Tag: Randy Arozarena

Tampa’s Randy Arozarena found an awesome way to avoid a tag and MLB fans loved it

This was so cool.

Tampa’s Randy Arozarena knows how to make things exciting on the base paths.

Remember when he stole home during a playoff game last year against the Boston Red Sox? That was pretty great.

Oh, and remember that winning run he scored in a World Series game against the Dodgers back in 2020? That was pretty darn awesome, too.

Well, Arozarena had some more fun on the base paths yesterday in Chicago when he found an impressive way to avoid the tag of White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who should have easily gotten Arozarena out on this play.

Check out what happened:

So good.

Twitter loved it.

Randy Arozarena’s steal of home was even cooler from up close

This angle is amazing.

There’s so much to love about baseball.

[Places fedora upon head.]

It’s the thinking person’s game. Strategy is everything! But also skill! Nothing is harder than hitting a baseball, except perhaps throwing one in such a way that nobody can hit it.

Can’t you smell the fresh-cut grass? The Cracker Jacks? The sticky stale absurdly expensive beer that some guy spilled in the 3rd–

[Removes fedora quickly.]

Sorry about that. Wait, do they still make Cracker Jacks?

Anyway, baseball’s great. It’s just that, compared to the free-flowing sports, displays of dramatic, world-class athleticism are relatively scattered.

Which makes Rays rookie Randy Arozarena’s daring steal of home in an ALDS game against Boston all the more thrilling, especially from this angle:

My favorite part of this video is that you can see the quarter-second of hesitation in Brandon Lowe when he thinks, “Wait, uhh, is Randy running at me? He is, right? Yes, yes, he’s trying to steal home, better step out.”

Honestly I just want to watch every angle of this, over and over.

According to Rays manager Kevin Cash, Arozarena had been begging to steal home for a while now, pleading by saying, “Verde, verde, verde.” Basically: Green light?

Thankfully he got it, scoring the final run in a 5-0 Game 1 victory. Arozarena became the first player ever to steal home and homer in a playoff game.

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Rays’ Randy Arozarena had the most brilliant straight steal of home in a playoff game

“HE STEALS HOME, IN OCTOBER!”

Randy Arozarena, are you kidding me?

There’s a reason straight steals of home are a rarity in the MLB, as it’s an incredibly bold maneuver to pull off with the ball just 60 feet away. But on Thursday, Arozarena pulled off a stunning straight steal of home to help give the Tampa Bay Rays a much-needed insurance run.

In the bottom of the seventh of the first playoff game between the Boston Red Sox and the Rays, Arozarena stole home off of Josh Taylor with two on and two outs. Arozarena was able to catch Boston off guard with the straight steal of home and slid into safety ahead of the tag to put the Rays up 5-0.

What an absolutely gutsy move by Arozarena to steal home in that situation. But it worked and it is by far the best play we’ve seen in the early goings of the MLB postseason.

Just look at how close to home Arozarena was before the ball was thrown!

Absolutely brilliant. Arozarena, you wonderful madman.

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Who tumbled better, Daniel Jones or Randy Arozarena?

The Turf Monster has struck twice this week, biting Daniel Jones and Randy Arozarena.

The Turf Monster’s teeth have been in full force this week.

First, it took down the Giants’ Daniel Jones as he was headed for the end zone Thursday. The touchdown turned into an 80-yard run that will go down in Internet infamy as Big Blue lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 22-21.

Then, Saturday in Game 4 of the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays won 8-7 over the Los Angeles Dodgers on one of the most incredible — insane? — plays.

With two out and first and second, Brett Phillips singled to right-center, Kevin Kiermaier scored to tie the game. However, Chris Taylor booted the hit and Randy Arozarena flew around the bases … turning around third and heading home.

Enter Turf Monster, II.

Arozarena went flying face first and appeared to be dead, caught in a rundown at best.

However, Dodgers catcher Will Smith thought he would have to make a swipe tag on the charging Ray and misplayed the throw.

Arozarena somehow pulled himself together and headed home, diving across the plate with the winning run. He slapped home plate repetitively after the wild finish that left the World Series tied at 2 games apiece.

So, the question is who did it better, Jones or Arozarena?

The answer: The Ray, of course, because he scored while the Giants’ quarterback came up eight yards short.