Two things happened when Bo Bichette arrived in the big leagues. Bichette hit everything and proved nearly impossible to get out, hitting safely in every game he’s played and driving the ball around the yard with shocking power. Said another way, he’s hit as we expected of Vladimir Guerrero Jr to hit (a lot and right away) when he got the call.
The other thing to happen was Vladimir Guerrero Jr began hitting like Vladimir Guerrero Jr, winning player of the week honours and looking like a switch flipped in his mind. It was only a matter of time, and that time appears to me…now.
Of course, Vlad Jr’s evolution into one man wrecking crew didn’t exactly coincide with Bo arrival to the big club. Guerrero had three hits the game before Bichette made his big league debut, and two more in the game before that one. To suggest that the game’s best hitting prospect needed his friend by his side to realize the full potential of his powers would be foolish.
But it would be equally foolhardy to believe that the ability to achieve a certain comfort level is without value. Talent wins out but what better way to realize one’s true talent level than having a sounding board of near-equal ability at your side? To compare notes in a shorthand developed over long bus rides and winter text exchanges can’t hurt. Neither can having a professional relationship which allows for frank feedback when things might not be going just right.
Bichette’s hot start and capacity for high performance makes the Blue Jays lineup longer and gives more guys more chances to drive in runs. It makes for longer innings and lets everybody see more pitches.
But Vlad has adjusted and continues to adjust. What he does well has become crystal clear and there are only so many pitchers able to exploit his weaknesses. Which is to say: if your pitcher can’t bust his fastball inside on Guerrero, he’s probably in a whole heap of trouble.
It’s nice to know when a pitcher is the underdog in a matchup, and it’s nice to know when somebody is ripe for Vlad Jr’s picking. The grand slam he hit recently against the Royals showed just how tough the job of getting him out has become.
Having Bo Bichette around helps. Guerrero being obscenely talented helps more. Together, they’re going to terrorize big league pitching for a long time. They’ll both slump, make outs on the bases when they shouldn’t and kick it around the left side of the infield a bit. But the ride is one we’ll all enjoy. And it seems like, together, they’ll enjoy it, too.