Home Run of the Day: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers (Trot Time: 19.37 seconds) [video]
From what I can gather from the picture to the right, Ike Davis nearly hit a grand slam in last night’s game, but had it called foul. He looks upset about that.
But since he can’t be our Home Run of the Day, let’s instead bestow it upon John Hamilton, who tied up the Rangers-A’s game with an eighth inning home run last night. The game would go on to last 13 innings, with the Oakland bullpen blowing two additional saves before walking away with the win. It wasn’t the decisive hit – and it’s not like the Rangers even went on to win the game – but, watching the highlights from yesterday, this is the home run that felt the most dramatic. The crowd was standing on its feet, they were loud, and the ball was a no-doubter. It was just everything you expect out of a big home run. Hamilton also legged it out faster than anyone yesterday.
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Slowest Trot: Russell Branyan, Cleveland Indians #2 – 26.18 seconds [video]
Russell Branyan hit his first and second home runs of the year yesterday and, like the way he went about hitting his first home run this year, he took his sweet time rounding the bases. His first trot clocked in at 24.95 seconds, and this second clocked in at 26.18. Clearly the man likes to take in the sites as he makes his trip around the bases. Evan Longoria (25.64) and Russell Martin (25.57) also took their time.
Quickest Trot: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers – 19.37 seconds [video]
Hamilton’s game-tying home run was described above. The only other two sub-twenty second trots from yesterday belonged to Jason Varitek (19.61 seconds) and Gaby Sanchez (19.81). Seeing Hamilton and Varitek with the two quickest trots of the day is still something that surprises me. It just goes to show that inherent speed doesn’t entirely go along with quick home run trots.
