Frayed Knot

Nathan = Yes Dickey = No (first ML game was 2001) Ramirez = Yes Hudson = Yes Burnett = Yes Abreu = No, he formally retired (which means I should have had him with the 2014 players) I'll update the chart later Three remaining

PLAYERML DebutFirst ClubLast ClubLast Date Played2015?ALEX RODRIGUEZJul 8, 1994MarinersYankees��First game played since 9/25/13LaTROY HAWKINSApr 29, 1995TwinsRockiesWith RockiesJASON GIAMBIMay 8, 1995A�sIndiansSep 27, 2014Formally RetiredDEREK JETERMay 29, 1995YankeesYankeesSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredJAMEY WRIGHTJul 3, 1996RockiesDodgersSept 27, 2014Released by Texas on 3/31ERIC CHAVEZAug 27, 1986A�sD�BacksJun 8, 2014Formally RetiredRAUL IBANEZSep 1, 1996MarinersRoyalsSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredBARTOLO COLONApr 4, 1997IndiansMetsOpening Day StarterTORII HUNTERJul 8, 1997TwinsTigers��Back with TwinsDAVID ORTIZSep 2, 1997TwinsRed Sox----Red SoxPAUL KONERKOSep 8, 1997DodgersWhite SoxSep 28, 2014Formally Retired��May 26, 1998����������Jun 24, 1998��������BRUCE CHENSep 7, 1998BravesRoyalsAug 28, 2014in Cleveland org��Sep 9, 1998����������Sep 14, 1998����������Apr 21, 1999��������KYLE FARNSWORTHApr 29, 1999CubsAstrosJun 25, 2014???��Jun 8, 1999��������RANDY WOLFJun 11, 1999PhilliesMarlinsJun 14, 2014???JOHN McDONALDJul 4, 1999IndiansAngelsSep 28, 2014???��Aug 17, 1999��������BUDDY CARLYLEAug 29, 1999PadresMets��1st save ever on OD!!JOSE MOLINASep 6, 1999CubsRaysSep 28, 2014???ALFONSO SORIANOSep 14, 1999YankeesYankeesJuly 5, 2014Formally Retired

- So many Mets fans pre-declared that games were going to be lost this year because of inadequate defense at SS ... and in Game 1 they were right!! - It was the curse of Dan Uggla. Uggla didn't get the error but it seemed like everyone's lack of CAHNfidence in him on that pop-up caused the error. I think Scherzer & the catcher Ramos were the only ones who didn't run out there to help. - Nats actually had three errors yesterday: Desmond's two plus Bryce Harper's haircut - Wilmer also had a 1st pitch pop-out w/a runner on 3rd - I was OK with Blevins for Harper even before I knew Mejia was out. I guess they didn'tt yet know about mejia when Torres was finishing his inning or they would have sent him out for the 8th as well. His 7th was on very few pitches and the top of the lineup was up. - The save was Carlyle's first ever.

Yeah I had somehow managed to leave Papi out of my original chart, but he's in there now. So there are actually 10 players in addition to the three already named. A baker's dozen rather than just a plain dozen. PLAYERML DebutFirst ClubLast ClubLast Date Played2015?----Jul 8, 1994������LaTROY HAWKINSApr 29, 1995TwinsRockiesWith RockiesJASON GIAMBIMay 8, 1995A�sIndiansSep 27, 2014Formally RetiredDEREK JETERMay 29, 1995YankeesYankeesSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredJAMEY WRIGHTJul 3, 1996RockiesDodgersSept 27, 2014Released by Texas on 3/31ERIC CHAVEZAug 27, 1986A�sD�BacksJun 8, 2014Formally RetiredRAUL IBANEZSep 1, 1996MarinersRoyalsSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredBARTOLO COLONApr 4, 1997IndiansMets��Opening Day Starter��Jul 8, 1997��������DAVID ORTIZSep 2, 1997TwinsRed Sox----Red SoxPAUL KONERKOSep 8, 1997DodgersWhite SoxSep 28, 2014Formally Retired��May 26, 1998����������Jun 24, 1998��������BRUCE CHENSep 7, 1998BravesRoyalsAug 28, 2014in Cleveland org��Sep 9, 1998����������Sep 14, 1998����������Apr 21, 1999��������KYLE FARNSWORTHApr 29, 1999CubsAstrosJun 25, 2014???��Jun 8, 1999��������RANDY WOLFJun 11, 1999PhilliesMarlinsJun 14, 2014???JOHN McDONALDJul 4, 1999IndiansAngelsSep 28, 2014???��Aug 17, 1999����������Aug 29, 1999��������JOSE MOLINASep 6, 1999CubsRaysSep 28, 2014???ALFONSO SORIANOSep 14, 1999YankeesYankeesJuly 5, 2014Formally Retired

