You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
-Tom Petty, The Waiting
Though it was recorded roughly eight years before he was born, those lines perfectly describe 2016 for Kyle Schwarber. Well, most of it. Since coming back to DH in the World Series just six months after trashing his left knee, the slugger has shown that he’s perfectly happy waiting.
Let’s talk for a moment about the kind of patience Schwarber has displayed in light of his situation. Here’s a 23-year-old power hitter who’d been out since the third game of the season and who was then thrust upon his game’s biggest stage against some of the best pitchers the American League had to offer.