Jeter goes 0 for 5 and gets me no points?

I'm not liking it, SB. Even if he is cute.

And I'm really not liking this freakin' Seattle pick, CS!

BL, don't forget the all-important pointless PS contest.

Yeah, I almost added to my total two days ago, but alas, Oakland scored one point for me. I guess we could start a "I'm number one" contest, but I don't have the energy. And that would be getting ridiculous!

Wed 7/18 (official)

MIN: Santana (11-6, 2.60 ERA) vs. DET
NYM: Maine (10-5, 2.91 ERA) @ SDG
BAL: Bedard (8-4, 3.22 ERA) @ SEA
CHC: Zambrano (11-7, 3.83 ERA) vs. SFO

Excuse me????? What were you thinking? Did I just read some Jeter trashing, or did I imagine it??

Gina, you broke my heart, you broke my heart.

BL, we need to get creative with this game. How about we dare each other to take a particularly dangerous pitching staff, perhaps once a week, and the gamble is which day we choose to take them. Who will get screwed over the most??

SB, I just wanted to lure you back into this thread. You're our ray of sunshine amid our grumpy rants and annoying whines, and it was the only surefire way I could get your attention. I never meant to hurt you!

By the way, at the dentist's office today, I think I saw three separate ads involving Jeter in the SI magazine I read. Of course, I thought of you.

I say that if, by the end of the second segment, we are a long way from first place then this sounds like a great idea! Maybe we can work out the rules over the next few weeks. Like maybe we have to pick a pitcher with a 5.00 ERA or worse. Maybe we have to choose the pitching staff for the other person. Something like that... I like you're idea though!

IF?

And leave GG out of it... she could win this!

Awww...

But I doubt it.

BL, I was half-kidding, but it would be interesting, wouldn't it?

You have to be careful kidding around about crazy ideas with me. I usually think they are great ideas and will do them.

You know that I'm always lurking...Tuesday night one of the guys I work with had tickets for the Yankee game. He was in the field level seats, right behind the dugout, about 10 rows back. He said that Jeter kept looking in the stands, right where he was sitting. He told me that he was SURE that Jeter was looking to see if I had come to the game with him. I told him that it was probably because he was sitting right near Jeter's parents' seats. Hmmmm, maybe this would have been more appropriate for the Ladies Thread.

Thurs 7/19 (unofficial)

SDG: Young (8-3, 1.97 ERA) vs. PHI (DB vs. JL)
PHI: Hamels (11-4, 3.83 ERA) @ SDG (JL vs. DB)
NYY: Wang (10-4, 3.43 ERA) vs. TOR
ATL: Hudson (9-5, 3.35 ERA) vs. STL
LAA: Escobar (10-3, 3.04 ERA) @ TAM

(DB vs. JL)

I guess this question wasn't too good.

Gaylord Perry had 16 losses when he won the award, and Eric Gagne had a 2-3 record, but 55 saves.

Can anyone tell me what the following pitchers have in common?

Don Larsen, Denny McLain, Red Ruffing, Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, Cy Young, Phil Niekro and Luis Tiant.

There are many others who share this common feature about them. This common feature was more prevalent among players in the first 40-50 years of baseball, and fewer pitchers in today's game acquire this commonality although it still occurs from time to time.

Niekro wasn't probably too upset by it, but Larsen probably wasn't too happy.

Bonus:

The following also have something in common. In fact there are a total of 377 major leaguers, who can claim this common trait. The youngest with this trait is Val Majewski, who played briefly in 2004. The oldest is Wes Fisler, who had a carrer average of over .300. Thus, what do Johnny Vander Meer, Andy Messersmith, Sean Casey, Al Downing, John Montefusco, Rick Cerone, as well as Hall of Famers Goose Goslin and Ducky Medwick, have in common?

I figured after what I said about Hamels in the Yahoo game, he'd pitch a no-hitter tonight.

SB, you know Jeter was looking for his Sicilian Babe.

KL, I'm even more befuddled than before with this new trivia, but I can't wait to find out.

For the first question... a little clue : There is only one active player who shares the thing in common with the other pitchers named. He was a Detroit Tiger when he acquired the common trait of those other players.

Hint for the second question: Of the members participating in the Challenge Game, one might reasonably conclude that Geoff would have the best chance of answering the question as he very well may share the common characteristic. In the world of entertainment, Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Murphy are also in this group.

They've picked up transvestite hookers

You're getting warm. You may have this trait, DMC;

Another clue for the bonus question: Laurel and Hardy do not have this in common, but Abbot and Costello do. Justices Alito and Scalia share the trait, but they are the only present Justices who do. The only president with this thing in common is Grover Cleveland. Simon and Garfunkel, yes yes; Sonny and Cher, no no. Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep have it while Oscar winners Robert DeNiro and Halle Berry don't. Literary figures with this trait include Stephen Crane and Norman Mailer.

I can't wait to find out the answer... then I'll know for sure whether to kick your ass or hug you

So the first one is something acquired?

And the second involves celebrities and even our own JG...so how can it connect with ballplayers??

Hmmmmm.

Edit: My guess is it has something to do with being born in or having lived in New Jersey. (Thanks to Wikipedia confirming a few... )

Is Gina getting warmer here? They are all "ball players"?

Bingo! All those players (and other people listed) were born in New Jersey.

Final clue for the first question: The active player who has this thing in common is Mike Maroth. There was a good bit of publicity surrounding him when he acquired this. The last pitcher before him to join this group was Brian Kingman in the early-80s.

Thurs 7/19 (official)

SDG: Young (8-3, 1.97 ERA) vs. PHI (DB vs. JL)
PHI: Hamels (11-4, 3.83 ERA) @ SDG (JL vs. DB)
NYY: Wang (10-4, 3.43 ERA) vs. TOR
ATL: Hudson (9-5, 3.35 ERA) vs. STL
LAA: Escobar (10-3, 3.04 ERA) @ TAM

Fri 7/20 (official)

BAL: Bedard (8-4, 3.22 ERA) @ OAK
DET: Rogers (3-1, 2.82 ERA) vs. KAN
LAA: Lackey (12-5, 2.98 ERA) @ MIN
NYY: Mussina (4-6, 4.61 ERA) vs. TAM

To lose 20 games in a season Klydon?

You may be right there, DMC. I vaguely recall the hoopla re: Maroth losing a lot of games a few years ago.

Man, KL's trivia is tough.

Yes, indeed.

Here's another with a hint...All of these have something in common, but it is not a common birth place although birth place is relevant. They are Rafael Palmeiro, Luis Aparicio, Larry Walker, Bobby Thomson, Pete Rose, Vinny Castilla, Andruw Jones, Roberto Clemente, Larry Walker, Ichiro Suzuki and Julio Franco.

Perhaps after next year Aparicio may no longer have the common trait, but a present SF Giant could join the list then.

Yeah, well, if I'm stay stuck where I am right now - last place!! - maybe I'll take you up on it.

Even with JG on top, I am not happy.

KL, I'm really enjoying this trivia, which could become a fun tradition here.

I hear that way too often...