By Chas
****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.
Judging by my nickname, some would suggest I was a major contributor to what many feel is one of the biggest problems in the game today. I would prefer to think of myself as a Moneyball player long before Billy Beane or Michael Lewis had any idea what that was. Interestingly enough, Beane came into the league as a player just as I was nearing the end of my career.
I got on base. That’s what I did best, and I’d say doing so almost 40% of the time over 6000+ plate appearances is pretty impressive. But, I could hit too. In fact, I batted over .300 in four separate years that I qualified for the batting title. I only reached double digits in homers four times, which was unusual for someone who was only an average defender at what’s considered one of the easier positions to play.
All my accolades came early in my career. I won the Rookie of the Year, then avoided the sophomore jinx by making my one and only All-Star team in my second year in the bigs. But, that was it, even though I played ten more years after that.
Unfortunately, I never made it to the postseason either, at least not as a player. I did as a manager, though. In fact, I managed the team I had played for the most to our first World Series in over 40 years. We lost, but we returned two years later, only to lose again, this time in heartbreaking fashion. We–or should I say they, considering they fired me a few years later–haven’t returned since. Or, maybe I should say we after all, since I was recently brought back as a consultant.
Who Am I?
Well 40 years is a long time so that narrows the list down…potential list that is. I believe the Cleveland Indians went to 2 world series in the 90s and lost.One of them was a Game 7 to the expansion Marlins. At first I was thinking John Hart but he was the GM..So I will have to go with Mike Hargrove.
Smitty! Nice one. What was Hargrove’s nickname? Was it “juice?” Is he back as a consultant?
Tough one here at the start. Looks like it’s probably a former left-fielder from the comment about easiest positions … or maybe 1B. I was thinking Dusty Baker for awhile til getting to the very end of the clues, but he’s managing the Reds now. I’m gonna have to start focusing on the World Series manager clues …. two losses as manager over 3 years. OK … gotta get to work … will be noodling this in the car. Vow to return. Hope some of the other Pinesters get involved!
Whoa … you guys are all over this. Awesome. Hargrove’s nickname had to be something like Marathon Mike … he stepped out after each pitch for what seemed like 5 minutes. Alright … off to work.
After the drive to work and thinking about Hargrove, I think I remember his nickname was really “The Human Rain Delay”. After EVERY pitch, he would step out, adjust EVERYTHING … both batting gloves, mess with his thumb, do the helmet, check his bat, adjust the belt, etc. A whole routine, everytime, after EVERY pitch. Totally annoying!
Anyway, I’m pretty sure he’s the answer. Fits all the clues. Cleveland lost to ATL in the World Series before losing to the Marlins. Hargrove didn’t have much power, but he sure got on base a lot. Started with the Texas Rangers as a player before going over to Cleveland. Nice work, Smitty!
So the biggest problem in the game today is the duration?
“One of the biggest problems,” Casey.
OK, maybe that was exaggerated, considering its relative importance to the steroid issue, but it’s often discussed that the length of games is what turns a lot of people off to baseball.
Way to nail it Smitty!
I guess it’s pretty safe to reveal now that Smitty is right. Mike “The Human Rain Delay” Hargrove is the answer. Credit to Wally for remembering his nickname.
I thought this would be a tough one up to the point of the clue about him managing a long-suffering team to two World Series losses in three years. But, I guess the ultimate test of a good WAI question is that it’s hard enough to give Wally just a little bit of trouble, but easy enough for somebody else to swoop in and beat him to the correct answer. 🙂
Very good, Chas. Enjoyed it! When I can’t figure it out during the morning shower and breakfast, it’s definitely a teaser. If the 40 min ride into work doesn’t produce results, there’s a chance nobody’s gonna get it.
Smitty totally slam-dunked this one though. Disappointed in Casey for thinking Hargrove’s nickname was Juice … seriously?!?!?
I think Casey was calling me out for referring to the duration of games as something wrong with baseball relative to steroids. I don’t think he was actually confusing Mike Hargrove with O.J. Simpson. 🙂
Kidding or not, duration of games is a problem for some teams and I think predominantly in the AL. I’m almost exclusively going to NL games now and they tend to last 2:20-2:40 … maybe that’s cuz the DisAstros don’t hit much, not sure. But I have noticed at their games that the time between innings is like maybe 3 minutes … seems quite fast compared to AL games.
How many RedSox or Yankmee 9 inning games that are typical 5-4 scores last well over 3 hours? LOTS! And God forbid they’re playing eachother … 4+ hours for sure.