Off-Day Grand Slam Puzzle Finale (#19): Norway or Bust!

When we last left our beloved Cub, he had just reunited with true love Jasmine in the pastel forest. We pick up their story from there, switching to second person (second bear?):

"Jasmine my love!" you shout as you run into each other's arms. "We must go to Norway!" you continue, not bothering to explain yourself. Nonetheless, she does not question it.

Just then, the you both look up to see your old friend the Owl fluttering above. He lands on a nearby rock and again begins jawing.

"Congratulations Cub on deciphering the forest's unspoken message and revealing your next destination. However, before you embark, I shall grant you a gift for you to carry with you on your journey."

"How kind, dear Owl," you reply. "What might this gift be?"

"Now Cub, it is not a gift given merely out of affection or generosity. It is a gift of necessity. I cannot tell you exactly what role it will play in your upcoming quest to find your father, but I will say that at some point it will be critical to your survival."

"Furthermore, it is a gift you must choose among four possibilities."

Intrigued, you glance over at Jasmine. She is beaming, presumably at the prospect of choosing a gift.

The owl continues, "your four choices are:"

1) a satchel of dirt	2) a folding fan
3) a matchbook	4) a water canteen

You glance back at Jasmine. She doesn't seem so excited anymore.

"You can only choose one of these items, and you must choose wisely. If you select the wrong one, you will be doomed in your quest. Fortunately, you needn't make your decision immediately - I will give you until midnight PT tonight to make your selection. Hopefully before then, you can figure out which item you will need."

"Also, remember this," continues the Owl. "As you embark on the next segment of your journey, you will encounter familiar faces of both friends and enemies. The friends will help you if they can. The enemies will most certainly hurt you. Avoid the latter."

Suddenly, the Owl's tone becomes stern. "Now close your eyes."

As per usual when interacting with the Owl, you are confused. Yet you do as he asks and close your eyes, as does Jasmine. You begin to feel dizzy, and just as you are about to pass out you hear the Owl's parting words: "ha det bra, og lykke til!" Then everything goes black.

You awaken with Jasmine by your side. As you both groggily get to your feet, you look around and notice you are no longer in the forest. You are in some sort of room with no ceiling, with green walls that extend more than twelve feet in the air. Soon you realize you are in a hedge-maze! Or at least a room whose walls are made of hedges. And you see three doors leading out of the room, one on the North wall, one on the South wall, and one in the Southeast corner.

"Which way should we go?" Jasmine asks. As you consider your options, Jasmine then asks, "and did you hear the Owl's parting words? What did they mean?"

You are not sure how to answer either question, but you decide to focus your energy on the immediate decision - figuring out which way to go. Which exit do you take?:

• North
• South
• Southeast

(Incidentally, you notice each exit is marked "one-way ". This is the case with all doors/exitways in the hedge labyrinth).

Hint #1 (10:59am): Map it out.

Hint #2 (11:13am): Ignore the numbers that are the titles of the post. They were used to construct the puzzle but are irrelevant to the solution. Hope nobody spent too much time trying to figure out what they meant.

Hint #3 (1:33pm): In most but not all cases, the date and time of each room's post is irrelevant.

A Hidden Bonus Hint #4 added 2:07pm in the relevant place within the maze.

Hint #5 (3:25pm): If you're traveling to a foreign country...learn the language!

Hint #6 (5:35pm): There are 5 steps:

1. map out the hedgemaze;
2. find the "key" room;
3. figure out what the 2nd poem in the key room means and do as it says;
4. figure out the missing words in the 1st poem in the key room (step 3 helps with this immensely), and finally
5. figure out what the completed 1st poem means and do what it says.

Hint #1 corresponds to step 1 above. Hints #3 corresponds to steps 3 and 4. Hidden Bonus Hint #4 is in the key room and corresponds to step 5; and Hint #5 also corresponds to step 5.

Solution: click here.

Two Puzzle Notes:

1. Please comment only in this master thread, not the other posts that comprise this puzzle, as otherwise I will probably never see your comment. I believe I have deactivated commenting in the other posts to enforce this, but may have missed one.
2. I think I double-checked the intricate web of links, but if you find a broken link in this puzzle, please comment here or email us to let me know.

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is one of the four gift options - the satchel of dirt, the folding fan, the matchbook, or the canteen of water. 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 correct gift option along with your reasoning. Submitted answers without the correct reasoning, even if correct, will 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.
• As a Grand Slam Puzzle (the finale!), this one is worth 150 points. And no succubus!

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer, as per the Owl's words. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Two Days To The Grand Finale PCS Puzzle!

Gentlemen, sharpen your pencils. You're in for a doozy on October 1.

Off-Day Puzzle #18: Lunch with Tommy

The answer to this puzzle is a current position player for the Dodgers.

