CLEVELAND — José Ramírez by no means received to take a swing at historical past and a spot in one in every of baseball’s most unique golf equipment.
Ultimately, 40-40 was simply out of attain.
Cleveland’s All-Star third baseman completed one house run shy of turning into the seventh participant to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the identical season, denied the prospect when the Guardians’ regular-season finale towards the Houston Astros was canceled by rain Sunday.
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Ramírez, who had 41 steals, additionally ended with 39 doubles, leaving him one wanting being simply the second participant with 40 homers, 40 doubles and 40 steals in a season — a feat solely completed by Alfonso Soriano in 2006.
Whereas dissatisfied, Ramírez made a promise to Guardians first-year supervisor Stephen Vogt.
“He was like, ‘Hey, I will do it subsequent yr,'” Vogt relayed. “That is who he’s. He desires to win. Sadly, he simply did not get one final alternative.”
The groups waited greater than three hours earlier than Main League Baseball lastly allowed the sport to be known as. With the Astros needing to get house for a Monday exercise forward of Tuesday’s wild-card sequence opener towards Detroit, there was no motive to pull the delay out any longer.
Sadly, the rainout ruined an opportunity for Cleveland followers to presumably see Ramírez give them yet one more thrill — one thing he is been doing routinely all through his profession.
On Saturday, Ramírez belted house run No. 39 within the first inning off Justin Verlander and hit double No. 39 within the eighth inning, capping an 11-pitch at-bat that included him fouling a ball off his leg. It was additionally his 1,five hundredth profession hit.
Hundreds of followers — many who stayed of their seats carrying ponchos — waited out the lengthy climate delay hoping Ramírez might join once more and be part of Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and Soriano within the unique 40-40 membership.
It was to not be.
“Sadly, Hosey did not get to have yet one more shot at it,” Vogt stated. “However to be the second particular person within the historical past of baseball to do what he did this yr, that is nonetheless a reasonably cool feat. You consider all of the shut calls that he had and the instances he was robbed and it is nonetheless a exceptional season, what he put collectively.”
A local of the Dominican Republic, the 32-year-old Ramírez has spent his complete 11-year skilled profession in Cleveland. His all-out hustle, consistency and coronary heart haven’t solely made him one of many membership’s hottest gamers however introduced him common respect throughout the sport.
When he steps to the plate in Progressive Subject, Ramírez is normally serenaded with “Ho-sey, Ho-sey, Ho-sey, Ho-sey” in a sing-a-long by followers typically adopted by him ripping a ball down one of many baselines and going into second base headfirst and helmetless.
“He was like, ‘Hey, I will do it subsequent yr.’ That is who he’s. He desires to win. Sadly, he simply did not get one final alternative.”
Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt on José Ramírez lacking out on 40-40 membership
“He is one of the crucial underrated gamers within the huge leagues, 100%,” Astros supervisor Joe Espada stated. “He is a very good participant on each side of the ball. I personally don’t love when he involves the plate, clearly.
“However I like watching him play due to how good and the way powerful he’s. The eagerness that he performs with.”
Earlier than he got here to Cleveland, Vogt was an outsider who solely knew Ramírez as an opponent. He is now entrance row for among the best reveals in baseball.
“One of many favourite elements of this job is watching him each single day be the identical particular person,” Vogt stated. “Enjoying the sport the correct approach, going about his enterprise. Enjoying the sport to win, and your numbers might be there on the finish of the yr.
“He is the epitome and instance of that, and it is so nice that our younger gamers get to observe.”
