Aaron Judge hits Statcast-breaking home run nearly out of Safeco Field

Aaron Judge broke out of his nearly two-week home run slump in a spectacular way against the Seattle Mariners Friday night.

The big guy's three-run bomb against Andrew Moore in the fifth-inning — his first homer since July 7 — and 31st overall — landed at the back of the second deck in left field of Safeco Field helping lead the Yankees to a 5-1 victory over the home town Mariners.

Judge's powerful blast went so far it reportedly broke Statcast, which couldn't even get an immediate measurement of the moonshot. The Mariners estimated the ball traveled 440 feet — a conservative guess at best if you went by the reaction of the crowd or announcers.

The home run that broke Statcast. https://t.co/3elSKUWumr pic.twitter.com/4mpuxYQeNX

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 22, 2017

Judge came up to the plate in front of a mostly cheering crowd of 34,073 and crushed the 2-1 breaking ball from rookie Moore three rows from the top of Safeco's left field’s upper deck. 

According to a Mariners’ official, nobody has hit a ball out of Safeco Field during a game since it opened in 1999.

But this was about as close as they come. Ask Statcast...well maybe not.

Mike Trout outdoes himself to rob Jesus Montero of home run (VIDEO)

It was starting to feel like highlight clips of Mike Trout had been relatively scarce over the past few weeks — emphasis on relatively. But just when you start thinking maybe the Angels centerfielder is merely mortal, he goes out and performs a feat to remind us that he is something more.

The 24-year-old already has more sensational catches in his four-year career than most respected veteran outfielders, but this incredible catch confirms that Trout is way more than your normal player.

With two men on base in the top of the fourth inning of Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners, Trout scaled the Angel Stadium wall to rob Jesus Montero of a three-run homer. Not only did the four-time All-Star hang onto the wall to make the catch, but Trout also alertly got the ball back to the infield to keep the runners from advancing.



Throw in the fact that the Angels won a 3-2 game with Wild Card implications, and that's one timely catch even Trout will find hard to top.

So it's worth seeing again:

Congrats on your home run Jesus Montero ... oh sorry Mike Trout happened (via @MLB) http://t.co/PpHy2CdvD2 https://t.co/Q4D6tgFEPU

— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 27, 2015

A-Rod got really excited about Yankees win on Sunday (GIF)

Alex Rodriguez my have tied Lou Brock with career base hit No. 3,023 for 24th place on the all-time hits list Sunday, but what really made A-Rod happy was watching Mark Teixeira deposit a home run over the right field wall helping the Yankees take the three-game series from the Mariners.

Who likes series victories? @AROD likes series victories. #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/BqoDBJqiqA

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 19, 2015

Tex's one-run shot off of Fernando Rodney in the eighth inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Yankees their fourth straight series win.



Who likes winning? A-Rod likes winning.

Nelson Cruz's home run lands in Tampa Bay's "Touch Tank' (VIDEO)

In the top of the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, Nelson Cruz launched a three-run home run into Tropicana Field's 10,000-gallon "Touch Tank," the home to a group of minding-their own-business, cownose rays.

While the Seattle Mariners slugger's 18th homer might have interrupted the rays' peaceful moment away from all of the groping fans, it also gave the his team a 3-0 victory.

It's rare that a ball makes its way into the tank, so the floater also gave the Trop's staff something to do with their nets.  

How to ruin a pitcher's duel – and a ray's day: http://t.co/QfybZITgt4 #GoYard pic.twitter.com/ZYU6tXltWB

— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2015

Hungry baby chews up Logan Morrison's ground-rule double (VIDEO)

When little ones are hungry at the ballpark and there's not a nipple to be found, the next best thing might be anything that flies into the stands to chomp on.

On Monday night, his little baby ended up with baseball and turned it into a meal after Logan Morrison sent a ground-rule double bounced into the right-field seats.

