Why does all the fun stuff happen on the west coast? I don’t mean to complain, but it feels quite unfair. Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., the Dodgers… look, I’m just trying to get to bed before the sun comes up here in Kentucky. And yet, the content beckons. What am I to do?
Stay up, obviously. As if it’s a real question. Who can beat these vibes?
Play something that is very, very vibe worthy pic.twitter.com/3SH2lTBmKQ
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 1, 2021
Giants fans, apparently. You see the trend here?
https://twitter.com/MajorLeagueGIFs/status/1432907549414658048?s=20
Even Mookie Betts‘ mom is feeling the West Coast Vibes:
Smoochie Betts pic.twitter.com/XwjbrJ0u9D
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 1, 2021
It’s okay, sleep can wait. There are moments to be listed. Let’s get to it!
Rookie Mode
One man who is all too familiar with West Coast Vibes is Gerrit Cole, the Newport Beach, CA native turned New Yorker. Today, he’s starting in Anaheim, a short drive from where he grew up. Yesterday, he was asked about his strategy for facing Ohtani:
Gerrit Cole when asked what kind of pitch he will not pitch to Shohei Ohtani
"HE DOES NOT NEED ANY MORE ADVANTAGE MARGARET, OKAY?!" 😅
(via @snyyankees)pic.twitter.com/okHZu9XHOf
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 1, 2021
While Cole is keeping his strategy under wraps, the Yankees tried one method for avoiding MLB’s home run leader by intentionally walking him in the sixth last night. It did not work. Why not? Because apparently, he can do this too:
SHO STEALS HOME! pic.twitter.com/HIQE4fD8bW
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2021
Of note, that steal was Ohtani’s 22nd of the year, which has him on track for the first 50-25 season in MLB history. Did you know he pitches, too? I don’t know, must be the vibes.
Feeling Jocular
Keeping with the theme of California kids, you may have seen that Joc Pederson and Atlanta are in Chavez Ravine this week. For Pederson, a Palo Alto native, it’s his first trip back to his old ballpark with his new team. As you can see, he prepped for the occasion with a trip to his favorite L.A. barber:
It didn’t take long for his new blonde powers to kick in, even against Walker Buehler.
Joc rips one against his former team 😤
Braves strike first in LA!
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/2axWJGeTzL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 1, 2021
Aaand cue the dugout cam:
Guess who's back, back again. pic.twitter.com/cNPB4xmnbD
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 1, 2021
We’ve all thought about trying a new look to impress our ex, but this may be the first time I’ve seen it actually work!
He Who Snellt It
Since we’ve stayed in California this long, I feel like I’d be remiss not to mention Blake Snell throwing seven no-hit innings against the Diamondbacks, capping off an excellent August for him after months of mediocrity. He had this ball on a string:
Blake Snell, Filthy 82mph Curveball. 😷🦖 pic.twitter.com/P18S0G55hd
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 1, 2021
Unfortunately, Snell was pulled in the eighth due to his extended pitch count. The Sneks got a hit, ruining our chance of achieving this wonderful factoid:
Tyler Gilbert and the D-backs no-hit the Padres on August 14.
Blake Snell and the Padres are 6 outs away from no-hitting the D-backs.
The last time teams no-hit each other in the same season was 1969, when the Reds and Astros did it a day apart (April 30, May 1).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 1, 2021
It’s a shame, too, because if the no-no was still intact when Manny Machado made this play… man, we’d still be talking about it.
Manny Machado: Certified Glover Boy pic.twitter.com/F1DkQo4etH
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 1, 2021
But seriously, thank you, Diamondbacks, for not making me rewrite this whole post by getting no-hit in the middle of the night.
Two Thumbs Up
Okay, that’s enough West Coast Vibes. Let’s return to New York, where the vibes have been at an all-time low as of late. Mets fans, you know it’s bad when Jesús Aguilar is ragging on ya…
Jesús Aguilar says “you’re the one booing fans not me” to Francisco Lindor pic.twitter.com/CMZuEBKqRi
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 31, 2021
Meanwhile, the boobirds were stronger than ever when Javier Baez stepped to the plate. No surprise there.
Mets fans boo Javy Baez & give him thumbs down gestures as he comes up to bat 👀
(via @SNYtv)pic.twitter.com/ivWlmklsg4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 31, 2021
The surprise came in the bottom of the ninth when Baez stepped to the plate again in a suddenly-close game, down 5-3 with two on and two out. He legged out an infield single, then scampered home to score for a dramatic walk-off finish. Just like they drew it up?
Amazin'.
Down four runs coming into the 9th, @mconforto8 wins it for the @mets! pic.twitter.com/flZviI24N7
— MLB (@MLB) August 31, 2021
Turns out, winning makes a difference. How about that?
Updated mood for @Mets fans 👍 pic.twitter.com/eW4jwXh7LF
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 31, 2021
Hallelujah, Amed
What with all this coast talk, it’s only fair that we finish in the middle, geographically speaking. And no, I don’t mean Iowa (I wish). I’m talking about Amed Rosario, who recorded his MLB-leading fifth four-hit game of the season yesterday. Give this man some love! And a glass of water, after this mad sprint:
🚨 INSIDE-THE-PARK HR 🚨 pic.twitter.com/OIy0Kqcy8l
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2021
Honestly, how often does a player completely circle the bases before a ball is even relayed to the infield? Clearly, Rosario was exhausted because he decided to homer the easy way for hit no. 4.
4-for-4, 2 HR & 5 RBI. @Amed_Rosario is closing out August with a bang. pic.twitter.com/fyeiFq9VAS
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2021
Rosario wound up going 5-5, which is incredible in its own right. Now consider this incredibly specific stat, and be awed!
Amed Rosario of the @Indians is the first MLB player to go 5-for-5 with 5+ RBI, an inside-the-park HR and an over-the-fence HR in the same game (since RBI became official in 1920).
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 1, 2021
All I know is, that dude’s got swagger. Maybe Midwest Vibes aren’t so bad after all.