So That's What a Well-Pitched Game Looks Like

In case you missed it last night, the Red Sox actually had a pitcher go seven innings and get a win.

Rick Porcello allowed just one run on three hits. He was superb in shutting down the Blue Jays as the Sox took two of three from Toronto, 4-1.

All the news was good on Wednesday. Hanley Ramirez hit his 10th home run of 2015, tied for the MLB lead with Nelson Cruz. He tied the team record for most home runs hit prior to May 1st.

Mookie Betts made another highlight-reel catch in center field, and the late inning bullpen team of Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara shut down Toronto in the last two innings. Koji looked vintage as he struck out the side in the ninth.

Yeah, it's been a rough last week pitching-wise for the Red Sox. I don't listen to sports radio any more, as it is a haven for knuckleheads. But I'll bet the cry on Boston radio has been for a shake up of the starting staff. Everyone wants to trade Wade Miley or Clay Buchholz. It just isn't happening right now. The Sox will go with the five they have now, and not rush any of their blue chip prospects up right now, like Brian Johnson or Eduardo Rodriguez.

And forget any deal for Cole Hamels right now. Prices are way too high, and the Phillies are content to wait until the deadline on July 31st. They clearly aren't going anywhere, so they can sit back and wait it out. Someone will blink and make them the best offer then. And there will be many teams going after Hamels, especially if he puts up good numbers this season.

And now, the Evil Empire makes its first trip to Fenway this weekend, with Justin Masterson, Wade Miley and Joe Kelly taking the hill. The Sox have allowed 119 runs in 22 games this year, the most in MLB. They need more games like last night to stem that tide. The Sox are not in a strong division, but averaging nearly 5 1/2 runs given up a game is not the recipe for any long term success.

Keep Calm. The Sox Will Pitch Better.

I got an interesting email from my friend Adam yesterday, who I have quoted from time to time on this blog. He is a dedicated Red Sox fan like I am, and this was from him about the struggles of the Sox' starting staff after Sunday's loss in Baltimore.

19 games is way too early to panic. All five members of the rotation have major-league track records that say they are solid. A stat like ERA are generally non-predictive because it doesn't really reflect individual performance. Right now, the Sox' rotation sits 8th of 15 AL teams by FIP; they're 6th best by xFIP and 5th by SIERA. Their results haven't matched their performance. In other words, they've been unlucky. While Miley's BB- and K-rates are a bit of a worry, we're only talking about 4 starts. Porcello has been pretty unlucky. 

 He sports a ridiculous 20.7% HR/FB, almost twice his career number. Remember when people like Buster Olney were talking about "red flags" and Clay Buchholz in the same sentence? If you take the MFY game away, Buchholz has thrown 19 inning in 3 starts, allowing 3 ER, and has struck out 26, while walking only 5 hitters. 

 I'm not saying Buchholz has "turned the corner." It's impossible to evaluate players based on a 19-game sample, and it's even harder to determine how good pitchers are based on 4 starts. Look, right now Jon Lester is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA. Is he a bust? Nope. He has a proven track record and FIP, xFIP, and SIERA all like him so far this year. The point is, Buchholz, Porcello, Miley, Kelly, and Masterson are solid veteran starters. One, two, or three bad starts are not predictive of a bad season. 

The Sox' IF defense is fine, assuming Bogaerts can play SS. Panda, Pedey, and Napoli are good defenders. Boston is also pretty solid behind the plate. In the OF, Betts is decent in CF and Victorino, when healthy, is good in RF. Hanley and Craig are awful, and Nava is average at best. 

 BTW, for those of you wondering, "FIP" is Fielding Independent Pitching, and it measures what a player’s ERA would look like over a given period of time if the pitcher were to have experienced league average results on balls in play and league average timing. "xFIP" is Expected Fielding Independent Pitching and it is calculated in the same way as FIP, except it replaces a pitcher’s home run total with an estimate of how many home runs they should have allowed given the number of fly balls they surrendered while assuming a league average home run to fly ball percentage. And "SIERA" is Skill Interactive Earned Run Average, and it estimates ERA through walk rate, strikeout rate and ground ball rate, eliminating the effects of defense, park and luck.

"The League of Outsider Baseball"

I just read a fascinating new book about some of the lesser known heroes of baseball throughtout the years, called "The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball's Forgotten Heroes."

It was put together by a professional artist and illustrator named Gary Cieradkowski. He searched the four corners of the baseball world for some of the most obscure baseball stories, and each subject has an illustration in the form of a portrait, almost like an old time baseball card.

There are plenty of the game's famous names included, like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Lefty Grove and Ted Williams. But the book's main focus is on stories of the lesser known names from the game, and it spans all different places, like the Negro Leagues, Japanese and Latin American players, female players, and plenty of "barnstormers, journeymen, rogues and odd balls." (The latter in the words of the author.)

I was fascinated with his section on The Black Sox, the White Sox players who were banned after throwing the infamous 1919 World Series, and what they did following their expulsion for MLB. The book also includes plenty of tragic figures, like Reds' catcher Willard Hershberger, who committed suicide during the 1940 season, Eddie Gaedel, the midget who batted once for the St. Louis Browns in 1951, and plenty of others whose names may not sound familiar but whose baseball dreams never amounted to much.

