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These conversations are the reason I love SSI. Nothing better than having a good ole fashion difference of opinion and keeping it civil. Jefe... you da man.
The answer I have always gotten on Mike Wilson is that he's a good guy and the organization likes him personally. He also seems to be a good influence on the younger guys in the system. Every organization in baseball has about a dozen guys who stay in the system not for what they do on the field, but for the job they do mentoring younger players.
1) I don't think they are keeping him around because of his onfield contributions.
2) Wilson had two great springs in Arizona and kept in the hunt for a roster spot until the final days of camp and was edged out... twice.
In retrospect, you have to wonder how close Wilson really was to making the team. Maybe they were trying to hype him up to raise his trade value?
Regardless, once he was down in the minors he never sniffed the bigs during the season and wasn't even able to get himself a cup of coffee in September. Again, the actions of the organization tells us a lot about it's opinion of Wilson. I don't think it would have been difficult to get this guy some PA's in Seattle the past several years if they thought he had a future, even as a platoon bat.
3. Actually, with Tacoma's current roster, Milton Bradley would be the guy you would pencil in at CF if you needed to managed them in a game that meant anything.
Current OF:Mike CarpCarlos PegueroMike WilsonMatt Tuiasosopo
Wilson is listed as 6'2" 245. That's big. Maybe he's overstating his case but guys his size are rarely above average defensive outfielders. I think Wilson is playing CF out of organizational necessity.
4) Milton Bradley doesn't rip the mid 90's fastball over the fence but he can still work the walk, smoke a single and generally give you a quality MLB at bat of a pitcher who can throw you one. Or to put it another way, would you be interested in Ryan Langerhans if he was a below average LF defender and right handed?
5) I think the big difference between AAA and major league pitching is a combination of command and velocity on the fastball. In the post steroid era, very few starters routinely exceed 95 on the gun. Those who can end up in the majors very quickly.
Looking at the Rainiers pitching staff, none of these pitchers belong in the bigs at this moment. Mistake hitters like Wilson feast on pitching like this, but when he gets to the bigs he will see fewer mistakes.
Just a nice little back and forth.