BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Kaduk: Yoenis Cespedes hits mammoth homer, later acts sheepish for showboating

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Saturday, April 07, 2012

Kaduk: Yoenis Cespedes hits mammoth homer, later acts sheepish for showboating

I created a new tag.

Playing in only his third major league game, the A’s rookie outfielder launched what will end up being one of the most impressive home runs this season. A two-run straightaway rocket to center field, the blast bounced off a facade and provided Oakland’s lone bright spot in a 7-3 opening night loss to Seattle on Friday. Hit Tracker Online estimated the homer’s distance at 462 feet. Watch the majesty here.

Cespedes’ swing was so swift and the results so titanic that the 26-year-old rookie reacted with a hop and extended gaze toward the ball’s eventual destination. That didn’t please Seattle pitcher Jason Vargas at all — especially since the A’s were trailing 5-0 at the time — and Cespedes later realized he may have made a mistake by watching the ball too long.

He’s not on the island any more, he said. “I followed the ball, but I don’t like that to do that again,” Cespedes said via the San Francisco Chronicle. “I come from Cuba, where it’s a little less quality games, so we do that. But here I don’t want to do that.”

Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 07, 2012 at 10:49 AM | 56 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics, cespedophilia

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1. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:13 AM (#4099879)

Well, you can think whatever you want of admiring home runs, but that thing was ####### crushed.

2. James Newburg is in awe of Cespedes' CORE STRENGTH Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:55 AM (#4099897)

Screw it, the two home runs he's hit have been worth every penny of the entire contract. Dude's got ferocious bat speed.

3. PreservedFish Posted: April 07, 2012 at 12:42 PM (#4099911)

Reminds me of Gary Sheffield.

4. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: April 07, 2012 at 12:44 PM (#4099913)

Boy, I can't wait to see him on the Yankees.

5. PreservedFish Posted: April 07, 2012 at 12:47 PM (#4099916)

LOL Good one Larry!

6. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 07, 2012 at 01:03 PM (#4099925)

Larry's new troll shtick is slotting in somewhere between Yun Taragoashi and Paul Kilgus for me in terms of annoyance / contribution to the site.

We should be talking about Cespedes! He's so quick to the ball. He's going to struggle at first with MLB breaking stuff - his experience against competition that would even qualify as AA strength is very limited. I'm hopeful this will pass. Cespedes looks like he's trying to wait for a good pitch to hit, like he wants to be patient but he needs to learn pitch recognition at a higher level. And his swing doesn't look like something that should produce as many swings and misses as he's had.

The pitch recognition may never come, but if it does he could be an MVP candidate.

7. Dan Posted: April 07, 2012 at 01:06 PM (#4099931)

New?

8. Roger Cedeno's Spleen Posted: April 07, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4099936)

If you hit one like that, you should be able to peek a little...

9. Lassus Posted: April 07, 2012 at 01:16 PM (#4099939)

I picked up Cespedes in a far too-early round of my draft, but I think it's going to pay off quite well.

10. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: April 07, 2012 at 01:22 PM (#4099944)

We should be talking about Cespedes! He's so quick to the ball. He's going to struggle at first with MLB breaking stuff

I say #### you Jobu. I do it myself

11. Xander Posted: April 07, 2012 at 02:22 PM (#4099968)

He's kind of awesome.

12. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4099989)

I didn't realize he was a CF. Is he meant to stick there?

13. Darren

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4099996)

It seemed like a rather mundane reaction--don't change a thing, Yoenis, and you'll fit in just fine here in the states.

...especially since the A’s were trailing 5-0 at the time...

Yeah, this made it 5-2. What a complete meaningless homer in a blowout. How dare he enjoy it at all.

14. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 07, 2012 at 03:04 PM (#4099998)

I didn't realize he was a CF. Is he meant to stick there?

Far as I can tell, yup. He can run good, too.

15. Danny Posted: April 07, 2012 at 03:05 PM (#4099999)

That was fun. And I like that he and Crisp have a little celebratory routine already despite Yo taking his CF spot.

16. Dave Spiwak Posted: April 07, 2012 at 03:11 PM (#4100000)

That didn’t please Seattle pitcher Jason Vargas at all

Are there times when 462 foot homers do please the pitcher?

17. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 04:51 PM (#4100035)

Larry might not be kidding. It seemed strange for the A's to ante up 36 mil for him after dumping young players for cheaper prospects. Trading him for such wouldn't be out of character for Beane.

Admiring a HR is probably less pleasing when a rookie does it, too.

Since they moved Crisp out of CF to put him there, I imagine he will stick

18. mex4173 Posted: April 07, 2012 at 05:01 PM (#4100043)

If that was showboating, what does that make the extend high-five lineup as Cespedes heads for the dugout?

19. Danny Posted: April 07, 2012 at 05:14 PM (#4100045)

Larry might not be kidding.

He's not kidding; he's trolling.

20. smileyy Posted: April 07, 2012 at 05:42 PM (#4100052)

All other things being equal, if I'm a pitcher, I'd rather give up a 462' HR than a 380' one.

