#191 Rod Beck

 

TORCH : noun : \ ˈtȯrch  
: any of various portable devices for emitting an unusually hot flame

Becks portable arm emits an unusually hot flame when throwing a baseball.

Died tragically at the age of 38 in 2007.

Win–loss record 38–45

Earned run average 3.30

Strikeouts 644

Saves 286

San Francisco Giants (1991–1997)

Chicago Cubs (1998–1999)

Boston Red Sox (1999–2001)

San Diego Padres (2003–2004)

3× All-Star (1993, 1994, 1997)

NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (1994)

San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame

#190 Scott Sanders

SLIDER : noun : slid·​er | \ ˈslī-dər  \
 : a fast baseball pitch that breaks slightly in the same direction as a curve
or
: a very small meat sandwich typically served on a bun

Not sure which one Emotion is talking about.

Win–loss record 34–45

Earned run average 4.86

Strikeouts 632

San Diego Padres (1993–1996)

Seattle Mariners (1997)

Detroit Tigers (1997–1998)

San Diego Padres (1998)

Chicago Cubs (1999)

Nippon-Ham Fighters (2001)

Emotion Recap - Page 21

#181 Brian Jordan - VERSATILE

#182 Ray Lankford - HUSTLING

#183 Ozzie Smith - SAVVY

#184 Andy Benes - STEEL

#185 Ken Caminiti - SECURE

#186 Steve Finley - PRODUCING

#187 Tony Gwynn - SCHOLAR

#188 Joey Hamilton - EFFICIENT

#189 Melvin Nieves - STRAINING

#189 Melvin Nieves

STRAINING : transitive verb : \ ˈstrān-ing  \
: to exert (oneself, one's senses, etc.) to the utmost

Probably not the best description for a ballplayer. Kinda sounds likes he's beyond his limit, and not in a good way.

Batting average .231

Home runs 63

Runs batted in 187

Atlanta Braves (1992)

San Diego Padres (1993–1995)

Detroit Tigers (1996–1997)

Cincinnati Reds (1998)

Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (1999–2000)

#188 Joey Hamilton

EFFICIENT : adjective ef·​fi·​cient | \ i-ˈfi-shənt  \
: productive of desired effects

His career ERA is a very efficient 4.44

Win–loss record 74–73

Earned run average 4.44 (hey, my favorite number!)

Strikeouts 894

San Diego Padres (1994–1998)

Toronto Blue Jays (1999–2001)

Cincinnati Reds (2001–2003)

#187 Tony Gwynn

SCHOLAR : noun \ ˈskä-lər  \
: a person who has done advanced study in a special field

Majored in being awesome.

Batting average .338

Hits 3,141

Home runs 135

Runs batted in 1,138 

San Diego Padres (1982–2001)

8× NL batting champion (1984, 1987–1989, 1994–1997)

15× All-Star (1984–1987, 1989–1999)

5× Gold Glove Award (1986–1987, 1989–1991)

7× Silver Slugger Award (1984, 1986–1987, 1989, 1994–1995, 1997)

Roberto Clemente Award (1999)

San Diego Padres No. 19 retired

San Diego Padres Hall of Fame

Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame 2007

Vote 97.6% (first ballot)

#186 Steve Finley

PRODUCING : transitive verb  \prə-ˈdüs\
: to cause to have existence or to happen : BRING ABOUT

Hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season (1997)

Batting average .271

Hits 2,548

Home runs 304

Runs batted in 1,167

Baltimore Orioles (1989–1990)

Houston Astros (1991–1994)

San Diego Padres (1995–1998)

Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2004)

Los Angeles Dodgers (2004)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005)

San Francisco Giants (2006)

Colorado Rockies (2007)

2× All-Star (1997, 2000)

World Series champion (2001)

5× Gold Glove Award (1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2004)

#185 Ken Caminiti

SECURE : adjective \ si-ˈkyu̇r \
: assured in opinion or expectation : having no doubt

Turned out Caminiti wasn't as secure as we all thought. Sad story.

Batting average .272

Home runs 239

Runs batted in 983

Houston Astros (1987–1994)

San Diego Padres (1995–1998)

Houston Astros (1999–2000)

Texas Rangers (2001)

Atlanta Braves (2001)

3× All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997)

NL MVP (1996)

3× Gold Glove Award (1995–1997)

Silver Slugger Award (1996)

San Diego Padres Hall of Fame

#184 Andy Benes

STEEL : noun \ ˈstēl  \
: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable when under suitable conditions, and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content ;-)

Had a habit of gritting his teeth when preparing to throw a slider, tipping off many a keen batter.

