Will the Real Joey Meneses Please Stand Up? (2024)

[imref]

Definitely worried about Meneses. No hits so far this spring

Edit - Started this as a 2024 thread.
Last year's thread - https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=40550.0

[IanRubbish]

He doesn’t hit enough for a DH or First Baseman.  He was a nice story in 2022, but he needs to start earning his ABs.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

There will be folks who point to his risp last year. I don't think it is repeatable

[imref]

I wanna hope Rizzo and Davey are thinking about moving Adams to DH, Gallo to 1B, and Milas to backup catcher.

[Senatorswin]

Meneses had 89 RBI's on a team that was 21st in scoring last year. I don't think it's fair to say he won't likely repeat that. He may or may not. His home runs per at bat were way down. He's shown the year before he has power. This year should tell the story. If he gets a lot of at bats playing first base and his power returns and his ability to knock in runs keeps up, he's a keeper. If not they should look to put Morales there or sign a free agent the next offseason.

[IanRubbish]

Meneses had 89 RBI's on a team that was 21st in scoring last year. I don't think it's fair to say he won't likely repeat that. He may or may not. His home runs per at bat were way down. He's shown the year before he has power. This year should tell the story. If he gets a lot of at bats playing first base and his power returns and his ability to knock in runs keeps up, he's a keeper. If not they should look to put Morales there or sign a free agent the next offseason.

His .722 OPS last year was near the bottom for everyday 1B/DH's.  He also turns 32 this year.  I think he fits in well with Darnell Coles make-the-pitchers-life-easy hitting philosophy.  If he's still playing everyday in '26, the rebuild will have officially failed.

[Senatorswin]

His .722 OPS last year was near the bottom for everyday 1B/DH's.  He also turns 32 this year.  I think he fits in well with Darnell Coles make-the-pitchers-life-easy hitting philosophy.  If he's still playing everyday in '26, the rebuild will have officially failed.

Yeah he had a .722 OPS last year but the year before he had a .930 OPS in 240 PA. He showed he can hit but he has to show he can hit consistently over a whole season. If he does that then if he's still playing every day in "26" he'll be one of the solutions during the rebuild. If he doesn't it doesn't mean the rebuild is a failure, it just means Morales or a free agent will be needed to play first.

Last year wasn't a bad year, it just wasn't what he was the year before. They will need more power from first than they got last year though.

[Natsinpwc]

Pitchers figured him out. 

[imref]

He's standing up!

[Slateman]

I dont put much stock in ST, but he has looked solid the last couple weeks

[Slateman]

Joey Cycle Watch

[imref]

Gallo will be the everyday 1B with Meneses as primary DH per Davey.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gallo will be the everyday 1B with Meneses as primary DH per Davey.

so it sounds like, among Rosario, Winker, Gallo, and Meneses, on any given day, 3 of the 4 will play. All 4 can play when Thomas is off, and I suppose the one on the bench will be available to pinch hit (if for Robles, then remain in the game in a Winker Rosario Thomas OF).

[imref]

So how much more rope do we give him before moving Adams to the DH slot and bringing up Millas as the back-up catcher?

Currently batting .196, with a .487 OBP.  He's 9-46, with 8 singles and a double and is striking out about 25% of the time.  And he's our DH.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He also forces Winker to play left, which is not optimum. I'd say when Garrett is ready, option Joey to AAA.

Alternative is Yepez, who could let you play Gallo in left, which is the best use of his D.

[Natsinpwc]

So how much more rope do we give him before moving Adams to the DH slot and bringing up Millas as the back-up catcher?

Currently batting .196, with a .487 OBP.  He's 9-46, with 8 singles and a double and is striking out about 25% of the time.  And he's our DH.

I would DFA him.  Send him to Rochester if no one else wants him.

[Smithian]

So how much more rope do we give him before moving Adams to the DH slot and bringing up Millas as the back-up catcher?

