Rays: Maddon on Wieters
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon (left) knows a little something about developing players, since he spent most of his career on the front lines of player development in the Angels organization. He also knows something about developing a huge can't-miss prospect, with Evan Longoria coming up with the Rays last year.
Maddon endorses the Orioles plan to wait several weeks on Wieters rather than bringing him up to start the season.
"I spent so much time in development,'' he said. "A lot of times major league people will just look at what a guy, see what the guy does in spring training and try to evaluate him on that. Spring training can be very deceptive. Of course, this guy is good just like Longo (Longoria), but if he starts out in the minor leagues and gets on a roll you can bring him up and he'll take off.
"I've seen so many players who people said they "can't miss" and they're sure to have success at the major league level, and then they don't and they start to scramble. You don't want him to have to scramble. They're doing exactly the right thing."
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Comments
Is this coming from the 2008 AL Champs manager? Take note folks..
Thanks for the tidbit.
Posted by: ChrisP | March 21, 2009 12:36 PM
Pete-
I have a lot of respect for Maddon, and I believe his players do as well.
His advice is correct. Don't rush Wieters. Barring an act of God, he'll be around for a long time with this organization.
Posted by: Patrick Lynch | March 21, 2009 12:47 PM
see everyone needs to calm down with Weiters he will be up by June and we will get an extra year of him in a Oriole jersey.
Posted by: Bryan | March 21, 2009 2:26 PM
Absolutely! How many times has it been said of a player that his career was hurt because he wasn't brought up to the majors soon enough? Approximately never. Brought up too soon? I can't begin to count the examples. Wieters is a gem, and the more valuable the treasure, the more care it deserves.
Posted by: Danny in WV | March 21, 2009 3:27 PM
see everyone needs to calm down with Weiters he will be up by May and we will get an extra year of him in a Oriole jersey.
Fixed that for you.
Posted by: Jeff V. | March 21, 2009 8:14 PM
Forget MAy or June...The Orioles only need to wait 13 days into the season to get the extra year of Weiters.
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Pete's reply; They'll wait longer than that. If he stays down until late May, he cannot be a "super-two" player for the purposes of salary arbitration.
Posted by: Justin | March 22, 2009 12:47 PM
That extra year stuff is bull. They had better not poor mouth him like they did Markakis until this year. If this kid is the "best prospect in 40 years", why not play him? He's 22 not 15.
Posted by: Jim K | March 22, 2009 10:08 PM