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These years Cruz got cups of coffee with the big club, while the team struggled in the aftermath of losing Teixeira in the last half of 2007 and 2008. Arguably, they needed Cruz's bat with the big club just like we need Smoak to perform now. But Cruz wasn't ready until 2009. He put up 1.100+ OPS numbers in the minors in 2007-8, so he appeared ready ("nothing left to prove"), but he struggled in the Bigs until earning his full-time gig in 2009.
Smoak's MiLB numbers never looked as good as Cruz's best. Smoak may still need more time in Tacoma.