Currently batting .196, with a .487 OBP.  He's 9-46, with 8 singles and a double and is striking out about 25% of the time.  And he's our DH.

I have wanted to give Riley Adams a run of batting every day at 1B/DH since the Nats traded for him. I am convinced he has some power potential. Worth a shot to see if he can find it while hitting every day.

I say give Meneses some more time but no reason to give him a super long rope.

[Senatorswin]

I have wanted to give Riley Adams a run of batting every day at 1B/DH since the Nats traded for him. I am convinced he has some power potential. Worth a shot to see if he can find it while hitting every day.

I say give Meneses some more time but no reason to give him a super long rope.

Agreed with Adams and Meneses. Adams hit a bomb earlier this year at Nats Park. I would like to see him play regularly on the chance they have something special there.

They need to find out once and for all what they have in Meneses. Come mid-June if he still isn't hitting with some power it might be time to move on but not before then.

[rileyn]

What are we doing here?  Why are we giving Meneses so much rope?  He is not a part of our future.  He has no trade value.  He doesn't play good defense.  He is washed, but we keep plugging him into the 3/4 hole in the lineup?  He still has options so if you don't want to outright release him, send him down. 

[nobleisthyname]

Looking at his peripheral numbers... He's actually been about the same as he was last season, if not slightly better.

2023 K%: 19.8%
2024 K%: 19.5%

2023 BB%: 5.8%
2024 BB%: 8.3%

2023 Hard Hit%: 41.7%
2024 Hard Hit%: 42.5%

2023 Barrel%: 5.4%
2024 Barrel%: 5.0%

2023 xwOBA: .288
2024 xwOBA: .305
 
The difference seems to just come down to BABIP luck. .329 last season vs only .269 this year. He's still not a good hitter either way but maybe this is why Rizzo and Davey are sticking with him.

[IanRubbish]

He also should not be hitting 3rd or 4th, even if you adjust his numbers for bad luck this year.  He's 32 but has become one of Davey's favorites.  With Mini Me, Rizzo, and Davey choosing internal politics, trying to look like a hero GM, cover-your-butt defensiveness, and contract status to determine rosters and lineups, being good, or having a future is way down the list on determining who gets to play.

[Senatorswin]

One of the things the Nats needed to find out is who the real Joey is. Is he the power hitter from 2 years ago or marginal power from last year. Unfortunately it seems he's the player from last year. They needed to give him a chance which they did. He's become a placeholder now along with others on the team.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He also should not be hitting 3rd or 4th, even if you adjust his numbers for bad luck this year.  He's 32 but has become one of Davey's favorites.  With Mini Me, Rizzo, and Davey choosing internal politics, trying to look like a hero GM, cover-your-butt defensiveness, and contract status to determine rosters and lineups, being good, or having a future is way down the list on determining who gets to play.

He's playing because and batting in the top half of the order because there aren't right options to balance the lefty bats on this team. It's a bit like being out in the woods with friends and coming across a bear. You don't have to be faster than the bear to get away; you just need to be faster than your friends. Most nights, the only other righties in the lineup are Young, who lately has been leading off or hitting 2nd, and Senzel, plus a switch hitting Ruiz. With that crew, I can't get on Davey too much for hitting Meneses 5th or earlier.

You could argue he should be sent down for Millas so Davey would be comfortable DH'ng Adams. Adams has a bit of pop. That's more on Rizzo than on Davey playing favorites.

TBH, other than Young, you can make a case that none of the righty bats should be a regular in the majors, including Every Day Every Play and Adams.

[Natsinpwc]

What are we doing here?  Why are we giving Meneses so much rope?  He is not a part of our future.  He has no trade value.  He doesn't play good defense.  He is washed, but we keep plugging him into the 3/4 hole in the lineup?  He still has options so if you don't want to outright release him, send him down.

Said that in a post yesterday on another thread. Just not doing the job.

[Slateman]

Nope. The magic ran out. Fully okay with DFAing him.