At the beginning of April, the Orioles played a three-game home stand — their first home games of the season. As happens in the beginning of the year, home runs were nearly non-existent and so were fan catches. But when the Birds returned home on the 16th, they were slated to play nine games in nine days against the Rays, Dodgers, and Jays, maximizing the potential for home runs.
Both the O’s and their opponents delivered, notching 25 home runs total during the stand. The fans delivered as well, making some great grabs with both the glove and the bare hand.
We ended last home stand with only three Camden Yards home runs, so we will start this time around at number 4. As always, click on the photo for video of the home run.
Home Run #4 – April 16th – Desmond Jennings
Inning: 1st
Field: Left-Center Field
Attendance: 14,670
Catch: Yes
Desmond Jennings did not wait long to tuck the fourth Camden Yards home run of 2013 over the wall when he took Jake Arrieta’s first pitch of the home stand deep to left-center field. The fans did not wait, either, to record their first catch of the season, as Jennings’ line-drive home run nestled into the palms of a bare-handed fan.
I made chase after the surprising blast, and you may be able to see me come down the steps wearing an orange shirt. If the ball fell into the seats and was not caught, it may have been my first home run of the season. Regardless, it was a nice fan catch.
Home Run #5 – April 16th – Matt Wieters
Inning: 2nd
Field: Right-Center Field
Attendance: 14,670
Catch: No
After the Jennings home run, the Orioles were able to answer back, scoring a run in the first to tie, then taking the lead in the second on a Matt Wieters solo shot. This home run from Wieters narrowly escaped the lunging glove of right fielder Matt Joyce, landing on the roof of the grounds crew tunnel. No fan made a true attempt to catch the ball in the air, and it was only grabbed after taking a high hop off the roof.
Home Run #6 – April 16th – Kelly Johnson
Inning: 8th
Field: Left-Center Field
Attendance: 14,670
Catch: No
As a part of Pedro Strop’s documented struggles, Kelly Johnson lead off the 8th inning on Jackie Robinson day with an opposite field home run that landed in the front row, unmolested, in left-center field. The fan effort was minimal, and the ball was only obtained after it was picked-up off the ground.
I, on the other hand, played the ball a little deeper, as opposed to charging down to the front row, hoping it would carry. Obviously, this was not the case.
Home Run #7 – April 16th – Evan Longoria
Inning: 8th
Field: Left-Center Field
Attendance: 14,670
Catch: Yes
I would call this catch of Evan Longoria’s 8th inning home run on Jackie Robinson day (also off of Strop) the best so far at Camden Yards. Longoria’s blast was far from a lazy fly ball, a liner much like Jennings’ lead-off shot. However, a large burly man – big enough that if I were to estimate his size, I would do him a great injustice – made a bare-handed grab as he dove to his right and fell onto a row of seats. The ball was hit so hard that as it hit his hands, it jarred loose. But the sheer size of his hands prevented the ball from falling to the ground, instead sticking between his fingers at the very tip of his hand. Simply put, it was an amazing display of athletic ability…like a grizzly bear fishing salmon from a stream.
Home Run #8 – April 17th – Kelly Johnson
Inning: 1st
Field: Right-Center Field
Attendance: 13,591
Catch: Yes
Kelly Johnson picked right up where he left off the night before, sending a first inning Chris Tillman offering deep to right-center field. The fans also picked up where they left off as a nice bare-handed grab was made by a fan as his friend next to him sat in his seat, seemingly unaware of the fact he was at a baseball game.
Home Run #9 – April 17th – Shelley Duncan
Inning: 2nd
Field: Left-Center Field
Attendance: 13,591
Catch: No
Leave it to the fans in the front row to make another lazy attempt at catching a home run. As Shelley Duncan’s second inning blast ascended towards the seats, the fan camped underneath of it decided to use his chest to catch the ball, instead of his hands. As expected, the ball bounced off his chest and landed on the ground where he then was able to pick it up. Yes, he did end up with the ball, but it was a poor initial effort on his part on a ball that should be a routine grab. Bring your glove, folks.
