stranger things

We should have known it was going to be an unusual week on Monday, when Brian Dozier ripped a base-loaded double for Minnesota, accounting for all the Twins’ runs in a 3-2 win against Texas. That was especially noteworthy because the former Southern Miss star is one of those rare major leaguers who does NOT hit well with the bases loaded. He was 5-for-41 since 2012. The big hit Monday also doubled Dozier’s RBI total for the season. Of course, we were only getting started. On Tuesday, Ole Miss alum Chris Coghlan did his high-flying act for Toronto, soaring over St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina to land on home plate. It was hard to miss that highlight. On Wednesday, ex-UM standout Seth Smith scored a so-called “Little League home run” for Baltimore after a simple single to right field. Smith circled the bases as Tampa Bay fielders threw the ball all over the place trying to nail a runner, Ryan Flaherty, at third base. That highlight got a lot of play, too. This brings us to Thursday night and to Kendall Graveman, the Mississippi State product who pitches for Oakland. All he did was turn an unassisted double play, tagging out a Los Angeles Angels runner between third and home and then getting another as he slid into third. “That’s probably the best play I’ve ever seen a pitcher make, hurdling over a defender to get the second out unassisted,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told The Associated Press. It was the first unassisted DP by an A’s pitcher since the immortal Blue Moon Odom turned the trick in 1971. What could possibly happen today? Can’t hardly wait.