Tag: Trent grisham

The Padres’ Trent Grisham amazingly tricked the runner into an inning-ending double play

Baseball mind games are so fun.

When it comes to baseball, the game within the game can be so fascinating. And the simplest gesture can be used to outsmart an opponent.

Padres center fielder Trent Grisham certainly did that on Wednesday.

During the first inning of the Padres’ game against the Reds, Spencer Steer hit a soft line drive to center field with one out and T.J. Friedl on first base. Initially, Friedl appeared to handle the situation correctly. He went halfway, but he focused mainly on how Grisham was moving in center field.

Grisham jogged and signaled as if the ball was dropping, but instead, he made the catch and immediately fired a throw to first base.

Grisham knew exactly what he was doing as he doubled up Friedl (thanks to a great scoop at first by Jake Cronenworth). He had Friedl completely fooled by the deke, and it was enough to end the inning.

Well played, Trent. That’s some high-IQ baseball right there.

MLB fans couldn’t believe how Trent Grisham ended the game on the worst imaginable strikeout

You NEED to swing the bat there.

It was a scenario that San Diego Padres center fielder Trent Grisham had probably imagined before:

Bases loaded, two outs, full count and you’re down by one in the bottom of the ninth. Outside of postseason baseball, you won’t find many situations with more drama and tension than that.

But man, you have to think that Grisham would have imagined handling that scenario better than he did on Sunday.

During the Padres’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Grisham was up at the plate against Devin Williams with a chance to tie or win the game for San Diego. It’s a count that the hitter has to be prepared to swing because he knows the pitcher needs to throw a strike. That’s what made the result so shocking.

[affiliatewidget_deal1]

Grisham watched as a 94 mph fastball caught the upper portion of the zone for a game-ending strikeout looking. It was nearly the same pitch and location that Grisham fouled off on the previous pitch, but for whatever reason, he didn’t swing the bat when he needed to.

According to Codify, it was the first time a batter had struck out looking in that exact scenario since 2006 — 17 years!

Grisham had to be swinging there, and fans couldn’t believe he let that pitch go.

MLB fans blasted the Padres after Trent Grisham bizarrely bunted in the ninth inning

What was Trent Grisham doing here?

With the San Diego Padres season on the line, Trent Grisham laid down a sacrifice bunt.

On Sunday, the Padres were down to their final two outs against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the NLCS. In the eighth inning, Bryce Harper crushed a two-run home run to give the Phillies the 4-3 lead headed into the final three outs of the Padres season.

San Diego wasn’t out of it yet, as with one out the tying run was at second base and another was on first as Grisham came up to bat. In the most head-scratching moment of the season, Grisham then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, but wasted a precious out by doing so.

Unfortunately for the Padres, the next batter Austin Nola then popped out to seal their fate as the Phillies won the National League pennant.

Talk about a real frustrating way to end the season. After the game, Padres manager Bob Melvin explained the bizarre bunt from Grisham, which came down to gambling on the Phillies defense and the rain-slick grass.

MLB fans predictably ripped the Padres after Grisham’s mind-boggling bunt cost San Diego a precious out in their final inning of the season.

Week 2 fantasy baseball start, sit or drop: Ohtani’s rollercoaster start and CJ Abrams kinda arrives

Shohei Ohtani just needed a few extra games to warm up. Trent Grisham, Patrick Corbin and Nick Pivetta still need a bit more time.

What a wild opening week for managers with Shohei Ohtani on their roster.

The two-way Japanese star offers plenty more rewards than risk in fantasy lineups, but for those who have to designate him as a pitcher or a hitter, the first matchup of the fantasy season initially left many thinking spring training ended too soon.

When the Los Angeles Angels gave Ohtani the ball on Opening Day, it seemed like the safer play would be to keep him in fantasy lineups as a hitter. The short spring meant he probably wouldn’t throw more than four innings and the visiting Houston Astros have a lineup that can make even the game’s best pitchers look like little leaguers.

So of course Ohtani went 4.2 innings with nine strikeouts, one walk, four hits and one earned run. At the same time, he went 0-4 at the dish with one strikeout. Ouch.

A week later Ohtani was back on the mound at the Texas Rangers getting shelled for six earned runs in 3.2 innings. He struck out five while allowing two walks, six hits and a home run. And in between those outings Ohtani slashed an anti-climatic .200/.231/.280 with 0 RBI and nine strikeouts. Double ouch.

How did Ohtani respond? First he gave his bat CPR. Then he launched three home runs in two games against Texas and busted the slump as only a reigning MVP can.

Yeah, he’s going to be just fine this season. Not that there was any doubt.

Here are a few other players with bigger question marks to begin the year and how to handle them.

All stats through Sunday, April 17

Dave Roberts had the most ridiculous take on Trent Grisham’s bat flip against Clayton Kershaw

LAME.

In case you haven’t paid much attention to the abbreviated MLB season, the San Diego Padres are now extremely fun. The Padres are second in the league in home runs, fifth in run scored and first in Let The Kids Play™️ attitude.

They hit grand slams on 3-0 pitches in blowouts. They play with flair. And they’re decidedly pro-bat flip.

That evidently got on the nerves of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during Monday’s game in San Diego.

With Trent Grisham at the plate in the sixth inning against Clayton Kershaw, the Padres center fielder launched a game-tying solo home run to right field. And he knew it.

Grisham turned his back, admired the home run and then flipped his bat before starting his trot. As he rounded third base, the Dodgers dugout had some words for Grisham. And, evidently, it came from Roberts.

The Dodgers manager said after the 7-2 loss to San Diego that he took exception with Grisham’s bat flip because it was off of Kershaw — a pitcher who deserves respect. He said via dodgerblue.com:

“I don’t mind guys admiring a homer. Certainly it’s a big game, big hit. Really like the player, but I just felt to stay at home plate, certainly against a guy like Clayton who’s got the respect of everyone in the big leagues and what he’s done in this game, I just took exception to that. I think there’s a certain respect you give a guy if you homer against him.”

Oh, come on.

If anything, hitting a game-tying home run off Kershaw called for that elevated celebration. It was a huge hit against a future Hall of Famer. Grisham shouldn’t need to tone down his happiness because he hit a home run off a great pitcher. It sounds so silly when you try to explain it.

Plus, I don’t recall Roberts being upset with Max Muncy when he told Madison Bumgarner to get a ball out of the ocean after flipping his bat (albeit not an emphatic bat flip) in 2019. If he’s going to preach showing re2pect to a certain pedigree of pitcher, it should go both ways. But, really, that whole concept is dumb, and players should admire home runs and flip bats whenever they want because it’s fun.

To Kershaw’s credit, he said that he didn’t mind Grisham’s celebration. Listen to Kershaw, Dave. Players can celebrate how they want.

[jwplayer BJs4txT8-q2aasYxh]