It’s almost difficult to comprehend just how tough it is to hit big-league pitching. Everything about it seems impossible — the velocity, movement, precision. Like, what are batters supposed to do?
With all that in mind, you really have to feel for Mariners first baseman Ty France. He looked absolutely helpless against Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck.
The rookie right-hander was on the mound Wednesday for Boston, and Houck was dealing early through four innings — though he’d get pulled in the fifth. But he particularly gave France (not the country) a tough time.
In the second inning, Houck got France to strike out swinging on an 86 mph slider that seemingly broke three feet off the plate. Baseball is hard.
Here's the video
Tanner Houck, Ridiculous 86mph Wipeout Slider. 😯 pic.twitter.com/241JZPdhPC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 15, 2021
Before we laugh at that swing, it’s important to remember that France isn’t a bad hitter by any means. He’s the Mariners’ leading hitter! And still, Houck managed to get him to swing at that pitch. This is what happens when you’re thinking fastball and, uh, don’t get one:
Baseballs aren’t supposed to move like that, and the MLB world was understandably impressed.
This was how Twitter reacted
WTFFFFFFFFFF. 🥵
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) September 15, 2021
Filth Factor 10/10. 😷 https://t.co/Rq4JXVZ6wl
— Codify, Inc. (@CodifyBaseball) September 15, 2021
This is absolutely insane https://t.co/w0As5FdZ6x
— Jake Brezniak (@JBrezniak) September 15, 2021
How? Just how? https://t.co/gHwEJXlU85
— Wil (@WilBarnes1) September 15, 2021
you gotta charge the mound after this one https://t.co/Vkurkw2Vxc
— yves pons fan account (@galacticdad) September 15, 2021
Consider this a war crime against France https://t.co/SI1P6Em8MN
— Zeb Noland Heisman Szn (2-0) (@JTBarnesFanAcct) September 15, 2021
This looks like a glitch in the Matrix. There’s no other explanation https://t.co/jsNlxgQkDY
— Whats up? (@wherespacks) September 15, 2021
That's not a ball that's a frisbee https://t.co/bpoodLMUO4
— Reid Glenn (@Red__Glenn) September 15, 2021
The right handed Chris Sale https://t.co/HveiYLZLVo
— Just Devin (@Devin_gain) September 15, 2021
Lol imagine expecting 96 and getting that. Gross. https://t.co/jq8fZCA11h
— Bryce Spalding (@bryce_spalding) September 15, 2021
How in the hell is that even possible https://t.co/q3V15gQSLj
— Sean 🐼 mtingO6 hater (@SethCurry4Three) September 15, 2021
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) September 15, 2021
https://t.co/wtaheYC2xc pic.twitter.com/XzVIT2RQQ3
— sam (@extramicrowave) September 15, 2021
This ball had it's own gravitational pull… https://t.co/gukgxRZVWn
— Ted (@tlschwerz) September 15, 2021
The ball, halfway to the plate: https://t.co/1cKCRHbm6W pic.twitter.com/k3p1EcgYNe
— Parker Curry (@parkercurry2) September 15, 2021
You just have to give up after that.