I was also interested in reading the baseball careers that some famous people from other areas once had, like Frank Sinatra, George H. W. Bush, Fidel Castro and Jack Kerouac.

There are also plenty of "I didn't know that" moments in the book, like the career of the real-life Moonlight Graham, whose one game MLB career was the basis of the movie "Field of Dreams." And that there was a baseball league of expatriate Americans in Russia after World War I. (That can ultimately be filed under "baseball tragedies".)

I did find a mistake or two in the book, but it well worth getting not just for the research but the excellent artwork that Cieradkowski has done. The book will be released on May 5th. I highly recommend to any baseball fan who enjoys reading about those players who were a little "out there."

15 Games: A Mixed Bag So Far

The first 15 Red Sox games of 2015 have been interesting to say the least.

The Sox are 9-6 and in first in the AL East. The division is very tight, as there is just two games separating top from bottom. They let one get away last night in St. Pete, as Joe Kelly blew a 5-1 lead in the 6th inning. He looked solid for the first five innings, but gave up four straight hits and a walk, and the game was tied at 5. In the next inning, John Farrell brought in Edward Mujica for some unknown reason, and he promptly gave up two runs, including a solo home run, and Tampa Bay went on to a 7-5 victory.

But once again, the Red Sox starters are NOT going deep in the game, and that is a concern. Starters have pitched at least 6 innings only 6 times so far this season, and that is clearly taxing the bullpen. The pen did a terrific job on Tuesday night in the 1-0 win over Tampa Bay, but couldn't get the job done last night.

Last night's game was also the 5th time the Sox have allowed 7 runs or more in a game. They are near the bottom in ERA in the AL right now.

The Sox will sink of swim with the five starters they have now. It's been mixed results so far, especially from Justin Masterson and Wade Miley. They were both solid this week, but both got lit up in their starts last week. Joe Kelly is averaging a strikeout an inning, and shows the stuff he can be a top-of-the-rotation guy. Rick Porcello has been bitten by the home run ball too much in the early going. And who knows which Clay Buchholz will show up on a given night.

I've been impressed with the Red Sox ability to make the opposition pay for their mistakes on defense so far. They lead MLB with 19 runs scored on unearned runs, and the opposition has made 22 errors against them so far. (The Sox won the 1-0 game on Tuesday after Mookie Betts slid hard into second and a DP throw was thrown away allowing Ryan Hanigan to score.) They are an opportunistic team so far.

And they haven't had a runner thrown out stealing yet this season, having gone 10-for-10 on the bases so far, the first time they have ever accomplished that feat.

In the 1-0 win on Tuesday, it was the first time since April 2005 the Sox won a 1-0 game on an unearned run. I remember the last time well, as I saw it live. It was the only time I have seen at a game a Camden Yards in Baltimore. And Matt Clement pitched eight scoreless innings that night for the win. Remember him? (My thanks to Allan at The Joy of Sox for the last two Red Sox factoids.)

There's a lot to like so far in this Red Sox season, and some things to be concerned about. It's a long year, so sit back and enjoy it.

"Billy Martin: Baseball's Flawed Genius"

As you all know, I am not a fan of the New York Yankees. But I was recently offered the chance to read a new book about the legendary manager Billy Martin, and I decided to give it a chance. It's called "Billy Martin: Baseball's Flawed Genius" by sportswriter Bill Pennington.

I'm glad I did.

It's the story of a complex man, who was best known for taking baseball teams and improving them and his legendary dustups with umpires. But he was far more than that. He led quite the colorful life, both on and off the field.

The book takes the reader back to Martin's days growing up in West Berkeley, California, and his eventual forays into organized baseball, and his relationship with Oakland Oaks and future Yankees manager Casey Stengel. Baseball was clearly Billy Martin's most important thing in life, even more than his family life.

But the book also highlights Martin away from the bright lights, delving into his religious faith. Billy was a devout Catholic. When he won the award for the 1953 World Series MVP, he was awarded a new car, a Cadillac. He very quietly gave the car to his local parish priest in West Berkeley, Father Dennis Moore, who had helped his family when they were struggling financially when he was growing up. He also spent many hours in church, looking above for guidance.

Pennington also portrays a man who was fascinated by history, and talked for hours on end with writers about subjects like the Civil War. But he also shows a man who had his demons, and alcoholism plays a very heavy role in the life of Billy Martin.

He also goes into great detail about some of the legendary incidents that Martin will forever be known for, such as the legendary fight at Copacabana in 1957 that eventually got him traded, his dugout confrontation with Reggie Jackson at Fenway Park in 1977, the fight in Baltimore with pitcher Ed Whitson in 1985 (that was especially interesting with all the minute details Pennington gives the reader), and many others.

No book about Billy Martin would be complete without a detailed description of his complex relationship with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. I thought Steinbrenner came off more sympathetic than anything else in this book. He hired/fired Billy 5 times, and had genuine affection for him. Steinbrenner was, of course, a paranoid blowhard, treated many employees like crap, but he is presented here more of a friend who cared for Billy. I suppose you could write a whole book just on their relationship alone, but that's for someone else to do.

