This story was on ESPN.com and really got me intrigued. Basically, this guy was drafted number one overall in 1999. He missed like three years because of drug problems and has only played 15 minor league games in the past four years due to injury and suspension. He was drafted in the rule 5 draft and traded to the Reds. Now he must stay in the majors or be sent to waivers. He's having a phenominal spring, like batting over .400, hit a 500 ft home run, leads the NL in hits. It looks like he will make the Reds roster as a back up outfielder. Great story right? Sure, I thought so. But then Steve Phillips wrote an article about him and how there was another side to his story. Phillips loves the story and perserverance of Hamilton, but if he were the Reds GM he wouldn't bring him to the majors. Phillips thinks it sends the wrong message to all the guys in the minors that this guy has never paid his dues and played minor league ball but still makes the majors. Phillips in essence says the Reds should have never got him after he was a rule 5 draft pick. They picked him up knowing that he was majors or bust. The problem Phillips has is he thinks it sends the wrong message to all the guys in the minors by even giving this guy a chance to make the majors without putting in his dues in the minors. On the one hand, if the guy is good enough he should be playing right? But on the other hand, there are a lot of guys in the minors looking at this guy like it's not fair to them. I respect Steve Phillips as much as any baseball personality, but I'm on the fence. What do you guys think?
"In big games, the action slows down for him where it speeds up for others. I've told him, 'I'll trade my past for your future.'" -Reggie Jackson on Derek Jeter
I have to disagree with Phillips. I see where he's coming from, but this has got to be considered an exception to the general rule that players must pay their dues in the minors. And quite honestly, that's the nature of the Rule V draft. You can draft the player, but you only can keep him if you keep him on the 25-man roster all season. A lot of players have stayed in the majors for only this reason in the past.
I think it's an interesting and great story. He obviously had a ton of promise before he ran into his problems. It's amazing that he still appears to be good enough. The dude hit a 500 foot home run! It makes you want to root for him.
I have to think the bottom line is that if he's good enough to play in the majors, there is no reason he shouldn't be there. I can't imagine a minor leaguer complaining that Hamilton is in the pros above him if Hamilton is producing, especially considering Hamilton's circumstances.
Well I think Steve Phillip's point is that he should have never been drafted by the reds in the rule 5 draft. Yea maybe he will make the pro roster, but it sounds like he will be a fourth outfielder and being realistic the Reds could have never expected anything more from him when they drafted him. The question then is whether or not the benefits of a fourth outfielder are bigger than the message it sends to minor league guys that are busting ass trying to make the team. Personally, I just think that even if it sends the message that you don't have to earn it in the minors to get to the majors only affects a small number of minor leaguers, that is still not worth doing when compared to the benefits a fourht outfielder will give you.
I don't think that Phillips needs to worry about sending the wrong message to minors leaguers. If anything, the message they are sending is 'if you can produce, then we will give you shot.'
It is a pretty interesting story, but I'm not really in the know when it comes to this Rule V draft. What is it?
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"It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested." - Harry Caray
It's basically, at the winter meetings every team submits a 40 man roster. If you are signed after 19 years of age and have been in the minors 4 years and are not on the 40 man roster then you are eligible. If you were signed before you turned 19 and have been in the minors for 5 years and are not on the 40 man roster than you are eligible. If a team drafts you, they can keep you as long as you stay in the majors the entire season. If you do not stay in the majors then you offered back to your original team on waivers for a $25,000 fee. Since you have to stay up in the majors the entire year not many people are drafted. But I know Roberto Clemente was a rule 5 pick and I think Johan Santana was too.
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"In big games, the action slows down for him where it speeds up for others. I've told him, 'I'll trade my past for your future.'" -Reggie Jackson on Derek Jeter