You Haven't Seen A Display Like This In A While...

((HT: York Revolution their own selves))

The Atlantic League playoffs are going full bore and York needed some offensive help to square their game.

Sean Smith obliged, but something went wrong along the way.
What followed was an act of dedication the HQ hasn't seen in a long time...


The Revs won 2-1 in extras and Smith was due for surgery on his torn ACL before Game 4 Saturday night...

Amazing display and we hope he gets better soon...

Lose A Bet, Take A Swim

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ wouldn't necessarily call this losing a bet...

Neil Walker didn't hit a home run into the pool at Diamondbacks Park two night's ago, so he had to do what teammate Jordy Mercer told him to do yesterday...

The folks at ROOT Sports explain


Still don't see how that's losing a bet...

Melky Cabrera Exposes The Hazards Of Fenway

((HT: MLB.com/Sportsnet))

If a (predominantly right-handed) batter hits a ball over the Green Monster at Fenway, it can end up on Lansdowne Street, or in the parking deck that is across the street.

Example from 1999:


The Toronto Blue Jays Melky Cabrera had a 2 home run, 5 RBI night in a blowout of the Boston Red Sox. The second home run in the 14-1 win was one like the ones shown above...

The HQ has been where this home run ball landed


Just didn't have any damage done to the rental car when it was parked in the deck...
Remember- windows away from the fence when you park!

HQ Finds Wily Mo Pena And He Can Still Crush A Baseball

((HT: MLB.com))

He's playing over in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes and did this in their All-Star Game


Hanshin's Shintaro Fujinami got to laugh about that meatball he served...

Let's face it...
That ball was crushed- even if it was dead pull-crushed...

Welcome Back, ManRam!

((HT: MiLB.com))

There's all this talk that Manny Ramirez is just down on the farm to help the young kids and get them ready for the big-league Cubs while he's down in Iowa...

But, after this stroke, the HQ isn't so sure...


September...??? Call-ups...???
40-Man roster...???

Yeah, the HQ thinks it'll go down...

Bryce Harper Looks Ready To Come Back

((HT: MiLB.com))

The HQ thinks Bryce Harper is ready to come back from his rehab assignment...
He did this last night in his at-bats with Harrisburg against Akron


4-for-5, 3 HR's and 5 RBI...

Eh, that's okay...

Mike Trout Hit The Ball Really Far

((HT: MLB.com))

Do not throw a 90-mile-per-hour fastball to Mike Trout or this will happen...


Longest home run of the year to date...

And a bad idea for any starting pitcher

George Springer Hit The Ball A Long Way

((HT: MLB.com/CSN Houston))

David Price was throwing pitch 50 of the night to the Astros Rookie of The Year candidate, George Springer, and he absolutely UNLOADED on it...

Evidence below...


Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart, via his Twitter, has the details on the bomb:

Springer's HR hit off the "d-ring" catwalk. It's 23rd time in ballpark history a ball hit off "d-ring." First time since May 30, 2011.

That's really far...

This Is Why The Padres Drafted JFF Today

((HT: George Whitfield, Junior's Vine))

Fourth swing at Petco back in May before their game with Washington


Good for you... as the "Summer of Johnny" continues...

He was drafted 837th overall by the Padres... a bit of a drop from 22nd overall...

Jayson Nix Breaks Things With Baseballs

((HT: MILB.com))

Durham is hosting Pawtucket at the new DAP this week...

And this is what happens when you groove a fastball to the Bulls Jayson Nix...

He breaks things...


Lesson: Don't groove a fastball to Jayson Nix

No word if he has to pay for it...

Hang On A Sec, I Gotta Grab This...

((HT:milb.com))

Take you to Norfolk for this one...

Ivan DeJesus hit a home run the other night, but it's not the shot to left-center we're talking about
Just watch in the picnic area


Must have been one important phone call...

Giancarlo Stanton: Two Words, Two Homers

((HT: MLB.com))

At one point last night, the Miami Marlins had three hits... all three were solo home runs...

Two were absolute bombs by Giancarlo Stanton..


Milwaukee was in complete control of the game- winning in Miami 9-5, but the HQ can't wait for arbitration and free agency for some of their kids...

All Jon Griffin Does Is Hit Home Runs

((HT: MiLB.com))

At least in a five at bat stretch over two games, anyway...

The Mobile Bay Bears Jon Griffin has gone five-for-five in homers in his last two games setting a Southern League record along the way. Here's number four in a game where he went five-for-six...


His homer streak came to an end in the 6th inning of last night's game with Tennessee after a ground out.

For the record, George Kalafatis had the only other four-homer game in Southern League history for Montgomery in a 13-0 victory over Birmingham on July 1, 1969.

What Was Senator McCain Thinking Here...???

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ has a couple of suggestions...

But, first, watch Paul Goldschmidt's home run and then the reaction of the Senator...


The HQ is thinking either this:


Or this:
((HT: Broadway Video))

McGrady's Pitching Debut Was 35 Pitches

((HT: ESPN))

Don't be all that alarmed. McGrady was on a pitch count.

The math gave him 35 pitches- 18 strikes and 17 balls- and he ended up giving up 2 earned runs in an inning and two-thirds.
The biggest event was the solo homer he gave up to Somerset Patriots SS Edwin Maysonet


The Sugar Land Skeeters lost 5-3 and McGrady got saddled with the loss.

Todd Frazier Hits An Absolute Bomb

((HT: MLB))

Jhoulys Chacin wishes he had this pitch back to start the Reds first at-bat of the game


See...???

Bomb...

Here's A Birthday Gift For Mom...

((HT: Fox Sports/MLB/Sportsnet))

It was the birthday for the mother of the Twins' Chris Colabello...

So, what's a good gift during an at-bat where the parents are being interviewed in real time...???

Guess...

How about that...???

Pujols Joins 500HR Club

((HT: MLB.com))

Here's 499 for starters this evening against the Washington Nationals...


He would then hit 500 later in the game and become the first player to hit both HR's 499 and 500 in the same game...

More stats:

Pujols has the fourth highest career batting average in the 500 HR club behind Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx
He is the 4th player to hit 500 HR within first 14 seasons of career joining McGwire, A-Rod, and Willie Mays
Pujols, at the age of 34, is the 3rd youngest to reach 500 home runs, trailing Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx- both were 32
Pujols also hit his 400th at Nats Park off Jordan Zimmerman

715 Was 40 Years Ago Today

And the HQ will maintain that Hank Aaron is the home run king of Major League Baseball since we don't quite believe the Bonds numbers are naturally obtained...

To celebrate the day... here's your flashback...
((HT: FilmArchivesNYC))


And here are three home run calls from Curt Gowdy, Vin Scully, and Milo Hamilton


The video version...


And, in another note, the following year- Frank Robinson was named manager of the Cleveland Indians...

Two cool moments...
One day...

Giancarlo Stanton Hit The Ball A Long Way

((HT: MLB))

It is now the longest home run in Marlins Park history at 474-feet...


See...???

Told you it was hit a long way...