Lo and behold, the new puzzle season has begun! And beginnings are critical. Sentences begin with capital letters, albums begin with hit songs, and the first in a movie trilogy is always the best. This, however, is something we don't always seem to realize.
You're probably like me in that you remember the ninth inning home runs and forget the second inning ones. Each run scored is worth the same, though, isn’t it? And one might even argue that runs scored in the early innings are often more significant because the game is less likely decided at that point. Regardless of such logic, most people, including myself, continue to put a disproportionate amount of focus on the end.
However, I urge you to remember one thing. Each inning carries equal weight.
Leadoff hitting is what you should focus on. Each inning’s leadoff hitter is the most important, whether the first or the ninth inning. Don’t ask me to quote the source, but a team is something like 3 times more likely to score in any inning if they get the leadoff man on than if they don’t.
Take a second to think about that. Early, middle, or late innings, it’s the first guy up that really matters. After the leadoff guy, the difference the following folks make is significantly diminished. Maybe that means we can ignore everything past the leadoff hitter?
I’ll leave it at that, as I know there’s a puzzle to get to. Now, with no further ado, here’s the part we’ve been waiting for:
Read the following poem:
I’ve read it now countless times.
Still, I find nothing.
______________________________________________________
Hint (11:07am PT): The opening text is relevant for more than one reason.
______________________________________________________
Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a Dodger. Comment freely in the thread, but if you have the solution, please don't give it away to everyone in the comments section. Instead, do the following:
- Email us with the first and last name of the Dodger player who is the answer, along with your reasoning (answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning, even if correct, count for participation credit only). And please include your screen name somewhere in the email; and
- Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. I may not be able to reply to your original email promptly, so please be patient and check back on the comment thread for the latest news; I may confirm correct answers there.
You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!
68 comments:
Answer is sent in. Woohoo!
A current Dodger?
I wish I got up as early as Quad! Answer is in.
I planned ahead for this one Loney Fan.
I see that I am going to have to step up my game for the next puzzle.
Fo sho!
Quad, Loney Fan, you guys are quick. Well done, I see you've been honing your puzzle skills over the off season.
Wicks, it is indeed a current Dodger.
Answer sent in. Quad and Loney fan, i already know i don't have any chance with you guys playing!
I've been getting up every morning at sunrise, drinking two raw eggs, then running 10 miles to the community center to take on seniors at whatever puzzle they have that day.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/929458/
The rivalry has been renewed again.
I've got nothing......I have had many ideas but none of them work. I am way overthinking!
Checked your email Karina, sorry though, not correct...
Quad, a mid-comment-thread avatar switch? Now you're just getting cocky.
DONE.
Last season's puzzlers will remember my common refrain, which holds true here: If you have the correct answer, you will know it is correct. If you're not sure if you have the correct answer or not, then you don't have it.
A guess is headed your way!
MSTI yup, Wicks nope...
Sent in answer...woot!
I'm having an off day, you know kinda like RJ had yesterday.....hahaha.
Another shot in the mail!( i also didn't have to go to the office, i'm working at home, lucky me!)
Just sent my answer in!
Good job Andrew, keep at it Karina. So far 4 correct answers, in order:
QuadSevens
Loney Fan
MSTI
Andrew
19 comments already? I just woke up!
I wanted to change to this picture a while ago. Needed the Dodgers logo in my profile pic.
Answer in. I see I'm late to the party at 8:30.
Great to see the puzzles back. Starting nice and easy, get everyone involved. Don't be fooled, folks! They'll get a lot harder very soon...
3rd and (i hope) answer. If it is, i can't believe i couldn't see it before.
Quadsevens, please tell me that you are not using a plastic Dodgers Levy Restaurant cup in your household. If you're actually saving these for future usage, please let me know; I can save four to five of these for you each game!
Berko, well done.
J Steve, Karina, keep trying...
Fanerman, there is no sleeping in on puzzle day.
Apparently I'm missing something veeery obvious!
