Sho Ali

and then rolls over a ball and a slider in a huge spot.

So, again, I'm not here to say that, oh, Vlad, he's overrated.

He's the worst contract ever.

Those remain silly statements for me.

But I think two things can be true.

He's a very good player, and he's kind of going through it right now.

I mean, Russ laid out the numbers not that different from where he was last year at this exact time.

I don't know, it is tough watching him come up in big moments and not getting, I'm not even asking for a grand slam in that situation, just like a ball out of the infield, essentially, which he's generally known for, right?

Yeah, and I think it's because, as well, at least in part, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

will always carry higher expectations because of who he is and what he has done in the past and what the expectations are on him and on his shoulders.

I mean, he carries a big price tag as well.

I think for any athlete in any sport,

The more paid you are, the more scrutinized you'll be.

That's just going to be the case, right?

And so far, he hasn't been... It's not even the same guy you saw in the playoffs.

He hasn't even really been the same guy, at least the last couple weeks, that you saw from the WBC, which is... I mean, he had some wicked ABs in that tournament for the DR. So I think you kind of wonder... I think it's valid to wonder, like, hey, what happened to that guy, right?

And again, I mean...

Obviously, people know he's a dangerous batter, so they come up and throw him junk.

But, I mean, you're asking him to adjust a little bit.

At least right this second, he hasn't, even though I do think he's having a fine season.