He was a bit rusty, post-TJ surgery, but he still managed to turn it on in 65 games and 242 at-bats enough to deliver a .310/.562 (AVG/SLG) performance with a .428 on-base percentage that earned him a promotion in his debut year to Double-A El Paso in the Texas League.
Carlos drilled Texas harder than a wild-catter on a chunk of dry land, powering through Double-A in half a season with a .357/.533.
For Tucson, Quentin has left pitchers snake-bitten: 24 doubles, 7 triples, and 21 homers powering 79 RBIs to date for a .306/.531 record in a season that has a way to go.
He made his FAB50 debut in 2004 at 29. He moves up a few notches to 21. Given his numbers we must be out of our heads not to make him a top ten guy, right? He's easily the top fielding farmhand in the Diamonbacks' stable.
Here's what we don't see: Movement. Here's what we do see: Bills. By all rights, the Diamondbacks should be giving him a major league look right about now. It hasn't happened. All seems reasonably well with Luis Gonzalez at the moment. Even though they've lifted a crushing chunk of debt in sending Randy Johnson into Yankee pinstripes, this team still doesnt act like a club full of financial vim and vigor.
There was some of the usual talk of trade around the deadline, but it was misplaced. The combination of his amazing talent and lower salary for a time make the idea of finding a home for Gonzalez a good strategic possibility to consider over the winter. The Diamondbacks could still trade him, but if they do, they should make sure that it is a team in the National League East or an American League club: He'll be killing them every time he swings their way if he stays in the National West.
The uncertainty in the tea leaves on his immediate future puts him back to 21. He would have gone much higher in the FAB50 with greater clarity as to his future. We see big leaguer in 2006. Where is the question.
