Ask Statistor

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Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either once a year or whenever the mood strikes him.

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Dear Statistor,

I was wondering if you could tell me what the longest and shortest rain delays have been this season, and which ballpark has experienced the most called, postponed, and delayed games?

Olivia G.
Lowell, MI

Dear Olivia,

Since delay times are decided by random number draw of a Fast-Action card, no game can have a delay shorter than 11 minutes and longer than 88. The shortest delay has been 21 minutes, during an Astros-Pirates game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, played just a few days ago on August 18th. The longest reached the maximum 88 minutes, at Fenway Park in Boston during the second game of a doubleheader between the White Sox and Red Sox on May 7th. Three Rivers Stadium leads both leagues with a total of seven games that have been called, postponed, or delayed; County Stadium in Milwaukee is the AL leader, with five.

And did you know the Supreme Controller used to wait out rain delays in real time? He gave up the practice in the 1990s.

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Dear Stat Ros,

What’s the most number of hits a pitcher has allowed in a game this season? Also, have any short relief specialists, such as Terry Forster or Darold Knowles, gone beyond their normal limits and pitched more than three innings in an SP78 game?

Scott B.
Pasadena, CA

Dear Scott,

Statistor’s database has alerted him to the fact that you once called him a dick; therefore, Statistor will not answer your questions.

 

Ask Statistor

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Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either bi-monthly or whenever the mood strikes him.

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Greetings, Statistor!

How many players retired during the actual 1978 season, and will those players be removed from SP78 play on their retirement dates?

Joe S.
Pittsburgh, PA

Dear Joe,

Of players who opened the SP78 season on major league rosters, or who exist on AAA player cards, 87 played their final major league games during the true 1978 season. It is not known which of these actually made retirement announcements, since many continued playing in the minor leagues or overseas beyond 1978, without ever returning to a major league team.

Also, all players who appeared in their final major league game that year will be eligible to play throughout the entire SP78 campaign, with none being removed on their ‘final game played’ date. This includes outfielder Lyman Bostock, who will continue to play for the Angels despite his death in September, and AAA Columbus infielder Jim Fregosi, who will remain with the Pirates and be eligible for SP78 play, even though he left the organization and took over as manager of the Angels in June.

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Dear Statistron,

Will you be able to watch my son Chip?

Brent P.
Charleston, SC

Dear Brent,

Are you requesting service on a Sun Microsystems microprocessing chip? Or are you asking for assistance in the upbringing of a male child with the scatological nickname of Chip? If the former, please contact the Oracle Corporation directly. If the latter, Statistor does not have the capability—nor desire—to nurture human offspring; you may want to check into renting the UNIVAC 1005 for your child-rearing needs.

 

Ask Statistor

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Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either bi-monthly or whenever the mood strikes him.

 

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Hi Statistor!

In real-time days, what’s the record for the longest gap between the playing of Games 1 and 2 of a doubleheader this season?

Brad B.
Los Angeles, CA

Hello Brad,

On July 31, 2007 the first game of a doubleheader between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs was played at site AZ8 in Peoria, Arizona, a contest won by the Dodgers 16-3. LA would make it a sweep with a 7-3 storm-shortened win in Game 2, played at the same site on October 19, 2007…a record 81 days after the first game was played. The reason for the delay is not known.

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Grüße bösen Statistik Roboter,

Wurden Sie mit einer Waffe System gebaut, die in der Lage ist, die Zerstörung einer großen Stadt? Auch, ist Brooks Robinson spielen in der SP78 saison?

Markus D.
Bürstadt, Germany

Sehr geehrter Markus,

Nein. Und nein.

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Ask Statistor

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Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either bi-monthly or whenever the mood strikes him.

 

Hello Statistor,

Sometimes I see a University of Washington spiral notepad in the header photos of the Statis Pro 1978 Replay blog site. What is the pad used for, and how long has it been in use?

Joanne S.
Spokane, WA

Dear Joanne,

The notepad was purchased by the Supreme Controller during a visit to the University of Washington campus bookstore in February of 1980. It was put into use in 1988, to keep track of injuries, transactions, player milestones, records, and other noteworthy events from each day of games played, some of which would then be featured in the weekly edition of TWISP Notes. It is still in use today, and is used as reference for current TWISP posts and This Day in SP78 History entries.

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Statistor,

I was just wondering: which four SP78 teams do you predict will meet in the NL and AL post-season?

Reid P.
Vista, CA

Sir,

Statistor does not predict, assume, guess, contemplate, or ponder. Statistor deals in statistics, hard facts, and answers that are grounded in gameplay reality. Statistor will not answer your question.