PLAYERML DebutFirst ClubLast ClubLast Date Played2015?----Jul 8, 1994������LaTROY HAWKINSApr 29, 1995TwinsRockiesWith RockiesJASON GIAMBIMay 8, 1995A�sIndiansSep 27, 2014Formally RetiredDEREK JETERMay 29, 1995YankeesYankeesSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredJAMEY WRIGHTJul 3, 1996RockiesDodgersSept 27, 2014Released by Texas on 3/31ERIC CHAVEZAug 27, 1986A�sD�BacksJun 8, 2014Formally RetiredRAUL IBANEZSep 1, 1996MarinersRoyalsSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredBARTOLO COLONApr 4, 1997IndiansMets��Opening Day Starter��Jul 8, 1994��������PAUL KONERKOSep 8, 1997DodgersWhite SoxSep 28, 2014Formally Retired��May 26, 1998����������Jun 24, 1998��������BRUCE CHENSep 7, 1998BravesRoyalsAug 28, 2014in Cleveland org��Sep 9, 1998����������Sep 14, 1998����������Apr 21, 1999��������KYLE FARNSWORTHApr 29, 1999CubsAstrosJun 25, 2014???��Jun 8, 1999��������RANDY WOLFJun 11, 1999PhilliesMarlinsJun 14, 2014???JOHN McDONALDJul 4, 1999IndiansAngelsSep 28, 2014???��Aug 17, 1999����������Aug 29, 1999��������JOSE MOLINASep 6, 1999CubsRaysSep 28, 2014???ALFONSO SORIANOSep 14, 1999YankeesYankeesJuly 5, 2014Formally Retired

We appear to be down to just an even dozen players active on Opening Day 2015 rosters who were also playing ML baseball back during that slice of ancient history known as the 1990s. The chart below, arranged by order of debut date, fills in all those who were active during 2014 but have since retired (officially or not, voluntarily or otherwise) or, at least as of this moment, have failed to make active rosters. Those left blank are the 12 who are on 25 man rosters as of yesterday. PLAYERML DebutFirst ClubLast ClubLast Date Played2015?----Jul 8, 1994��������Apr 29, 1995��������JASON GIAMBIMay 8, 1995A�sIndiansSep 27, 2014Formally RetiredDEREK JETERMay 29, 1995YankeesYankeesSep 28, 2014Formally RetiredJAMEY WRIGHTJul 3, 1996RockiesDodgersSept 27, 2014Released by Texas on 3/31ERIC CHAVEZAug 27, 1986A�sD�BacksJun 8, 2014Formally RetiredRAUL IBANEZSep 1, 1996MarinersRoyalsSep 28, 2014Formally Retired��Apr 4, 1997����������Jul 8, 1994��������PAUL KONERKOSep 8, 1997DodgersWhite SoxSep 28, 2014Formally Retired��May 26, 1998����������Jun 24, 1998��������BRUCE CHENSep 7, 1998BravesRoyalsAug 28, 2014in Cleveland org��Sep 9, 1998����������Sep 14, 1998����������Apr 21, 1999��������KYLE FARNSWORTHApr 29, 1999CubsAstrosJun 25, 2014???��Jun 8, 1999��������RANDY WOLFJun 11, 1999PhilliesMarlinsJun 14, 2014???JOHN McDONALDJul 4, 1999IndiansAngelsSep 28, 2014???��Aug 17, 1999����������Aug 29, 1999��������JOSE MOLINASep 6, 1999CubsRaysSep 28, 2014???ALFONSO SORIANOSep 14, 1999YankeesYankeesJuly 5, 2014Formally Retired

