Sometimes you can’t really add a whole lot to a story as a writer.
Jose Fernandez’s death is still weighing heavily on the sport, and on his Marlins teammates in particular. Tonight, the entire roster wore Fernandez #16 jerseys.
Dee Gordon, a lefty, took the first pitch he saw leading off the Miami first while standing in the right-handed batter’s box, and apparently wearing Jose’s helmet.
https://twitter.com/MattDeBlasi/status/780549477182550017
And then, having moved back to his natural side of the plate, he did this:
Just amazing, @FlashGJr. #JDF16 pic.twitter.com/Tgg03ZSJlt
— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2016
Good luck not breaking down at around the same point Dee did.
https://twitter.com/AnswerDave/status/780549356168450051
The Mets broadcast booth certainly understood the weight of the moment:
"I don't care who you are, who you root for or how badly you want the Mets to make the postseason. That was phenomenal." – Gary Cohen on SNY
— Justin Rocke (@JustinRocke) September 26, 2016
Fernandez’s passing is a tragic reminder that there are bigger things than sports. Of course it does. It has to.
But then we get things like this, too, and we’re reminded that we watch for a reason.