OD Kwiz: Opening Day Starting Streaks per position

[Frayed Knot]

Which players have the longest active streaks starting in the same position for the same team on Opening Day?

I'll supply the league where the active leader plays, the number of consecutive years he's started on OD including his expected started on Thursday, and for fun I'll tack on the all-time leader at each spot.
You get to guess the active player in question (or you get to ignore this entirely)
A couple of these made me say: "Really, THAT many for him?!?"
As usual, try not to hog the board with too many consecutive guesses.


Catcher (NL), This guy holds the longest active run at any position as Thursday will mark his 14th consecutive year starting behind the plate on OD:
All-time leader = Ray Schalk who started 15 straight seasons with the ChiSox from 1913-1927

1st Base: (NL) 10 consecutive starts
Joe Judge - 17 w/the Washington Senators from 1916-1932

2nd Base: (AL*) 7 (and, no, it's not Dustin Pedroia as he'll begin the season on the DL, breaking his run at 12)
Lou Whitaker - 17 for the Tigers from 1978-1994

3rd Base: (AL) 7 (David Wright would be running out there for #14 tomorrow if not for his body parts falling off; instead he's now on his 2nd straight season of NOT starting)
Brooks Robinson 20 for the Orioles from 1957-76

Short Stop: (AL) 10
Cal Ripken 14, Orioles, 1983-96; Jimmy Rollins, Phillies, 2001-14

Left Field: (AL) 8 (stability in the midst of an unstable position as no other LF in the game has a streak of more than 3 years going)
Lou Brock, 13, StL, 1967-79

Center Field: (AL) 11
Willie Mays, 19, Giants, 1954-72

Right Field: 1 NL + 1 AL, 5 each. Both Giancarlo Stanton (8 years but a new team where he'll be DH'ing tomorrow) and Jose Bautista (7 years but not currently employed) are having their streaks broken tomorrow.
15, Roberto Clemente, Pirates, 1958-72

Pitcher: (AL) 10
Robin Roberts - 12, Phillies, 1950-61

[seawolf17]

The catcher has to be Yadier Fucking Molina.

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: The catcher has to be Yadier Fucking Molina.

Yup! Biggest gimme on the board IMO.
Russell Martin is actually right on his tail starting behind the dish in each of the last 12 seasons, but has done so for four different clubs (LAD, MFY, TBJ, Pitt) over that streak.


Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf

Edited March 28, 2018 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Votto is the first baseman

[seawolf17]

The center fielder is McCutchen?

[Frayed Knot]

Votto = Yes
McCutcheon = No. Remember the Pirates, to big fanfare, made him a RF a year or two ago. Besides, as noted, the CF is in the AL.



Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL



Incorrect = Andrew McCutcheon - CF

[HahnSolo]

3b: Beltre

[Frayed Knot]

HahnSolo wrote: 3b: Beltre

No. I believe he was hurt to start the season in one or two years.







Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL



Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B

[HahnSolo]

Ok then pitcher King Felix

[Frayed Knot]

Hahn reaches into his bag of tricks for the correct answer







Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL
2B - AL*, 7
3B - AL, 7
SS - AL, 10
LF - AL, 8
CF - AL, 11
RF - 1 AL + 1 NL, 5 each
P - Felix Hernandez -- Hahn Solo

And that asterisk is not a typo


Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B

[Fman99]

Thinking the 3B is Kyle Seager, from Seattle?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

SS: JJ Hardy?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

2B: Altuve

[Frayed Knot]

Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL
2B - Jose Altuve -- JCL
3B - AL, 7
SS - AL, 10
LF - AL, 8
CF - AL, 11
RF - 1 AL + 1 NL, 5 each
P - Felix Hernandez -- Hahn Solo


That asterisk was there to indicate that in only five of those seven years were Altuve's Astros in the AL. He was an NL'er for the first two even though it was obviously the same team.
Seager looked like he was going to be the answer for 3Bmen until the FA market didn't come through the way some hoped it would.

Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B
Kyle Seager
JJ Hardy

[Centerfield]

Ryan Braun.

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: Ryan Braun.

Nope. Perhaps you forget his drug suspensions?

[Edgy MD]

And his jumps from third to the outfield.

The shorty stop is Elvis Andrus.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: And his jumps from third to the outfield. The shorty stop is Elvis Andrus.

Yes! He was one of the guys I hadn't realized was around for as long as he's been. Hell, he's still only 29 y/o


Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL
2B - Jose Altuve -- JCL
3B - AL, 7
SS - Elvis Andrus -- Edgy MD
LF - AL, 8
CF - AL, 11
RF - 1 AL + 1 NL, 5 each
P - Felix Hernandez -- Hahn Solo


Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B
Kyle Seager
JJ Hardy
Ryan Braun

[Fman99]

So the 3B FA letdown comment means that I should have guessed Mike Moustakas from KC, mebbe?

[HahnSolo]

Another “I can’t believe he’s been playing there that long guy” has to be CF Adam Jones, right? I don’t think any other CF is close.

[Frayed Knot]

Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL
2B - Jose Altuve -- JCL
3B - Mike Moustakas -- FMan99
SS - Elvis Andrus -- Edgy MD
LF - AL, 8
CF - Adam Jones -- Hahn Solo
RF - 1 AL + 1 NL, 5 each
P - Felix Hernandez -- Hahn Solo


Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B
Kyle Seager
JJ Hardy
Ryan Braun

[Frayed Knot]

Turning over the remaining cards:

Catcher - Yadier Molina -- Seawolf
1B - Joey Votto -- JCL
2B - Jose Altuve -- JCL
3B - Mike Moustakas -- FMan99
SS - Elvis Andrus -- Edgy MD
LF - Alex Gordon
CF - Adam Jones -- Hahn Solo
RF - Kole Calhoun (LAA) + Yasiel Puig
P - Felix Hernandez -- Hahn Solo


Incorrect:
Andrew McCutcheon - CF
Adrian Beltre - 3B
Kyle Seager
JJ Hardy
Ryan Braun

[Edgy MD]

I might have gotten Gordon, given 100 guesses.

Calhoun? No idea.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, RF was the tough one, both for the guys and because it was the shortest streak of any position. As mentioned, it would have been Stanton and/or Bautista but neither played the field today.
Calhoun (and, hell, most of the Angels) have been essentially anonymous here on the east coast lately. And even Puig has had his ups and down on the other side of town but I guess never to start the year.

Gordon I thought would be snagged earlier. Same team his whole career and his rookie 3B days are now long in the rearview mirror.