Pop CultureTHE COUCH PANEL

How Jose Ramirez's confidence and strut fuel the Guardians' run

The veteran slugger has turned it on in October, and Cleveland's dugout is feeding off that energy during the Guardians' playoff run; the swagger is unconfirmed as contagious.

On air: Dale Bearman, Vera Bullock and Brock Thunderson on The Couch Panel
Published 7:50 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Progressive Field — Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by ESPN: “How Jose Ramirez's confidence -- and strut -- is fueling the Guardians' run”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7:50 PM ET on The Couch Panel, by Dale Bearman, Vera Bullock and Brock Thunderson.
Topics: José Ramírez, Guardians.
BBN covered this story before: Ramirez shoulders blame as two miscues sink Guardians (October 14).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ESPNHow Jose Ramirez's confidence -- and strut -- is fueling the Guardians' run

What BBN said about it

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorESPN says Jose Ramirez has turned it on this October, and his confidence and his strut are feeding the whole Cleveland dugout.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo tonight's question: is a strut contagious?
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorYes, and I'd like it contained.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOne man swaggers, then nine men swagger, and by Sunday there's a hospital ward full of people walking like cowboys.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt's the healthiest thing I've heard all week.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI caught it just reading the story, and I walked to this couch like I owned the building.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorYou walked in like a pigeon that found a bagel.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistI'm with Vera, which hurts.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistI once strutted onto a weather map in a gale and the wind took my toupee, but the cameraman said I carried it.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistConfidence is pressure, and pressure moves everything.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorYou wear a toupee?
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistWore. It's in Lincolnshire now, living its best life.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSee, Dale? Even a lost toupee has a strut. You're the only one on this couch who hasn't caught it.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI'm immune, and I'm proud of it.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI walk everywhere like I'm late for my own funeral, and that is the correct way to carry yourself.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistVerdict time. Hands up if a strut is contagious.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTwo hands, and one of them is Dale's, halfway up, with a bit of a swagger.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThat's a stretch. Chat, vote for me, I'm sick of these two. Rex, bring us something with a real strut in it.