tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post370224319743462694..comments2023-10-10T12:46:47.186-04:00Comments on The Green Weenie: PedroUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-88747496094780936422010-01-09T18:45:47.006-05:002010-01-09T18:45:47.006-05:00Very good points, gents. I'm concerned about ...Very good points, gents. I'm concerned about the preseason hype to push Pedro, Jose, Brad, etc. to the big club a few weeks into the season as if it's a given.<br /><br />One thing I will say about the suits, though, is although they fast track guys through the minors, they don't seem to rush them into the show. Given that history, I'd suspect the young guns will have to complete their punch list before being brought up, ala Andrew McCutchen.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-31723347998826157972010-01-09T16:21:07.570-05:002010-01-09T16:21:07.570-05:00And of course, obviously you still see a lot of ve...And of course, obviously you still see a lot of very good and some "elite" prospects in Triple-A (such as our boy Andrew McCutchen); just not quite as many as were at Double-A, since some have already gone on to the bigs. <br /><br />My point being that Triple-A is still the highest level of organized professional baseball in the universe not named Major League Baseball or, arguably, the Japanese Professional Baseball League. And most students of the game would say that the JPBL is closer to American Triple-A than it is to the bigs. <br /><br />Anyway, now I'm rambling. The point is that I'd rather see Pedro come up as a polished prospect who can hit the ground running and stay that way, than watch him lose time and productivity because he struggles due to a premature promotion.WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-67271187127941368752010-01-09T16:12:23.927-05:002010-01-09T16:12:23.927-05:00I agree 100%. I would much rather see Pedro come ...I agree 100%. I would much rather see Pedro come up after an overwhelming 2/3rds or 3/4ths of a Triple-A campaign than watch him be reduced to mere mortal status if he is promoted in June (which is to say, too early). <br /><br />Although he is certainly an exceptional prospect who gets additional consideration for his major college experience---which most observers consider to be roughly equivalent to Double-A---Triple-A is another matter. While you don't see as many elite prospects at that level (since many skip it altogether and go right from Double-A to the bigs) what you DO see is a lot of guys who are several years older than you. Many of those, in turn, have actual big league playing experience, and the rest are longtime "organizational soldiers" who may have topped out as Quad-A players but who can still make you look bad just by virtue of their long experience. Also, a lot of guys at Triple-A are, if anything, even MORE desperate to vault over you and get back to the majors, as they are often faded former top picks (such as Clement) or guys trying to make it back from injury, etc.. <br /><br />All that to say, I hope Pedro gets most of 2010 at the Triple-A level. Which in turn means we'll probably hold onto Adam LaRoche at least until next offseason, despite recent speculation elsewhere in the Pirate blogosphere that he might be traded.WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-1728118000343873362010-01-09T13:40:00.073-05:002010-01-09T13:40:00.073-05:00I'll be watching his K rate in AAA this year. ...I'll be watching his K rate in AAA this year. He needs to get that down around 20% or there are going to be a lot of very disappointed people in Pittsburgh in 2010.<br /><br />If he is brought up before lowering his K rate substantially, I see him having a similar rookie campaign to Jeff Clements' with the Mariners, which means he won't be a difference maker right away.MarkInDallasnoreply@blogger.com