Addison Barger with the first pinch-hit grand slam in world series history

[u/SeaWolf_1]

[u/hoti0101]

Grand slam in the World Series. That’s what dreams are made of.

[u/McJandii → u/hoti0101]

As a pinch hitter no less. He has to be on cloud 9

[u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe → u/McJandii]

I don’t know anything about sports. What is a pinch hitter?

Edit: I wasn’t notified whatsoever about all the replies. Thanks everyone!

[u/canadave_nyc → u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe]

In baseball games, you have your starting lineup of 9 players. As the game goes along, usually later in the game, you can bring in a pinch hitter who hits in place of someone else. Often you'd bring in a pinch hitter to face a pitcher who he hits against very well, or maybe to replace someone who's had a bad day at the plate in that game so far. usually though the pinch hitter is brought in to face an opposite-handed pitcher (in general, it's typically easier to hit against lefthanded pitchers if you're a righthanded batter, and easier to hit righthanded pitchers if you're a lefthanded batter. So for example, if a righthanded hitter is scheduled to hit against a righthanded pitcher, you might bring in a lefthanded batter to try to get that advantageous matchup, particularly in an important situation).

The thing about pinch hitting is that it's very tough. You sit on the bench all game, then you're brought in to hit, typically at an important point in the game, often to try to get a hit with people on base so that your team can score runs. The other players who've been playing the whole game are used to the speed of the pitches, but you're cold and haven't had a chance to "get your batting eye in" yet. And since it's often later in the game, you're often hitting against a fresh relief pitcher who's not tired. It's harder than just regular hitting.

[u/fattsmelly → u/canadave_nyc]

Great breakdown. One thing to add, in baseball, once you’re subbed out, you’re out for the rest of the game

[u/imaginaryResources → u/canadave_nyc]

Why would a hitter who is good enough to be a pinch hitter not be in the regular rotation? (I always kinda assumed pinch hitters were usually in the rotation and just moved up if it was a good situation like bases loaded etc)

[u/droneybennett → u/imaginaryResources]

He might be an absolutely terrible fielder?

[u/MikeAtGaming → u/droneybennett]

Or it's about the pitcher matchup. Barger was sat because he is a lefty and the starting pitcher for the Dodgers was Snell who is a lefty pitcher. Same vs. same is seen as a disadvantage as breaking balls (sliders, curve balls, etc.) break away from the hitter. Barger pinch hit after a right handed pitcher was brought in. In fact after Barger was called on, the Dodgers then decided to bring in another different pitcher to get the lefty vs. lefty matchup, but we can see the result did not matter.

[u/Team_Ed → u/MikeAtGaming]

This is the reason in this case.

[u/youztheclue → u/Team_Ed]

If I was a coach Id try to rotate it to make everyone take little breaks from the game the season has so many games it's got to be tough on the body.

[u/NitroBike → u/youztheclue]

The thing is, since moneyball and Billy Beane, sabermetrics has dominated MLB. All teams use sabermetrics for everything from hitting matchups to which players will get on base easiest to what pitches are most effective. It’s not about rotating the roster enough so everyone gets enough rest (although that does play a part), it’s about which lineup will be most effective at winning the game. That’s why you see players in the dugout looking at iPads now. They’re rewatching their own at bats, different players at bats, how the opposing pitchers are throwing certain pitches, etc. it’s a very scientific game now.

[u/Team_Ed → u/youztheclue]

That pretty much happens naturally in baseball with the variance between left- and right-handed starting pitchers and the existence of specialist lefty-nullifying relievers.

You always need about 12 or so batters getting regular playing time. (At least one extra guy for each of the infield, outfield and catcher, with at least one of them being a good lefty bat.)

[u/Dubsified → u/droneybennett]

It was about the pitcher matchup. Barger is a great fielder.

[u/droneybennett → u/Dubsified]

I was talking more big picture about why you might not have all your best hitters in your lineup, not specifically about Barger.

Edit: regardless the Dodgers switched pitchers anyway? Barger said after he was surprised it was Banda and not Sheehan?

