The news broke over the weekend, so not everyone may have seen it. On Saturday, on a perfectly routine home run to straightaway right field, David Ortiz had his third 30-second trot of 2014, clocking in at 31.09 seconds for no reason whatsoever (except that he is David Ortiz). He’s the best.
Now let’s get to the trots!
Home Run of the Day: Derek Norris #2, Oakland Athletics – 23.3 seconds [video]
Maybe it’s the beard. Maybe the growl of the Oakland broadcaster. Maybe it’s how he stares the ball down then begins his trot with the barrel of the bat firmly in his hand. Whatever it is, this was a fun home run to watch from Derek Norris.
Oh, who am I kidding. Of course it’s the beard.
Slowest Trot: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees – 28.63 seconds [video]
Everyone seems to agree that Teixeira looks to be running on a bad ankle or something, which might explain the atypical trot from the Yankees first baseman. With Houston’s Jason Castro clocking in at 25.18 seconds, Teixeira’s tender trot was the slowest of the day by 3.5 seconds.
Quickest Trot: Dustin Ackley #2, Seattle Mariners – 18.81* seconds [video]
Ackley, whose first trot touched the 20-second threshold, earned the day’s quickest trot in his next at-bat. He beats out Will Venable and Charlie Blackmon, the only other trotters to come in under 20-seconds, for the title.
All of Today's Trots Mark Teixeira.....28.63 Moises Sierra.....21.51 Jason Castro......25.18 Dustin Pedroia....20.92 Miguel Montero....24.95 Shin-Soo Choo.....20.87 Hanley Ramirez....23.57 Brandon Hicks.....20.86 Derek Norris #2...23.3 Kyle Seager.......20.48 Daniel Murphy.....22.99 Jordy Mercer......20.47 Jason Heyward.....22.76 Yasiel Puig.......20.39 Evan Gattis.......22.74 Christian Yelich..20.18 Matt Joyce........22.46 Ian Kinsler.......20.09 Alcides Escobar...22.42 Dustin Ackley #1..20.08* Marc Krauss.......22.27 Hank Conger.......20.01 Todd Frazier......22.25 Will Venable......19.69 Derek Norris #1...22.2 Charlie Blackmon..19.34 Yan Gomes.........22.15 Dustin Ackley #2..18.81* Nyjer Morgan......21.72 Gerardo Parra.....N/A Gio Giavotella....21.71
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.