The cute infant with the protective headphones got the bouncing ball but, instead of seeing a prized souvenir, he saw dinner.

Not very filling — but it does wonders for the teething though.

Mariachi band serenades A's fans in O.co Coliseum stands (VIDEO)

The A's fans inside O.co Coliseum were treated to more than baseball when a mariachi band popped up in the left-field stands and serenaded the crowd during the eighth-inning.

The color-coordinated musicians added a little local flavor to everyone's peanuts and hot dogs.

And the musical support didn't didn't seem to hurt as the A's beat the Mariners 6-1.



At this point the brass and strings might be less annoying than the wave, but when does the di-di-di-dada di-di-di-dada start to get on some fans nerves:

Jays fans troll Fernando Rodney by shooting imaginary arrows at him (VIDEO)

Throughout his career Fernando Rodney has irritated opposing fans with his routine of shooting an imaginary bow and arrow into the stands after each save.

On Thursday, a group of Blue Jays fans trolled the Mariners closer by drawing back on their own invisible bows and riddling Rodney with barrage of unseen arrows as he walked out to the mound.

These guys might want to brush up on their archery skills because none of their shots seemed to stick. Rodney went on to strike out two Jays batters en route to his 37th save of the season.

Or maybe they were Cupid's arrows.

Derek Jeter gets personalized watch from Mariners' Robinson Cano (PHOTOS)

The Derek Jeter Farewell tour carried on Tuesday inside Safeco Field — in a city the Yankees captain might hold nearer to his heart than any other place outside of New York.

Jeter's debut, May 29, 1995, didn't take place at Safeco Field but inside Seattle's cavernous Kingdome. It was the night which launched his Hall of Fame career.

The Mariners honored the Yankees' shortstop (VIDEO) with a tribute since this is the last regular-season series he'll play in The Emerald City.

They gave him a base from the old Kingdome, where Jeter collected his first career hit; a Safeco Park base; and a $5,000 check to his Turn 2 foundation.

Then his former teammate, Robinson Cano, who helped present Jeter the gifts with the help of Felix Hernandez, got a little personal.

Cano gave Jeter a watch with a message engraved on it:

"To Derek: Thank you for showing me how to be a leader. With love and respect, RC."

Here's the watch Cano gave Jeter as a personal farewell gift. pic.twitter.com/Z0kWGEO104
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) June 11, 2014

As for his greatest memory of his MLB debut, Jeter had no trouble recalling the 8-7 loss.

"I was 0-for-5," Jeter said with a smile.

Despite the 0-for, how did he celebrate the big night?

"My dad was in town and afterward we tried to get something to eat and everything was closed so we ended up walking to a McDonald's," Jeter said.. "So he's here again today, both my parents are, so we'll go to McDonald's after the game."

Jeter's first career hit came a night later, a fifth-inning single to left off Seattle starter Tim Belcher, in a 7-3 loss, a night he finished 2-for-3.

And we know the rest.

Ichiro wows Safeco Field crowd with spectacular diving catch (VIDEO)

Ichiro Suzuki made a running, leaping catch of a fly ball to right at Safeco Field robbing Kyle Seager of an extra base hit — and the Mariners fans still loved it.

Patrolling the right field turf he knows so well, the former-Mariners star tracked down the ball at the warning track before diving and crashing into the wall.

The 10-time Gold Glover showed fans he still has what it takes to cover a lot of ground and, not surprisingly,  got some love as a visitor in his old home stadium.

Derek Jeter's mental lapse contributes to Mariners win (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter's reputation for giving foul balls to little kids in the stands is pretty well documented, but this charitable intention gave the Mariners a triple and helped contribute to a Yankees loss Monday night.

Jeter's rare mental lapse was scored as a "triple to shallow left," but that's really understating what happened after he was ready to give what he thought was a foul ball to a little fan.

