I write this in protest due to the fact that Alex Fast is depriving us all of the latest installment of his “bass hits” blockbuster series. I am sad. I don’t know what to do with myself. And I am not alone:
Figuring out what to do with no bass hits to edit pic.twitter.com/ALDCLDlwx9
— Josh Sperry (@Josh__Sperry) May 25, 2021
Alas, the show, much like the love in Celine Dion’s most recognizable hit, must go on. So, off we go and we will start this introductory portion of the piece with this image of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. mostly because I had to see it 274 times* in my Twitter feed and so now I share it with you (to be fair, it’s a pretty sweet pic):
At 20, he was overhyped.
At 21, he was overrated.At 22, he’s the best hitter in baseball. pic.twitter.com/Qbr2r2csKO
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 24, 2021
* does not represent actual times seen, but rather the estimated amount based upon how many times it felt like it was seen.
There was this mega-sweet image from a minor league game:
Biggest Dada and @daytonatortugas fan💚 pic.twitter.com/IEXSrcmpRS
— Emily Macuga (@emmacuga) May 24, 2021
And this one from the Padres game:
Thank you @TphamLV. Making dreams come true 🥲 @Padres #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/w70HYOAs4e
— Eli(e) (@MrElieSaad) May 24, 2021
(Pham went on to hit a home run)
430 feet off the bat of @TphamLV. pic.twitter.com/JBOZBONsZT
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 25, 2021
And these “sweet kicks” from Jazz Chisholm:
Sweet kicks, @j_chisholm3. 😋 pic.twitter.com/Nho4pN5HAx
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) May 24, 2021
There were these birthday wishes for Big Sexy:
Happy born day to the timeless, Bartolo Colón! pic.twitter.com/TgmxnGJBd3
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 24, 2021
And a sign of the apocalypse with this scorecard for Angel Hernandez:
Umpire: Angel Hernandez
Final: Padres 9, Mariners 2#HungryForMore // #SeaUsRise#SDvsSEA // #SEAvsSD pic.twitter.com/SQNXutLZA4— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) May 24, 2021
Here’s a history lesson:
On this day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt flipped a ceremonial switch at the White House, and the lights came on at Crosley Field, as the @Reds and @Phillies faced off in the first night game in MLB history. https://t.co/WPWx1JeL0Y pic.twitter.com/n5NVXGcY9c
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) May 24, 2021
And some truth coming from the San Francisco Giants organization:
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the #SFGiants are determined to #EndTheStigma through continued conversations around mental wellness.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, and always, remember that #YouAreNotAlone. pic.twitter.com/2PWifAEIMw
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 24, 2021
Together, the River Cats and @SFGiants are determined to #EndTheStigma through continued conversations around mental wellness.
During Mental Health Awareness Month (and beyond), remember that #YouAreNotAlone. 🙏#ClawsUp | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/QtzpbjQAi8
— rivercats (@RiverCats) May 24, 2021
The Royals too:
If you struggle with your behavioral health, you aren't alone.
We're teaming up with @BlueKC to shut out the stigma.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 24, 2021
If you need support, help, or assistance of any kind, please reach out. There is no shame in feeling feelings, and asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength in knowing your own limitations.
Seriously.
Deep Breath – here are some cool things that happened last night:
National Brothers Day
Being National Brothers Day, MLB Players put this out to celebrate some siblings currently rostered on MLB teams:
Brotherly love 😎 For #NationalBrothersDay tell us your favorite pair of bros ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4Ek6woMqHs
— MLB Players (@MLB_PLAYERS) May 24, 2021
For those of you playing the home game, that’s Austin Nola and Aaron Nola, Yuli Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Kyle Seager and Corey Seager. They ask you to name your favorite pair from baseball, past or present. Feel free to let them know because I don’t care. Haha, just kidding.
You don’t need to let them know.
Austin Riley is Good at Baseball
Austin Riley was named the NL Player of the Week last week:
#Braves' Austin Riley is the NL Player of the Week after hitting .462 (12-for-26) with six home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.308 slugging percentage in seven games. First player in franchise history to have at least 6 homers, 10 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in a 7-game span.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 24, 2021
Turns out he can play defense too:
.@austinriley1308 enjoys flashing the leather too!@MizunoBsballNA | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/fa2MzPxDYo
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 24, 2021
If the kid is starting to realize his potential, managers who roster him will be ecstatic!
