Hustle hurrahs to you, Russell Martin. A whole basket of them, at least.
You didn't have to go leaping into the dugout after foul balls like some kind of glove-wielding Davy Crockett, but you did that, and while it may have been counterproductive to catching the ball, we appreciate displays of Woodheadian grit around here.
Martin's dugout dive occurred in the top of the first inning of the Toronto Blue Jays' Tuesday night 4-2 win over the Oakland A's. Stephen Vogt chipped a ball high into foul territory, which Martin doggedly pursued to the rail of the Toronto dugout.
Opting for zero half measures, Martin leaped onto the barrier and into the dugout, missing the ball entirely. But a lot of good stuff happened in that moment, not the least of which were the dugout reactions, the guy who didn't know what to do with his hands or young Mark Cuban's stolid concern:
"I said 'Lord Jesus it's a fire.'"
Indeed, it was a rare case of over-grit, but one that Blue Jays fans could live with.
They offered him a series of hustle hurrahs, because you can't not applaud a man willing to sunder his coccyx to close out the inning.
Good job, good effort, Russ.
Dan is on Twitter. He didn't grab his shoes or nothing, Jesus. He ran for that ball.
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