Billy Martin clearly loved the limelight, and being a celebrity. He is also shown to be generous with people, such as giving outrageously high tips to regular people. But towards the end of his life, he is portrayed as a man looking for peace in his life. He had been through four marriages, and had settled outside of Binghamton, New York. But the old devil drink came back, after he had given it up for a while. And it would play a prominent role in the accident that caused his death on Christmas Day of 1989.

Martin was indeed a complex individual, and this new book takes us on a journey with this man, who 25 years after his sudden passing has been overlooked by many in the subject of MLB's best managers. "Billy Martin: Baseball's Flawed Genius" is definitely worth your time to read, whether he played for or managed your favorite team or not.

Glove, Speed, Power. Mookie Does It All.

It was The Mookie Betts Show for the 104th Opening Day in the history of  Fenway Park yesterday.

And I am so glad I was there to witness it live and in person with The BLOHARDS.

Mookie made his presence known right away, as he robbed Bryce Harper of a two-run home run in the first inning, as he leaped high above the bullpen to snatch it. And in the bottom of the first, with David Ortiz batting and a shift on, Mookie, on first base, stole second, and then immediately high-tailed it over to third, as no one was covering the bag, and just made it ahead of pitcher Jordan Zimmermann's tag. It was just the 11th time in the last 100 years a player stole two bases on one play. (The last being Dustin Pedroia last August.) He scored on Papi's single for the first Red Sox run.

With the score 4-0, Mookie came up with two on in the second, and hit a line shot into the Monster seats for his second home run and it gave the Sox a 4-0 lead.

It was a really bad day all around for the Nationals, as two outfield misplays were centered around a four-run Red Sox third, and it was 8-0. They knocked out Zimmermann, who was charged with 7 earned runs. David Ortiz added a home run into the Monster seats in center in the sixth that made it 9-2.

Rick Porcello went eight solid innings, giving up four runs. The bullpen needed the rest after being stretched out twice in New York. Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the 9-4 Opening Day win.

The Sox are now 10-1 in their last 11 openers at Fenway. But this day will be remembered for the heroics of one Markus Lynn Betts. We may have seen the emergence of a star yesterday.

And I'm so glad I was there to see it in real time.

Long Night's Journey Into Morning

I detest Edward Mujica.

I thought he was an awful free agent signing by the Red Sox after the 2013 World Series win. He was the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, and was so awful down the stretch, he was barely used by them in their run to the World Series. So for what ever unfathomable reason, the Sox signed him to a two-year deal. And with Koji Uehara's hamstring injury (thank God he returns on Monday), John Farrell made him the temporary closer. Yikes.

And he gave it up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a game-tying home run to a struggling Chase Headley. The game goes to extra-innings. 10 extra-innings.

It was the longest game by time in Red Sox history: 6 hours and 49 minutes. It included a 16-minute power outage delay in the 12th inning, and the Sox scoring runs in the 16th (David Ortiz' first HR of 2015) and 18th innings, only for New York to tie it both times.

The Sox scored the game winner in the 19th on Mookie Betts' sacrifice fly in the top of the 19th. They turned a sparkling DP started by Xander Bogaerts to conclude matters at 2:13 AM. The Red Sox used up the entire bullpen, with Steven Wright pitching the last four innings for his first win.

I think Steven Wright can put this gritty performance into his collection of his "Very Best Of":


The only longer game between the two rivals was in 1967, with New York winning the second game of a doubleheader (remember those?) in 20 innings.

The teams play their second game of the weekend series at 1 PM today. Barely 11 hours after the final pitch of Friday night/Saturday morning's game ended.

And everyone has a stiff named Edward Mujica to thank for it.

Once Again, I'm a Free Agent

I'm sad to have to say that Trivia at Foley's will no longer be happening. Unfortunately, we weren't able to bring out enough of a crowd on Sunday nights to continue it, and yesterday it was mutually agreed to bring it to a close. I want to thank Shaun and everyone else at Foley's for the opportunity to try a Trivia Night there, and he and his staff were terrific to me. It's a great bar where all kinds of sports is the top priority and should be. Trivia just didn't fit in. But if you are ever in midtown Manhattan, I would encourage you to go there and check it out, especially if you are a baseball fan.

And now I will again attempt to find a new home for my Trivia Night. If any of you know of an establishment looking to start a Trivia Night, please do let me know. (You can drop me a line at: jbq1462@hotmail.com.) I will keep everyone updated with my progress in achieving that goal. Thanks to all of you for your continuing support of my Trivia Night. You are all the best!

I'd Say That Was a Good Start

Well, the Red Sox wasted no time on Monday to put 2014 far into the rear view mirror, as they blasted 5 home runs and got a near-flawless performance from Clay Buchholz in routing the Phillies on Opening Day, 8-0.

Dustin Pedroia blasted two dingers, Mookie Betts had a solo shot, and Hanley Ramirez went deep twice, including banging a grand slam off the left field foul pole late to put the win on ice.

But what was most encouraging was the start by Buchholz, who was superb for seven innings, striking out 9 and walking just one. He was in complete command all game, and only ran into any trouble in the 7th, when the Phillies got back-to-back hits off him. Buchholz clearly seemed comfortable with new starting catcher Ryan Hanigan, and seemed to be on the same page all day.

Both David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval took the collar, but the rest of the cast picked up the slack.

Pedroia became just the second second baseman in history to hit two home runs on Opening Day, and Ramirez' grand slam was the first on Opening Day by a Sox player since Jack Clark in 1991.

