Analysis of the Toolsy Outfield Four - who rebounds?

[oldsox]

Maybe Sox should start Hawkins at Kanny, let him play there for 3-4 weeks, see if he dominates, then move him up with an armload of confidence.

[Señor Ding-Dong]

The assignment was terrible, but age really has nothing to do with it. Carlos Sanchez was starting at AAA at the same age, and there have been quite a few phenoms in the majors at the same age. Age is not a qualifier, skill progression is, and I agree the Sox made a terrible decision moving him up, but because his skillset wasn't developed enough, not because of his age.

Yeah, but Sanchez has been playing pro ball since he was 16 or 17 and had four seasons of experience prior to his full season in Charlotte last year. Not exactly the same situation as Hawkins. As far as phenoms who have made it to the majors at Hawkins' age, well, he's raw and we all knew that from the start. So again, it's not really comparable.

 

Hawkins simply wasn't ready for A+ and his age, while maybe not the deciding factor, was a factor nonetheless. We hold it against guys who are too old for their level, and the same is applied to players who are too young for their level given their "rawness."

[harfman77]

Yeah, but Sanchez has been playing pro ball since he was 16 or 17 and had four seasons of experience prior to his full season in Charlotte last year. Not exactly the same situation as Hawkins. As far as phenoms who have made it to the majors at Hawkins' age, well, he's raw and we all knew that from the start. So again, it's not really comparable.

 

Hawkins simply wasn't ready for A+ and his age, while maybe not the deciding factor, was a factor nonetheless. We hold it against guys who are too old for their level, and the same is applied to players who are too young for their level given their "rawness."

 

Thats exactly my point. Baseball skill development and age are not the same thing. BB through a player who was too raw into A+ last season, regardless of how old he is. Sanchez's skills had developed to the point where he should have been 20 in AA ball to start the season last year, because he was advanced.