Oh, Adam Wainwright just missed destroying a bird in flight with a pitched ball, like Randy Johnson did once, famously:Adam Wainwright was *this* close to pulling a Randy Johnson pic.twitter.com/poSdBkIjWb
— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) June 28, 2016
Not only do they have the same OPS+ of 170; they fall down like brothers:A few days earlier:Squeezing Altuve's head must have been irresistible on Trout's part, but I bet Altuve didn't appreciate it. He's short, you know.2016 season:#Astros Jose Altuve .347/.425/.562#Angels Mike Trout .313/.411/.552 Altuve besting Trout in every aspect of the slash-line.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) June 28, 2016
"I'm not a dog's chew toy, you Giant Neck'd Man!"Speaking of short, Trout also hit a home run that was about six inches off the ground:It was the lowest pitch anyone has dingered since Freddy Galvis did this three years ago:"That would have been right in Altuve's wheelhouse," Trout joked probably.5. MadBum's Big Bat (LW: NR)In a tactically questionable but enjoyable decision for everyone who likes fun, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy decided to eschew the option of using a designated hitter and let everyone's favorite potential home run derby candidate, pitcher Madison Bumgarner, bat for himself at Oakland on Thursday. Bumgarner doubled in his first at-bat, a somewhat generous ruling by the official scorer after Billy Burns dropped a fly ball to center. He finished 1-for-4 with a run scored, and allowed four runs over six and a third innings in a Giants victory.Mike Trout runs, Mike Trout falls, Mike Trout squeezes Jose Altuve's tiny head … pic.twitter.com/ejymVqNQq6
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) June 28, 2016
Who needs the DH, right? It's the first time in 40 years that a manager has, on purpose, declined the use of a DH. Ken Brett, of the Chicago White Sox, went 0-for-6 over two games in 1976. Andy Sonnanstine of the Tampa Bay Rays also hit for himself in 2009, but that happened because of a lineup card error by Joe Maddon. (Maddon's next mistake is scheduled for 2024.)Here's one stat that, perhaps, got Bochy thinking:Read More: The Cardinals are Being Sunk by a Bad and Badly Managed Bullpen
Of course, hitting isn't as simple as that. Bumgarner swings a mean stick, but it's still a mean stick for a pitcher. He's not as good a hitter as, well, any position player who was sitting on the Giants bench. But this was not, as some have opined, a bad idea due to the potential for injury. He's a baseball player, one who takes many at-bats in National League parks. This was about as risky as the Chicago Cubs putting Kyle Schwarber in left field. Kidding! It's also three or four plate appearances, what kids today call a "small sample." If the Giants lose the NL West to the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game because they had lost three or four plate appearances by Jarrett Parker, costing them this game against the A's, then you can tell everyone you told them so, Straw People.#Nationals Bryce Harper
Last 180 AB: 7 HR#Angels Mike Trout
Last 180 AB: 10 HR#SFGiants Madison Bumgarner
Last 180 AB: 11 HR
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) June 30, 2016
It's official! @KelsieWhitmore is a member of the Stompers! A historic day for baseball. pic.twitter.com/HdZAO9KfQg
— Sonoma Stompers (@SonomaStompers) June 29, 2016
Not just individually historic, either:#Yankees Kirby Yaytes is the first pitcher to hit three batters in the ninth inning of a game since #Braves Ray Boggs on Sept 17, 1928.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) June 28, 2016
More bad news for ol' Kirb, who will have to find his command in the minors: the Yankees demoted him. Good news: Yates is from Kauai, the best of the Hawaiian Islands. Bad news: No more, that's it.10. Clayton Kershaw's K/BB Ratio (LW: 5)Oh, the horror! Kershaw issued two walks against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his most recent start Sunday night, and was so distraught that he had to be put on the disabled list. Or maybe being DL'd was because of a back injury that required an epidural injection. Kershaw won't return until after the All-Star break, and his absence might break the Dodgers season.Kershaw had made 15 starts in 2016 without walking two batters until he gave a pair of free passes (one intentional) to Sean Rodriguez. Kershaw's K-to-BB ratio is 145-9 (about 16-1), which is still awe-inspiring but far less magical than 20-something-to-1, which is where he was before losing control. The season record, currently held by Phil Hughes with 11.63-to-1, is still Kershaw's to lose once his back feels better.Want to read more stories like this from VICE Sports? Subscribe to our daily newsletter.Make that 115-1 https://t.co/PiWPF14nYC
— Marly Rivera ~ ESPN (@MarlyRiveraESPN) June 28, 2016