The dreaded AAAA tag, it’s the netherworld for pro players

There's nothing wrong with teams moving on from players who may one day make it big. Most of the time, teams that are trying to win now don't have the luxury of giving sub-par players ample AB's to figure it out. Also, sometimes a player doesn't truly get it, or make changes, till he's failed multiple times or eventually is given up on.

At the end of the day, far more players end up AAAA than are stud prospects that translate to everyday MLB players let alone all-star caliber players. We've just been blessed that early round picks like Springer, Correa and LMJ ended up making all star teams, and Bregman ended up becoming an everyday player (jury is still out if he would ever make even one all star team though).

Also, lets mot presume that Fisher was some can't miss prospect. He never was. Him failing would be far different than Tucker failing. He needs to work on cutting down the loop in his swing... but at the same time, not stand there and watch so many hittable pitches go by. Being aggressive also comes with confidence.

 

I agree that Fisher wasn't a can't miss prospect. I would not lump him in the group of stud prospects as well. Fisher needs to work on contact. However, his plate discipline is probably the best on the team right now besides for Bregman. Fisher has been jobbed a few times this year on called strikes on balls this year (especially on 2 strikes). Tough to get respect from umps when you aren't hitting, but I doubt Fisher swinging at balls will help him hit when he can't even hit grooved pitches.

 

Wasn't his contact and lack of K's in the minors thought of as a plus?

I agree that he needs to cut his swing down to assist in contact.... and be aggressive on balls in the zone.

Seems like a lot of this team watches hittable pitches in favorable counts. Perhaps they key in on a certain pitch and when they don't get it... they watch it.

 

He was a K machine in the minors too.

If he and Reed don't shorten their swings they have no chance in MLB.

 

I think Fisher is going to end up being a good everyday player as he progresses. He has all the tools to be a good player, just has some work to do.

 

Don't think Kemp belongs in that group he doesn't have the at bats that singleton,tucker or martinez given a real chance i think he can make at the top level.

 

The contending clubs are harder for these guys to push themselves into. The bottom feeders have a lot more AB's to give marginal players. They can afford to take longer looks.

 

He went contact oriented for a bit after his injury in college, but traded that for power pretty quickly once he got strength back. Think he was already down the power path by the time he was drafted by Astros. Looks like he survived minors based on swinging at hittable pitches and watching balls go by.

 

Fisher is at least 500 more mlb pa away from being cemented as a aaaa player. He’s young enough and a good enough athlete that there’s a decent chance he can adjust. I’m fine if Houston gives up on him to replace him with a more proven option or a higher ceiling prospect, but I think it’s nowhere near time to write him off.

 

Luke Scott, J.D. Martinez, Bobby Abreu, Luis Gonzalez, Curt Schilling, Johan Santana, A Change of scenery, Hitting Coach or Pitching making adjustments for a player can turn around their career. Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Brad Peacock, Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton really improved under Brent Strom and turned some careers around.

 

Fisher when he came up had excellent bat-to-ball skills, but it looked like he much preferred hitting against the fastball, and teams have since figured out a gaping hole in his swing with regards to the offspeed.

He'll have to adapt, but perhaps he'd be better served figuring it out in AAA and coming back up when his confidence has returned.