In honor of Yogi‘s induction into the COG, a related quiz involving players who have a particular game accomplishment since 2012 that no other player has managed. What is it?

Or, maybe it is over? Congratulations to Richard Chester! He correctly identified that since 2012 only these players have produced the game-winning margin at the earliest possible moment, via a 1st inning lead-off home run on the road, en route to a shutout of the home team.  After the jump, more on getting ahead early and making it count.

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These players enjoy the distinction of a certain seasonal batting feat since 1901 of which only they can boast. What is it?

Bonus: Hebner’s season is the most recent with what related accomplishment?

Congratulations to the Goof and Stuart! They teamed up to solve the two parts of today’s quiz, both related to efficient run production. In particular, only our quiz players have a season since 1901 with 80+ RBI produced from fewer than 100 hits. Richie Hebner’s season doing that is also on a second list of players with an 80 RBI season since 1901, with RBIs amounting to more than half of total bases. More after the jump.

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Adam Dunn is now three years removed from his historic cratering to a 54 OPS+ in 2011. Since then, he has compiled almost as many strikeouts as total bases, but has still managed a modestly respectable 112 OPS+ with a nice total of 80 home runs and almost 200 RBI.

That one season of 54 OPS+ is the only time in Dunn’s 14-year career that he’s finished south of 100. While nobody else can say that about an OPS+ season in the 50s, other players have turned in truly dreadful campaigns the only time they’ve been below 100 OPS+. More after the jump on the very worst single seasons in otherwise consistently good careers.

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April has come and gone and warmer weather lies just ahead. That will be a relief for those players whose game tends to heat up with the weather.

But, this post is about other players, those who start the year hot. Over a career, there are some players who consistently play their best in the opening month. But, as this post shows, knowing that may not help you predict the league leaders in any given April.

After the jump, more on April’s heroes.

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These relievers are distinguished from their expansion era brethren by dint of an unusual seasonal accomplishment since 1961. What is it?

Looks as though this one is a stumper. The answer is that the quiz players are the only right-handed relief pitchers to post a season since 1961 with 100 ERA+ in 50+ IP, all in relief, while averaging one IP per apperance and one inherited runner per IP. While neither of those markers is unusual by itself, together they become very unusual indeed. More after the jump.

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Toronto visited frigid Minneapolis last week and played 3 games in sub-40 degree weather, the last two in a double-header occasioned by a snow-out the day before. But, that’s not what this post is about. Rather, it’s about what happened in the series finale when the Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead into the 8th inning, with apparently good prospects for splitting the twin-bill and taking the rubber match of the series.

But, it didn’t work out that way. Instead, assorted Toronto relievers walked 8 Twins in the frame, resulting in 6 runs scored with just one batted ball leaving the infield. Those 8 walks were among 12 issued during the game, only the 2nd time since 2012 that a team has been so generous in a 9-inning game. Going  back a little further, it was the 10th such game since 2008. But, that compares very favorably with the 6 prior years (2002-07) when there were 23 such contests.

After the jump, more on games when nobody on a pitching staff seems able to find the plate.

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While not all these players had fabled careers, all did reach the 1000 game milestone (or are on that trajectory) and all received MVP votes at some point in  their careers. But, that’s not the common thread connecting them.

What is the batting feat that only these players have achieved since 1914?

Congratulations to HowardR and Richard Chester! They teamed up to identify that only these quiz players have started a season since 1914 hitting safely in 20 or more consecutive games in which they had a PA. Those streaks and more are after the jump.

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All of these players could spark an offense, but in a variety of different ways. So, what is the unusual batting feat that only they have achieved since 1914?

Congratulations to Voomo Zanzibar (mostly) and RJ! They teamed up to identify that the quiz players are the only AL batters since 1914 to have homered in four consecutive games at the top of the batting order. Those streaks and more are after the jump.

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What career feat distinguishes these sluggers from among all players to play their entire careers since 1901?

Congratulations to David P and Insert Name Here! They teamed up to identify that only these quiz players have had 5 consecutive seasons since 1901 (excluding seasons lost entirely to military service, in the case of Ted Williams) with 25 home runs, 30 doubles and 100 RBI, while playing at the same primary position (at least 50% of games) in each of those seasons.

More on these most consistent sluggers after the jump.

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Great teams require great players. Sounds simple. But, how do you get those great players?

Historically, with teams essentially owning their players for life (if the team chose to) the answer was to find and develop the star talent you would need to win a championship. But, has that formula changed with the advent (and now maturity) of free agency?

More after the jump.

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