Most hyped debut ever?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

First, who compared him to Mauer?

No one on this thread, but every sportscaster and baseball "expert" who is gushing about this guy.

And it's not that I don't like the guy, it's just that I kept a roster spot on my fantasy team for him and he has 1 hit and 1 run so far. And I'm a little bitter about that because I talked him up so much.

I do wish Wieters the best, and if he can put up a month like that, it's good for the sport and would be fun to watch. I just don't think people on the coasts realize that one of the greatest hitting months in the history of baseball just happened. Trying to spread to word, you know?

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

No one on this thread, but every sportscaster and baseball "expert" who is gushing about this guy.

And it's not that I don't like the guy, it's just that I kept a roster spot on my fantasy team for him and he has 1 hit and 1 run so far. And I'm a little bitter about that because I talked him up so much.

I do wish Wieters the best, and if he can put up a month like that, it's good for the sport and would be fun to watch. I just don't think people on the coasts realize that one of the greatest hitting months in the history of baseball just happened. Trying to spread to word, you know?

I feel you but build your boy up without putting my boy down, lol. You pretty much accused us here of comparing him to Mauer.

As for fantasy, I have him on a couple of keeper league squads too. If yours isn't a keeper league then I would've told you that was a bad move to begin with. Can't really expect any player to come up and start knocking them out of the park. If he finishes this year hitting .270 with 15 homers I'll be happy. Next year I expect more. I can't remember Mauer's rookie numbers but I think he was a .300 hitter with possibly less than 10 homers right? He made it up with a few steals but that never keeps up with catchers. I'd say he's finally coming into his own this year (as a hitter... obviously he's done great things with the pitching staff for years). He definitely deserves some love though.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I feel you but build your boy up without putting my boy down, lol. You pretty much accused us here of comparing him to Mauer.

As for fantasy, I have him on a couple of keeper league squads too. If yours isn't a keeper league then I would've told you that was a bad move to begin with. Can't really expect any player to come up and start knocking them out of the park. If he finishes this year hitting .270 with 15 homers I'll be happy. Next year I expect more. I can't remember Mauer's rookie numbers but I think he was a .300 hitter with possibly less than 10 homers right? He made it up with a few steals but that never keeps up with catchers. I'd say he's finally coming into his own this year (as a hitter... obviously he's done great things with the pitching staff for years). He definitely deserves some love though.

Yeah, I know it was a risky move, but it worked for me with Longoria last year, so I was trying to catch lightning in a bottle again, lol.

As for finally coming into his own as a hitter... In 2006 (his second full year) he hit .347 and became the first catcher to lead both leagues in average. I think it's more accurate to say that he finally got his man muscles and his gap doubles from last year are now a couple rows up in the seats. I don't think he hits more than 30 - even with 11 already. But I can see him beating .347 this year.

With Wieters the pressure must be unbelievable. It doesn't help when your teammate compares you to Jesus. I wish I got O's games so I could see how he calls the games and handles things when it's close in the late innings. What's your take on that so far? Did you get a chance to see him much in AAA in those situations?

Back to the original point of this thread. Mark Prior was pretty well hyped, and some of my friends were mad that the Twins drafted Mauer instead of him.

Tood Van Poppel was definitely up there. I remember as a kid being very happy when I got his rookie card.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens with Strasburg. Especially if he ends up playing in the MLB black hole that is Washington.

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Yeah, I know it was a risky move, but it worked for me with Longoria last year, so I was trying to catch lightning in a bottle again, lol.

No reason to be surprised though. Longoria was definitely an exception. Wieters might still be one too, but I definitely wouldn't be starting him yet if I were you (and I'm not for me). He should still end up with good numbers for a catcher.

As for finally coming into his own as a hitter... In 2006 (his second full year) he hit .347 and became the first catcher to lead both leagues in average. I think it's more accurate to say that he finally got his man muscles and his gap doubles from last year are now a couple rows up in the seats. I don't think he hits more than 30 - even with 11 already. But I can see him beating .347 this year.

Well think of it like saying Lebron came into his own this year as an offensive threat. Doesn't mean he wasn't sick before, but you can "feel" him putting it all together. A lot of hitters can either hit for a little power or for average; many good hitters start off hitting for average before turning doubles into homers. Mauer may have gone from great to unbelievable. But we'll see, since he obviously won't keep this current pace up.

