Can Evan be even better?

by Jason Collette on Jul 2, 2008 11:06 AM EDT

Patrick DiCaprio takes a look at Evan and just how good he has been. The article is written with a fantasy slant, but it is still a good read and makes it even tougher to temper expectations with him.

He is poised to become the third rookie in the last 50 years to have 15 HR 20 2B and 50 RBI by the All-Star Break. Is it possible that he is underrated right now?

As hard as it is to believe I think the answer is yes. I have been reading a lot of concerns about his batting average, and today heard the opinion that he is a far better real baseball player than a fantasy player because of his defense. He is one hell of a fantasy player, and could easily be a top 20 player in the second half.

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He's been a lot better than I expected him to be this year.

The idea that he’s only a rookie and only 22 scares the hell out of me. How good is this guy going to be in 3-5 years?

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 2, 2008 11:17 AM EDT 0 recs

Contract

Great contract or Greatest contract?

by rglass44 on Jul 2, 2008 11:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

Greatest would be Bonds for 400k

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 2, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Pro-rated...and he's doing it for the kids

by td32 on Jul 2, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bonds loves the kids

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 2, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up 1 recs

lol

by floridaroar on Jul 2, 2008 5:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Now, if you want to talk intangibles

then Longoria is a star in the making. Except it really isn’t intangibles; it is the power, plate discipline, defense, things that can be quantified.

But there is an aura too. Remember how disappointed the team was when he did not make the roster out of spring training. They talked about him as if he were already integral to their self-image. He interviews well, he is intelligent and articulate, his big plays are remembered more than other’s are. It appears, true or not, that the team took off when he arrived, and thus because he arrived.

When I was in NY, you could tell that David Wright would become the face of the team. Longoria seems to have the same mystique. I think Upton is at least as good if not better, but combining his struggles early in his Rays’ career, I think Longoria has the advantage in public opinion.

by bobr on Jul 2, 2008 1:17 PM EDT 0 recs

and he's white

which, unfair as it may be, always helps the public image for athletes…

by rglass44 on Jul 2, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wow, can't believe you went there...

We have Iwamura, Pena, Longoria, Upton/Crawford, Balfour, who are all different nationalities and I love em all the same. They are each a cog in the machine…

by Hazleton Jason on Jul 2, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not saying for me

Saying for the general public or whatever. He will always be judged a little less harshly by the media, etc. At least that is the way I have generally felt about the seeming double-standard that exists in sports and sports marketing.

by rglass44 on Jul 2, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

sad but true

rglass, you are correct. The media loves a white guy. All things being the same, if Mike Alstott was a black guy he would not be all over TV commercials and the stands would not be filled with #40 jerseys.

Before you point out how beloved derrick brooks is (my favorite all time player), if he were white he would be the biggest star Tampa has ever seen. He is twice the player Brian Urlacher is, but the media makes Urlacher out to be the second coming of Christ.

None of this is fair or right, but it is the way our society currently works.

Evan has the tools to be a marketing God

by stpetelawyer on Jul 2, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Huh?

Derrick Brooks isn’t the kind of personality that sells. He’s a great guy but he’s laid back, not a salesman.

Alstott gets deals because he’s white? Huh? What about Bettis. He’s on far more commercials than Alstott and they had a similar playing style.

I’m sorry but saying race is an issue in the making of a promotional star in this day and age is complete bullshit. It’s not about race, it’s about personality and charisma. Some of the biggest names in sports marketing are black. Race has nothing to do with it.

by floridaroar on Jul 2, 2008 5:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think you are taking what I said a bit too far

I’m not saying that race is a definitive issue, its just a factor. That’s all. I wasn’t saying that Black or Latino atheletes can’t be media starts. That would be insane. I was just making the point that being a good looking white kid starts you out with a step ahead.

by stpetelawyer on Jul 2, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

100% correct,

some people, especially the younger crowd, can’t see that. and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s probably a very good thing, and bodes well for the future. but what was said about Alstott earlier is correct, as is your point about white athletes having a leg up on public opinion.

by davidsmarch on Jul 2, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I commend RGlass, StPeteLawyer, and Davidsmarch

For having balls. And I agree that race is sadly still a factor in the 21st century.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 3, 2008 12:31 AM EDT up 0 recs

agreed, especially in tampa...

by davidsmarch on Jul 2, 2008 5:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Evan has been getting major publicity lately. On ESPN.com he was featured on their front page and also on their front page video recently. He is on the cover of espn the magazine. He has been heavily covered in many recent fantasy baseball articles. As I said he is going to garner quite a few MVP votes as this publicity heats up. The media wants a face of a team, and he is going to be it.

by matthan on Jul 2, 2008 3:23 PM EDT 0 recs