Mark Appel @ Springfield: 5 IP, 2 H (1 solo homer allowed), ER, BB, 4 K Carlos Correa is currently 2-2 with 2 doubles, one of which drove in a run.
Business as usual for the hooks. Correa with a 2-run double followed by a Moran 2-run single. Already up 6-0 in the 2nd.
What are the odds that Correa plays at AAA? Has Luhnow discussed him making the jump straight from Corpus up to Houston?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Luhnow on Carlos Correa and Mark Appel "we're not gonna hesitate to bring them straight up from double-A if the need arises"</p>— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio/status/586205546157576192">April 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"If the need arises" What kind of needs would that be? I can only think that would mean we are in the playoff hunt. Maybe if they are completely destroying AA, but is that a need to skip AAA?
Carlos Correa: 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R Here's one of them <iframe src='http://www.milb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=68208883&width=400&height=224&property=milb' width='400' height='224' frameborder='0'>Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>
The only reason to bring them up early would be if they're in the playoff hunt. If they're not playing for anything they might as well keep them in AA/AAA for the full season so we can have them under contract for one more additional season in their primes.
Other side of that coin is if you're planning on seriously competing next season (which all signs point to) then you get them acclimated to the bigs for a couple of months this year. There's merit to both situations, for now I just hope they both kick so much ass in AA that it's a legitimately tough decision for the FO to make.
Wouldnt this be the opposite? If we are in the playoff hunt, then the guys on the roster are playing well...When you bring someone up from AA ball to the majors, there is sure to be some growing pains. How many times do people get promoted from that level to the bigs and start dominating from the get-go? I dont think that would be a smart decision at all if you are actually in playoff contention and wanting to go for it. There is already a big enough jump from AAA to MLB, so the jump from AA to MLB is absolutely huge and would be met with at least a month or more of major adjustments.
Just recently off the top of my head: Oscar Taveras, Kolten Wong & Mike Wacha on the Cards, Joe Panik in SF, Brandon Finnegan in KC
Not sure what this proves...I think all those guys except Finnegan played AAA ball before getting to the big leagues. Finnegan pitched in the playoffs for the Royals...6 IP and 7 runs given up. I think this just proves my point that it makes no sense to call someone up from AA to MLB to help a team that is in playoff contention get over the hump.
Nothing, other than it's a pretty common practice for teams in playoff contention to promote top level talent from the minors. I think you're also overstating the difference between AA and AAA competition. You face more high end talent in AA, but it's less refined, mainly with respect to pitchers command of off speed stuff and hitters strike zone discipline. It all depends on the player. Skills translate, no matter the competition level. That's why they have coaches and scouts and FO guys watching every single pitch these guys see/make. It's the first week of the season, so this is all terribly premature though.