Brantley's Career High 11 Home Runs

Michael Brantley was not projected to be much of a home run hitter. year after year, writers talked about how he lacked power. and i would defend him against this, saying that with all the other things he does for the team, he doesn't need to worry about being a power hitter. well, i think Michael had enough of that because it's June 15, and he's already hit his 11th home run, most on the team by 3 right now. he leads the team in pretty much every category that matters, and it's pretty obvious he's on his way to the first All Star game of his career. there are more career highs coming, he's hitting too good right now for there not to be. he's going to shatter some of his other previous career highs this year, no question. but right now, let's talk about his latest feat.

with 2 outs in the top of the 1st inning at Fenway Park, Michael hit home run #11 on the 7th pitch of a 2-2 count from Brandon Workman of the Boston Red Sox. 11 home runs is now a career high for Michael. during his at bat, Hammy was talking about how Michael went 3-for-3 against Workman when we played Boston in Cleveland on June 9. so i thought back to what Michael did against him, and i remembered that was when he hit his 10th home run. so then i thought, "he's gonna hit another home run off this guy." because sometimes you just know, you can sense these things. the count was 1-2, then Michael fouled off 2 pitches in a row before ball 2 came. and then bam! the next pitch was hit to right field, just inside Pesky's Pole =D

picture courtesy of The Plain Dealer

i knew when this day came it would be special, for him as a player and for me as a fan. and maybe Father's Day (Michael's first officially) had something to do with it, maybe not. but either way, the pride i am feeling for this modest, underrated athlete is immense. it's going to be a season of happy tears for me, and i can't wait to see what he accomplishes next.