Darrell Davis: Cue the Guerrero hype

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is about to make his Major League Baseball debut tonight with the Toronto Blue Jays and we’re supposed to be exceptionally excited.

At least, that’s what Sportsnet is trying to tell us. It should be noted that Sportsnet is the Blue Jays’ TV network. And they both have the same owner, so there are ulterior motives.

Guerrero is the top-rated prospect in baseball’s minor leagues. His father and namesake is a Hall of Famer who used to play for the Montreal Expos. Guerrero Jr. has succeeded at every level and there’s no reason to believe he won’t become a tremendous major league player, although it might not be as a third baseman, his current position.

Let’s keep everything in perspective: He’s only 20 and the Blue Jays have a pitiful team at the beginning of a rebuild; they kept him in the minors to start this season so they had more control over his contract, and that didn’t hurt the hype.

The hype is also needed for Sportsnet, which is also the host network for the NHL. And with the upset-heavy NHL playoffs having eliminated all the Canadian teams, Sportsnet needs a new attraction.