Thursday, July 23, 2009

Off-Day Puzzle #13: The Play

It's time for Dodger baseball! Live from Dodger Stadium, the SoSG Network presents the Dodgers as they take on the Florida Marlins. Hi everybody, and a very pleasant Thursday morning to you wherever you may be.

The Dodgers are still the hottest team in the majors at 27 games over .500. They've won five straight and are coming off a sweep of the Reds. The Marlins are in third place in the NL East and are coming off their own sweep, of the Padres.

Let's set the Dodgers defensively for you. Pitching today is Clayton Kershaw. Russell Martin is doing the catching with James Loney at first base, Orlando Hudson at second, Casey Blake at third and Rafael Furcal at shortstop. In the outfield we have last night's hero Manny Ramirez in left, Matt Kemp patrolling center and Andre Ethier in right.

Leading off for the Marlins is Chris Coghlan. Coghlan is batting .249 with four home runs. He steps into the box. The first pitch is a strike and we're underway. You know what I love about broadcasting baseball? Anything can happen.

Here's the next pitch to Coghlan, and he grounds it toward second. Hudson picks it up and — holy mackerel! A tiger has come out of left field and mauled the O-Dog!

The ball pops out of Hudson's glove and bounces toward home plate! I wonder if they're going to charge him with an error.

Martin picks the ball up. Coghlan rounds first! Martin throws to Furcal covering second but instead airmails it into right field! He must have been thinking of his beautiful, beautiful girlfriend. And Furcal jumped as high as he could but didn't come close to touching the ball.

Coghlan rounds second and is heading toward third! Ethier picks up the ball in the corner, but the tiger has chased the entire infield into the dugout! Nice kitty! But what's this? Kemp and Ramirez are running toward the infield! Ethier throws it toward them! Manny, the new cutoff man, catches it!

Coghlan is heading home! Manny throws it to Kershaw, who trips and falls! Goodness gracious me! Kemp tries to cover home but he trips over Kershaw! But here's Ethier, sprinting in from right field and jumping over the pile of bodies! He takes the short relay from Kershaw! The play at the plate and Coghlan is...out!

Ladies and gentlemen, what an incredible play. Half the team is trapped in the dugout by the tiger and the rest of the players are sprawled out on the infield. And that was just the first out of the ballgame!

While we wait for a zookeeper to be called from Griffith Park, we can talk about that play. Boy I tell you, that play reminds me of one player and one player only. If I remember correctly....

What player is our announcer thinking of?

Hint #1 (9:54 a.m.): For those of you scoring at home, or even if you're alone, that was an unusual play.

Hint #2 (12:30 p.m.): It's a pretty hyper series of events, isn't it? See if you can find what links the players together.

Hint #3 (3:15 p.m.): Might listeners be unusually really lucky?

Hint #4 (4:55 p.m.): You must understand the rules of baseball to solve this puzzle.

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Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is the name of a current or former 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 answer, as well as your reasoning. 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!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? We're always looking for more participants!

70 comments:

karina said...

First lousy attempt sent in.

Eric Karros said...

No, sorry Karina. Keep trying!

Josh S. said...

*stares blankly*

ubragg said...

I'm stumped, too... so when does the first hint come out? ;)

QuadSevens said...

I think I'm going to need to rewatch The Naked Gun in order to solve this puzzle.

Steve Sax said...

The answer is not Enrico Palazzo.

QuadSevens said...

First guess sent in.

DanGarion said...

Um... ok. Well at least you told us it's a Dodger...

BWrightson said...

Answer in!

Eric Karros said...

There may be a new sheriff in town...BWrightson nailed it! All other submissions thusfar are incorrect.

1. BWrightson

Wicks said...

answer in!!!!

Eric Karros said...

Not quite correct wicks, but you are on the right track...

Eric Karros said...

Hint will be posted in approx 30 mins...

Wicks said...

another attempt in but its prob wrong

berkowit28 said...

Just got here 15 minutes ago, but I guess I haven't missed much. Totally stumped too, and I don't think I'd have done anything useful with the 2 hours.

Wicks said...

final answer in Regis.....er.....EK

Eric Karros said...

Wicks bulls his way past the favorites and locks down #2!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've got nothing.

QuadSevens said...

"Half the team is trapped in the dugout..."

Reminds me of this music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGVYki-oyQ

LLCoolL said...