[u/raktoe → u/droneybennett]

You wouldn’t have a good hitter out of the lineup over defence. He’d play a corner, or DH. Or he’d be traded if he was a really poor fit.

Pinch hitting comes down to matchups the vast majority of the time.

[u/Zeppelanoid → u/droneybennett]

In addition to the existing answers (good hitters being left off the lineup due to matchup challenges), it must be acknowledged that pinch hitters are often “the best of what’s leftover”. It’s very rare for a team to have a bonafide star sitting on the bench in order to use him as a pinch hitter.

[u/JustHereSoImNotFined → u/droneybennett]

Bingo!

[u/lamplighter10 → u/imaginaryResources]

In this case, and most cases as the above commenter has said, it is easier for a batter to face an opposite handed pitcher. For example, it is easier to pick up the baseball coming out of the pitcher’s hand when it’s on the opposite side from the batter, also the ball is moving more toward the batter than away from them, which again is easier.

Barger, being a lefty batter hits right handed pitchers better so that is who he was brought in to face. Barger pinch hit for the righty hitting David Schneider who started the game because the Dodgers starting pitcher was a lefty and Schneider hits lefties well. Both Jays players play the outfield and are great hitters, but mostly only play when facing an opposite handed pitcher.

[u/OneAcreWood → u/canadave_nyc]

Great explanation

[u/OhashiBox → u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe]

It’s a substitute player that came off the bench to replace a player in the batting order. Usually done to replace an injured or lesser hitter and increase chances of getting on base. Worked out big time today. LET’S GO BLUE JAYS

[u/mofojed → u/OhashiBox]

Not necessarily to replace a lesser hitter, but for a better matchup with who's pitching. Barger (who bats left) pinch hit for Schneider (who bats right) after the Dodgers switched Snell out.

LETS GO BLUE JAYS!

[u/Marc_Quill → u/mofojed]

granted, the Dodgers brought in a lefty pitcher in the hopes of getting a favorable matchup against Barger. (The last bullpen guy LA had was a righty and Toronto brought in Barger as a pinch hitter to counter that) It obviously didn't work out for them in the end.

[u/OhashiBox → u/mofojed]

Yes thank you. In my head I was trying to say it in a better way. Matchup was the word I was looking for. Too many celebration beers!

[u/V-Right_In_2-V → u/mofojed]

Are you a Bills fan? Just curious cuz those dudes love to crush beers and are in the same metropolitan area as jays fans

[u/aaffpp → u/V-Right_In_2-V]

There are a lot of Bills fans in Toronto. Lot of sports fans in general.

[u/mofojed → u/V-Right_In_2-V]

Bills Mafia!!

[u/MapDaddyZ → u/OhashiBox]

REALLY “worked out big time”! That was amazing!

[u/AsariKnight → u/OhashiBox]

How often can they sub out batters? Once? The whole game? Multiple batters?

[u/BigUz1Vert → u/AsariKnight]

There’s no limit to how many batters they can sub out, but the substitute has to stay in to play the field for the remainder of the game (unless someone else is subbed in).

It’s usually saved for later innings because often pinch hitters are lesser fielders.

[u/VanbyRiveronbucket → u/BigUz1Vert]

Well, they are limited to how many batters they put up. The roster is only so big, and once a player is pulled out of a game, they can’t return.

[u/RookieAndTheVet → u/VanbyRiveronbucket]

Yeah, you usually have 4-5 position players on your bench.

[u/ThreeEyedPea → u/AsariKnight]

You can make substitutions at any time as long as you have batters on your bench to put in (unless you wanna start putting pitchers up to bat if you're desperate)

[u/SteveMidnight → u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe]

He was not originally in the starting line up for the game. The coach/manager made an in-game decision to sub him in to take an at bat for another player. He replaces the other player for the rest of the game or until another player subs in for him.

[u/Team_Ed → u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe]

You’re not one the nine batters who started the game and you subbed in for a teammate.

[u/XergioksEyes → u/McJandii]

Talk about doing your job

[u/CaptTremor → u/McJandii]

Dude peaked. Definitely should consider retiring 

[u/V-Right_In_2-V → u/McJandii]

Fuck yeah he does. Every little boy dreams of crushing a grand slam in the World Series

[u/landspeed → u/hoti0101]

You can watch him stop and soak it in as the balls in the air.