Puzzle Rules: 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 your answer along with your reasoning. Submitted answers without the reasoning, or those submitted with the incorrect reasoning, will count for participation only, even if the answer itself is correct. And please include your screen name somewhere in the email; and
• Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. We 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; we may confirm correct answers there.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Answer will be posted tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #17: LA Logo

Here's today's puzzle:

Hint #1 (11:22 am): If you've figured out the verse, it speaks the truth. Literally.

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Puzzle Rules: The solution to the puzzle is a current 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 the first and last name of the player, along with your reasoning. Submitted answers without the reasoning, or those submitted with the incorrect reasoning, will count for participation only, even if the answer itself is correct. And please include your screen name somewhere in the email; and
• Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. We 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; we may confirm correct answers there.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Answer will be posted tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #16: UBragg's Puzzle

Here's today's puzzle, direct from Puzzlemaster UBragg:

Greetings SoSG Puzzlers!

Yesterday, SoSG arranged a 6-inning exhibition game between some of your favorite Dodgers from seasons past.

Here were the starting lineups for yesterday's game:

Team 1	Team 2
LaRoche, 3B	Meusel, CF
Lopes, 2B	Garciaparra, SS
Snider, RF	Murray, 1B
Baker, LF	Cora, 2B
DeJesus, SS	Chen, RF
Brock, 1B	Bocachica, LF
Boone, CF	Dempsey, C
Hundley, C	Robles, 3B
Koufax, P	Alvarez, P

Unfortunately, the official scorekeeper wasn't around, but we did manage to take notes of the events as they happened.

Top of 1st
LaRoche popped to first.
Lopes singled.
Snider grounded into fielder's choice, pitcher to second, Lopes out at second.
Baker lined to shortstop.

Bottom of 1st
Meusel doubled.
Garciaparra walked.
Murray was hit by pitch, Meusel to third, Garciaparra to second.
Cora struck out.
Chen popped to catcher.
Bocachica flied to center.

Top of 2nd
DeJesus popped to catcher.
Brock lined to pitcher.
Boone lined to first.

Bottom of 2nd
Dempsey singled.
Robles popped to first.
Alvarez popped to shortstop.
Meusel walked, Dempsey to second.
Garciaparra grounded out, second to first.

Top of 3rd
Hundley popped to second.
Koufax singled.
LaRoche popped to catcher.
Lopes singled, Koufax to third.
Snider grounded out, third to first.

Bottom of 3rd
Murray walked.
Cora lined to first.
Chen walked, Murray to second.
Bocachica singled, Murray to third, Chen to second.
Dempsey popped to right.
Robles lined to second.

Top of 4th
Baker singled.
DeJesus singled, Baker to second.
Brock singled, Baker to third, DeJesus to second.
Boone grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop to catcher, Baker out at home, DeJesus to third, Brock to second.
Hundley grounded into fielder's choice, pitcher to second, Boone out at second, DeJesus scored, Brock to third.
Koufax singled, Brock scored, Hundley to third.
Koufax picked off, pitcher to first.

Bottom of 4th
Alvarez singled.
Meusel walked, Alvarez to second.
Garciaparra walked, Alvarez to third, Meusel to second.
Murray walked, Alvarez scored, Meusel to third, Garciaparra to second.
Cora grounded into fielder's choice, third to catcher, Meusel out at home, Garciaparra to third, Murray to second.
Chen grounded into fielder's choice, third to catcher, Garciaparra out at home, Murray to third, Cora to second.
Bocachica struck out.

Top of 5th
LaRoche singled.
Lopes singled, LaRoche to second.
Snider singled, LaRoche scored, Lopes to third.
Baker grounded into fielder's choice, pitcher to second, Snider out at second, Lopes scored.
DeJesus singled, Baker to second.
Brock struck out.
Boone singled, Baker to third, DeJesus to second.
Hundley struck out.

Bottom of 5th
Dempsey walked.
Robles struck out.
Alvarez walked, Dempsey to second.
Meusel grounded out, third to first, Dempsey to third, Alvarez to second.
Garciaparra walked.
Murray singled, Dempsey and Alvarez scored, Garciaparra to third.
Murray stole second, Garciaparra stole home.
Murray stole third.
Murray scored on wild pitch.
Cora lined to shortstop.

Top of 6th
Koufax homered.
LaRoche grounded to first, unassisted.
Lopes walked.
Snider walked, Lopes to second.
Baker was hit by pitch, Lopes to third, Snider to second.
DeJesus grounded into fielder's choice, pitcher to catcher, Lopes out at home, Snider to third, Baker to second.
Brock struck out.

Bottom of 6th
Chen walked.
Bocachica was hit by pitch, Chen to second.
Dempsey flied to center.
Robles lined to short.
Alvarez grounded out, second to first.