21. Champions Table Posted: April 07, 2012 at 06:57 PM (#4100088)

I gave up a grand slam in a slow-pitch softball game. I'll cop to thinking it was kind of cool.

22. puck Posted: April 07, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4100092)

He's not kidding; he's trolling.

No way. Larry makes that joke all the time. If there's anything wrong with it, it's a bit old, but that's never stopped anyone else at BBTF.

23. Panned Handle Posted: April 07, 2012 at 07:17 PM (#4100094)

All other things being equal, if I'm a pitcher, I'd rather give up a 462' HR than a 380' one.

"
A 462' HR provides for a much better story for Vargas, "So up steps Cespedes, I groove my best fastball and..."

24. Darren

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4100099)

....A bam, he hits a 462 feet! Then he watches it, you know, like every single other player in baseball would have. Then I read next day in the paper that I'm mad about it?"

25. tshipman

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 07:55 PM (#4100106)

No way. Larry makes that joke all the time. If there's anything wrong with it, it's a bit old, but that's never stopped anyone else at BBTF.

Is it really a joke to type the same thing in every thread about a player? It's at the Yun Taragoshi level of humor.

26. John DiFool2 Posted: April 07, 2012 at 07:57 PM (#4100108)

<nm>

27. Squash Posted: April 07, 2012 at 08:33 PM (#4100120)

No way. Larry makes that joke all the time. If there's anything wrong with it, it's a bit old, but that's never stopped anyone else at BBTF.

It's trolling because it's done with the intent to annoy people.

It's at the Yun Taragoshi level of humor.

I somehow completely missed this. Who/what is Yun Taragoshi?

28. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) Posted: April 07, 2012 at 09:01 PM (#4100125)

I didn't realize he was a CF. Is he meant to stick there?

Sure didn't look like one yesterday.

29. Darren

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 09:56 PM (#4100132)

I somehow completely missed this. Who/what is Yun Taragoshi?

Are you the biggest idiot ever?

30. cardsfanboy

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 10:22 PM (#4100140)

That was showboating????? WTF. That is a swing that caused him to get unbalanced, and by the time he was able to get his balance, the ball was reaching escape velocity, and he was pretty sure it was gone and watched it. Grand total of two, maybe two and a half seconds.

I'm a Cardinal fan, Albert would still be watching that thing. So would Howard or Fielder or any of the other big blasters under 33 years old. I could understand a Mariner pitcher being upset by that, because that thing is likely to go farther than the combined distance of one time through his lineup.

31. frannyzoo Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:26 PM (#4100151)

Ain't watching, but I wonder if he gazed at this latest one. M's up 7-0 with King Felix and now only up 8-7.

32. Chokeland Bill Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:30 PM (#4100153)

Cespedes just homered again. So far he's pretty much the ultimate in all or nothing, 3 homers, a double, and 7 strikeouts. Pretty decent AB this time, didn't chase out of the zone and worked to a 2-0 count, then killed a fastball.

33. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:35 PM (#4100154)

That ball was demolished. The tour of the bases was hardly an especially long one. Using the video clock it was about 23 seconds and I don't remember who was doing the home run trot tracker but I seem to recall that being a fairly ordinary length of time.

But seriously, holy bleeping bleep that ball was tattooed. This guy is some kind of powerful. I know he wasn't the best player ever but the swing, strength and the speed package brought Wily Mo Pena to mind.

Related only because of the link to the video but I get MLB looking to make money but why do I have to a watch a 15 second commercial before each freakin' video. There has to be a less intrusive way that gets MLB some ad money AND makes it a bit more enticing to the fans who want to see the video. I find I have to really want to see a video clip to sit through the video. If I were a company advertising I'd try and do something where the video comes up immediately or at least a lot quicker than that. A 15 second commercial to watch ultimately 5-6 seconds of video in a lot of cases stops being worth it.

34. cardsfanboy

Posted: April 07, 2012 at 11:46 PM (#4100160)

If I were a company advertising I'd try and do something where the video comes up immediately or at least a lot quicker than that. A 15 second commercial to watch ultimately 5-6 seconds of video in a lot of cases stops being worth it.

Just put out the commercial with the catch phrase "Step into a Slim Jim!!" "Bud-wei-ser" (yes I'm old school) "Where's the Beef"(although that commercial failed to identify Wendy's and possibly hurt them) etc.....

35. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: April 08, 2012 at 12:37 AM (#4100166)

It's trolling because it's done with the intent to annoy people.

That's not my intent. It may be the outcome, but it's not the intent.

I'll stop doing it when the site stops being Political Flamewar Factory. Until then, I don't think I should be the only one to censor myself.

36. Squash Posted: April 08, 2012 at 12:38 AM (#4100167)

Are you the biggest idiot ever?

Ah. Apparently so.

37. Squash Posted: April 08, 2012 at 12:43 AM (#4100169)

According to ESPN's player page, Cespedes is on pace to hit 122 HRs with 284 RBIs. He'll also strike out 284 times with 0 walks.

38. Athletic Supporter gangnam style Posted: April 08, 2012 at 01:31 AM (#4100172)

God, this team ####### sucks.