The Sox hit the first four home runs, all solo shots, off former future Sox hurler and current Phillie ace Cole Hamels. (I have a feeling the call to trade for Hamels, especially if it involves Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart, has abated for now.)

And on this same day, future Tommy John surgical patient Masahiro Tanaka was lit up by the Toronto Blue Jays in New York, and the Yankees went quietly in a 6-1 loss. The Mets won a gritty 3-1 game in Washington, as they never seem to lose on Opening Day.

Yes, Opening Day. One of my favorite days. Why can't results be like this more often?

Now We Play For Real

The Spring Training schedule officially came to an end on Saturday. The Red Sox ended the spring at 17-12. (Not that that matters now, as everyone is 0-0 as I write this.)

The opener is Monday afternoon in Philadelphia. Clay Buchholz takes the mound in his first ever Opening Day start, and there is plenty of pressure on him. Few people think of him as an ace, and he sure hasn't pitched like on the last few seasons. He got off to that great start in 2013, going 10-1 before injuries curtailed his season. You have to figure that if injuries and /or ineffectiveness ruin another season, he'll be pitching somewhere else in 2016.

They will miss Christian Vazquez badly, as he had Tommy John surgery on Thursday and will miss the season. He is an adept handler of pitchers, and will be replaced by Ryan Hanigan. And we will see rookie Blake Swihart at some point this year. When is the big question.

Koji Uehara and Joe Kelly will begin the year on the DL. Sounds like neither will miss much time. John Farrell has said he may go by closer-by-committee, but Edward Muijica will get most of the opportunities.

The outfield will be Hanley Ramirez in left, Mookie Betts in center and Shane Victorino. Ramirez had a good spring, both at the plate and in the field, having made just one error. Betts was terrific in all phases of the game, and he looks like a superstar on the rise. Victorino is coming off back surgery, and the job is his. We'll see how long he lasts.

The infield is Mike Napoli at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop and Pablo Sandoval at third. Napoli was blasting away this spring, Bogaerts looked better at short, and Pedroia was again Pedroia after having surgery this past winter on his wrist. Sandoval should be an interesting case study this season. His weight will become an issue if he's not pulling his weight (forgive me, I couldn't resist) at the plate.

David Ortiz will be the DH, with Ryan Hanigan doing most of the catching with Sandy Leon backing him up.

The rotation has been much discussed, as the Sox rebuilt it over the winter with the trades for Wade Miley and Rick Porcello, and the signing of old friend Justin Masterson as a free agent. Both Porcello and Buchholz were the most consistent starters in the spring, and Porcello figures to be the number two man. They made no big trade for a "legitimate" ace, but that could still happen if the need arises during the season.

Where will the Sox finish in 2015? I think this is a playoff team, as the AL East is not a strong division. I'll leave the predictions to the so-called "experts."

Off we go with another baseball season tomorrow. I'll be at Fenway next Monday for the home opener with the BLOHARDS. Here's to a "worst-to-first-to-worst-to-first" season!

Buchholz To Start The Opener In Philly

Opening Day is exactly one week away for the Red Sox, and members of the battery made news this week.

Clay Buchholz was named the Opening Day starter for next Monday in Philadelphia. He's "the old man" of the revamped starting staff, and his numbers this spring aren't bad, despite giving up 12 hits and 4 runs over 5 innings last Friday. (And you obviously take Spring Training numbers with a grain of salt.)

2015 is a make it or break it year for Buchholz. He has to prove he is a top-of-the-rotation starter, and stay healthy at the same time. Most Red Sox fans don't believe he is a number one starter, and I don't either. But he's had the most experience of any of the starting pitchers the Sox have, so he almost gets it by default.

Rick Porcello will pitch the second game in Philadelphia, and either Wade Miley or Justin Masterson will complete the opening series.

In far more troubling news, the Sox placed Christian Vazquez on the 60-day disabled list today, and acquired catcher Sandy Leon from the Washington Nationals for cash considerations. Vazquez has been having right elbow discomfort, and is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama on Wednesday for a second opinion. Unfortunately, this has "Tommy John surgery" written all over it.

Leon is strictly catching depth for the Sox, who will go with Ryan Hanigan as their number one catcher with Vazquez out. Blake Swihart has had a good spring, but figures to play everyday at Pawtucket, as he is not ready. And all of a sudden, that Hanigan for Will Middlebrooks deal the Sox made this past winter is looking more and more crucial.

And in more injury news, it sounds like Koji Uehara will not be on the roster for Opening Day, as his hamstring injury will not be settled by then, and John Farrell said yesterday that Edward Mujica (God help us) will be the primary closer, but he did not rule out going to a closer-by-committee until Koji is ready to return.

So Pete Rose Wants Back In

I haven't written much on baseball so far in this new year of 2015, but with 13 days to go until the season gets under way, and the cold weather finally abating, let's do it!

Earlier this month, Pete Rose made his intentions known that he is applying for reinstatement, after being banned since 1989 for betting on baseball. With a new commissioner at the helm in Rob Manfred, he figures to try and strike while the iron is hot and hopes that the new commissioner will be sympathetic to his case.

Manfred announced he will give Rose's case a look, but has not hinted in which direction he will go.