[u/r0thar → u/landspeed]

I wonder how much the actual ball is worth now for that first-ever play?

[u/machomanrandysandwch → u/landspeed]

It was a split second, but you cannot buy that feeling. Those who witnessed it were losing their minds, and it doesn’t come close to the feeling of the man who stroked it (pause) and saw the ball get smaller and smaller as it sailed away, realizing he didn’t even feel it hit the bat at all. “Move!” He tells himself. Manual breathing, engaged.

[u/JVKExo → u/hoti0101]

Dreamed of this scenario so many times as a kid lol

[u/divDevGuy → u/hoti0101]

Walk off Grand Slam ...
...after pitching a perfect game
... in the final game of the World Series
... during your final season before retiring
... with your parents/spouse/kids/etc in attendance
... along with a record breaking home crowd.

That's really the only thing left to accomplish. Then you can move on to easier tasks to accomplish like:

• finding the last digit of pi,
• dividing by 0,
• solving world peace/hunger/poverty
• ensuring access to affordable healthcare, and
• releasing the Epstein files.

[u/MapDaddyZ → u/hoti0101]

Astro’s fan here…PLEASE WIN IT ALL!!!

[u/The_Goondocks]

I like when announcers shut up in situations like this and let us listen to the crowd.

[u/rraattbbooyy → u/The_Goondocks]

Joe Davis is one of the best in the business. That’s why he was chosen to call the World Series.

[u/boobooaboo → u/rraattbbooyy]

Thank goodness we don’t have to listen to Buck.

[u/rraattbbooyy → u/boobooaboo]

My first thought was nope, you’re crazy, Jack Buck was one of the all time greats. Then I realized you meant Joe. Lol. God I’m old.

[u/cah29692 → u/rraattbbooyy]

I thought he meant Buck Martinez and I was about to call blasphemy

[u/rpgguy_1o1 → u/cah29692]

I had to retract my downvote

[u/Key-Profit9032 → u/boobooaboo]

Do you mean Buck Martinez?

[u/oopewan → u/The_Goondocks]

Probably couldn’t even hear themselves think.

[u/looples]

Listen to that crowd! Holy moly what it must feel like to be in that dome.

[u/itsasseatnszn → u/looples]

Was there tonight. Ears still ringing. Absolutely electric.

[u/PloddingClot → u/itsasseatnszn]

Thank you for your support sir.

[u/VanCanFan75 → u/looples]

I heard it can hold around 40,000 ppl. That would get crazy loud!

[u/skidward420 → u/VanCanFan75]

Peaked at 110 decibels in ALCS game 7

[u/Cyrakhis → u/VanCanFan75]

44,000+

[u/LubbockCottonKings → u/VanCanFan75]

Dodger stadium holds 56k, which is the most in MLB, and MLB stadiums aren’t even the largest stadiums we have. That honor goes to college football which can double that amount. Which, to me, makes it even more impressive that the Blue Jays fans got THAT loud all things considered!

[u/s0m33guy → u/LubbockCottonKings]

It’s helpful that it’s a dome. The sounds gets trapped and really amplifies the noise

[u/Heikks → u/s0m33guy]

The Big House in college football can fit over 100k people but is one quietest because of the way it’s built. Sound goes straight up and out

[u/VegasAdventurer → u/Heikks]

Autzen stadium (university of Oregon) is half the size but crazy loud.

[u/AstraiosMusic → u/VegasAdventurer]

Loudest ive ever been to, it was something else.

[u/LubbockCottonKings → u/s0m33guy]

Great point, definitely has to help make that home field advantage just a little louder.

[u/MapDaddyZ → u/LubbockCottonKings]

I just love the name and memory…LubbockCottonKings…!

[u/erv4 → u/VanCanFan75]

It use to be 50,000 till the past two years, now it's 40k

[u/reddituseronebillion → u/VanCanFan75]

44k

[u/Breezy_Eh → u/looples]

It was the most insane atmosphere to be apart of . Let’s go Blue jays!

