Yearly presently, we marvel on the many artistic methods baseball gamers discover to make an look on the ever-popular Unusual However True Accidents of the Yr leaderboard.
So we’d prefer to thank this yr’s baseball inhabitants for … cooking breakfast … taking part in the piano … and doing their finest to get out and in of their lodge lavatory safely. However you recognize what’s particularly superb? None of these mishaps even topped this record!
Actually? Sure, actually. So right here they arrive, the Strangest However Truest Accidents of 2023.
First prize: Eye confess!
We at all times award Harm of the Yr bonus factors to guys who handle to get damage whereas they’re already damage. So right here’s to Rays reduction warrior Pete Fairbanks, who couldn’t even cowl up the Giannis imitation that bought him into this mess.
When Fairbanks met with the Rays’ media delegation in June after coming back from a stint on the injured record with hip irritation, he introduced a blinding black eye with him — and one of many nice How I Did This tales of the twenty first century.
Seems this might occur to you, too, if you happen to strive dunking in your 3-year-old within the pool.
“I pulled the pool basketball hoop down onto my face after dunking on a 3-year-old,” Fairbanks confessed, “to form of train him an early lesson in life that, while you’re within the paint, you can’t be caught unawares beneath the rim.”
To which we are able to solely hope his son stated: Ship it in, Jerome!
Second prize: It’s all of the alarm clock’s fault!
Yusei Kikuchi actually wants his Z’s. (Wealthy Storry / USA Right now)
We’ve at all times considered Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi as a sleeping big.
Little did we all know!
Why did he make an early exit from a terrific September begin at Yankee Stadium? As a result of he cramped up, he stated, after getting “solely” 11 hours’ sleep — versus his regular 12 to 14 hours. So he could not lead the league in shutouts. However what the heck. It’s important to love his possibilities of main the league in shuteye. And if this can be a sleep objective of yours, T-shirts can be found!
Third prize: While you (and your again) have gotta go
When Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria strained his again final July, he was alleged to miss solely per week or so. So why did it flip into three weeks? As a result of, by his account, he aggravated his again getting up off the bathroom in a lodge lavatory in San Francisco.
So that you thought making outs may very well be hazardous to a baseball participant’s profession, huh? Be careful for the outhouse!
Fourth prize: There goes his stroll ratio
Tony Gonsolin walks off the mound, efficiently, throughout a begin in July. (Jerome Miron / USA Right now)
Want extra proof that almost all spring coaching drills are overrated? Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin headed off to a routine fielding drill throughout spring coaching final March — and bought by way of the fielding half advantageous. Seems it was his exit technique that he ought to have been engaged on.
He tripped strolling off the sector, sprained his ankle and missed the primary 4 weeks of the season. However was all of it price it? He didn’t make an error all season!
Fifth prize: They’d loads of time to be an excellent better dad
Lastly, there have been so many nice moments in fatherhood this season … that led to not-so-great moments in attempting to make it onto the sector … so we’re rounding them up right here. If their households print this and body it, it ought to make for a beautiful Father’s Day reward.
• Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani fractured his toe … taking part in the piano together with his son!
• Adam Wainwright burned his finger … cooking breakfast for his son!
• Josh Donaldson sliced his thumb … whereas assembling a toy for his daughter!
All that appears troublesome. However hey, not less than they didn’t strive dunking on their youngsters within the pool.
The Yr in Unusual However True
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(Prime picture of Pete Fairbanks: Patrick Smith / Getty Photos)