We all know the facts of Rose's banishment. He was basically caught red-handed having placed bets on baseball while manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and screamed for years that he never actually did it. He says he accepted the lifetime ban with the idea that after one year he would file for reinstatement. He also figured that he was still eligible for the Hall of Fame at the time, so that wouldn't be affected. (The Hall of Fame then banned all players on the Permanently Ineligible List shortly thereafter.) But Bart Giamatti, who rightly gave Rose the boot, died one week after the whole sordid matter ended, and the two commissioners that followed him, Fay Vincent and Bud Selig, kept the ban in place.

Rose lied in his deposition in 1989, and smeared the reputations of the men who brought the evidence against him 26 years ago, and has never offered any kind of apology to them.

Everyone in baseball knows that betting on the game is the sport's mortal sin. Every locker room in MLB has signs posted about that. The Black Sox scandal of 1919 came close to sinking the sport.

And have you noticed there has not been one case of illegal betting on baseball by anyone in MLB since Rose was banned?

I was in Rose's camp in early 2000s that he had served a long enough sentence for this case, and maybe it was finally time to reconsider his ban. But then in 2004, simply to sell yet another autobiography he'd written, Rose decided to come clean and admit, "yeah, I bet on baseball." For 15 years, he insisted to all his loyal fans and supporters that he hadn't bet on the game, and it was all trumped up by MLB.

And to make more money, Charlie Hustle admitted he hustled the fans. Treated us all like chumps.

So as far as I am concerned, Pete Rose can stay banned from MLB.

Listen, the Hall of Fame has plenty of members of rather dubious character, and the PED scandals have really played havoc with the election process. But that's a whole different story. I'm sure Rob Manfred will give Rose a shot here, but I bet he is in no rush to make any kind of ruling.

Rose doesn't have my support. And many Hall of Famers feel the same way. Everyone knows the rules. YOU DON'T BET ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. He knew that, did it anyway because he was (and probably still is) a degenerate gambler. He of course merits induction for what he did as an MLB player.

But he ruined his career after he became a manager. I have always felt that somewhere down the road he will be reinstated and will enter the Hall of Fame by way of the Veterans Committee. But let it happen after he dies, so he's not there to enjoy it.

Sorry, Pete. No sympathy from me. You treated us like fools for years. Don't bet (pun intended) on getting back in MLB's good graces. Let your cries for reinstatement fall on deaf ears.

Trivia Will Return On April 12

Due to the continuing NCAA Tournament basketball playoffs on March 29th, and the opening of the baseball season on April 5th (and it also being Easter Sunday), Trivia Night at Foley's will be taking off the next two weeks.

We'll be back with another edition of Trivia on Sunday night, April 12th at 7 PM.

Hope to see you then!

Trivia Q&A: March 15

On the cusp of St. Patrick's Day, we did Ireland Trivia as one of two Special Categories for Trivia Night at Foley's on Sunday night. The numbers for that round were generally on the higher side. The bar had all different folks in watching hockey and soccer, and few in playing Trivia. The team of Green Eyed Monsters got the win, getting 38 points, winning each round except the final round. Nice job by Cato and Bob taking the night again.

Second place went to Dink Dink, Dink Dink, Dink Dink, Dink Dink with 23 points, and third place went to The K Family with 22 points.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Trivia Night will take next week off at Foley's, due to the NCAA Tournament games and few other events going on at the bar. We will return in two weeks, on Sunday night, March 29th at 7 PM. See you then!

Current Events
1. What western US state's lawmakers voted this past week to bring back the firing squad as a form of capital punishment, the only state to have it?
2. A jury awarded $7.4 million to the children of what R&B singer after determining that singers Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied his music in their 2013 number one hit song?
3. What news organization was recently named the most trusted, as well as the least trusted network in news in a recent Quinnipiac University poll?
4. "American Sniper" last week became the highest grossing war film of all-time, reaching $500 million in worldwide gross. What 1998 war film had the previous record?
5. What longtime network crime drama was recently acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the largest-ever TV drama, simulcast in 171 countries on March 4th?
6. What English rock star was named an "honorary Texan" by the Texas legislature this past week after donating hundreds of his Alamo artifacts to the state?
7. What world leader was not seen in public for nearly seven days last week, and reports surfaced he was in Switzerland for the birth of his "secret" daughter?

Ireland Trivia
1. What is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin in population? a. Cork; b. Galway; c. Limerick; d. Waterford.
2. Which Irish saint is said to have visited America 1000 years before Columbus? a. Patrick; b. Finbar; c. Brendan; d. Thomas.
3. Which one of the following entertainers was not born in Ireland? a. Bono; b. Bob Geldof; c. Elvis Costello; d. Pierce Brosnan.
4. Which is the most popular sport in Ireland? a. soccer; b. rugby; c. cricket; d. Gaelic football.
5. In which year did Ireland achieve Home Rule and their independence from the UK? a. 1905; b. 1922; c. 1929; d. 1935.
6. What Irish rock band had hits with such songs as "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back In Town?" a. U2; b. The Pogues; c. Black 47; d. Thin Lizzy.
7. In which century did Ireland's potato famine take place? a. 17; b. 18; c. 19; d. 20.

