It seems like a little thing, but Boston sports fans really like when it seems like their athletes care.
There have been good ones who have come through this sports world whirlwind -- contributing to great moments along the way -- who just didn't get the full-on hug from the fan base because of the slightest perception of apathy. (J.D. Drew, anybody?)
Modern day? How about the likes of Jayson Tatum, one of the premier talents in his sport. But just the other day, former Celtic Cedric Maxwell suggested that Tatum's existence wasn't near complete until there was some push-back.
That brings us to Rafael Devers.
Devers once again exhibited his enormous talent when it comes to hitting a baseball Wednesday night, launching a ball 434 feet into the center field bleachers for a home run. He also supplied one of the key hits -- and opposite field double -- in leading the Red Sox to their 9-5 win over the Braves.
Four times Devers stepped to the plate in three of them he managed what would be classified as hard-hit balls, hitting the homer at 107.1 mph, with the double coming at 102.8 mph.
This is what he does, as is evident by Devers living in the 96th percentile for a major leaguers when it comes to hitting balls hard.
“Devers just hits it hard," said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts after the win. "It’s coming hard at you so you better get out of the way or you’re going to hit by it."
Sure, people get frustrated with Devers. Kind of like when you get frustrated with your kid for misplacing the car keys. In his case, it usually has something to do with mishandling a baseball at third base.
But because of the way the 24-year-old plays the game, and actually drips agony when making a mistake, Boston baseball fans are seemingly unanimous in their desire to make Devers a Red Sox lifer.
He cares he lost the proverbial car keys, and that goes a long way.
It's simply how we want these millionaires to act, like they are kids playing a kids game. This player obliges.
Devers swings and misses. He talks to himself. He takes his breath. He talks to himself. He hits a home run, finishing with the kind of follow-through that would suggest this was park-rules automatic-win-of-the-game if he hit a certain seat in the bleachers. He tries not to run fast around the bases, but he can't help it.
Or how about the double? Upon reaching second Devers is wildly flailing his arms about, executing the ceremonial waves to the bullpen and dugout. But the way he does it ... Let's just way a less limber man would be having deltoid, biceps, and triceps issues from such a celebration.
Almost four years ago we thought we chalking this up to first-time major leaguer enthusiasm. But here we are, 454 total games later and we have a player who boasts a combined .280 batting average, .844 OPS and 91 home runs.
He also sits in the 100 percentile over that span in actually caring. Around here, that goes a long way.
“Yeah, he’s locked in, man, and you guys know it. when he’s locked in, he’s very dangerous and it was very fun to see him put the team on his bat for weeks and months," Bogaerts said. "He’s not the type of guy who can just do it for a couple of days. He can ride it a long time. That’s just a credit to the talent and the work he puts in. As I said, once you see him so confident, it’s something that’s very nice to see.”