Home Run #10 – April 17th – Adam Jones
Inning: 3rd
Field: Center Field
Attendance: 13,591
Catch: Uncatchable
There is not much to say about this home run by Adam Jones from a fan fielding standpoint. This is the one that hit just beyond the wall in center, fell back to the field, and forced the umpires to do the first video review at Camden Yards in 2013. Of course, it was deemed a home run as the ball hit the metal piping just beyond the padded wall.
Home Run #11 – April 18th – Desmond Jennings
Inning: 1st
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: No
I am not entirely positive what got into Desmond Jennings that series, but this home run – his second lead-off home run of the series – was an absolute blast, landing nearly twenty rows deep in left field.
With section 84 – my usual section – mildly crowded, I decided to sit in section 80. I was nervous about it; I felt some anxiety for sure. I never leave my section, unless it is for left-handed batters. Even if it is crowded, I still stay there and hope luck is on my side. Well, this time, I moved, and luck was still on my side. Seeing the Jennings home run heading deep into section 84, I put my head down and ran from section 80 through open rows. When it landed, I was the first person on the seat, scooping the ball out of the seat before hustling back to my backpack for a dupe ball to throw on the field. My choice to sit in section 80 really helped me out. If I were in section 84 like usual, the ball is probably over my head and I am stuck trying to climb over seats just like everyone else in the video.
This home run was Jennings’ 25th of his career, my 19th all-time and first of the season. And no, I was not wearing the helmet camera. Simply put: I forgot. The Jennings home run happened so quickly in the game that I did not have enough time to think of the camera. It probably would have been a shaky video of nothing, anyway.
Home Run #12 – April 18th – Evan Longoria
Inning: 1st
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: No
Now, if I were in my usual seat in section 84, I catch this ball easily on the fly. However, obviously, I was not – and that’s okay.
The ball was hit about five rows lower than the Jennings blast and, of course, I gave chase, but was initially held up by fans walking down the aisle on their way to the seat.
A grown man with a glove – a guy who practically forced my hand in moving by sitting in the seat directly across the aisle from me – tried to make a play on it, but pitifully knocked it off his palm (a la Adam Jones).
First on the scene and scooping-up the ball was Avi Miller from Baltimore Sports Report, his second Evan Longoria home run: “I ran over and grabbed it in the seat with another guy grabbing my hand, hence why in the video my arm flies up in the air grabbing the ball from him.”
He then took a picture of the Jennings and Longoria home runs side by side:
Home Run #13 – April 18th – Nolan Reimold
Inning: 2nd
Field: Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: Uncatchable
This Reimold homer was a rocket off of David Price, tying the game in the second, landing in the Orioles bullpen in center field, an uncatchable area for fans.
Orioles’ bullpen catcher Rudy Arias made an attempt to catch the ball, but it short-hopped his glove. I’d like to think Luis Ayala would have made the play.
Home Run #14 – April 18th – Jose Molina
Inning: 6th
Field: Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: Uncatchable
Jose Molina broke the tie in the 6th inning, sending a Miguel Gonzalez pitch to the Orioles bullpen in center field. Just a boring, uncatchable opponent home run.
Home Run #15 – April 18th – Steve Pearce
Inning: 7th
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: Yes
Let’s bring the excitement back!
Jake McGee left a 3-2 fastball in the middle of the plate and Steve Pearce did not miss it, sending it as deep into section 84 as Desmond Jennings did to begin the game, erasing the Rays’ one-run lead, giving the Orioles a one-run lead of their own.
I decided to move back towards section 84 as the game progressed, settling on an end seat in section 82, directly next to 84. With Pearce sending this shot deep towards me, I was able to track it into an empty row, lead over the row in front of me, and make the clean catch, falling over the row in the process and dropping my hat. The ball never leaving my glove, I grabbed my hat off the ground, and celebrated my first Orioles home run of the season and my third two-home run game.
The home run was Pearce’s first of the season and my second, also the 15th of his career and the 20th of mine.
