Editor’s Note: Don was in attendance for yesterday’s Arizona Fall League Game — Mesa vs. Surprise — and provided us with some scouting notes on Joe Mahoney, who made his 2011 AFL debut.
Joe Mahoney: A tale of the good, bad, and ugly for Mahoney’s first game of AFL action. He was seeing the ball well and attacked mistake pitches for two singles and a double, but still needs to improve his plate coverage. He is not quite a dead pull hitter, but it is on the border at this time.
When thrown anything outside today, he either laid off the pitch or ended up rolling his hands. If he is to turn into an everyday ballplayer, he will have to ride with the pitch and take it to the opposite field. Guys in the AFL and other levels make mistakes, but quality pitchers that can live low and away are a staple for MLB staffs. Pitchers who can exploit a hole will make it hard for Mahoney to make a dent as an everyday hitter.
In the field, it was just not his day. He looked a bit rusty and had missteps, false steps, and his reactions were just not up to speed. I do not think much into this because he is an athletic, agile man for his size. He will have to get his legs under him and these minor issues should subdue with game action.
He is the type of player that needs these additional at bats. He needs to see left hand pitching and guys that pitch him away constantly. He clearly has the power to play first base, but will need to compact his swing slightly and take his hands with the pitch into the opposite field in order to cement himself as a first baseman with a chance to crack the 2012 Orioles roster.
