Impressions of the Charlotte Knights following a successful 2023 opening weekend

By / / FutureSox

The Charlotte Knights opened the season at home, winning two of three against a tough Memphis Redbirds‘ squad. Memphis took the opener 9-1 on Friday before an Adam Haseley two-run homer walked off a 5-4 win on Saturday in the bottom of the ninth. There was more late-game magic on Sunday as Zach Remillard scored what proved to be the game winner in the bottom of the eighth on a heads-up dirt-ball read of a wild pitch.

Here are some takeaways from the three-game set.

PITCHING: Improved

The stat lines may not have reflected it but Nate Fisher and Jesse Scholtens turned in solid starts.  Then, in his first start of the year, Davis Martin gave up four runs in his first two innings before settling in and tossing three shutout frames.  All three starters were dominant at times, commanding fastballs and landing breaking pitches fairly consistently.

Several relievers also had strong outings, including: JB Olson, Franklin German, Sammy Peralta, Tanner Banks, Kenyan Middleton, Lane Ramsey, Nicholas Padilla and John Parke.

It is all very encouraging.

OBSERVATIONS: Jake Burger at first base & team defense

The Knights’ defense looked very average the past two seasons but appears to be much improved in 2023.

Yolbert Sanchez filled in at third base when Jake Burger played first base in two of the games, and did so quite adeptly.  Erik Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa were solid in the middle infield, and we’ve already seen diving catches in the outfield by Victor Reyes and Jake Marisnik as well as an outfield assist by Reyes.

It was a rough opening weekend for Burger at first base, including breaking for a ball in the hole that he had no chance of getting and dropping a throw on a bang-bang play for an error.  Fortunately, Burger redeemed himself with some solid plays at third in the series finale.

THE OFFENSE: Looking for power

The lineup appears a bit heavy on line-drive hitters.  Fortunately, though, most of those guys are experienced, high-contact hitters, like Sanchez, Sosa and Remillard.

Power hitters include Burger, Reyes and Carlos Perez.  Reyes is locked in and having a big impact on the lineup right out of the gate.

Replacing Mark Payton at the top of the batting order is Haseley.  They are giant shoes to fill, but the former first-round pick of the Phillies looks up to the challenge.  Haseley appears vastly improved from a year ago, following a strong Spring Training with two two-hit games, two home runs, a double and two stolen bases in three attempts.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

Justin Jirschele is running the team and the players couldn’t be happier.  Not that they didn’t like Wes Helms and Julio Mosquera, but Jirschele has known several of the Knights’  players for years as both manager and players worked their way through the White Sox system together.

Still to be known is the division of labor for the Knights’ two pitching coaches, Donnie Veal and Matt Zaleski.  Veal handled the mound visits over the weekend and both players stood beside the starting pitchers as they warmed up pre-game.

OLD FRIENDS ALERT

The Knights head to Columbus to battle the Guardians’ affiliate for six games.  Included on the Clippers’ roster are former Knights Jason Bilous, pitcher, and catcher Zack Collins.

8 thoughts on “Impressions of the Charlotte Knights following a successful 2023 opening weekend”

  1. knoxfire30

    Why is Burger playing 1b not 3b… AAA is for trying to maximize value of potential prospects for the big league club not make a lineup to win games. Obviously burgers bat will have to carry him but is he flat giving up on 3b at this point that seems short sighted.

    1. As Cirensica

      I think the White Sox are trying to find ways to make Burger playable in the Majors. He is clearly not a 3B, and that ambition should end. Burger only have 1B and DH as options so I find it disheartening that he is not having good reps at 1B. Burger is starting to look like Yermin Mercedes, a player that is difficult to roster.

      I still kinda think Burger is a better use of a roster spot than Sheets, but Burger will need to force the issue with his bat rather than with his glove because Sheets has the upper hand there…plus Sheets is a lefty. A limited one, but a lefty.

      1. FishSox

        Haseley is a better LHB than Sheets and gives the OF more flexibility. Both Grandal and Alberto can spell Vaughn when he needs it. It also spells Eloy for days against tough RHP’s where Haseley/Colas can DH and Eloy is there to PH if the BP goes LHP.

        I do agree though, that Burger is a better bat option than Sheets. Sheets is turning into the LH hitting version of Diekman. He gives you handedness but without benefit.

        1. As Cirensica

          Sheets numbers vs RHP were fantastic last year but only at home, for some inexplicable reason. Hitting well against RHP is a tremendous asset. Having said that, with Moncada and Grandal’s bat resurgence, the need of Sheet’s limited batting skill fades away quickly.

          I have to agree with you in that Haseley might be a better use of a roster spot than Sheets. With the regulars hitting well, plus our new two lefties in Benintendi and Colas, Sheets becomes more and more irrelevant, but it is too early. I do think that unless Sheets start hitting well, his days with the big team are numbered.

          Sheets looked terrible against the Astros with 2 Ks vs RHP. So, he is probably in short notice.

        2. texag10

          At one point do we think Haseley gets the call to see if he’s anything more than a AAAA player?

          1. bobsquad

            I would have to think before Hamilton, since he has an option and since the handicap on baserunning probably narrows the gap between the two of them at that skill.

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