Before the game started that night, we celebrated the life of fellow ball hawk Matt Hersl, who was tragically killed outside City Hall earlier in the month. In September of 2011, after I caught Matt Wieters’ 20th home run of the season, adding it to my Chris Davis home run earlier in the game, recording my first two-home run game ever, Matt was the first one to call me, and the one who I was on the phone with when MASN cut back to me in the broadcast. After telling me that had he not just left he would have been the one who caught it, he expressed how excited he was for me. I just hope he found the best seat in heaven for this one.
Times like those give you reasons to just enjoy life, to enjoy the times that you are in the Camden Yards bleachers running around catching baseballs. Have fun with it, because you never know when it will be your last time.
Home Run #16 – April 18th – James Loney
Inning: 8th
Field: Right-Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: No
With the Orioles taking the lead on the Pearce home run, they summoned Darren O’Day from the ‘pen to hold the lead for Jim Johnson. Uncharacteristically, O’Day left a hanger in the middle of the plate for James Loney to launch to right-center field.
The blast landed in the groundskeeper walkway between the wall and the seats, but could have been catchable for a fan with a glove and fielding ability.
Home Run #17 – April 18th – Matt Wieters
Inning: 10th
Field: Right-Center
Attendance: 13,986
Catch: No
The game remained tied after the Loney home run, and the Orioles found themselves in the 10th inning with the bases loaded and Matt Wieters at the plate. Of course, Wieters connected and launched a ball to deep right-center field for a walk-off grand slam.
Now, in search of my first three-home run game, I hustled from my seat in left field over to right, hoping to get my hands on a walk-off from Wieters. I positioned myself above section 98, directly next to the Flag Court, in the row of handicapped seats, giving me access to the Flag Court as well as section 98.
I reacted immediately to Wieters’ swing, and charged down the steps towards where the ball was going to land. I ran as fast as I could without tripping and falling on my face. When the ball landed, I was roughly three rows behind it. If the ball stays in the seats, I most likely grab it and record my third of the game. But instead, the ball took a rare bounce off the seat and landed back on the field.
Wieters’ slam capped off a night that featured seven home runs.
Home Run #18 – April 20th – Andre Ethier
Inning: 1st
Field: Right
Attendance: 26,811
Catch: No
After Friday night’s rainout, the Dodgers and O’s were set to play two on Saturday. And Andre Ethier started it off with a bang as he sent a three-run bomb onto the Flag Court in the first inning, sending fans scrambling for the ball after no clean catch was made.
Home Run #19 – April 20th – J.J. Hardy
Inning: 2nd
Field: Left
Attendance: 26,811
Catch: No
This ball was absolutely scorched off the bat of J.J. Hardy into the left field seats down the line. The only fault of all the people in the area that did not catch the ball was that they did not have their gloves. The ball whizzed through the hands of numerous fans before finally being picked up off the ground by a young fan.
Home Run #20 – April 20th – Nolan Reimold
Inning: 4th
Field: Left
Attendance: 26,811
Catch: No
This Reimold home run landed very close to where the Hardy shot landed a few innings prior. A fan with a glove most likely could have had two catches that day. However, no one seemed to have a glove, and this home run ball fell to the ground as well.
Home Run #21 – April 20 – Chris Davis
Inning: 2nd
Field: Center
Attendance: 45,248
Catch: Uncatchable
Just like many of Chris Davis’ hits have been this season for fielders, this home run was uncatchable for the fans as Crush planted it in front of the batter’s eye in center field. Oh man was it a shot.
Home Run #22 – April 20th – Manny Machado
Inning: 6th
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 45,248
Catch: No
This Machado home run was yet another in a clutch situation in the young career of the 20-year-old, extending the O’s lead to five in the sixth inning. The ball landed in a crowded left-center field, with no one able to make the catch. You can see in the video, however, during the slow-motion replay that the ball deflects off the bare hand of a fan. I am sure that felt good. Nice reminder to bring your glove next time.
Home Run #23 – April 21st – Adam Jones
Inning: 3rd
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 41,265
Catch: Yes
“Woah duggie!”
Gary Thorne was right – Adam Jones put this one deep into the seats in left-center field. With over 41,000 on hand that Sunday afternoon, someone was bound to make a play on that ball. As the ball descends, gloves and hands can be seen reaching up for it. In the end, a beautiful bare-hand grab is made by a guy who thinks tucking a button-down shirt into a pair of jeans is a good look.