Green Trivia
1. "Green River" was a hit single for what 1960s rock band?
2. What is the name of the main character in the book "Green Eggs and Ham?"
3. What US city's river is dyed green every St. Patrick's Day?
4. Martin Balsam portrayed Mr. Green in what 1974 NYC-based film that was remade in 2009?
5. What North African country's flag is completely green?
6. What is the name of the pigment in green plants that gives them their color?
7. What Nickelodeon TV show was known for dropping green slime on its characters?

General Knowledge
1. The world's largest desert is found on what continent? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the name of the doomed boat from the classic TV sitcom "Gilligan's Island?" ( 1 pt)
3. Which of the Great Lakes is the largest in area? ( 1 pt)
4. The Galapagos Islands belong to what South American country? ( 2 pt)
5. Nicosia is the capital of what European country? ( 2 pt)
6. In 1775, the Continental Congress named what Founding Father the first postmaster general? ( 2 pt)
7. Byzantium was an ancient city that today is known by what name? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Mt. Kosciusko, at 7,310 feet, is the highest mountain in what country? ( 5 points)
2. What 19th century US president was the only president who was once held as a prisoner of war? ( 4 points)
3. What current best-selling author was once a Democratic state legislator from Mississippi? ( 4 points)
4. The Treaty of Ghent ended what 19th century war? ( 3 points)
5. In 2014, who did Forbes magazine name "The World's Richest Athlete", having earned $105 million that year? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Utah; 2. Marvin Gaye; 3. Fox News; 4. "Saving Private Ryan;" 5. "CSI"; 6. Phil Collins; 7. Vladimir Putin.

Ireland Trivia
1. a; 2. c; 3. c; 4. d; 5. b; 6. d; 7. c.

Green Trivia
1. CCR; 2. Sam; 3. Chicago; 4. "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three;" 5. Libya; 6. chlorophyll; 7. "You Can't Do That On Television."

General Knowledge
1. Africa; 2. SS Minnow; 3. Lake Superior; 4. Ecuador; 5. Cyprus; 6. Ben Franklin; 7. Istanbul.

IQ Trivia
1. Australia; 2. Andrew Jackson; 3. John Grisham; 4. The War of 1812; 5. Floyd Mayweather.

Millar, O'Brien Lead Ballot For the Irish American BB HoF

My friends at Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant (where I do Trivia every Sunday night, plug, plug!!) announced this past week their newest candidates for the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame, and they include three individuals with connections to the Red Sox over the years.

One is former player and 2004 World Series champion Kevin Millar, another is current Red Sox  radio announcer Dave O'Brien, and the third is MLB Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy (who managed the Sox after his long successful tenure with the Yankees in the late 1940s).

There are eleven candidates on the 2015 ballot, from the groups of Former Players, Broadcasters, Managers and Executives. Here are the eleven up for consideration:

Current and Former Players

·         Mike Sweeney: Five-time All-Star and former captain of the KC Royals; involved with numerous charities in the Kansas City area.

·         Michael Cuddyer: Two-time All-Star, 2013 NL batting champ and current New York Met; nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award recognizing outstanding off-field community service.

·         Kevin Millar: Member of 2004 Red Sox who helped end Boston’s 86-yr. World Series drought.

Broadcasters

·         Dave O'Brien: ESPN sportscaster, also calls play-by-play on the Boston Red Sox Radio Network alongside Joe Castiglione.

·         Tom McCarthy: Play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies' broadcasts.

·         Ed Coleman: Radio play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets.

Managers

·         Joe McCarthy: Yankees all-time leader in managerial wins (1,460), won seven World Series titles between 1931-46.

·         Jack McKeon: Two-time NL Manager of Year whose 2003 Florida Marlins won the World Series

Executives

·         Bill Murray: Comedic actor and SNL alumnus, owner of minor league teams

·         Shannon Forde: Longtime member of New York Mets p.r. staff

·         Joe McDonald: Longtime executive with the New York Mets

The Hall of Fame is located inside Foley's, at 18 West 33rd Street. It was founded by Shaun Clancy in 2008 to honor those connected to MLB of Irish descent. The candidates to be enshrined in 2015 will be announced in April.

We Celebrate Ireland & Its History On Sunday

We will celebrate the St. Patrick's Day holiday early on Sunday, March 15th with Trivia Night at Foley's. We will have two Special Categories this week (with the Q Train lightning round getting the week off), and they will be "Ireland Trivia" and "Green Trivia." Ireland Trivia will be seven questions about the Emerald Isle and its history, and Green Trivia will be seven questions that all involve the color green in some way. And in deference to Foley's, there will be no answers involving the song "Danny Boy."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
Which of the Great Lakes is the largest in area?"

We'll get started at 7 PM on Sunday night. Foley's is located at 18 West 33rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. There will be drink specials throughout the Trivia Night, so come on out and celebrate the holiday early with a great night of Trivia tomorrow night!

The Machine Turns Nine

It hardly seems possible, but it was nine years ago today that Yours Truly founded The Mighty Quinn Media Machine.

I started it almost on a lark, but I am certainly glad I did. It has brought many wonderful people into my life, and I can't thank them (and all of you) enough.

These days, I'm not writing as much as I once did. I still write about the Red Sox, but not on an everyday basis anymore. And of course, I use the blog extensively to promote my Trivia Night.

