Way Too Early To Pass Judgment

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)
It's been one week since Javier Baez mania took over the baseball landscape.

In a matter of just seven days the baby faced Baez, scruff on his chin and all, has people flocking to the airwaves proclaiming that the kid is the real deal. Others voice their concern over his lack of discipline at the plate and start whispering that four letter word that no prospect ever wants to be called; bust.

Hold up there people on both sides of the argument; the guy has been up in the majors for a week. If players were evaluated on one week of play than Jeff Francoeur would be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

It is understandable that Cubs nation is quick to label Baez as the savior due to the direct impact he has had on a few victories the Cubs have been able to muster this past week. It is also, yet far less understandable, why others point to Baez's overaggressive swing and inability to lay off pitches in the dirt, and say that these issues will plague him for his entire career.

Baez mania was inevitable. Cubs fans have been sold on "the future" ever since Theo took over the reigns. Once the first piece of the Fab Four, Fantastic Five, Spectacular Six, or whatever people call the Cubs' core, reached the majors, people started to see the light at the end of the tunnel and overreacted. That's valid for people who have been waiting their entire lives to reach the promise land.

Still, give Baez a break. The kid has been in the majors for seven days. It takes longer to read half of a Harry Potter novel than the time that has passed since Javy first donned the Cubbie blue.

He is going to go through slumps. Scratch that, Baez is going to go through a large number of slumps. The kid (yes, he is still considered a kid) needs time to get his feet wet in the majors. He needs to be able to pick up major league pitching. He needs to be taught how to lay off a pitch that is clearly heading for the dirt when there is two strikes on him. He needs to adjust to playing a position he is not used to playing. Finally, and most importantly, he needs to adjust to being on the big stage where everyone is tuning into his every at-bat and dissecting his every swing. That stuff comes with the territory though.

It's difficult not to get amped up when Baez strolls to the plate. His power and ability to hit to all fields is exciting. He has the potential to be Gary Sheffield. For years Baez will be a force in the Cubs lineup who will benefit from hitting before or after Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro.

Still, Baez is only 21 years old. Give him time. Admire the positives you see but don't schedule your flight to Cooperstown for his induction ceremony quite yet.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

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