If his plate discipline is in question, this is not awful logic. A lack of plate discipline that is brought with him to the major league level could translate into a strikeout pace that would make Chris Carter wince. I know that you think you have this all figured out. Why should today be any different? However, you don't. I don't. Unless you are in the front office meetings for the team, you don't have an insight into the decision making. I can tell you this. The promotion of Cosart this season seems to fly in the face of your theory that the arbitration clock is the sole motivation for their decisions on who gets promoted. Remember that Cosart was described as a can't miss prospect at the beginning of the year.
I don't think arbitration is a motivating factor in how they've handled Springer. Whether they brought him up in July, or now, or even next April won't affect when he's eligible for arbitration. It may affect when he's eligible for free agency though. However, I don't think Cosart's promotion means that they don't take into consideration arbitration clocks. He wasn't brought up this year until after the super 2 deadline. It doesn't mean that was the sole motivating factor (I'm sure it wasn't), but it is consistent with them factoring in financial motivations.
Cosart was considered a very good prospect (and one of the top prospects in the organization), but a "can't miss prospect"? Don't think anyone was saying this.
He strikes out a ton... that's for sure. Right in line with most MLB players today, and right in step with our local 9. I would hope that the leaders of our team, the one that's about to set the record for most K's in a season, would have a plan to correct most of this at the big league level, but apparently they don't. However, I also would hope they would at least consider that perhaps keeping him in an environment where every time he makes contact, the ball is being crushed, could also be counter-productive. I would also think they would consider that even if he magically stops striking out as much at AAA (which at 24 is probably not going to happen), that it may not automatically translate to the MLB level where he faces much better pitching. If the adjustment period is going to be there regardless, and free agency/arbitration is truly not an issue, I'd rather he be up here at the end of a meaningless season vs. getting his first taste at the start of a new season.
If he stokes out a ton at AAA, I can't imagine that you wouldn't see that it would get worse at the MLB level. It is baffling that you suggest that you take the kid, anoint him as the savior of the franchise, throw him in e pressure cooker that is an MLB season and expect his plate discipline to improve.
Who's calling him the savior? I just want him to get up here and start his career already. I'm saying the K's are likely NOT going to get better at the MLB level...even if he improves at AAA, thus id prefer himto get as much Of an adjustment period as possible. I'm also saying that him hitting 15 HR's in this short time span could actually promote more swinging. And which is going to provide more pressure? The end of a lost season with zero expectations, or the beginning of a new season with players under te microscope, anticipation, and optimism? Hell, if anything AAA doesn't seem to be providing much of a test or any sort of "pressure" whatsoever...counter productive to preparing a player for the majors (even if the major league team isn't much better than the minor league team).
Also, the notion that a player is incapable of improving at the MLB level, and can only work on his game in the minors is really ridiculous. The good ones make adjustments, work on their games, and stick. The ones that don't have it eventually fade away or become AAAA players. Plenty of players dominate the minors, only to finally get promoted and realize they don't have what it takes... Trout, Berkman, A-Rod all struggled in their first stints... we haven't even gotten to that point with Springer yet. He's 24, not 19.
The notion that a player can develop something as fundamental as plate discipline at the MLB level when they are struggling with it at AAA is just silly.
The notion that him reducing his K's at AAA would portend a similar result at the MLB level is also just as silly without him logging a single MLB AB. I also wouldn't say he's "struggling" with anything at AAA... he's striking out just about the same amount (if not less) that he has in all his other stints, while continuing to get on base and hit for power. Again, this may be who he is... a guy who strikes out a ton, but can do a whole lot when he makes contact (in addition to steal bases and play great defense). The fact that he's at an advanced age makes it more likely he is who he is... and I'd like to see how he adjusts to the big leagues sooner rather than later.
Which is exactly why you do it now. There is no pressure to save the team right now. 100 losses is going to happen with or without him this season. Let him come up and get a feel for things so he's not a deer in the headlights on Opening Day.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Update from yesterday: George Springer has played in 49 of the team's 129 games this season and now leads the squad in homers.</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/statuses/369281412785909761">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It definitely is the "Summer of George". With all he's doing and he still can't get the call up he must be thinking to himself, "serenity now...serenity now" :grin:
I'm fine with him not being called up. Several factors... 1) We are going to lose a prospect in Rule 5 Draft. That's what happens when you are a top farm system. Can't protect everyone. Keeping Springer in AAA allows us to save one more prospect. 2) OKC is playoffs bound and it would be great for the Astros PR if the team were to win a championship. Just think of all the Oklahomans who will become Astros fans because Springer & Co. delivered them a championship. 3) We secretly covet a last place finish and another #1 draft pick.
Wonder how the BA MiLB POY voting will go. Buxton is the better prospect and is having an amazing year, but you can't ignore the monster year of Springer, especially if he goes 40-40.