At this point, Bud Selig, who was in attendance, declared the game a tie, promising that it would never happen again and somehow that the game would be made more meaningful next year. After getting some help from the starting lineups, you must then keep official score of the game to determine which Dodger was being honored at the event.

(Note: There are many possible ways to keep score. For best results, use exactly the notation shown on only this page: http://www.baseballscorecard.com/examples.htm. Do not include any scoring notation methods that do not appear on that page, and be sure to include the notation methods that do appear on that page. The only exception is that the strikeout examples on that page do not show the associated out number for some reason -- for the purposes of this puzzle, they should.)

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is the name of a current 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.
• Keep your eye on both the comments section for possible hints from UBragg as well as the post for possible hints from me.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

Hint #1 (8:54am): There are four distinct steps to solving it. The first step involves the players' names. And if you get the first step correctly, you will know you did.

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

Off-Day Puzzle #15: Dead Sailors

Happy puzzle day! Today's edition is a bit macabre, and has nothing to do with baseball, but I hope you'll enjoy it nonetheless.

Read the following verse carefully and fill in the blank with the proper number of diseased sailors (including the last two who didn't immediately die):

Not well-versed in the high seas,
The ____ sailors caught disease.
Rotten mutton made them ill,
Benign it looked but looks can kill.

They ate and when their feast was through,
'twas heaven taking all but two;
Two sick survivors lost at sea,
If I've seen worse, I lie to thee.

Will fortune save their aimless boat?
Both reaffirm their faith and hope;
Their tombstones nonetheless will say,
"They won our hearts but lost their way."

Hint #1 (7:56am): The puzzle was inspired in part by the Plain White T's.

Hint #2 (10:03am): It might help to recite the verses to a friend (or to yourself).

Note (not really a hint, but sort of I guess) (11:49am): Getting the correct-syllabled number to fit the meter of the poem is not the methodology (such a methodology would not result in a definitive answer anyhow, as there are countless numbers each with a given number of syllables. And the meter on these puzzle-poems is never perfectly correct...).

Solution: click here.

Puzzle Rules: 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 correct number along with your reasoning. Submitted answer without the reasoning, or those submitted with the incorrect reasoning, will count for participation only, even if the number itself is correct. 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. Answer will be posted tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #14: It's All Coming Together

Two years ago, with flashes of brilliance from the Dodger youngsters, we dreamed of what could be. Last year, with a deep playoff run, that dream seemed within grasp. And now this year, with the best record in the ma-, er I mean second best record in-, uhhh yeah ok third best record in the majors, has the Dodgers' young core officially and finally come together?

Maybe, maybe not. Either way, it brings us to today's puzzle:

(click image to enlarge)

What message do Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, and James Loney have for us?

Hint #1 (8:30am): There is a hint near the end of the opening paragraph.

Hint #2 (9:43am): Scissors and a strong light source might help.

Hint #3 (10:45am): A non-baseball fan can conceivably solve this, but it's easier for those who know some basics about who Martin, Kemp, Ethier, and Loney are...

Solution: click here.

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Puzzle Rules: 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 message. 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!

General Puzzle Note: Thanks to Josh S for pointing out that there are actually 19 off-days this season, not 18 as we had thought. This means there will be 7 puzzles in the last third of the season, not 6. Because of this oversight, the rolling 7-puzzle succubus mistress will, for the last day of the puzzle season only (Oct 1), become an 8-puzzle succubus mistress so that Grand Slam Puzzle #12 will count in the final PCS Point tally.

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Have no idea what the above paragraph means? Read up here. And join the fun!

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!

Off-Day Grand Slam Puzzle #12: The Cub Revisited

When we last left our beloved ursine protagonist the Cub, he had just suffered through an emotional but enlightening evening. We pick up his story the next morning, when he awakens to find his father gone but a note next to him:

Good morning young Cub! I hope you slept well. I'm sure you were hoping this note was from your father, but alas, this is the Owl speaking. He's not one for emotional words, as you know. But he did want me to tell you that he bids you farewell and sends you his unconditional love.

Now before we get to the task at hand, I also want to say I'm sorry I didn't fess up last night that I speak fluent English. While I admit part of me was just messing with you, I also think my words had more impact when I spoke my native tongue - didn't you? But okay, mostly I was just messing with you.

So anyWHOO...rest up and relax today, for as soon as the sun sets tonight (at 10pm), you must embark on your journey posthaste! While I know your ultimate goal is to find your father again, your immediate task is to unite with your true love (I told you last night who that was). She is somewhere in this forest waiting for you, and you have until sunrise (6am) to get to her.

