In the Beginning Quiz

[Guest AG/DC]

One thing lost with Julio Franco: having come into the light August 23, 1958, he was the last player, by a longshot, to have lived in a time when there were no Mets.

Now that Julio has moved on, can you name the ten oldest big-leaguers who have appeared so far in 2008?

[Gwreck]

Jamie Moyer
Randy Johnson
Tom Glavine
Greg Maddux
John Smoltz

I'll leave the position players to others...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My guess at oldest position players:

Moises Alou
Luis Gonzalez
Frank Thomas
...uh...
Rich Aurelia
um...


Also old:
Timlin
Wakefield
Flash Gordon
Kenny Rogers

[Guest AG/DC]

I made not distinction between position players and pitchers:

Exetending the list to 12, we've got:

1. Moyer-PHI 1962-11-18, 45 (Gwreck)


2. Johnson-ARI 1963-09-10, 44 (Gwreck)


3. Rogers-Det 1964-11-10, 43 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


4. Glavine-ATL 1966-03-25, 42 (Gwreck)


5. Maddux-SDP 1966-04-14, 42 (Gwreck)


6. Alou-NYM 1966-07-03, 41) (OPP, John Cougar Lunchbucket)


7. Wakefield-Bos 1966-08-02, 41 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


8. Smoltz-ATL 1967-05-15, 41 (Gwreck)


9. ?


10. Gonzalez-FLA 1967-09-03, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


11. ?


12. Gordon-PHI 1967-11-18, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)

[DocTee]

Trevor Hoffman?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

="AG/DC"] Moyer-PHI 1962-11-18, 45 (Gwreck) Johnson-ARI 1963-09-10, 44 (Gwreck) Rogers-Det 1964-11-10, 43 (John Cougar Lunchbucket) Glavine-ATL 1966-03-25, 42 (Gwreck) Maddux-SDP 1966-04-14, 42 (Gwreck) 5.5------------>John Cougar Lunchbucket, 1966-06-10, 41 Alou-NYM 1966-07-03, 41) (OPP, John Cougar Lunchbucket) Wakefield-Bos 1966-08-02, 41 (John Cougar Lunchbucket) Smoltz-ATL 1967-05-15, 41 (Gwreck) ? Gonzalez-FLA 1967-09-03, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket) ? Gordon-PHI 1967-11-18, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)

[Guest AG/DC]

1. Moyer-PHI 1962-11-18, 45 (Gwreck)


2. Johnson-ARI 1963-09-10, 44 (Gwreck)


3. Rogers-Det 1964-11-10, 43 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


4. Glavine-ATL 1966-03-25, 42 (Gwreck)


5. Maddux-SDP 1966-04-14, 42 (Gwreck)


6. Alou-NYM 1966-07-03, 41) (OPP, John Cougar Lunchbucket)


7. Wakefield-Bos 1966-08-02, 41 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


8. Smoltz-ATL 1967-05-15, 41 (Gwreck)


9. ?


10. Gonzalez-FLA 1967-09-03, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)


11. Hoffman-SDP 1967-10-13, 40 (DocTee)
    
12. Gordon-PHI 1967-11-18, 40 (John Cougar Lunchbucket)

Who is that mystery meat at number nine?

[DocTee]

Mystery meat?

Karl Ehmer? Frank Perdue? Oscar Meyer?


Troy Percival?

[Guest AG/DC]

No, not one of those. In truth, if this guy was a food, he'd be a vegetable.

He's only appeared in 12 games against the Mets in his career.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mike Timlin (I looked him up since I'd already guessed above) belongs between Rogers and Glavine.

Born 3-10-66

[Guest AG/DC]

I totally missed Timlin. The guy's got 6.3 innings and four decisions this year.

I was looking for Doug Brocail. I knew nothing about how ths guy made it into this list. So here's ten things I found out about Doug Brocail.

1. Out of the bigs from 2001-2003, mostly recovering from elbow surgery.



2. Underwent angioplasty in 2006.



3. He has five daughters, all with last names that sound like first names: Taylor, McKinzie, Madisyne, Camdyn, and Parker Elizabeth.



4. The names Camdyn and Parker are homages to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.



5. June 6-16, 1993, gave up homers to opposing pitchers in three consecutive starts.



6. Was invovled in a notorious incident in Oakland in 2004 when a fan heckled him supposedly about his stillborn child. Fellow reliever Frank Francisco, then just a rookie, hurled a folding chair at the fan, breaking the nose of the heckler's wife. Brocail actually pitched later in the game.