The post about good ol' Doug Mirabelli in 2006 is still be far the most popular thing I have ever put up here. Doug has long since left the Red Sox and MLB, but fans are still looking to find out about his "epic" day, and usually wind up on my blog!

Anyway, thanks to all of you for the support you have given me and my little writing thingy here.

Trivia Q&A: March 8

Our third edition of Sunday Night Trivia at Foley's brought out an old friend, Matt, who is one of my loyal Trivia players from my other Trivia venues. Always nice seeing familiar faces from the past. We had a small turnout of players on Sunday, but we are making progress in our new Trivia home.

Most teams did rather well in the Women's History Trivia round, so they can be proud on International Women's Day they know their stuff!

My thanks to the great Ed Randall, who hosts a Sunday morning show on WFAN Radio here in New York, as he gave a nice shout out to my Trivia Night at Foley's yesterday. I've known Ed many years, as he has been a regular at the BLOHARDS meetings and is a tireless advocate for prostate cancer awareness. He's one of the good guys in sports.Thanks a million, Ed!

The team of Vince Wilfork's Body Guards were victorious, taking the night by 20 points over second place Mortal Wombat, who had 34 points, and third place went to A Lone Warrior with 28 points.

Current Events
1. Loretta Lynch was confirmed last week as what new member of President Obama's cabinet?
2. What man was named by Forbes magazine earlier this week as "The World's Richest Man" with a net worth of $79.2 billion?
3. What western US state became the third state to permit legal marijuana use in that state?
4. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before Congress for the third time this past week. What 20th century world leader was the only other to speak before Congress three times?
5. The National Transportation Safety Board recently said they have agreed to consider reopening the investigation into the plane crash that killed what rock star many years ago?
6. Mark Lippert, the US ambassador to what country, was attacked last Thursday by a man with a razor blade, and needed 80 stitches to close a wound on his face?
7. Minnie Minoso, the first black Cuban born player in MLB, died last Sunday at the age of 92. What team did he play for in five different decades?

Women's History Trivia
1. Who was the first woman to run for president of the US? a. Shirley Chisholm; b. Susan B. Anthony; c. Victoria Woodhull; d. Sonia Johnson.
2. In 1932, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to do what? a. Fly a plane; b. Fly solo across the Atlantic; c. Fly in the Air Force; d. Fly solo around the world.
3. Who was the first woman to be Secretary of State? a. Elizabeth Dole; b. Condoleezza Rice; c. Hillary Clinton; d. Madeline Albright.
4. What was the first US state to allow women to vote? a. Wyoming; b. Colorado; c. Utah; d. Idaho.
5. Roe vs. Wade was one of the most controversial cases in Supreme Court history covering what women's right? a. Education; b. abortion; c. birth control; d. employment.
6. In 1926, Gertrude Ederle accomplished what feat as the first woman to do what? a. Swim the English Channel; b. Climb Mt. Everest; c. Sail around the world; d. Ride in the Tour deFrance.
7. Who was the first woman to serve as US Attorney General? a. Condoleezza Rice; b. Hillary Clinton; c. Janet Reno; d. Geraldine Ferraro.

Even Numbered Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. The pearl wedding anniversary is this number of years.
2. Arizona is this number US state.
3. Cancer is this number sign of the Zodiac.
4. This is the freezing point of water at sea level degrees Fahrenheit.
5. The highest number on a standard dartboard is this number.
6. This number is retired throughout MLB in honor of Jackie Robinson.
7. This is the approximate total number of grams in one ounce.
8. This number parallel north separates North and South Korea.
9. In tennis, this number represents the third point gained in a game.
10. This number amendment to the Constitution made the standard minimum voting age at 18.

General Knowledge
1. The Brandenburg Gate is found in what European city? ( 1 pt)
2. What is another name for the human clavicle? ( 1 pt)
3. What two US coins have ridges on them? ( 1 pt)
4. The Emerald Coast is located on what US state? ( 2 pt)
5. Tony Abbott is the current Prime Minister of what country? ( 2 pt)
6. Name 1 of the 2 letters worth ten points in Scrabble, the most valuable ones. ( 2 pt)
7. What is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What famous 19th century author is credited with having written the first book on a typewriter? ( 3 points)
2. What southern US state has the butterfly as its official mascot, but has no official nickname, the only state without one? ( 4 points)
3. Who is the only Roman Catholic to be Vice-President of the United States? ( 4 points)
4. What famous singer was the first African-American to host an American TV show, in 1956? ( 5 points)
5. William Morgan invented what team sport in Massachusetts in 1895, which was originally called "mintonette?" ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Attorney General; 2. Bill Gates; 3. Alaska; 4. Winston Churchill; 5. Buddy Holly; 6. South Korea; 7. Chicago White Sox.

Women's History Trivia
1. c; 2. b; 3. d; 4. a; 5. b; 6. a; 7. c.

Even Numbered Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. 30; 2. 48; 3. 4; 4. 32; 5. 20; 6. 42; 7. 28; 8. 38; 9. 40; 10. 26.

General Knowledge
1. Berlin; 2. collarbone; 3. dime and quarter; 4. Florida; 5. Australia; 6. Q&Z; 7. prostate.

IQ Trivia
1. Mark Twain; 2. Alabama; 3. Joe Biden; 4. Nat King Cole; 5. volleyball.

