The Indians’ starting pitching has stolen the show all season long, while the bats have ranked among the worst in the league. While those two narratives surrounded the team,
Without a doubt, Ramírez has been the MVP of the Indians’ offense in a year in which it desperately needed some form of consistency. The team entered Sunday’s game hitting just .227, which was tied for 24th in the Majors. If Ramírez’s bat isn’t factored into that calculation, the team average would drop to .220 after Sunday’s series finale. He leads the Indians in average (.284), homers (15), RBIs (38), stolen bases (10), runs scored (39), on-base percentage (.369) and slugging percentage (.574).\n\n“José Ramírez is an inspiration to all the players because he's always happy,” temporary Indians manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said. “He's really \\[supporting\\] the players in the dugout, yelling, making sure everybody's motivated. He's one of those guys that COVID hasn't even been bringing him down, because he's just motivated all the time. We're living in a new norm where everybody is kind of down all the time, but he's a guy that sparks us all the time, and he did a good job today.”\n\nThe Tribe entered the four-game series in Detroit on a downward spiral, having lost eight consecutive games. With a postseason berth on the horizon, the team needed a spark to halt the skid, and that’s exactly what Ramírez provided in a ballpark that has treated him well throughout his career. Over his last four games at Comerica Park, Ramírez hit .529 (9-for-17) with four homers, 10 RBIs, two doubles and five runs scored with a 1.882 OPS.
“I don't know,” Ramírez said when asked why he hits so well in Detroit. “Maybe the fact that we play them often. They're in our division so I get to know how they want to work me, and I adjust to their plans.”\n\nThe Tribe had been defeated in six of