Home Run Derby

Another day, another Walk Off Home Run.  This time in extra innings, Hunter Pence delivers the fatal blow to the Milwaukee Brewers.  The second time in three days a Houston Astro has walked away with the coveted HRoD award.

The funny thing here is everything in the game was just a little weird, or more to the point, predicated on poor execution.  The Astros were lucky to even get to extra innings.  Eric Gagne had a horrible ninth to blow the save with a game tying walk Lance Berkman.  Gagne’s line 1 IP, 2HA, 3BB, 2ER, 0K. 

Hunter Pence wasn’t really any better before the 12th as he nearly had himself a Golden Sombrero as he was 0 for 5 with 3 strike outs to that point.  Even if you look at the video, the swing was everything you teach your kids not to do: His hips fly open, he has poor weight transition and appears to lose his balance.  It was the case of the ball hitting the bat, not the bat hitting the ball.  It seems the MLB has given up the embedding of video (no more menu to try), but I highly suggest taking a look at the video.  Crappy swing or not,  Hunter Pence you are the HRoD Honoree!