SIM COMPLETE - 1997 - SIM 18

[Delandis]

So... ummmmm... Rex Morgan is on a bit of a tear. Close to 2.000 OPS in August. Davenport should be so much better.

He refused to stop hitting HR's against us. It was crazy to watch.

[Carlos]

Good for Ken...

400th Save for Ken Bayer, Batavia Downs Davenport 11-9

Friday, August 8th, 1997: The Batavia Muckdogs really celebrated their 11-9 victory over the Davenport Brawlers at Lawrence Stadium. Not only did the Muckdogs win the game, but reliever Ken Bayer recorded his 400th-career save. The bullpen ace stopped Davenport on no runs and 1 hit in his 1 innings of work to seal the triumph.

"It's a pretty good milestone - It doesn't happen very often," Bayer said. "I was out there when my teammates needed me 400 times and I'm real proud of that."

Bayer has appeared in 794 games in his career and put together a record of 61 victories and 53 losses, 2.12 ERA and 400 saves. He has thrown 861.2 innings, struck out 1005 and walked 320.

Crazy that he's only 33. Stud.

At 33, Ken Bayer is the second youngest to reach 400 saves (Vernon Simmonds - 30)

However, at 794 games he is not the 2nd fastest. Unofficially (because I cannot give exact numbers - the Utility won't allow it), Simmonds reached the number in about 620 games. Cabezas and Cleary reached 400 in about 625 games or so. Grant Lewis in approximately 637 games. And Diaz did it in about 760 games.

The only member that reached 400 needing more games than Bayer is Krsnich. It took him just over 830 games.

[Clay]

Bayer needs a nickname.

Sure... you could easily take on the fact that he shares his name with Bayer Aspirin... a pain "RELIEVER"... but what do you use? "ASPIRIN"? Doesn't really work.

THen you could go the OSFL route where everyone tries to be Chris Berman.... Ken "Grizzly" Bayer.... Ken "Yogi" Bayer....

Is it as simple as KB?

Does he transcend nicknames and just is BAYER?

Hmmmmmm....

[Carlos]

I think he transcends a nickname. Bayer is like Woodbury or Gremades. Zamarida. Buzzell. Kellum. Not just those guys, but a few of the guys you instantly know just from the last name.

Though I do like the Berman approach. Or you can go with the pre-90s approach of finding a word that rhymes with Bayer. Like Slayer. Ken "The Slayer" Bayer.

I also know why no one does that anymore. Corny.

[Jistic]

I think he transcends a nickname. Bayer is like Woodbury or Gremades.

It's getting deep in here.

[Delandis]

I think he transcends a nickname. Bayer is like Woodbury or Gremades. Zamarida. Buzzell. Kellum. Not just those guys, but a few of the guys you instantly know just from the last name.

Though I do like the Berman approach. Or you can go with the pre-90s approach of finding a word that rhymes with Bayer. Like Slayer. Ken "The Slayer" Bayer.

I also know why no one does that anymore. Corny.

So is Pancho the only first name player we have?

[Carlos]

It's getting deep in here.

I guess those two guys actually do have nicknames, so Bayer isn't like them. Commence swim to surface for air.

So is Pancho the only first name player we have?

I actually typed this out and then decided to delete it. I think so.

[Jistic]

So is Pancho the only first name player we have?

Pancho who?

[Delandis]

Is Rex a first name guy?

[Jake]

Is Rex a first name guy?

Morgan? Probably.

[Clay]

So is Pancho the only first name player we have?

I think he may be.

Is Rex a first name guy?

I'd say NO, only because I almost always refer to him as Rex Knight or Knight.

I think Rex Knight is in the same class with Pancho and Dani Alvarez in that there nicknames never became their call sign. I use Ironfist from time to time... but Pancho is Pancho. Likewise... does anyone ever use Thrifty or Steady?

***

I think Carlos is probably right... Bayer is probably beyond a nickname (especially at this point). Although.... Woodbury (the only guy with two nicknames) didn't start getting called "Logo" until very late in his career and it has stuck. Maybe we need to grassroots a nickname for Bayer.

[Jistic]

I don't think Pancho is a first name guy, I just call him Ironfist. I don't think we have any first name guys unless we're just grasping for straws. But in real baseball are there a lot of first name guys?

[Clay]

I don't think Pancho is a first name guy, I just call him Ironfist. I don't think we have any first name guys unless we're just grasping for straws. But in real baseball are there a lot of first name guys?

No, I think they're super rare. I think there are a lot of nicknames based on first names ("Miggy", "Mags", etc.), but I think the first name only is exceptionally rare.

I do disagree however... I think Pancho is a first name guy in the BLB.

[Carlos]

I don't think Pancho is a first name guy, I just call him Ironfist. I don't think we have any first name guys unless we're just grasping for straws. But in real baseball are there a lot of first name guys?

In real baseball?

Probably not. I guess Babe but that's also a nickname that became a first name.

First name basis is, like Clay said, super rare and if it's in the Majors then it's a nickname like Junior, Babe, Mick, Cy.


Sent from my mobile device.

[spot]

I think the first guys simply require the recognition when you say the name. We all know who we are talking about when we say Pancho. I'd say Albert is a current example in MLB, and I think Theo and George even though they're not players.

It's mostly nicknames and last names though.