Is it wrong to say “there were fireworks on the 4th of July!”? Even when we see 37 home runs hit on the day, with 9(!) of them being hit in the same game? And two inside-the-park home runs? And when we see all of the All-Star snubs (Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Brian McCann) except Joey Votto go yard in response to the news? It’s still wrong? Okay then, I won’t say it.
Home Run of the Day: Drew Stubbs, Cincinnati Reds #3 (Trot Time: 21.27 seconds) [video]
If you hit three home runs in a day, you’re going to have the Home Run of the Day almost definitely. Even when your name is Drew Stubbs. His trio of taters contributed to the wild game at Wrigley, where the Cubs and Reds combined for nine homers total. The Cubs’ Tyler Colvin also had two home runs on the day.
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Slowest Trot: Russell Branyan, Seattle Mariners – 26.2 seconds [video]
The Muscle hit his second homer since being traded from the Indians to the Mariners last month, and things haven’t changed. Of his twelve home runs this year, he’s had the slowest trot of the day for six of them. Only two of his trots all season have been under 24 seconds. Torii Hunter‘s two home runs are the next two slowest trots of the day (at 24.82 seconds and 24.2 seconds).
Quickest Trot: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees – 14.61 seconds [video]
Brett Gardner and Andres Torres both hit inside-the-park home runs, and they were both of the “crazy play in the field” variety. Gardner’s inside-the-parker probably shouldn’t even be considered a hit, as the ball bounced out of Dewayne Wise‘s glove in centerfield when he lost it in the sun. How that isn’t ruled an error I have no clue. Torres’ inside-the-parker was a ground-liner down the rightfield line that took some crazy bounces in the corner. Both guys should be given credit for running so hard out of the box. The plays were close enough that, without that kind of hustle from the get-go, the inside-the-parkers probably don’t happen.
Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that Adam Rosales hit his sixth home run of the year yesterday, coming in at a measly 16.0 seconds.
