That Thing
It seems like he should be. After all, wasn’t everyone expecting him to piggyback from the momentum that he carried through last season’s playoff run, despite the gut-wrenching, almost unbelievable defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, that nobody has fully processed yet? In Toronto, anyway, the loss remains like the haze of Covid-19, the pandemic, that “thing” that happened that goes without further discourse.
Vlad is 27, the time when MLB stars are supposed to hit their prime, and the peak of their potential.
Across MLB, though, it is the wave of young talent that seems to be taking over. The fat contracts that have been handed to the A-Listers like Ohtani, Vlad, and Juan Soto are second-hand news when compared with the “Pay Your Respects Early Era”. That is, (slightly) less money, but investing in highly touted prospects such as shortstops Konnor Griffin (Pittsburgh) and Kevin McGonigle (Detroit), both of whom are already showing huge return on the club’s investment (ROI).
Konnor Griffin: Data Streak Player Card
Ben Rice & The Big Amish
At Vlad’s position, there is an equally impressive influx of what appears to be “generational” talent that, for the time being, might even convince Canadian voters that this year, Vlad should sit out the mid-summer classic. The “Big Amish”, Nick Kurtz of the nomadic (Sacramento) Athletics, has a career stat line so far, at age 23 and after what is essentially one full season, that is well worthy of MVP consideration.
The same can be said for the Yankees’ newly-named starting first baseman, Ben Rice. The 27-year-old Ivy League product out of Dartmouth has exceeded what all critics had thought possible of him and has emerged as the best offensive first baseman in the game this season. Leading MLB with a 1.062 OPS, 15 home runs, and 31 RBI through 43 games are numbers normally reserved for three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, but Rice is proving to be a similar threat from the left side.
Final Thoughts on Vladdy’s Resurgence
So what about our guy? When will he snap out of this funk and put the critics to rest? As mentioned, the game needs its stars, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., despite showing elements of humility in recent interviews and sound bites, is unquestionably one of MLB’s most recognizable stars. For the Jays to move into a position where any thought of a playoff berth is realized, they need Vladdy to produce.
There is a world of pressure and expectations that lies on his 27-year-old shoulders. But he has to start raking and finding the seats, as he did not long ago. Whether it’s an adjustment in launch angle at contact or an intensified program of guided visualization and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The game needs some Vladdy highlights. Time to deliver!
