60 Second Rant: Cardinals Holding Shelby Miller and Zack Cox Back

Zack Cox is probably the most talented infielder in the entire
 organization.  But the Cardinals are sending him to Palm
Beach rather than making him available as a replacement at
the major league level. - Photo courtesy of MLB.com

Shelby Miller and Zack Cox were the last two first round draft picks for the St. Louis Cardinals.

And both were very impressive during spring training, leading many, including myself, to believe that both could be ready sooner than anybody could have predicted.

But, predictably, the Cardinals are pressing on the development breaks of the youngsters, assigning both to High A Palm Beach to begin the 2011 season.

The Cardinals told St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Derrick Goold that the move is part of a new "conservative" approach to developing home grown talent.

"There were definitely people on both sides of the decision, and both made their points," farm director John Vuch said. "The conservative approach has won out, for now. Worst-case scenario is they dominate for a month and then we promote them up."

My questions is, why hold these ultra-talented youngsters back?  What would it hurt, besides the ego of some veterans on the club, to have these two rushed to big leagues?

La Russa and Duncan are likely implementing this approach in order to limit cases like Brendan Ryan and Colby Rasmus, who the manager and some veterans on the club view as "unprofessional" in the club house.

But, if these two players are your best options at second base and in the starting rotation, why not have them there today?  How much development can these two really experience dominating against inferior players?

Vuch tells us that having professional personalities like Skip Schumaker is more important than having talent.

"When they get up to the majors, when they walk into Tony La Russa's clubhouse, he wants them to do it the right way, right away, and he's looking for players who can help him win, not learn how to," Vuch said. "When they get to the big leagues, when they get to St. Louis, they shouldn't have to teach you there. We should have already taught you."

So as we watch Skip Schumaker continually ground out to the left side of the infield, remember that the Cardinals organization rather wait for the talented Zack Cox to become a "man."

Sources:

• Vuch quotes