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When I was managing the Astros, General Manager Gerry Hunsicker and I almost always saw eye-to-eye. But we did have one philosophical difference, based on personal experience. I started in the major leagues at age 18 and never went back to the minors. I still had a lot to learn, but I learned it in the National League.
Gerry was the assistant General Manager of the Mets when they promoted three young, talented pitchers at the same time. As it turned out, all three, Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson, injured their arms, and the only one of the three who was able to rebound and have a good career was Isringhausen.
Gerry believes that young players need a lot of minor league seasoning and they need to be successful at the higher levels before they get a chance to face major league competition. His experience tells him that if a player fails at first, it may ruin his whole career. Mine tells me that if a player has talent and has some immediate success, he can make it in the big time without much minor league seasoning.
I also believe that an early promotion, followed by an early demotion doesn’t have to be devastating. I think it can actually be good for a player. If he doesn’t do well in the big leagues, he probably knows what he has to work on when he goes back down. If he is devastated when he gets sent out, he probably isn’t ever going to be a great player. Great players have to overcome adversity, even after they are established in the major leagues. Alex Rodriguez had to do it this year after failing in the second half last year. Lance Berkman has to do it now.
There is one aspect of this issue Gerry and I agreed on: If you promote a kid with great talent, you have to play him. It makes no sense to bring a guy up and sit him on the bench.
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