Rushing to judgment

Dalton Rushing put up seven home runs in his first 27 at-bats this year. Barry Bonds is the only player in baseball history to get to seven homers faster. Rushing has also, in the past week, been the main character of at least three separate social media cycles. Does he need to chill out?

A little extra: Tuesday night, Rushing was rung up on a pitch clock violation when he believed he had called time. The umpire disagreed, he struck out, he was pissed. Wednesday, a different umpire, same batter's box: Rushing made absolutely certain that the umpire saw him call time. Maybe he was just trying to head off another misunderstanding. But his body language certainly looked extra.

A job for a lip reader: In a play at the play on April 21st, Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee appeared injured after a close play at home plate with Rushing. As Rushing was walking off the field, it sure looked like he said something dismissive about Lee’s possible injury. And then on Wednesday Rushing threw out Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya as he tried to steal second, and then commented on Amaya’s weight. For the record, Amaya is listed at 6'1", 230 lbs. Rushing is 6'0", 220.

Heel turn: There's a saying in baseball: you're either humble, or you're about to be humbled. The case against Rushing's behavior is simple—this game is too hard to play with a target on your back, and he's been acquiring targets at an alarming rate. But if Rushing is a going to play a heel, he has to commit to it, and carry that same energy when he’s going 2-for-25 and not just when he’s hitting seven dingers in April.  Eventually, the slump comes. It always does. The question Rushing will have to answer is what version of himself shows up when the bat goes quiet.