Against all odds, we’ve completed another Tuesday. Congratulations, everyone. You did this. Now we can look back fondly on the day that was, with many an entertaining baseball moment included. Let’s talk about them!
First, as is customary, a few fun tidbits from baseball Twitter yesterday. Here’s a beautiful shot of Charlie Blackmon to start your morning, courtesy of atRockies!
We took this great photo of Chuck & we figured you all would want to see it 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RnBjwpNZCo
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 21, 2021
Speaking of pictures, here’s one of a few Home Run Derby contestants enjoying afternoon baseball.
Pictured: 58 HR. pic.twitter.com/7QwyEkJTma
— MLB (@MLB) July 20, 2021
And here’s two more of Sean Doolittle, as he optimized the Reds’ pre-game vibes with a little outfield saging:
cleansing your timeline. pic.twitter.com/ZV0C1kbdUq
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 20, 2021
Unfortunately, the vibes were not where they needed to be for this guy, who was brutally left hanging on the foul ball high-five attempt. Sometimes you simply must take the L instead.
you’re not that guy pal pic.twitter.com/y8OLf18hP9
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 20, 2021
Meanwhile, in Double-A, an old friend made his first rehab appearance of the season. He allowed no hits and collected six strikeouts in 3.2 innings against the poor Harrisburg Senators, who will no doubt be traumatized by the experience.
Chris Sale. Sliders. 🤮 pic.twitter.com/htWiuVgc20
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 20, 2021
Sticking in the minors, here’s suicide survivor and all-around inspirational guy Drew Robinson stepping to the plate for his final game with the Giants yesterday. Chills. If you haven’t heard his story by now, look it up.
An emotional Drew Robinson got a standing ovation in what will be his last game as a player.
He will become a mental health advocate for the @SFGiants after this game 🙌
(via @RiverCats)pic.twitter.com/d4dU7dxjph
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 20, 2021
Next, we’ve got Touki Toussaint, fresh off shoving for a career-high distance against the Padres the day he was called up, wearing a badass graphic wolf tee in the postgame presser. If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is.
"I honestly just try to throw strikes. I didn't really think about who I was facing. I just knew this what I had to do and go out there I'm going to get outs."
– Touki Toussaint after the @Braves' win against the Padres pic.twitter.com/RBJCzK9vK8
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) July 21, 2021
Okay, strike that—Christian Yelich sitting courtside while the Bucks win the NBA championship is also cool…
The MVP is in the building!! pic.twitter.com/hDPucneHim
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 21, 2021
And last but not least, enjoy this video of MLB players making their own home run calls. How in the world is Pete Alonso the worst??
.@MLB players share their own home run calls. Should they stick to their day jobs? 😂
(MLB x @chevrolet) pic.twitter.com/LLjIAGOxyF
— Play Ball (@PlayBall) July 20, 2021
Ladies Take the Lead
It was a dramatic night on the field, but perhaps the most important moment in MLB on Tuesday happened in the booth. As you may have heard, the Orioles-Rays tilt on Youtube yesterday was the first-ever MLB game to feature an all-female broadcast crew. With Melanie Newman running the play-by-play, Sarah Langs offering analysis, Alanna Rizzo bringing on-field commentary, and Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner in the studio, it was a pretty neat moment for a sport that has more female viewers than ever before.
Trailblazers.
The first all-woman broadcast crew in MLB history! 👏 pic.twitter.com/2q94k7l5h4
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2021
The Rays won the game 9-3, but no one had a better time than this young O’s fan who got to witness history.
Why is this broadcast important?
This right here 👇 pic.twitter.com/ARcHil1fIv
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 21, 2021
More of this, please, @MLB — signed, a man who is tired of listening to incompetent men talk about baseball.
José’s Anniversary Party
Ten years ago yesterday, Houston brought up an unheralded 5’6″ second baseman from Double-A to fill time on a terrible rebuilding team. He stuck around. That man became José Altuve, MVP and World Series Champion. And would you look at that, the Astros remembered!
Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Jose Altuve! #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/xsQ0pGv6Ng
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 21, 2021
Someone else who clearly remembered is Altuve himself, who celebrated with a monster game. He’s on pace to hit the most home runs of his career this year, and nos. 21 and 22 left the ballpark quickly last night:
10 years to the day of his MLB debut, Jose Altuve has gone deep twice! pic.twitter.com/w83UbKjtEi
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2021
And just to put a bow on it, he added a spectacular catch that used every millimeter of his diminutive stature.
Get 🆙 pic.twitter.com/MmbEuiLvco
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2021
Have a day, José! Here’s to another 10 years.
Did We Just Become Best Friends?
A week ago, Charlie Freeman got to live out his dreams by meeting Fernando Tatis Jr. at the All-Star Game. Yesterday, as the Braves hosted the Padres for the first time this season, he got to see his new friend once again. And you better believe it was wholesome.
best friends forever!!!🥺 pic.twitter.com/fG4QnQJs2G
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 21, 2021
The wave back kills me. Charlie’s dad had a pretty good time, too, hitting the game-winning home run in the sixth and enjoying a moment with Tatis at first in the eighth:
Freddie Freeman and Fernando Tatis Jr. hug at first. pic.twitter.com/M4RIWiuAAk
— Major League GIFs (@MajorLeagueGIFs) July 21, 2021
Despite the loss, Tatis remained classy as always. He even came through with a signed jersey for the youngster after the game, according to Freddie’s Instagram.
How cool is @tatis_jr? pic.twitter.com/SNrminc1wd
— Paul Mathewson (@Paulmathewson) July 21, 2021
Baseball players: they’re friends, too!
Crater Balls
From a fan meeting a star, we go to a ball meeting the moon. You like that transition? Yeah, I’ve certainly written worse. Anyway, here’s Gary Sánchez launching a pitch to Jupiter.
Cutch with an absolutely textbook Not-Even-Gonna-Look on this Gary blast pic.twitter.com/6qJX5uQiEu
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) July 21, 2021
There must have been something in the atmosphere because balls were rocketing everywhere yesterday. Two Royals blasted into the scoreboard in center against the Brewers, including this pinch-hit shot from Ryan O’Hearn:
Off the bench, off the board!#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/P0gsM9giXk
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 20, 2021
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Yoán Moncada launched one all the way out to the bullpen (shoutout to the White Sox account for utilizing a pun right out of the Nick Pollack playbook).
Yoán Moncada put that one Ober the wall. pic.twitter.com/OtdIRrkwSQ
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 21, 2021
And finally, I present LaMonte Wade Jr. and this beautiful “oh, damn” swing that sent a projectile 413 feet out to right. Houston, we have—okay, fine, I’ll stop.
LaMonte Wade Jr. crushed it. 😳
📺: https://t.co/MReGUMVMvq pic.twitter.com/XVWKLZn1uw
— MLB.TV (@MLBTV) July 21, 2021
Chicago Fireworks
If you root for a team in the Windy City, hopefully you didn’t turn your TV off early. Both the Cubs and White Sox exploded late for comeback wins on Tuesday, albeit with a little help from timely bullpen malfunctions. Both teams benefitted from multiple walks in their final inning, opening the door for an unlikely victory.
The Cubs, in particular, came out of nowhere, scoring six in the ninth inning to beat the Cardinals 7-6:
The @Cubs have scored 6 times in the 9th to take the lead! 😱 pic.twitter.com/3i5s8zDFax
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2021
Meanwhile, on the South Side, the White Sox used an overturned call as a springboard for a five-run eighth. The exclamation point was provided by José Abreu, who absolutely unloaded on this pitch to feed the frenzy:
Make that TWO rocket launches today. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/vO9KaXa0b5
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 21, 2021
What drama! Now here’s 10 seconds of Tim Anderson dancing (via @whitesox) because that’s the only reason we’re really here.
Yep, that oughtta do it. Happy Wednesday, people.