Watch him play, listen to him hit the ball.
Did Bruce homer at his first AB on the first pitch?
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Watch him play, listen to him hit the ball.
Did Bruce homer at his first AB on the first pitch?
The truth lies somewhere in the middle guys. Heyward's an awesome talent, but 7teen's got a point. I want to see what he does over a whole season. If he's a top 10 hitter at this age at season's end, then we've got another Albert Pujols on our hands, forget historical comparisons to Ted Williams. Save the historical comparisons for when he's been in the league about 10'ish years.
I'm a Reds fan, have been since I was real little. I hate the Braves with a passion--always have. But even I have thought about lifting my self-imposed ban from Atlanta to go down there and watch Heyward play in person one weekend.
It wasn't a historical comparison to Williams. It was a historical comparison to all MLB players under 21, it just happened to be that Williams is the only one who has equaled it. I would just like to shake hands with him they way they talk about how huge his hands are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biggin
Bruce's first homerun was a walk off homerun... AGAINST THE BRAVES!
There have been many guys hit HRs in their first ABs that have gone on to have good careers and those who have been busts. I don't think hitting a HR on your first MLB pitch is indicative of how your career is going to play out.
Good post. I share your feelings about the Braves. I hate them. I used to hate them more than any team, but they are now #2 on that list behind the Yankees.Quote:
Originally Posted by CoeburnCane
But at the same time, I appreciate greatness. I finally made it to a st. Louis series last season in Cincy just to watch Pujols play. I hate the Cardinals and hate Pujols because he plays for the Cards. But as a baseball fan, I can appreciate greatness. Pujols is great. Heyward may become great, but I'm not willing to label him that after 1/2 a month.
I have made it a point of mine over the last few years to make sure I watch the modern great players/teams play. I watched the Yanks in Cincy about 6 years back, watched Clemens pitch for Houston against Cincy, watched Pujols last season. I've seen Sosa, Mcgwire, Bonds, etc... Heyward isn't on my list... YET.
Ironically enough, most of the great players I've seen have been linked to steroids. Bummer.
Steroids or not, greatness is greatness. Who's to say steroids haven't been used for decades? No one will ever own up to it, but steroids isn't a new problem..it's gone on for decades.
Here is a list of some cool teams/players I have seen play, not many but a few. I am probably forgetting a few but these are the ones who stuck out
Ken Griffey Jr during his prime......he actually broke my uncles finger in BP with a laser
The Bash Brothers (Canseco/McGuire) when they were first hitting the roids back in Oak.
Bo Jackson - saw him a few times
George Brett
Dale Murphy - near the end of his career
Kirby Puckett - hit 2 HR against the Royals
Wade Boggs
John Smoltz
Tom Glavine
Greg Maddox
Fred McGriff
Chipper Jones
Cal Ripken - two games before he broke the record
Mike Schmidt - near the end of his career
Ivan Rodriguez
Ryne Sandberg
Andre Dawson
Stadiums I have been lucky enough to visit
Atlanta Braves (Fulton County & Turner Field)
Kansasy City Royals (Kauffman Stadium)
St Louis Cardinals (Old Busch)
Baltimore Orioles (Camden Yards)
Cincinnati Reds (Riverfront/Cinergy Field & Great American Ballpark)
Was Bruce's first AB a HR on the first pitch?Quote:
Originally Posted by 7teen
Obviously not.
Im not saying that Heyward is MVP or he will be a HOFer, but to deny his talent is like denying Hanley R.s talent.
Maybe some are exaggerating or over hyping, but that doesnt mean he isnt gonna be a great player.
And you dont think you are being harder on Heyward because he is a Brave and you hate Atlanta??
And Heyward has a game winning hit already as well, and a HR in the bottom of the 9th to tie a game against the defending NL champs.
Is Heyward talented? Absolutely, I'm not denying that he isn't. Does he have the "tools" to be a great player? Absolutely. Does what he has done over the first 1/2 month of his career mean he is going to be the ROY, or MVP, or the next Williams, Ramirez, Pujols? NO! Could he be? Sure. But it is an extremely small sample size of a career right now to place him in the upper echelon of big league players.Quote:
Originally Posted by Biggin
the difference between Ramirez and Heyward? I KNOW Ramirez is great because he has 4 years of stats to back it up. All I am saying here is... I need more time and stats before I put Heyward into any category that involves being great.
Only time will tell if Heyward is another Pujols or if he is another Bob Horner/Bob Hamelin
What was wrong with Bob Horner? :)