After a 5-3 road trip, it seems like the Twins are finally showing some life. Yes, they lost 10-6 yesterday, but hey, 6 runs is something!
Also, I realized something as I was walking through Ramp A yesterday night after the Twins game: Anthony Swarzak is like a crappier pitching version of Michael Cuddyer. You know how Cuddyer was "versatile" even though he didn't really excel at any one position (yes, that includes right field, where UZR consistently rated him as below-average). Meanwhile, Swarzak has openly announced his willingness to pitch in any role, even once proclaiming last season that he could come into a game in relief despite starting the previous game. I feel Swarzak isn't good in any role, but his unselfishness makes him "versatile," dammit.
/rant*
* Was this a rant? I'm really not sure.
- The next time you see a hitter completely embarrass himself by waving at a pitch that's nowhere near the strike zone, you can think of this GIF of Rickie Weeks helplessly flailing at a Sergio Romo slider. To borrow an obnoxious phrase that's common in MLB: The Show, "He would have needed an oar to hit that one!"
- I've noticed lately that quite a few baseball teams that are not at the professional level have resorted to making dance videos to pass the time and entertain us, the fans. The viral video at the moment is the Harvard baseball team doing a sorta choreographed "dance" to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." Honestly, I wasn't too impressed with it (it's only two moves!) but I do have to admit that it's nice to see college males do something more creative than lace their intramural softball team name with more double entendres than you have fingers. Anyway, FanGraphs has put together a collection of baseball teams intertwined with dance to satiate your needs.
- I'm a bit tired of the shaving cream pies for having a game-winning hit or a successful debut, but I can make an exception for Angel Pagan when he pie'd himself in the face, with some assistance from teammate Pablo Sandoval. I think knowing that it's coming makes the stinging in your eyes disappear faster.
- Finally, the Phillies had a severe crisis on their hands. Can you spot the error with this Roy Halladay bobblehead? No, not the face. Well, maybe this picture will help. If you're a fan of bobbleheads with weird quirks like this, you'll be pleased to know that MLB has these bobbleheads on clearance right now, so go ahead and buy 10 of them.
- Edit: A late entrant for today's Breakfast & Baseball is quite possibly the catch of the century. Lower Columbia College outfielder Derrick Salberg made a game-ending catch against Everett, robbing at least an extra-base hit from hitter Keone Kela. However, this wasn't your typical Torii Hunter-style home run grab. Rather, Salberg jumped over the fence to make his catch. Now, I'm not entirely sure how this doesn't count as a home run considering his feet never touched the ground prior to him making the catch and then going over the fence, but somehow it's an out.
No annoying softball news from me today, so you can stop sharpening your steak knives. Well, at least until next week.