It's always an odd day when the whole league seems to decide to take the day off from hitting home runs together. On Sunday, with fifteen games being played, home runs were hit in only eight of them. Going through the list of games and seeing "HR: none" one after the other is strange.
Let's get to the trots that did happen!
Home Run of the Day: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels – 21.45 seconds [video]
Drew Stubbs definitely deserves a mention for his walkoff home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth in the Sunday Night Game of the Week, but the Home Run of the Day goes to uber-prospect Mike Trout. After tearing up minor leagues at age 19, Trout hit his first big league home run in his twelfth game, a shot to the left field bleachers. The ball was caught by a noted ballhawk, but was gladly handed over soon after. Trout's trot was neither quick nor slow, just a simple jog around the bases. He'll be making many more of those in his career – but it's got to feel nice to have the first one out of the way.
Slowest Trot: Carlos Lee, Houston Astros – 25.6 seconds [video]
Lee edges out Brandon Phillips (24.45 seconds) and Torii Hunter (24.33 seconds) to take the slowest trotter title home on Sunday. The home run was timely, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Houston would go on to lose the game, though.
Quickest Trot: Brendan Ryan, Seattle Mariners – 18.52 seconds [video]
I watched this grand slam at least a dozen times, trying to accurately measure Ryan's steps at home plate. I feel pretty confident about this time. It's hard to run out a grand slam so quickly; the runners on base are usually trotting at their own pace, thus slowing down the batter. Ryan still managed to fly around the bases, though, edging out Logan Morrison (18.59 seconds) for the quickest trot of the day.
All of Today's Trots Carlos Lee.........25.6 Mike Trout.........21.45 Brandon Phillips...24.45 Ryan Braun.........21.3 Torii Hunter.......24.33 Drew Stubbs........20.74 Brian McCann.......23.58 Mike Stanton.......20.65 Adam Jones.........23.07 David Wright.......20.2 Kevin Youkilis.....22.29 Miguel Cairo.......19.92 Colby Rasmus.......22.19 Curtis Granderson..19.44 Miguel Olivo.......22.11* Logan Morrison.....18.59 Nick Markakis......21.88 Brendan Ryan.......18.52 Clint Barmes.......21.53
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