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Today’s Headlines
Michael No-No-renzen
Ok, I may have just found my limit. Probably not though.
Work of art. pic.twitter.com/ObcZ7DMmvI
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 10, 2023
That’s three no-hitters (one combined) and a perfect game so far this season. Wild. And at 124 pitches (a new career high) Michael Lorenzen’s no-no last night is the one that took the most pitches to get through. That’s a heck of a way to introduce yourself in your first post-trade home start, especially since his wife, child, and mother were all there to watch.
I feel like we as baseball fans don’t respect how wild Lorenzen’s career has been. He was a two-way player for a minute there! (53 wRC+ so uhhhhh, let’s move along) In 2018 his batting line as a pitcher was .290/.333/.710!
And he’s got incredible taste in footwear for history!
Michael Lorenzen may be the most stylish pitcher to throw a no-hitter.
He wore Vans (with spikes) during his big night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Izmt9OoeZG
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 10, 2023
Lorenzen probably isn’t a name that people would have picked to throw a no-no, but it turns out, it was kind of inevitable for him:
Credit to @StrangedeBill1:
4 pitchers, and 4 pitchers only, have played in the majors after attending Fullerton Union High School in Fullerton CA, and now all 4 have thrown an MLB no-hitter. This is a simply incredible baseball fact—most amazing ever. pic.twitter.com/96VdAjCvj4
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) August 10, 2023
I think I’ve found a new market inefficiency for pitching…
But it wasn’t just MikeLo making memories on Wednesday, as the game got started with a bang thanks to rookie Weston Wilson
Wes Wilson’s first big-league at-bat is a homer 💪
🎥 @Phillies pic.twitter.com/ItkjtoU8Zp
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 9, 2023
Wilson is the first Phillie to homer in his first AB since Marlon Anderson did it back in 1998, and as far as distance on said first AB homers go, he’s second only to Aaron Judge. Decent company for that sort of thing.
Oh yeah, another guy on the Phils hit a pair of dingers, making it an even 200 on the career. And nothing bad happened?!
TWO HUNDOOOO #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/dIuonJ2Hew
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 9, 2023
Emergin’ Hancock
Ok, yeah, that Lorenzen pun definitely wasn’t my worst.
Another 2023 Wednesday, another 2023 rookie SP debut! This time it was Seattle’s #4 prospect, Emerson Hancock:
Solid first day at the office for @EmersonHancock_ 🙌 #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/uDTUVd7BiZ
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 10, 2023
His first big league strikeout came early on when he took down Fernando Tatis Jr. on three pitches, and he put up some highlight-reel action of his own, too!
something something pitchers are athletes, too. pic.twitter.com/btcusgiFoK
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 10, 2023
Hancock leaned on his low-mid 90s sinker heavily, throwing it 51 times, while also mixing in a cutter (21 thrown) and changeup (17 thrown) to round things out. Overall, good for a 26% CSW rate. Nick’s got you covered with more notes in the Roundup, as usual.
But wait! In a nice piece of bi-coastal symmetry, the M’s win also featured a majestic dinger, courtesy of Cal Raleigh:
Absolutely, positively dumped. pic.twitter.com/kHHKyCVPl6
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 10, 2023
BIG
DUMPER
Alone At Seven
The Astros took down the O’s 8-2, and manager Dusty Baker moved up a spot on the all-time managerial wins list, breaking his tie with Bucky Harris.
Moving on up.
Congratulations to Dusty Baker, the 7th most managerial wins in MLB history! pic.twitter.com/W8P30EKVBq
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 10, 2023
Dusty’s contract only covers this year, so we can’t say for sure if he’ll get any higher on the list, but I definitely wouldn’t be betting against it.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Lost It In The Lights
You see something new every time you watch a game of baseball. And yeah.
The Baseball getting Stuck in the Light at Fenway.
Just when you think you've seen it all… 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Dxh8imRwpx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 9, 2023
I’m kind of surprised those big glass globes don’t get more involved with baseball happening right next to them, but I also totally relate to Masataka Yoshida’s reaction of true, bone-deep confusion. And also folks, that’s a ground-rule double! When it bounces over the wall that’s an automatic double!
La Pantera, Over And Out
Luis Robert Jr. hit that ball over the roof & out of the ballpark. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Z3HCZNLNhi
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 10, 2023
Sure, it’s just a very, very long and high strike, but that’s a heck of a send there by Luis Robert Jr. And this is all we’re going to say about the Yankees game last night. Moving on.
It’s A Runner’s Park
You wanna see the most successful field interloper since the one that actually hugged Cody Bellinger? Detroit’s got you:
This just happened at Comerica Park. The fan stayed on the field for about two minutes before getting tackled in right field. His journey ended where it started. #Tigers pic.twitter.com/JYT5aAxXq5
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) August 9, 2023
The Ol’ Outside Move
ATTENZIONE PICKPOCKET pic.twitter.com/7NwS2qK8jN
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 10, 2023
I don’t think I’ve seen a guy get picked off at second with so much time that he had enough to seriously consider just running in a big loop and try to third like that. Talk about no-man’s land!
Cheese It!
Here’s your moment of zen: various members of the Brewers accepting (or not) a piece of string cheese.
This might be a little cheesy. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/e05F4qZhQE
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 9, 2023
Andrew Chafin’s fitting right in.
Injuries
Luis Robert Jr. left last night’s game with a sprained right pinky. He’s DTD after x-rays came back negative.
J.D. Martinez got an epidural on Wednesday, Dave Roberts is still hopeful for a weekend return.
AJ Pollock is going to miss a few weeks with an oblique strain.
Donovan Solano was diagnosed with a mild MCL sprain, but no ankle damage. No timeline for a return, though.
Tyler Glasnow played catch and Cash says it’s going to be a game-time decision about him starting on Saturday.
Articles You Should Read
Baseball Baselining: How Likely Is a Comeback? – Ben Clemens, FanGraphs
In MLB, Plays That Were Once Errors Are Now Hits, As Players Wonder Why – Andy McCullough and Zack Meisel, The Athletic (sub req’d)
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Reliever Ranks (Closers) (Holds)
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)