Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told fans the truth Saturday: he does not feel right, and the Blue Jays star knows everyone can see it.
That is what made his latest comments hit. Guerrero did not hide behind the numbers or act like this was a passing cold stretch.
«Obviously, I don't feel OK right now. I'm not feeling right and you guys can tell that. I've been working very hard,» Guerrero said through an interpreter. He added that he is just looking to hit 1 ball very hard and believes things are going to change. The quote was shared by Keegan Matheson on Saturday.
That sounds like a hitter carrying the full weight of his season to the plate. It also sounds like someone who knows his swing has not looked free in weeks.
The frustration has already been visible. Friday night against Detroit, Guerrero snapped his bat over his knee after popping out on a 3-0 pitch, another sign that this rough stretch is getting under his skin.
Schneider has been saying the same thing in his own way. He said recently that Guerrero is trying to do too much and wants to be the guy who carries the club, which only makes the at-bats tougher.
That is the trap for a star on an under-.500 team. Toronto is 19-25, and every quiet night from the middle of the order feels louder when the losses keep piling up.
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Vladimir Guerrero's honesty matches the pressure around him
His season line is not empty. StatMuse lists Guerrero at .288 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI through 44 games, which tells the story better than batting average alone.
For most hitters, that would be a decent opening stretch. For Guerrero, it feels light, because Toronto does not need him to be decent. It needs him to change games.
That is why his quote matters. He is not pretending the problem is hidden in bad luck or one awkward series. He is saying flat out that he does not feel right, while also making clear he is still working for the swing that resets everything.
Schneider seems to believe that reset can come fast. He said this week that for Guerrero, it can take 1 game, 1 at-bat, or 1 swing for things to turn.
The Blue Jays need that to be true soon. Injuries have thinned the roster, the offense has gone flat too often, and Guerrero has already admitted that those missing pieces make it harder not to press.
So this was more than a routine postgame comment. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally said out loud what the Blue Jays and their fans have been watching for a while: he is fighting it, he knows it, and he is waiting on 1 loud swing to bring him back.
Will 1 big swing be enough to get Vladimir Guerrero Jr. going again?
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