HIGHLIGHTS: Last week in baseball featured plenty of “highway robbery” catches

By
Alex Muller
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Home runs often bring jubilant joy to both players and fans in baseball. They’re one of if not the most exciting plays in the sport. However, arguably more exciting is when players get robbed of would-be home runs (or extra-base hits, at the worst).

Those outfielders are committing legitimate acts of “highway robbery.” By definition, highway robbery is “usually against travelers” and happens when “excessive profit or advantage is derived.” Well there were a number of instances in baseball this week where that was on full display.

It’s possible that no outfielder committed a bigger crime of highway robbery this week than former Tigers center fielder and current Indians outfielder Austin Jackson, robbing Hanley Ramirez in dramatic fashion. But who else joined the fray?

A pair of Tigers got into the act this week. Take a look at the catches made by both Jim Adduci (against the Yankees) and Mikie Mahtook (against the Orioles).

Not bad, fellas! But you have some stiff competition on whose act of robbery was more criminal.

Pirates outfielder and 2-time Gold Glove winner Starling Marte made this over-the-wall catch against the Reds’ Jesse Winker.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderMLB/status/892570171264643072

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, normally known for hitting mammoth home runs, decides to play the other card for a change. This robbery was against the Nationals’ Brian Goodwin, for the final out of the game and preserving a shutout win.

Young Brewers center fielder Keon Broxton has already created a habit of making these types of catches in the outfield. The latest victim of his is the Cardinals’ Jose Martinez.

Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera is commonly known for bat flips galore and sometimes questionable effort level. He went all-out here, flipping his glove instead to rob Angels catcher Martin Maldonado.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ua5rm9d7ds

NOTE: Herrera made another athletic yet adventurous catch during that same series this week in Anaheim, also against Maldonado.

Last but certainly not least, Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain is one of the best in the business at tracking fly balls down. He made this catch against the Orioles’ Chris Davis look rather easy.

So, who did it best?