But be careful. The forest is a dangerous and tricky place to navigate. Here are some ground rules you must abide by:

• You can move north, south, east, or west, but not diagonally.
• Each move in any of these directions takes you half an hour.
• You must keep moving - you cannot occupy the same spot for two consecutive moves.
• The forest is full of enemies and other obstacles you must avoid:
  • Trees - Trees are stationary. You cannot move onto a spot with a tree.
  • Eagles - Believe it or not, an eagle can kill you in one fell swoop. You must avoid them. Eagles move in a straight line as indicated by the green arrows. They also move one square per half hour (including the diagonal eagle). Unlike yourself, eagles are able to traverse trees.
  • Vultures - You must avoid them as well. Vultures move in a circular motion, as follows: Two squares north, two squares west, two squares south, then one square to the east. If by then they haven't found you, they will disappear before reaching their original starting point. Like the Eagles, Vultures are able to traverse trees and move one square per half hour.
  • Spurned Female Cubs - Perhaps most dangerous are your three spurned loves. They must be avoided at all costs. In fact, you cannot get within one square north, south, east, or west of any of them (diagonal is okay). They may move in a straight line (at the same speed as yourself), or remain stationary, as indicated by a green arrow or a lack of one, respectively.
  • You may pass Eagles, Vultures, and Spurned Loves in transition between squares, but not on a square itself. For example, if you are in a square directly to the west of an Eagle, and the Eagle is traveling west, it is OK if you move east while the Eagle moves west, thereby crossing the Eagle. You cannot however end up in a square that is occupied by an Eagle.

If you survive the perils of the forest and reach your true love in time, the forest will speak to you and tell you where you must go in the next stage of your journey to reunite with your father, as follows:

1. The forest will make 6 utterances during your journey.
2. The first four will come at midnight, 2am, 4am, and 6am, respectively.
3. The 5th will be spoken in code throughout the first 4 hours of your journey.
4. The 6th will be spoken in code throughout the last 4 hours.

If you find the correct path, you will have your answer*. However, if you go astray, the wilderness shows no mercy. You will perish.

Oh and one last thing - I hope you deciphered my reply to your third question last night. For if you don't initially head in the direction I instructed, you will never hear the words of the forest and you'll be lost forever (my instruction applies only to your first move)! Now rest up and prepare for your overnight trek.

Good luck and Godspeed, dear Cub. I am rooting for you.

                            Yours truly,

                            The Owl

So puzzlers, back to the real world here (or at least back to SoSG). It's your task to help the Cub carry out the above. Here is the layout of the forest as he embarks on his quest at 10pm (that's him in the center square):

(click image to enlarge)

Hint 1 (9:35am): there are actually two previously used devices needed. A hint for one, which was used last year, can be found "in time."

Hint 2 (11:40am): the first device requires conversion of computer-speak to people-speak. The second device requires finding the correct url.

Hint 3 (2:51pm): the Cub's first move is mandated by the Owl. His next 4 moves are determined by where he has a safe move. The rest is a combo of safety and beating the clock.

Hint 4 (3:48pm): have you ever seen a two-toned, pastel-colored forest before?

Solution: click here.

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Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a place. 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 place the Cub must go to find his father. 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.
• As a Grand Slam Puzzle, this one is worth 150 points.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

*a device used in several previous puzzles will also be needed to translate the forest's words.

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #11: In Sync

We've had a Word Search Puzzle before. And we've had a boy band puzzle before. But we've never before dared to combine the two. Until today's 'In Sync' puzzle:

(click image to enlarge)

Somewhere, somehow, in the second image are 32 hidden words. These words are broken down as follows (unless otherwise noted, for words that are people, only their last names appear):

• Seven (7) are either Spice Girls or Central American countries;
• Six (6) are either a main Entourage actor, or a main Sex and the City character;
• Seven (7) are either current Supreme Court Justices or the first names of one of the 5 last contestants on Rock of Love Bus;
• Six (6) are either among the top 5 career NFL passing leaders or among the bottom 5 players picked in the 1st round of the 2009 NBA draft; and
• Six (6) are either one of the last 5 MLB perfect game throwers or one of the first 5 World Cup host countries.

So there you have it...good luck!

Oh, that's right, the first image. It's relevant to the puzzle too.

Hint #1 (9:15am): It's not a mistake: we know how to spell *NSYNC the band.

Hint #2 (10:10am): Unscrambling the image on the left is important for two separate reasons.

Hint #3 (12:03pm): The 7 words you are looking for in the 3rd category above (Supreme Court Justices or Rock of Love contestants) are Roberts, Ginsburg, Thomas, Stevens, Mindy, Beverly, and Ashley. If you can't find them, you need to figure out why.

Hint #4 (1:18pm): There are four distinct steps to solving the puzzle:

1. Unscramble the image on the left
2. Something else
3. Find the words in the word search
4. Something else

The two 'something else' steps match up nicely with the two reasons referenced in Hint #2. And step 2 is directly related to Hint #1. And to paraphrase Hint #1, if we know how to spell *NSYNC, the title of the puzzle must not be a reference to the band...

