Oh you thought the Votto fun was limited to just Friday? You sweet summer child, the Vottoing never stops. That, plus the rest of the best stuff from Saturday.
Joey Moppo Cleans ‘Em Up
Earlier this week, The Athletic ran an article containing a whole heap of amazing Joey Votto-related anecdotes. Earlier on Saturday, the Reds tweeted out some of their favorites:
The 'Reasons to Love Joey Votto' list just keeps on growing. š
(h/t @TheAthletic @ctrent @rustindodd @JaysonJenks) pic.twitter.com/XtxPZoKPL5
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 17, 2021
While that tweet is honestly probably enough alone to make it into my write-up, Votto decided to go out and make a heads-up highlight play to really seal the deal. A triple play, specifically:
šØ BANG BANG BANG TRIPLE PLAY JOEY VOTTO! šØ pic.twitter.com/zzrVfyjtaq
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 17, 2021
Given the situation here, Votto could (should?) have run over and tagged third base himself to make it one of the most unlikely unassisted triple plays of all time, but I guess Joey doesnāt like to hog the spotlight like that.
Even with the assist, though, it was pretty a pretty singular situation:
That would be šØš¦ Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) lining out to šØš¦ Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) who then turns it into a triple play.
I'm guessing here, but I think that might be the first time a Canadian has lined into a triple play started by another Canadian. https://t.co/FBBizdpMyJ
— Kevin Glew (@coopincanada) April 18, 2021
Return Of The Kaz
Prior to Saturday afternoon I had never heard of Sean Kazmar Jr., and even then it was only from this cryptic Jeff Passan tweet:
One of the coolest things Iāve seen in baseball in a very long time is happening today: Infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. is being called up by Atlanta, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 17, 2021
I was expecting some kind of underdog prospect story about a dude I somehow hadnāt heard of. Maybe a last-round flier who had lit the minors on fire in 2019 or something. But the real story is much more interesting:
For the last 12 years, Sean Kazmar has played AAA baseball. He has done this because he loves the game and because he wants his kids to see him play in the big leagues and because he still believed a day like today, when heās going to wear a major league uniform, would happen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 17, 2021
While heās far from the first player to have a gap in their MLB years, he is the first one to be putting in the work in the minors the whole time.Ā
This is amazing. If Sean Kazmar Jr. gets into the game with Atlanta, his 12-year, 206-day gap between major league appearances would be the longest since Minnie MiƱoso in 1976, per @EliasSports. The longest before him? Satchel Paige. Unlike them, Kazmar played every year between.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 17, 2021
Kazmar Jr got his chance in the 5th inning, pinch-hitting for Huascar Ynoa. Unfortunately, he grounded into an inning-ending double play, but hopefully, heāll get another shot to add at least one more hit to his line.
Looked up ādeterminationā in the dictionary and Sean Kazmar Jr. came up š pic.twitter.com/Fp3inwamfy
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 17, 2021
Ugh, Boston Drivers…
It brings me no pleasure to say this but: The Red Sox are sitting pretty atop the AL East standings with a 10-4 record, including a nine-game winning streak. On Saturday afternoon they took down their mortal clothing enemies the White Sox, with the go-ahead hit being a home run off the bat of Marwin Gonzalez. It was quite an aesthetically pleasing shot, all told:
https://gfycat.com/passionatemenacingeskimodog
And that means Marwin got to go for a ride:
What Mario Kart power-up is this?? pic.twitter.com/VqTrjLrRhZ
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 17, 2021
As somebody who had to suffer through the streets of Boston for several years in college, I am glad he has a driver to deal with the stress, at the least.
GreIQnke
PL fave Zack Greinke hit a pretty big career milestone tonight:
2,700th K for Greinke. Legend.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/129BdT1pPk
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 18, 2021
But much more importantly, he also showed off his baseball IQ in a way that only he can do:
Zack Greinke starts the 1-5-6 double play š³ pic.twitter.com/U75U5QwZQH
— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2021
While the TV booth gives him credit at the time for saving a dropped line drive, they later came around to the idea that Zack intentionally dropped the ball to turn two. Which is what Iām going to believe regardless of the truth. I also deeply appreciate the pump fake to every base before he finally decides on third base as his target.
But are you ready for a Greinkefact that will really blow your mind? From our own Jordan White, try this on for size:
I donāt think we talk enough about the fact that Zack Greinkeās actual first name is Donald pic.twitter.com/zlEvM9CZ1y
— Jordan White, Pending Review (@BuntSingles) April 18, 2021
99 With Afterlife
Fernando TatĆs Jr. stepped into the box in a 1-run game in the bottom of the 9th, with two outs, which can already be a scary situation. Plus, he was facing Dodgers flamethrower Victor GonzĆ”lez. Down 0-1, GonzĆ”lez threw a fastball inside at 99, but I think he might have also attached some kind of ghostly apparition because it scared the bat right out of TatĆs Jrās hands.
https://gfycat.com/leadingtedioushairstreak
Tatito didnāt let his brush with the supernatural override his manners though, as he immediately apologized to Austin Barnes for his inadvertent bat flip.
And in case you wanted to see that again, but slower this time:
https://gfycat.com/wiltedinexperiencedfrogmouth
Hopefully, this all helps fight off your Sunday Scaries.
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Greinke is just perpetually on these types of articles and there’s a good reason why
He is a good and proper dude.