Ruth to that total?

29. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:44 PM (#3457156)

When was the last World Series day game? I can't remember one, but I may be exaggerating

1987.

30. JJ1986 Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:47 PM (#3457160)

And the Mets took him? I can't understand either side of that.

He's much better than Gary Matthews.

31. Ron Johnson Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:48 PM (#3457165)

#28, no. He didn't pitch that year.

32. Maxwn Posted: February 09, 2010 at 08:53 PM (#3457170)

The 1998 Braves total that was posted earlier was only a partial total. The total for everyone who pitched for the '98 Braves per BBref is 1865 wins by my calculation. The 1700+ posted earlier for the '05 Yanks looks like a partial too. I'm not sure if the remainder of that Yankees staff can come up with 150 wins between them. Maybe.

33. Danny Posted: February 09, 2010 at 09:14 PM (#3457204)

I tried the 1966 Dodgers--1531 wins.

34. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 09:33 PM (#3457235)

I'm not sure if the remainder of that Yankees staff can come up with 150 wins between them. Maybe.

They can't. Unless someone not on that list who was on the team has a lot more wins than I thought, they're going to fall somewhere in the 1725-1775 range.

35. Maxwn Posted: February 09, 2010 at 09:37 PM (#3457238)

I finished adding up the '05 Yanks and they get to 1900 total wins using 28 pitchers. The '98 Braves got their 1865 wins using 19 pitchers. The Yanks could maybe get over 2000 by the time it's all said and done as some of those guys are still active. I guess the Braves could still pass them in theory, as Millwood's still around and maybe a couple of the others, but it would be a hell of a longshot.

36. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: February 09, 2010 at 09:43 PM (#3457249)

I finished adding up the '05 Yanks and they get to 1900 total wins using 28 pitchers.

Really? Was my math for #### or are there 200 wins outside of the guys I missed?

EDIT: Ah, #37 answers it. I guess those 25-30 wins add up. If nothing else, that shows me how amazing it was the 2005 Yankees made the playoffs, let alone won 95 games. They had some real bums on that team, my goodness.

37. Maxwn Posted: February 09, 2010 at 09:47 PM (#3457255)

They can't. Unless someone not on that list who was on the team has a lot more wins than I thought, they're going to fall somewhere in the 1725-1775 range.

They do. They had 12 other pitchers that weren't on your list according to BBref. That brilliant bunch had 185 wins between them, highlighted by the renowned Tim Redding with 37 wins, along with Steve Karsay at 32 and Buddy Groom, who I've never heard of, with 31. Then they had Darrell May, Aaron Small, Scott Proctor, and Wayne Franklin who were at 26, 25, 16, and 14 respectively, plus two more jokers with 2 apiece. It was death by 1000 journeymen for the Braves here.

Funnily enough, when I added them up by going down the BBref list in order, they were still trailing the Braves by 24 wins until the very last guy on their list, Ramiro Mendoza, who pitched all of 1 inning for the '05 Yanks, in what was his last MLB appearance. He contributed the 59 to put them over the top.

38. Maxwn Posted: February 09, 2010 at 10:24 PM (#3457294)

The most amazing thing I noticed in adding these up was the average wins of Braves starters. Only 7 guys started games for the '98 Braves and they averaged 205 career wins apiece. Of course that include 2 300 game winners, 2 200 game winners, 2 100 game winners, and Bruce Chen. By comparison, the '98 Yanks had 14 guys start games, and they average 98 career wins. Hell, that Braves number even tops that '23 Yankees staff that was mentioned earlier. That staff was basically 6 200 game winners plus George Pipgras with 100 and they only averaged 201 career wins. Man, I can't believe that Braves team lost to the f#$^ing Padres in the NLCS.

39. Davo the Magnificent Posted: February 09, 2010 at 10:49 PM (#3457322)

The 1894 Cleveland Spiders get off to such a good start!!!

Cy Young - 511
John Clarkson - 328
Tony Mullane - 284
Nig Cuppy - 162

Damn 19th century bullpens! They get almost nothign else, and end up at 1400ish.

40. Ron Johnson Posted: February 09, 2010 at 11:00 PM (#3457330)

#39 that's what got me looking at the 1923 Yankees. 6 guys at or near 200 wins and a pretty decent career from the #7 guy.

41. SoSH U at work Posted: February 10, 2010 at 01:13 AM (#3457421)

That 98 Braves team actually got 1865 career wins guys who pitched that year.