Win–loss record 155–139

Earned run average 3.97

Strikeouts 2,000

San Diego Padres (1989–1995)

Seattle Mariners (1995)

St. Louis Cardinals (1996–1997)

Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–1999)

St. Louis Cardinals (2000–2002)

All-Star (1993)

NL strikeout leader (1994)

#183 Ozzie Smith

SAVVY : adjective \ ˈsa-vē  \
: having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness especially in practical matters

SAVVY is a good choice, but WIZARD would have been better.

Batting average .262

Hits 2,460

Home runs 28

Runs batted in 793

Stolen bases 580

San Diego Padres (1978–1981)

St. Louis Cardinals (1982–1996)

15× All-Star (1981–1992, 1994–1996)

World Series champion (1982)

NLCS MVP (1985)

13× Gold Glove Award (1980–1992)

Silver Slugger Award (1987)

Roberto Clemente Award (1995)

St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 retired

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame

Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame 2002

Vote 91.7% (first ballot)

#182 Ray Lankford

HUSTLING : intransitive verb \ ˈhə-​s(ə-​)liŋ  \
: to play a game or sport in an alert aggressive manner

Five seasons of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Batting average .272

Home runs 238

Runs batted in 874

St. Louis Cardinals (1990–2001)

San Diego Padres (2001–2002)

St. Louis Cardinals (2004)

All-Star (1997)

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame

#181 Brian Jordan

VERSATILE : adjective  \ ˈvər-sə-tᵊl \
: embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills

Two-sport superhuman, professional football and baseball.

Batting average .282

Home runs 184

Runs batted in 821

St. Louis Cardinals (1992–1998)

Atlanta Braves (1999–2001)

Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2003)

Texas Rangers (2004)

Atlanta Braves (2005–2006)

All-Star (1999)

Emotion Recap - Page 20

#172 Jay Bell - KEYSTONE

#173 Micah Franklin - LEARNING

#174 Mark Johnson - POTENTIAL

#175 Jeff King - SMOOTH

#176 Al Martin - SPRINT

#177 Dan Miceli - ICY

#178 Denny Neagle - CONCENTRATION

#179 Bernard Gilkey - JOY

#180 Ken Hill - FOLLOW-THROUGH

#180 Ken Hill

FOLLOW-THROUGH : verb \ ˈfä-lō-ˌthrü \
: to continue a stroke or motion to the end of its arc

Hill was going strong at 16-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 1994, when the season was ended by a strike on August 12. He was on pace for a 23-7 season. 

Win–Loss record 117–109

Earned run average 4.06

Strikeouts 1,181

St. Louis Cardinals (1988–1991)

Montreal Expos (1992–1994)

St. Louis Cardinals (1995)

Cleveland Indians (1995)

Texas Rangers (1996–1997)

Anaheim Angels (1997–2000)

Chicago White Sox (2000)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001)

All-Star (1994)

NL wins leader (1994)

#179 Bernard Gilkey

JOY : noun \ ˈjȯi  \
: a source or cause of delight

Can anyone testify that Bernard Gilkey was actually a joy to watch? I never saw him play.

Batting average .275

Home runs 118

Runs batted in 546

St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1995)

New York Mets (1996–1998)

Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2000)

Boston Red Sox (2000)

Atlanta Braves (2001)

#178 Denny Neagle

CONCENTRATION : noun  \ ˌkän(t)-sən-ˈtrā-shən  , -ˌsen- \
: the act or process of concentrating : the state of being concentrated
especially : direction of attention to a single object

His concentration got him in trouble with the law a few times.

Win–loss record 124–92

Earned run average 4.24

Strikeouts 1,415

Minnesota Twins (1991)

Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–1996)

Atlanta Braves (1996–1998)

Cincinnati Reds (1999–2000)

New York Yankees (2000)

Colorado Rockies (2001–2003)

2× All-Star (1995, 1997)

World Series champion (2000)

NL wins leader (1997)

#177 Dan Miceli

ICY : adjective \ ˈī-sē  \
: not friendly or kind

Dan never stayed long enough to learn the bullpen catchers name.

