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Q.  Whud he do wrong in the minors?

A.  He didn't do anything wrong.  

He had a big college career at Oregon State, and he rose through the minors 1 level per year, always hitting .300/.400/.500.  Give or take.

He got a few looks in the bigs, hit kinda mediocre.  He's just a guy who never showed the "specialness" that pushes you past a Dustin Ackley or a Justin Smoak.

In AAA, for example, he has spent 6 years raking to the tune of .292/.388/.483.  Nice OBP!  But like Spectator says, you've got the John Jaso rule to think about:  if your power isn't scary, don't plan on all the walks sticking around for long.

Well, not normally ... Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Carlos Santana, Zobrist, Choo, it's possible to maintain a high OBP with gap power.

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Q.  Does any of this even matter, with Lloyd McClendon "having the pencil"?

A. ...

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Q.  What position does he play?

A.  Tweener OF.

He can play a little CF for you, has a nice speed score (SX).  We imagine that he's a plus LF or RF.

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Q.  What quality MLB regulars have ever had Cole Gillespie's career path?

A.  Geronimo Berroa was a right hand, right fielder about Gillespie's size.  He spent 8 seasons in AAA, hitting .296/.358/.480.  The A's gave him a chance at age 29, and he hit .306/.379/.485.  He spent the next 5 seasons raking for OPS+ of 116-146.

There's Raul Ibanez, Jose Bautista, lots of guys.  It's axiomatic that there are good players in AAA who never got their chance.

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Q.  Does any of this even matter, with Lloyd McClendon "having the pencil"?

A. ...

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Q.  What was Dr. D's impression, watching him in spring?

A.  That he was a big, strong Derek Jeter.

Wow.  Loved the guy's ability to take a jam pitch the other way.  With authority.  He was a lot of fun to watch in Arizona - really stood out from the crowd.  Gave you pro AB's every time up.

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Q.  What does it mean that he's got 78 MLB games with a mediocre statline?

A.  That he's got his adjustment period, over, in Mike Carp-ish fashion.

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Q.  Platoon hitter?

A.  Guys who go inside-out, aren't normally big platoon guys ... James' latest axiom is that everybody has pretty much the same platoon split, if you give them enough time.  :: shrug ::  If anybody did have a big platoon split, like Montero, I wouldn't think it would be Gillespie.

Doesn't mean he wouldn't be more effective against Chris Sale than would be Michael Saunders.  Or, ahem, Abraham Almonte.

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Q.  Supposing that, like Nick Franklin, he fails to go 6-for-his-first-12?

A.  Then I guess it's on to something else.  Grab your hand into the hat, shake it around, and see if you can find some other player who will "WOW" you in his first three games.

Gillespie was certainly going bananas in AAA, though.  Pro-rated full season, he'd have had 90 walks, 50 homers and 50 doubles.  Guess he's the Albert Belle of the PCL.

Cheers,

Dr D