I do think the swing matters on a "serve[d]" hit. I don't think Mike is necessarily wrong; serves are going to be lower velocity line drives and usually on a higher launch angle (although not THAT high). But I think the swing itself is slower, possibly because the batter was slightly fooled on the pitch, but managed to keep his hands back far enough to get the ball into the outfield. He knows he can't get all his power into the swing, so he's just trying to find an open spot on the grass in front of the outfielder.
I notice that you didn't address the ball "punched" the other way. This is usually a medium-velocity line drive or groundball where the batter is purposefully waiting on a pitch in order to hit it that way, possibly because the situation dictates it (hit-and-run, moving a runner over, etc.). David Fletcher is fantastic at "punching" the ball the other way.
I can't imagine why Tootblan wasn't a member of that law firm. Have you ever been invited to be a color commentator in the booth. Seems like you'd have a blast and be terrific; though Walton set a surrealistic standard that is unbeatable since William Burroughs is no longer available.
On eight days of this streak, "only" one player hit 2 HR. But at least two have done it the last 16 days. A BR posted the various records for most days 2 players hit 2 HR, 3 players did it, etc., I think. I don't remember where it is, though.
You make a good point here about how commentary on baseball games should be fun. There are a handful of announcers who I have truly enjoyed watching/listening to call games in the various cities I've liked. Great examples are Mike Krukow and (Joe's hero) Duane Kuiper. Jerry Remy and Dave O'Brien. Etc. I've occasionally watched other broadcasts and they can sometimes be so boring. I'll sit longer through any game if it's clear the announcers are having fun too. It's a small thing but means a lot to fans. Every team should strive for broadcasts who love baseball, enjoy each other's company, and love calling games.
Like the Mets' Howie Rose, for another example. I've heard him talk about the people who prepare the uniforms for new players (and how they managed to spell Travis d'Arnaud's name properly on his uniform by sewing a "P" on upside down to become the lower case "d"), and how he hates the body wash that hotels provide (He's threatened to write a book called "Body Wash is Not Soap" about his travels with the team).
Today's heroes: Juan Soto, Brian Dozier, Mike Moustakas, and Nolan Arenado. One full game and a handful of innings yet to go. Neither Aristides Aquino nor Yordan Alvarez got a hit :(.
The gentleman (sic) doth protest too much, methinks. All the remarks about being in a prison, having no time to see your family or cure cancer, wanting to lead a free life- Joe I do believe that you are living your dream. You have to, at least in your mind, write these stories on a daily basis. You have an excuse to do EXACTLY what you want to do, without the guilt trip of feeling selfish- to write obsessively about baseball. I hope this goes on forever- I mean, so you might miss a wedding of one of your girls - someone could surely photoshop you in the photos; maybe you miss spending time with your first grandchild- at least until you can have a ‘catch’ with him (her); perhaps you’ll miss the next Rulon Gardner type event; missing movies and infomercials- they are a dime a dozen. But think of all the joy us BR’s will have as we check for our new daily baseball posts. And what about when the baseball season ends- why that is the perfect time to do a historical perspective on former DoubleDays. That should cover a few off seasons, at least.
Thanks a million for keeping your commitment. These bring a smile to my face every day
Joe, I’m 71 years old and have been a baseball fan for 60 of those, and I have never, EVER heard or read the word “serve” in connection with a batted ball. What the fork?
Regarding the Yankees and their ability to randomly select players off the scrap heap and turn them into Lou Gehrig, let's not forget their manager. Aaron Boone had NO COACHING EXPERIENCE when the Yanks hired him as manager. He was a player, yes, a broadcaster, yes. But a hitting coach? Bench coach? At any level of baseball? No. No experience whatsoever.
But now his career winning percentage is .638. He won 100 games last year. Will win 100+ this year. By years end he will have the highest winning percentage of any manager in baseball history (using B-Rs qualifier of 315 games managed).
I do think the swing matters on a "serve[d]" hit. I don't think Mike is necessarily wrong; serves are going to be lower velocity line drives and usually on a higher launch angle (although not THAT high). But I think the swing itself is slower, possibly because the batter was slightly fooled on the pitch, but managed to keep his hands back far enough to get the ball into the outfield. He knows he can't get all his power into the swing, so he's just trying to find an open spot on the grass in front of the outfielder.
I notice that you didn't address the ball "punched" the other way. This is usually a medium-velocity line drive or groundball where the batter is purposefully waiting on a pitch in order to hit it that way, possibly because the situation dictates it (hit-and-run, moving a runner over, etc.). David Fletcher is fantastic at "punching" the ball the other way.
Bat flips are still dumb.