Hint #5 (2:32pm): If you think step 4 is along the lines of this puzzle, you are sooooooo wrong.

Hint #6 (4:36pm): Here are the 32 words you're looking for:

• Seven (7) Spice Girls or Central American countries: Brown, Bunton, Halliwell, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama;
• Six (6) Entourage actors or Sex and the City characters: Ferrara, Grenier, Piven, Hobbes, Jones, York;
• Seven (7) current Supreme Court Justices or 5 last contestants on Rock of Love Bus: Roberts, Ginsburg, Thomas, Stevens, Mindy, Beverly, Ashley;
• Six (6) top 5 career NFL passing leaders or bottom 5 1st round NBA draftees: Favre, Elway, Moon, Eyenga, Douglas, Gibson;
• Six (6) last 5 MLB perfect game throwers or first 5 World Cup host countries: Cone, Rogers, Wells, Brazil, France, Italy.

Solution: here

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Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a current 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!

Off-Day Puzzle #10: Mr Customer's Puzzle

Welcome to today's puzzle, the creation of which was awarded to the winner of the first third of the puzzle season. Here it is:

(click image to enlarge)

The object is to connect the squares of the same color. Here are the rules:

1. Paths may not cross black squares or any other path, including its own (no loops).
2. Paths may not cross the large black square surrounding the grid.
3. Paths may not cross squares containing a letter from the name of their color.
4. Paths may not turn back on themselves. The path between two colored squares may share a side with no more than two squares that are part of the same path. For example:

Hint #1 (9:57am): The longer the name of the color, the more potential routes are blocked by "forbidden letters". It's easier to find the "bottlenecks" where there is only 1 possible path for those colors.

Hint #2 (10:56am): Here's a path to get you started:

---------------------------------------------------------------

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.
• Watch the comments section for possible hints from Mr Customer (no promises though).

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!

Off-Day Puzzle #9: One-Team Players Across America

Before we get to today's puzzle, just want to note that you don't want to miss next Monday's puzzle, as it's straight from the mind of Mr Customer!

Anyhow, here's today's:

(click image to enlarge)

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a MLB team (not the Dodgers). 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 team name and the reasoning behind it. Answers submitted without reasoning, or with the incorrect reasoning (even if the answer itself is correct) will 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!

Hint #1 (9:03am): Although the piece of prose is important, the subject matter it deals with (players who played their careers for the same team) is not.

Hint #2 (11:30am): Hint posted. Also, the courier type and the jpg rather than text is not irrelevant, but it is not the crux of the puzzle. It basically made the puzzle easier to make, especially while half-asleep.

Comment (not a hint): I wrote this last night from 2:30-3am, and only now see how awkward the wording is. But in terms of the puzzle, it still does the job!

Solution: here.

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

Off Day Puzzle #8: The Countdown

Man, there are a lot of off days in June. In April and May, we had only two each. Then suddenly in June, we're hit with four in a fifteen-day span. Which means more rest, more deadlines to come up with something creative, and more puzzles for the players, for Sax and I, and for you all, respectively.

And they seem to have gotten somewhat more difficult as well. After receiving double-digit correct answers for each of the first three puzzles, none of the last four hit that mark, culminating in a season-low five correct solutions for last week's sound-it-out puzzle. Hopefully today's will be a bit more accessible, but I can never tell.

Anyways, those are just some random puzzle musings. Here's today's brain teaser:

—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–

Look for the signs within number nine,
Looking at eight? Stop wasting your time.
Seven’s in past, yet offers no clue,
Six speaks of four, but is useless like two.
Five is reflective back onto itself,
Four may run long, but that doesn’t help;
Three planned to help out, alas it forgot,
But signs are forthcoming? Apparently not.

–—––––——–––––—––———––—––—–––——–––––––—–—–———–—––—––

Hint #1 (8:40am): 4,1,2,3,3,1,1,2,2,2,2,3,3,2,3,3,4,3,3,1,3

Hint #2 (10:18am): The 1st step is to figure out what each line of the poem refers to; then the 2nd step is to figure out what the puzzle is asking. Most of the lines provide some hint as to what they refer to.

Hint #3 (11:38am): Neither the numbers in the poem, the numbers in Hint #1, nor the puzzle methodology itself has anything to do with baseball.

Hint #4 (1:17pm): It's in courier type so you can easily tell which line is the longest...

Solution: click here.

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a Dodger player. 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, along with your reasoning (submitted answers with only the player's name, without an explanation, will not be accepted. Likewise, correct answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning 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!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #7: The Staff Member

Special thanks to SoSG Eric Karros for letting me take the reins for today's off-day puzzle, Puzzle #7 in the PCS Season II. Today's puzzle, The Staff Member, concerns some spare papers I found flying around Dodger Stadium the other day.

