Atlanta Braves’ Nick Markakis is a Better Baseball Player Than Jason Heyward

Jun 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) singles against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) singles against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
"Jun
"Jun /

Since my last award winning Nick Markakis column, I’ve been met with some serious resistance.

When it comes to vocalizing my high opinion of Nick Markakis, I’m always met with the exact same knee jerk reaction – “Heyward is a better hitter than Nick Markakis.” I always hear this when talking about Nick Markakis (it’s most certainly because Markakis took Heyward’s spot at the right field throne in Atlanta) and I have little patience for such nonsense. It’s an inaccurate argument and it’s jus downright lazy.

I don’t even want to talk about Jason Heyward. He’s not worth talking about. He’s a lifetime .260-something hitter who cannot hit left-handed pitching. (I hope “.260-something” offends some of you literal stat-heads. I love y’all.)

If you think Jason Heyward is a better hitter than Nick Markakis, then you must also think that living in Haiti is better than living in the United States. You must also think that a new Chevy Spark is better than a new Honda Accord. And, you must prefer Miller Lite to a delicious pint of Guinness. Jason Heyward is not, nor has ever been a better hitter than Nick Markakis. This is a provable fact.

Let’s talk about last year. Last year was clearly Jason Heyward’s best year. And, in my opinionated opinion, last year will be Jason Heyward’s best year of his career. Due to Jason Heyward’s 2015 season, and probably due to his younger age, all you heard about on the TV and on MLB radio in 2015 was Jason Heyward. This carried on throughout the offseason, too.

Next: Apples and Apples