MLB’s Dog Days: The Baseball Community Mourns the Death of Tyler Skaggs
Each week over the summer, UNPLUGG’D Staff Writer Andrew Golden will be bringing you new storylines to follow from America’s Pastime. This week, he writes on the unfortunate passing of Los Angeles’ southpaw
For the past week, baseball fans across the country — but particularly in Los Angeles — have had to cope with the unexpected death of Angels’ pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The left-handed hurler passed away in his hotel room in Texas. While very few details have been released, it appears that there was no foul play involved and Skaggs died in his sleep.
While trying to process the news, I received a text from a friend that said, “Is it me or is baseball the only sport that seems to have tragedies like this?” While these deaths obviously don’t happen to just baseball players, there has been an odd amount of baseball players who have passed away in recent memory.
Since 2009, there have been 12 former baseball players who have passed away from non-baseball related injuries; players as well-known as Roy Halladay and José Fernández to players as unknown as Jose Lima and Greg Halman. In the Angels organization alone, there have been two other pitchers, Nick Adenhart and Tommy Hanson, who have passed away at a young age.
While there have been a lot in recent memory, these deaths have been more a result of freak accidents than one common trend. Regardless of how these deaths occurred, these tragedies allow us to put baseball into perspective.
Because of the popularity of sports in our country, we tend to magnify our athletes and make them seem above reproach. We are so quick to label our stars as larger-than-life characters that are superhuman: Dwight Howard as “Superman,” Albert Pujols as “The Machine,” Marshawn Lynch as “Beast Mode,” among others.
Unfortunately, it’s tragedies like these that bring athletes down to earth and make sports fans humanize their favorite players. Unfortunately, at any moment, an athlete’s career and life can be suddenly cut short.
Skaggs wasn’t one of the premier pitchers in the game, but he had plenty of potential, highlighted by an above average curveball. But what’s more disappointing is the fact that Skaggs had recently gotten married this summer and was preparing to start a family.
It’s extremely obvious by the reactions of the players across the league that Skaggs was more than just a talented pitcher. Various gestures of remembrance took place in the aftermath Skagg’s passing as former teammates like Patrick Corbin wore his jersey number last week and his current teammate Andrew Heaney threw a curveball for the first pitch of the game.
Based on the mood of the press conference, it seemed like Tyler was a beloved member in the clubhouse who had deep connections with many of his teammates. The MLB lost not only a good baseball player, but an even better person. Kudos to Major League Baseball for taking the necessary steps to allow the baseball community to heal properly in the past couple of weeks since his death. Hopefully the autopsy comes back with information that can help Major League Baseball avoid tragedies like these again.
Inside the Park: Home Run Derby Edition
First Base: Carlos Santana Can’t Bring It Home — In the past couple of Home Run Derbys, we have been treated to players performing well in front of the home crowds. Todd Frazier was carried by the raucous crowd to a victory in Cincinnati in 2015 and everyone remembers last year’s bat throw by Bryce Harper in Washington D.C. On Monday, Carlos Santana had a chance to do the same this year, but never got into a rhythm. He finished with 13 home runs and looked out of place compared to the rest of the field. Peter Alonso almost choked and gave him a chance, but hit his 14th homerun as the clock ran out and ruined Cleveland’s chances for a Home Run Derby champion.
Second Base: Vlad Guerrero Dazzles — Many people expected Vlad Guererro Jr. to be in contention for the championship after watching his batting practice in Rogers Centre; and he didn’t disappoint. Guerrero Jr. set the record for home runs in a single round with 29, breaking Josh Hamilton’s record of 28 in 2008. In the second round, he started off the round with 29 and finished with 40 home runs after…well we’ll get to that. He slowed down in the final round, only hitting 22, but still set a record for most home runs in a single Home Run Derby.
Third Base: A Semifinal For The Ages — Just when it seemed like Joc Pederson was out of the competition in the second round, he stepped up and gave Vlad a run for his money. He countered with 29 home runs and forced a swing off to determine the winner. But one round of extra swings wasn’t enough; it took three rounds and after combining to hit nine home runs in their first two overtime rounds, Vlad came out on top 40–39. It was truly one of the greatest performances between two players in Home Run Derby history.
Home Plate: The Kids Played — Throughout the year, the MLB has emphasized the theme, “Let the Kids Play,” and has attempted to allow its players to show their flair and personality. And what better way to show their new talent off than the Home Run Derby. Of the eight contestants this year, only one was over the age of 30 and three of the semi-finalists were under the age of 25. The MLB did an incredible job of recruiting the best up and coming names in baseball because it paid off. Aside from Vlad, Ronald Acuña Jr. displayed his opposite field power and hit 25 in the first round, Pete Alonso hit lasers to centerfield and showed his raw power and Alex Bregman was still impressive despite getting out in the first round. The MLB was looking for excitement this weekend and their young stars brought it.
Andrew Golden is a sad Knicks fan who is having a rough go after the first batch of NBA Free Agency. You can follow him on Twitter here.
