Madison Bumgarner, who leads MLB pitchers in home runs over the past two seasons, has come up with the idea for a pitchers home run derby. Jake Arrieta has seconded the thought, but would Joe Hojnacki or Greg Hessen be interested in watching it? What about the general baseball fan? Of the 24 pitchers who have hit home runs over the past two years, who else would be included?
Before that though, the Colorado Rockies have DFA’d Jose Reyes. His domestic violence ties and Trevor Story’s breakout year have made him plenty expendable. What’s next for the once electric shortstop? Also, Ichiro is on his way towards passing Pete Rose’s all time hit mark… if you include his nine Japanese seasons. Is this worth celebrating?
Crowding the Plate Podcast Episode 12: Pitchers Home Run Derby and Ichiro’s Hit Record
Music in this episode:
Intro/Outro: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sung by Edward Meeker and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by The Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club
Break 1: “The Freaks, Nerds, and Romantics” with SNY’s call of Bartolo Colon’s first career home run
Break 2: “19roll” by Stance Punks, and Fox Sports Northwest’s call of Ichiro setting the single season hit record in 2004.
Hosted by Joe Hojnacki and Greg Hessen, Crowding the Plate is a weekly baseball podcast here on Last Word on Sports. It aims to cover the fun, yet analytical, side of baseball once a week.
Joe Hojnacki writes about soccer for Last Word on Sports and is also co-host of the Crowding the Plate Podcast. An avid Red Sox fan, Joe idolizes Bryce Harper and feels that his fun showmanship is the way to save baseball from becoming overrun by old folks, and from dying out.
Greg Hessen is the resident Tigers fan on Crowding the Plate. As somewhat more of a traditionalist, Greg longs for the days of pitchers hitting in the American League and a landscape that doesn’t include things like bat flips and PEDs tarnishing the greatest of all games.
