Yep, I was adding info as to who was first, since I knew Dominguez was to start the season and wanted to see if it was still him, also context as to how the two rivals' #1 prospects are developing.Yes, it said second youngest?
Yep, I was adding info as to who was first, since I knew Dominguez was to start the season and wanted to see if it was still him, also context as to how the two rivals' #1 prospects are developing.Yes, it said second youngest?
Exactly, I need to pay the bills too.Yeah but Dominguez is in the Yankee system and Abbey is contractually obligated to remind us of him.
The IFA guys who essentially turn pro at 17 often get there a touch quicker. I.e Mayer reached AA younger than Mookie, but not younger than Bogaerts (19).Jasson Dominguez still the youngest, two months younger than Mayer (he has been in AA all season).
Yeah, Alex Speier said Mayer is the youngest Sox draftee in AA since 2009, impressive.The IFA guys who essentially turn pro at 17 often get there a touch quicker. I.e Mayer reached AA younger than Mookie, but not younger than Bogaerts (19).
Ryan Kalish was that guy I believe.Yeah, Alex Speier said Mayer is the youngest Sox draftee in AA since 2009, impressive.
Message board failRyan Kalish was that guy I believe.
It's a game where local school kids come to the park.Sea Dogs have an 11:05 ET game in Somerset, NJ today (which seems like an odd game time for a Wednesday, BTW). Have to think that Mayer will make his AA debut today, right?
Okay, thanks. I looked to see whether it's a local holiday but came up empty.It's a game where local school kids come to the park.
Game Highlight (2): STEM Education Day
This fun-filled event is designed to help educate students how elements of STEM are visible at the ballpark and in the game of baseball. | Presented By Sanofi
He was one of my binkies. Was so physically imposing for his age. Injuries did him in though.Ryan Kalish was that guy I believe.
IIRC he was always paired with Josh Reddick in a competitive way- one of them was sticking and the other was trade bait. Theo and Ben both really (over)valued Kalish’s OBP and we’re willing to overlook contact skills as more predictive so let Reddick go. Kalish wasn’t able to keep his higher OBP as he moved up and saw better pitches…. Meanwhile Reddick was able to put together a decent careerHe was one of my binkies. Was so physically imposing for his age. Injuries did him in though.
My son's club team's coach in Austin, who had been a MiLBer, coached Ryan in NJ and raved about him to me when I asked about him as Ryan was coming up thru the minors. Said he was a future All-Star. I guess every team has their Ryan Kalish/Ryan Westmoreland/Daniel Flores stories. What might have been.He was one of my binkies. Was so physically imposing for his age. Injuries did him in though.
Right? lolNot only that but I'm wholly unconvinced he is only 20.5 years old based on this picture...
View: https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1663928039539982336
Throwing him into the 3 spot his first game up. "Here you go kid, show us what you got."0-5, 2 Ks, 7 LOB
DEMOTE HIM!!!
Not only that but I'm wholly unconvinced he is only 20.5 years old based on this picture...
View: https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1663928039539982336
Can I be permitted to tell a story here that is only tangentially related to the thread? Just delete for me if you guys hate it.It's a game where local school kids come to the park.
Why would anyone hate or delete this story?? I love it! Rickey referring to himself in the third person is pure gold!Can I be permitted to tell a story here that is only tangentially related to the thread? Just delete for me if you guys hate it.
I spent a summer working for the Bridgeport Bluefish, an erstwhile independent league team in CT (incidentally former home to old friends Shea Hillenbrand, Jose Offerman and Wily Mo Pena), when I was still young and naive enough to think baseball was all high skies, the crack of the bat and the smell of hot dogs. I was a college intern and did all the glamorous jobs like selling tickets during walk up, pestering former ticket buyers over the phone, pulling the tarp, and running the dizzy bat race after the 3rd inning.
The team had one 10 am game each summer and it was when all the local day camps bussed in kids for the day. It was a really fun atmosphere and the park was packed.
So this particular year (2003 or 2004, can't remember) the Bluefish were playing the Newark Bears on camp day. And the Bears had a player that I was excited to see... Rickey Henderson. Before the game they needed someone to shag fly balls with Rickey and I was selected as that guy as a former baseball player. I went to the outfield and stood near Rickey with a glove. The coach would hit a ball out to Rickey who would track it down and catch it. Then he would flip it to me and I had to throw it back in to the infield because he didn't want to hurt his arm.
