Link Report Trivia Time -- The Non-Numeric Version; Latest -- Answers Revealed

[Mass Haas]

While we await news of any sort in Brewer-land, we'll toss some minor league trivia your way -- we try and do this a couple of times each offseason when updates are few.

 

So you are a faithful Link Report reader? If you're a casual, you may wish to pass. But if you're an absorb-all-you-can daily diehard, test yourself, and write down your answers. We'll lock this thread and post answers by end-of-day on Tuesday the 16th, so that both weekend and weekday Minor League Forum readers have a chance to play along.

 

This is admittedly a non-numeric version of our series. No statistical folly here, just asking you to scroll through your rolodex of teams and players. We'll mess with numbers next time out.

 

Basically, if you migrate off this page, you've cheated. So keep track and write down your responses before you wander elsewhere, and then again after you've wandered elsewhere, admitting your brain has exploded.

 

And we're not including anything related to the Dominican Summer League teams or players in the answers you need to provide. You're welcome. Here we go...

 

1. Each day the Link Report lists every opponent and their affiliation. Only one other organization matched up with the Brewers in all four full-season leagues in 2010, and that will be the case again in 2011 -- Pacific Coast, Southern, Florida State, and Midwest. Name this organization. Believe us, that's your easiest question.

 

2. When we add the two rookie leagues (Pioneer, Arizona), the organization which is the answer to Question 1 jumps from four matchups with the Brewers to five. This allows one other organization to tie for the lead, however, by matching up with the Brewers in five of the six U.S. leagues. Name this organization.

 

3. There are three organizations who never matched up with a Brewer affiliate in any of the six U.S. leagues in 2010, and that will be the case again in 2011. Name these three organizations.

 

Does your head hurt yet? Let's move on to players.

 

4. Outside of the (hopefully, as he hit .225 this year) aptly named Hitaniel Arias, the 20-year-old 6'6" DSL first baseman, there are only two other players currently with the organization with first names that begin with the letter "H". Name them.

 

5. If you didn't like Question 4, feel free to skip this question, no punishment. Only two players with first names beginning with "N", and only two with "F". Remember, only current players, so no Norris Hopper. Unlike Question 4, you'll need to be familiar with the rookie squads to some extent. "N" isn't too hard (hardly easy, though), "F" is extremely tough.

 

6. You would think this would be a layup, but it's not. Name the only two current position players in the organization above rookie ball who are switch-hitters.

 

7. There are currently 13 "sets" of players who share the same last name in the organization, very top (majors) to the very bottom (DSL). We're giving you three of those because they involve only DSL players -- the Pena's, the Mejia's, and the Garcia's. But that still leaves ten other sets of Brewer "brothers". How many of these sets can you name? Bonus to you if you get the one set of "triplets" among the ten sets, because it involves one DSL player joining two statesiders. Huge hint -- Wawrzasek is not one of the sets.

 

8. Outside of the PED-suspended Allixon Cequea, only one current Brewer has the letter "q" as part of his first or last name. Name him. "Q" is also for quit, which we'll do now, and what most of you have probably already done.

 

As always, we reserve the right to be wrong by a tweak when we give out the answers. Hopefully that won't happen. We're sure you'll let us know about it if so...

[Mass Haas]

6. You would think this would be a layup, but it's not. Name the only two current position players in the organization above rookie ball who are switch-hitters.

 

There's actually three, but if you end up naming two, good for you...

[Mass Haas]

6. You would think this would be a layup, but it's not. Name the only two current position players in the organization above rookie ball who are switch-hitters.

 

There's actually three, but if you end up naming two, good for you...

 

EDIT: Darn, I botched this one but good. There are four. MiLB lists one as a non-switch-hitter, but we had determined on this forum earlier that was in error. I actually knew about that one, and just learned of the 4th.

 

So if you could only name one or two, you actually did worse on this question than you should have http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

By the way, I'm pretty comfortable in the responses to the other questions.

[Mass Haas]

1. Each day the Link Report lists every opponent and their affiliation. Only one other organization matched up with the Brewers in all four full-season leagues in 2010, and that will be the case again in 2011 -- Pacific Coast, Southern, Florida State, and Midwest. Name this organization. Believe us, that's your easiest question.

 

Yes, it's the dreaded Cubbies who face off against the Crew's full-season affiliates most often.

 

Iowa Cubs (AAA)

Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Daytona Cubs (A Adv.)

Peoria Chiefs (A)

 

Not only are the Cubs' affiliates in the same four leagues, but they also share the same divisions with the Brewer squads, adding to the total number of matchups.

 

Close calls with three: Rays, Blue Jays, Mariners, Marlins, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers.

