Happy, happy Friday! We are days closer to the best time of the year: the NHL season. Just kidding! We are actually getting down to the grit and grind of the pennant races. Playoff spots are at stake! Pride is at stake! The Giants might do the improbable!
Whatever your reason for watching baseball these days, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to Thursday’s best!
The Little League Coaches Can’t Be Happy About This One
Every single one of my Little League coaches would have yelled at me for this one.
— MLB Errors (@mlberrors) September 3, 2021
Keep your eye on the ball, man! Use two hands!
Bryan De La Cruz was bailed out for this error by Anthony Bender, thankfully, but it was still quite embarrassing for him.
McKlayvey Cove
Have you guys heard about this fella Klay Thompson? I think he’s pretty good at basketball if I remember correctly:
Klay Thompson is hanging out in McCovey Cove waiting for @bcraw35 to hit a splash home run 😅🌊
(via @KlayThompson/ IG) pic.twitter.com/fwaj9YBNnq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 2, 2021
Look at him trying to be a McCovey Cove guy! Neat boat, too.
The Pirates? Making an Embarrassing Error Against the Cubs?
Gee, where have I seen something like this before? Not a couple of months ago with Javy Báez, right?
Here it is Wilmer Difo WALKOFF error !! 6-5 Chicago pic.twitter.com/gBMjKjUqSL
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) September 3, 2021
It’s hard to be a Pirate…fan. On the bright side, there’s always next year!
Speaking of Báez, though, he did pull off some magic last night:
Just your average 9-3 double play.
(and quite the deke by El Mago 🎩) pic.twitter.com/u6Oi1YwV2i
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 3, 2021
(We could also call this bad baserunning by Alfaro but it’s more fun to say it’s El Mago magic)
Juan Soto’s Tomfoolery?
Some say he was legitimately fooled by Aaron Nola’s Knuckle Curve. Others, like me, say the Soto shuffle looked a little off on that pitch, as if Soto was hoping he’d throw another one.
Was Juan Soto baiting Aaron Nola to throw another curveball? That reaction to the first one might have been for show… pic.twitter.com/PPDL5VzRYp
— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) September 2, 2021
Soto didn’t look so surprised for that second one, hitting that ball 412 feet to center. It’s hard to “bait” a pitcher into throwing a certain type of pitch, but I think if anyone in present-day MLB can do it, it would be Juan Soto. Friendly reminder — he’s 22 years old and doing this stuff.
Bonus: Good Humans Doing Good Things
Yankees Spanish radio broadcaster Rickie Ricardo got a call from Suzyn Waldman after leaving yesterday’s game. John Sterling was stuck in his car filled with water
Ricardo turned around, rescued John from his car and got him home with guidance from police pic.twitter.com/UmoKwQ1C7l
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 2, 2021
Congratulations to Bryan Ruby for his courage and vulnerability to share his story as the first active pro baseball player to come out as gay. Ruby’s coming out is an important milestone in LGBTQ representation and acceptance in sports.https://t.co/FsFwGLcdc0
— Amit Paley (@amitpaley) September 2, 2021
Thank you to Bryan for sharing his story! While he is not the first gay baseball player, his story can help inspire others and teach baseball the value of acceptance.
Have a great Friday and a great weekend!
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)