"Put A Little Spin On The Ball" March 21, 2025

A place to discuss the weekly Wall Street Journal Crossword Puzzle Contest, starting every Thursday around 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please do not post any answers or hints before the contest deadline which is midnight Sunday Eastern time.
Post Reply
User avatar
Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 5020
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#161

Post by Bob cruise director »

Good morning muggles

An easy week for the tender drivers as we have a lot of muggles wandering around the ship. We have 8 in the ship's bar and 121 on the shore. @The XWord Rabbit should have a lot to work with this week based on the discussions on the zoom call last night.

First we welcome back @78MG who we have not seen in a while.

On the ship are:
jhseeman
scrabbler
ELSavage
Katiedid
Tom S
Janet
Brian K
Guy L

And enjoying the not so crowded shore are:

MikeyG
Georgeall
Peter
NebFaninCA
charliewentling
Beth T
will j
oldjudge
D B Miller
Joe R
ky-mike
JoeFlanders
Merry Potter
Laura
michaelm
olev
Sheila
girubato1
Mme
Wendy
ajk
minimuggle
Mike H
Meg
Al Laubenstein
boharr
Guffman
Barbara K
Cruise Director
Jeremy
Bird Lives
Jace54
woozy
M and M
DCBilly
Mister and Mrs. Squawk
MatthewL
Kay
joe
dpl11
Cindy
Jim and Anita
Anita
Don and Cynthia
Ergcat
straffin
elvanya
Adajeo
Char
CarolF
femullen
Franklin
flepper
streroto
mommyX4
Heidi
Sleepy
Chris
BoomerBanker
Bob B
CptnCodon
Berto
dudeski
Al
Eric P
Joepickett
Schmeel
MileHighSolver
batfella
BrennerTJ
Mikey and puzzle buddy Jane
CPJohnson
Deb
chriscross
benchen71
Fred
SamKat9
Cinny
MajorDomoTom
Hidden in 3D
TeamDoubleTow
whimsy
lbray
Jean
Tom Wi
avian
lxpeterson
Glyn
chocoholic
HeadinHome
scott
SingleMalt
Nlobb
Mirage
Gman
Wescovington
ImOnToo
Acarl
RDaleHall
Bill
EVJ
b4alltime
turbotron
Don and Lisa
Hank37
sjm
Big Mac
SewYoung
Onaquest and Tim
Zobo3737
Cindy N
Jarrod
JRS51
Beleaguered Castle
78mg
newbymar and brothers
jimbo1
BigPear
Bobj
Aaron
Doug C

And we can't leave without a couple of baseball beer commercials from long ago. A triple play from Ballantine by Mel Allen



And digging far into the archives we have Stegmaier Gold Medal Beer

Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Laurab
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:10 pm

#162

Post by Laurab »

Ashore
Bobj
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat May 25, 2024 8:07 am

#163

Post by Bobj »

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:22 am A triple play from Ballantine by Mel Allen

Best enjoyed (along with Ballantine's scotch) on February 14 -- Ballantine's Day.
If I have solved the Puzzle,feel free to ask for a nudge. Always willing to pay it forward.
Homer Buckle
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2019 5:12 pm

#164

Post by Homer Buckle »

I had the right answer for the wrong reason - saw it today and submitted. Baseball opener only a few days away!
User avatar
Franky_T
Posts: 101
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:30 am
Location: Chicagoland

#165

Post by Franky_T »

Count me onshore.
Faust
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2025 9:18 am

#166

Post by Faust »

Ashore… so many red herrings (at least 5!?) what amazes me most is how others can solve it so quickly…
User avatar
Joe Ross
Moderator
Posts: 6624
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
Location: Cincinnati

#167

Post by Joe Ross »

Aaron wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:44 am On shore. Plan on a Shorts and Hoodies from 3 Sheeps later tonight, while watching the NCAA tournament.
Never heard of this brew, but suddenly am thirsty...
User avatar
Miki
Posts: 312
Joined: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:32 am

#168

Post by Miki »

Not getting it.
Ship list me.
User avatar
BethA
Posts: 701
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:44 pm
Location: Beaver, PA

#169

Post by BethA »

On the beach! 🏖️
doc1388
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2021 3:46 pm

#170

Post by doc1388 »

stumped - need a nudge - how do i get in this magical discord group?
lymanrpaden
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2024 4:44 pm

#171

Post by lymanrpaden »

I'm on a shore. It might be the right shore, or I might have a tale for the Rabbit.
Penny_Keatley
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:19 pm

#172

Post by Penny_Keatley »

On the beach!
SometimesStumped
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:43 pm

#173

Post by SometimesStumped »

Eek! I am just beginning the grid and am already having to use the web.
EDIT: Grid finished, false alarm! Not ashore but detailing my journey. I have no idea why I posted too soon.
EDIT: I have learned much about the HOF of baseball on this trip. Thankful to Isaac for the wonderful mimosas and brunch because I needed a break! I keep rambling about this obscure player that I am trying to stuff into a meta; therefore Isaac has cut me off for now. Hoping to have an excursion to shore before this ship sails. I am in good company either way.
FINAL JOURNAL ENTRY: Ashore, but I’m thinking my method will provide some cheap entertainment. Beer please!
Last edited by SometimesStumped on Sun Mar 23, 2025 1:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
LesY
Posts: 741
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:21 pm
Location: Richmond, Virginia

#174

Post by LesY »

Solved and ashore! Got it with Saturday morning coffee but forgot to post. Sneaky one.
User avatar
HunterX
Posts: 1350
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#175

Post by HunterX »

Ashore. Pretty quick swim as it's a not-too-uncommon metanism.

While not a huge sports fan, baseball would qualify as my preferred professional sport to watch. Can't really name that many players who weren't on the Phillies in the '70's, or recently. But the meta answer is definitely familiar to me. I have a fun, though slight, reference to the answer in mind too.
User avatar
HunterX
Posts: 1350
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#176

Post by HunterX »

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:22 am
And digging far into the archives we have Stegmaier Gold Medal Beer

Didn't name my drink to celebrate the solve. Well, I've never had a Stegmaier Gold Medal Beer, but here in our weekend getaway in the woods, we're just a stone's throw from Wilkes-Barre, I might have to see if I can find it. Looks like the Maier family bought the brand back from Lion Brewery in 2022. I can't tell if they've restarted production yet.
User avatar
Miki
Posts: 312
Joined: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:32 am

#177

Post by Miki »

Miki wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:02 pm Not getting it.
Ship list me.
So, we walked in the park with the dog.
Away from the puzzle... And Oh Dah!

Thank you, Rabbi Andy...
Your knowledge of Torah, Talmud and baseball always comes in handy.

And happy birthday...
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2t9nXoG/
User avatar
LadyBird
Posts: 994
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:20 pm
Location: Chicagoland

#178

Post by LadyBird »

20250319_115021.jpg
We were "here", but have yet to make it to shore. We are KEEping Isaac company at the bar--he has some speLBInding tales of his years in the minors. Based on page one solve times, some of you are much more skiLLED than we are--we are having a TOUgh go of it so far. Apparently, we CANnot keep away from those rabbit ears (I mean holes).
User avatar
Richard
Posts: 376
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:06 pm

#179

Post by Richard »

I like baseball but am on the ship. Just don't see a mechanism.
Ann
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:03 am

#180

Post by Ann »

On the shore!
Post Reply