2024 Game Thread

[Namaste]

Also, anybody know what they see in Ali Sanchez? Get Banfield a look. See how he compares with what Fortes has done this season. You're eventually going to have to pick between the two.

The only thing I can add is that every ball he's thrown down to 2B on a steal attempt is a one hop laser with perfect location.

[lou]

sanoja i hadnt really looked into until recently and he seems very rays-ish. When i think rays i think high OBP and good plate discipline with a lot of walks. He reminds me of margot with better plate discipline. No crazy speed, no significant power, but low k's, high walks (margot didnt walk much), decent SB numbers, and low slugging.

Wouldnt mind seeing what he has in September for a month and then start him in AAA again next year and hope he mashes and breaks the door down for a roster spot by june

They probably aren't burning service time with him this September. He's 21, so it's not like a 25 year old where you'd be preserving an age 30 season.

He will finish 2025 under .171 days of service time is the prediction, but I think he's going to get a lot a lot of PA next year. He looks better than Mesa Jr. which is his internal competition (and I suppose Dane maybe), but he has a LHP split in AAA (.855 vs .779 against RHP). A CF who can hit LHP is going to play a lot with Sanchez and Stowers both left handers, and Norby a LF only type. I have a hard time not seeing him on the team for months next year with the ability to also pitch in at SS/3B.

[Nick]

I like the idea of eventually bookending the lineup with Edwards leadoff and Sanoja 9th and just filling up the other 7 spots with power.

[Nick]

Also, anybody know what they see in Ali Sanchez? Get Banfield a look. See how he compares with what Fortes has done this season. You're eventually going to have to pick between the two.

[lou]

id take it very slow with mack. he is somehow still just 21. Give him the whole year in AAA next year. Let the bat develop. I'd also like to see them promote serna to AAA when they promote norby up here soon. he will probably stuggle but i always like to give guys who master a level the opportunity to get a few PA's under their belt at the next level before starting the next year at that level. Gives them the offseason to work on what will inevitably be some weaknesses in his game that get exposed in his first taste of AAA.

I still highly doubt berry becomes anything at this point other than what colin moran was at the big league level, which was my bad comp for him when he was drafted. There just doesnt seem to be much to his game. The power just is not there. Even in this 3 month stretch of success, it's only 6 hr's over 3 months and only 11 doubles.

Mack should be a 2026 guy for sure at earliest. He's still 21. He's controlled via options 2026-2028 effectively if you do that and he'll only be 25 in 2028. Catchers usually develop late, etc. This is a slow burn with 2026 a best case arrival. But, this looks like a real step forward which is great.

I agree with you on Berry and if he was hitting for velocity we'd probably know, but it's a big turnaround over 200+ PA so its something. I'd just like a report as that is still an impressive slash even if its singles dominated. Some improvement has happened. Is he better on one side of the plate even? What's going on here ultimately.

[Nick]

I don't think there's any reason to rush Mack because he's got Ramirez, Banfield and Fortes in front of him.

Also, Banfield's not setting the world on fire, but with his defense, a dude that hits .200 with some pop seems like a perfect backup for Ramirez.

[fish16]

sanoja i hadnt really looked into until recently and he seems very rays-ish. When i think rays i think high OBP and good plate discipline with a lot of walks. He reminds me of margot with better plate discipline. No crazy speed, no significant power, but low k's, high walks (margot didnt walk much), decent SB numbers, and low slugging.

Wouldnt mind seeing what he has in September for a month and then start him in AAA again next year and hope he mashes and breaks the door down for a roster spot by june

[fish16]

id take it very slow with mack. he is somehow still just 21. Give him the whole year in AAA next year. Let the bat develop. I'd also like to see them promote serna to AAA when they promote norby up here soon. he will probably stuggle but i always like to give guys who master a level the opportunity to get a few PA's under their belt at the next level before starting the next year at that level. Gives them the offseason to work on what will inevitably be some weaknesses in his game that get exposed in his first taste of AAA.

