Quote:
Originally Posted by VAChief
There is a lot there I can agree with, especially with Munoz and I too think Lane Thomas profiles well as an extra outfielder. It is that we so rarely have grown power hitters in our organization that when the potential that ONeill has comes along, I don't want to squander it. Last night not withstanding he had seemingly matured in his approach prior to the DL. He just looked different taking pitches, which in the long run I felt like was going to make him even more productive. With Ozuna rebounding and Fowler/Martinez productive he really is blocked from regular time. So maybe regular at bats at Memphis is best, I just think he has gotten all he can get out of AAA. It's a difficult decision.
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What potential does O'Neill really have? And I'm not asking that rehtorically.
We're in an era where I can find you a couple dozen guys in the minors who you could call up and get 30 HRs with a .325 OBP and 180 strikeouts. They're just awfully damn fungible these days. His offensive skill-set, especially from a RH hitter, just isn't all that difficult to find anymore.
I agree that he's gotten all he can out of AAA, but the problem is that we NEED more than he can give in short stints at the MLB level. And he's getting nothing from this either. So you're better served keeping him in a holding pattern at Memphis than you are having him up here hurting the club.
Because Goldschmidt likely shut the door on Ozuna coming back next season, especially if he continues to play well. The Cardinals aren't paying him $25 million going forward; I'd be surprised if they'd even pay him $20 million. So send O'Neill down, bank service time, keep him swinging the bat, see if he can figure out how to stay healthy (because right now you can't give him a starting job with his health history) and bring him back in 2020 when you can give him ABs.
This arrangement isn't working for anyone.