42. Infinite Monkey Typists Posted: February 10, 2010 at 03:04 PM (#3457721)

The 1966 Cubs are the winners with 2117 career wins. 1980 and 2005 Yankees are tied for 2nd at 1900.

The 66 Cubs had Robin Roberts (286), Fergie Jenkins (284), Larry Jackson (194), Curt Simmons (193), Ken Holtzman (174), Bob Buhl (166), Dick Ellsworth (115), Bill Hands (111), Fred Norman (104), Billy Hoeft (97), Ernie Broglio (77), Ted Abernathy (63), Chuck Estrada (50), plus another 8 guys contributing 203 total wins.

43. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 10, 2010 at 03:20 PM (#3457733)

Mariners sign P David Pauley, P Mike Koplove, P Chris Seddon, P Levale Speigner, P Steve Shell and C Guilliermo Quiroz and outright P Yusmeiro Petit and P Gaby Hernandez

Mets DFA P Jack Egbert and claim OF Jason Pridie off waivers

Padres release P Greg Burke to make room for C Yorvit Torrealba

Brewers sign P Chase Wright

List of non-roster invitees for all 30 clubs

44. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 10, 2010 at 03:35 PM (#3457746)

Holy Cow, IMT. That team would make a great hub in a Kevin Baconesque game. They cover at least 30 years from Roberts rookie year to the twilight of Holtzman's career.

45. Maxwn Posted: February 10, 2010 at 03:46 PM (#3457765)

2117 Wins. That would be hard to touch. The only way the '05 Yanks could catch them is if Chien-Ming Wang somehow resurrected his career, went on a Randy Johnsonesque post-30 tear and won 300 games. I guess I wouldn't bet on that.

46. ess eff Posted: February 10, 2010 at 03:48 PM (#3457767)

Holy Cow, IMT. That team would make a great hub in a Kevin Baconesque game. They cover at least 30 years from Roberts rookie year to the twilight of Holtzman's career.

Even longer because Curt Simmons debuted a year before Roberts.

47. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 10, 2010 at 04:26 PM (#3457799)

I looked it up. Simmons started in '47 and Fred Norman played all the way until 1980. And the manager had been in the game for quite a while.

48. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 10, 2010 at 06:31 PM (#3457947)

Giants sign P Todd Wellemeyer

Mariners sign P Jesus Colome

Both minor league deals.

49. Gary Truth Serum Posted: February 10, 2010 at 06:32 PM (#3457949)

It is correct that 1987 featured the last World Series day game, but 1988 was the last Series where a day game was scheduled. Except it was scheduled for Game 6 and wasn't necessary.

50. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 10, 2010 at 09:53 PM (#3458172)

Red Sox claim Gaby Hernandez on waivers from the M's (it had been reported that Hernandez had slid through). Correspondingly, Rob Manuel has been DFA'd.

Not sure why you take Gaby over Petit (ok - Fenway wouldn't be kind to Petit) but, whatev.

51. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 10, 2010 at 09:54 PM (#3458173)

Double post, maybe to make up for lost time.

52. Tom Nawrocki Posted: February 10, 2010 at 10:21 PM (#3458201)

There was an interesting note on Bill James' web site today:

"The age profile" of successful major league hitters declined quite markedly in the years 2004-2007. From 2007 to 2009 it moved back up a little bit, but. . ..in 2004 there were 19 major league hitters aged 36 or above having seasons of some quality. In 2009 there were 8.

A dropoff from 19 to 8 could be coincidence, but it's probably not. Has anyone else looked into this?

53. Cris E Posted: February 10, 2010 at 10:58 PM (#3458238)

Age is one of those things that varies a lot from year to year...

54. Davo the Magnificent Posted: February 11, 2010 at 12:09 AM (#3458299)

IMT: Thanks so much for finding that! I had no idea how to even begin researching it... I'm glad my initial guess wasn't that terrible.

55. Davo the Magnificent Posted: February 11, 2010 at 12:18 AM (#3458305)

2117 Wins. That would be hard to touch. The only way the '05 Yanks could catch them is if Chien-Ming Wang somehow resurrected his career, went on a Randy Johnsonesque post-30 tear and won 300 games. I guess I wouldn't bet on that.

It's a moot point, because everyone knows the 2009 Giants will hold the record by the time Lincecum retires:

Lincecum - 380
Bumgarner - 350
Zito - 310
Johnson - 303
Cain - 280
Penny - 275
Sanchez - 220
_________________

2,118.

