when Ahern got sent down, Fasano was quoted as saying "he's back playing against kids his own age". was he promoted too soon?
Probably, especially given his performance, he got far too high in the minors given his overall performance to date. He has talent, and he is NOT a bust already, he's too young for his career to be over/set in stone as a career minor leaguer. A few things probably play into his recent play:
1 - Sal Fasano is probably going to be a really good manager, based on early results as a coach and his career as a player and general nature as a person
2 - Playing against his own age group can do wonders for a player. AA was way beyond Ahrens abilities when the pitchers are really good and a few times a week you are probably facing a guy who is at least going to get a cup of coffee or two in the majors sooner than later.
3 - The demotion serves as a motivational tool. It's one thing to be sent down from the Majors to the Minors where a player might go in a bit of a slump realizing they are back to riding a bus around everywhere with small per diems, and little to no fanfare, but being sent down in the minors can be the type of thing to give you a kick in the pants to right a sinking ship.
