June 26, 2021
1. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit three HRs in the first four innings
The guy is the most entertaining player I’ve ever seen. Having missed the prime Griffey Jr. years, is this what that was like?
Four innings. Three at-bats. Three home runs:
2. Aaron Nola tied Tom Seaver’s all-time record for consecutive K’s
Ten strikeouts in a row. And who would’ve thought, after all these years, that no one but Tom Seaver has done it — not Pedro Martinez, not Randy Johnson, not Nolan Ryan, not Aroldis Chapman or another reliever, not anyone.
And now, Aaron Nola of all people, with a virtuoso streak out on the mound:
After you do something like that, everyone is coming for your cap:
Oh, and then he only went and hit an RBI double for the lead. That might just be the day he looks back on, for the rest of his career.
3. NC State was removed from the College World Series
Apparently, due to COVID violations, that, in my humble opinion do not make any sense at all. I thought every sports stadium and city just opened all the way back up — so, why are we still functioning like this?
4. Chip Caray makes a strange blunder on the Braves broadcast
First, you hear this “stat”, that the first-ever MLB player with a surname ending in “X” has just taken the mound (Hendrix). Sounded a bit hard to believe, but hey, Chip Caray is a trustworthy guy, it’s a major TV broadcast, so you reluctantly go with it.
Wait a second. Greg Maddux? 355-game winner. Longtime Hall of Fame pitcher for the Braves?
And then, not long after, the correction:
5. Shohei Ohtani hit a deep HR into the catwalk at The Trop
The first at-bat of the game. The lead-off man. Gone.
6. A new candidate for unfortunate injury of the year: Mike Soroka
It still doesn’t top the Jesus Luzardo video game injury, and there was another bizarre one I’m forgetting, but this? Out for the year from a bad walk is next level brutal:
7. Padres fans literally sweep a Dodgers fan’s driveway, after this last series in San Diego
Sweep the Dodgers. Get your brooms out, literally. And hope you don’t get the police called.
8. Dustin Pedroia had a wild retirement ceremony at Fenway Park
He’s only played nine games since 2017, and the last of them came in 2019, but now he finally got to have his retirement ceremony — in front of a full capacity home crowd.
The former MVP, Rookie of the Year, three-time World Series winner, 51.9 career WAR. Honored in front of the Boston faithful by none other than… wrestling legend Ric Flair:
As for the baseball itself, the Red Sox won the first of the three-game set , moving ahead 4.5 games over the Yankees — with easily the biggest highlight of the game this brilliant throw from Hunter Renfroe:
9. Jonathan Loaisiga had four strikeouts in one inning
Sentences like that always make you do a little double take.
10. Tyler Glasnow will fortunately not need Tommy John surgery
And he’s been using a “bone stimulator”:
11. The “Crone Zone” is the best baseball catchphrase of 2021
Credit to the great Padres play-by-play guy Don Orsillo, who with Mud Grant has also been throwing out “Jake from Rake Farm!!” just about every time Jake Cronenworth has been going yard (four straight games).
Sound on:
12. Joe Maddon enters the Tampa Bay Hall of Fame
The Angels came to town for a series at Tropicana Field, and what better time to honor one of the city’s most beloved sports legends:
13. Catch of the day: Devonte Brown from NC State
In honor of this underdog NC State team being stripped of its chance to win an NCAA title, a brilliant catch in right field:
14. Fernando Tatis Jr. opts out of the Home Run Derby
Pretty amusing to then go out and hit three home runs in four innings, that very same night. The event is very much going to miss him.
And so, the Ohtani show it is:
15. Lastly, David Cone dancing in the broadcast booth is must-watch bizarre TV
See you on Monday, everyone. Will be a more normal week, the “Sticky Check” Twitter account blowing up has been a bit out of control these past few days. Cheers!
