As we remain socially distant from the game, let us celebrate those who did it best, followed the rules, and played “safe” baseball. Let’s also look at those who fell short.
Tag Avoidance Therapy
We start off with our most exciting missed tag that we saw this week! Today’s patient for “Tag Avoidance Therapy” is Texas Rangers catcher Jose Trevino and the runner who manages an act of socially distant contortionism to avoid the tag is rookie Dylan Moore. And ooh, this is a cut worthy of an NFL running back – en route to home plate, Moore sidesteps Trevino to expertly avoid the tag and score.
https://gfycat.com/FormalSillyAmericantoad
It really is a nifty move from the young Mariner.
https://gfycat.com/HomelyJollyFish
Socially Distanced Bullpen Disco
In the Cubs and Cardinals matchup early in the week, Anthony Rizzo hit a home run off Dakota Hudson in the bottom of the 1st inning. The dugout celebrated, of course.
https://gfycat.com/OpulentNiftyLeafwing
However, the bullpen was so thrilled that it broke out into an impromptu socially distanced disco.
https://gfycat.com/hoarsechillyhylaeosaurus
Mr. Anderson Tatis
The young phenom, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres, obviously chose the red pill – check out his Neo-style dodge of an errant fastball from Chi Chi Gonzalez.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 9, 2020
The Worst Socially Distanced Fielding Of The Week
I am surprised it has taken this long for the Miami Marlins to feature in this section, given their legacy of shoddy fielding. I have to credit them for doing it in style, though – thanks to this kind of socially distanced fielding, you can understand that the score finished 29-9 to the Atlanta Braves.
https://gfycat.com/InferiorTiredGhostshrimp
You can probably forgive rookie shortstop Jazz Chisholm for the misfield, but let’s take a moment to really appreciate the horrific throw from rookie right fielder Monte Harrison that missed everyone and landed nowhere.
https://gfycat.com/MiniatureConsiderateEyelashpitviper
Fredbird – The Tiger King!
I have now started to follow the St. Louis Cardinals on social media just to tune into what socially distanced antic the mascot, Fredbird, comes up with each day. After donning a robe on Thursday, he took cool to a new level on Friday…
Who ya calling a bird?
He's the Tiger King! pic.twitter.com/K47inwtEQS
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 10, 2020
Swipe Left!
Burn! This groundball to right field gave a firm swipe left to on any kind of contact with Tyler Naquin! Stay away, stay safe, fair play!
this ball said "WATCH 🗣 YOUR 🗣 ANKLES 🗣" pic.twitter.com/uRwrVAGVzs
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 10, 2020
Please Stay 1.5m Away From This Flyball
It was a miserable day for the Blue Jays, who coughed up an 18-1 loss against the New York Mets. The embarrassment was compounded by this socially distanced fielding effort on a routine flyball from Jeff McNeil towards right field.
https://gfycat.com/candidglumheron
Be sure to join me next week for more of the best socially distanced baseball from week 8.
Featured Image by Justin Paradis (@FreshMeatComm on Twitter)