In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I am producing a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Here we go ...
Mud Hens DH Brad Eldred leads the International League with 15 home runs after hitting one in Thursday’s win over Charlotte. I have a chart that indicates which IL player was the first to reach 20 home runs each season since 1987, and between 2006 and 2011 players from only THREE teams make the list. Which three IL teams are represented?
The answer to Thursday’s question? Mud Hens DH Brad Eldred leads the International League in home runs. Since 1987, what IL player was the fastest to reach 20 home runs in a season? The answer is former Mud Hen Mike Hessman in 2008, when he hit his 20th home run on May 28. Since 1987 – the most-recent season where this can be tracked – no IL player besides Hessman has ever reached 20 home runs before June 8 at the earliest.
Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and give us your answer! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Mud Hens with Hessman is one. The other two I'm going to guess with Columbus and Richmond/Gwinnett because they always seem to have a journeyman hacker on the roster.
Posted by: Phil | 05/11/2012 at 11:29 AM
Phil: Toledo is correct ... Once we get the teams, I'm going to look for names connected with seasons, but that's down the road.
Richmond/Gwinnett is incorrect, but Columbus is close. Had I added the 2003-05 seasons, Columbus would have been included (Mitch Jones in 2005), Fernando Sguignol in 2003. But for our question, Columbus is incorrect also.
Other guesses?
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 12:03 PM
Ahh, I was actually thinking of Seguignol when I guessed Columbus. I was a few years off.
I'll guess Durham because they have been among the best teams in the IL during this stretch record-wise.
Posted by: Phil | 05/11/2012 at 12:24 PM
Durham and Scranton Wilkes-Barre
Posted by: Pepper Leach | 05/11/2012 at 12:27 PM
Gentlemen: OUTSTANDING! I expected this question to last a LOT longer than this. Very impressive.
Of course I've got the follow-up ready ... Match the year with the team (and player, if you'd like to show off). I will get you started ...
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008: Mike Hessman, Toledo
2007:
2006:
2005: I gave you Mitch Jones, Columbus
2004: ??? Bonus points
2003: Fernando Seguignol, Columbus AND ??? Hint: Was supposed to be an Indians great but didn't pan out.
Good luck!
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 12:32 PM
2003: For the Indian great that never was, I'll go with Russell Branyan
I know Shelley Duncan (Scranton) is on there, as is current Charlotte Knight Dan Johnson (Durham); I'm just clueless with the years. I also remember former Hen Kevin Witt going on a tear with Durham and possibly winning IL MVP.
Posted by: Phil | 05/11/2012 at 01:56 PM
2006 - Kevin Witt, Durham
2007 - Shelley Duncan, Scranton Wilkes-Barre
Posted by: Pepper Leach | 05/11/2012 at 02:01 PM
Good start ... just let me clean up some things.
PHIL: No on the Indian great who never was. BIG HINT: Think Roberto Alomar trade. Look at Pepper's answer for the rest of the Witt story.
PEPPER: Right on the money with Witt. Right person, wrong year for Duncan.
HUGE HINT: Knowing the IL MVP will give you some, but not all, of the answers. Good luck!
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 02:39 PM
And Phil, forgot to say you are correct to include Dan Johnson. Just figure out the year and you are set!
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 02:42 PM
2003 - The Alomar trade was a big hint. The Tribe got young "can't miss slugger" Alex Escobar in that deal. One has to wonder if the latest "can't miss slugger" the Tribe got in a trade, Matt LaPorta, is falling to Escobar's level.
2004 -
2005 - Jones
2006 - Witt
2007 -
2008 - Hessman
2009 - Duncan
2010 - Johnson
2011 - Jesus Montero, Scranton
Posted by: Phil | 05/11/2012 at 02:57 PM
Phil: Nice work here ... You are incorrect on 2011, but everything else is good.
Alex Escobar is the right answer with 2003, tied with Fernando Seguignol of Columbus.
So all we're looking to do to finish this is get 2011 (last year) and 2004 and 2007, which should be embarrassing for Mud Hens fans ...
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 05:52 PM
2007 Mike Hessman, Toledo
2011 Jorge Vazques, Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Posted by: Pepper Leach | 05/11/2012 at 10:51 PM
2004 Jonny Gomes, Durham
Posted by: Pepper Leach | 05/11/2012 at 10:57 PM
Pepper: Terrific job on Vasquez, thank goodness you got Hessman in '07.
But it's a head-slapper to me that we're missing 2004. Here's a "give-it-away" hint ... the name in 2004 was the person who first jump-started this research. And he was the SECOND-FASTEST to 20 home run in this 1987-to-2011 span.
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/11/2012 at 11:59 PM
2004 Marcus Thames, Toledo
Posted by: Pepper Leach | 05/12/2012 at 10:22 AM
There you go! The complete list ...
2003 - Fernando Seguignol (Col) and Alex Escobar (Buf)
2004 - Marcus Thames (Tol)
2005 - Mitch Jones (Col)
2006 - Kevin Witt (Dur)
2007 - Mike Hessman (Tol)
2008 - Mike Hessman (Tol)
2009 - Shelley Duncan (SWB)
2010 - Dan Johnson (Dur)
2011 - Jorge Vasquez (SWB)
Posted by: John_Wagner | 05/12/2012 at 02:12 PM