Comments on: Andy Van Slyke Really Dislikes Colby Rasmus

By: Hugecardsfan

Hugecardsfan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:51:17 +0000

No it doesn’t. But, the question is “did Pop demand excellence from Colby?” After all, the kid only played 90 games with 331 at bats and a line of .251 .346 .396 .742.

I won’t argue for a second that Tony was the guy to mentor this kid. Tony was undoubtedly one of the worst things that could happen to him….given Colby’s proclivities. That said, Colby needed to find a format that would work for him inside that environment. He didn’t.

I’m ready to toss Tony out with the bathwater. But, I think Van Slyke was dead on with Colby. He needed a Pop Warner kinda guy to be happy, but, whether he had the mental toughness to excel is another question.

By: easy

easy — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:30:43 +0000

Well this has been a lot to chew on. Maybe more than it deserves but it is interesting. The constituency of this site is one that is interested in the potential of young ball players from their entrance into the lowest levels of pro ball to their ultimate level of success as major leaguers. The “jewel” of our system has been traded away and all of the predictions, hope, energy, numbers crunching and dialogue that we put into Colby Rasmus has gone with it. It’s hard not to look back at all of the interpersonal issues that may have contributed to Colby’s performance and the trade.
Actually though the trade does give us a chance to resolve all of the questions about what Colby’s potential was/is and who’s fault it is that he won’t realize it in St. Louis. If Colby blossoms in Toronto, gets along with coaches and managers and irons out the kinks in his game then we can safely lay the blame at TLR’s feet. If he continues to struggle on the field and in the club house then Colby or the “other Tony” can be held accountable. It probably will be more complicated than that but it will be interesting to see. My prediction is that he will continue to be a streak hitter but have a decent career. Somewhat like Andy Van Slyke with weaker defense.

By: MHandshear

MHandshear — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:22:36 +0000

Bret … I completely agree. I was going to chime in, but you summed up my thoughts exactly. It’s past time to move on from Rasmus. Jon Jay has played very well and seems to be a very team-oriented (not that Rasmus wasn’t.). Let’s focus on the positives of Jay’s development in the system, along with other newcomers like Descalso, Lynn, and Salas, who have been brought-up from the system and seem to have no issue with La Russa or management. They should be the focus and Toronto fans can be left to worry about “Team Rasmus.”

Go Cardinals!

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:42:54 +0000

The rumors were that the major league coaches tried to change his throwing style from the outfield with disastrous results and similar mixed messages from the minors. Remember that this was a transitional period between Jocketty and Luhnow's front office war. But look, don't believe me. Here's a quote from Pop Warner: "We can expect him to hold up to what everybody expects from him because he has the drive," Springfield manager Pop Warner said. "I know he's the kid who can handle it." Does that sound like someone who was a problem for his coach?

By: jjray

jjray — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:22:48 +0000

“But when I see Rasmus at the plate, in the field, and in interviews NOTHING outside of the physical tools that says to me that he is going to be a star.”

That’s Van Slyke or TLR speak. If it can’t be mathematically quantified can we really use it as a basis for valuing a player? Does grit really count? Or that BS about “playing the right way”? I personally despise these sorts of assertions and especially coming from Andy Van Slyke. He was enigmatic as a young player and had trouble getting along with Whitey. Listening to Van Slyke as a baseball analyst, for me, is like hearing finger nails dragged across a chalk board. He comes across as a person without much insight but who, in his own mind, is a font of knowledge. Kind of like Al Hrabosky without the endearing self-deprecating humor.

By: jjray

jjray — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:07:15 +0000

Well said Forsch31. I get exasperated at times that JMo does not put his foot down when TLR is trashing one of our players in the press as part of a campaign to run him out of town (only to act wounded and hurt at the suggestion he acted as such after the player leaves). I would think management has JMo’s back to try and reign in TLR when he publicly disparages a player and thereby drives down that player’s trade value. All in all, I agree with your assessment that JMo has cleaned up the Tony fallout with reasonable success.

By: Hugecardsfan

Hugecardsfan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:34:16 +0000

If Colby was eminently coachable in the minors, why did he report to the majors so eminently unprepared?

By: Hugecardsfan

Hugecardsfan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:17:05 +0000

Agree.

By: Hugecardsfan

Hugecardsfan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:15:05 +0000

Not sure why Andy wouldn’t have the credibility to critique Colby or even to comment on his mental toughness. Who would have a greater appreciation regarding his lack of mental toughness than a guy who played the game…and played it well?

By: cardsfan_1986

cardsfan_1986 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:16:14 +0000

Well put… I think in a round about way I was actually trying to say the same thing.

I think I’m mostly just getting fed up with all this ridiculous public drama that has come out of the organization in the last few years. TLR is not the only guilty party to be sure… but he has certainly been right in the middle of most of it.