Batter up! It’s time to tweet. And if you’re a baseball player who’s quick with the 140-character draw, you’re more than likely an all-star.
A season lasts 162 games and stretches from late March through early October. That’s a lot of traveling and a whole lot of hotels. It’s a lot of post-game spreads and Ping-Pong in the clubhouse. It’s downtime the players usually like to fill by tweeting.
Baseball’s playoffs start today. Each team has a colorful figure who could be burning up your Twitter feed throughout the big dance. We’ve laid out who on each squad is most worthy of your follow.
American League
Texas Rangers: Derek Holland (@Dutch_Oven45)
Though currently facing scrutiny for a homophobic tweet that he says was sent by a hacker, starting pitcher Derek Holland’s Twitter account is one of the most popular in baseball. It’s your one-stop shop for all Rangers news, quirky shark facts, and a steady stream of Chuck Norris 101.
Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10)
Jones has been the heart and soul of the surprising Orioles team all year, and his commitment to Twitter may match his effort on the field. He’s constantly interacting with fans, tweeting photos of his food, and reminding Orioles fans to #StayHungry as they head toward the playoffs.
New York Yankees: N/A
Nobody on the Yankees likes to have any fun. (Just kidding. Nick Swisher’s alright.)
Detroit Tigers: Collin Balester (@Ballystar40)
Venezuelan-born pitcher Anibal Sanchez is good, but everything he writes is in Spanish. I don’t know any Spanish. Collin Balester, on the other hand, is definitely speaking my language. The California-born relief pitcher had a quiet year on the hill, but he’s got a heater for a tweeter. You’ll be doubled over before you have the time to figure out last night’s score.
Oakland Athletics: Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32)
It’s really not even close. Pitcher Brandon McCarthy is so popular on Twitter that the site’s comedic social clique of Rob Delaney, Michael Ian Black, and Ken Jennings came rushing to wish him well when he took a line drive to the head last month. He’ll have plenty of time to tweet his way through the Athletic’s playoff run, too. McCarthy’s sidelined for the rest of the year.
National League
Washington Nationals: Craig Stammen (@cstammen35)
Though he doesn’t tweet as often as the other players on this list, relief pitcher Craig Stammen has found a way to include Nationals’ buzz into each of his tweets. Need further proof, check out this post, made while out on the town one night in September.
Atlanta Braves: Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan)
Supportive, energetic, Australian. This relief pitcher is a chatterbox who loves yucking it up with Brandon McCarthy, fans, and Brave great Chipper Jones.
Cincinnati Reds: Brandon Philips (@DayDudeBP)
You won’t get much Cincinnati substance, but you’ll get a lot of flavor. Second baseman Brandon Phillips is unafraid to tweet about fans’ wives or retweet 98 Degrees singer and Cincinnati favorite Nick Lachey.
San Francisco Giants: Brian Wilson (@BrianWilson38)
It shouldn’t be at all surprising that the radical, eccentric Wilson is the San Francisco Giants’ best tweeter. The guy is simply outrageous. The bearded closer doesn’t post often, but it’s an event when he does. Haven’t you ever wanted to get inside the mind of a psychotic closer? Here’s your best chance.
St. Louis Cardinals: Joe Kelly (@Joe_Kelly_Jr)
OK, so we’ve established some precedent here: relief pitchers generally make for the best tweeters. Must be something to do with all that sitting and hanging out that takes place just beyond the outfield wall. Anyway, it’s all daydreams out there in the bullpen, where Kelly’s likely brainstorming new tweets about Halo 4 or “Gangnam Style.”
Photo via @BMcCarthy32/Facebook