Tonight In Guys Being Dudes: Felix Hernandez Strikes Out Adrian Beltre

162 games is a grind. The long, arduous path every MLB team takes year-in and year-out takes a massive toll on players’ mental states. Some guys are too tense this time of year and an ugly strikeout where the opposing pitcher keels over, points and laughs at you could very well be the start of a bench clearing donnybrook. But when the players involved in said scenario are Felix Hernandez and Adrian Beltre you don’t have to worry about that.

King Felix has been in the Bigs since 2005. Beltre hit behind Ruth on the ’27 Yankees. Two guys who have seen it all, playing in an early-August tilt where one team never even considered making the playoffs and the other is scratching and clawing for a Wild Card birth with a negative run differential. Both sides could use a little levity in their lives and that’s exactly what happened here. Beltre was able to laugh at himself for what has to be one of the ugliest swings of his career. Felix knew it was safe to laugh at one of his former teammates, especially since he was not about to touch his head. Funny is funny. Just a couple of guys out there being dudes. What’s better than this?