Today’s Brain Game combines a logic puzzle with some knowledge of baseball. Enjoy!
Several years ago, Jim was called up by the Kansas City Royals on the last day of the season to replace an injured reserve outfielder. He served as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth inning. It was his one and only Major League plate appearance. Jim walked and ended up stranded on first base when the batter after him was retired.
“The home plate umpire called it perfectly,” Jim remembers of his one shot at fame, “and I swung at only two pitches.” Given this information and the clues that follow, number each pitch that was thrown to Jim and identify it by (1) whether it was a strike or ball, (2) the pitch’s location, and (3) what action Jim took on the pitch.
1. The pitcher threw Jim a total of 7 pitches: 2 of them inside, 2 outside, 1 low, and 2 right down the middle.
2. The pitcher threw exactly 2 pitches with a chance to walk Jim, and exactly 4 pitches with a chance to strike Jim out.
3. The pitcher’s second pitch and last pitch went to the same spot.
4. After Jim swung and missed at an outside pitch, the pitcher threw the next pitch in the same spot to try to strike Jim out.
Comments (7)
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YES! I got it perfectly!
posted by Steven on 9-8-2009 at 8:06 am
Me too!
Great start to the shortened work-week.
Although, since he did make it on base, and considering it IS the Royals, this is obviously a fictitious scenario because the Royals would’ve probably signed him to a long-term contract!!!
posted by J on 9-8-2009 at 9:05 am
J
I think you’re confusing the Royals with the Nationals. If Jim had a base hit, he would have signed with the Royals for seven years, with a signing bonus that included discounted hotdogs during every home game and two free general admission seats for one game during the season.
posted by Steven on 9-8-2009 at 9:50 am
Don’t forget Jim bobblehead night!
posted by Sandy Wood on 9-8-2009 at 9:56 am
When I first read this this morning, I decided I didn’t care, but then it nagged at me while I was the gym, so I had to solve it when I got home. It’s a good puzzle.
posted by Jacquilynne on 9-8-2009 at 11:50 am
Ahhh i only got the location of the inside balls right. I think there being no mention of any fouling in the rules (because i KNEW one of them had to be fouled but couldn’t figure it out) threw me off.
Oh, and I just realized that he did get on base, meaning he couldn’t have struck out his last pitch…stupid me. This is the first time I didn’t get one of the brain games that’s set up like this.
posted by Megan on 9-8-2009 at 4:54 pm
Did have time yesterday to solve this. But it intrigued me, and as I have some down time today at work, I gave it a shot.
Got it perfect. That was a great game, really made me think! Enjoyed this one!
posted by Vikter on 9-9-2009 at 11:36 am