There are plenty of reasons to watch baseball. You know what I’m talking about: The powerful bats of Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson; the glove work of Andrelton Simmons and Kevin Kiermaier; the speed of Jose Altuve and Dee Gordon; the mound work of Clayton Kershaw and Jake Arietta. There are also the unfolding “stories” of rookies like Kevin Story and Jeremy Hazelbaker or veterans like Bartolo Colon and David Ortiz.
Yesterday, April 22, we saw examples of another group of reason we watch baseball –and should never leave early. I’m talking about those unique events and plays that make so many games memorable.
- Fans in Chicago saw their White Sox complete a unique 9-3-2-6-2-5 triple play. For those of you who don’t keep score, that means the ball went from the right fielder to the first baseman to the catcher to the shortstop back to the catcher and, finally, to the third baseman. It all started with the Texas Rangers having the bases loaded with no outs. The hitter (Mitch Moreland) lashed what looked to be base hit to right, only White Sox’ right fielder Adam Eaton ran it down. The runners were moving (assuming the safety), so Eaton fired to first baseman Jose Abreu, who put the tag on Texas’ returning base runner Ian Desmond (who overran the bag and was tagged out in foul territory). Abreu then threw to White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro (to prevent the runner on third from scoring). Navarro saw a Rangers’ base runner Adrian Beltre (who started the play on second base) stranded between second and third and fired to White Sox shortstop Tyler Saladino. At that point, Prince Fielder, the Texas runner at third, broke for home. So, Saladino threw back to Navarro, who threw to third baseman Todd Frazier to get the retreating Fielder for the final out of the triple play. Great play, cast of thousands. THAT was worth the price of admission. (The White Sox, by the way, won the game 5-0.)
Any triple play news reminds BBRT of the time (July 17, 1990) that the Twins completed two traditional 5-4-3 triple plays in a game (the only time a team has achieved two triple play in a single game) – and still lost 1-0. For the price of one admission, Boston fans got to enjoy the Fenway atmosphere, witness a home team victory and see history made.
- Yesterday, fans in New York saw a little better base running than those in Chicago, as Yankees’ CF Jacob Ellsbury completed a clean steal of home in New York’s 6-3 win over the Rays. The steal came in the fifth inning off Rays’ starter Matt Moore. With two out, Ellsbury and NY SS Didi Gregorius singled – and then were moved up to second and third on a balk. With LF Brett Gardner at the plate, the infield playing back and Moore pitching out of a full windup, Ellsbury saw an opportunity. On a 3-1 count, he broke for the plate as Moore went into his lineup. Ellsbury was safe on a diving slide, and the pitch was ball four. Again, that one play well worth the cost of a ticket.
Straight steals of home take BBRT back to 1969 when I was privileged to see Rod Carew steal home at old Met Stadium. (He swiped home seven times that season – one short of Ty Cobb’s AL and MLB record.) It also reminds me of the ironic (or iconic) fact that Babe Ruth stole home more times than Willie Mays or Maury Wills.
- While fans in New York were treated to Ellsbury’s speed, Pittsburgh put on a power display last night. The Pirates 8-7 win over the Diamondback in Arizona featured home runs by SS Jordy Mercer, RF Gregory Polanco and 3B Sean Rodriguez. The special treat? They were three of the six longest home runs hit so far this season (as measured by Statcast). Mercer’s was the year’s longest at 466.1 feet; Polanco took over the number-five spot at 460.7 feet; and Rodriguez powered in at number six at 458.5 feet. How likely was this? It was the first homer of the year for Mercer and Polanco and just the second for Rodriguez. Worth the price of admission? Maybe not in Arizona, but still a sight to see.
Back on September 14, 1987 – in an 18-3 win over the Orioles (in Toronto) – the Blue Jays hit a single-game record 10 home runs. The hitters: C Ernie Whitt – 3 HR’s; 3B Rance Mulliniks – 2 HR’s; LF George Bell – 2 HRs; CF Lloyd Moseby; CF (replacement) Rob Ducey; DH Fred McGriff. Love to have had that ticket.
Even as I write this post – while watching the Twins on TV – a unique point of interest is emerging. National’s starter Tanner Roark is pitching a two-hit shutout. No so unusual, but he’s also fanned a dozen in just five innings. And, he has already fanned every Twin in the starting lineup at least once. History being made? Who knows. Clearly a performance worth watching.
Interested is some baseball trivia and haven’t taken the BBRT quizzes yet? Click here for Quiz One and here for Quiz Two.
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.
