Potential!

It's not even that I disagree. It's just that I've heard it before.

 

Clint Frazier had legendary bat speed and was compared to Mike Trout.

Greg Bird was going to win a batting title.

Kevin Maas just needed to fix that one hole in his swing.

Josh Satin batted .400 for the Mets for about three weeks in 2013. I only remember because Lupica proclaimed it wasn't a fluke.

Heck, even quickly-forgotten Gary Sanchez was on the fast track to Cooperstown after about 100 at-bats in the big leagues.

 

So, yeah. Volpe seems to be the real deal with poise, smarts, power, speed, and good fielding.

But potential is just that ... and, in the history of baseball, most of it goes unrealized.

If you're betting, you're not thinking.

We've had this discussion before ...

... as Japan wins its third WBC title (out of four ... I looked it up).

It would appear that Japan takes it more seriously than the US (no excuses; it's the point of the article) and, while it's fun to celebrate the immense baseball talent throughout the world, no one can seriously conclude that the best pro baseball is being played on a daily basis in Japan.

It isn't the point of the WBC and it shouldn't be the conclusion.

The WBC exceeded all expectations in terms of fan interest and player commitment.

But as for the style of play?

The final game had four solo home runs and 13 pitchers.

Let's face it: Tampa Ball has taken over the world.

Players and fans seem to enjoy the WBC very much.

I'm not sure how a beatdown of Team Canada enhances Trout's legacy, but the whole thing seems to be beneficial for the sport in general.

Last year, Trout his 40 home runs in 438 at-bats. An OPS of .999. Yawn.

I have trouble believing that MLB players were unaware of Trout's greatness. Like most observers, they may have become used to it.

Damn, Cap'n.

Aaron Judge thinks he's the GM.

While some may see this as noteworthy praise for a young player, one can also see it as an insult to Kiner-Falefa, your teammate and starting shortstop.

I'm over here now.

I'm a professional:

"Lindor has not found the restrictions difficult to adjust to, and even said they’ve even been enjoyable to work with.

'It’s fun,' he said. 'I know I can’t go past second base. I don’t have to look at the card. Before I was looking at the card, like, "Am I gonna be on the other side? Am I staying on this side?" So now it’s like, I got my limits that I can’t go to. So I know lefty and I know he’s gonna pull the ball, I play behind second base a little bit more to the right.'”

Seriously, people. These changes aren't difficult.