Friday Night Trivia

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 7:05 PM CST in Statistical Analysis Comment 29 comments

Fun fact I stumbled on, cruising baseball-reference this evening.

Three shortstops led their team (among qualifiers--500 PA or so) in OPS last year. Who are they?

Feel free to make your guesses in the comments ... I'm can't stop you from poking around on b-r to find the answer, but if you do that, please don't post your findings until somebody guesses right.

Bonus question: A fourth shortstop would've led his team in OPS if he had 60 more plate appearances. Who is he?

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

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My guess, without looking, would be:

Jose Reyes
Hanley Ramirez (however you spell it)
and Miguel Tejada.

Pretty sure I’m wrong. I won’t bother guessing the bonus question.

Eric Gagne DL time: May 23-June 29 Brewers record in that span: 20-9

by NoahJ on Jan 9, 2009 7:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I knew the first 2

Hanley and Stephen Drew,
And Mike Aviles is definitely the bonus

I know the 3rd, and I’m going to wait for someone else to shock the world with it

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 9, 2009 7:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

well done

I discovered Aviles because I’ve been reading about the Royals today re: the Bloomquist signing. I had no idea he would be less shocking an answer to this question than the third guy.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As a fantasy expert

Aviles wasn’t that shocking, especially with the down years that Teahan, Gordon, and even jose guillen was.

And yes, I am a fantasy expert because I write about Fantasy baseball now. It’s the Mathew Berry approach.

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 9, 2009 8:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

it occurred to me that this is the sort of question a serious fantasy player would have a leg up on.

On the other hand, it’s not as easy as “which shortstops had the highest OPS last year.” On that list, Aviles, Drew, and our mystery guy wouldn’t have been as high up.

Knowing what Aviles did, it’s not all that shocking … but compared to what people expected out of aviles 12 months ago, it’s mind-blowing.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 8:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Got it

Ronny Cedeno

C. Magruder scored, R. Weeks to second on balk

by alkaseitzer on Jan 9, 2009 7:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

if you add his BA to his OPS, then yes :)

(barely)

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 7:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nick Punto!

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Jan 9, 2009 7:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's not even funny how close you are

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 9, 2009 8:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ok, it’s late for everyone except for Jamie, who is probably busy watching 50 first dates (“BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNGGGG IIIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!!!!!!”). The last answer is Christian Guzman of the Nats. Yes, Christian Guzman.

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 9, 2009 9:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Darnit, I was going to go with Brian Bocock

But seriously, that’s All-Star Cristian Guzman to you.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jan 9, 2009 10:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll have to write an article someday

about contracts that look awful, awful, awful … turn out to be as awful as expected, and then…suddenly seem ok.

I mean, remember the amazing internet snark when Guzman signed a 4 yr, $16MM deal before the ’05 season? It looked awful, and of course, Guzman was worthless for a while. But Guz was probably worth $8 or $10MM last year alone. Not that he did the Nats any good, but still.

Now, this 2 yr, $16MM extension, that’s another story. Would you rather have Cristian Guzman or Pat Burrell for that money?

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 10:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take 3.3 Aaron Mileses, please.

by Zeyes on Jan 10, 2009 5:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's 5.31 Aaron Kilometers to you, bub.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2009 6:55 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

Wow.

I have to admit I actually laughed out loud.

by oconnobe on Jan 10, 2009 8:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's most unfortunate. :)

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2009 9:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jim

that is the funniest thing you’ve ever typed. Good job

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 10, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Guys, stop encouraging him!

Seriously though…I LOL’ed, too.

by Zeyes on Jan 10, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

when he hits that 1 out of the many, many he tries, you have to give him his due.

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 10, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

YEAH!

hey, wait…

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Call him Tomo Johka?

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jan 10, 2009 1:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That joke was his switch-hitting, 4 RBI game

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on Jan 10, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope...

that joke was his this game

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 10, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

April 2004

Only one member of the Brewers who played in that game is still on the team. Any guesses?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2009 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Billy Hall

by oconnobe on Jan 10, 2009 3:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

did you at least catch the significance?

that joke was your cycle.

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 10, 2009 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I got it

I’m choosing to ignore it. :)

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2009 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought this, though I had to check some rosters w/out stats

More a testament to the badness of the Nats than the goodness of the Guzman

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on Jan 9, 2009 10:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this is fun.

maybe I’ll make Friday Night Trivia a regular off-season feature.

I certainly spend enough time on b-r to make it happen…

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 9, 2009 10:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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