The Diamondbacks and Rockies staged their tribute to the Steroid Era today. Home runs were flying out of Chase Field like it was batting practice. The teams combined for eight homers -- equaling the Opening Day record -- in Arizona's 9-8 victory.The really cool thing was that Tony Clark and Felipe Lopez (right) each homered from both sides of the plate.
It was only the second time in history that teammates have homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. On April 23, 2000, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada did it for the Yankees.
We've become almost numb to home run exploits in recent years, but historically speaking, this feat is surprisingly rare. According to the Baseball Almanac, there have only been 224 times that a player has homered from both sides of the plate in one game.
By contrast, there have been 257 no-hitters.
Although that makes a great trivia question, certain to amaze your buddies, there is a logical reason why we in the 21st century don't regard the feats as being equals. No-hitters have been pretty rare throughout baseball history, not varying too much in frequency. There have also been no-hitters since the start of baseball, but there weren't always HFBSOP (homers from both sides of the plate) because there were virtually no switch-hitters until the 1950s. Mickey Mantle first made it cool.
Scenes From Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson, AP
Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Charles Krupa, AP
A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York, AP
Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Groundskeeper Angel Avila carries shoveled snow off the field at US Cellular Field after the Chicago White Sox's home opener baseball game against the Kansas City Royals was postponed until Tuesday due to snow in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Led by pitcher Jamie Moyer, the Philadelphia Phillies are greeted as they pass through two rows of fans in center field during opening night ceremonies before the start an MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Philadelphia.
Tom Mihalek, AP
Also, most switch hitters are (almost by definition) not power hitters. Many players become switch-hitters because they are fast but don't have power, so there isn't much pop to lose by going over to the left side of the plate and getting a little closer to first base (see Vizquel, Omar).
If you're looking for some big-picture significance from this game, it is probably that the Diamondbacks are not to be overlooked amid all the Manny Mania in the NL West. Yes, the Dodgers have a better lineup than the Diamondbacks, but the Diamondbacks' isn't bad. Sure, they strike out too much, but they have some good, young hitters who still have room for improvement. Two of the best didn't even hit homers in this game: Stephen Drew and Conor Jackson.
And the Diamondbacks have something the Dodgers don't: Two stud pitchers at the top of the rotation.