Lined > Punched > Poked > Served > Blooped > Fought Off
I can't imagine why Tootblan wasn't a member of that law firm. Have you ever been invited to be a color commentator in the booth. Seems like you'd have a blast and be terrific; though Walton set a surrealistic standard that is unbeatable since William Burroughs is no longer available.
Maybe you’ll need to start tracking the number of times two players hit two home runs as a streak. It must have blown by the record by now.
OK, I found it. BR fivetwentyone posted this:
"it looks like four days in a row with 4+ players w/ 2+ HR ties the record.
longest streaks for:
players games start_date
-------------------------
1 29 2018-04-16
2 13 2000-06-27
3 6 2005-06-21
4 4 1999-08-13
5 2 (4 times)"
The first four have been broken, and the fifth has been tied. The new records:
1 35+ 2019-07-17
2 16+ 2019-08-03
3 7 2019-08-05 (Today, Aug 18 is 6 days of 3+ players)
4 5 2019-08-05
5 2 2019-08-14 and 4 other times
Also, the most players ever to hit 2 HR in a day is nine, which happened on 2002-07-02, and that record was tied on 2019-08-15.
On eight days of this streak, "only" one player hit 2 HR. But at least two have done it the last 16 days. A BR posted the various records for most days 2 players hit 2 HR, 3 players did it, etc., I think. I don't remember where it is, though.
You make a good point here about how commentary on baseball games should be fun. There are a handful of announcers who I have truly enjoyed watching/listening to call games in the various cities I've liked. Great examples are Mike Krukow and (Joe's hero) Duane Kuiper. Jerry Remy and Dave O'Brien. Etc. I've occasionally watched other broadcasts and they can sometimes be so boring. I'll sit longer through any game if it's clear the announcers are having fun too. It's a small thing but means a lot to fans. Every team should strive for broadcasts who love baseball, enjoy each other's company, and love calling games.
Like the Mets' Howie Rose, for another example. I've heard him talk about the people who prepare the uniforms for new players (and how they managed to spell Travis d'Arnaud's name properly on his uniform by sewing a "P" on upside down to become the lower case "d"), and how he hates the body wash that hotels provide (He's threatened to write a book called "Body Wash is Not Soap" about his travels with the team).
MLB should sell downloads of these three games for $0.99 apiece.
Soto keeps the streak alive. Just saying.
Today's heroes: Juan Soto, Brian Dozier, Mike Moustakas, and Nolan Arenado. One full game and a handful of innings yet to go. Neither Aristides Aquino nor Yordan Alvarez got a hit :(.
The gentleman (sic) doth protest too much, methinks. All the remarks about being in a prison, having no time to see your family or cure cancer, wanting to lead a free life- Joe I do believe that you are living your dream. You have to, at least in your mind, write these stories on a daily basis. You have an excuse to do EXACTLY what you want to do, without the guilt trip of feeling selfish- to write obsessively about baseball. I hope this goes on forever- I mean, so you might miss a wedding of one of your girls - someone could surely photoshop you in the photos; maybe you miss spending time with your first grandchild- at least until you can have a ‘catch’ with him (her); perhaps you’ll miss the next Rulon Gardner type event; missing movies and infomercials- they are a dime a dozen. But think of all the joy us BR’s will have as we check for our new daily baseball posts. And what about when the baseball season ends- why that is the perfect time to do a historical perspective on former DoubleDays. That should cover a few off seasons, at least.
Thanks a million for keeping your commitment. These bring a smile to my face every day
Joe, I’m 71 years old and have been a baseball fan for 60 of those, and I have never, EVER heard or read the word “serve” in connection with a batted ball. What the fork?
I've heard it. It seems like it's usually a soft line drive hit to opposite field.
Me neither. Maybe it is a regional thing.
Is there a transcript available, if the broadcast is not available?
BTW, Season 4 (and, tragically, the last season) of "The Good Place" is imminent.
Where might I be able to re-watch the Schur-commentated WhiteSox-Angels game outside of mlb.tv? Thanks in advance.
I’m pretty sure they mentioned the Fletcher/Eckstein comparison in the first inning.
Regarding the Yankees and their ability to randomly select players off the scrap heap and turn them into Lou Gehrig, let's not forget their manager. Aaron Boone had NO COACHING EXPERIENCE when the Yanks hired him as manager. He was a player, yes, a broadcaster, yes. But a hitting coach? Bench coach? At any level of baseball? No. No experience whatsoever.
But now his career winning percentage is .638. He won 100 games last year. Will win 100+ this year. By years end he will have the highest winning percentage of any manager in baseball history (using B-Rs qualifier of 315 games managed).