Home Run of the Day: Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies (Trot Time: 18.62 seconds) [video]
Sure, the home run was important and all – it put the Phillies ahead 2-0 in the sixth inning in a game they ended up winning 3-2 – but I’m making this the home run of the day because of the celebration by the young girl who caught the ball. She was so excited for catching the ball (actually, fighting off the crowd to grab the ball on the ground) that she just couldn’t keep it in, almost immediately crying on her mom’s shoulders. She doesn’t even care that it’s Raul Ibanez, not Shane Victorino, hitting the home run. With everyone in so many parks these days so eager to throw back a home run ball, it’s nice to see a reminder of just how awesome that feeling is (and, no, I don’t think the fact that this is a hometown fan catching the ball makes much difference).
Seriously, watch the video. That’s a reaction worth remembering.
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Slowest Trot: Ramon Castro, Chicago White Sox #2 – 25.28* seconds [video]
Ramon Castro hit two home runs for the White Sox last night. The first trot clocked in at 25.18 seconds, while this second came in at 25.28 seconds. The video of the second home run, though, does not give a good sense of where exactly the plate is when he reaches home, so the time is inexact. I’d be willing to be that the 25.28 second figure is pretty close to the actual time, though. Either way, it doesn’t matter too much. Even if this time is wrong, the 25.18 second trot he had two innings earlier is already the second slowest trot of the day. Castro “wins” either way.
Quickest Trot: Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals – 17.48 seconds [video]
Of the twenty home runs hit yesterday, only two came in at under twenty seconds: the Raul Ibanez shot above, and this second inning blast from Ian Desmond. I have to admit, both felt like a surprise.
