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In an era where flashy home run celebrations often divide opinions, Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith provided a refreshingly candid reaction to Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero's over-the-top showboating after a home run off Smith in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.
Old-school players and fans typically frown upon such displays, arguing that showing up an opponent has no place in baseball. Conversely, another faction supports these celebrations, believing they inject excitement and draw more attention to the sport. Given this divide, many wondered how Smith would handle Caminero's antics.
Smith could have easily called out Caminero, but instead, he offered an honest assessment. "It's not my style, but I guess if I don't like it, I shouldn't give up home runs," Smith said, via Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
While Smith might have pretended to be fine with the celebration to align with modern thinking, the reality is that no pitcher would relish such a display against them. Even some supporters of showboating might have felt Caminero's celebration was excessive. Smith could have also taken the angry veteran route, potentially upsetting those who enjoy flashy celebrations. Instead, he found the perfect balance: admitting the celebration wasn't his personal style while acknowledging that the situation could have been avoided by not surrendering the home run in the first place.
Key Analysis
The home run itself marked a significant momentum shift. Up to that point in the 7th inning, the game had been low-scoring, with Tampa Bay holding a 3-1 lead. Caminero's blast extended the advantage to 5-1. Smith, who had been reliable all season, struggled surprisingly, likely due to fatigue from being heavily used by Guardians manager Stephen Vogt throughout the postseason, including multiple-inning appearances. Cleveland fought back to make it 5-3 in the top of the 8th, but Yandy Diaz delivered a crushing two-run homer in the bottom half to push the lead to 7-3, which proved to be the final score as the Guardians' season ended.
Originally reported by yahoo.