Guess sent in.

ubragg said...

I was afraid that was going to be the hint... It is the next step I've been spinning my wheels on since about 7:02.

Very impressive, B-Dub and Wicks!

BWrightson said...

Thanks Ubragg! Unfortunately I have to hope that 15 other people solve the puzzle before you...

=)

ubragg said...

Actually, depending on if and when I get this one today, you very well may have the lead on the home stretch, once you drop all the puzzles that aren't going to count in the final standings. I'm only +37 on you going into this puzzle for the final standings. If I get less than 73 (which is looking very likely at this point), you will be in the driver's seat.

Wicks said...

If I can get this one Ubragg then you will too very soon!

ubragg said...

Doh, make that 63. See I'm fading fast...

Eric Karros said...

LLCool - you're on the right track but your answer is incorrect...

ubragg said...

Thanks for the encouragement, Wicks. :)

Josh S. said...

Answer sent!

Steve Sax said...

@Q7: wow, a weird al reference. I feel so violated.

Eric Karros said...

Josh S is in!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S

Wicks said...

The wording of the hint is one of the funniest things I have seen in a bit!

QuadSevens said...

Sax: If you want violated, I could have gone with this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8IVlfyIc8g

LLCoolL said...

One more try sent

Keven C said...

Answered

Eric Karros said...

Good job Keven C -

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C

Orel said...

Epale, everybody! Is this puzzle too easy?

Steve Sax said...

Q7: In that case, this is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_3XRx8EnuI

Orel said...

Ubragg gets bragging rights!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Answer Sent

Orel said...

Not quite there, MLASF.

ubragg said...

Answer sent (from a stoplight while driving). Had to get out of the house to think of something different. Great puzzle Orel!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dammit, I was so sure.

Orel said...

Next hint in about an hour.

QuadSevens said...

@Sax: HA! Conversation through music videos, nice! And that R. Kelly video is just part 1 of 22!

Orel said...

I can't wait to see how this impacts the PCS Rankings.

Josh S. said...

"Is this puzzle too easy?"

I wouldn't say so, since it's pretty tough to figure out what you need to start with.

Orel said...

Good, thanks.

Steve K said...

Just like every week, I'm stuck waiting for that final "a-ha!" to hit me... I think I have some of the pieces, but don't know how to put them together. I'm hoping Hint #2 helps...

Steve Sax said...

Quad, I don't have 21 more youtube video responses, so you win

Orel said...

Hint #2 is up!

Steve K said...

Hint #2 definitely did not help... I guess the "pieces" I had were the wrong ones.

Steve K said...

Never mind... I'm sending in my answer!

LLCoolL said...

2nd Hint helped. Answer sent.

Orel said...

We have more winners!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg
6. J Steve
7. LLCoolL

MR.F said...

Answer sent!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Second attempt sent

Dusto_Magnifico said...

geeze those white sox announcers are homers. What a treat it is to listen to Vinny.

QuadSevens said...

I'm gonna need to step away from this for a while and revisit it later. Nothing is coming to me right now.

Orel said...

Fanerman is in!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg
6. J. Steve
7. LLCoolL
8. Fanerman

Orel said...

Hint #3 is up!

Orel said...

Slight correction: Lurker "DunkHawk" snuck in before Fanerman:

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg
6. J. Steve
7. LLCoolL
8. DunkHawk
9. Fanerman

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So close yet so far...

Orel said...

Hint #4 posted.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

You could prolly give me like, 20 hints, spell the name out and I still woudn't get it.

Orel said...

The player is bigger than a breadbox.

drewdez said...

Answer in. Took me entirely too long to figure out Hint #2. I'll chalk that up to a long day at work.

Orel said...

Drewdez makes the top ten!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg
6. J. Steve
7. LLCoolL
8. DunkHawk
9. Fanerman
10. Drewdez

Nostradamus said...

Answer in.

Orel said...

Mr. Customer pays a visit!

1. BWrightson
2. Wicks
3. Josh S
4. Keven C
5. Ubragg
6. J. Steve
7. LLCoolL
8. DunkHawk
9. Fanerman
10. Drewdez
11. Mr. Customer

Nostradamus said...

Yeah, cameo appearnce only, I know.

In this case, cash trumps PCS.

I did receive a certain package c/o SOSG Orel today. Documentation to follow.