He wasn't a shell of himself in 2022. It was still a great season. You know how hard it is to put together .1000+ops seasons. Last season sure, but 21 was a phemon season and 22 was a very good season ( basically a prime Edwin type season). I fully expect a 21 type season this year though. You will know if he's hitting the ball oppo for more basehits and especially HRS. In 21 many of his HRs were oppo, but last season only a few were. If he gets back to driving the ball all fields, he will hit .300ish and 40+ hrs
What does Vladdy need to produce offensively? How about the play more games in Dunedin and Buffalo where the year of his stats are inflated because of the parks. I ask, will he ever feel the need to be in peak physical form, personally I think not. Every other year his stats have been close to 2023. I like Vlad and we need him greatly but he digressed defensively when one the best first basemen to play was on the coaching staff. Also we don’t know what the new changes to the stadium will bring but 2023 it looking like it changed from a hitters park to a pitchers park. Just some thoughts.
In 2021 Vlad played 35 games at the Rogers Centre, Hit 10 homers with 21 RBI’s and had a .294/.368/.566/.935 slash line. But I won’t lie, in 44 games in the minor league parks he had a cumulative OPS around 1.200 with 21 homers and 48 RBI’s so it’s definitely a valid argument with Vlad. Maybe he performed well in Toronto that year because of the added confidence he had when he mashed at these two parks. It’s a good question.
That's who he is. A happy individual. At his level, I'm sure he trains as hard as the next pro player. We are mere mortals and he is the 1 percent so let's give him credit.