39. Monty Posted: April 08, 2012 at 01:34 AM (#4100174)

I'll stop doing it when the site stops being Political Flamewar Factory. Until then, I don't think I should be the only one to censor myself.

So because there are threads that are annoying, you're going to make posts that are annoying in other threads? Hey, thanks!

40. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 02:15 AM (#4100177)

It's because Larry's a racist. Duh.

That's one of the harder hit balls I recall seeing in the recent past. Not only was it gone, it left the stadium on a straight line. Not many 468 foot frozen ropes, but this is one of them.

41. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 02:35 AM (#4100181)

I'll stop doing it when the site stops being Political Flamewar Factory. Until then, I don't think I should be the only one to censor myself.

Unlike Ronald Reagan, we refuse to negotiate with terrorists.

42. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 08:52 AM (#4100211)

You know else wanted everyone to be on the Yankees?? Hitler!!!!

43. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:17 AM (#4100216)

So because there are threads that are annoying, you're going to make posts that are annoying in other threads? Hey, thanks!

44. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:27 AM (#4100220)

Talking completely out of my ass here, but at some point the A's have to hold on to some players, and Cespedes at 9m a year isn't that steep considering their lack of offense otherwise, especially at a prime defensive position. Crisp was roughly replacement level last year (-.1 fangraphs WAR) and other than Jemile Weeks and maybe Josh Reddick they don't have that much by way of above average offensive talent. Given that they seem to still be developing pitchers well, maybe the way back to relevance is spending some lucre on hitters rather than trying to trade in for prospects?

45. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:33 AM (#4100225)

Oh, and baseball related Commie Cuba comment: when do we finally see a Cuban WBC team where the defectors can come back and play for their nation again? 2017? 2021? 2013 after the Castros croak this year and baseball is included in a Burma-style political reform?

46. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:43 AM (#4100231)

That's not my intent. It may be the outcome, but it's not the intent.

I never considered that you might not be trying to be annoying with those posts. Obviously if you weren't actually a Yankee fan it would not be as annoying.

47. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:55 AM (#4100239)

Obviously if you weren't actually a Yankee fan it would not be as annoying.

Says the ~~Phillies~~Hitler fan.

48. Swedish Chef Posted: April 08, 2012 at 10:04 AM (#4100243)

2013 after the Castros croak this year and baseball is included in a Burma-style political reform?

2014: Bud Selig buys newly leaderless Cuba and renames it Training Camp One.

49. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 08, 2012 at 10:13 AM (#4100244)

Hey, I became a Phillies fan when their highest-paid players were Curt Schilling, Gregg Jefferies, Mark Portugal, Rico Brogna and Mark Leiter. Of course then they were receiving Bolshevik Bud's cronyism subsidies stolen at gunpoint from the hardworking job creators, so truly there is no good scenario.

50. Danny Posted: April 08, 2012 at 11:21 AM (#4100255)

Amusing yourself by annoying other people is trolling.

Crisp was roughly replacement level last year (-.1 fangraphs WAR)

That's this year. Last year he was an averagish 2.2.

51. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 11:24 AM (#4100258)

Oh, my mistake! I was talking even more out of my ass than I had thought! Still, he probably loses a lot of value moving to a corner OF slot.

52. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: April 08, 2012 at 12:49 PM (#4100288)

I think you guys have failed to understand who the butt of that joke is.

53. The Keith Law Blog Blah Blah (battlekow) Posted: April 08, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4100376)

I'm saying that it's one ####### post and maybe you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch over it. It doesn't keep you from talking about Cespedes. But as soon as someone starts talking about communist Cuba or something, it's thread ####### over. If you don't like it, just ####### ignore it. I'm going to keep doing it, because it makes me chuckle.

Christ Larry, it's one fucking post and maybe you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch over it. If you don't like it, just fucking ignore it.

54. Monty Posted: April 08, 2012 at 05:21 PM (#4100508)

No, I'm saying that it's one ####### post and maybe you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch over it. It doesn't keep you from talking about Cespedes. But as soon as someone starts talking about communist Cuba or something, it's thread ####### over. If you don't like it, just ####### ignore it.

You need to calm down. If you're going to deliberately post things you know are inflammatory, people are occasionally going to comment on that fact.

55. MikeTorrez Posted: April 08, 2012 at 08:13 PM (#4100632)

I actually find Larry's trolling to be funny.

56. Lassus Posted: April 08, 2012 at 09:15 PM (#4100657)

No, I'm saying that it's one ####### post and maybe you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch over it. It doesn't keep you from talking about Cespedes. But as soon as someone starts talking about communist Cuba or something, it's thread ####### over. If you don't like it, just ####### ignore it. I'm going to keep doing it, because it makes me chuckle.

Larry's amusement looks like cat's claws to the eyeballs.

Christ Larry, it's one ####### post and maybe you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch over it. If you don't like it, just ####### ignore it.

Larry can't wait to see the Mets' 3-0 record on the Yankees.

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Saturday, April 07, 2012

Kaduk: Yoenis Cespedes hits mammoth homer, later acts sheepish for showboating

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