That funky delivery belongs to Reds 2B Scooter Gennett, called on to pitch to spare the bullpen in Cincinnati’s 15-5 loss to the Cubs last night. It went about as expected, which is to say: It didn’t go great.
Gennett allowed two hits, including a Javy Baez home run, walked a batter and hit another. But he felt good out there, which is the important thing.
Gennett: “I don’t know what I was hitting, 95, 96...”
Reporters: “68.”
Gennett: “Yeah, I don’t believe that. I think the radar gun might be broken or something. That, Statcast, off-the-bat speed, all that’s fake news.”
I think I might be a Scooter Gennett fan? (Here’s where I remind you how he got his nickname: When he was a young boy, his mom took him to the police station to scare him into wearing his seat belt. When a cop asked for his name, he gave a fake one because he thought he couldn’t be arrested that way. He gave them the name of his favorite Muppet Babies character.
Oh, and the nickname he’ll be wearing on the back of his jersey for MLB’s upcoming Players Weekend is “Ryan,” his given name.)
This was a weird game, a blowout in a lost season with a few quirks, like Joey Votto rifling a foul ball out of the dang stadium. I feel for everyone going through the motions here, including the beat guys—so I have to give credit to the Enquirer’s Zach Buchanan for this line:
While Gennett pitching was unique, it was just the capper on a long game that was mostly brutal and sometimes weird. Its oddities made it stand out, although no one will stick this particular Monday night game in a time capsule for future viewing. At least not unless one has a grudge against the unborn generation that might open it.
Don’t you love August baseball?