After returning to my car after yet another Dodgers victory last week, I came across a couple of spare sheets of paper that had obviously been ripped out of a book, before being blown across the vacant lots of Chavez Ravine and ending up near my fine automobile. The book's pages appeared to have pictures of former Dodgers in it*, but it was the ordering of the particular Dodgers which caught my eye, as they seemed odd and random at first glance.

The first page of Dodgers looked like this:

I stared at these two rows of Dodgers for a while, not knowing why the players were ordered in this fashion on the page. It would have helped if the players' names hadn't been obscured by muck and splotches (faithfully reproduced on this page with neat and tidy white rectangles). Unable to determine the ordering rationale, I went to my yoga class--and somewhere in the middle of the meditation session, as I was repeating the names of the players over and over to myself, it triggered an old memory of mine that sounded pretty familiar. And then, with these echoes in my mind, I realized what was going on here.

This epiphany really helped, as I also found this second page--which followed the first page, but not directly afterward--and had also blown near my car. And on this page, it had a big question mark at the end of the row:

Using the same methodology as on page one, name the Dodgers staff member whose picture belongs in the final box. As a kickoff hint, I will add that this person is no longer on the Dodgers' staff.

(*) Puzzle construction note: Yes, I understand that some of the players I've used are not Dodgers. This is hard work, dudes! I will say that on page 1, second line, the players on the third and fifth cards do have a Dodgers affiliation (and can be found here). The player on the first card in the second row has no affiliation with the Dodgers, though he did play us including at least once in the postseason. As for the second page of players, the player on the second card has a Dodgers affiliation (and can be found at the above link); the player on the fourth and last card does not.

Oh yeah, one more thing: on the first page, the second card in the second row was a deliberate choice.

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Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is the name of the Dodgers staff member. 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 name, along with your reasoning (submitted answers with the name alone, sans explanation, will not be accepted. Likewise, correct answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning 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 will try to confirm correct answers there.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

-----------------

Hint #1 (10:02a): Added some words to the fourth paragraph (in the yoga session), which may make things easier. Identifying the players is the first step...

Hint #2 (12:20p): It sounds like most of you are having trouble identifying the players. As a hint, here are the sets used in this puzzle (ordered chronologically): 1961 Topps, 1972 Topps, 1975 Topps, 1976 Topps (2x), 1982 Topps, 1984 Topps, 1987 Topps, 1990 Leaf, 2002 Upper Deck SR, 2002 Upper Deck Authentics Retro Star Rookie Jerseys, 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter, 2008 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractors, 2008 Topps Update.

Hint #3 (2:25p): The vertical positioning of the cards is relevant. (So too is the vertical positioning of the final rectangle.)

Hint #4 (4:30p): Got your list of players? Well, don't just stand there looking at the list. Make it your mantra! Scream it from the mountaintops! Echoes, baby!

Hint #5 (9.30p): Why don't you try to be an American Idol?

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the madness!

Off-Day Grand Slam Puzzle #6: The Bear, the Cub, and the Owl

A week in the woods trekked the Bear and the Cub,
The Bear’s rigid face, disguising his love.
As the seventh day set, said the Bear to his son,
“My journey ends here; yours has only begun.”

“For after tonight, I continue no more;
Your life's voyage awaits, but alone you must go.
Now listen my son, you mustn’t despair,
It’s a part of your growth from a cub to a bear.”

The Cub listened close,
   collecting his fears,
Understanding the words
   but holding back tears.
His father then turned
   and looked to the stars,
And let out a roar
   heard heavens afar.

A moment henceforth, a shape in the sky
Came fluttering forth, emitting a cry.
“Wh-wh-whoo!” was the call, a whispering howl,
And upon a tree branch, softly landed an owl.

Motioned to the bird, did the Bear to his son,
“One lesson remains and its teacher has come.
In shadows he moves, in riddles he speaks,
But his wisdom to you the Owl can bequeath.”

“Three questions you’ll have, consider them well,
For whatever you ask, the answer he’ll tell;
His words may seem strange, his dialect odd,
But truth often lurks behind drivel’s façade."

Approaching the Owl, embracing his task,
The Cub softly spoke, “I’d first like to ask,
Which one of my loves will make the best mate:
Matilda or Eve, or Jasmine or Grace?”

The Cub then stepped back, in anxious repose,
Waiting to hear what the Owl alone knows.
“Ou-fte-ten-ore!” came the Owl's reply,
Then a shade to the left, darted his eyes.

Confusion besieged
   the Cub’s furrowed face,
“He said not Matilda,
   Eve, Jasmine nor Grace!”
Said the Bear to his son,
   “on his words you must dwell,
For you've seen them elsewhere,
   and ‘Jasmine’ they spell.”

