Berrios is welcomed to AA

[jokin]

N/M

[jokin]

So you're point is that a year from now you'll have a point? It seems extreme to press that issue. While someone like May may have shown success this year (or ended up like Gibson last year), the Berrios promotion seems totally appropriate given his age, prior season success, current success, and workload. Why press the issue of slow promotion here?

 

Because we're staying on the thread topic here...the title of the thread is Berrios and his "welcome" to AA. This has led to the discussion of promotions in general and age-readiness, as well as if a top prospect can gain more from being challenged at the next level, regardless of age. I then went on record as saying the Twins did this promotion exactly right in terms of balancing all of those variables.

 

And if you go back and check my post, in regards to Berrios, I clearly stated with regards to this date in 2016 as to his potential major league readiness- if he continues his current level of dominance- that's TWO years from now, not one. I'm not sure how that point is in any way "extreme."

[jokin]

Jokin:

"Now regarding beyond peak year promotions....Bernier, Pino, Colabello, Johnson?"

 

Right. The Twins would have been better off if these guys were getting playing time before they actually had established themselves in the upper minors! That the Twins try to obtain value from devalued older players is somehow a fault to be used against them.

 

My comment was in response to this statement about being "extreme":

 

What's extreme is suggesting the Twins actually promote people after their peak years.

 

It would be a nice courtesy on your part to acknowledge that I made a direct refutation of what you had said previously. And I've never suggested that anyone should be considered for promotion before demonstrating AA and/or AAA competencies.

 

The question of contention (and I seek to continue the discussion in a much friendlier fashion going forward) that we have then, is boiled down to how the Twins would best be "better off"- if we both acknowledge (and assuming that the Twins surreptitiously acknowledge) that the club is in the 3rd year of a rebuilding plan (that seems destined yet again for 90+ losses)- then Yes, in all close calls (in this case, May/Meyer vs. the rest), they should be leaning towards taking their lumps with younger players that legitimately project to be part of the future, rather than continual forever-repeating-salvage-mode to get back a few nickels here and there by trotting out soon-gone veterans like Morneau, Doumit and Carroll last year (see Red Sox, Boston waiving AJ and Grady...ie, some of the questions on Parmelee and Escobar, plus valuable developmental time, would have been answered a year earlier by giving them more extended looks), and a succession of journeyman AAAA guys (though an inability, not an age, issue, throw Florimon in that latter group, as well), both this year and last year.

 

Again, tying this in with Berrios, based only on what we can currently surmise, in 2016, the Twins will have Nolasco, Hughes (expiring contract), May and Meyer established in the rotation, with the 5th spot being taken by one of the current AAA crew (+ Pino), or, a veteran FA acquisition. If Berrios maintains his current track record in A+ ball, and continues to be one of the top pitchers in AA and AAA, when does he come up, and in what capacity? He would turn 22 in late May of 2016. Should that youthful fact hold him back (especially for an obviously lesser, but more experienced pitcher with no upside), if he continues to demonstrate the same type of mastery, only now at the AAA level? I would defer to the Cardinals on this one, who would likely find a bullpen spot for him, possibly right after the Super 2 date.