June 29, 2021
1. Two position players pitched last night, and both got checked for foreign substances
The comic absurdity in baseball right now is reaching levels that were thought to be impossible. Records are being set, on the am-I-really-seeing-this-right-now scale.
2. And Hector Santiago, the first MLB pitcher ejected under the new rules, just got a 10-game suspension (3:15 ET)
3. Kyle Schwarber is on an absolutely historic HR stretch
Two more home runs last night. After two the night before. And thirteen in his last ten games. This is how his bat projected to look when he first came up with this Cubs, in 2015.
Seeing it finally culminate is a marvel:
After a very slow start, the Nationals are not out of the NL East race, with a .500 record now and just three games behind the Mets. As Kyle Schwarber himself said, “Remember, this is a good team — you guys stay with us, now, alright?”
4. Joe Kelly traded his jersey for a Mariachi jacket
I’d say he’s the sure winner there, what a gem of a find:
5. The Brewers score 10 runs in the 8th inning, to beat the Cubs
Tie game. Eighth inning. The first game of a key series in Milwaukee between the two main contenders in the NL Central. And just like that, the Brewers blow it wide open — and take a four-game lead in the division:
6. Dylan Bundy puked on the mound last night and left the game
The second incident of mound “vomitus” of the season, after Tigers rookie Beau Burrows did it about a month ago (in his debut appearance, and was released the next day).
Obviously, don’t watch if you don’t want to see this — it’s exactly what it sounds like.
And in the front row, Kevin Durant was there to see it all:
7. Angel Hernandez was the talk of baseball, yet again
First, there were the calls — this being one of several bad ones, causing him to trend on Twitter, yet again.
And then there was this, the foreign substance check on Trevor Bauer. The first of them to touch the hands, instead of the uniform — and he really went all over.
Without question, I just had to set it to music:
8. Deep HRs of the night: Ohtani, Votto, Stanton
9. Quote of the day: Aaron Boone
The Yankees lost again last night, and are only two games over .500 now. Fourth place in the stacked AL East. And so, Aaron Boone, finally with a moment of candor:
10. Mookie Betts had the nifty little bat trick of the night
It’s like those old Tiger Woods clips where he’s juggling the ball on the face of his nine-iron:
11. The Angels have been sued for negligence in Tyler Skaggs’ death
Tragic story, the overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019, and today there’s a bit of an unfortunate follow-up.
12. The Phillies bullpen is historically bad
In a very winnable NL East, where no one quite wants to run much past a .500 record, this one has to sting an extra amount:
13. Clutch home run of the night: Nick Castellanos
The Reds on a hot streak, looking to catch the Cubs in the NL Central. Down by two in the seventh, and just like that, a two-run lead.
Grand slam, as that Phillies bullpen goes kaput:
Three months into the season, Castellanos is batting .347 with 15 home runs. And remember that great moment from earlier in the season, when a fan told him, “Picture Rob Manfred’s face on the baseball!” and he went yard?
Well, a fan literally put Manfred’s face on a baseball, and gave it to him.
14. Stat of the day: Kyle Schwarber
15. And lastly, “Baby Shark” is fully back at Nationals Park
A year ago, Gerardo Parra was relegated to Japan:
And now, he’s back with the Nationals.
As that 2019 team is starting to come alive again. With that familiar awful start. Then that sudden, dramatic turnaround. And now, Gerardo Parra, called back up to the majors just a week ago, back at Nats Park, going yard, with everyone singing “Baby Shark” once again:
The Nationals might just be good again.
See you tomorrow, everyone.