Anyway, for the first inning or two we interns would work the walk-up window, selling tickets to anyone arriving a bit late. After the 2nd all but one of us would switch to the field for on-field promotions, escorting the mascot through the luxury suites, etc. The offices and locker rooms were located under the stands and behind the visiting dugout, so you had to walk along a pathway under the stadium to go between the dugout and locker room.
On this particular day I was walking out toward the field, under the stadium, when Rickey was walking towards me from the dugout. I asked him why he wasn't out on the field. And I will never forget what he said to me...
"Rickey don't play no 10 am."
I have not read it but thanks for the recommendation!Have you read Ryan McGee’s “Welcome to the Circus of Baseball”? Memoir of interning for a minor league team in the 90s. Probably a lot similar to your experience.
This is awesome. Thanks for sharing.Can I be permitted to tell a story here that is only tangentially related to the thread? Just delete for me if you guys hate it.
I spent a summer working for the Bridgeport Bluefish, an erstwhile independent league team in CT (incidentally former home to old friends Shea Hillenbrand, Jose Offerman and Wily Mo Pena), when I was still young and naive enough to think baseball was all high skies, the crack of the bat and the smell of hot dogs. I was a college intern and did all the glamorous jobs like selling tickets during walk up, pestering former ticket buyers over the phone, pulling the tarp, and running the dizzy bat race after the 3rd inning.
The team had one 10 am game each summer and it was when all the local day camps bussed in kids for the day. It was a really fun atmosphere and the park was packed.
So this particular year (2003 or 2004, can't remember) the Bluefish were playing the Newark Bears on camp day. And the Bears had a player that I was excited to see... Rickey Henderson. Before the game they needed someone to shag fly balls with Rickey and I was selected as that guy as a former baseball player. I went to the outfield and stood near Rickey with a glove. The coach would hit a ball out to Rickey who would track it down and catch it. Then he would flip it to me and I had to throw it back in to the infield because he didn't want to hurt his arm.
Anyway, for the first inning or two we interns would work the walk-up window, selling tickets to anyone arriving a bit late. After the 2nd all but one of us would switch to the field for on-field promotions, escorting the mascot through the luxury suites, etc. The offices and locker rooms were located under the stands and behind the visiting dugout, so you had to walk along a pathway under the stadium to go between the dugout and locker room.
On this particular day I was walking out toward the field, under the stadium, when Rickey was walking towards me from the dugout. I asked him why he wasn't out on the field. And I will never forget what he said to me...
"Rickey don't play no 10 am."
So, Rickey shagged balls at like 8am, but then refused to play the actual game at 10am? Did I get that timeline correct?"Rickey don't play no 10 am."
Yup. Probably closer to 9 for the ball shagging though. And in full uniform.So, Rickey shagged balls at like 8am, but then refused to play the actual game at 10am? Did I get that timeline correct?
1. That is a great story.I have not read it but thanks for the recommendation!
It was an eye opening experience. I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and had the romantic vision of baseball that you are supposed to have as a kid. That disappeared almost instantly that summer.
The first day when all the interns started, the GM sat us down and said essentially: "This is an ass business. We have to get asses in the seats. Each ass has $20 in the pocket and it is our job to get that $20 out of the pocket."
I was gobsmacked. Still a fun summer (except for pulling the tarp which is smelly and gross and full of dead rodents) but dissuaded me from pursuing the career in baseball I had always dreamed of. I wanted to be the next wunderkind GM, obviously, but realized the dream was far from the reality.
Some guys taken in that draft will turn out to be losers, but I'm thinking that Mayer's going to be a wiener.
So you relish the thought of him in Fenway?Some guys taken in that draft will turn out to be losers, but I'm thinking that Mayer's going to be a wiener.
Just catching up on this thread and it is on a ROLLSo you relish the thought of him in Fenway?
Do you want me to be frank?So you relish the thought of him in Fenway?
You can call me a "brat" and you can call me "the worst", but don't ever call me a wiener.Please. Don't be a wiener.
Terrific story, thanks for sharing.Can I be permitted to tell a story here that is only tangentially related to the thread? Just delete for me if you guys hate it.
