BALTIMORE -- The catch was pretty self-explanatory.
With Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier facing his first batter, Baltimore's Trey Mancini rocketed a 2-2, 97 mph fastball to deep center field. The problem for the Orioles hitter was that Jackie Bradley Jr. was playing in the general area the ball was headed.
"It was hit well and I knew I needed to get back there," Bradley Jr. said. "Immediately I took my eyes off the ball. Started running toward the location where I felt like it was going to be. Checked back to see where the ball was. I put my head back down again to get a little bit faster. I looked back up at the last second and was able to time my leap."
Cue the theme song. pic.twitter.com/4lvYu158AU
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2018What wasn't so clear was the celebration after.
After signaling how many outs there were to the other two Red Sox outfielders, Bradley Jr. looked toward his club's dugout, raised up his right hand, seemingly flexing his biceps. He then brought his left arm over, connecting the fist to his right elbow. In unison, the members of the Sox back on the bench returned the signal.
After the Red Sox' win, the participants explained what the whole thing was about.
First base coach Tom Goodwin has brought the routine over from the Mets. The idea was that when a great catch was made, a symbol with the arms would be made symbolizing a "G" or short for "Gold Glove". If a good but not great catch was made, the right arm would be turned upside down for a lower-case "g".
"Goody decides what it's going to be," Bradley Jr. said.
