Trivial Matters

Lost Summers

BARELY MANAGING Alan Trammell's managerial career is off to an
inauspicious start: His Detroit Tigers were 38-110 at week's end.
Which of the managers below has suffered through the most losses
in a season?

a. Bruce Bochy
b. Jack McKeon
c. Frank Robinson
d. Joe Torre

AL LEAST While many teams are vying for a place in the
postseason, the Tigers have spent most of September trying to
avoid becoming the worst team in modern major league history.
That dubious distinction belongs to the 1962 New York Mets, who
lost 120 of 160 games. Since 1900, what team holds the American
League record for defeats in a season?

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP The Tigers have lost 100 games six times.
Pair the team on the left with the team on the right that has the
same number of 100-loss seasons.

1. Angels a. Astros
2. Blue Jays b. Cubs
3. Reds c. Marlins
4. Yankees d. White Sox

LOSS LEADERS Rank these franchises based on their alltime losses,
from each club's inception through Sunday's games.

a. Athletics
b. Orioles/Browns
c. Twins/Senators
d. Tigers

ANSWERS

NEW MANAGEMENT: c. The 1988 Baltimore Orioles had a 54-101 record
after Frank Robinson took over for Cal Ripken Sr., who had gone
0-6.

AL LEAST: The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117) hold the AL
record for losses.

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP: 1. a (zero 100-loss seasons); 2. d (three);
3. c (one); 4. b (two)

LOSS LEADERS: Orioles/Browns (8,305 losses, including 89 as the
Brewers in 1901); Twins/Senators (8,296); Athletics (8,192);
Tigers (7,860)