May 20, 2022

1. Trevor Story hits three home runs at Fenway

Finally, after the cold start, he’s coming alive.

And the stat of the day goes to him:

2. The play of the day: Hidden ball trick at Double-A Frisco

It’s been a while since we’ve seen one of these in the majors — it needs to be incentivized somehow. Three outs for a successful execution of it?

3. Pete Alonso hit a huge walk-off home run

Down by a run in the tenth, and right off the bat it’s gone.

And the best part might be the clip from the Mets broadcast booth, with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling stepping all over Gary Cohen’s great call:

Here was The Michael Kay Show reacting to the “steppage” and “tramplage” —the absolute broadcasting word of the year (start at 0:45 seconds).

4. And Anthony Santander walked off the Yankees

The Orioles lost the lead late in the ninth, and then in the bottom of the inning — the winner.

5. Have you ever seen a dog play baseball?

Those pitches aren’t underhanded lobs, either.

6. Here are the MLB hitter power rankings

The usual suspects, and then Taylor Ward, having by far the best year of his young career — and we’ll see if he can keep it up.

7. Bryce Harper traded hats with a kid in the crowd

8. Joe Panik retires from baseball

One of the key role players from the 2014 Giants championship season, and he decides to call it a day after falling off in recent years, ending with the Mets, Blue Jays and Marlins.

9. More news and various bits from around the league

10. The defensive play of the day: Nolan Arenado

A brilliant unassisted turn two.

11. Rockies TV reporter Kelsey Wingert suffered a very scary injury

It thankfully turns out she’s all okay, but takes home a gnarly scar after a scary incident earlier this week.

12. Anthony Rizzo was ejected from the dugout

Not that arguing balls and strikes will get you a very long leash, but boy — he’s one of the great guys of the game, the umpire could’ve been a little more lax.

13. Yu Darvish pitched seven great shutout innings

108 pitches, no runs, and the Padres win 2–0.

14. And lastly, baseball broadcasting depression at its best

The Pete Alonso home run, from the Cardinals perspective — the voice of an utterly deflated, defeated man.