Kyle Seager of the Mariners hit a pop up down the left-field line. Jeter, who was playing near third base in a shift, and left fielder Brett Gardner gave chase, with Gardner attempting a sliding catch. The ball popped out of his glove and bounced into Jeter's hands, who almost caught it. When the ball hit the ground, Jeter nonchalantly jogged after it, his back to the rest of the field.

Then Jeter spotted the young fan in the stands and almost handed him the baseball.

"It's a good thing I didn't," the brain-frozen Jeter said.

The Jeter gaffe was a big reason David Phelps allowed a leadoff triple in the fourth inning of Monday's 10-2 loss to the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

"It never even crossed my mind it was fair," Jeter said.

Phelps said later he thought he might get in trouble for yelling "Throw the ball!" at Jeter from near the pitcher's mound.

But Jeets said he wished the entire stadium was screaming at him.

"I wish the fans would have yelled," Jeter said. "But they wanted the ball."

Phelps — who now has the rare distinction of telling the Yankees Captain what to do — said he didn't fault Jeter.

"I was just hoping he didn't toss the ball into the stands," the pitcher said later. "It looked like a foul ball."

Mariners affiliate erases 16-run deficit, wins 20-17 in 12 innings

A minor league affiliate of the Seattle Mariners has pulled off a colossal rally, coming back from a 16-run deficit to win a Class A Midwest League game.

The Clinton LumberKings trailed the Burlington Bees 17-1 after five innings Wednesday night in the game between clubs based in Iowa.

Clinton wound up scoring 19 unanswered runs before winning 20-17 in 12 innings.

Talk about fans getting their money's worth.

"Unbelievable game. One of the greatest games I've been a part of," said LumberKings manager Scott Steinmann, according to Burlington newspaper The Hawk Eye.

Clinton scored six runs in the sixth inning, five in the eighth and five more in the ninth to tie it at 17.

Justin Seager, the younger brother of Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager, drove in the go-ahead run in the 12th. Seager finished with four hits.

Burlington is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels.

"That's one for the ages for me, for sure," Burlington manager Bill Richardson said, according to the newspaper. "You just give credit to your opponent for flipping the game on us. We just gave them a little life in that sixth, and they kept running."

And Clinton really has been hefting the lumber this week. This was actually their second huge comeback in a matter of days. On Saturday, they overcome an eight-run deficit to beat Wisconsin, 16-13.

Here's all 37 runs scored Wednesday night, with Clinton scoring the last 19 to win 20-17 in 12 innings. The call... http://t.co/kUnFpxAsKY
— Clinton LumberKings (@LumberKings) May 8, 2014

Ichiro has not one, but two doppelgangers in the stands (VIDEO)

Ichiro Suzuki has seen plenty of fans dress up like the righfielder over the years and even go a little overboard by getting into the action.

But the popular Japanese superstar probably never saw two Ichiro doppelgangers dressed in Yankees and Mariners uniforms, respectively, at the same time.

When Ichiro entered Tuesday night's game against the Angels as a defensive replacement in the 9th, the two fans honored him by warming up with the same stretches as their idol in the stands.

Even other fans took photos with the lookalikes.

Jeter inspects Cano's new beard during Bronx return (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter welcomed Robinson Cano back to Yankee Stadium Tuesday night and and the first thing he did was examine his former teammate's new facial hair. 

Something the Yankees captain never grew in the Bronx.

Call it beard envy. Next year Derek. Next year.

Justin Smoak's incredible 9th-inning snag saves game for Mariners (VIDEO)

Infield catches don't come any better — or timelier — than Justin Smoak's incredible diving 9th-inning play Friday night.

The Mariners first baseman — playing well off the bag with the bases loaded — goes airborne to snag Adian Beltre's screaming liner and then step on first base to turn a unassisted, game-ending double play and save a 6-5 lead against the Rangers.

I guess you could say Beltre got Smoaked on the play.

