Atilano wasn't a "career minor leaguer"!

[PC]

I read a couple of reports that described him that way.  He's 24 not 34.  He was drafted when he was 17 so it's not surprising that it took until his mid-twenties to get the majors.  Hell, the average age for a major league player is 29!

By their definition, Stephen Strasburg is a career minor leaguer.    After all, he's 22 and still at Double-A!

[ronnynat]

QFT

[JMUalumni]

QFT

+2.  So many people start to use that label or "bust" when HS/very young picks picks don't immediately dominate, but these guys can take 6 or 7 years to fully pan out and mature.  It cracks me up when people start to say picks like Burgess, who is 21, is a bust.  At 21, he wouldn't have even finished three years of college yet!  There are so many little things that can contribute to a player not performing to his maximum level that people looking at box scores at home can't understand.

[PANatsFan]

A first round pick contributing in the major leagues is just so unsurprising.

[EdStroud]

Wouldn't that thinking have made Desmond a career minor leaguer-6 years in minors I believe.

[Dave B]

where did we get him? was this from like a marlon anderson trade or something

edit: answer, daryle ward

[Smithian]

Agree'd. I don't think about giving up on anyone until they hit 25.

The idea so many people are done with Marrero when he is only 21 is laughable.

[daveb32]

When was it said that he was? And by whom?

[PC]

When was it said that he was? And by whom?

It was in the AP report after his first start:

"It's crazy. It's been my dreams," said Atilano, a career minor leaguer who had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in August 2006.

It was also in the STATS preview for today's game:

A 24-year-old career minor leaguer, Atilano gave up one run and five hits in six innings of a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Is there anything more absurd than the phrase "24-year-old career minor leaguer"?  There is no such thing as a 24-year-old career minor leaguer!

[PC]

FYI, if you Google 'atilano "career minor leaguer"', this thread is the first result.

[blue911]

+2.  So many people start to use that label or "bust" when HS/very young picks picks don't immediately dominate, but these guys can take 6 or 7 years to fully pan out and mature.  It cracks me up when people start to say picks like Burgess, who is 21, is a bust.  At 21, he wouldn't have even finished three years of college yet!  There are so many little things that can contribute to a player not performing to his maximum level that people looking at box scores at home can't understand.

I think you're misconstruing being a bad first round pick with being a bust. 

[JMUalumni]

I think you're misconstruing being a bad first round pick with being a bust.  

No I am not.  He has been called a bust by numerous people in this venue as well as others.  Whether he was a bad first round pick is debatable though.  Hindsight is 20/20.

[blue911]

No I am not.  He has been called a bust by numerous people in this venue as well as others.  Whether he was a bad first round pick is debatable though.  Hindsight is 20/20.

That's cool. As far as I'm concerned, you don't use your first round pick on am 18 year that has a huge downside (Defense,Speed, whatever) it's just too risky. The length of time it takes to develop a kid is debatable but they still have to be on the 40 man after 4 full seasons or pass through the Rule V draft.

[JMUalumni]

That's cool. As far as I'm concerned, you don't use your first round pick on am 18 year that has a huge downside (Defense,Speed, whatever) it's just too risky. The length of time it takes to develop a kid is debatable but they still have to be on the 40 man after 4 full seasons or pass through the Rule V draft.

Burgess speed and defense were projected pretty high at the time he was drafted and still rates out pretty well in those areas at this time IMO.  The problem is that you had a weak college crop that year and the only picks of value were guys like Burgess (bigger risk and bigger potential).  Compared to picks like Jake Smolinski and Stephen Englund, Burgess looks genius.  I guess whether a pick is bad or not is highly opinionated though and it is more on personal preference.  Whether someone is a bust is a bit more concrete and easier to determine based off of evidence.

Also, you have 5 years with HS picks, not 4.

[blue911]

Burgess speed and defense were projected pretty high at the time he was drafted and still rates out pretty well in those areas at this time IMO.  The problem is that you had a weak college crop that year and the only picks of value were guys like Burgess (bigger risk and bigger potential).  Compared to picks like Jake Smolinski and Stephen Englund, Burgess looks genius.  I guess whether a pick is bad or not is highly opinionated though and it is more on personal preference.  Whether someone is a bust is a bit more concrete and easier to determine based off of evidence.

Also, you have 5 years with HS picks, not 4.

I guess I don't see what you see. I don't see a kid that can hit at a MLB level.

[JMUalumni]

I guess I don't see what you see. I don't see a kid that can hit at a MLB level.

Maybe, he has the tools, but putting them together is the issue.  He is 50/50 at this point in my eyes [at making it to MLB], but is being held back because of the bat, not the D.

[blue911]

Maybe, he has the tools, but putting them together is the issue.  He is 50/50 at this point in my eyes [at making it to MLB], but is being held back because of the bat, not the D.

He's a corner outfielder. If he doesn't hit, he doesn't have a job. I want the kid to explode but the Nats wasted 2 whole years before addressing his swing.


EDIT: I'm not down on Burgess at all. But the Nats knew when they drafted him he had issues and chose to ignore them. A bad draft pick is on the team not the player.

[mitlen]

I read a couple of reports that described him that way.  He's 24 not 34.  He was drafted when he was 17 so it's not surprising that it took until his mid-twenties to get the majors.  Hell, the average age for a major league player is 29!

By their definition, Stephen Strasburg is a career minor leaguer.    After all, he's 22 and still at Double-A!

To paraphrase A. Lincoln (kind of) .....  If Atilano is a "career minor leaguer", give me more !

[Lintyfresh85]

Well, technically... up until two starts ago... Atilano WAS a career minor leaguer.

[JMUalumni]

Well, technically... up until two starts ago... Atilano WAS a career minor leaguer.

Stephen Strasburg has been a career minor leaguer

[DPMOmaha]

Stephen Strasburg has been a career minor leaguer

Nope, he has a major league contract. 

[mitlen]

Well, technically... up until two starts ago... Atilano WAS a career minor leaguer.

... back to Lincoln (kind of).    Grant WAS a career captain.    

[PatsNats28]

Wouldn't that thinking have made Desmond a career minor leaguer-6 years in minors I believe.

An ESPN article on Roy Halladay called Ian Desmond a light-hitting shortstop. I mentally objected to the designation.

[PANatsFan]

An ESPN article on Roy Halladay called Ian Desmond a light-hitting shortstop. I mentally objected to the designation.

His history says light hitting, his recent performance says differently.

[PatsNats28]

His history says light hitting, his recent performance says differently.

He's not Barry Bonds, but he's not like a slap hitter or anything that can only run and field.