Win–loss record 43–52

Earned run average 4.48

Strikeouts 632

Pittsburgh Pirates (1993–1996)

Detroit Tigers (1997)

San Diego Padres (1998–1999)

Florida Marlins (2000–2001)

Colorado Rockies (2001)

Texas Rangers (2002)

Colorado Rockies (2003)

Cleveland Indians (2003)

New York Yankees (2003)

Houston Astros (2003–2004)

Yomiuri Giants (2005)

Colorado Rockies (2005)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006)

#176 Al Martin

SPRINT : intransitive verb \ ˈsprint  \
: to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance

He led the NL in runs scored, so I guess he was fast.

Batting average .276

Home runs 132

Runs batted in 485

Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–1999)

San Diego Padres (2000)

Seattle Mariners (2000–2001)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003)

LG Twins (2004)

#175 Jeff King

SMOOTH : adjective \ ˈsmüt͟h  \
: excessively and often artfully suave

"No need to ask, he's a smooth operator..."

Batting average .256

Home runs 154

Runs batted in 709

Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1996)

Kansas City Royals (1997–1999)

#174 Mark Johnson

POTENTIAL : adjective \ pə-ˈten(t)-shəl  \
 existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality

Potential is not always reality.

Batting average .232

Home runs 38

Runs batted in 137

Pittsburgh Pirates (1995–1997)

Anaheim Angels (1998)

Hanshin Tigers (1999)

New York Mets (2000–2002)

#173 Micah Franklin

LEARNING : noun \ ˈlər-niŋ \
: the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something : the activity of someone who learns

Micah was learning the blues after only 17 games at the major league level.

Batting average .324

Home runs 2

Runs batted in 2

St. Louis Cardinals (1997)

Nippon Ham Fighters (1999–2000)

Hanshin Tigers (2000)

Hyundai Unicorns (2002–2003)

#172 Jay Bell

KEYSTONE : noun \ ˈkē-ˌstōn  \
: something on which other things depend for support

Jay Bell was probably the wise old veteran in the Pirates clubhouse.

Batting average .265

Home runs 195

Runs batted in 860

Cleveland Indians (1986–1988)

Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1996)

Kansas City Royals (1997)

Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2002)

New York Mets (2003)

2× All-Star (1993, 1999)

World Series champion (2001)

Gold Glove Award (1993)

Silver Slugger Award (1993)

Emotion Recap - Page 19

#163 Ricky Bottalico - PROSPECT

#164 Darren Daulton - LEADER

#165 Lenny Dykstra - NAILS

#166 Charlie Hayes - PRIMED

#167 Dave Hollins - WILLPOWER

#168 Gregg Jefferies - PERPARING

#169 Michael Mimbs - CRAFTY

#170 Curt Schilling - STRIVING

#171 Heathcliff Slocumb - CLUTCH

#171 Heathcliff Slocumb

CLUTCH : adjective \ ˈkləch  \
: successful in a crucial situation

Often considered one of the most lopsided trades in history, in 1997 he was traded from the Red Sox to the Mariners for Derek Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek. Guess who got the better deal.

Win–loss record 28–37

Earned run average 4.08

Strikeouts 513

Saves 98

Chicago Cubs (1991–1993)

Cleveland Indians (1993)

Philadelphia Phillies (1994–1995)

Boston Red Sox (1996–1997)

Seattle Mariners (1997–1998)

Baltimore Orioles (1999)

St. Louis Cardinals (1999–2000)

San Diego Padres (2000)

All-Star (1995)

#170 Curt Schilling

STRIVING : verb  \ˈstrī-​viŋ  \
: to struggle in opposition

Opposing batters struggled more against Schilling than he did against them.

And Oakland A's fans of course.

Win–loss record 216–146

Earned run average 3.46

Strikeouts 3,116

Baltimore Orioles (1988–1990)

Houston Astros (1991)

Philadelphia Phillies (1992–2000)

Arizona Diamondbacks (2000–2003)

Boston Red Sox (2004–2007)

6× All-Star (1997–1999, 2001, 2002, 2004)

3× World Series champion (2001, 2004, 2007)

World Series MVP (2001)

NLCS MVP (1993)

Roberto Clemente Award (2001)

2× MLB wins leader (2001, 2004)

2× NL strikeout leader (1997, 1998)

Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame

Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame