I’m not the kind of guy who likes to toot his own horn, because rib removal surgery isn’t something that is covered under my health insurance, but back in the day I was quite the mediocre little league baseball player. In fact, I received more than a few participation trophies, and they didn’t just give those babies out to anyone whose parents ponied up $70 for the uniform and league fees.
Anyway, there was one year that we had this a-hole coach – the kind of guy who’d start his son at every position before he’d give anyone else a chance (and I think his son was 5 years older than all of us) – and he’d always tell kids to lean into the pitch and take a bean ball on purpose if we had runners on. The joke was on him, because we were dorky little sissies, so we’d often scream and then run away, but it seems that his message may have gotten through to Chicago Cubs center fielder Julio Borbon, who reminded us yesterday that there’s flopping in baseball.
San Diego Padres reliever Luke Gregerson put a pitch in the dirt and while it clearly missed Borbon’s foot, the batter acted like he was Bear Grylls’ producer.
This is unrelated, but anytime I hear Julio Borbon’s name, I can’t help but think of the scene in Airplane! when Ted Stryker is having the flashback and he thinks, “Now batting for Pedro Borbon, Manny Mota… Mota… Mota…” But did you know that Pedro and Manny were never actually teammates? Look at you learning things today.
(H/T to Larry Brown, GIFs via Crashburn Alley and Mock Session)
