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On Aug. 13, when Matt Davidson was called up to the majors, Chris Mellen wrote this about Davidson's game: "While Davidson is patient at the plate, there is a lot of swing-and-miss in the third baseman’s game." In the following GIF, after which you may concede the year and go off to pursue a more optimistic future, you will see two things:

1. Davidson being patient at the plate

2. Davidson having swing-and-miss in his game

Very, very few hitters are so patient at the plate when it comes to swinging. Most hitters are so eager to swing that they swing right as the ball is going past them; often at the very moment that the ball reaches the plate, leading to a violent collision between bat and ball and resulting in what is generally referred to by baseballheads as "contact." Matt Davidson is very patient at the plate. He waits, and waits. Matt Davidson could outwait an unplugged toaster.

Full play, full speed:

After this play, Davidson was traded to the White Sox. Not immediately after, but immediately after in Matt Davidson years.

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johnjmaier
1/01
I wonder if he possibly remembered at the last minute that it was a hit and run play? Even so this GIF reminds me when I faced a college pitcher while in high school. My reaction time to his fast ball was so slow that I swung after the ball was in the catcher's glove.
gizrock13
1/01
was this called a swinging strike?
lyricalkiller
1/01
it's unclear. It was called a strike. And there's no indication that the umpire was planning to call it a strike. So probably.
mwright
1/02
Probably had gotten a sign to at least protect the runner or a botched hit and run, but either way it looks absurd so thanks for posting it.
walrus0909
1/05
Too late to the comment party, but...maybe he was thought the swing would disrupt the catcher's throw down to second? It's kind of while the catcher is popping.

More excuses!

- Ball traveling faster than speed of light
- Davidson forgot there was a runner going, just taking a practice swing before the next pitch
- Confused by all those Darvish multi-pitch GIFs, thought maybe there was another pitch or two still left to swing at.
lyricalkiller
1/05
This last explanation makes my day