Article: This Time It's Different

[ashbury]

 

Buxton and Sano both missed so much developinent time in 2014, they should start somewhere they're comfortable

If you asked them, they'll probably say "I'd be most comfortable in the Twin Cities to start the season."

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think there's a few reasons.

1) As I mentioned above, all three have had some struggles at AA and are all still working on their defense.  Making a decision based on the small amount of ST at-bats would be a bad idea.

 

2) AAA is less a learning environment.  The atmosphere there isn't always that great for young prospects.  A couple of the prospect writers at BP have touched on this.

 

3) The Twins (and most teams) have started to use AA as the jump point to the majors and then use AAA as the place to refine.

I think point #2, while true in some respects, is often over-stated.  Most prospects still spend plenty of time in AAA.  Even Twins prospects.  It can be used however an organization wants.  All of our top pitching prospects seem ticketed to spend significant time at that level -- so why wouldn't it be a good place for top hitters?  Don't you want them facing other team's equivalents May, Meyer, Berrios, etc. on the cusp of the majors themselves?

 

I think the Twins recent "AA to MLB jump" for some position player prospects is more a function of need than strategy.  Actually, only Vargas and Hicks so far have tried the jump completely -- Santana and Dozier at least had brief stops at AAA along the way.  But all of them were called upon to fill a gaping MLB hole, just like Mauer in 2004, and a ton of pitchers in 2001, etc.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, as far as struggles, Sano posted a wRC+ of 145 in his time in AA.  Rosario about 93 (and only 104 in his "good" year at that level in 2013).

 

If Rosario can be deemed "ready" for AAA based on that, plus 24 AFL games and 2015 spring training, I see no reason why Sano can't likewise be deemed "ready" based on his previous performance level and 2015 spring training.

 

Not that I would be upset about Sano to AA, but barring injury, it should be brief (like Morneau in 2003, who was promoted to AAA on April 30).  He's not that far behind Rosario, if at all.

[h2oface]

On the recent broadcast I heard the announcer pronounce his name bay-REE-oce. Made me realize I had been doing it wrong. As with Arcia's name, I kind of hate to see us encourage what seems like a mangling of his name.

The only way one truly knows how to pronounce a name is to ask the source. To rely on announcers as the definitive source of pronunciations will get you a lot of wrong versions. The current adventure in college basketball is J.P. Tokoto (TOE-ka-toe), forward for North Carolina. I have been hearing many wrong versions all year, and even more tonight on the ESPN website highlight reels from the woman that narrated it. The home team announcers, hopefully, will get it right, though. Maybe one of the TDers in camp right now can ask Berrios directly?

[h2oface]

As long as the Twins continue to stockpile replacement players that are 29-34 years old in AAA (many we now see playing in the Spring Training games in the second half of the games), the real prospects that will actually make the major league team will continue to jump from AA to the show.  There has been plenty written on this site, and other fine articles elsewhere, about the lack of need for many to play in AAA at all.  I think they will be just fine with Doug managing them in Chattanooga. More than fine.  I think that is the best place for the group.