A walk off home run is perhaps the most exciting play in baseball. It usually involves high leverage, results in a significant change in win expectancy, and leaves one team and its fans very happy while the others are incredibly disappointed.
This is exactly what happened Thursday night when Yairo Muñoz belted his second home run of the season deep into the Busch Stadium batter’s eye. With the Cardinals down one run in the bottom the ninth with all three outs and runners on first and third to work with, Muñoz looked to lift something out of the infield. He also just so happened to hit it out of the outfield.
Obviously this made his teammates very happy and a celebration ensued. What casual fans may not realize is that while the celebration looks impromptu and chaotic, there are actually very specific components. Every player has his role to play and although there is no formal volunteering process, everyone falls into his role rather seamlessly. Let us unpack, shall we?
The helmet thrower
This is usually the person that hit the home run, though sometimes there is someone there for the assist. Either way, he has gotta ditch that helmet because it is crucial to be hat-less for what comes next...
The water cooler guy
This has been Kolten Wong’s job for the last few seasons. He has not been very successful in the past, but he made up for it here.
The noogie-er
This is why the hero needed to be hat-less. For some reason, he must be noogied. I do not know why.
The somewhat overly aggressive high-fiver
José Martínez was just really excited. The problem is he is a very large human man. Be careful, please, José.
The guy that was double-switched out of the game and is in the warm-up shirt or hoodie and is super pumped
Dexter Fowler is a natural in this spot.
The happy kid in the stands
This is why you stay for the whole game, kiddos!
This blogger, for one, looks forward to seeing these roles again.
Munoz caps 5-run 9th inning with walk-off home run | YouTube
Yairo Muñoz Walks Off the Pirates 5.31.18 | Viva El Birdos
what else is going on in baseball...
Blue Jays keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the minors, and there’s a cost | SBNation.com
Clayton Kershaw may have to go right back to the DL | SBNation.com
The Diamondbacks Were Just Impossibly Bad | FanGraphs Baseball
Matt Kemp homers, has 4 RBIs against Phillies | MLB.com
Andrelton Simmons ran halfway back to Anaheim to make this unbelievable catch | MLB.com
The last time the NBA Finals started without LeBron James, baseball looked quite different | MLB.com
The Mets made history by hiring Marysol Castro as the team's first female PA announcer | MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani was absolutely unfair to Jose Iglesias on a three-pitch strikeout | MLB.com
what the cardinals are up to...
First Start: The Tough Alex Reyes Was Wild, Weary, but Willing | 101Sports.com
Reyes Lat Strain Is 'Not a Minor Injury' According to Cards GM Girsch | 101Sports.com
KNOW THINE ENEMY...
the pittsburgh pirates
Series Preview: Pirates @ Cardinals | Bucs Dugout
Bucs blow three run lead in 9th, lose 10-8 | Bucs Dugout
the nl central
Anthony Rizzo’s Dramatic Turnaround | FanGraphs Baseball
viva el stuff...
Contest: VEB Perfect Game Challenge | Viva El Birdos
other things...
J.R. Smith’s NBA Finals brain fart is just what he always does | SBNation.com
Vegas made the Golden Knights. Now the Golden Knights can remake Vegas. | SBNation.com
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