Two Phillies Fans Get Excited About Wilson Ramos’s Amazing Debut (One of Them is Me and the Other is Also Me)
So, we are going to examine two separate fans’ (both just me) reactions to tonight’s Wilson Ramos debut. There is a first, super excited fan (me) and a more rational fan (also me).
Let’s listen to the first guy’s (remember it’s just me) reaction:
PUT THE BUFFALO ON THE WALL OF FAME ALREADY WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG???!?!?!?
His defense is amazing.
“bUt jOrgE aLfaRo hAs a caNnOn!!!!!1!!!”
Yeah okay, but shut up. Ramos threw out Brock Holt (noted as fast and definitely not a Nickelodeon TV show bully) in the first inning on a bad pitch from his knees. FROM HIS KNEES. That’s what a cannon is folks. Better than the play itself was his reaction…nothing. He just didn’t care because it routine to him and he’s just THAT cool.
Also, he caught the best reliever (biased) in the game, Seranthony Dominguez, without ever seeing him before. Sertony has a cutter that comes in at about 150 MPH and any mortal catcher wouldn’t be able to handle it but Ramos is no mortal. He squeezed every one.
Now, the bat. Wilson Ramos has a .750 average with the Phillies with two doubles and a triple that all went to the same exact spot in right center. It was his first triple since 2011 so it can be rationally deduced (by myself) that Ramos is an HOFer in a Phillies uniform.
Actually, to hell with an HOFer. Kruk said he had his 3 XBH “Just when the Phillies needed it most.” Ramos is a certified Avenger at this point.
That was all excited guy had to say. Now rational, grounded guy has a few points (please don’t forget this is just me, not an actual rational person):
I have not been on board with the Alfaro-Knapp duo for quite some time. Catcher and center field are the two positions in baseball where the player’s contribution in the field is arguably more important than their offense. Knapp and Alfaro were NOWHERE near good enough behind the plate to make up for their bats. They combined for a .234 average which is 29th in baseball.
Prior to tonight, the pair lead the league in total errors (16), fielding errors (5), and throwing errors (11). How much do Alfaro’s rockets to second base matter to you now?
They are also 26th in the league in DRS (defensive runs saved) with -8. They saved -8 runs. So, for those who need clarification and/or repetition for effect, they caused 8 runs. In a race that Gabe thinks will come down to one game, those 8 runs could have been the difference already.
These reasons are why catchers who can hit are so valuable in the MLB.
Enter Wilson Ramos.
Only 36 errors in 9 seasons, a career DRS of 26, and a caught stealing ration of 45% prove that he is at the very least a good catcher fielding wise. Certainly, an upgrade from Alfaro and a veteran presence for him to mature behind. When you compound his defensive prowess with a .271 BA, 108 HR, and 409 RBI you have a two-way threat that can help a team on both sides of the ball.
His debut was a perfect example of everything Ramos can be to this team. Hitting is contagious in baseball and his 3 hits lead to a team total of 12 and his 3 RBI and 3 R comprised 6 of the 7 runs. A catalyst like Ramos is just what the Phillies needed to bust out of a hitting slump and make their way back to the top of the NL East guided by the best rotation in the NL and a surprisingly good bullpen.
You are free to decide which of these two fans you want to be. Both are absolutely right and justified reactions to what was an awe-inspiring Phillies debut and all fans alike I can almost guarantee are very optimistic about the rest of this season.
P.S. I didn’t really know how to work this in or make it relevant but I absolutely love Justin Bour walking up to Jump…that is all.