Mo - no need to give minor leaguers any experience!
Posted: 16 Aug 2025 12:36 pm
In a previous thread on September call-ups, I mentioned that Mo might use the oldest and most ignorant excuse for not bringing up anyone - the 40-man roster red herring. Now, he's done that.*
First, teams are required to call up two players and have 28 each day for the month of September. With Mo, we can expect more Roycroft and Graceffo.
Second, they should avoid the "service time manipulation" as they avoided it with Winn. Waiting until next mid-May for JJW is unfair to him and doesn't help set up the chance for a long-term deal.
Third, they need to plan for 2026, and seeing what a few of these players can do vs big league pitching (and getting them the experience) can help avoid the biggest problem they have - poor roster construction. And no, I don't need to see more of Pages/Pozo, or even Scott, Walker and Gorman, much less Arenado. Donny has proven that he's not a very good defensive 2b (-3 DRS), so that spot and 3b need to have some JJW.
Fourth, if JJW can win the ROY, the team gets a draft pick. And if he comes up in mid-May, and still wins the ROY (or 2nd), he's awarded with a year of service time anyway.
*Take a look at that 40-man and have a good laugh at the guys who won't be here next year? Sem Robberse, John King, Chris Roycroft, Zack Thomas, Anthony Veneziano, Garrett Hampson, Pages, Koperniak.
They can't drop 3 or 4 of these guys and, BEFORE off-season decisions are made, at least see what they have in JJW, Crooks, Church/Baez?
First, teams are required to call up two players and have 28 each day for the month of September. With Mo, we can expect more Roycroft and Graceffo.
Second, they should avoid the "service time manipulation" as they avoided it with Winn. Waiting until next mid-May for JJW is unfair to him and doesn't help set up the chance for a long-term deal.
Third, they need to plan for 2026, and seeing what a few of these players can do vs big league pitching (and getting them the experience) can help avoid the biggest problem they have - poor roster construction. And no, I don't need to see more of Pages/Pozo, or even Scott, Walker and Gorman, much less Arenado. Donny has proven that he's not a very good defensive 2b (-3 DRS), so that spot and 3b need to have some JJW.
Fourth, if JJW can win the ROY, the team gets a draft pick. And if he comes up in mid-May, and still wins the ROY (or 2nd), he's awarded with a year of service time anyway.
*Take a look at that 40-man and have a good laugh at the guys who won't be here next year? Sem Robberse, John King, Chris Roycroft, Zack Thomas, Anthony Veneziano, Garrett Hampson, Pages, Koperniak.
They can't drop 3 or 4 of these guys and, BEFORE off-season decisions are made, at least see what they have in JJW, Crooks, Church/Baez?