“Ou-fte-ten-ore?” repeated the Cub,
“But that’s not the name of Jasmine, my love!
The Owl’s cryptic words, please father explain?”
The Bear’s stern response: “two questions remain.”

The Cub took a breath, gazed back up the tree,
“Wise Owl,” he began, “I next ask of thee,
As I travel on, to best avert doom,
Should I move by the light of the sun or the moon?”

The Owl stared ahead, eyes wide as the sky,
“Fro-wo-who-peri!” the intriguing reply.
His words echoed forth, traversing the night,
Then his eyes moved once more, but this time to the right.

The Cub helplessly looked for his father’s assist,
As the meaning again in the answer was missed.
With the Bear’s chiseled growl came the needed respite,
“Follow his glance and move only at night.”

“A single last question
   and answer remain,
But there’s also a twist,”
   the Bear went on to explain.
“This last one I’ll give you
   a hint what to ask,
But decoding the answer
   this time is your task.”

The Bear then began with a shrouded goodbye,
“Tonight as we sleep, I’ll be by your side.
But brave you must be, come light of the dawn,
When you rise with the sun, to find that I’m gone.”

And from the Cub’s eyes, tears started to flow,
While continued the Bear, “Now son you must know,
Upon waves of chance, fate’s vessel is tossed,
But a course can be found where our paths again cross.”

And suddenly there, the Cub understood,
And gathered his poise, as much as he could.
He turned to the Owl, and spoke once again,
“I’d like to proceed with my final question.”

“Tomorrow at dusk, as I start on my quest,
Which way should I head: north, south, east, or west?
Please tell me which path, Wise Owl I implore,
Will unite me one day with my father once more?”

The Owl seemed to sigh, and with calm nonchalance,
“Depa-alne-jorn-afer!” came his cryptic response.
He then neither looked, to the left nor the right,
But instead crossed his eyes, and disappeared into the night.

Turned the Bear to the Cub, perhaps for the last time,
“Tonight as you sleep, I pray truth you’ll divine;
But remember my son, should tonight be our last,
That distance and time for my love is no match.”

Then father and son, lay their heads down to sleep,
And with all of his heart, the Cub tried not to weep.
Yet one last tear fell, from eyes of despair,
Only this time those eyes belonged to the Bear.

Hint #1 (10:44am):
Like parts of a song, the words from his tongue,
A familiar refrain, previously sung;
The shifts in his eyes, a conductor’s baton,
That point to the notes you seek in the song.

Hint #2 (12:00pm):
The most important clues are given by the Bear each time he interprets the Owl's replies to his son.

Hint #3 (12:58pm):
There is no need to go hunting through old posts. This puzzle is entirely self-contained.

Solution: click here

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Puzzle Rules: Which way must the Cub go to ensure he one day sees his father again (no pressure)? 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 direction, along with your reasoning (submitted answers with only the answer, without an explanation, will not be accepted. Likewise, correct answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning 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.
• And remember, this is a Grand Slam Puzzle, worth 150 points instead of the standard 100. And don't forget what's at stake!

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #5: Jose's Puzzle

Welcome to the first puzzle authored by an SoSG reader, PCS Season I champ Jose. It's a good one. Without further ado, here it is:

A few weeks ago, the Dodgers decided to have a team dinner at a restaurant. This restaurant is very small and in fact only has one long rectangular table that seats eight people, four on each side. Because of this, the Dodgers decided to have two seatings for dinner, one after the other. Before you can solve the puzzle, you have to figure out where each Dodger sat, and whether he attended the first or the second seating. Here is some information to help you:

• The attendees were Brad Ausmus, Casey Blake, former Dodger Yhency Brazoban, Andre Ethier, Orlando Hudson, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Don Mattingly, Eric Milton, Guillermo Mota, Will Ohman, Juan Pierre, Eric Stults, Joe Torre, and Ramon Troncoso.
• Pitchers and fielders (meaning infielders and outfielders, not catchers) don’t get along. In fact, no pitcher will sit next to or directly across from any fielder. In addition, no pitcher will sit at a table where he is the only pitcher present, and the same goes for fielders.
• The Dodgers like to be able to eat without bumping their elbows all the time. To avoid this problem, a lefty can’t sit immediately to the right of a righty, nor can a righty sit immediately to the left of a lefty. Left/right handedness is determined by a player’s throwing hand.
• Catchers are so used to facing pitchers that they don’t feel right if they sit across from someone other than a pitcher.
• Since he was reviewing the restaurant for his blog, Andre Ethier attended both seatings and sat in the same seat the whole time.
• Casey Blake sat on the same side of the table as Ethier.
• Torre felt awkward about Brazoban being released, so Joe avoided Yhency by attending a different seating.
• Unfortunately for his teammates, Troncoso likes to randomly break into the chicken dance while he eats. This means he couldn’t sit to the immediate left of a lefty or the immediate right of a righty or they’d bump elbows.
• As everyone knows, Brad Ausmus and Juan Pierre are inseparable, and always have to sit next to each other.
• Guillermo Mota and Orlando Hudson, for reasons that won’t be mentioned, refused to be in the same room together at the same time.
• Three lefties attended the last seating.
• Here is a diagram to get you started:

At each seating, the Dodgers decide to make a toast to their favorite Dodger of all time. Who do they toast at each seating?

