March, 1994. Joe is visiting his brother at Purdue University and they are watching a Chicago Cubs spring training game, broadcast by the immortal Harry Caray. Around about the sixth or seventh inning, the Cubs bring in a new pitcher whom we hear Caray introduce as “Canyon Steets.” Neither of us have the slightest idea who this guy is, and we turn to our reference books. It turns out that “Canyon Steets” is Rule 5 draftee Tanyon Sturtze.
Fast-forward to the 2009 baseball season. Joe and Mike amuse themselves by sending each other trivia questions - more along the lines of “Who are the players who have had 750 or more plate appearances in a season since 1960?” than “Who played shortstop for Minneapolis when they won the American Association pennant in 1938?” Joe asks Mike to identify every pitcher who has faced 1000 or more batters in a single season since the year 2000. Joe knew that Mike would get most of them. But he knew there was one name on that list that Mike would never get, even if Joe provided him with the team he played for in 2008. When Joe told Mike to look it up, and Mike learned that it was Tanyon Sturtze (with the 2001 Devil Rays), Mike’s emailed comment was “[picking jaw up off floor]”.
Fast-forward to the 2009 baseball season. Joe and Mike amuse themselves by sending each other trivia questions - more along the lines of “Who are the players who have had 750 or more plate appearances in a season since 1960?” than “Who played shortstop for Minneapolis when they won the American Association pennant in 1938?” Joe asks Mike to identify every pitcher who has faced 1000 or more batters in a single season since the year 2000. Joe knew that Mike would get most of them. But he knew there was one name on that list that Mike would never get, even if Joe provided him with the team he played for in 2008. When Joe told Mike to look it up, and Mike learned that it was Tanyon Sturtze (with the 2001 Devil Rays), Mike’s emailed comment was “[picking jaw up off floor]”.
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