I've been saying for a long time and I am no expert what so ever. I am also open to being 100% wrong, a very good chance that I am.
But say he needs 1000 more PA's before he reaches the majors. What benefit is there at all for having those PA's being distributed say 200 low A, 300 A, 250 AA, 250 AAA as oppose to all 1,000 of them being at the AAA level?
About the only argument I've heard is, in night being able to handle it they will develop bad habits. Or in running into adversity their confidence will be shattered and apparently start sucking. But I just don't see it playing out that way. They are smart, the coaches are smart. They know exactly what they are trying to accomplish and bad habits would not be allowed to develop. And quite the opposite could conceivably occur if there are still bad habits still being employed in the lower levels that will be exploited at AAA. To me, winning doesn't matter in the minors so any dip in production from not using a better developed but low ceiling AAA shortstop doesn't really matter, though maybe you want that spot reserved especially for someone ready to fill in at the major league level, that's a good argument. Sorry, I'm rambling.