There was a whole big ruckus between two former Rays, Chris Archer and Derek Dietrich. Technically Dietrich never played for the Rays, just Rays system, but still: we’ve got ex-Ray on ex-Ray drama!
1st: Archer serves up a pitch that Derek Dietrich smashes into the Allegheny river, and he watches it fly the entire way.
Straight admiring that moon shot:
Find someone who looks at you the way Dietrich looks at this HR
— Keith Farnsworth (@fantasy_keith) April 7, 2019
pic.twitter.com/4PSdxhU5KL
Well, the next time Dietrich came up, Archer decided to settle things not through actually defeating him through baseball but instead just hurling a rock at him because he was mad:
Punches thrown
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 7, 2019
Yasiel Puig and the Reds got into it with the Pirates.
(via @FOXSportsOH)pic.twitter.com/qHn9oK7f5e
Amongst the chaos we got beauty and art
Reds and Pirates in a scrum
— Conway (@Conn_Wayne) April 7, 2019
I love Yasiel Puig pic.twitter.com/2ggTi7AnZS
"Yasiel Puig starts a brawl" in Renaissance form pic.twitter.com/dqDM7xLEjx
— Jonathan Soveta (@eighteenyards) April 7, 2019
Later in the game, the Reds TV guy insinuates/questions a mysterious substance on Archer’s jersey.
All this drama, and there still was actual baseball happening: And Derek Dietirch still enjoys hitting baseballs in the river!
Derek Dietrich has hit TWO homers into the river today. pic.twitter.com/oDuOZwHk0K
— MLB (@MLB) April 7, 2019
Five Remarkable Features of the Reds-Pirates Brawl - Emma Baccellieri, SI.com: Emma has a further breakdown of the most interesting things out of the silly manly display of ego.
Rays News
For the first time in franchise history, the Rays have won their first three series. To do it, they needed to face an old friend, continue to pitch lights out, and get a little weird.
This team is unlike any other in our history. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/kXEbAWkp2y
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 7, 2019
Rays got a little kooky with a Waxahachie Swap, with Roe coming in to K Longoria and Kolarek to 1B:
While waiting to enter the visitors clubhouse earlier after #Rays win, some family and friends of players were walking by. We hear someone shout, "Excuse me parents of the first baseman coming through!" Turns out it wasn't Ji-Man's folks or even Yandy Diaz'.
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) April 8, 2019
It's Frank Kolarek. https://t.co/PtNUlEUUCf
Kolarek talking about his first experience as a major league 1B
Rays Tales: The world according to Evan Longoria - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times: Catching up with an old friend.
Two Legends of Tampa Bay:
.@RaysBaseball legend Evan Longoria (2008-2017) sits down with Dewayne Staats to take a trip down memory lane. PART I#RaysUp #MLB pic.twitter.com/cbba5twPYf
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) April 7, 2019
.@RaysBaseball legend Evan Longoria (2008-2017) sits down with Dewayne Staats to take a trip down memory lane. PART II#RaysUp #MLB pic.twitter.com/lrc0OXzPiI
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) April 7, 2019
Some Topkin sass on the Giants starting pitchers early exits
Pham enters Rays record book with hit - Juan Toribio, MLB.com: Pham over the weekend passed Johnny Damon, to set (and extend) his Rays record on base streak.
Rays journal: Garcia to return to Chicago with no hard feelings - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times: More homecomings, this time with Avi Garcia back to the south side of Chicago.
Rays have pitching depth, Red Sox and Cubs have pitching problems and everything else we learned in MLB this week - Katherine Acquavella, CBS Sports: Some love for the Rays pitchers.
Around the League
Reds Acquire Rob Refsnyder - MLBTradeRumors: The return of Walksnyder!
The Book of Jobu: How ‘Major League’ predicted the future - Sam Miller, ESPN: Sam breaks down the very real life lessons Major League absolutely nailed (also, kinda jealous Sam got to experience Major League for the first time).
Korean Submarine Pitcher Park Jong-Hoon Has Big League Ambitions - Sung Min Kim, Fan Graphs: I love me a submarine pitcher, always have, always will. So I wish good luck and hope to see Park Jong-Hoon in the show. Sung Min Kim has an excellent breakdown of his mechanics, complete with pitch grips and lots of gifs!
Nats’ Rosenthal fails to record outs in 5 straight appearances to tie record - Michael Bradburn, The Score: Trevor Rosenthal has tied the record for most appearances in a row without recording an out.