The Ladies In History Featured On Sunday

This Sunday night, March 8th, the Special Category for Sunday Night Trivia at Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant will be "Women's History Trivia," seven questions about women in US history, in honor of Sunday being International Women's Day. All the questions will be multiple choice.

The Q Train lightning round will be "Even Numbered Trivia." I will ask you ten general knowledge questions, and every answer will be an even number from 1 through 50. And no answer will be the same number.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The Brandenburg Gate is found in what European city?"

We get going at 7 PM on Sunday night. The weather will be a lot better on Sunday, and there will not be a Pittsburgh Penguins game on at that time, so things should be fine. Foley's is located at 18 West 33rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. There will be beer specials during the Trivia Night, so why not come out and have a great time with Trivia tomorrow night at Foley's. See you then!

Trivia Q&A: March 1

It looked like the weather was going to play havoc with us again for Trivia Night at Foley's. 1-3 inches of snow fell on NYC, but we actually had a pretty good turnout for a snowy night. We started after the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game finished (Pens fans hang out at Foley's), and a few of the patrons joined us, along with seeing old friends Rhonda, Michael and Amy, which was a nice surprise. So it turned out to be a pretty good night indeed.

The team of Polka Kings pulled off the win, getting 48 points and won by a comfortable margin of 12 points. They also won our opening week of Trivia at Foley's two weeks ago, so my congratulations to Cato and Bob on their win.

Second place went to Ballz Deep with 36 points, and third went to Captain Spock's Exploding Manhole Covers with 34 points.

Current Events
1. John Kitzhaber, the governor of what western US state, resigned recently over an ethics scandal involving him and his fiancee?
2. What legendary comedian was recently chosen by Rolling Stone magazine as the all-time number one cast member in the history of "Saturday Night Live?"
3. The CEO of Hermitage Capital Management claimed recently that what world leader has a net worth of $200 billion, more than that of Bill Gates, most of which he claims is stolen?
4. Rock star Neil Young asked his fans last week to join in a boycott of what chain store after their involvement in a lawsuit against the state of Vermont over shielding food ingredients?
5. What late-night talk show host filmed segments for his show in Cuba late last month, the first US talk show to film there since 1959?
6. What female pop singer fell off the stage last week while performing at the Brit Awards in London?
7. What 1990s rap star was arrested in Florida recently for breaking into and stealing from an abandoned home?

Academy Awards Trivia
1. What 1985 film was nominated for 11 Oscars, and won no awards, tied for the most in history without a win?
2. What 1970 Beatles film won an Academy Award for Best Original Score?
3. What 1992 film was the last Western to win the Best Picture Oscar?
4. What film did Mel Brooks win his only Oscar for Best Original Screenplay?
5. Who is the only actress to win four Best Actress Oscars?
6. What actor has been nominated a record 12 times for acting Oscars?
7. Name 2 of the 5 actors/actresses who have won acting Oscars in consecutive years.

Odd Numbered Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. The silver wedding anniversary is marked after this number years of marriage.
2. The debut album from singer Adele was entitled this number.
3. A soccer match has this numbered minutes in each half.
4. The NY Yankees retired this number in honor of late catcher Thurman Munson.
5. Alaska is this number US state.
6. The left fielder in baseball is represented by this number.
7. Aquarius is this number sign of the Zodiac.
8. This is the number of flavors of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.
9. Chicago Bulls retired this number in honor of Michael Jordan.
10. Jesus Christ is said to be this age at the time of his crucifixion.

General Knowledge
1. Lake Titicaca is located on what continent? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the second largest planet in the solar system? ( 1 pt)
3. Hall of Fame QB John Elway was originally drafted by what NFL team? ( 1 pt)
4. Since 1980, the shekel has been the currency of what country? ( 2 pt)
5. "Iron Man" is a 1970 song by what rock band? ( 2 pt)
6. A dodecagon has how many sides? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the national animal of Canada? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What 20th century US president used his poker winnings to help finance his first campaign for Congress, which he won? ( 4 points)
2. What Asian country is the world's largest producer and consumer of milk? ( 4 points)
3. Sid is the real first name of what popular Sesame Street character? ( 3 points)
4. After Rhode Island and Delaware, what Eastern US state is the third smallest in total area? ( 4 points)
5. What Canadian province was the most recent to enter the Canadian Confederation, in 1949? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Oregon; 2. John Belushi; 3. Vladimir Putin; 4. Starbucks; 5. Conan O'Brien; 6. Madonna; 7. Vanilla Ice.

Academy Awards Trivia
1. "The Color Purple;" 2. "Let It Be;" 3. "Unforgiven;" 4. "The Producers;" 5. Katharine Hepburn; 6. Jack Nicholson; 7. Tom Hanks, Spencer Tracy, Luise Rainer, Katharine Hepburn, Jason Robards.

Odd Numbered Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. 25; 2. 19; 3. 45; 4. 15; 5. 49; 6. 7; 7. 11; 8. 31; 9. 23; 10. 33.

General Knowledge
1. South America; 2. Saturn; 3. Baltimore Colts; 4. Israel; 5. Black Sabbath; 6. twelve; 7. beaver.

IQ Trivia
1. Richard Nixon; 2. India; 3. Cookie Monster; 4. Connecticut; 5. Newfoundland.