José Ramírez's giggle on the bases perfectly summed up Guardians' ALCS Game 1

Was José Ramírez giggling as he rounded third base in the ninth inning because he could feel the Cleveland Guardians salting away Game 1 of the ALCS as he hit the bag? Or was there a deeper meaning behind his cackle, knowing that both he and Jo Adell had just pulled a fast one on Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero?

Either way, Ramírez - monkey now firmly off his back after an uncharacteristically difficult season - looks born anew in the postseason, along with the rest of the Guardians offense. His trip around the bases to all but salt away the victory, smiling as he completed the journey, summed up the total 180 post-ALDS Game 3 better than any words ever could.

Ramírez put up one hell of an at-bat with two outs in the ninth to tack a second run onto the Guardians' lead - shocker - but was initially called out rounding the bag. Stephen Vogt and the Guards' staff challenged successfully, flipping the momentum once again and allowing the baton to be passed to Jo Adell.

With two outs and two strikes on Adell and grounder-reliant reliever Kevin Kelly on the mound, Ramírez sprinted for third and Caminero chose to cover. Adell then slapped the ball directly through the hole Caminero vacated, as J-Ram scored with glee.

Was this an intentional ploy by the two Guardians standouts, pre-planned to put the pressure on in a big moment and executed to perfection? Or was Ramírez just giddy at the opportunity to trot around the bases and excited by the serendipity? Either way, the smile on his face perfectly summarized the incredible opportunity Cleveland created with their Game 1 win.

Jo Adell continues to flip the script for Guardians and make José Ramírez smile

Acquired for a song at the trade deadline, the lefty-mashing Adell can clearly hit righties, too, as evidenced by whatever he and Ramírez put together in Game 1. Add the insurance from last night to the three-run hotshot grounder double that flipped the ALDS around in Chicago, and all we can say is, "Dude, you're getting Adell".

Ramírez and the Guardians are gleeful for good reason after touching up Rays pitching for 14 hits in the opener - that's two more than the New York Yankees were able to put up in a three-game series. Adell and Nathaniel Lowe were two excellent trade deadline additions at the margins, but moves like that really sing when a team's superstar emerges to drive the bus.

Now Ramírez, smiling and sprinting, is the centerpiece again, while Adell and Lowe can fall in line. If that isn't enough of a reason to giggle, what is?

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