During the current bat-flip craze we find ourselves in, often times we are left watching the hitter after he connects with the baseball. Sometimes, the best reaction comes from the pitcher instead. So was the case when San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado dug in against Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Wade Miley.
Just as there are a wide variety of reactions from hitters after hitting moonshots, the majestic bat flip, the barrel of the bat toss, the quick release fling, the bat down/head down immediate trot, there are a wide variety of reactions from pitchers as well. The crouch and peek, the whiplash and gauge the trajectory, the “where is the outfielder playing and how far is he from the wall trade off”, though my new favorite may be the one employed by Miley.
The Keyshawn Johnson “just give me the damn ball”.
Manny Machado hit a no-doubt home run which left Wade Miley wanting to move on immediately.
Miley, who was a 14-game winner in 2019, and has a no-hitter on his resume from earlier in the year (he took a no-no into the sixth on this night against the Padres as well), served up an 84 mph off-speed pitch, which Machado turned around in a hurry.
Manny Machado hit that ball a country miley
— Red Reporter (@redreporter) June 18, 2021
Machado knew right away. Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart knew right away. By looking at Miley’s body language, he knew right away as well. He gave the ball a quick look and turned back to the catcher to get the next baseball, for the next hitter. Miley was calling for the ball before Machado was out of the left-handed batter’s box (crossing over from the right side).
Wade Miley asking for a new ball WAYYY before anyone is paying attention to him asking for a new ball pic.twitter.com/lFlqkdAGFc
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) June 18, 2021
Problem was, the umpire was admiring the distance of the massive jack and was unaware Miley was requesting a new baseball. Props to Miley for having a closer’s mentality and wanting to forget the past and move to the future. Miley has been here before. He’s served up 163 gopher balls in his big league career. He was ready to put the most recent one out of his mind as fast as possible (maybe as fast as Machado deposited that ball in the seats).
With Machado’s laser beam homer, and Miley’s low affect reaction, the two proved spectators don’t have to focus on the hitter on home runs to enjoy the game. Pitchers also provide some entertainment in the interaction as well.