TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Saturday, July 10, 2004

The Awesome Power of T.C.

As I mentioned earlier today, there's going to be a mascot softball game before tomorrow afternoon's game between the Tigers and the Twins. I was a little fearful that that would negate the normal Saturday pre-game homerun derby, as there was no sign of setup for it at 5:30 (first pitch was 6:10), but 10 minutes later the trappings of the derby made their way on to the field, and those in attendance were treated to another display of homerun-hitting prowess.

The format remains the same as before, a John Q. Public type and a couple of celebrities take on T.C. If JQP wins, two roundtrip airfares are awarded. I'm not sure what happens if one of the celebs wins, but if T.C. wins, all that happens is that everyone goes home with the knowledge that they were beaten by a guy in a mascot suit in Home Run Derby. This evening's celebs were 2000 USGA Amateur Champion Jeff Quinney and Christian folk-rock troubadour Matt Jones.

JQP struggles, and doesn't scratch until his seventh and final swing of the contest. Then Quinney connects on his fourth swing for his only homer of the night. I guess the muscle memory didn't kick in for him with the nearly-horizontal swing plane; perhaps if he had had low-and-inside pitches tossed to him he might have done better.

Then Jones steps in and alternates dingers and outs in his first four swings, going yard on the evens. But the homer on swing #4 turns out to be the first of four straight for Jones before he's done, and he winds up with 5 total. And since it delights me to no end to do so, I'll mention that this is one better than Dave Kingman's effort on May 1.

T.C. has his work cut out for him as he steps up to the plate, though it's unclear what besides pride is on the line. He has a weak effort on his first swing before connecting on four straight, including three that go at least half way up the stands. On swing #6 he gets under one and leaves it short of the track. Jones 5, T.C. 4 coming up on T.C's last swing. T.C. takes a pitch and then rifles fast liner maybe 10 rows back. Derby tied at 5.

Then it's announced that a one-pitch sudden death round takes place. Jones steps in and connects again, putting the pressure back on T.C. He responds by ripping a screamer that clears the fence by a foot.

At this point, I'm thinking this could be one of the all-time historic home run derby battles when it's announced that the contest ends in a tie. WHAT?! Apparently the Twins consulted Commissioner Selig on this one. This derby is crying to be finished, but it's not to be. Can't you just imagine a triumphant T.C. winning 11-10, and then running towards home ripping his costume head off, a la Brandi Chastain and the Women's World Cup back in '99? That hurt, Twinkies, I needed closure.

In the three derbys (derbies?) I've seen, something of dramatic interest has happened each time. In addition to T.C.'s 5-4 May 1st victory over Kingman, T.C. went a perfect 7-for-7 in June. T.C.'s aggregate total in the games I've attended stands at 18 homers in 22 swings. I can't decide whether it's steroids or the rabbit ball that accounts for this, but it's certain that T.C. has shattered the single-season record for most homers by a mascot, and there has to be some explanation for it.

Silva Vaccine Still In Effect

This may be a little unfair (both to Silva and Radke), but Brad Radke didn't have anywhere near his best outing tonight. Instead of the four singles in a shutout of the Royals as he had on Monday, Radke gave up five extra base hits and no singles in six innings. He actually worked out of the two jams he got in, set up by doubles early in the 2nd and 5th, but gave up three solo homeruns to Omar Infante, Pudge, and Dmitri Young. Aaron Fultz gave up the Tigers' fourth homer to Marcus Thames, who had earlier hit the roof of the Metrodome with a foul ball, in the 7th.

Johan Santana will get the start for the Twins' last game for the break, and assuming I can calm down enough to get to bed and get up in time for the 1:10 start, I'll be there. As a teaser for my next post, I'll mention in passing that Santana got passed over for Jake Westbrook to replace Curt Schilling on the AL's roster, making him the fifth Indian on the squad compared to one for the Twins. I'll break down why the Twins came up short for this year's All-Star game (it's really not that difficult to piece together) some time during the break. Suffice to say for now that Santana and Radke are the closest things to All-Stars the Twins have outside of Joe Nathan on their current roster, but late-blooming and lack of run support, respectively, killed Santana's and Radke's chances.

posted by Tom Renbarger 10:18 PM