56. Tom Nawrocki Posted: February 11, 2010 at 01:28 AM (#3458335)

I should have noted that James was discussing this in the context of the end of the steroid era.

57. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: February 11, 2010 at 01:59 AM (#3458358)

It's just as likely that an unusual number of guys with the stamina to have long careers came up at around the same time and retired at the same time.

The '80s saw an unusually low number of long careers, so people got used to that. At the moment, we have an unusual number of good young players in the majors. It's quite likely that 10-12 years from now, they'll constitute a high number of productive old players.

58. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 11, 2010 at 01:39 PM (#3458514)

Players who had minor roles on the 2004 Diamondbacks, at age 34 or older, and retired shortly thereafter:
Roberto Alomar
Carlos Baerga
Greg Colbrunn
Mike Fetters
Brent Mayne
Quinton McCracken
Shane Reynolds
Scott Service
Steve Sparks
Alan Zinter

59. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 11, 2010 at 02:46 PM (#3458547)

So they went to Arizona to retire? Do you have a similar list for Fla.?

60. Tom Nawrocki Posted: February 11, 2010 at 03:06 PM (#3458563)

The '80s saw an unusually low number of long careers, so people got used to that.

What do you mean? A long career by definition is going to stretch beyond a single decade. Are you saying few players who ended up with long careers debuted in the 1980s?

61. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 11, 2010 at 04:27 PM (#3458639)

The '80s saw an unusually low number of long careers, so people got used to that. At the moment, we have an unusual number of good young players in the majors. It's quite likely that 10-12 years from now, they'll constitute a high number of productive old players.

I do know that the young guys on the Cubs staff like Jenkins and Holtzman were part of the birth dearth before the Baby Boom so they were able to get an early start on their careers. I forget which cohort Simmons and Roberts were part of.

62. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 11, 2010 at 04:41 PM (#3458654)

So they went to Arizona to retire? Do you have a similar list for Fla.?

No, I just wondered why the 2004 Diamondbacks were so horrible compared to the 2003 and 2005 teams, and noticed that they had all these old guys making unnecessary cameos.

63. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 11, 2010 at 04:55 PM (#3458672)

No, I just wondered why the 2004 Diamondbacks were so horrible compared to the 2003 and 2005 teams, and noticed that they had all these old guys making unnecessary cameos.

Injuries?

64. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 11, 2010 at 05:04 PM (#3458682)

A major factor was that they had traded most of their roster for one year of Richie Sexson, who was, yes, injured.

How many teams have six players listed at bb-ref as "UT"? That seems like a lot.
(Colbrunn, Baerga, Zinter, Donnie Sadler, Andy Green, Tim Olson)

65. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 11, 2010 at 06:31 PM (#3458730)

Mets sign P Hisanori Takahashi and sign SS Rylan Sandoval, a UFA out of the Arizona Winter League

White Sox sign P Orber Moreno

66. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 12, 2010 at 08:20 PM (#3459561)

Mariners sign DH Mike Sweeney

Rays sign IF Angel Chavez and JJ Furmaniak

Reds re-sign P Kip Wells

Marlins sign 3B Mike Lamb

Mets sign yet another catcher - Shawn Riggans

Angels re-sign 1B Rob Quinlan

P Armando Gabino clears waivers for the O's

67. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: February 12, 2010 at 09:27 PM (#3459623)

I meant that a lot of superstars and guys who looked like they ought to have been superstars who debuted in the early and mid 80s (and late 70s) had shorter careers than most superstars who debuted from the late '80s on. That's anecdotal, of course.

68. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: February 12, 2010 at 09:40 PM (#3459632)

I meant that a lot of superstars and guys who looked like they ought to have been superstars who debuted in the early and mid 80s (and late 70s) had shorter careers than most superstars who debuted from the late '80s on. That's anecdotal, of course.

Asstroturf?

69. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 12, 2010 at 09:59 PM (#3459648)

Cocaine?

70. Der_K is getting more dogmatic. Posted: February 13, 2010 at 03:32 AM (#3459777)

Moustaches?

BA transactions. JK Ryu is back (Texas), so is Jermaine Van Buren (Taiwan->Fla), whilst (in news of the completely obscure) 2009's Mr. Irrelevant Alibay Barkley - we hardly knew ye (you should've gone juco, kid).

In other news, Felipe Lopez fired Boras (per Jason Stark). So... expect him to sign somewhere sooner than later.

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