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Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is the two current or former Dodger players toasted at each table. 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 both players, along with your reasoning (submitted answers with only the players' names, without an explanation, will not be accepted. Likewise, correct answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning 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.
• We've empowered Jose with the ability to make hints. So watch the comments section for his comments.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #4: Shell Game

As mentioned, the first puzzle prize will be awarded after the 6th or 7th puzzle. Anyhow, in our ongoing effort to mix things up, here's today's puzzle, video-style:

>Off-Day Puzzle #4: Shell Game @ Yahoo! Video

Hint (2:50pm PT): This might help (or it might not, no promises): tinyurl.com/yr27hr

Hint #2 (6:54pm PT): tinyurl.com/ongl8s

Solution here.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Puzzle Rules: 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. 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!

Off-Day Puzzle #3: Cosmic Conundrum

Here it is, folks. Short and simple:

               THE EARTHTRUNS LOOPS

                  AROUNDATHE SUN

                WHILST STARS ALIGN

                FOUR TWOMTHREE ONE

              CONCEALEDPTHEY'RE KEPT

                WITHIN EACH VERSE

                  UNTILMTHE DARK

                ESREVERKNI SENIHS

Hint (1:34pm PT): I just made the puzzle somewhat easier. Really.

–—––––——–––––—––———––—––—–––——–––––––—–—–———–—––—––

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a Dodger player. 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 (submitted answers with only a player's name without an explanation will not be accepted. Likewise, correct answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning 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!

Solution here

Not familiar with SoSG's off-day puzzle competition? Read up here. And join the fun!

Off-Day Puzzle #2: The Continuing Adventures of Dodger Duck: The Duck Stops Where?

Today's a travel day, following the Dodgers' impressive 6-0 homestand to open the season with a bang. The boys in blue are off to Houston for a three-game series that starts tomorrow. So what better way to herald SoSG's Off-Day Puzzle #2, talking about travel?

As long-time SoSG readers know, one of our continuing features is The Adventures of Dodger Duck. Dodger Duck is one well-traveled little fuzzy animal. In fact, some have surmised that he must have cockpit access, or at least a lot of frequent flier miles!

However, it's come to my attention (from seeing the dearth of comments on Dodger Duck posts) that SoSG readers may not be very interested in Dodger Duck's world travels. That changes today, my friends, as Dodger Duck's continuing adventures herald PCS Season II Off-Day Puzzle #2. This time, you'll have to pay attention, people!

Dodger Duck just finished a marathon seven-city journey that had him bouncing all over the world. But his destination choices weren't trivial; rather, he had this trip scheduled deliberately right down to the amount of time he spent in each city. In his mind, he was not only seeing the world (and amassing just under 30K miles in the process)--he was also paying tribute to a Dodger friend of his.

Witness his itinerary:

#1 Dodger Duck spent three days in this city:

#2 Before spending three days in this city (which shares the name of the school; he took a quick refresher course here):

#3 Followed by another three days in this city:

#4 Dodger Duck spent a relaxing six days in this city:

#5 Followed by six days in this city:

#6 Before finally spending four days in this city:

#7 And ending his journey with one day in this city, his final stop:

Whew! That's a lot of jet-setting! So what Dodger friend was the focus of Dodger Duck's traveling tribute?

------------------------------

HINT #1 (10:12a): As mentioned in the comment thread, one does not need to correctly identify all seven cities in order to derive the answer.

HINT #2 (12:40p): For those of you stuck staring at a handful of cities, make sure you're using all the information available.

HINT #3 (5:00p): Three of the cities are in the US.

------------------------------

Puzzle Rules: 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 name of the Dodger who is the answer, as well as your methodology for how you obtained said name. Participation points may be awarded, but since this puzzle utilizes less "lateral thinking," you'll likely know it if you've got it. And please make sure to include your screen name somewhere in the email! Then,
• Post a comment in this thread stating you have emailed your solution attempt. And finally,
• Wait for confirmation of your successful answer. I may not be able to reply to your original email promptly, so please be patient and check back often at the comment thread for the latest news and for confirmation.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Good luck!

Off-Day Puzzle #1: Leading Off...

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:

Blast this damn Haiku!
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!

Solution