A historic day indeed – it was the first time since August 4th, 1974 that there were as many as 20 games scheduled in one day in Major League Baseball. That included five doubleheaders, too. Here are all the wonderful tidbits you may have missed from Friday’s slate of games.
“Popped him up…”
No, I wasn’t surprised that Ronald Acuña Jr. hit another lead-off home run, his first of three on the day, which tales him to eight long balls for the season. However, the manner in which he hit the home run not only perplexed me but also Acuña himself. Indeed the announcer for the game called it a “Pop-Up Home Run” and went on to say, “I do not know how that ball left the park.”
https://gfycat.com/academicfirsthandamericanwigeon
What is clear is that Acuña himself did not think he had hit it out the park. The disappointment straight after he made contact and the slam of the bat on the ground indicates he thought he had hit a fly ball out to center field.
"breaking ball, popped him up…"
*Acuña slams his bat in disappointment*pic.twitter.com/cycPH3AVHG
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) September 4, 2020
Here are the statistics on the hit – that 40-degree launch angle really stands outs. Thank you, Mr. Wind! His second home run of the day had a launch angle of 23 degrees, and his third, 30 degrees.
Ronald Acuna Jr. – Home Run vs Austin Voth#Nationals vs #Braves
EV: 108.0 (MPH)
LA: 40 (Deg.)
Dist: 411 (ft.)
xBA: .58080.2 (MPH) Curveball (CU) – 1-2 Count
— Braves In Play (@BravesInPlay) September 4, 2020
May vs. Mendick vs. Garrett Dance Off
Welcome to the Friday Night Dance Off! Dustin May is one of the most exciting young arms to have stepped on the mound this year. He also wears his emotions on his sleeve. Here is his dance-off leg-kick follow through after striking out Kevin Pillar.
Dustin May, Ridiculous 99mph Sinker and seamless follow-thru/leg kick/velo check. 😯 pic.twitter.com/VHYtMEImJL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 5, 2020
Next up is Chicago White Sox infielder Danny Mendick, who took to TikTok alongside teammate Yolmer Sanchez for some #dancingfordubs after his side brushed aside the Kansas City Royals 7-4.
#dancingfordubs Get on board!!🚂🚂@CarlosSan29 pic.twitter.com/5LL1frBDeW
— Danny Mendick (@dmendick01) September 5, 2020
And last but not least, fiery Cincinnati Reds reliever Amir Garrett brought out the dab after watching Nicholas Castellanos home run land in the bullpen.
He's like that.@Amir_Garrett pic.twitter.com/DZ01PvAokL
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 4, 2020
Who did it better, you tell us?
“Nobody and I Mean Nobody Beats The Orioles 20 Times In A Row”
It was probably the best call from any announcer yesterday, so credit to Baltimore Orioles play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Brown for coming up with this after the Orioles snapped a 19-game Yankees win streak with a 6-3 in their first game of a doubleheader yesterday.
https://twitter.com/TestudoDave/status/1302092970003492864
The call resonated with many long-suffering fans in Baltimore.
Let the record show that nobody beats the Orioles 20 times in a row!
— Dave Cherman (@DaveCherman) September 5, 2020
As a great American, Gerald Ford (P '72 @WakeForest ), once said, "Our long national nightmare is over." To paraphrase Vitas Gerulaitis, "Nobody beats @Orioles 20 times in a row."
— Rob Daniels (@oriolesfactoids) September 5, 2020
It may have not been the most amazing thing from the two games today between the Orioles and the Yankees. No, I think this bat flip from Hanser Alberto after a…walk!? wins out. Love it when a hitter is so pumped about winning an at-bat with a base on balls result!
Hanser Alberto bat-flipping a walk against Aroldis Chapman gives me life pic.twitter.com/4MKoionsAe
— Connor Newcomb (@ConnorNewcomb_) September 4, 2020
Door Jam!
Ben Heller has a name very similar to my own, and I would gladly swap jobs with him if he really doesn’t want to go out and be a Major League pitcher anymore.
We've all been there, Ben. pic.twitter.com/aI2fvj3e3e
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 4, 2020
Mascot Mario Kart
Level Up: Kauffman Stadium Track – presented with the perfect comment from Sarah Langs.
I love baseball. pic.twitter.com/1ocWbG2I1R
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 5, 2020
Mookie Makes Fan’s Day
Another day, another Mookie Betts home run. This bomb to deep left-center field managed to hit a cardboard cutout in the stands that had already seen better days, its head hanging down loose after being hit previously in the game.
https://gfycat.com/smoothlimpingabyssiniangroundhornbill
And the purchaser of the cutout was thrilled to make the broadcast, citing it was his lucky day and because of it he was going to buy a lottery ticket.
I need to go buy a lottery ticket @mookiebetts @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/oYJWmHeYW1
— Austin Donley (@adonley3) September 5, 2020
La Tortuga’s Return
We all love Willians Astudillo, and baseball is a better place with him playing in the bigs every day. Today, he returned to the Minnesota Twins lineup and rounded the bases for a game-winning run. Here is the moment in all its glory…
https://gfycat.com/hilariousornategalapagostortoise
And a few alternate angles to satisfy our love for this great player.
A live-action shot of Willians Astudillo trucking his way to the game-winning run. pic.twitter.com/SMoY8jmXUP
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 5, 2020
Return of the absolute unit that could. 🐢 pic.twitter.com/BoIlvk3SgX
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) September 5, 2020
How can you not be romantic about baseball? (@cjzero) pic.twitter.com/NijHYWrg5F
— Drew Silva (@drewsilv) September 4, 2020
You’re Not Crying, We’re Crying!
It has been a lovely story so far, and one of the most unpredictable – 40-year-old Yankees catcher Erik Kratz is in his second stint with the club after a journeyman career across 11 different major league clubs and 325 games played. He has also tallied 1,027 games in the minor leagues. Talk about having love for the game. And the YES Network caught a nice moment the other day when Kratz jogged out to warm up with 21-year-old starting pitcher Deivi Garcia, who was making his debut.
— Joe LoGrippo (@Joe_LoGrippo) August 30, 2020
Pretty cool, and now the next chapter brought Kratz, and all of us to tears. He addressed the media after
https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1301971251813060610
Powerful stuff. I love baseball.