The Tampa Bay Rays have only been around for 21 years, and playing in a division with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox doesn’t provide many opportunities for trash-talking. That’s changing this season. The Rays are in first place, and they’re happy to let people know about it. Elsewhere, Tim Anderson is back and wants everyone to know, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Toronto are in quite a honeymoon phase and position players pitching is becoming a nightly occurrence.
The Rays and Red Sox series over the weekend has an interesting backdrop. Can low-budget Tampa Bay hold off decidedly not-low-budget New York and Boston?
Tim Anderson was suspended for something he said after his previous bat flip. He hit a walk-off home run Friday night and was prepared to let everyone know he wasn’t going to stop flipping.
Kissing babies and getting a shout-out from the fans at an NBA playoff game? Just imagine how popular Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be in the 6 when he really starts hitting for the Blue Jays.
Canada’s favorite baseball player gets a standing o at the @Raptors game!
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 28, 2019
.@vladdyjr27 + Blue Jays Baby = Cute as Heck pic.twitter.com/QeKTvVKaLW
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 27, 2019
Ball game. Raps win! pic.twitter.com/H2elgXFZft
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 28, 2019
As more and more teams try to save their bullpen arms in blowouts, more and more position players are pitching. It’s kind of hilarious to see a utility infielder throw 68 mph fastballs, and at least one MLB account has made a meme out of it.
Don’t blink Caleb, it’s your first time as a….
(•_•)
<) )╯POSITION
/ \\(•_•)
( (> PLAYER
/ \(•_•)
<) )> PITCHING
/ \ pic.twitter.com/oYeLyX1leA— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 28, 2019
You thought we were done????
The Moore, the merrier.(•_•)
<) )╯POSITION
/ \\(•_•)
( (> PLAYER
/ \(•_•)
<) )> PITCHING
/ \ pic.twitter.com/yFxPex3SiU— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 28, 2019
Moore was the 13th position player to pitch for a team this season
Here are the other 12. https://t.co/8G4C54QjsU https://t.co/PLQIEXw3lY
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) April 28, 2019