J Steve, I guess it's only easy if you're an oldtimer who has got to know the inner workings of Eric Karros' mind. It's his style of puzzle that last year's denizens have come to know well. If you don't figure it out this time, you'll see when he explains the answer tomorrow how his devious mind works, and it will help in future puzzles.
I was here all of last year and I still have no idea...
This year I decided to add the J to my name in honor of my mother. It's the first letter of her first name.
Am I really that easy to read and figure out? I guess this puzzle does have some similarities to a few from last year. But to your point Berko, it's good we have Sax creating puzzles too, his mind works quite differently.
Sax, I just saved the two cups I had when I went to a preseason game this year. Makes me feel like I'm drinking a $12 beer when I watch the Dodgers at home. I don't plan on saving anymore of them, but thanks anyways.
This is why I dig the Q7.
Lest I bore those with my repeated mantra, I SUCK AT THESE PUZZLES.
Answer sent
Don't worry Neebs! I'm with ya.....
Neeebs, Gil, sorry both are incorrect. But Gil your answer is closer than Neeebs'.
Since you can't see each others answers I guess that doesn't help too much.
Also Neeebs, you have to submit a reasoning. Without that, even if you have the right answer, it counts for participation credit only.
Answer sent. Man I'm rusty.
Damn, I was going to submit 25 guesses, in random order, until I "figured" it out.
Plan B=work harder
Plan C=give up.
BTW, I just received my brand new Raul Mondesi Glove, courtesy of SOSG. Nice, but it's a little snug.
I just sent you guys a picture of the glove in hand.
Good job Fanerman. Correct answers so far:
QuadSevens
Loney Fan
MSTI
Andrew
Berkowit28
Fanerman
Hint added.
Another try....
Berko, i don't know how you do it, but i still can't understand EK's mind...
I'm bad at these games but I sent in my answer anyway
I'm also bad at reading rules
Damon, you are correct...that you are bad at these games. At least this one. Unfortunately your answer is incorrect.
And keep trying Karina!
i'm lost! i'll try once just when i get back from my meeting.
I reaaaally suck at this.
Yea! I got it! I sent in my answer.
Solved.
Good job, Bratalie!
Damon, Karina and I are going to develop our own puzzle for the puzzle challenged commenters.
Damn you Q7, and you too LF.
I'm just really bad at these!
No playa hating here Neeebs! Why not take some time to stop and smell the glove?
Ah, Smell the Glove. The censored "Black" Album.
Love that movie.
Oh, I forgot to mention for the new puzzlers - deadline is midnight tonight. I updated to the post to say so.
Neeebs, I'll agree that Quad solving the puzzle in 4 minutes was ridiculous.
FINALLY! I just sent in my answer...
Not to brag or anything, but I think I had it solved in less than 4 minutes. Took me a while to open up my email and write out my answer. =)
One more correct answer. Well done J Steve.
I wonder what happened to Jose? Quad, this could be your chance to make a move...
My puzzle challenged brain needs another hint. I have a feeling I'll want to punch myself when I see the answer.
Wicks: Berko was right... this is right out of the EK playbook. I should have seen it earlier!
Wicks, as tempted as I am, I can't give another hint. Too many folks have gotten it already -
Answer sent.
Answer Sent.
Better late than never!
I'm here, Eric - just isn't my day today I guess....
Welcome to puzzleland, Ubragg. Well done.
And as they say, Mr. Customer is always right. Glad to see you're back.
Ah, defending champ Jose is here. You still have a few hours before deadline...
Anyways I'm going to sleep now all, thanks for playing. I'll check emails in the morning -
I guess, I'll send something in, although it makes no sense...
Sorry Dan incorrect. Ok, this time I'm really going to sleep now.
It's a long PCS season. Just because I got this puzzle right in 4 minutes, doesn't mean that someone else (Jose, Loney Fan, Fanerman, or one of the many other puzzle solvers) won't take over first later in the year.
I'm looking forward to a fun and challenging PCS season!
Post a Comment