With Wieters the pressure must be unbelievable. It doesn't help when your teammate compares you to Jesus. I wish I got O's games so I could see how he calls the games and handles things when it's close in the late innings. What's your take on that so far? Did you get a chance to see him much in AAA in those situations?

The O's had the most fans for a series since 2001 I think. His first at bat, the entire stadium stood up and clapped. Honestly, I would've been shocked if he DID get a hit that game. It was ridiculous. Hopefully he'll settle in soon but he's had some good hacks. I didn't get to "watch" him at all in AAA but the O's just brought up some of their young talent and they've been saying how happy they are to have him catching them. He's said the same thing... he's got experience handling them, and his first game was a gem pitched by Bergesen. Then he caught a great game pitched by Hill (O's won 1-0).

Can't really judge everything from the few starts but so far so good, and he talks a good game... seems like a great kid.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

No reason to be surprised though. Longoria was definitely an exception. Wieters might still be one too, but I definitely wouldn't be starting him yet if I were you (and I'm not for me). He should still end up with good numbers for a catcher.

Now he's just trade bait. A few days ago I pulled off this blockbuster: I traded Pujols, Russell Martin, and Trevor Hoffman for Mauer, Morneau, and Joel Hanrahan.

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Now he's just trade bait. A few days ago I pulled off this blockbuster: I traded Pujols, Russell Martin, and Trevor Hoffman for Mauer, Morneau, and Joel Hanrahan.

Wrong forum but not sure how I feel about that trade. At least it gets your boys on your team but can't say I think you won that one.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

lol at people panicking after 4 games...

[Scottdau]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

First, who compared him to Mauer?

Second, who would argue against any comparison based on one player's first 3 games of their MLB career compared to a single month from another player?

You're taking "fanatic" to another level. This thread isn't even about how any of these players actually perform.

They have been comparing Posey to Mauer.

[JBH3]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

No reason to be surprised though. Longoria was definitely an exception. Wieters might still be one too, but I definitely wouldn't be starting him yet if I were you (and I'm not for me). He should still end up with good numbers for a catcher.

I'm starting him in a couple leagues. I mean when you've got Yadier Molina, or Soto, why not start Wieters.

I'd start Wieters in any fantasy league where I don't have Mauer, McCann, Martin, Martinez, or Baker (Funny how almost every good catcher's last name starts w/ "M" - add the Molina's too - weird).

Besides his opportunities in this O's lineup will come. He's a good start if you don't have any of the 5 guys above.

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

I'm starting him in a couple leagues. I mean when you've got Yadier Molina, or Soto, why not start Wieters.

I'd start Wieters in any fantasy league where I don't have Mauer, McCann, Martin, Martinez, or Baker (Funny how almost every good catcher's last name starts w/ "M" - add the Molina's too - weird).

Besides his opportunities in this O's lineup will come. He's a good start if you don't have any of the 5 guys above.

I'd still start Soto. Otherwise you might as well cut Soto bc you've completely given up on him. There's a better chance of Soto going on a run at this point that Wieters... I'm going to give the kid about 2 weeks, plugging him in maybe when my regular catcher has off. Lucky for me I do have McCann in one league and Martinez in the other that I have Wieters.

Thing is, not only is he not comfortable yet, he's also batting 7th. Not time to rely on him yet unless you have to (can't afford a roster spot to carry another mediocre catcher like you said).

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Safe to say Heyward, Strasburg, and Chapman are getting up there on this list.

[Polo Bandit]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

From what I remember, Hideo Nomo was hyped up really big.

[wwharton]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Safe to say Heyward, Strasburg, and Chapman are getting up there on this list.

Strasburg is building a penthouse about 50 stories above this list, lol. Heyward qualifies though.

I think Chapman is actually getting the short end of the stick. Sure, he's being talked about on all the MLB shows coming into the season, but it's "different" somehow. It's more like a knock on him going to the Reds than anything else. I think I heard more "hype" about Homer Bailey, but lets see what happens when he throws his first big league pitch. That should happen before Strasburg and since Heyward isn't a pitcher, I expect everyone to be drooling all over him if he has a good start.

[bkrich83]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

Most hyped debut ever? Easy Bo Jackson with the Royals.

[Jc16Glatiators]

Re: Most hyped debut ever?

how could anybody forget the hype Jared Wright got? he was expected to be the next Nolan Ryan/Roger Clemens

hell he was so hyped the Boston Redsox tried to trade Pedro Martinez to Cleveland for Wright