El Bullpen: Acuña’s 40-40 Chase, Cooperstown Calls Villar, Show-Stopping Plays by Arenado and Astudillo
By Tab Bamford
Acuña closing on 40(s)
Ronald Acuña Jr. is trying to join the exclusive 40-40 club with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He got closer in both categories against the Phillies.
With his two stolen bases earlier tonight, 21-year-old @ronaldacunajr24 became the 15th player in history to have 35 home runs and 35 stolen bases in a single season, and the youngest to accomplish the feat.#ChopOn https://t.co/mpVeWJNHNY
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 13, 2019
Caliente Corner
Thursday gave us two amazing plays by third basemen. Nolan Arenado made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch and then somehow made a perfect throw home.
Willians Astudillo doesn’t have the cache at third that Arenado does, but he flashed the leather on Thursday as well. Minnesota’s rookie carried his cap to the catch and then had the presence of mind to give a fan a high five.
Villar headed to the Hall
Jonathan Villar is credited with hitting the 6,106th home run this season, setting a new all-time major league record. The bat used to make that bleachers deposit is now headed to Cooperstown.
Last night Jonathan Villar homered in the 7th inning. It was the 6,106th time this season an @mlb player has hit a home run – a new record. Wonder how many homers will have been hit by the time this bat arrives in Cooperstown? There’ve already been 15 hit today! Photo: @Orioles pic.twitter.com/hwigEEwP6C
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 12, 2019
Changing teams
Mychal Givens hopes to honor his great-grandmother in the next World Baseball Classic.
International baseball news: @Orioles reliever Mychal Givens told me today that he plans to pitch for Puerto Rico at @WBCBaseball 2021, in honor of his great-grandmother, who raised him. Givens won gold as a member of Team USA's bullpen in 2017. @MLB @MLBNetwork @LasMayores
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 12, 2019
Pro Post of the Day
Santos Love. The Twins’ road trip theme was favorite musical acts. Nelson Cruz and Jonathan Schoop were aligned on their choice.
Fan Post of the Day
Teams that dance together win together?
OTD
2011 – Mariano Rivera became the second pitcher to record 600 saves when he put away Seattle for a 3-2 Yankees victory. Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman, who reached 600 in 2010.
2008 – Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 58th save against Seattle, breaking Bobby Thigpen’s 18-year-old record.
1998 – Sammy Sosa hit his 61st and 62nd home runs of the season, passing Roger Maris’ mark and moving him into a tie with Mark McGwire for the major league lead. Sosa also tied Ralph Kiner’s 51-year-old National League record of 10 multi-homer games in a season.
1972 – Roberto Clemente hit the 240th and final regular season home run of his career off Fergie Jenkins at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Happy birthday!
Nelson Cruz (b. 1972)
Armando Ríos (b. 1971)
Bernie Williams (b. 1968)
Hoy queremos desearle un feliz cumpleaños al gran @bw51official.
— MLB Puerto Rico (@MLBPuertoRico) September 13, 2019
¡Qué lo disfrutes! ???#MLBPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/8FHHDxBEYJ
Featured Image: ESPN Stats and Info Twitter