As everyone probably know, it is the management of the parent club who decide on which players will make it to the big leagues, which will not, and if their stay will be short termed or long, or indeed if a particular player will go down a level or two, or simply be released. All minor league affiliates are there to feed the big league club and keep the team competitive for the future or to replace injured players until they return. Nothing new there but it might be worth reminding ourselves of that fact when we look at the standings. Naturally all fans want their favourite team to have a successful season and there is value to any player playing in a winning environment. How to win is a necessary skill for any player to be successful and it is a skill that most must learn. Winning is difficult-losing is easy.

Just as naturally, fans can become despondent and even critical when their team is not doing well and can begin to question the management of the team and the way they, (manager and coaching staff), are handling things. Fans can also begin to question why such a such a player is still down in the minors or why a particular player is at one level and not lower down in the organization. If a player seems worthy of a promotion to the majors, why is he still down on the farm? If a players at the major league level is having a poor season, why is he still in The Show?

“We, (the coaching staff), are here to make sure that if and when a player gets to the majors, he is ready for any role that he might have to fill and learns what it takes, learns a professional approach. Minor league baseball is hot streaks and cold streaks, ups and downs and sometimes you just have to be patient,” explained Ottawa Lynx manager John Russell. “Sometimes you have to put guys in unfamiliar roles and let them tough it out.”

“In the low minors when a pitcher gets behind, he’ll almost always challenge you with a fastball,” said Lynx third baseman Brennan King. “Here, (Triple A), their other pitches are better developed and they have the confidence and experience to show you something else in that situation.”

Many believe that only certain minor league stats translate at the major league level. There are so many factors involved. Even if a hitter is tearing up the league or consistently blowing the ball by opposition hitters, mere numbers alone may not give an accurate indication of a players ability. Is a hitter feasting on the weaker pitchers in the league but having little or no success against the best? Is he crushing the fast balls of inexperienced pitching but flailing away at the breaking stuff form the better pitchers who are able to exploit any weaknesses he might have? Can a pitcher get the big hitters out or is he feasting on hitters at the bottom of the order? Has the defence saved the day for him time after time or perhaps failed to catch those balls which a major league player would put in his back pocket? Is he giving up a lot of line drives which look like routine outs on the scoresheet because they are hit right at somebody? Is his delivery and his arm slot and the way the ball comes out of his hand smooth and consistent? Is he merely a thrower and not a pitcher?

Lynx first baseman Gary Burnham has been hitting and hitting and hitting. His numbers to date are: BA .312, 18 doubles, 25 RBI, OBP .420, SLG .407, OPS .828. Even though last years National League MVP Ryan Howard has been injured for the past couple of weeks, (the second time he has been injured this season), and plays first base, Burnham has not played a single inning for Philadelphia. First base is a traditional power position and to major league executives, coaches, and scouts, although doubles in the minor leagues are often a more true indicator of translatable major league home run power, first baseman, third baseman and corner outfielders better be able to hit the home run. Burnham has not a single long ball all season. Burnham is thirty two years old which is considered by these same executives, coaches and scouts to be too old to be anything more than a bench player or an injury replacement. Certainly the money factor comes into it as a three year major leaguer is going to be making at least one million per season. Economics at work-the dollar is the bottom line in many cases. It seems as though there is a belief in major league baseball that players such as Burnham should be hitting this well or even better due to his years of experience and given that he is putting up those types of numbers in the minor leagues. Burnham may be hindered by a perceived conception that he is a Four A player, an expression meaning that although he is too talented for Triple A, he doesn’t have quite enough for the majors, and never will.

Players can be blocked and stay in the minors if the major league job is held by a star player who is also making a significant amount of money. Gary Burnham, (Ryan Howard MVP 2006) and second baseman Joe Thurston illustrate this.

Thurston has been outstanding all season long on defence. He has made only one error and leads all IL second baseman in fielding percentage. His range has been excellent and he, along with shortstop Danny Sandoval, have turned many double plays. For a second baseman as solid defensively as Thurston has been, offense is a bonus and while is average is only .244, he has scored 29 runs and driven in 25. Problem for Thurston ever playing long term for Philadelphia is Chase Utley. Utley is an offensive force, he’s young and plays a very good second base. He’s also making a lot of money which the Phillies, naturally, need him to play everyday to make their investment in him worthwhile. Thurston is also twenty eight. Perhaps his best chance with Philadelphia will be as a utility player. Danny Sandoval meet Jimmy Rollins. Again, Rollins is young and an offensive force as well as a spectacular defender at short. Again, probably at best a utility player long term, at least with the Phillies.

Lynx centre fielder Chris Roberson has great speed, is a terrific defensive outfielder but to his disadvantage, Michael Bourn and Shane Victorino are the same type of player, (Victorino has more power), and a team can only have so many of those hit the ball and run outfielders who can catch everything. Roberson has an OPS of .333 but is only 9-15 in stolen bases and has scored 30 runs. His average has been steadily climbing but sits at .259

Left fielder Jim Rushford is putting up some nice numbers but he is thirty three and appears to have been also labelled as a Four A player. His numbers to date are BA .315, 13 doubles, 24 RBI, OBP .384, SLUG .393 and OPS .777. Rushford has yet to hit a home run playing a power position. Pat Burrell plays left field for Philadelphia and while the Phillies would love to trade him, his enormous salary and poor offensive numbers, especially in the clutch, and his limited no trade clause, make that very unlikely to happen.

Lynx third baseman, currently on the DL, Brennan King, was putting together a steady season offensively and has played solid defence at third before a broken thumb interrupted his 2007 season. King is twenty six and Philadelphia is his third organization since being drafted. But as with first base, the hot corner is a position which traditionally is looked upon as being a power hitting position. While third base has been a sore spot for the Phillies for the past couple of seasons, the team seems satisfied with veteran Wes Helms. Helms has not been generating power but after a big season last year with Florida, (high average in a platoon situation), Philadelphia would not appear to consider a promotion of King as any big improvement despite the fact that Helms has not been producing much this season and really never has in his major league career.

Of all the Lynx regulars, catcher Jason Jaramillo might have the best chance for a major league career. His is only twenty four, is a switch hitter who might develop decent power, and is solid defensively. He followed up a very good April with a not so good month of May but has been turning things around lately and appears to have found his hitting stroke once again. He is playing the right position as well as the Phillies are not stocked with all-stars at the position and catching is traditionally the fastest rout e to the majors.

Getting to the show has so many variables and so many factors and can sometimes have little to do with talent. Often, it can depend on opportunities within a particular organization and only having one small window of opportunity to impress. Each player at the Triple A level is talented and skilled at this game of baseball but the competition is fierce, opportunities are very limited and sometimes luck, or lack of, can make all the difference.