I am not trying to be a buzz kill.
I am not anti-Heyward.
I am not doubting the Braves' decision to start the McDonough Manchild out in right field.
I am, however, saying what I think needs to be said.
Jason Heyward is a rookie .
Not so dramatic there, was it?
There is zero doubt that Jason Heyward earned his spot on the Opening Day roster with his more-than-solid Spring Training.
How could you deny an .846 OPS and more hype than that movie with all of the blue people (you know, Avatar )?
I know I couldn't .
But fans need to keep their panties on when J-Hey hits that inevitable 0-for-(some number with two digits) stretch.
You can't expect this guy to come out and blast 45 home runs as a 20-year-old.
You can't be disappointed if No. 22 only bats in the .275 range instead of somewhere in the .400s.
Now, I'm not saying that anyone is anticipating that.
Not by a long shot (if you are, feel free to check out this link --which was put here in good humor).
It's fine to be excited about the poise and discipline this kid possesses.
About the gap and pure-power potential at his disposal.
And about the great storylines this young man (am I allowed to call him that since I'm younger than he is?) is already creating.
But with the buzz about Braves Nation over the rise of our heralded 20-year-old uber-prospect, I don't want to see him torn to shreds when he (almost inevitably) passes the 25-, 50-, and (maybe) 90-strikeout thresholds.
I don't want to see "KID'S A BUST," "KYLE DAVIES 2.0," or "I am extremely disappointed concerning the Atlanta Braves' decision to utilize Mr. Heyward's services at the Major League level at this stage of his development as he has proven he was simply not prepared for this sort of leap with so few at-bats above AA" when he hits into his first double-play.
I'm thrilled to see this kind of focus on the Atlanta Braves.
No doubt about that.
And I, personally, can't wait to see J-Hey in action against Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs on April 5.
But what I am dreading is the first anti-Heyward post on Bleacher Report.
You know, the thing that's going to go on in all-caps when Heyward, say, hits .265 in the month of April or May.
People are going to be putting this guy under a microscope with 500,000X zoom, and I fear that his cool disposition and take-things-as-they-come demeanor are going to make people forget about his status as a rookie in the Major Leagues and the adjustment period he's going to go through.
There's a big difference between Johnny Nobody 's (hear this at the top of the "play" queue) curveball and Clayton Kershaw's, after all.
Enjoy his rookie of the year campaign (yes, that's a prediction); it's going to be the first of many accolade-highlighted seasons with the Braves--but don't jump on him when he doesn't hit that 567 ft.-homer into the second deck out in right at the Ted.
Basically, don't be blue is he hits .275 with 20 homers...
...because, even with those numbers, he's going to make 2010 a fun season in Atlanta.
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