Baltimore Orioles, NHL Fans
For those that don’t follow, the NHL playoffs are underway and while you may not care it is very important to me to point out that the Boston Bruins just knocked the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin, and dumb cheater Tom Wilson off, sending them home after a 4-1 series win.
In solidarity with professional hockey, the Baltimore Orioles, who play less than an hour from the Capitals, came off the team plane sporting some NHL jerseys today:
Wheels down.
Now we snipe and celly. pic.twitter.com/2tfQ1e6gsn
— Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) May 24, 2021
The NHL took notice too:
The @Orioles are in the #StanleyCup spirit. 💯@NHLdotcom has more ➡️ https://t.co/55KY0mTmNd
(📷 @Orioles) pic.twitter.com/m1Dan2cWpr
— NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2021
And how do you not root for Trey Mancini?
Looking 🔥 @TreyMancini! #GoIrish
📸 ➡️ @Orioles pic.twitter.com/sotIsUbEsK
— x – New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 24, 2021
Answer: when he wears a New York Islanders jersey. Other than that, always—you always root for Trey Mancini.
Trevor Larnach Hits a Bomb
Trevor Larnach effortlessly hit a ball over 460 feet:
An easy 461(!) for Trevor Larnach! pic.twitter.com/PE2b8fobOR
— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2021
And then the following occurred, in plain sight, for all to see on social media:
Ain’t Catchin’ this one. 💪#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/OpifEjnhvZ
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 25, 2021
We stand corrected. Brandon in the Delta Sky360 Suite caught it! https://t.co/CaPUp16WIk
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 25, 2021
I’d need to go to the videotape to see if it was actually “caught” and not just retrieved after it bounced around for a while, but either way, congrats on winding up with the baseball. Also, congrats to Trevor for hitting it a country mile.
Defense Is Cool
There were several sweet plays in the field (in addition to Austin Riley’s from above):
Randy Arozarena lays out to make the grab!
📺: Bally Sports Sun
💻: https://t.co/U4orp7qRoZ
📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/XocHZFKP0t— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) May 24, 2021
Amazing relay started by the man of the hour. @ticasino x #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/48bQ5EndG5
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 25, 2021
You know what they say about catching more flies with honey?
Well, just put @DCarls_06 in charge, he catches everything. pic.twitter.com/U16S6LP04J
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 25, 2021
This play was neat-o. pic.twitter.com/67IuIox1WP
— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2021
Bottom 9, 1-run game, bases loaded…
TIME TO MAKE A PLAY. Go head, Jordan Luplow!
(via @BallySportsCLE) pic.twitter.com/SWhreukZCp
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 25, 2021
Pitching is Cool, Too
Career-high strikeouts.
Career-high innings pitched.What a game for @AustinGomber 💪 pic.twitter.com/F5wZO1OR92
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 25, 2021
Brandon Woodruff, 7th and 8th Ks.
7 scoreless innings. pic.twitter.com/PRzvW5Uhaz
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 25, 2021
Lance Lynn, 93mph Alien Sinker. 👽 pic.twitter.com/zQiJIt6RHx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 25, 2021
And this one that had to be included because while we don’t have Alex Fast’s bass hits tonight, we can have a mention of his CSW%:
Julio Urias has the largest increase in CSW% of any SP from 2020-2021. His 34.4% CSW ranks T-3 among starters, only behind Burnes and Cole.
He has also pitched 7 innings 4 times this season after never hitting that mark in his career.
3.03 ERA/0.82 WHIP/29.4% K/2.9% BB pic.twitter.com/eoteB7TEAO— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) May 25, 2021
Andrew Vaughn, Gone
For fans of the home run, the rookie with high expectations, and a really good pun, you’re gonna love this:
GOING, GOING, GAUGHN! pic.twitter.com/USPuLP5yI3
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 25, 2021
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 25, 2021
And not to be outdone, fellow White Sox fan favorite Yermin Mercedes did this incredible thing:
Yermin's zone is eyes to toes pic.twitter.com/759eFx1tID
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 25, 2021
And there it is, another installment of the Best MLB Moments from Monday. Check back tomorrow for even more wonderful baseball moments cultivated and hand-selected for your viewing and reading pleasure.
But before you go, help yourself to one of these:
*Cue the hand hugs* pic.twitter.com/94aFF5SCpA
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) May 25, 2021
Hand hugs. Adorable.
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)