Its basically a chat about the Upton brothers but Law does address the problems a player can have being in the wrong organization.
Keith Law Chat
Bob(Pittsbugh): I think the problems in the Pirates lack of development of players goes back further than the Littlefield era. They tried to pass off Al Martin and Kevin Young as potential stars after Bonds left.
Keith Law: They used to screw up every hitting prospect they got - Richie Hebner was the AAA coach, and he forced every hitting prospect he got to go up hacking. Maybe Ron Wright and TJ Staton weren't great prospects to begin with, but a better club could have gotten more value out of them.
Bob(Pittsburgh): Could BJ have been the same player he is today if he would have been taken by the Pirates?
Keith Law: That's a very good question. My instinct is to say no. The Pirates have been a horrendous developmental organization for the past six or seven years; they've even mishandled Walker and McCutchen, the two best hitting prospects they've had in that timeframe. Littlefield and Graham probably would have tried to make him a catcher or something.
Andy (Durham): Speaking of Richie Hebner, he was Upton's AAA coach in Durham, could that explain the mediocre numbers in AAA for BJ?
Keith Law: I think it's a big factor. He's also not the best person when it comes to dealing to some of his players.
Original Post