Stat guy: Aviles is example of gems available at Class AAA
So while Aviles’ minor-league performance indicated a guy that could produce, what about this season’s figures? Do players ever sustain higher plateaus in performance reached at a relatively advanced age?
Sometimes. There have always been players who suddenly just plain got better at an age when you would have thought their development was capped. Former NL MVP Terry Pendleton is the prototypical example of this.
Another perhaps more pertinent example is Florida second baseman Dan Uggla. Uggla has the fourth-highest OPS (.995) in the National League and is tied for the NL lead with 23 home runs. Uggla did not reach the major leagues until he was 26. He’s stepped right in and has been one of the underrated stars of the game ever since. Can Aviles be a player like that?
Uggla’s batting line in the minors was .276/.341/.442, and he had two seasons with more than 20 home runs. Nothing that would indicate the Jeff Kent numbers he’s produced in the majors, but a solid record of performance for a middle infielder.
The lesson: Minor-league statistics do matter.
over 3 years ago
RoyalsRetro
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Yes they do.
People are too quick too blow them off because the PCL is a hitters league and the players are often 26-27 years old. It’s okay to be skeptical of these type players but they should not just be dismissed.
Read this...and Mexecutioner
+1
I just got back in the greatest city in the word (KC) last night after the 30 something plus hours of travel from Sydney.
And Soria is officially the Mexecutioner. When the Beat reporter uses the nickname on the front page of the sports section the debate is over.
At least Wally Joyner's not on the team....
I just wish the "stat guy" would have mentioned something about how rare it is...
...”sustain higher plateaus in performance reached at a relatively advanced age.” If his point is that it ever happens, then of course he’s right. And that’s also not saying very much.
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
If Aviles keeps up his current level
of production, then he’s an outlier, somewhat like Uggla. And I like how “minor league stats matter” is the supposed lesson here. In the right context, of course they do.
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.
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