RIP to Mudcat Grant, the AL’s first Black Ace.
The entire Minnesota Twins organization is saddened by the death of former pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant, who passed away at the age of 85. RIP Mudcat. pic.twitter.com/C5I9Bap9Yo
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 12, 2021
The Twins won one for Mudcat last night, with a 5-2 victory over the Astros, and let’s see what else was doing around the league.
Any Given Saturday
Last week we got to see some footballisms seeping into our fine, upstanding sport in describing the little girl’s reaction to getting a game ball in terms of “ball security,” and then yesterday José Ramírez took it on the field as he demonstrated a successful takedown on walk-off hero Harold Ramirez.
Unbelievable form tackle here by Hosey.#OurCLE | #Windians pic.twitter.com/WxV5HRQL0m
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 13, 2021
Alternatively, I can steal the Highlander jokes I made in the Wacky League recaps and say THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE (RAMIREZ) but I don’t think you’re allowed to use that in a celebratory context.
But also…”Hosey”? We gotta do something about these baseball nicknames, people.
Playing At Fighting
Meanwhile, the blood was running hot down in Tampa too. Brett Phillips and Jorge López were teammates together in Milwaukee and Kansas City but that friendship went by the wayside when López drilled Phillips with a pitch in the bottom of the 4th:
certified jokester brett phillips messing around with his old teammate jorge lópez :,) pic.twitter.com/bAibdqzWKG
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 12, 2021
…Nah just kidding. I don’t think anything in MLB will top this amazing moment from a KBO game:
But I am willing to be proven wrong, and Phillips selling his anger well enough to get both the umpire and catcher to rush to intervene is probably the best acting job by a baseball player since Johnny Bench sold uh, whatever Blue Emu is.
Lineup Construction Is Very Scientific
With the re-opening of stadiums to fans, we’re all getting back into the habit of spotting celebs out for a nice day at the park, and the Nats had none other than everybody’s favorite Science Guy in attendance yesterday.
BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! pic.twitter.com/tDKv1iUstg
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 13, 2021
But he wasn’t just there to observe the great experiment that is baseball, he also lent his talents in the booth and helped announce the DC lineup. While wearing his trademark bowtie, of course.
Got #science on our side tonight…
Huge thanks to Bill Nye for handling starting lineup duty at Nationals Park!@BillNye // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/fb1YcBhrEq
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 13, 2021
Lookout!
We’re leaving the ML part of MLB for a second here to bring you some up-close-and-personal footage of one of the best young arms in college ball:
What does Jack Leiter up/in 98mph Fastball look like? 👀 pic.twitter.com/6EZ83BJ9Ja
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 12, 2021
All I can think of when I watch stuff like this is that scene from season two of Silicon Valley where Tyler Beede is hanging around a party to throw pitches to guys who want to try hitting off of him, and everybody present gives up after one pitch. I don’t understand how people can stand in the box against 98 at all, much less when they have to dodge it coming at their face and then just…get back in the box for the next one. If that happened to me I think I’m just leaving all of my gear in a small pile in the batter’s box and walking home.
I guess that’s why I’m sitting at a desk typing this instead of hitting dingers though, eh? Speaking of, I recently signed up for the work softball team and by the time you read this, I’ll be out in the park playing catch for the first time in a long time so please keep me in your thoughts as I will assuredly be insanely sore some Sunday night.
Featured image by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)