He’s 21, in AAA, playing in one of the toughest hitters parks in the league (and according to a recent BP article, one of the toughest places to hit in all the minors), and showing real improvement in the field and in his triple-slash line. However, his K/AB and K/BB rate has stayed the same the last three years (and this year even shows a tad bit of regression, albeit very slight). His develpoment is legit, but I’m still not convinced he’s all the way there yet.

He probably won’t be all the way there yet for 5-6 years. Most players don’t reach their peak level of play till there in their mid to late 20’s.

Send Hargrove to the DL (or better yet, DFA). With McLaren at the helm, Dave’s plan as expressed in #31 has a chance of being implemented.

He was ghastly in April. If, as you say, he was simply unlucky, then he’s having one heck of a season, because his May was not bad, and his June has been otherworldly (if not quite as otherworldly as Adam Majorleagueready Jones).

#46 I don’t think Hargrove has changed his mind about not putting Reed in the lineup. He did tell Bavasi that if Reed was on the 25 he’d get very few AB’s. I suppose that’s a part of being the 4th OFer, but Ellison seems to have more of Hargroves faith.

I don’t see an answer to who should play third while Beltre’s out that promises better (unfortunately.) The poeple who’ve been talked about moving would be focused more on thier defense at a new position and most likely have trouble putting up the same offensive numbers. Then there’s the difficulty they’d probably have defensively at the position, especially the absurd notion of moving Betancourt further from first to ease his throwing problem…Haven’t heard any discussions of promoting a 3Bman though, which makes more sense than trying people at new positions…

That’s good.

Yeah mostly I was joking to show the absurdity of the situation.

Any sane team moves Vidro to PH duties, Ibanez to DH (preferably platooned with someone who can hit LHers) Jones to LF, lives with Willie at 3B until Beltre is healthy and doesn’t give a rip about Vidro’s Veteran entitlement.

I think this is the answer I was hoping for.

But, it probably is a reminder of why scouting is an inexact science. Of course, we also need to remember that Clement turns 24 shortly and really should be tearing the cover off the ball in the PCL.

He did lose some development time due to injury, but this is very correct. He tore the cover off the ball in April, but had some bad luck. He had a horrible May, and with his unlucky April it looked really bad. Now he’s back to tearing the cover off the ball, and this time finding holes. I’m not saying he’s ready, but it seems he’s back on the right track.

I do think that, come what may, if he’s not ready by 2008, then we have to consider his value fallen. He’ll still be useful, even if he only turns into a DH / 1B, he’s still a left handed power hitter that we need. But potential All-Star might be beyond our reality.