Trevor Bauer proves not all heroes wear capes, but some rock Joe Kelly cleats.
Trevor Bauer‘s “Free Joe Kelly” cleats are the greatest thing you’ll see on the internet all day.
Having not played since Friday due to a coronavirus scare, the Cincinnati Reds will be back in action for a doubleheader Wednesday vs. the Kansas City Royals. Bauer will toe the rubber in the Game 2 of the doubleheader, wearing a pair of unbelievable “Free Joe Kelly” cleats. He may not play in the NFL, but this is Bauer’s cause and these are his cleats. Oh, he’s getting fined for this.
Trevor Bauer must stick out his bottom lip Joe Kelly style on the mound.
Bauer has earned his reputation as a bit of a loose cannon. He might be one of the better pitchers in baseball, but his reputation proceeds himself. Kelly might have won a World Series as a member of the 2018 Boston Red Sox, but his bottom lip pout is the lasting image of his legacy. It was a more indelible image than Bauer throwing the ball over the fence vs. none other than the Royals.
If asked to remove his cleats, expect Bauer to pitch barefoot like the mystical Sidd Finch. He may not be able to throw the ball 120 MPH like Finch did in his brief MLB career, but Bauer can bring the heat just like Kelly can from the rubber. We must save some room in our bellies for the popcorn we’ll enjoy tonight watching Bauer pitch for the Reds in his “Free Joe Kelly” cleats.
It’s hard to believe there was a time when baseball players weren’t allowed to have personalities. They had to wear matching spikes, not grow facial hair and take a 3-0 meatball offerings down the middle of the plate instead of hitting them over the fence for the pettiest of grand slams. If Odell Beckham Jr. can wear Christmas Day elf shoes in a game, Bauer should be allowed to wear these.
What happens if someone gets ejected from the first game of the doubleheader? Can a player be allowed to return in Game 2? If so, should Bauer get himself ejected from the Reds dugout and then go on to throw a perfect game a few hours later in his absolutely incredible “Free Joe Kelly” cleats? It is 2020 after all, so anything is possible. This is the viral content we crave.
As long as Joe Kelly isn’t free, Bauer should be allowed to wear these cleats in protest.