Espo’s Trivia Challenge: Fun Facts 2013 Edition

Getting to know your Mets can be a fun process, especially if you look past the everyday fun stuff of hits, runs, errors, strikeouts, etc., you know…stats.

But ballplayers are people, too, or so they say, so sometimes there are moments in their illustrious past, often baseball related, and laced with stats, that are quite trivial, but can also amuse or entertain on a different level, and makes for interesting “facts” you can pass on to your friends when there’s a lull in your conversation.

For example, did you know that Jonathon Niese, was the last Mets pitcher to enter a game as a pinch-hitter?  He was, on April, 7, 2010, when he was sent up to bat for Hisanori Takahashi.

There you go, you’ll sound just like Ron Darling or Keith Hernandez when they’re tossing out a few tidbits during their SNY telecasts.

For this “Trivia Challenge,” we’re going to focus on the new guys and young players, and see how well you do.  Don’t worry, the first one’s a gimme.

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FILL IN THE BLANKS

1.___________________ is second to Mariano Rivera in game appearances by current major league pitchers. (No. 2 always tries harder, don’t they?)

1. A.   FRANK FRANCISCO
2. B.   LATROY HAWKINS
3. C.   BRANDON LYON
4. D.   PEDRO FELICIANO

2.___________________ was once traded for Carlos Beltran in a three-team multi-player deal. (Carlos Who?  Sounds familiar.)

1. A.   JOHN BUCK
2. B.   MARLON BYRD
3. C.   LATROY HAWKINS
4. D.   AARON LAFFEY

3. ______________ made his major league debut against the Mets in 2002.  (Went 0-3 in a loss to New York, and is still bummed about it)

1. A.   BRANDON LYON
2. B.   MARLON BYRD
3. C.   SCOTT ATCHISON
4. D.   SHAWN MARCUM

4._______________ was originally drafted by the Mets in 2005, but chose not to sign with New York. (What? And missed out on all that fun in 2006?)

1. A.   COLLIN COWGILL
2. B.   ANTHONY RECKER
3. C.   BRANDON LYON
4. D.   GREG BURKE

5._______________ was drafted by the NHL Carolina Hurricanes, but chose to play baseball instead of hockey.  (His dentist was disappointed)

1. A.   MATT HARVEY
2. B.   GREG BURKE
3. C.   JAMIE HOFFMAN
4. D.   SHAWN MARCUM

6._______________ played two years with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan’s Central League.  (Sushi for everyone in the clubhouse!)

1. A.   SCOTT ATCHISON
2. B.   MARLON BYRD
3. C.   SCOTT RICE
4. D.   LATROY HAWKINS

7.______________ has been traded four times, the greatest amount of times being dealt by any Met on the current 40-man roster.  (And keeps a bag packed at all times)

1. A.   LATROY HAWKINS
2. B.   MARLON BYRD
3. C.   BRANDON LYON
4. D.   SCOTT RICE

8.______________ was once voted “Mr. Baseball” by his high school. (Does Tom Selleck know about this assault on his title?)

1. A.   KIRK NIEUWENHUIS
2. B.   LUCAS DUDA
3. C.   MIKE BAXTER
4. D.   COLLIN COWGILL

9._______________ is a season ticket holder for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. (Really?  The Chiefs?  And he’ll admit to it?)

10.______________ became the 962^nd player to appear in a game for the NY Mets on Opening Day.  (Shortly after this “new” Met became No. 962, he was soon followed by Nos. 963, 964, 965, 966, and 967 in that first game of the year.)

1. A.   MARLON BYRD
2. B.   JOHN BUCK
3. C.   COLLIN COWGILL
4. D.   SCOTT RICE

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ANSWERS

1.B

2.A

3.B

4.D

5.C

6.A

7.C

8.D

9.D

10.C