[Mass Haas]

2. When we add the two rookie leagues (Pioneer, Arizona), the organization which is the answer to Question 1 jumps from four matchups with the Brewers to five. This allows one other organization to tie for the lead, however, by matching up with the Brewers in five of the six U.S. leagues. Name this organization.

The easiest way to answer this one was to know that the team, by math, must share both rookie squad leagues with the Brewers.

 

There are only seven other teams in the Pioneer League besides the Brewers, and they belong to the White Sox, Reds, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Angels, Rockies, and Royals.

 

The correct answer is Dodgers.

 

Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)

Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Adv.) -- not them

Great Lakes Loons (A)

Ogden Raptors ®

AZL Dodgers ®

 

Some of you might have thought the Diamondbacks, but oddly, the D-Backs don't have an Arizona League squad, instead playing in the short-season Northwest League.

[Mass Haas]

3. There are three organizations who never matched up with a Brewer affiliate in any of the six U.S. leagues in 2010, and that will be the case again in 2011. Name these three organizations.

 

Not once last Link Report season did the Brewers line up with the Orioles, Red Sox, or Nationals.

 

Of course, two seasons ago, the Brewers shared a DSL team with the Orioles, so maybe we have some distant cousin matchups there, but those are the three organizations.

 

When there was only one matchup, it involved a full-season team each time -- you were close but no cigar if you guessed Yankees, Braves, Mets, Phillies, Astros, or Pirates.

[Mass Haas]

4. Outside of the (hopefully, as he hit .225 this year) aptly named Hitaniel Arias, the 20-year-old 6'6" DSL first baseman, there are only two other players currently with the organization with first names that begin with the letter "H". Name them.

 

Rattlers fans probably identified Hunter Morris and Hiram Burgos pretty quickly.

[Mass Haas]

5. If you didn't like Question 4, feel free to skip this question, no punishment. Only two players with first names beginning with "N", and only two with "F". Remember, only current players, so no Norris Hopper. Unlike Question 4, you'll need to be familiar with the rookie squads to some extent. "N" isn't too hard (hardly easy, though), "F" is extremely tough.

 

If you got the first name "Nick", you were on your way to identifying Nick Bucci and then Nick Shaw, who performed so well in Maryvale this year.

 

Kudos if you got Franklin Romero, Jr. and Francisco Rivero.

[Mass Haas]

6. You would think this would be a layup, but it's not. Name the only two current position players in the organization above rookie ball who are switch-hitters.

 

As I already admitted, it appears to be four.

 

My first two were Sergio Miranda and the Rattlers' Austin Stockfisch, who was profiled here.

 

Then I realized veteran infielder Anderson Machado resigned a minor league deal for 2011.

 

Finally, although MiLB.com still lists him incorrectly, Rattlers SS Michael Marseco is still switch-hitting, we believe.

 

As always, correct me if mistaken, thanks.

[Mass Haas]

7. There are currently 13 "sets" of players who share the same last name in the organization, very top (majors) to the very bottom (DSL). We're giving you three of those because they involve only DSL players -- the Pena's, the Mejia's, and the Garcia's. But that still leaves ten other sets of Brewer "brothers". How many of these sets can you name? Bonus to you if you get the one set of "triplets" among the ten sets, because it involves one DSL player joining two statesiders. Huge hint -- Wawrzasek is not one of the sets.

 

Here's the other ten --

 

Braun's -- certainly you got the real brothers, Ryan and Steve, right?

Almonte's -- Erick and Rigoberto

Davis' -- Kentrail and Khris (that was a layup)

Miller's -- Erik and rookie pitcher Matt

Rivera's -- Mike and rookie infielder Yadiel

Roberts' -- catchers Tyler and Mike

Rogers' -- Mark and rookie slugger Jason

Sanchez' -- Jose, Juan, and DSL "triplet" Ruben

Shaw's -- rookie teammates Derrick and Nick

Wright's -- Brae and Chase

 

So congrats to Nick Shaw, the only player who made the trivia quiz twice.

[Mass Haas]

8. Outside of the PED-suspended Allixon Cequea, only one current Brewer has the letter "q" as part of his first or last name. Name him. "Q" is also for quit, which we'll do now, and what most of you have probably already done.

Would it have helped if I mentioned there was a big league connection, or would that have made it more confusing? Brewer bullpen coach Stan Kyles' son, rookie league pitcher Marques Kyles is the answer.

[Mass Haas]

Would love to hear from folks within this thread on how they did, share your tales of brain cell loss and the minutes of your life you'll never get back, and thanks for playing.

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow, I definitely didn't do very well. This was really fun -- a nice cap to the awesome work you do all season long, MH. Thanks.

[pitchleague]

I got the first one right and that was it.

 

Embarrassing.