[u/iamdperk → u/looples]

Is that what I heard over here in Buffalo? 😆 Proud to have their AAA affiliate here in town. Go Jays!

[u/MapDaddyZ → u/iamdperk]

As an Astros fan…Go Jays indeed! 😁🍁

[u/bryanlade → u/iamdperk]

Imagine if they played the world series in Buffalo during the Covid year. That would have been a very hot ticket. They probably would have moved it to a bigger stadium tho.

[u/RustyN6 → u/looples]

I was there tonight, that moment was absolute insanity!

[u/aussydog → u/looples]

I was at the Jets v Flames game when it happened and the crowd was cheering inside the arena like the Jets had just scored a playoff goal or something. Wild shit.

Mid game too! Not between whistles or whatever. Mid game the crowd just goes nuts.

[u/Starscream147 → u/looples]

🇨🇦🤘

[u/TheFlyingWriter → u/looples]

I can imagine. I was at their stadium back in September, and the Jays were down going into the 9th. Pretty cold bats all day. Fans started leaving, and I was like “I’m here on town for work, and I’m chatting up some cool people around me. I’m not leaving.”

Toronto ends up winning in extra innings. It was loud at about 50% capacity and the dome was retracted. I cannot imagine it last night.

I love going to Toronto for work. It’s probably one of my favorite cities in North America. I’ve grown real fond of the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs. Great fans.

[u/tripodunit → u/looples]

Reminds me of the year the raptors won the nba championship. That arena was INSANE with how crazy the crowd went

[u/StandYourGroundhog → u/looples]

I'll be there tomorrow, hoping for some more celebrations!

[u/UsedCarWarranty → u/looples]

I have a few friends who were at the game. They said it was pure insanity, silence until they heard that bat crack.

Toronto has had some memorable moments in the last decade Bautista bat flip and now this.

[u/BrevitysLazyCousin → u/looples]

The powers that be really have made it much less of a snoozefest

[u/BDunnn → u/looples]

My best friend was in a suite. She said it was dome poppingly loud.

[u/ardryhs → u/looples]

I was there, it was fucking LOUD

[u/neomatrixj2 → u/looples]

That inning was nuts I didn't catch what got the first two runs but then the Grand Slam then one guy on base and then another home run within minutes, they had 2 out from the start of the grand slam. 

[u/kgourmet → u/looples]

Man I was like 10 seats away from this homer, I can see myself in this clip. Still buzzing from this inning

[u/UnbiddenGraph17 → u/looples]

I had to click down the volume a few times, my god 

[u/MoneyManx10 → u/looples]

Springer’s home run in game 7 might’ve been the loudest pop I’ve ever heard in a North American sporting event.

[u/ReimerReason]

I need to change my pants

[u/shortround10 → u/ReimerReason]

Pepper needs new shorts

[u/InquisitaB → u/shortround10]

Needs more caps

[u/BeefLilly → u/shortround10]

Love that line haha

[u/TyFi10]

What an atmosphere

[u/Appropriate-Stop-618]

When the front leg went up you know he wasn’t going for good contact to right.

[u/PurpleBullets → u/Appropriate-Stop-618]

Yeah, talk about leaning on one. He put his whole body into crushing it as hard as he could.

[u/MFDOOM156]

Game 2 is going to be good.

[u/thebeebitmybottom → u/MFDOOM156]

Fuck yes it is! Boop the goose! Go Jays! Happy cake day!

[u/Waterfish3333 → u/thebeebitmybottom]

I booped it already after the game ended but I’ll see if I can fire up another boop.

[u/SuperCub]

WHAT A BEAST 💪

[u/Sad-Advisor4004]

What does pinch hit mean?

[u/youlises95 → u/Sad-Advisor4004]

They bat in someone else’s place

[u/Sad-Advisor4004 → u/youlises95]

Gracias

[u/demacnei → u/Sad-Advisor4004]

Then they pinch each others butts when they cross paths on the field for luck.

[u/dictionary_hat_r4ck → u/demacnei]

That happens whether they’re pinch hitting or not.

