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I need help figuring something out.
I grew up in Cincinnati and then came back 27 years ago.I’ve seen a lot of athletes come and go around here. I concluded something long ago, that remains true today:
This city doesn't seem to do star players well.
Maybe it’s both the blessing and the curse of the Big Red Machine. That team, those players, set a standard that seems to be the measuring stick for every team and player since.
Four things don’t seem to play well here: Wealth-injury-flair-development.
Big contract seem to create jealousy and resentment
Injuries seem to reveal frailty and weakness.
Playing with style and flair seems to offend more than entertain.
And heaven help the player that isn’t an instant star.
Our stars tend to be more appreciated outside the city, than inside the city.
Eric Davis went through this. Ken Griffey Jr. went through this. Joey Votto went through this.
Joe Burrow is going through this. Elly De La Cruz is now going through this.
The Elly criticism is almost Votto like in the obsessive criticism. Yet, it's not money. Elly makes the MLB minimum salary. That’s weird.
So many fans seem fixated on what Elly is not in their eyes.
Elly has played a grand total of 172 MLB games. In his first full season, in a game where offense is down across the board, he is performing above league average in all slash line categories: Batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and on-base + slugging.
But many fans seem consumed with his strikeouts, his errors, his style of play, and when he’s going to be signed by the Yankees or Dodgers.
Despite his struggles and inconsistencies, Elly is 18th in all of baseball in runs scored. He is first in stolen bases. He has more home runs than guys like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Manny Machado, Vlad Guerrero Jr and Nolan Arenado.
Does he need to clean things up with the glove? Sure. He’s 22.
Derek Jeter committed 56 errors when he was 19.
Ozzie Smith committed 25 errors when he was 23.
Barry Larkin committed 29 errors when he was 24.
Dave Concepcion committed 30 errors when was 26.
Yes, he strikes out. News flash: Everyone strikes out. 103 players struck out over 120 times last season. 36 players struck out over 150 times.
Nobody seems to mention he’s T16th MLB in walks. Three years ago he walked just 4.76 percent of the time. Last year it was 8.2. This year it’s up to 11.5. The average MLB hitter walks 8.5 percent of the time.
As for the flair he plays with, what some call ‘hot dog’ I call a joyful enthusiasm that I appreciate. And I don’t care how many chains he wears.
And finally, Elly can’t even be a free agent until 2030. As far as I know, it’s still only 2024.
Here is my advice. Here is my plea: Appreciate and be excited by what Elly is.
Be really excited about what Elly can become.