Chipmaker Authentic

It's been quite a while.

Seasons without a World Series do not count. Team name changes or relocations do not matter.

Maximum number of seasons without a repeat champion, those years, and the champions in order.

The 2015 result will not affect the answer.

What reasons exist for MLB reinstating this unremorseful, unreformed reprobate, should that come to pass?

Explain a worthy basis for reinstatement.

Although in these modern times most players wear a combination sock, sanitary with the stirrup color added, so they look the same as olde-tyme uniforms.

Particular lusers in YA BASEBALL do not know this, because they know nothing about BASEBALL, but they talk about socks a great deal. I'll be honest, I had to look up the reference. English changes rapidly, and I was confident that "sanitary" was not involved, as lusers do not know what that means and demonstrate it daily.

So while lusers are mistakenly (no surprise) claiming multiple accounts -- as if anyone with a brain would bother -- there is this other definition that fits their personal agenda.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph...

(Caveat: do not look for more "sock" definitions unless you are sure you can handle it, because once seen they cannot be unseen, and some are much coarser.)

Given this definition, certain lusers who go there must keep a monthly, automated order to maintain the supply. As usual, Amazon can provide what lusers need, sized appropriately:

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Baby-Girls-...

So, while having nothing to do with BASEBALL socks, sanitary or otherwise, these links go a long way to explaining lusers' obsession with "socks". The more you know....

Not "things Yankee fans throw at opposing players".

grouch-Klink cannot answer this, partly because I blocked the idjit ages ago, mostly because it knows NOTHING about BASEBALL.

The rookie Hall candidates, alphabetical order:

Rich Aurilia

Aaron Boone

Tony Clark

Carlos Delgado

Jermaine Dye

Darin Erstad

Cliff Floyd

Nomar Garciaparra

Brian Giles

Tom Gordon

Eddie Guardado

Randy Johnson

Pedro Martinez

Troy Percival

Jason Schmidt

John Smoltz

Gary Sheffield

Who gets elected?

Who gets to come back to the 2016 ballot?

Who goes one and done?

I see two clear electees, Johnson and Martinez, with Smoltz a maybe first-timer.

Yo, DH haters, how do you process this?

Consider it yet another abomination upon the great game? Doubly so, since Jeter is willingly slumming these last few games by forgoing the glove for just the bat?

Begrudgingly accept it THIS ONE TIME ONLY because Jeter can do what he wants, it lets fans see him play a few last games, and also Jeter Jeter Jeter?

Denounce the Cap'n for not being man enough to play shortstop, as God and Joe Torre intended?

Remember to couch your answer in terms of how much you despise the very concept of the designated hitter, and whatever your standing opinion of Jeter is.

Whether or not tonight's game happens, the Yankees' series in Boston have no impact upon the postseason berthings. The Yanx will not play on. The Cap'n is done as of Sunday.

Does he even play?

Precedents:

In 1960, Ted Williams played his last game at home in Fenway, famously going yard in his final at-bat. The Red Sox had a final series to play in da Bronx, but Ted didn't even make the trip.

In 2013, Mariano Rivera played his last game at da Stadium, traveled with the team to Houston, but did not enter a game (by his own wishes).

Jeter could do similar. Oh, he'll make the trip to collect his final parting gifts, sure. But does he actually tar his bat or pull on his glove? Or did he make his final appearance on Yankee soil, like Mo did?

Can you name them?

This does not include Alex Rodriguez, who is not playing this season.

Elevate him to team major or maybe colonel. He's in his final season, deserves something no player has had before.

Are you zealots finally satisfied with this updated policy? Note that it still falls well short of execution for a first-time allegation.

The summary: http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2014/03...

The basics:

More than double (1400 -> 3200) in-season urine testing.

More off-season urine testing.

More in-season blood testing for HGH.

More advanced analytic testing.

Foreign free agents tested before allowed to sign.

(Here's your red meat, though to repeat, no death penalty.)

First violation: 80 game suspension.

Second violation: 162 game suspension, without pay (183 days, the official length of a championship season).

