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Our Special Bonds: Know Your Rays (Answers)

Answers in italics to questions posed here

http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2008/07/our-special-bonds-know-your-rays.html

1) 20 pitchers have pitched for both the Mets and Rays. Only one of those 20 had a winning record FOR THE RAYS. Name him.
- Victor Zambrano

2) The Mets have employed 4 players who hit 10+ career home runs for the Rays. Here are hints for each one
Player 1- Navidad
-Mike DiFelice
Player 2- Shares his initials with those after whom a famous bridge is named
-Gerald Williams
Player 3- If you go to Shea, buy a burger in his honor
-Bubba Trammell
Player 4- Currently plays in the state of Texas
-Ty Wigginton

3) The Mets won the first meeting with the Rays. The losing pitcher in that game pitched 2 career games for the Mets. Name him.
-Dennis Springer

4) A man who played against the Mets in a postseason broke up Rick Reed's no-hitter in the 7th inning of that game. Name him.
-Wade Boggs

5) The Rays hitting coach is Steve Henderson. Steve Henderson got his first MLB hit against what father of a major leaguer?
-Floyd Bannister

6) The Rays version of David Wright, Evan Longoria, played college baseball at Long Beach State. Two former Mets played at Long Beach State. One is also a former Ray. The other scored a very important run in the 1969 World Series. Name them.
-Steve Trachsel and Rod Gaspar

7) The Rays all-time saves leader is a former Met. Name him.
Roberto Hernandez

8) The Mets made Scott Kazmir their first pick in the 2002 MLB Draft. Only one other player drafted by the Mets that year has made the major leagues. His initials are the same as "Major Leagues." Name him.
Matt Lindstrom

9) The Rays all-time single-season batting leader (minimum 300 plate appearances) is a former Met. Is it...
a) Rey Sanchez
b) Miguel Cairo
c) Aaron Ledesma
d) Jason Tyner

A- Aaron Ledesma

10) When the Rays picked their players in the expansion draft, prior to the 1998 season, they plucked Carlos Mendoza from the Mets. Carlos Mendoza played a role in a very significant walk-off win in 1997. What was his "brand new shiny" role?

On September 13, 1997, Carlos Mendoza got his first major-league hit, a single off Expos pitcher Dustin Hermanson, that stood as the only hit until the ninth inning. If I recall right, it was a controversial hit on which official scorer Bill Shannon was critiqued for his decision. The Mets rallied from 6-0 down in the 9th to tie (on Carl Everett's "brand new shiny" grand slam") then won in extra innings on a Bernard Gilkey walk-off home run.

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