Old Time Family Baseball

Since MLB won’t let me embed any video, click here to see Gabe Gross’ amazing home run saving catch from today’s Athletics-Tigers game.

In large part due to Gross’ catch, Brett Anderson was better than anyone hoped in his first start since April 25th. On a strict pitch count, Anderson went 5.2 innings and shutout the Tigers.  Anderson said of the catch:

“That’s probably the greatest play I’ve ever had anyone make behind me in a game. I was so sure it was gone that I had turned back around — I thought it was a homer until they threw the ball back in from the outfield. I had to watch the replay.”

I’m guessing that Gabe is drinking for free tonight.

On a more depressing note, the Tigers designated Dontrelle Willis after the game to make room for Max Scherzer. Willis’ ERA has crept up to 4.98 and his K/BB ratio is an unacceptable 33/29. Still, when Willis was good, his high leg kick and broad smile made him one of the most exciting players to watch. Now that anxiety and mechanical issues have crept in, it looks like one baseball’s best pitchers is done. When he made the rotation out of spring training I had hopes that we were in the second age of Dontrelle Willis, but the truth is he’s probably at the end of the line.