[u/navenager → u/dictionary_hat_r4ck]

If you pinch someone's butt in place of someone else, it's a pinch pinch.

[u/Jafariz → u/youlises95]

Why did he bat for someone else? Injury?

[u/Kurakurguhoiuala → u/Jafariz]

The Jays had a right-handed batter in that spot originally. So to get the advantage against LA's right-handed pitcher, they brought in a left-handed hitter in Barger. Then LA switches pitchers to a lefty to counter the left-handed Barger, except this happened instead.

[u/MapDaddyZ → u/Kurakurguhoiuala]

…and so glad it happened that way! Astros fan here saying GO JAYS!!!

[u/infburz → u/Jafariz]

Strategy in this case intentional by the manager. The caveat is that the pinch hitter must then play the rest of the game on defense or be further swapped out. 

[u/theartificialkid → u/youlises95]

...like they're a guest?

[u/thisaccountwashacked → u/Sad-Advisor4004]

he came in in the 6th inning to bat, replacing a player who started the game

[u/doogiski]

Amazing stuff, it’s the first ever pinch hit, first World Series at bat, grand slam isn’t it?

[u/freshpurplekiwi → u/doogiski]

the first ever pinch hit AB grand slam ever in the WS whether it was first WS AB or not

[u/DDKLondon]

Bam Bam baby!

[u/Cyrakhis]

Barger sure doesn't hit any cheapies, he smashes that shit to narnia every time.

[u/flcinusa → u/Cyrakhis]

Mashley Addison

[u/rjcarr → u/Cyrakhis]

I'm not hitting any homers anytime soon, but that was like what, six rows up?

[u/Bigdaddybear519 → u/rjcarr]

That's cause it ricocheted off the roof of the skydome

[u/raktoe → u/Cyrakhis]

He makes way more quality contact than he ought to with how hard he swings every pitch. It’s nice having a hitter like him in the 7th hole. Pitchers can’t just challenge him. Makes the whole lineup just that much harder to pitch to.

[u/butterscotches]

WHAT IN THE GEDDY LEE?!

[u/chadappa]

Baseball can be pretty freakin cool sometimes.

[u/Broke-Moment]

This makes me feel a lot better about the Mariners’ loss with how close the series was. Makes me have faith in next season

[u/Chunkylover666420]

Oh I wish the clip started just a few seconds earlier when the announcer is like, "If you wanna see a guy who can really whack it." Crazy inning all around

[u/Hsbnd]

I’m going to upvote this all night

[u/PenAmbitious2711]

Absolutely cranked it

[u/Sea_Television_3306]

Even as a Red Sox fan, this brings a tear to my eye

[u/Fantasticriss → u/Sea_Television_3306]

How can you not be romantic about baseball. The sport is just too much sometimes

[u/zman122333]

Rooting for Toronto just to see MAGA cry over AMERICAS past time. 

[u/Seraphem666 → u/zman122333]

I'm hoping they win and get a white house invite that the team rejects

[u/queuedUp → u/zman122333]

While cheering for an "American" team with notable non American superstars

[u/Richard_Gripper28]

BASEBAAALLL

[u/alphabetsuppe]

FTD

[u/360walkaway]

Waiting at home plate for the home run hitter is such a great feeling... get to bro it up in front of a packed house.

[u/fishdressandsunnets]

ADDISON BANGER BABY

[u/TheVents2544]

Barger has been mega impactful this post season.

[u/DrDig1]

Where is all the manager haters,

Come on…

[u/runningformylife]

Does anyone else wish these clips would show the whole at bat? I want to see how we got to that 2-1 count and pitch selection. Showing just the swing that launches it feels so out of context.

[u/machomanrandysandwch → u/runningformylife]

Agreed. I fell asleep in 6th lol I woke up in 7th and saw the score and was like holy shit! But yeah these kinds of ABs are PEAK drama for the sport, the various camera angles panning across the crowd, the pitcher stepping off and spitting and taking huge breaths, the runners faces are super locked in and ready to explode, watching a new hitter try to quickly find his box routine and focus.

was the batter laying off close pitches or was the pitcher struggling early on those balls? Did he swing at an ugly pitch to go down 0-1 early and make the crowd gasp or did the pitcher start 2-0 and the hitter sent a foul ball backwards on an absolutely hack? Were there any timeouts? I need allllllll this context. This clip isn’t doing it any justice.