Home Run #24 – April 23rd – Edwin Encarnacion
Inning: 6th
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 13,272
Catch: No
You’re welcome American League East: this is where Edwin Encarnacion’s hot streak started. Encarnacion ripped this Miguel Gonzalez offering to left-center field, where fans made a valiant effort to make the grab, but ultimately had to fight for it on the ground.
Home Run #25 – April 24th – J.P. Arencibia
Inning: 2nd
Field: Right-Center
Attendance: 14,981
Catch: No
J.P. Arencibia continued his hot start to the season as he took Josh Stinson deep to right-center field in the second inning. Many fans tried – no fans caught it. Boring. One fan weakly threw it back onto the field. Adam Jones did not like their arm strength.
Home Run #26 – April 24th – Rajai Davis
Inning: 3rd
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 14,981
Catch: Yes
In the third, Stinson continued a trend of allowing home runs as he let Rajai Davis lazily go deep to the front row of section 84.
I was back to my regular seat in section 84 and reacted immediately to Davis’ swing. Tracking the ball down the steps, I quickly realized that the ball had a possibility of being caught by left fielder Nate McLouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I was able to not only see where the wall was, but also take note of what McLouth was doing: he had basically given up. Then I just stuck my glove out to my left and made the easy catch, adding it to the Nate McLouth ground-rule double that Tommy Hunter threw to me earlier in the game.
The home run was Davis’ first of the season and my third; the 22nd of his career and the 21st of mine.
As for the helmet camera: I remembered to wear it! I had it on my head and turned it on before the first pitch of the game. I was pumped that I had video of Tommy Hunter throwing me the double as well as catching Davis’ home run. A little later, I reached up to the back of my camera where the batteries are held, only to find that sometime between the start of the game and that moment that the compartment had opened, turning the camera off, and not recording any video.
I swear, there is a higher power preventing me from recording a catch.
Home Run #27 – April 24th – Edwin Encarnacion
Inning: 4th
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 14,981
Catch: No
Funny story about this one – frustrating to me, but funny in a sort of ironic sense.
In between innings, I left my seat for a quick excursion to section 86. I had to return sunscreen to a friend of mine as well as ask for a bag to separate the McLouth double from the Davis home run. We had a short conversation and I was on my way back to my seat when I felt the crowd get heavy around me. Someone said “here’s another one!” I looked up to see a ball headed deep into section 84, and I started to hustle. The ball fell two rows behind and a seat to my right of where I was sitting.
So yes, it probably would have been another easy catch for me, but I’m not bothered by it. I still left the game with a double and a home run.
As for the ball, it landed in someone’s sweatshirt that was laying on an empty seat. The sweatshirt’s owner and an older lady fought each other to find the ball in the sweatshirt. The owner eventually won, was booed for not letting the woman have it/not throwing it back, and he left the section shortly after.
Home Run #28 – April 24th – Jose Bautista
Inning: 6th
Field: Left-Center
Attendance: 14,981
Catch: No
Fans with no gloves missed it. Went over their heads. Bounced off seats behind them. Fell right back to them. Yawn.
April Stats:
28 Total Home Runs
4/28 Uncatchable (14.3%)
6/22 Catchable Home Runs Caught (27.3%)
15/28 Home Runs Hit to Left-Center Field (53.6%)
5/28 Home Runs Hit to Right-Center Field (17.9%)
4/28 Home Runs Hit to Center Field (14.3%)
2/28 Home Runs Hit to Right Field (7.1%)
2/28 Home Runs Hit to Left Field (7.1%)
It seemed to rain home run balls at Camden Yards during the nine-game home stand. Through twelve April home games, OPACY saw 28 home runs, putting the O’s and their opponents on pace for roughly 182 home runs, well below the 225 hit in 2012.
Of those 28 home runs, 22 of them were deemed as catchable. Further, six of those 22 catchable home runs were caught by smooth fielding fans, registering a 27.3% success rate, well above the 14.3% rate set in 2012.
