Player development

[BC867]

Duplantier has begun to wear out a path between Phoenix and Reno with the Diamondbacks having had recent needs for fresh arms. Lovullo seemed to suggest Duplantier needs to get stretched out as a starter, but said the needs of the big club often clash with player development.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...cks-use-zack-godley-opener-sunday/1183778001/

It gives me no satisfaction to see that Torey Lovullo has admitted what I have been posting for the past few days. That it has been a mistake to bring up a rookie starting pitcher, accustomed to the routine of preparing between starts, then converting him to being on call as a reliever in the toughest league of all, the Major Leagues.

If you are going to change a Minor Leaguer's "position", you do it in the Minors, not the Majors.

I totally disagree with Torey's conclusion. There are enough players in the Minor League system to not have to let the needs of the big club clash with player development. (His quote.)

And, BTW, the experiment ended in failure. Duplantier got hit hard a few games into his new routine and got sent down. He has been demoted so he can go back down and readjust. For the second time.

I have supported Torey, often disagreeing with 1Sun. Not wanting to lose confidence in Torey as we did with Igor and the Suns. But this situation with giving player development a low priority leaves me no choice.

I hope that someone in authority gets in the ear of Torey Lovullo and reminds him that player development entrusted to his leadership is indeed a very high priority. And that there are other solutions in our Minor League system to cover the need for a sporadic middle inning reliever.

As I mentioned in a previous post, you wouldn't call up a shortstop, then tell him to put on catcher's gear because we "need" a catcher. Or vice versa. I believe that telling a successful Minor League starting pitcher to go to the bullpen and be on call in the Majors is just as preposterous.

 

[AZCB34]

Hazen is on board with this since there is no way TL is making moves on his own. The organization has decided "the needs of the big club clash with player development"

 

[BC867]

Hazen is on board with this since there is no way TL is making moves on his own. The organization has decided "the needs of the big club clash with player development"

I'm sure you're right. Personnel moves are up to the General Manager and Field Manager.

Hopefully they'll see that their philosophy produced a setback for a young player.

If Duplantier did not get hit hard and immediately get sent back to the Minors, it
wouldn't be in the news and a topic of conversation.

 

[AZCB34]

I am not a fan of this philosophy either. I think the worst thing is to derail a young players development simply to satisfy a very short term goal. Seasons/games are short term goals. Productive careers, which benefits the organization, are the long term goals.

 

[1Sun]

I am not a fan of this philosophy either. I think the worst thing is to derail a young players development simply to satisfy a very short term goal. Seasons/games are short term goals. Productive careers, which vendors the organization, are the long term goals.

Particularly the development of a player we are counting on to be our ace two seasons from now, or perhaps even as early as next season (if we unload Greinke).