Second Opinion Player-Profile Game, Question #3
Play the player-profile game every day this week at 11:30am ET. Each day, we’re giving away a free copy of the 2011 Second Opinion to the first reader who guesses correctly the identity of that day’s mystery player. (Limit one copy per customer).
As announced recently, FanGraphs will once again be offering to the public its fantasy companion guide, The Second Opinion.
In the meantime, we’re playing the player-profile game that I intoduced in these pages last offseason.
The game is easy: one person (me, in this case) offers the text of single player profile, being careful to omit any proper names that might reveal the identity of the player in question. The other person (you, the reader) attempts to identify the player using only the details provided in the profile.
First reader to guess correctly (in the comments section below) gets a free copy of this year’s Second Opinion — approximately a $1000 value!
Today’s entry comes to us courtesy of Malcolm Gladwell Look-Alike and Fantasy Expert Eno Sarris.
The numbers are clues, but you probably don’t have time to look them up.
Who is it?
Looking back through [BLANK'S] minor-league history, it’s hard to find a harbinger for last year’s double-digit strikeout rate. He only once struck out as many as one batter per inning on the farm. But [BLANK] was a starter for most of that time, and his move to the pen played up his velocity (his fastball averaged 98.8 MPH) and simplified his repertoire down to that booming fastball and a useful slider. An above-average swinging-strike rate (13.3%) seems to suggest that he can continue to strike Major League batters out, but for fantasy uses, the real question is his proximity to the closer’s role. With [TEAMMATE #1], [TEAMMATE #2] and [TEAMMATE #3] in the pen around him, though, [BLANK] has too many veterans to pass to be considered a real sleeper for saves in 2011. [BLANK'S COACH] likes his veterans, as mediocre as some of his other options might be. [BLANK] is best used for strikeouts and holds out of the pen.
Kenley Jansen
Not that this player was a starter in the minors.
Henry Rodriguez
Joel hanrahan
Jordan walden
Boom! The winner is ben.marcello. Come collect your giant, oversized check.
(Or, actually, don’t. Just wait for David Appelman to credit your account.)
Jason Motte
Kenley Jansen
Venters
Joel Hanrahan
Blake Hawksworth
Antonio Bastardo
Tyler Clippard
Chris Sale
Sean Marshall
Nick Masset
Ernesto Frieri
Hell yeah!!! Jordan walden!!!
Wait… who is Jordan Walden?
walden’s 15 innings pitched in the majors last year isn’t terribly significant. maybe he’ll keep up the strikeout rate, but more likely not. thought venters was a better answer, save for the last bit about proximity to the closer role.
Ooh this is like Mad Libs. I’m going to use the following answers for the blanks:
Wilford Brimley
Sisqo
Harry from “Harry and the Hendersons”
Janet Reno
George Wendt
Charlamagne
Shakira
my cat, Mr Purrfect
hahahahahaha
Your wish is my you-know-what:
http://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/jordan-walden-mad-lib-courtesy-of-reader-jason-b/
Many thanks for that. Mr Purrfect is already having shoulder issues and spring training just began…we could be in for a long season… =/