Answers for the Unknown Poster

“Zippy” writes,

With Gerald Ford’s passing, it’s high time that you graded yourself on your pre-season Mariners predictions.

Well zippy (if that is your real name) on March 27th we determined the following

And the Envelope Please:

1. 78-84.
2. 4th place in the AL West, 17 games out of the wild card. I beat the Vegas line, but not the Zip-line

Advantage, Entropy 2-0

3. Richie Sexson, 34 HR.

Advantage, Entropy 2-1

4. Felix Hernandez went 12-14, and pitched 191 innings. I’m calling this one for the home team, since Felix did indeed develop an arm problem

Love 2-2

5. Yuniesky Betancourt, 20.

Advantage, Bhagwan 3-2

6. Hard to grade this one objectively. Comment was meant in a sarcastic fashion, that bavasi’s choice of a rookie shortstop would doom the Mariners’ playoff hopes. Since it did, I take victory. However, Management seems to not care at all, and in fact, had this to say on the subject:

…. The emergence of shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt (ed. 20 ERRORS), second baseman Jose Lopez (16 ERRORS), catcher Kenji Johjima (ed ) and outfielder Chris Snelling (34 games) have solidified Several key positions for us. Along with veterans Raul Ibanez ( .289 BA, 33 HR, .516 SLG .869 OPS, 123 RBI), Ichiro Suzuki (.322 BA, .370 OBP, 224 H. 695 AB), Richie Sexson ( 34 HR, .264 BA, .338 OBP, 156 H, 154 SO), and (ed. HA. HAHAH. HAHAHAHAAHHA) Adrian Beltre ( 25 HR, .268 BA, .328 OBP), there is a good foundation in place to build upon..

From later on in the same missive

…. During the second half of the season, the Mariners (ed. team salary $88 million) became the second youngest team in Major League baseball (only the Florida Marlins (ed. team salary $14 million) were younger), including the youngest pitching staff (ed. after the removal of 44 year old Jamie Moyer (5.7 million dollars) and 36 year old Eddie Guardado (6.5 million dollars)). This transition from a veteran team was by design and it bodes well for the future….

Gotta call this one a push.

Advantage, Bhagwan 3-2

7.

  • Ichiro Suzuki
  • born: October 22, 1973 Kasugai Japan
  • Bats: Left
  • Throws :Right
  • April: .287
  • May: .371
  • June: .386
  • July: .317
  • Aug: .233
  • Sept: .328
  • Oct: .500

Love 3-3

8.

  • Barry Lamar Bonds
  • born: July 24, 1964 Riverside, CA
  • bats: left (painfully)
  • throws: left (weakly)
  • 2006 salary $20,000,000
  • G:130
  • BA: 270
  • HR: 26
  • Career HR : 734
  • Saduhiro Oh
  • born: 1940
  • career: 22 Seasons
  • 20th year BA: .300
  • 20th year HR: 39
  • career HRs in 20th year: 805
  • career HR: 868
  • Number of times called before a Grand Jury : 0

Advantage, Bhagwan 4-3

9. Advantage, Bhagwan 5-3

10. Still have no idea. So my answer is technically correct.

Advantage, Bhagwan 5-3

And there you have it. Bhagwan is smarter than the universe, although I had forgotten the stock question, and had expected to go 8 for 10.

Next Victim.