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Major League Baseball has long been bad at promoting its stars. It’s like the league can’t figure out ways to make their game more likable for fans all over the country. And when it comes to growing the game and being more cool, Rob Manfred and Co. usually come up woefully short in their minimal efforts.
Well, congratulations MLB because you’ve been handed a gift and it’s time that you go all in on this and celebrate it and show it off every chance you get because it’s pretty damn awesome and it’s pretty much universally loved by everyone who watches baseball. It’s also something that even non baseball fans would want to go out of their way to watch, which doesn’t happen all that often for baseball.
I’m talking, of course, about Mets closer Edwin Diaz and his tremendous bullpen entrances. The two-time All-Star has been doing this for a while now but Sunday’s went incredibly viral because of the camera angle and the atmosphere that it showed off… and just because it was so darn cool.
Not only is the video awesome – I get chills every time the trumpets kick in – but as of this writing it had 7.6 million views. That’s not for a home run or a cool play in the field. That’s for a guy walking out of a bullpen and making his way to the mound.
7.6 million views.
Somebody within MLB headquarters needs to recognize this and let someone else know that these entrances need to become a thing. Games on MLB Network need to break in to Mets home games when Diaz is getting ready to make the walk. ESPN and FS1 need to be pushed to do the same. I need an Edwin Diaz cam whenever those trumpets are about to go off.
The MLB season can get really boring at times and these walkouts are the opposite of that. They can be something that everyone rallies around and looks forward to. They can bring excitement to the game (imagine that!). If you need any proof just look at the comments on that video – a lot of them are from people saying they don’t like the Mets at all but they love the Diaz walk. That has to be easy money for MLB execs.
The good news is the Mets are currently seven games up in the NL East and should make the playoffs, which means we could get some of these in the postseason. I’m fired up just thinking about what those moments would be like – the music blaring, the stadium absolutely rocking. It will be what baseball often is not – fun.
Congratulations on this beautiful gift, MLB. Don’t waste it!
Quick hits: NFL preseason power rankings… Angry Padres fans throw stuff on field… College football top 25… And more.
– The 2022 NFL season is quickly approaching so it’s time to break out some power rankings. Bills fans will be happy. Texans fans will be sad.
– Padres fans were so mad at a call last night that they threw a bunch of stuff on the field.
– The USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll came out yesterday. Alabama is No. 1 (duh) and here’s the complete top 25.
– Lions RB Jamaal Williams had an emotional post-practice speech that you should watch because it’s great.
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