#HIGHFIVE | Mookie & Judge Still Reign, But Tommy Pham Was Real Active And Josh Bell Is Loving Miami

#HIGHFIVE | Mookie & Judge Still Reign, But Tommy Pham Was Real Active And Josh Bell Is Loving Miami

by | Aug 25, 2023 | THE LEAD OFF

Ahead of Mookie Betts’ return to Boston for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he went off!

He is riding the wave of an 11-game hitting streak with hits in 26 of their last 27 games and had the 28th multi-homer game of his career Saturday night.  That earned him the top spot on the Week 20 #HighFive list.

 

1. Mookie Betts

 


Mookie Betts, who recorded the second five-hit game of his career Thursday, has a 6.5 WAR rating which is tied for the highest in the Majors.

 

He was given the honor of being named Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlights after the show he put on in front of the Dodger faithful Saturday night.

 

Betts had the fifth multi-home run game of his season, hitting two solo shots in the third and then fifth innings, both times shouting out NBA superstar LeBron James with salutes as he crossed home plate. 

 

The Dodgers would go on to win 3-1 and take the series against the surging Marlins.

 

Los Angeles is now 8-2 over their last 10 games and have a sizable 10 game lead in the National League West.

 

 

Over his last seven games, Betts is hitting .615 with three home runs, seven RBI, two steals, a slugging percentage of 1.038 and has an on base percentage at .643.

The 2018 American League MVP and World Series Champion will bring his Dodgers to Boston for a series against the Red Sox this weekend.

 

2. Josh Bell

 


Josh Bell has been raking since being moved to South Beach, earning himself another appearance on our #HighFive list.

 

He already made history in a Marlins uniform, becoming the first player ever to hit seven home runs in his first 18 games with the franchise.

 

Josh Bell Walked Into Padres Office After Being Traded to Miami Marlins & Said, “Here We Go Again.”

 

Since the August 1st trade deadline Bell is slashing .303/.376/.618 with those seven home runs, three doubles and 12 RBI.

 

Miami entered Thursday two games out of the final National League Wild Card playoff spot as they welcome the scrappy Washington Nationals to town this weekend before a matchup with state bragging rights on the line against Tampa Bay next week.

 

3. Tommy Pham

 

 

Tommy Pham has been a spark plug for the D-Backs since joining them at the trade deadline.

Arizona is one of the younger, more athletic teams in the Majors.

They have a solid pitching rotation but were in need of a right-handed bat to take pressure off the young guys and add more slugging to their lineup.

 

Tommy Pham Keeps Cranking Clutch Hits After Fans Cross The Line Yet Again

 

Pham has been their three-hole hitter since joining the team and this week he came up big: conquering trolling fans and collecting his first walk-off hit in his new threads.

 

Last Saturday in game one of a doubleheader in San Diego, Pham was recorded having a shouting match with fans behind home plate. That day, he went a combined 3-for-8 with his 13th home run of the year, a triple and a double.

 

Then came Tuesday where with his team down one with runners on second and third with two outs, Pham singled over the head of Marcus Semien to walk off the Rangers for a 4-3 victory.

 

4. Aaron Judge

 

Aaron Judge returns to the #HighFive list after having his first career three home run game Wednesday night against the Nationals. This season has been a disaster for the Yankees, but Judge continues to be the lone bright spot when healthy and available. 

He is hitting .279 with a 1.051 slugging percentage and 28 home runs on the season.

 

 

Major changes could be coming to New York this off-season so the question will be can they add talent around Judge to make the World Series contenders again or do they pull the plug and clean house for a much needed rebuild.

 

5. Tyrone Taylor

 

Tyrone Taylor, the hottest hitter on the hottest team in the Majors rounds out the #HighFive after a week that saw him slash .500/.565.900 and have a game tying homer.

 

“He is finally at full strength,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell when asked what has contributed to Taylor’s recent success.

“Earlier this year he was not healthy.  Since he has shaken off the injuries, I think the trajectory will continue to go up for him.”

 

Wednesday afternoon against the Twins Taylor hit a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 7th inning to even the score at six. The team would go on to win 8-7 in extras, their fifth win in a row and seventh in the last 10 games. The Brew Crew has a chance to spoil Trent Grisham and San Diego’s playoff chances this weekend when the teams meet for a three-game set.

 

#HighFive |Top 5 Black & Brown Players (Week 20)

#HighFive |Top 5 Black & Brown Players (Week 20)

by | Aug 27, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

Giancarlo Stanton has been the hottest hitter on the hottest team on the planet as he has his Yankees back in playoff contention.  For that, he takes the top spot on Week 20 of our #HighFive list.

 

Giancarlo Stanton Is An Unmatched Force of Nature | Yankees Fans Owe Him An Apology

 

1. Giancarlo Stanton

Since the trade deadline last month the Yankees have been one of the best teams in baseball and that’s in large part due to the play of former National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton took the number four spot on our #HighFive list last week, but climbed into the top spot after hitting four home runs with eight RBI, a .348 batting average and .957 slugging percentage.

 

Entering Thursday Stanton has recorded hits in 12 out of 13 games and he torched the Atlanta Braves pitching staff during their quick two game series, including roping a two-run double down the left field line in the 6th inning of Monday’s game to break a 1-1 tie.

 

Stanton has made the move from full time Designated Hitter to playing Left field in order to get the best out of what now is a deep Yankees roster, and his ability to not be a liability on defense has been just as key as his play with the bat in his hand.

 

This weekend Stanton and his Yankees will play four against Bay Area Bros Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp in Oakland.

 

2. Marcus Semien

The American League starter at second base in this year’s All-Star Game deserves to take home an American League Silver Slugger award this season.  Marcus Semien takes the number two spot on this week’s #High/Five list after putting on a power display Wednesday.

 

Semien gave Blue Jays fans a show when he hit two home runs in a three hit performance during Thursday’s game, giving him 32 on the season.

Over his last seven games Semien is batting .276 with a .621 slugging percentage and five RBI as Toronto sits just five games back of a spot in the Wild Card play-in game.

 

Semien and his Blue Jays are heading to Motown for a series against the Detroit Tigers and Rookie of the Year candidate Akil “The Real Deal” Baddoo.

 

3. Tim Anderson

The hero of the Field of Dreams Game takes the number three spot on our Week 20 #HighFive list.

Tim Anderson has recorded his in 11 of his last 12 games with seven of those being multi-hit performances including getting three in four different games.

Anderson has a batting average of .375 with six RBI, a home run and 12 total hits over his last seven games.

He dealt with a few Injury List stints earlier this season, but for the most part has been one of the most consistent players in the Majors while helping his White Sox cruise into the final month of the season with a lead in the American League Central.

 

He is currently 7th spot in the MLB Batting Title race and his .303 batting average is the highest for any shortstop in baseball.

This weekend TA7 AKA “Timmy Spice” will participate in the Battle for Chi-Town as his White Sox take on the Cubs.

 

4. Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge seems to always find himself on our #High/Five list and each honor has been well earned as he has been a legitimate American League MVP throughout the entire season.

This week Judge batted .273, hit a home run and drew six walks as his Yankees have been in the win column 11 games in a row.

 

During this season Judge and Stanton have been the most important pieces in the Yankees lineup, and they will have to carry the offense over the last month of the season if they want to secure a playoff spot.

 

 

5. Josh Bell

Josh Bell has quietly had an impressive season despite the overall performance of the Nationals.

He struggled at the beginning of August, but over his last nine games he has seen his average rise a bit.

 

Bell decided to show he was a savage in the batter’s box Wednesday in sunny South Beach against the Miami Marlins when he hit his twenty first home run of the season to end a shutout and tie the game at two a piece in the seventh inning.

Over his last seven games Bell has six RBI, drawn five walks, hit two home runs and has a .393 on base percentage.

 

This weekend Bell and his Nationals will travel upstate to New York to take on the Mets where it is likely he will face Black Knight Marcus Stroman on Saturday