First of all: 24 ENTRIES!! Nice participation folks. The answers to TWO of the questions were unanimous: (Q #22) that d’Arnaud would get more PAs than Plawecki (not so surprising) and (Q #9) that Niese would remain on the team all year - maybe more surprising there, a tribute to his lefthandedness perhaps. Summary: Grandy leads in HRs: YES = 3 (Sharpie, BMFC1, and … ME put our faith in the Grandy Man - or lack of faith in others depending on how you want to look at it) Mejia leads in saves: YES = 18 of the 24 votes On roster all year? 3) Gee: YES = 16 4) Colon: YES = 8 5) d’Arnaud: YES = 22 (Ceetar & Zvon going against the grain on this one) 6) Recker: YES = 8 7) Murphy: YES = 12 (hmmm, exactly 50/50) 8) Tejada: YES = 8 9) Niese: YES = 24 10) Collins: YES = 23 (Han Solo is the lone man who sez no) OVER/UNDER 11) Duda 29.5 HRs: OVER = 11 12) Cuddyer 119.5 Games: OVER = 16 13) Mejia 19.5 Saves: OVER = 15 14) Flores 449.5 PAs: OVER = 18 15) Colon 17.5 Starts: OVER = 14 16) Wright 21.5 HRs: OVER = 19 17) Nieuwenhuis 199.5 PAs: OVER = 9 18) Syndergaard 19.5 Starts: OVER = 2 (Ceetar & MFS ’62) 19) Matz 9.5 Starts: OVER = 4 20) Nimmo 49.5 PAs: OVER = 6 EITHER/OR 21) More PAs - Murphy or Herrera: 22/2 in favor of MURPHY (Kong & JCL are the dissenters) 22) More PAs - Nieuwenhuis or Mayberry: 15/9 MAYBERRY 23) More PAs - d’Arnaud or Plawecki: 24/0 d’ARNAUD 24) More Saves - Parnell or Familia: 15/8 FAMILIA 25 More IPs - Gilmartin or Leathersich: 18/6 GILMARTIN Maybe I'll look to do quarterly updates on how our answers are looking.

Centerfield wrote: Sounds like Mejia is done for the year and they all know it. Where is this info coming from?

For a while there it was looking like the first hit thing wasn't going to be broken until Wednesday.

Your entry will be accepted except you first need to correct your answer for Q #24 where, when asked to pick between Familia and Parnell, you chose Mejia.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Blue Jays should be going with Dickey but otherwise heading out for a lunchtime listen in Bryant Park. One hit thru four complete for Yanx hitters (McCann single) so we probably shouldn't tag the Jays too much for starting the wrong guy. A 5-run 3rd for the Jays off Tanaka after he K'd three of the first four hitters he faced. But then the Jays started laying off his low splitters & sliders and it doesn't look like he trusts his reduced velocity fastballs that this partially torn elbow has forced him into. Reliever Chris Martin is now in to pitch the 5th as the Yanx consciously uncouple themselves from Tanaka after 4 innings and about 80 pitches.

Edgy MD wrote: I'm glad the Mets didn't give up on Sandy as quickly and aggressively as the Braves have given up on Wren. They're dealing off his contracts like they're contagious. When two of your bigger contracts bomb as badly as did the Uggla for five years and the BJ/MJ Upton for four did then I guess the only thing to do is treat them as if they ARE contagious. Now Kimbrel is the first of Wren's non-FA deals that they're spinning off and there you figure the idea is that, while spending on a lock-down closer made sense for the team they thought they had a year or so ago, it no longer does now. However this all works out, the one thing you can't accuse the Atlanta/Cobb County front office of is INaction. What a wild ride it's been for that team, personnel wise, over the last 2-3 years.

