I'm as excited about the future of Zack Duke as the next guy, but I'd just wish everyone would temper their enthusiasm a bit. It just seems that every time the guy's name is mentioned, it is accompanied with an excessive amount of hyperbole. Take this DK report from today's Post-Gazette on the team's upcoming minicamp, for example. It speculates on the possibility of Duke being named opening day starter.

I'm not trying to pee on anyone's parade, but I get increasingly uneasy the more the hype grows. I believe that one of the toughest feats in major league baseball is for a young pitcher to successfully establish himself. To say that Duke took the first step in that process last year would be a huge understatement. He was simply fantastic. But he's not there yet, and it is entirely possible that he will take a step backwards before he takes another step forward.

All I am saying is that the guy has only 14 starts under his belt. It is not going to do him or anyone else any good to put undue pressure on him while he gets his major league feet under him. Let's back off the guy and let him do his thing. Odds are, there will be time enough in his career to lavish him with the appropriate accolades and kudos.