There was certainly no shortage of drama around the league yesterday, especially out West where there’s a real old fashion wild west shootout taking place. In a must game for the Dodgers it was Casey Blake, returning to the lineup for the first time in 5 games, making a huge impact with his bat. Yup, Casey at the Bat : )

Blake’s 2-3 day included a HR and 2 RBI with a couple of runs scored. While it was big for LA against their arch rivals up North… it’s not what makes you Yesterday’s Hitter. Close though.

A couple of guys you don’t hear much about made some noise at the plate yesterday, Kurt Suzuki and Maicer Izturis. Suzuki had a real nice line going with his 3-5 3R and 3RBI day that helped the bottom dwelling A’s ruin the Twins opportunity to gain ground on those slumbering Tigers.

A completely different view for Maicer, whose Angels sit atop the West by a healthy 5 1/2 games with but 22 to play. Maicer’s 3-4 day included 2 Ribs and a couple of runs as the Angels also helped out the slumbering cats by knocking off Chicago 7-1. If you’re Detroit you have to consider sending a bottle of wine out West ; )

Let’s bring on the real contenders:

Aramis Ramirez. Now this guy can swing a bat. His power numbers are not what we would expect at this time of the year, but he’s sporting a healthy .315 average and you can’t cry about that. Yesterday it was more of the same from Aramis as he posted a 3-3 performance and then added 3 RBIs and a couple of runs to his line. Very nice… but, not quite gonna do it.

Here’s a guy I really like alot. He’s a class act and he’s one of only 3 hitters to have posted at least 20 HRS every single year since the year 2000. Pretty good stuff huh? 

                                         

His numbers Yesterday were more like we’ve come to expect from Lance Berkman. He’s had a bit of a down year which is certainly why Houston is far from in it in ’09. But, for the second day in a row we had a Vin Scully line – Lance was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 2 Runs scored… and yes, he also had 2 walks. Vinny would be proud. But, not good enough Lance.

Now, here’s where we throw a wrench into this Yesterday’s Hitter thing. You see, there was this certain fellow that had himself a historic moment at the plate on one of the Nation’s brightest baseball stages. Yea… this guy:

Derek Jeter. What else can you say. He eclipsed the iconic Iron Horse with his 2,722 hit as a Yankee. Really good stuff huh? Yeh. Amazing feat for an amazing fellow. If only the Yanks hadn’t blown that 4-1 lead, Derek would probably be the guy. But.. he’s not.

It could go to Yorvit Torrealba who had himself a drama filled at-bat. One at-bat in fact. But it was the kind of at-bat that every kid who has ever dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues has had at least once…. 9th inning… 2 outs, your team is down by a run.. the bases are loaded.. 2 strikes on you.. .and oh, your team is locked in a knock down drag em out fight for the pennant.

Yorvit came through with flying colors smoking a rope into the left center gap and clearing the bases to give the Rockies a stunning victory and keep pace with LA in the West. Awesome stuff Yorvit! But.. believe it or not.. you’re not the guy. It’s this guy that takes the honors as Yesterday’s Hitter for 09/11 –

 Granted it was 09/11/85 .. but you can’t argue with the fact that this one eclipses all the others… This is really good stuff: At Riverfront Stadium in front of 47,237 hometown fans, Reds’ player-manager Pete Rose collected his 4,192nd career hit to pass Ty Cobb becoming the all-time major league hit leader with a first inning single to left field. Cincinnati beat San Diego, 2-0.