Ken Griffey Jr. photographs son scoring first college touchdown at Advocare V100 Bowl (GIF/VIDEO)

Yes, that was Ken Griffey Jr. wielding a camera with the 600mm lens on the sidelines of the Advocare V100 Bowl Tuesday.

Griffey, who recently joined Instagram, has been sharing a fair number of photos through Twitter and was on the Independence Stadium field as a credentialed media member for ESPN.

Hopefully, the former Seattle Mariners slugger snapped some nice shots for ESPN, but there was one photo that will definitely be front and center in his family's storied album after Griffey's son, Trey, scored his first career touchdown for the Arizona Wildcats. Trey, a receiver, hauled in a 26-yard touchdown against Boston College and scored again later.

And there's no question where Trey got that leaping ability.

Jeter always thought Cano would be a lifelong Yankee

Nobody was probably more surprised at Robinson Cano signing with the Seattle Mariners than the Yankees captain himself — Derek Jeter.

Deep down inside, Jeter believed his former teammate would join him and Mariano Rivera as lifelong Yankees before Cano opted to sign with Seattle last week.

“I thought he would,” Jeter said. “I think a lot of people thought he would. But I don’t know all the details of what happened.”

Perhaps not, but the 10-year, $240 million contract the Mariners offered — one the Yankees declined to come close to — explains a lot.

Jeter —who has spent his entire 18-year career in pinstripes — didn’t try to convince Cano to stay, but said he spoke with him after the agreement was reached and the 31-year-old was pleased with his move out West — or at least one aspect of it.

"I've never called anyone to try and convince them to come," Jeter said. "There's nothing to sell Robbie on or sell anyone on. I think you know what it is. I'm sure he had enough people in his ears. I speak with Robbie, I speak with him a lot, but I would never try to convince anyone.

“He’s happy,” claimed Jeter. “Wouldn’t you be happy? That’s a lot of money.”

And now Jeter and the Yankees look to life without Cano.

“I played with him for nine years, so he’s the second baseman I spent the most time with,” Jeter said. “I’m going to miss him a lot. It’s a business on both sides and I wish him the best. I would have liked to have played with him longer, but it's a business and guys move on”

Jeets wasn’t alone in presuming Cano would stay a Yankee.

“You just thought some way, somehow, it would work out with Cano,” said the retired Andy Pettitte, who left the Yankees for Houston as a free agent following the 2003 season. 

“Obviously, Seattle anted up big-time. Big-time. When someone shows you they want you like that, in Robbie’s situation, it’s very flattering.”

Flattering in $240 million ways.

Victor Cruz on Mariners deal: 'It's a good day for Robinson Cano'

Victor Cruz was among the first big names to join Jay Z's Roc Nation agency and —with the rapper turned sports agent's influence — was the beneficiary of a five-year, $43 million extension with the New York Giants. But even Cruz had to take pause from preparing for his game against the Chargers upon hearing about Robinson Cano's huge $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

“It’s a good day for Robinson Cano,” said Cruz, who along with Cano is  represented by Jay Z's burgeoning sports management agency. “He deserved every bit of that money and every bit of that contract. So hopefully he goes to Seattle and does some good things for that organization.”

Cano rocked the sports world on Friday after agreeing to the 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners — a deal apparently orchestrated by Jay Z.

“I’m ecstatic,” Cruz said. “I know [Cano] personally. He’s a good dude, he’s a great guy. I’m happy he was able to get the deal I know he wanted.”

Cruz said his agent, Tom Condon, did most of the work on extension with the Giants, but admitted Cano’s contract was a “big day” for Jay Z and the company.

“I think it’s a stepping-stone. It’s just proof that anything can be done if you put your mind to it and have the type of backing and type of people that you have around you that do the right thing and understand the business,” Cruz said. “It’s a true testament to the way (Jay Z) does his business and the way he goes about it — the right way.”

The Cano contract should help establish Roc Nation as a major force in the world of sports representation and enhance its image in the eyes other big name athletes.

