Nothing to link to on this given that ESPN doesn't provide transcripts of the play-by-play team's banter, but color man and former Mets GM Steve Phillips said something interesting during last night's Braves-Phillies game. Shocking, I know, but even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
While discussing Braves Rookie Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the recently called-up vet Willie Harris, Phillips mentioned that clubs will often keep their hot prospects down in AA (which is where Saltalamacchia was until his call up), because AAA rosters are often filled with disgruntled vets who think that they should be with the big club, and teams don't want that negativity infecting the young prospects. (note: he wasn't accusing Harris of being such a disgruntled vet. To the contrary, he praised Harris' great attitude and cited him as the exception that proves the rule).
It was a simple point, one that made total sense the moment I heard it, but one which had never occurred to me before. It also explains why the AAA teams that come through Columbus never seem to have anyone interesting on their rosters.
Am I alone in finding this insightful, or did everyone know this already?
