Alexei Ramirez saved the day for the Sox and made me smile
Typically, I don’t love when baseball players celebrate a home run before the ball leaves the yard. It seems so egotistical; often, it looks as if the player is saying “Hey everyone! Look at how great I am! Worship me!”
But Alexei Ramirez flinging his arms in the air in jubilation after he hit a no-doubt grand slam last night…I can’t have a problem with that.
Photo here, video here. Alexei Ramirez wasn’t showboating; he was releasing the sheer unfettered joy that baseball brings. In that moment, the 26-year-old rookie became a little boy who is PUMPED to be where he is. Even this White Sox hater was super-excited for him.
This home run forced a Game 163, which will decide whether the White Sox or the Twins will represent the American League Central in the MLB postseason. It will be televised tonight on TBS at 6:30. I’m pumped, even though neither of these teams is “my” team; last year showed how utterly thrilling a one-game play-in like this can be, and if tonight is half as theatrical as that Rockies-Padres play-in last year, it will be a great night.