Third violation: permanent suspension.

A no-fault unintentional usage option, with evidence.

Suspended players ineligible for postseason play even if the suspension is expired.

Ineligible for full share of postseason pool money.

Teams to provide known-clean supplements.

New substances banned (and more to come).

Stronger confidentiality.

Read the more complete details or surf around for press releases, but this is, I think, a fair summary of bullets.

So, satisfied? Still not tuff enuff? Rant away.

I'm fine with this. It was collectively bargained, it has modifications that were needed to avoid another Braun or Rodriguez debacle, and it still doesn't have a death penalty that some people appear to crave.

St. Derek, the First of his Name, will be stepping off the diamond after the 2014 season.

How is it all going to play out?

Final season: magnificent, good, adequate, awful, or injury-plaqued disaster?

Tributes: tasteful, tasteless, overdone (given, really), modest, or the Rivera tour cranked up to 11?

The team: he's just another Yankee, he's Cap'n Jeets one last time, or the season is All Derek All The Time?

The big finish: the Yankees conclude their season on the road, in Boston. Does DJ play those games? Or does he take his final bow at Da Stadium (against mere Baltimore, on a Thursday night)? If the Yanx advance to the postseason, and are at risk of being eliminated on the road, does DJ sit out. insisting he finish on the home lawn? Or soldier on no matter the field?

BQ: when 2015 arrives, Jeter gone, Rodriguez back, does Alex (finally) return to shortstop?

The Hall of Fame has announced the Ralph Kiner (Class of '75) passed away

today (coincidentally, Babe Ruth's 119th birthday).

Kiner played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland

Indians from 1946-55, leading the NL in home runs seven consecutive

seasons, 1946-52, twice exceeding 50 dingers.

He later had a long career as an announcer for the Mets, and I'd love to

hear some of his more amusing exploits from that era.

RIP, Ralph Kiner. He was 91.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinerr...

Kiner was the third-oldest living HOFer, which now passes to Red

Schoendienst. Bobby Doerr is the eldest, followed by Monte Irvin.

It has happened at least once -- the teams that met in the World Series both have a key youngster named as the individual leagues' Rookie of the Year Award winners later in the winter.

How many times?

Year(s)?

Both ROY winners?

Which team claimed the championship?

Starting from 1949, the first season there was a ROY in each league.

...as a special dispensation -- and the BBWAA did NOT vote him in, then would the pro-Rose groupies finally give up their futile quest?

Or would they keep on ranting for Rose, despite their metaphoric nose having been torn off their virtual face?

Who are some former players who had an impressive second career after leaving baseball the diamond? Non-playing roles within baseball are acceptable. (Please consider significant careers. Appearing as a bit actor in a movie or two, or moving into a standard ex-jock post like game announcer or ESPN/MLB Net commentator, is too low a threshold here.)

A few I thought of:

Jim Bunning (Tigers, Phillies, Pirates, Dodgers, 1955-71; HOF 1996) -- United States Representative (Kentucky) 1987-99, United States Senator 1999-2011).

Billy Beane (Mets, Twins, Tigers, Athletics 1984-89) -- Oakland A's general manager, 1997-present.

Chuck Connors (Dodgers, Cubs 1949 & '51) -- actor, lead character in The Rifleman (1958-63).

John Elway (minors, 1982) -- football player, Denver Broncos, 1983-99.

Randy Poffo (minors, 1971-74) -- wrestler/entertainer Randy Savage.

Bobby Brown (Yankees, 1946-52 & '54) -- got medical degree, cardiologist, president of the American League 1984-94.

Scott Boras (minors, 1974-77) -- most successful and most reviled player agent certified by MLBPA.

Danny Ainge (Blue Jays 1979-81) -- basketball player, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns 1981-85; basketball coach, Phoenix Suns, 1996-99.

Tony Clark (Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Diamondbacks, Padres 1995-2009) -- executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, 2013-present. (Still the only MLB player to homer in six different time zones in championship play.)

Who else can you think of, who reached new heights after leaving the diamond?