Let’s get right to the trots!
Home Run of the Day: Ike Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates – 21.92 seconds [video]
Man, I really want to put Travis Wood here for launching a ball nearly out of Wrigley Field despite being, you know, a pitcher. It’s his fifth straight year with a home run. The problem is, it’s not really Home Run of the Day material. In Pittsburgh, however, newly acquired Ike Davis made his presence known with this grand slam. It’s Davis’ second home run of the season — and his second grand slam. According to Elias, Davis is the first person to ever have two grand slams in the month of April for two separate teams.
In Atlanta, Evan Gattis won the game with a walkoff blast, leaping safely into his crowd of teammates at home plate.
Slowest Trot: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies – 24.75 seconds [video]
With some players, it is really difficult to tell if they’re admiring their home runs or just finishing off their swing so as not to fall down. This monster shot by Howard, over the center field wall at Dodger Stadium, falls into that category. Whatever the reason for his brief pause to watch the flight of the ball, it was enough to give Howard the slowest trot of the day. Atlanta’s Andrelton Simmons, at 23.67 seconds, was the next slowest.
Quickest Trot: Charlie Blackmon #2, Colorado Rockies – 18.45 seconds [video]
Intellectually, I know that Blackmon pronounces his name like ex-NBA star Rolando Blackman, but I just can’t help myself. Every time I read or write his name, I channel my inner-Jamaican and silently say to myself “Charlie Black, mon”. In any case, Blackmon gave us the quickest trot of the night last night when he circled the bases for the second time against the Giants.
All of Today's Trots Ryan Howard..........24.75 Nolan Arenado........20.97 Andrelton Simmons....23.67 Matt Dominguez.......20.83 Mike Napoli..........23.14* Corey Dickerson......20.72 Evan Gattis..........22.82 David Ross...........20.45 Wilin Rosario........22.6 Charlie Blackmon #1..20.39 Jason Kipnis.........22.39 Andrew McCutchen.....20.04 Aramis Ramirez.......22.11 Ian Desmond..........19.8* Mark Trumbo..........21.94 Michael Brantley.....19.75 Ike Davis............21.92 Brandon Moss.........19.57 Carlos Ruiz..........21.64* Chris Denorfia.......19.36 Garrett Jones........21.52 Shin-Soo Choo........19.04 Marc Krauss..........21.42 Charlie Blackmon #2..18.45 Travis Wood..........21.13
Click here for the ongoing 2014 Tater Trot Tracker Leaderboard. You can also follow @TaterTrotTrkr on Twitter for more up-to-the-minute trot times.
Header image by Paul L Dineen (source: Flickr)
