Hello Terry Ryan Jr.,

Snider is different in the sense that he is NOT ready for the MLs at this point and the question is whether to send him to AA or High-A to start the season.  In the other three cases (unless you're referring to Hafner staying at High-A Charlotte throughout the whole season when he finished the season at .346/.447/.580, instead of his staying at AAA and hitting .342/.463/.559, though he was called up after only 110 AAA ABs in 2002, and as I recall, Texas did have a logjam between him, Blalock, and Teixeira,) they were knocking on the door to the MLs at AAA, and for whatever reason (probably feeling that those players weren't quite ready for the MLs and roster crunches,) they were kept in AAA.

While I can understand how it hurt Hairston, and especially Restovich, I don't think Snider is in the same category because I don't see how keeping him in High-A (in a pitching-friendly, warmer climate FSL) for a few months is going to harm him to that extent, if at all - if he tears up the FSL for a few months, then send him up to AA New Hampshire around June to July when the weather is warmer and the chances of postponed games is less.  He'll have momentum from handling a league that was higher up from what he was facing last season, yet still spend some quality time at AA in his age 20 season.  If he does very well to end 2008, you could still consider starting him at AAA to begin 2009 at age 21, or again, have him go back to AA for a few months if they feel he could still use some improvement, and then move him up to AAA.

Therefore, I agree with your point to an extent regarding certain prospects, but I think the ones that are at the highest risk of stagnating and not reaching their full potential are the ones at AAA that have had solid to good seasons there and then get stuck at AAA for another season or two when they virtually have nothing left to prove there.  Snider is not in that category, and I think there are several good reasons why he should spend a few months at High-A before being promoted to AA.  Besides what was mentioned above, the pitching-friendly FSL could be a good test for him, just to make sure he's ready for AA, a level that has considerably better competition than what he has faced to this point, and in cold weather no less (though he did spend the entire season at Lansing in 2007, so perhaps the cold weather, and moreso, the numerous rainouts and snowouts, wouldn't be much of a problem, but combine that aspect with considerably better pitching than he's seen before, and I'd still send him down to Dunedin for a few months before promoting him to AA.)

Just my 2 cents - no offense.

Take care and a Happy Easter to all who celebrate it!  :-)