Four Degrees of Miguel Batista = Miguel Batista
As I notice that 41-year-old Miguel Batista started the first game of yesterday’s Mets-Giants doubleheader…
Batista’s first game was as a member of the Pirates in 1992, where he pitched two innings (and gave up two runs). In the lineup against the Pirates that day, playing for the Phillies– although out of the game by the time Batista came in– was a 36-year-old Dale Murphy, on his way to a .161/.175/.274 season.
Murphy’s first game was in 1976, as a 20-year-old catcher (!), in the second game of a September 13th Braves doubleheader against the Dodgers. Making a pinch-hit appearance in the game for the Dodgers was a 38-year-old Manny Mota. He got a hit.
Mota’s first game was as a 24-year-old Giant in 1962, against the Dodgers. In the lineup with Mota was a 27-year-old Felipe Alou.
Alou managed Batista with the Expos from 1998-2000.
Also, Lincoln was shot by a man named Kennedy and Kennedy was shot by a man named Lincoln. Or something like that.
I hope for damn sure this is filed under the Shocking Numerology category.
I would love to somehow see the actual statistics of percentage that batista has been within 4 degrees of.
Same with Moyer.
In terms of the entirety of players in the MLB.
The Manny Mota as pinch-hitter reference reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nL21u2fCZk
Reminds me of the third season of James Burke’s Connections, when about half the links in every episode went against causality.