When does the home stretch start? We've obviously passed the penultimate turn, but have we made the final turn of the season yet? These are the questions I ponder as we enter into these last two-and-a-half weeks of the season.
Let's get to the trots!
Home Run of the Day: Jim Thome, Cleveland Indians – 24.62 seconds [video]
When all else fails, choose Jim Thome. The Brewers hit five home runs in their 6-3 victory (including two from Ryan Braun), Eric Chavez hit his second home run from beyond the grave (and in his Yankees uniform), and Carlos Lee tied the game up with two outs in the ninth with his second home run of the day, but none of those seemed interesting enough for Home Run of the Day. Thome, on the other hand, showed his taste for the dramatic. He returned to Minnesota for the first time as an Indian on Friday night and, in the ninth inning, gave the home town fans a show by crushing the ball into the right-centerfield seats. The Twins fans gave him a hearty cheer.
Slowest Trot: Carlos Lee, Houston Astros #2 – 27.34 seconds [video]
As you might expect, Lee came through with the two slowest tater trots of the night – this 27.34 second trot and a 25.9 second trot earlier in the game. It's hard to begrudge the man his place at the top Friday night, though, with his second home run tying the game on a 1-2 count with two outs in the ninth inning, foiling Matt Garza's complete game and the Cubs victory. Well, at least for a few innings (the Cubs won it in the 12th).
Evan Longoria hit a home run off the top of Fenway's Green Monster. It was reviewed by the umpires, but upheld as a home run. However, in the confusion of the play, Longoria stopped for a number of seconds at second base before continuing his trot. As such, his non-continuous trot is not counted.
Quickest Trot: Alex Presley, Pittsburgh Pirates – 18.61 seconds [video]
One of seven under-20-second trots, and one of only two 18-second trots. Presley beat out San Francisco Giant Chris Stewart for the quickest trot of the night. The Pirates lost to the Dodgers 7-2 despite Presley's best efforts. Stewart, however, was able to help his Giants to a 9-1 win over the Rockies.
All of Today's Trots Carlos Lee #2......27.34 Carlos Santana.....21.41 Carlos Lee #1......25.9 Mark Kotsay........21 Jim Thome..........24.62 Hank Conger........20.86 Mark Reynolds......23.86 Nolan Reimold......20.86 Yadier Molina......23.56 George Kottaras....20.84 Brandon Belt.......23.43 Mike Aviles........20.33 Geovany Soto.......22.99 James Loney........20.22 Brent Morel........22.76 Martin Prado.......19.95 Ryan Braun #2......22.54 Mike Moustakas.....19.76 Eric Chavez........22.24 Ryan Braun #1......19.36* David Wright #2....22.2 Cody Ross..........19.32* David Wright #1....21.87 Don Kelly..........19.05 Josh Willingham....21.82 Chris Stewart......18.69 Casper Wells.......21.62 Alex Presley.......18.61 Prince Fielder.....21.46 Evan Longoria......N/A
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