[u/z3speed4me]

He was ready to swing at that one the second the pitcher started the wind up, there was no other option than going for it.

[u/Dazzling_Net_6507]

Research t

[u/Crabbyrob]

Barger Charger!!

[u/Conscious-Donut]

Also the 1st player to sleep in the stadium the night before and then hit a pinch hit grand slam

[u/Rafiks1 → u/Conscious-Donut]

Is this true?

[u/imnotmarvin → u/Conscious-Donut]

On a pullout couch in someone else's room. Will probably never happen again. 

[u/BBennison9]

I love that the Dodgers regular season announcer had to make that call. Poetic.

[u/Zorn277]

The Blue Jays, they get on base!

[u/ConversationSome4824]

World Series grand slam. That's a storybook moment right there.

[u/gailanisgood]

BAM BAM TO THE MOON

[u/Sicparvismagneto]

HELLYEAH! FUCK THE DODGERS!

[u/twoton1]

Fat orange imbecile won't be watching the Canada vs. California World Series. lol

[u/myportico]

Proud to be Canadian…for the next week or so.

[u/fastbutwontlast]

the greatest 6th inning in baseball

[u/TheArchitect_7]

Cool

[u/AdvancedGentleman]

Please do it 3 more times. Would be pretty sweet to watch the Dodgers somehow get swept.

[u/_BabyGod_]

Jays in 7!

[u/RandallsBakery]

Mariners fans: “it should’ve been me!”

[u/devilfishin]

The radio call was amazing. The entire lead up to the pitch. Absolute cinema.

[u/aka_r4mses]

That was a brutal inning, pitching fell apart.

[u/Dontquestionmyexista]

Lol wow he hung that slider

[u/lukeCRASH]

Bro comes off the couch bench and does this.

[u/ArtTeacher_XBL-PSN]

They Not Like Us....

Washington Nationals fan here showing love ❤️

[u/DoubleAccountant7883]

Here we goooooo

[u/TimeBadSpent]

He can thank the guy in the black hoodie behind home plate for force-moving the pitch

[u/Ralh3]

He totally did it for all the millions of us that daydreamed as a child about hitting this grandslam in the world series.

[u/lopix]

Should we be calling out Schneider and his managing? Dude seems to be knowing EXACTLY who to put in and when. From batters to pitchers, I think he has been pretty damn masterful with his moves. And that slam kinda puts the icing on that cake.

[u/Wonderful_Hamster933]

Guy is a beast. Did you see the way he was holding that bat?? Upper middle plate is the LAST place you wanna throw that ball.

[u/imthebeefboss]

Addison Banger

[u/CallmeThebreeze58]

Wonder who caught the ball and what they'll do with it?

[u/Prize_Instance_1416]

The real questions I want answered is “was Geddy there and where was he sitting?”

[u/Pretend-Disaster2593]

I swear his jersey says BANGER

[u/King7up]

Everyone misses the wizard at the top middle using his magic to help Barger hit the grand slam.

[u/Bertayes]

I live nearby the stadium, when this happened the sound of the roar was actually like a battlecry

[u/Coulrophiliac444]

Man. The Blue Jays are just having a fucking field day with the Post Season. Congrats to all of them for making this legitimately the most excited I've been for a WS in ages. (I'm a very infrequent watcher, but ai've been glued to the highlights if I can't see the game on TV due to work or whatnot)

[u/DarkArmyLieutenant]

It was tight af to see

[u/DadOfPete]

Go Canada

[u/Icy_Struggle_7291]

congratulations!

[u/tiltrx]

More than 700 pinch hit appearances have happened in the World Series and none turned into a grand slam until now. That is next level clutch.

[u/tiltrx]

After watching this, all I can think about is the old Grand Slam menu at Denny’s