Rowell's demeanor tonight

[ScottieBaseball]

Again, I think how a player conducts himself is important. Just as much as his playing ability. I seriously doubt young Cal Ripken ever acted like this and Rowell likely won't ever sniff the ability of Cal. Even if this was an isolated or singular incident, word gets around and I think this is a concern this kid doesn't need as it could easily be avoided in the first place.

He got tossed from one game. That along with rumors and supposedly's an I heard's and an ego that is typical for a 19-year-old professional athlete, and you're predicting his professional career over nearly before it started? Did you miss the part where Tony said (and I've also heard) the guy works hard and is thought of highly by his coaches?

As far as some finding him abrasive and others finding him to be a nice guy, the only thing that indicates to me is that he's a human freaking being. Drawing the conclusion that he'll never make it because of it is silly.

[Frobby]

Al Kaline was playing in the Major Leagues at age 19 as was (I believe) Robin Yount. Yet, I never heard that they were known for being extremely cocky. They certainly had every right to be and then some.

I didn't mean to suggest that being cocky was necessary, or even a good thing. I like my players humble. By the way, Brooks had a cup of coffee in the majors at age 18, and Jim Palmer pitched 92 innings for the Orioles at age 19.

What I am saying, though, is that being cocky can be OK so long as the player doesn't think he's so good that he doesn't have to work to get better. Ted Williams was extremely cocky coming up through the minors, by all accounts, but he also worked incredibly hard at his craft.

I also feel that not everyone who is cocky at age 19 stays that way. I knew a lot of kids who were cocky at that age who learned a few lessons in the school of hard knocks and got over themselves.

[ScottieBaseball]

Of course it does. Third hand information is always 100 percent accurate.

Now don't go acting like you've spoken with him personally or speak regularly with club officials who DO speak with him on a regular basis, Tony!

Oh, wait...you have...and you do...

[Anlbdz]

well, it would appear I have opened up a can of worms here. Anyways, my purpose was not to say that I don't think he's going to make it to the majors, or that he is too cocky to make anything of himself. I just thought that it really really stuck out when I saw him, more so than anything else his ability showed me. I wanted to see if anyone else had seen it or if I was just nit-picking. Believe me, I want nothing more than to see this kid succeed and hit 40 HR a year and play gold glove defense at 3B for us for the next 15 years.

[MarkakisFan21]

Flat out saying "He definitley will not make it the majors" is completely retarded and assanine. Just a jackass thing to say. I wonder what you'll be saying when he's our starting thirdbasemen, and a darn good one at that.

[Frobby]

well, it would appear I have opened up a can of worms here. Anyways, my purpose was not to say that I don't think he's going to make it to the majors, or that he is too cocky to make anything of himself. I just thought that it really really stuck out when I saw him, more so than anything else his ability showed me. I wanted to see if anyone else had seen it or if I was just nit-picking. Believe me, I want nothing more than to see this kid succeed and hit 40 HR a year and play gold glove defense at 3B for us for the next 15 years.

Well, at the game I went to Rowell deflected a chopper that didn't go very far in the OF and he didn't go chase it, letting the LF chase it from further away, which allowed both the batter and a runner who had been on 1st to advance an extra base. I didn't read that as cockiness, but I wasn't very happy with his lack of hustle on the play. I do hope that his work ethic is usually better than that.

[lovetoaster]

Oh yeah, well I am going on record by saying that he definitely won't not make the majors.......

[MarkakisFan21]

I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Jtrea. Saying that he definitley won't make it the majors, is being even more of a jerk than anything Rowell has done. I doubt he has even seen him play before. His stats at 19 years old are better than Markakis' were.

[Old#5fan]

I'm glad you liked it!

It's one thing to be concerned, it's another to draw definitive conclusions about the future performance and attitude of a 19 year old kid based on this piece of information. Like with your ignorant Luke Scott analysis I now have a new motivation for Rowell to succeed!

Where did I supposedly "draw definitive conclusions about the future performance.....?

I just espoused it was a major concern, and I wondered why this sort of attitude wasn't part of the scouting of this kid. However upon further reflection and being chastised by Tony, I realize that this attitude may not have been indicated until he got the fat contract after being drafted so highly. So that was my bad. I can't really blame the scouts as the attitude may be a recent development. I have no way of knowing.

[lovetoaster]

I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Jtrea. Saying that he definitley won't make it the majors, is being even more of a jerk than anything Rowell has done. I doubt he has even seen him play before. His stats at 19 years old are better than Markakis' were.

Oh, I know, I was just taking this opportunity to use a sarcastic double-negative

[lovetoaster]

Where did I supposedly "draw definitive conclusions about the future performance.....?

You didn't.....

This is Rowell's MO and it's the reason he won't make it to the majors. Why anybody sees this guy making it to the big show is beyond me...

[Old#5fan]

He got tossed from one game. That along with rumors and supposedly's an I heard's and an ego that is typical for a 19-year-old professional athlete, and you're predicting his professional career over nearly before it started? Did you miss the part where Tony said (and I've also heard) the guy works hard and is thought of highly by his coaches?

As far as some finding him abrasive and others finding him to be a nice guy, the only thing that indicates to me is that he's a human freaking being. Drawing the conclusion that he'll never make it because of it is silly.

It wasn't me espousing that he'll never make it. That was someone else on this thread. For some reason I am getting blamed though for it!

[Frobby]

Where did I supposedly "draw definitive conclusions about the future performance.....?

I just espoused it was a major concern, and I wondered why this sort of attitude wasn't part of the scouting of this kid. However upon further reflection and being chastised by Tony, I realize that this attitude may not have been indicated until he got the fat contract after being drafted so highly. So that was my bad. I can't really blame the scouts as the attitude may be a recent development. I have no way of knowing.

I think he was always known to be self-confident to the point of being cocky, even when he was drafted. I still don't think you refuse to draft a (then) 17-year old kid based on that. He also was known to be a baseball rat who worked extremely hard on his hitting. I'm sure that was far more relevant to the scouts.

[J.D.]

I don't care if he's a jerk either later on if he proves himself to be a sucess at the ML leve. But being one this early in his "developmental" stages is to me somewhat of a cause for concern. It may have a negative impact on his career. Read the post above yours by "WhyNot," as it appears what I am worrying about may already be occurring.

Mmm... yeah, I think I'm going to go ahead and agree with Tony, who's met Rowell and spoken with people that have coached him, rather than going on third hand information and looking at how he reacted in one incident. I get that he has a reputation. I also understand that people's intentions can often be misinterpreted. Like some people think that you're just completely ignorant and don't bother researching anything before you posted out of an unwillingness to change your thinking. I see deeper than that, though, oldfan. I think this is all a clever ruse. You just like to stir the pot.

Seriously though, is there a rule against being a jerk in your development stages? How is that a negative indicator? If ANYTHING, I would rather him be a jerk now while he's developing and learn the "I need to be humble lesson" later, because it's a lot easier to learn it that way than starting out humble, becoming cocky, then having to re-learn being humble again.

And besides, WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!? He's a 19-year old kid playing at A-Ball. He's hitting well, he's fielding decently, he's still a top prospect, and his "attitude," real or percieved, isn't going to matter more than his talent.

Mike Mussina was a jerk. He seemed to be pretty well liked around here for a long time.

[Old#5fan]

You didn't.....

Thank you.