Zvon » April 5th, 2015, 8:59 pm Nunthin' like sliding in just under the wire there, Z.

On Question #25: KC - You answered 'Familia' when the question was Gilmartin or Leathersich Lefty Specialist - You answered 'Neither' on that same question. No pushes allowed here, choose one or the other (and since Gilmartin has made the OD roster I assume you're going to opt for him)

It's those tack-on "competitive balance" picks (which I don't totally understand) which can be traded. So Sandy Eggo, which apparently qualified for one by meeting the qualifications as a smaller-revenue team, can deal their 2015 one to Los Bravos. So I reckon the Braves can now deny that 'Melvin' Upton never really played for them even though an exact twin of his named B.J. once did.

HOLY SHITE!!! Padres have been loading up this winter just as fast as the Braves have been bailing.

It may also be a case of thinking that an exposed pitcher now would get swiped up immediately where in a few weeks they might be more likely to slide through waivers. Or maybe it buys time for to work out a trade for one of them. Or maybe it's none of that, what do I know?

Approx 29 hours left (till 9 PM Sunday) to make an entry or edit an existing one.

You gotta figure that 8/4 split will be a short term one ... at least I hope it is.

G-Fafif wrote: Surprised MLB doesn't market today as Superfluous Exhibition Saturday, brought to you by whatever sponsor helps you get rid of whatever you don't need. Overstock.com? Craigs List?

MLB.TV folks, free of charge.

As I recall not all of those programming suggestions would necessarily please the team owners. IIRC, 'CSI: Flushing' was one of the proposals. In their pilot program I believe the squad was going to seek to find the fingerprints on the Scott Kazmir trade since no one ever actually owned up to it being their idea.

They don't want to play Murphy in Texas because then if they do need to DL him they couldn't back-date it. As things stand now he's been playing only in minor league (read: non tickets sold) games so the team can essentially custom design the length of his DL stint if they so choose.

Ceetar wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Pretty much the only thing I watch on SNY is Mets Hot Stove. Most of the other stuff that would interest me is blacked out in my area. But I think they would benefit from a smart talk show, to counter all of the dumb talk shows that they have in abundance. A Bob Costas and/or 60 Minutes kind of thing that would, in each episode, take a serious in-depth look at a local sports issue. do those exist? even in a non-Mets sense? HBO has their 'Real Sports' series where they examine sports-related issues in a '60 Minutes' style 3-4 topics per/hour format. Hosted by Bryant Gumbel with a staff of actual journalists, it runs about once a month or so. And '60 Minutes' itself licenses its name to (I believe it's) Showtime for, what else?, '60 Minutes - Sports', something which I assume is along the same lines as 'Real Sports' although I don't know that I've ever seen that one. Problem with those kinds of shows is I suspect they're expensive to create and produce and are probably beyond the budget of these local networks. And of course the larger problem is that these networks essentially exist for just one purpose but then struggle to find enough programming to fill the 21 hours/day when the home team isn't playing, not to mention entire off-seasons.

Yeah, it's not a bad start time, just makes the wait longer is all. All teams are starting on Monday (except for Cubs/Cards Sunday night) so no fans have that really awful wait where you start full day or day and a half after everyone else. Wonder if they ever considered going to an all Sunday start? It would fit perfectly with all day-time starts that you'd want and would put it on a no-school/no-work day. Yeah tomorrow's Easter but it wouldn't be Easter Sunday every year and it's not like they don't play on that day anyway. And, although I wouldn't advocate moving schedules just to go around other sporting events, a Sunday kickoff would make it so OD falls between the semis and finals of the college hoopathon and assures that your 1st full Sunday sked doesn't clash with 'The Masters' like it often does now. The downside, I guess, is that having OD on a weekday gives each team a (probable) sell-out on a Monday or Tuesday in April, a day where you wouldn't ordinarily get one. Manfred seems willing to at least consider tinkering with these kinds of traditions if they no longer serve whatever purpose they originally had, maybe the season starting day is one of those things on his to-be-condered list.