Talk of promoting Quentin and/or Jackson

[coyoteshockeyfan]

At the same time, there have been organizational discussions about the possibility of promoting top prospects Conor Jackson or Carlos Quentin from Triple-A Tucson before the deadline with an eye toward adding pop to an offense that has scored 394 runs but is hitting only .227 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

Jackson played in the Futures game on Sunday and hit .373 with 32 doubles and 64 RBIs in his first 81 games. Quentin was hitting .304 with 16 homers and 60 RBIs.

If Jackson or Quentin is promoted, it will be to play regularly, which would then require a position shuffle to keep the hottest bats in the lineup unless a subsequent trade is made.

In either case, Shawn Green, a right fielder his entire career, could be asked to play center. Quentin is a right fielder by trade. Jackson is a first baseman; his promotion could cause Chad Tracy to move from first base to right field.

"We are trying to figure out how we can make ourselves better,’’ Kendrick said.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=44563

I dont really care much for the thought of Green in center, and Jackson is pretty much blocked with two of our best hitters this year at 1st and LF, but anything is better than watching Jose Cruz. If there is talk of promoting them to play regularly as an offensive jump, I am hoping that means they are not thinking of trading either one.

 

[AZZenny]

Shawn Green in CF is silly. He's marginal at RF, due largely to lack of speed and/or hustle and/or willingness to throw himself after an important ball. I wonder if he'd even agree. Fans think Cruz's defense is mediocre! LOL. I guess that would signal that the brief flirtation with 'focus on good defense' has passed.

I wouldn't want to see them bring Carlos up to CF for sure - it'll be a hard enough jump without playing his weakest position.

I wonder if they would put Glaus on the Jay Bell Memorial Hangnail Tour and move Tracy over to 3rd - poor guy - and put Conor at 1st base. They need to dump McCracken and maybe bring up Andy Green - he can play anywhere.

Actually, I would be pretty pissed if they bring these guys up now just to serve the short term fantasy needs of this very mediocre team - they both really need to polish their defense and baserunning. September is soon enough. Besides, it'll screw their chances at ROY! Obviously, if the alternative is trading real prospects, then bring them up. Otherwise - face it Mr. Kendricks, your FO was clueless and they sold you a bill of goods. What would you do with a VP in your software company who did that 2-3 years in a row?

I'm not at all sure Melvin would play the kids through the inevitable adjustment offense/defense slumps. And much as we want to see the future here now - it is called the future for a reason. Do we really want our best hopes stuck in the middle of this environment for their first big league exposure? It worked for the original babybacks because they had enough kids up at one time to change the culture - until the veterans came back and put them in their place.

I'm torn, but overall, bringing them up smacks of panic and expediency, and they will pay the price.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Shawn Green in BOB's CF? That could be one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

Getting rid of McCracken would be nice but I think the guy has got pictures of BoMel and Brenly in a compromising position or something. That's the only possible reason I can think of to explain how he has been employed under those guys for the past five years.

 

[Lefty]

I think putting Glaus on the dl might be best for the team. You can see he is playing with an injury.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Fins

So what are the thoughts on the Finley trade now? The DBacks have absolutely no centerfielders in the organization. Our best hope is an 18-year old stud prospect (Upton) that "might be moved to the outfield".

I don't even remember who we got for Fins but I hope itwas worth having to putup with Jose Cruz for a full year.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I completely agree with the Finley trade now just as I did back then. It wasn't a guarantee he was going to re-sign here and the guy is on his last legs. Finley has a significantly lower OPS than Cruz in 2005 in case anyone was wondering.

Now as to who we got for Finley, well that's a whole other story.

 

[Ollie]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/transactions/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&year=2004

7/31/04 Arizona Diamondbacks
Acquired C Koyie Hill, nonroster LHP Billy Murphy and OF Reggie Abercrombie from the Dodgers for OF Steve Finley and C Brent Mayne.

Maybe Murphy will be good, but the trade looks like a Finley dump.

 

[Lefty]

I'm glad Finley is gone. His stats show age is catching up. They can do better than Finley and Cruz.

 

[Espo]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/transactions/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&year=2004

7/31/04 Arizona Diamondbacks
Acquired C Koyie Hill, nonroster LHP Billy Murphy and OF Reggie Abercrombie from the Dodgers for OF Steve Finley and C Brent Mayne.

Maybe Murphy will be good, but the trade looks like a Finley dump.

Bill Murphy has been pitching well as of late here in Tucson. Koyie can swing the bat well but is working on his defense. I think the organization got young talent for a washed up old CF.

 

[AZZenny]

From BA's Prospect chat today:

Q: Mike from Anaheim asks:
Hi John! Which players currently in the minors are most likely to have an impact on the pennant race this season? Is there anybody with potential K-Rod impact?

A: John Manuel: I wouldn't be shocked if Jeremy Hermida came up and helped the Marlins down the stretch; they need another bat with Lowell and Conine struggling so much. I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'd rather see Dustin Pedroia at the plate in Fenway than Mark Bellhorn right now. The Diamondbacks are in 2nd place, and I could see either Conor Jackson or Carlos Quentin making an impact if the opportunity arises. Minnesota's stable of arms at Rochester (Liriano, Bowyer, even Boof) could produce one or two guys who help this year as well.

Pedroia. heh heh. But OK, OK - Drew wins that little battle hands down.

Elsewhere they talk about how teams such as the Dodgers have rushed prospects up too quickly, before they have all the basics well-ingrained, and suggest that may be why they have had so few of them really make a big league difference in the past few years. Esp what it can do to the confidence and self-discipline if the pressure is on to perform in ways the prospect just hasn't grown into - (such as expecting Conor to hit for power when his unique skill is walks and contact at this point.)