I still highly doubt berry becomes anything at this point other than what colin moran was at the big league level, which was my bad comp for him when he was drafted. There just doesnt seem to be much to his game. The power just is not there. Even in this 3 month stretch of success, it's only 6 hr's over 3 months and only 11 doubles.

[lou]

I'd also add to Berry and Mack, Pensacola, I believe, is historically one of the toughest places to hit in all of the minor leagues.

Yea, and it goes deeper too (some in Jax of course).


Martorella very good since 7/9

Serna has a 1.000 OPS in 66 PA and would still be hitting .280+ once BABIP corrected as he's on a bender. This is his first taste of AA so a promotion explosion. The best kind.

Ramirez .850 OPS since trade

DDLS whiffing a ton but hitting bombs

Sanoja has 12 hits last 6 games and is up to 413 PA, .305/.371/.462 (.309 BABIP) in AAA. 9.7% BB / 5.6% K. Not a typo with the whiffs.


There are a lot of encouraging developments here all of a sudden even if some aren't hitting (Pauley, Marsee, etc.)

[Nick]

Also Mack hit 2 HR two nights ago - .241/.321/.468 (.279 BABIP), 9.3% BB / 25.1% K in AA at 21 years old all of a sudden. 19 HR.

He's 2nd in the Southern League overall with those HR (ahead of Carson Williams I might add). He's 2nd in OPS vs RHP too (.848 OPS platoon split). This is ahead of Matt Shaw by a few ticks. Another huge prospect. So comparatively, he is performing well with what he is facing versus some real top end guys. .586 split vs LHP which is the obvious major issue. He's a lefty bat remember. This is Jesus Sanchez territory quickly. Joe Mack is a thing. Remember, he is a New York prospect (cold season) and those guys lag behind southern players who get more sun. This might be a true development jump of a guy catching up to the experience. This is impressive at 21 years old. Remember before this, he had a 1.000+ OPS in A+ for 60 PA before a swift promotion. His overall season line both levels is 446 PA(!!!) .254/.341/.481, 10.5% BB / 24.2% K, .298 BABIP, 21 HR. All sorts of yes going on with this being a catcher.

Perfect world Mack is a 100+ game starter at catcher versus mostly right handers, and Ramirez is a backup catcher getting most left handers. Ramirez can eat at 1B/DH the rest of the time.

Berry not sure about, Mack I am very encouraged. I think he is going to tick up prospect lists quickly if he ends strong like this and doesn't taper off.

I'd also add to Berry and Mack, Pensacola, I believe, is historically one of the toughest places to hit in all of the minor leagues.

[Nick]

I don't hate the Double Hook idea. The strategy of utilizing a good pinch hitter I think is something that's been lost since universal DH.

[lou]

Also Mack hit 2 HR two nights ago - .241/.321/.468 (.279 BABIP), 9.3% BB / 25.1% K in AA at 21 years old all of a sudden. 19 HR.

He's 2nd in the Southern League overall with those HR (ahead of Carson Williams I might add). He's 2nd in OPS vs RHP too (.848 OPS platoon split). This is ahead of Matt Shaw by a few ticks. Another huge prospect. So comparatively, he is performing well with what he is facing versus some real top end guys. .586 split vs LHP which is the obvious major issue. He's a lefty bat remember. This is Jesus Sanchez territory quickly. Joe Mack is a thing. Remember, he is a New York prospect (cold season) and those guys lag behind southern players who get more sun. This might be a true development jump of a guy catching up to the experience. This is impressive at 21 years old. Remember before this, he had a 1.000+ OPS in A+ for 60 PA before a swift promotion. His overall season line both levels is 446 PA(!!!) .254/.341/.481, 10.5% BB / 24.2% K, .298 BABIP, 21 HR. All sorts of yes going on with this being a catcher.

