May 20, 2021
1. Another day, another no-hitter
That’s six on the year so far. We’ve blown past amazing and into the comical:
MLB is on pace for nineteen, by the end of the year — and 42.9% of complete games pitched this year are no-hitters:
2. Davey Martinez went berserk and yanked first base out of the ground
You absolutely love to see it. Upset at Trea Turner being ruled out for being “in the baseline” (remember that exact same call on Turner in the 2019 World Series), and so — he went for it:
Always go full Lloyd McClendon, 2001:
3. Home runs of the day: Cronenworth and Acuña
The second inside-the-parker of the year, and it’s Jake Cronenworth — beneficiary of truly terrible outfield defense from the Rockies (Blackmon looking half-dead, and the center fielder is nowhere to be found).
The call from Don Orsillo is electric:
And then Ronald Acuña Jr., hitting a walk-off in Atlanta, against this Mets team they might just be right next to all season in the standings:
4. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return from the IL: 4 for 4 with a HR
He had to be shutdown for an asymptomatic case of COVID, and yesterday afternoon he came back, majorly:
And, it can’t be overlooked, maybe the most flexible stretch of the year:
5. Quote of the day, Kiké Hernandez: “I like to bang.”
If you’ve been away from baseball for a bit, Kiké is no longer a Dodger — but on the Red Sox. And, he likes bangs, he likes to bang, it was very nice.
6. The White Sox team dressed up like Yoan Moncada for a road trip
This Sox team is giving off major 2015-16 Cubs feelings — leading the league in win percentage, leading the league in good vibes:
7. Two Padres fans ran on the field at the same time
Camera phones and the internet were invented for things like this:
8. Noah Syndergaard is back pitching, in his first rehab start
The Mets are playing mediocre baseball, with a ton of injuries, and yet they’re in first place (20–17). Next month, they get this guy back:
9. Resurfaced “cold take” of the day: Mike Francesa on Ohtani
From 2018 — my, how things have changed:
Forget about the league-leading 14 HRs, with a .950 OPS. And the 2.37 ERA on the mound this year.
Last night, the man beat the shift with a bunt single:
10. Defensive play of the night: Contreras to Baez
Just like the old days — brilliance, between these two on the infield:
11. Randy Arozarena had himself a game yesterday
Two home runs. A double off the wall. 4 RBI. Six wins in a row for the Rays.
And then, a brilliant catch at the wall.
Couldn’t find video, but he robbed a HR, fell on the ground covering up the ball, the announcers didn’t know if it was caught or not, ten seconds went by — and then, grinning, he took it out of the glove:
12. Jack Flaherty is 8–0 and getting compared to Bob Gibson
Feels wrong to put both players in the same sentence just yet, but Flaherty is looking dominant. An ERA of 2.53 and a 0.994 WHIP.
And, rest in peace, Mr. Gibson — one of the greatest in history:
13. Blunder of the night: Josh Rojas
A one-run lead, late into the game. Bases loaded. Sharply line fly ball. And off the glove it clangs, two runs score — the winning runs for the Dodgers:
14. Lastly, the stat of the day: Kyle Seager is a no-hitter magnet
