Actually, 18 months older... and I would consider that to be significant. They could have had very similar developmental/promotional pathways, given how their A+/AA numbers stacked up (Springer's age 22 season was certainly nothing to scoff at). Was just wondering who the other winners were and how old they were. EDIT: Looking at the past winners, looks like Paul Goldschmidt was a similar age to Springer.... also seems like the year they win also coincides with the year they get the big league promotion.
They tend to take prospect status in to consideration, in fact it's probably the biggest decider. Xander Boegarts won in 2013, despite Springer having an inarguably better year. Buxton won BA's award, despite Springer being better. It most certainly isn't an award given to the best minor leaguer, or even the best legitimate prospect. Springer had no business not winning in 2013, he was far and away the best player.
'88 Mike Harkey/RHP/Cubs '89 Todd Zeile/C-1B-3B/Cardinals '90 Tino Martinez/1B/Sea '91 Mark Wohler/RHP/Atl '92 Carlos Delgado/1B/Tor '93 Cliff Floyd/OF/Expos '94 Billy Ashley/OF/Dodgers '95 Andruw Jones/OF/Atl '96 Andruw Jones/OF/Atl '97 Ben Grieve/OF/Oak '98 Gabe Kepler/OF/Det '99 Rick Ankiel/LHP/Cardinals '00 Josh Hamilton/OF/TB '01 Josh Beckett/RHP/Fla '02 Jose Reyes/SS/Mets '03 Prince Fielder/1B/Mil '04 Jeff Francis/LHP/Col '05 Francisco Liriano/LHP/Minn '06 Matt Garza/RHP/Minn '07 Justin Upton/OF/Ariz '08 David Price/LHP/TB '09 Jason Hayward/OF/Atl '10 Jeremy Hellickson/RHP/TB '11 Paul Goldschmidt/1B/Ariz '12 Wil Myers/OF/KC '13 Xander Bogaerts/SS/Bos '14 Kris Bryant/3B/Cubs '15 Blake Snell/LHP/TB '16 Alex Bregman/SS/Astros
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> Alex Bregman began his career going just 1-for-34. He is batting .328/.384/.606 since.</p>— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) <a href="https://twitter.com/theaceofspaeder/status/773975494568112129">September 8, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ehhhh...... Maybe. Still too small of a sample size to say if this is real Breg or not. Hit swing is incredible though, so I would lean towards a this is what you are really getting average wise.
What's your point? The list above is the winners of The USA Today's Minor League Player of the year award since it started in '88.
So with Bregman's emergence. Lets talk the Captain for Mike Trout. I would do it. Springer Bregman Altuve Trout Gurriel .......... That's a deadly lineup. I don't think Correa ever becomes the player Trout is.
Funny you mention that - Charlie was talking yesterday about Sale and said that Bregman would have to be part of the deal, which is probably true... But it got me thinking... if a Sale was made available, wouldn't the smart move be to deal Altuve? He's older than Correa and Bregman and this year is probably his peak; it'd be hard to imagine him being any better. And, as a consequence, his value would never be higher. And it's not like he's old, and he's certainly not expensive - the White Sox would probably consider him a worthy centerpiece. I don't think I'd touch any bats of consequence, even for Sale. But if the Astros *do* go down the blockbuster route, I'd rather they deal Altuve than Bregman or Correa. Or am I crazy? Keep the 21 and 22 year olds; deal the old man, right?
Didn't we all say exactly this two years ago when he won his first batting title? I'm not betting against Altuve anymore.
Depending on how the season finishes out, you may be looking at the AL MVP with Tuve. He is also the face of Houston. You can also imagine him being a productive player in to his mid 30's. What is worrisome about Correa is his lack of improvement this year. It is strange, but then again it may have been a shoulder issue all along. I don't think we would trade him(Altuve). I would worry about the deal that Correa is going to get, which I imagine will be bigger than what you would get for Mike Trout right now. Then again they may be up for free agency same year(I haven't looked). Still, I think you take this team to the next level if you can get the same production out of Valbuena and trade off Correa moving Bregman to short and getting Elite CF production from Trout. You improve the defense all around and get better offensively. I think that would be a fair trade along with a few B minor prospects.
You could also get Encarcion from Toronto(damn I butchered that name). Springer Bregman Altuve Trout Encarcion Gurriel We have an all-star team 1-6. Should kick the Rangers ass every game.