Perfect world Mack is a 100+ game starter at catcher versus mostly right handers, and Ramirez is a backup catcher getting most left handers. Ramirez can eat at 1B/DH the rest of the time.

Berry not sure about, Mack I am very encouraged. I think he is going to tick up prospect lists quickly if he ends strong like this and doesn't taper off.

[lou]

idk if you're reading that wrong or i am, but i read it as a 6 inning mandatory stint for SP, not a 6 inning maximum. Neither would work nor is either a good idea. Just stupid and impossible to implement. So if a guy is getting completely blown up in the first few innings he just has to eat it and get crushed? How would that help injuries? If a pitcher is giving up less than 3 runs in the first 5 innings and hasnt thrown 100 pitches, they are usually going 6 anyways. It really just takes away openers and the idea of getting guys out of the game after 1 or 2 times through the order.

A pitcher going a certain amount of innings to keep the DH is more plausible, but how is that good for the fan experience? Pitchers hitting was the biggest waste of time and led to offense going down

6 minimum. And I am with you it doesn't really work as layed out in that article for reasons you just said. It would need to be workshopped.

I think their argument for the DH pull would be, the fan experience is improved with not having 25 of the best 75 SP in the league shelved at all times by instituting some mechanism to keep them all healthier, versus seeing some pinch hitters for a pitcher later in the game (pitchers would probably still rarely bat ya know). This goes along with - let them throw more and not encourage max effortness so they don't hurt themsevles as much knowing they really need to be somewhat efficient to get through 5 innings. I'm not sure it works, but I think it is a discussion point in how to help injuries.

[lou]

Berry hit a HR last night, since 5/25 - 221 PA, .310/.380/.467, 8.6% BB, 16.7% K, 6 HR, .355 BABIP

I mean Johnston has basically hit like that for 4 seasons in AA/AAA and is considered a nothing prospect, but what's up here with 6th overall pick pedigree? He was ranked top 10 by FG, BA, and MLB pre-draft in 2022. We all agree they should have taken a position (Brooks Lee probably) over him, but it's not like the entire industry didn't think he was a good prospect and a clear top half first rounder. I mean guys fail (Andrew Vaughn) and it happens and there have been the notes it is weak contact, but Berry in this stretch is out hitting similar prospects (Torkelson, Vaughn, and Bleday) at similar levels. None of them are great, but still. I bet Bleday and Torkelson have 5-10 year careers here on out even if not spectacular. Their predraft grades are Bleday 50/55 on power, Tokelson 70/70, Vaughn 60/60, and Berry was a 50/60. I mean it's not like Torkelson who can really get it, but he's similar to the other two and there is barrel upside here if he cleans up a swing path?

I'm not sure what is the basis for this rather good slash, but the 6th overall pick, floor mid-first round prospect at time of draft, I feel should at least get some notice from the scouts for doing this? The dropoff from the midseason pipeline and FG articles seems like a clear miss unless this contact is really that feeble. Are these all bloops and dinks with an occasional XBH so nothing to be excited about? Or is this a transformation? Would really love to see a scouting report update as this sample is being over shadowed by how bad he was first 7 weeks. He's been pretty good for 11-12 weeks now and something has had to have changed. That's a hard statline to fall into with not an outrageous BABIP over a large sample. I am hopeful, but would like to see some real words on this.

[fish16]

idk if you're reading that wrong or i am, but i read it as a 6 inning mandatory stint for SP, not a 6 inning maximum. Neither would work nor is either a good idea. Just stupid and impossible to implement. So if a guy is getting completely blown up in the first few innings he just has to eat it and get crushed? How would that help injuries? If a pitcher is giving up less than 3 runs in the first 5 innings and hasnt thrown 100 pitches, they are usually going 6 anyways. It really just takes away openers and the idea of getting guys out of the game after 1 or 2 times through the order.

A pitcher going a certain amount of innings to keep the DH is more plausible, but how is that good for the fan experience? Pitchers hitting was the biggest waste of time and led to offense going down