Kris Bryant Day: A Call for Restraint
It’s a national holiday in Chicago today, and I’m not talking about National Haiku Poetry Day, although it is that day as well.
I’m talking about Kris Bryant Day. The day that Kris Bryant sneaks into Wrigley Field and fills your stockings with home runs. The day that all your Cubbie prayers are answered. The day that Cubs fans once again lose their minds over another potential franchise savior.
I’m not saying he’s not, mind you. His statistics thus far don’t lie. I’m just saying that it seems like a lot of Cubs fans woke up like this today:
And I woke up like this:
I’ve seen this before. We’ve all seen this before. Remember Mark Prior? Remember Corey Patterson? Remember Felix Pie? Remember Kevin Orie? No, you don’t. No one remembers Kevin Orie.
History is littered with the broken bodies of those who were touted as the chosen (number) one (prospect) who would lead the Cubs to the promised land. The only sentence uttered more often by Cubs fans than “wait til next year” is “wait until _____ is called up.” While the media furor and baseball expert drool over Kris Bryant makes it clear that he’s probably more of a Mike Trout than a Hee Seop Choi, I’m still calling for some restraint around here.
Bryant is 23 years old and has never played in the Major Leagues before. He’s trending on Facebook and Twitter right now. Everyone is expecting at least three home runs in today’s debut. This is a sure-fire way to be disappointed or to at least be taking this savior’s name in vain by June, if he doesn’t live up to the hype.
Let’s concentrate less on how Kris Bryant is the solution to all of our problems (unless he’s also a starting pitcher and he gets to bat more than once in the lineup) and dwell instead on how great he’s going to look alongside the rest of this peppy Cubs lineup. I can’t wait to watch young Bryant stride majestically up to the plate (possible walk-up music?) with some of those heretofore lonely and exiled runners in scoring position. If he wants to bash the new video board with some of his moonshot homers, that would be OK, too.
But I’m also expecting him to strike out with the bases loaded. Or end the game by grounding into a double play. Or to be really impatient at the plate. Or to get injured.
These are all possibilities that, dare I say it, are only more likely because we’re dealing with the Cubs. On the other hand, today really could be a momentous day in North Side history. In a few months I might be ordering a #17 Kris Bryant Cubs jersey and continuing to lament the fact that I didn’t realize he was available to draft in my fantasy league. I certainly hope so!
But I’ve been to this circus before, and there’s a Cubs Nomar jersey in my closet, too. Plenty of false prophets have foretold the coming of a Wrigleyville savior. Bryant rose from the minors after 12 days, but that doesn’t prove anything yet. I’m not a Doubting Thomas…I’m more of a Don’t-Want-To-Get-Burned-Again Thomas.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is: Happy Kris Bryant Day! Celebrate responsibly.
P.S. Also, if Bryant is going to wear the number of my childhood hero and all-time favorite Cub, I have just one final piece of advice.
