2023 Game Thread

[fish16]

Oh it’s angel Hernandez, that’s how

[fish16]

Ya this game is done

[fish16]

Every single other team is winning so we’re going to lose a game on everyone

[fish16]

What the fuck is fortes doing chucking that ball a million miles an hour to first?

[fish16]

This home plate ump for sure has money on the Yankees. What on earth are these two balks called tonight?

[Nick]

Ryan Weathers with a very nice AAA debut. Almost like he should be there.

[Nick]

Also Troy Johnston going to force the prospect lists to respect him by sheer will.

[fish16]

Also Troy Johnston going to force the prospect lists to respect him by sheer will.

I’m obviously only seeing the highlights, but he hits the absolute shit out of the ball. His homers the last few days have been absolute rockets off the bat. I don’t see how he could do what he has done so far this year, plus we traded Watson, Hernandez, and Vargas, and he somehow moves down on mlbs list

[fish16]

Johnston now has 22 homers, 52 extra base hits, a 1.006 ops, .316 average and 100 rbi in just 98 games

[lou]

I’m obviously only seeing the highlights, but he hits the absolute shit out of the ball. His homers the last few days have been absolute rockets off the bat. I don’t see how he could do what he has done so far this year, plus we traded Watson, Hernandez, and Vargas, and he somehow moves down on mlbs list

He doesn't hit the ball hard, there are articles out there is exit velocities are similar to Rojas and Astudillo. Maybe he is doing something new, but given that MLB, the most generous of ratings services, doesn't really believe says it all. Plus he is a slug defensively by all accounts.

That being said some of these guys do work out in some capacities. If I had to pick off the top of my head a few good outcomes I would say a poor man's Ty France, a total 1B version of Owen Miller, late-career Eric Hosmer, or dare I say, current Yuli Gurriel. Low power, a little contact ability, players. France obviously had a nice 2 year stretch, but he's back to earth already. Hosmer and Yuli did have some big years early but not sure he has that upside. Maybe he has a few (or one) .280/.340/.440 years in him which would definitely pass the smell test and be a real asset. It's probably scaling that slash back 20-30 points on average and more on slugging though. A .700 OPS hit player who can't play defense. Any optimism I have for more here is a right handed pitching split. You don't really see that with his MILB numbers this year, but he had a huge one in 2022. If he is .750+ against right handers and a .600 something against left handers, that's something to work with for sure.

Not saying to not eventually give him a shot and see if lightning strikes and they should protect him on the 40 man, but he's a 40 man injury replacement for me for 2024. No rush here. They control him for awhile.

[Nick]

He doesn't hit the ball hard, there are articles out there is exit velocities are similar to Rojas and Astudillo. Maybe he is doing something new, but given that MLB, the most generous of ratings services, doesn't really believe says it all. Plus he is a slug defensively by all accounts.

That being said some of these guys do work out in some capacities. If I had to pick off the top of my head a few good outcomes I would say a poor man's Ty France, a total 1B version of Owen Miller, late-career Eric Hosmer, or dare I say, current Yuli Gurriel. Low power, a little contact ability, players. France obviously had a nice 2 year stretch, but he's back to earth already. Hosmer and Yuli did have some big years early but not sure he has that upside. Maybe he has a few (or one) .280/.340/.440 years in him which would definitely pass the smell test and be a real asset. It's probably scaling that slash back 20-30 points on average and more on slugging though. A .700 OPS hit player who can't play defense. Any optimism I have for more here is a right handed pitching split. You don't really see that with his MILB numbers this year, but he had a huge one in 2022. If he is .750+ against right handers and a .600 something against left handers, that's something to work with for sure.

Not saying to not eventually give him a shot and see if lightning strikes and they should protect him on the 40 man, but he's a 40 man injury replacement for me for 2024. No rush here. They control him for awhile.

I immediately found the article you're referring to where Rojas and Astudillo were mentioned, and to say that this statement is not accurate is an understatement. It says that his hardest hit ball in his 71 Arizona Fall League was similar to Miguel Rojas and Astudillo's hardest hit ball that season, over 100s of ABs. 71 ABs which he didn't homer btw, but still held his own in the league. Not to mention the article is over a year old. I wanna see what his average exit velocity is this year when he has 22 HRs.

Article in question:

https://www.fishstripes.com/2022/6/6...itting-machine

[Nick]

His HR yesterday at AAA was 105 off the bat.

[Lee Stone]

Everyone has their own way of thinking/evaluating. 90% of my view of Johnston is based on the steady improvement that he has made and continues to make. As a hitter, he reminds me of a left-handed version of fellow late bloomer Justin Turner. I am hopeful that Bell does enough the rest of the way that he choses to opt out of next year's money with Miami and Johnston becomes the everyday first baseman next season.

MLB Pipeline rankings are nothing but nonsense to me. Jacob Berry isn't in Johnston's league as a hitter at this point and I foresee a zero probability of his becoming a major leaguer. 2023 draftees Hemp and Brock are listed as Marlins 9 and 10 prospects. Hmm. You figure one of them will lead the minor leagues in RBI some day?

[Namaste]

If Luzardo didn’t absolutely shit the bed we could have won that game. He sent 18,000 Yankee fans home very happy.

[Lee Stone]

Just 2.1 innings for Noble Meyer this morning. 4k 2W and one WP and no hits or runs. Only tossed about two dozen pitches. Our should-have-been draftee, Kyle Feel, is hitting well in his first looks at the minors.