Agreed.
And in support of your point, there was a kid who played for Florida's minor leagues before he was traded, about whom the inestimable John Sickels said this in 2006, 6 years after his drafting:
Top pick in the draft, though at least partially because of signability. Considered to be a smooth and polished hitter with an excellent glove, but there were questions about how much power he would develop. Although he was said to have good makeup on draft day, he quickly gained a reputation within the Marlins system as something of a prima donna. Doubts about his power proved true, and he seems destined to be a journeyman.
That pick?
1) Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Florida Marlins (high school, Chula Vista, CA)
His 2005 minor league season was shortened by a woeful promotion to the bigs but FINALLY showed that power people wanted from him. Obviously Sickels discounted it when looking at the body of evidence in his other 2400 minor league ABs. His minor league line? .296/.365/.448/.813. Not exactly a world-beater, especially at a corner position.
He's been better in the bigs than he was in the minors. If Tui ever comes through on his athleticism, that's the promise he shows too.
I think it has to be soon, that's all. That holds true for Carp as well, what with Raben and Poythress having more power potential. Saunders doesn't have anyone nipping at his heels in the OF yet, but that's because Halman, Peguero, Chavez etc are all K machines. Saunders' competition (F-Gut) just got a 4 year extension, so he REALLY needs to come through to deserve a LF spot. He could lose his to a Raben as well.
I'd rather squeeze my prospects than have a dearth of them, though. I'm glad we aren't clearing out the minors to make sure no one pushes Yuni, for instance. I don't miss the days of Bavasi, that's for sure. Just keep the talent coming, Jack - we'll figure out what to do with it once it gets here.
~G