September 8, 2011

Tater Trot Tracker

Trot Times for September 7

by Larry Granillo

Printer-friendly

A few big home runs, a few ridiculously slow trots, and a few other memorable home runs (including a first-career home run and a pitcher home run) made Wednesday night a much more interesting night than it had any right to be.

Let's get to the trots!

Home Run of the Day: Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay Rays - 19.47 seconds [video]
A walkoff home run for Jennings and the Rays in the bottom of the tenth inning. Other candidates for Home Run of the Day were Kevin Millwood (with his first home run since 2002), Wilin Rosario, who hit his first career home run. and Carlos Pena, who crushed a ball out of Wrigley Field to give the Cubs a late lead.

Slowest Trot: Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers - 29.91 seconds [video]
Carlos Lee took 26.09 seconds to run out his home run Wednesday. David Ortiz took 27.82 seconds. Both seemed quick compared to Victor Martinez, whose grand slam Wednesday has come closer to the 30-second mark than anyone else this season. Martinez started his trot off fine, if a little slow. He rounded second base in the 15-second range, which put him equal to Lee and Ortiz. But somewhere in the last few steps before third, Martinez slowed down incredibly, almost as if he paused for a moment. This dropped him far behind the typical slow trot and put him in danger of breaking the 30-second barrier. Martinez has never been a quick trotter, but this was pretty ridiculous.

Quickest Trot: Will Venable, San Diego Padres - 17.76 seconds [video]
This leadoff home run from Venable is a stark contrast to Martinez's trot. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, however, as Venable always runs his trots out hard. What made this home run so entertaining to watch was where the ball landed. The home run sailed down the rightfield line, barely hooking around the foul pole and landing in the tunnel right there. Well, it would have landed in the tunnel if it weren't for the fan who was standing around, not paying attention, completely oblivious to the ball heading right for him. In the end, the home run ball hit the oblivious fan in the shoulder. I know this really shouldn't be funny - after all, batted balls are very dangerous objects - but there's just something about this one that I can't help.

All of Today's Trots

Victor Martinez......29.91   Ian Kinsler #1.......22.01
David Ortiz..........27.82   Matt Downs...........21.82
Carlos Lee...........26.09   Andrew McCutchen #2..21.63
Kevin Millwood.......25.6    Wilin Rosario........21.43
Miguel Montero.......24.93   Clint Barmes.........21.35
Mike Napoli..........24.67   Ian Kinsler #2.......21.14
Adrian Gonzalez......24.66   Brandon Guyer........21.03
Shelley Duncan #1....23.74   Andrew McCutchen #1..20.97
Carlos Gonzalez......23.7    Brett Pill...........20.76
Carlos Pena..........23.41   Jacoby Ellsbury......20.47
Lonnie Chisenhall....23.39   Raul Ibanez..........20.04
Nolan Reimold........23.02   Rafael Furcal........19.64
Shelley Duncan #2....22.64   Desmond Jennings.....19.47
Justin Upton.........22.4    Trayvon Robinson.....18.23
J.P. Arencibia.......22.11   Will Venable.........17.76