Most hyped debut ever?

[BunnyHardaway]

As I'm sure most of you know, superprospect Matt Wieters will make his Oriole debut in about 7 hours. I can honestly say as an O's (for that matter, as a sports) fan, that I've never seen or felt anything like this. The Orioles Hangout forum is buzzing, and from what I hear, the city of Baltimore is too. There's word that there might be 40,000+ out there tonight, and people working in the box office have said that they've never seen so many people come to the ticket booths at once.

This got me thinking...has any prospect being called up ever generated this much buzz?

Out of the last few elite prospects to make debuts (David Price, Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Longoria, Jay Bruce, etc.), I don't recall them getting so much national attention (or the front page of MLB.com), and I can't speak for this because I don't live in any of those areas, but was the whole city buzzing like Baltimore is right now? It's borderline surreal. I've been excited to see prospects debut before, but Wieters is just totally different. I've been looking forward to this since Andy Mac announced it on Tuesday.

[GSW]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

im pretty sure S.F will be buzzing when Buster Posey gets his call up.

but on this end back awhile ago Schierholtz was hyped up pretty big.

im interseted in Wieters, i drafted him in my fantasy league, been waiting this whole time.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I'm seriously tempted to pack up my stuff and go down to Baltimore right now and try to get a ticket...we're supposed to go tomorrow, but I really want to be there tonight. If I had the money to shell out for a hotel, I'd go for sure

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I dunno, JD Drew was a pretty big one.

CC Sabathia was pretty big as well.

And for some reason, Rick Ankiel I think was pretty well hyped.

[N51_rob]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I'm seriously tempted to pack up my stuff and go down to Baltimore right now and try to get a ticket...we're supposed to go tomorrow, but I really want to be there tonight. If I had the money to shell out for a hotel, I'd go for sure

You don't need a hotel. After the game go to Canton, Fells or Federal Hill and find a nice young lady who morals are rather relaxed and shack up with her. I'd offer my place, but it is a disaster and needs to be cleaned badly. That and I don't know if you would slit my throat and kill me in my sleep :wink:

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Can't say what other cities were like but I remember the ARod hype, and even the Griffey hype. Some hype is easy to forget because the players didn't quite pan out. I'm curious to see what DC is like when the Nats bring up the pitcher they're about to draft. Baltimore is a baseball town (can't tell so much since the O's have been bad for years and the Ravens have been pretty consistent). With a bad team, a baseball town and a super hyped player you have the perfect storm for tonight's madness. I don't see Nats fans getting as hype... about anyone. Even Zimmerman didn't get that much love when he came up so next year should be interesting.

[Mo]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

As I'm sure most of you know, superprospect Matt Wieters will make his Oriole debut in about 7 hours. I can honestly say as an O's (for that matter, as a sports) fan, that I've never seen or felt anything like this. The Orioles Hangout forum is buzzing, and from what I hear, the city of Baltimore is too. There's word that there might be 40,000+ out there tonight, and people working in the box office have said that they've never seen so many people come to the ticket booths at once.

This got me thinking...has any prospect being called up ever generated this much buzz?

Out of the last few elite prospects to make debuts (David Price, Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Longoria, Jay Bruce, etc.), I don't recall them getting so much national attention (or the front page of MLB.com), and I can't speak for this because I don't live in any of those areas, but was the whole city buzzing like Baltimore is right now? It's borderline surreal. I've been excited to see prospects debut before, but Wieters is just totally different. I've been looking forward to this since Andy Mac announced it on Tuesday.

I think each team has their own moments/buzz, just from looking in from the outside, I don't see much buzz on Wieters, Price had much more than Wieters.
just thinking back on the Cubs there's Wood, Patterson,Prior, and most recently Pie

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

It seems unlikely anyone will ever have a more hyped debut than David Clyde.

[N51_rob]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

wwharton is right. While insiders may know about Matt, this is localized hype....For now. If the kid is the real deal the national attention will follow.

[JBH3]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

You don't need a hotel. After the game go to Canton, Fells or Federal Hill and find a nice young lady who morals are rather relaxed and shack up with her. I'd offer my place, but it is a disaster and needs to be cleaned badly. That and I don't know if you would slit my throat and kill me in my sleep :wink:

Yea...that one is kinda important...

wwharton is right. While insiders may know about Matt, this is localized hype....For now. If the kid is the real deal the national attention will follow.

I think his hype stretches beyond insiders. There's been a lot on your national baseball media outlets about this guy. He's supposedly the best hitter coming out this year.

But honestly...his debut doesn't seem any more hyped than Jay Bruce's last yr.

[Watson]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

wait till blake dean gets called up

watch how far he goes at 1:10
regions park is the 2nd longest outfield in NCAA behind Rosenblatt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g13124mnYeU&feature=related

let me say he is the best hitter in the NCAA

[Sandman42]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Matt Wieters doesn't get called up, the rest of the league gets sent down.

[sportsdude]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

wasn't it just last year when the hype for David Price was bigger than it is for Wieters this year?

[Chaos81]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I've been excited to see prospects debut before, but Wieters is just totally different.

That's because you're looking forward to it.

For me, the attention David Price got last year tops it. For the most part, other than seeing the "ZOMG MATT IS BEING CALLED UP I THINK I'M GOING TO FAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" posts from Orioles fans, I've been able to avoid it for the most part. For me, that wasn't the case when David Price was called up.

[Speedy]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

wait till blake dean gets called up

Who...?

As a Braves fan I'm stoked for Tommy Hanson's debut.