05-13-2013, 11:55 AM
Quote:Future prospects hardly ever play in AAA. Usually the best talent in any organization is in AA and high A
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Coldneck" data-cid="204314" data-time="1368452633">
<div>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bricklayer" data-cid="204291" data-time="1368317028">
<div>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="CFOrfan" data-cid="204289" data-time="1368299674">
<div>
So, I saw Iowa play the last 4 games. They are awful. We better pray Soler, Baez, etc are as good as advertised. No hope in AAA.
</div>
</blockquote>
I don't think that's true. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. It depends on the organization. "Hardly ever' is definitely an overstatement.
</div>
</blockquote>
I'm going stand by my statement. AAA is not really the place for developing future prospects. It's where you put the remains of your 40 man roster and recovering vets. For the most part, a AAA roster has major league ready talent, obviously the word "talent" is relative. So unless the player is being blocked by someone on the 25 man roster, any prospect with real potential at that level is probably already going to be on the major league roster.
</div>
</blockquote>
I think that's generally true. However, when you have guys on the 40 man that are kind of at an inbetween stage who have option flexibility, that's where AAA is used. That's not to say those guys don't have value. Welington Castillo is a good example of that. He was seen as the future catcher, but spent most of last year in AAA.
That being said, I think there is a bit of a reluctance on the current regime to put the organizations top talent at AAA. The Iowa Cubs are in the PCL which, as a league, is an extremely offense biased league. Putting a position player there and watching his numbers blow up can have an effect on his approach. Pitchers can question their ability after getting shelled. I see Iowa as a place where prospects go when they are pretty much done with the developmental stage of their minor league career and are more or less "staying warmed up". At least, that's how it is in the Cubs organization. That's not necessarily true of other organizations.