I spent a summer working for the Bridgeport Bluefish, an erstwhile independent league team in CT (incidentally former home to old friends Shea Hillenbrand, Jose Offerman and Wily Mo Pena), when I was still young and naive enough to think baseball was all high skies, the crack of the bat and the smell of hot dogs. I was a college intern and did all the glamorous jobs like selling tickets during walk up, pestering former ticket buyers over the phone, pulling the tarp, and running the dizzy bat race after the 3rd inning.
The team had one 10 am game each summer and it was when all the local day camps bussed in kids for the day. It was a really fun atmosphere and the park was packed.
So this particular year (2003 or 2004, can't remember) the Bluefish were playing the Newark Bears on camp day. And the Bears had a player that I was excited to see... Rickey Henderson. Before the game they needed someone to shag fly balls with Rickey and I was selected as that guy as a former baseball player. I went to the outfield and stood near Rickey with a glove. The coach would hit a ball out to Rickey who would track it down and catch it. Then he would flip it to me and I had to throw it back in to the infield because he didn't want to hurt his arm.
Anyway, for the first inning or two we interns would work the walk-up window, selling tickets to anyone arriving a bit late. After the 2nd all but one of us would switch to the field for on-field promotions, escorting the mascot through the luxury suites, etc. The offices and locker rooms were located under the stands and behind the visiting dugout, so you had to walk along a pathway under the stadium to go between the dugout and locker room.
On this particular day I was walking out toward the field, under the stadium, when Rickey was walking towards me from the dugout. I asked him why he wasn't out on the field. And I will never forget what he said to me...
"Rickey don't play no 10 am."
Possible? I suppose. Second half of next season seems like a stronger possibility than breaking camp though. I'd say we've got at least another 12 months of Kike/Arroyo/Chang/Reyes level stop-gaps in the meantime.Mayer's coming fast. He's one of the top half dozen prospects now in minor league baseball. Is it possible that he's our shortstop next year? With Story at second base it looks like a big improvement over the bunch they have been sending out there this year.
I’d guess a lot of things would have to break right for that to happen. Mostly with Mayer himself.Mayer's coming fast. He's one of the top half dozen prospects now in minor league baseball. Is it possible that he's our shortstop next year? With Story at second base it looks like a big improvement over the bunch they have been sending out there this year.
I don't think AAA is a necessity at this point. A lot of players (ready or not) are making the jump from AA to the Majors. I know I keep bringing him up, but Mayer is on the same track as Julio Rodriguez right now, who spent the 2nd half of his age 20 season in AA, got a spring invite and forced his way onto the Opening Day roster.I’d guess a lot of things would have to break right for that to happen. Mostly with Mayer himself.
He played 65 games in Salem last year, dominating the level. Got bumped up to Greenville where he played 35 games last year and another 25 this year — 60 games total. So he conquered A ball in 65 games and A+ in 60 games.
If he can conquer AA in 60 games will they give him a taste of AAA this season (if he can stay on the field for 60 games)? He could play 60ish games by about mid/late-August if he stays healthy.
Is a late season taste of AAA and a strong spring training enough to get him to the show for the start of ‘24?
Would be great to see.
I think it’s more likely that Story goes to SS and that they let Dr. Strangeglove II keep manning 2B.Possible? I suppose. Second half of next season seems like a stronger possibility than breaking camp though. I'd say we've got at least another 12 months of Kike/Arroyo/Chang/Reyes level stop-gaps in the meantime.
Are they struggling, though?Look how insanely poor young player across baseball have been. There is zero reason to rush him. He should finish this season in Portland, finish next season in Worcester, and be called up early in 2025. Mayer is ridiculously young. Burning a season worth of him while his head spinning is malpractice.
Sure, but we don't have anything better to do, right? And this is a thread about him, right?Hasn’t that been true of AAA for a long time, though?
I think the struggling at the major league level for a bit may be unavoidable- if the talent difference is so stark, no amount of additional time in AA / AAA will necessary help. A guy like Kelenic had ~500 PA of -2 bWAR but now is having a really good year. Torkelson seems to still be in the adjustment phase.
but Mayer has only had 32 PA of a 591 ops at AA, any of this discussion seems way premature.