7. Known as a red ass, despite letting a rookie do his dirty work in Oakland.



8. Once again, I forget what eight was for.



9. Under GM Randy Smith, he was involved in a 12-player trade, a nine-player trade, and a six-player trade.



10. He's had some closer action this season as Jose Vaverde has scuffled.

[Benjamin Grimm]

AG/DC wrote: The names Camdyn and Parker are homages to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

And as we know, Chipper Jones named his child (daughter?) after Shea Stadium.

I hope this trend doesn't continue as we move forward into the corporate-name era. I'd hate to think of a generation of children with names like "Progressive" or "Petco."

Or worse, "Citi" which rhymes with "shitty" for goodness sakes!

[Centerfield]

="AG/DC"] Was invovled in a notorious incident in Oakland in 2004 when a fan heckled him supposedly about his stillborn child. Fellow reliever Frank Francisco, then just a rookie, hurled a folding chair at the fan, breaking the nose of the heckler's wife. Brocail actually pitched later in the game.

I don't remember ever hearing that aspect of the story. I hope that if I ever run into that fan, there will be a chair within reach.

[Guest AG/DC]

Craig Bueno:

[DocTee]

To make matters worse, Bueno, who admitted purchasing those tickets (near the visitor Bullpen) so that he could "get on those guys a bit" is a public servant (police officer I think, though maybe a fireman).

[HahnSolo]

AG/DC wrote: Craig Bueno:

"Despite all appearances, my husband's not a complete asswipe. Look at this sweet blouse he bought me for this press conference."

[Guest themetfairy]

="Centerfield"] ="AG/DC"] Was invovled in a notorious incident in Oakland in 2004 when a fan heckled him supposedly about his stillborn child. Fellow reliever Frank Francisco, then just a rookie, hurled a folding chair at the fan, breaking the nose of the heckler's wife. Brocail actually pitched later in the game. I don't remember ever hearing that aspect of the story. I hope that if I ever run into that fan, there will be a chair within reach.

People like that should be barred from ballparks for life.

It's one thing to boo or razz a player (we can debate that, and we have), but that kind of behavior goes beyond all standards of decency.

[metsmarathon]

="AG/DC"] He has five daughters, all with last names that sound like first names: Taylor, McKinzie, Madisyne, Camdyn, and Parker Elizabeth.

wow!

i do wonder, though, what are the girls' first names?

[Guest AG/DC]

To be fair, I'm not sure if the facts were ever conclusively sorted out. The fan makes no bones that he was heckling (even chose those seats to be a jerk where he could be heard), but denied the specifics of what he said.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've been told that it's fun to be a jerk at the ballpark.

[nymr83]

it certainly is. but "you suck" is more than enough, theres no reason to get personal about the guy's family and stuff

[Guest AG/DC]

="metsmarathon"] ="AG/DC"] He has five daughters, all with last names that sound like first names: Taylor, McKinzie, Madisyne, Camdyn, and Parker Elizabeth. wow! i do wonder, though, what are the girls' first names?

Grumble.

[Centerfield]

I don't have any set rules on this sort of thing, but if I had to go off the top of my head, this is what I'd say about razzing an opposing player:

Anything to do with his play or his contract ("you suck, you're overpaid") - Perfectly OK.

Anything to do with appearance ("You're fat") - Ok I guess. He's a public figure.

Personal/Family life ("If I were your wife I'd leave you too") - Probably off limits, unless it's a really harmless thing

Serious Illness - Over the line.

Death in the Family - Not even human.

[Guest sharpie]

Where does razzing Barry Bonds about steroid use rate? Or players with drug problems?

[Guest themetfairy]

There's a line between being a run of the mill jerk and being a total douchebag.

[Centerfield]

I would consider steroid use fair game. Drug problems are a bit harder. If a guy gets caught smoking weed, I'd say that was ok. But if someone was dealing with a serious addiction, that might be another story. Of course, drug use is voluntary, and they should be held accountable...but I wonder if at some point there has to be sympathy for those trying to break an addiction. I wouldn't do it, but I don't think I would have strong feelings if someone did.

[Guest themetfairy]

Centerfield wrote: I don't have any set rules on this sort of thing, but if I had to go off the top of my head, this is what I'd say about razzing an opposing player: Anything to do with his play or his contract ("you suck, you're overpaid") - Perfectly OK. Anything to do with appearance ("You're fat") - Ok I guess. He's a public figure. Personal/Family life ("If I were your wife I'd leave you too") - Probably off limits, unless it's a really harmless thing Serious Illness - Over the line. Death in the Family - Not even human.

Very reasonable guidelines, IMO.

[Guest themetfairy]

Jeff Pearlman chimes in re: drug addiction.