“I think it’s a smart move to be able to choose and go with what you feel is right and go with the organization that you feel is the right one for you and your mold and your brand,” Cruz said. “I think that was the most important part for myself and Robinson Cano.”

Cruz said he would congratulate both Cano and Jay Z via text, but the New Jersey native isn't ready to trade in his Yankee cap for a Mariner one.

“I’ll be Yankees through and through,” Cruz said. “But I’m definitely a Robinson fan. I hope he does well.”

Robinson Cano wears Mariners hat for the first time (PHOTO)

Robinson Cano agreed to an astronomical ten-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners on Friday, and it didn't take long for a camera to catch him wearing his new team's hat. Call it an Emerald (City) State of Mind.

Here is the second baseman at a winter ball game in the Dominican Republic on Friday night:

Para los que la querian en Twitter #Seattle #Cano pic.twitter.com/TdZTAJ2NEo
— Sussy Jimenez (@sussydeportes) December 7, 2013

That beard grew in pretty fast too.

Check out the Mariners potential 2014 lineup with Robinson Cano (PHOTO)

The Seattle Mariners potential 2014 lineup as it stands right now. Not exactly Murderer's Row or even the 2014 Yankees projected lineup.

Money changes everything.

A look at the #Mariners' potential 2014 lineup with Robinson Cano. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/kE42obD2jH
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) December 6, 2013

Jay Z's demands blow up Cano's bid to join Mariners: Report

It appears the negotiations in Robinson Cano's talks with the Seattle Mariners came to an abrupt end Thursday, and it seems Cano's rapper-turned agent Jay Z might have been the red light.

Word out of Seattle is that the Mariners were expecting Cano to accept their original $225-million, nine-year offer, but the talks collapsed after Jay Z and CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen upped the ante, sources told the New York Daily News.

When Jay Z demanded 10 years and $252 million – the same deal Alex Rodriguez took more than a decade ago when he left the Mariners for the Rangers — Mariners chairman/CEO Howard Lincoln apparently “exploded,” according to one of the sources, ending the meeting.

 “It doesn’t look like we’re getting him,” a Mariners source said, adding that Seattle did not seem inclined to reignite talks with a player that clearly didn’t want to go there. 

Cano and Jay Z flew up from Los Angeles for the meeting and, apparently, there was high expectation from the Mariners that both sides were close to a deal.

Cano, the top free agent available this year, now finds himself back where he started: without a second team bidding for his services and the Yankees waiting in the wings as his lone suitor.

Throughout recent weeks of this process, Cano has reportedly been traveling with Jay Z during parts of his tour.

“It makes you wonder whether this guy wants to be a rap star or a baseball player,” a baseball official said.

The Mariners’ original $225 million offer had dwarfed the Yankees’ current seven-year offer of $165-$170 million, leaving Seattle more than $50 million ahead of the Bombers, who are believed to be willing to go as high as $175 million.

That would have matched the average annual value of Seattle’s nine-year offer, though it would have been two years and $50 million behind the Mariners overall.

As of late Thursday, the Yankees had not heard anything from Cano’s camp since earlier in the week, though a team source said it was likely because of the huge gap that remained between the two sides.

An industry official told the Daily News earlier this week that a $200 million offer from the Yankees was “never going to happen,” adding, “If that’s the offer and he wants to go there, he’s going to be a Mariner.”

Cano’s father, Jose, hasn’t been impressed by the Yankees’ pursuit of his talented son this offseason.

"The Yankees don't seem to want him," Jose Cano said on Thursday.

Brian Cashman confirmed that he’s met in recent weeks with both Van Wagenen and Jay Z, whose Roc Nation Sports inked Cano as its first client back in April.

One American League executive wasn’t surprised to hear Seattle pushed its offer past $200 million, as the Mariners are desperate for a big-name signing to spark the sagging fan base. But apparently, even the Mariners were drawing the line on Cano and Jay Z's overplayed hand.