Sat. 4/9 - Awaiting the T-Rats Opener

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news of the day, lineup updates (when damuelle is available, which is often), etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers open their season tonight at home against the Peoria Chiefs, with their 1st and 2nd round 2021 draft picks atop the line-up (CF Sal Frelick, 2B Tyler Black) and RHP Justin Jarvis (a 3rd-year Rattler) on the mound:

[Ro Mueller]

C Jeferson Quero, OF Micah Bello and OF Arbert Cipion combined to collect 6 hits (with 4 RBIs for Cipion) in yesterday's victory and return to action today. RHP Brannon Jordan, a 9th round pick in 2021, gets the start in his Low-A Carolina debut:

[CheeseheadInQC]

I believe this is the second straight day that the first six spots in the Carolina lineup are occupied by July 2 (or whatever the current equivalent is) signings. I wonder if that has ever happened before for a Brewers A ball affiliate.

[Ro Mueller]

CF Jonathan Davis (3-6, double, 4 walks in 2 games) and 1B Jon Singleton (3-11, 2 HR, double, walk in 2 games) lead the Sounds in Game 5 against Durham tonight, with RHP Josh Lindblom (3.10 ERA in 104 2/3 Nashville innings last year) making his season debut:

[Ro Mueller]

Fresh off his 2-run 11th inning game-winning homer, Felix Valerio and the Shuckers are targeting a second straight victory over Pensacola. Noah Campbell makes his AA debut, replacing the injured Ashton McGee. LHP Andy Otero is on the hill, looking to continue last year's dominance (2.10 ERA in 51 1/3 Biloxi innings in 2021):

 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez, Brewers' 6th round pick in 2021, enters for the the Mudcats in the 5th inning to make his organizational debut.

OF Micah Bello continues his torrid start to the season, with 2 more doubles and 3 RBIs through 5 innings. Mudcats lead 4-2.

[Ro Mueller]

After being no-hit for 7 innings, the Timber Rattlers storm back to tie it 5-5 in the 8th, with Tristan Peters collecting the first hit and Joe Gray Jr. hitting a key 2-run double.. On to the 9th they go…

[Ro Mueller]

An unearned run in the top of the 9th put Wisconsin behind 6-5, but a Sal Frelick single tied it up again. To extra innings…

[Joseph Zarr]

I just tuned into Biloxi, Gents. AND, the Wahoos proceed to hit a comebacker off Otero's arm. With time to nab the runner, Otero hobbles to the ball and throws it into the dirt and Dillard is incapable of digging it out. The Scorers score it a single...and, I am yet again flummoxed by the scorer's grace. 4-2 Biloxi Bottom of 4, man on 1st, 0 outs.

Edit to Add: Otero strikes out the 2nd batter and now has 7 k's (?!?) in 4.1 innings. Get hot young man! Well, not that young for AA but get hot Mr. Otero!

[Joseph Zarr]

I continue to be baffled by early-season ump strike zones. Otero absolutely robbed of his 8th k on a delicious high curve that hit the upper half of the strike zone. Men on 1st and 2nd 2 outs after a lazy fly out to Lutz in LF. Pitch count is up to 74. This will most likely be Andy's last inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Otero gets his 8th K with a nice mix of pitches and his 3rd strike on Encarcion is a middle to middle-in 88mph heater. Otero  definitely has hitters off-kilter with a mix of high heat out of the zone, the aforementioned delicious sinking curve and a steady diet of some middle to middle in 87-88 mph 'heat'. The Raptor would be quite proud. Andy definitely knows how to dance in and around the zone - a real pleasure to watch. You can see he has a plan and knows how he wants to attack the zone. It bares mentioning, Diaz is calling a nice sequence and is digging these off the plate fastballs with athleticism and ease.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wiemer misses his First HR to Center-Right by about 6 feet. Just a tad under that one. And, I continue to wait with baited breath. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Valerio struck again to get the party started, gents:

Wiemer and Lutz followed suit to tack on runs, respectively. Let the Lutz Renaissance begin...

On to the 5th where Otero gives way to Luis Contreras. Contreras returns in 2022 off of a 2021 year where he spent most of his time on the shelf injured and leads his inning with a K of Conine Jr. (who, oddly, had more HR's last year than singles...and, yes, this is Jeff Conine's son). He follows by inducing a fly out just shy of the Warning track just shy of Center Field where Wiemer runs it down with ease and follows with a K. What a nice return for Contreras. You love to see that poise and badgering the strikezone for a 25 yo off of injury. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I would add to this Shuckers lineup: 

I find it of small note the Shuckers swapped Wiemer into CF for Mitchell in RF. Mitchell struggled running down a deep fly to CF last night early in the 4 run mark in the 2nd or 3rd (I fail to remember the proper inning, my apologies). He looked unnatural during the play and I remember thinking: that didn't look good. I don't know if this was a pre-planned decision but it might be worth something monitoring? OR, it is simply a means of exposing both players to different positions. Either way, Game 2. A RF to CF swap. Wiemer looks quite natural out there it is worth noting as he has cleanly played every ball his way. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Abner Uribe’s first action of the early season and we see a familiar story: Can’t locate. Throwing 99 mph heat but walked a guy to load the bases, gave up a seeing eye weak dribbler run-scoring single to 3rd and then walks another run in with the bases juiced in relief of Contreras. He manages to control himself and gets out of the 7th with a K. 5-4 Blue Wahoos. Onto the 8th. Are we going fo another extras affair?

[Joseph Zarr]

Did I mention the Tristen Lutz Renaissance?

 

A 2 run Bomb to Deep Left into the Bay. 6-5 Shuckers as he brings Valerio home where he belongs. This opening series is anything but uneventful.

[wibadgers23]

Valerio continues to be an on base machine. Really looking forward to following him all year.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Another sweep! Wish this would rub off on the big league team. Bello is vying for the first in-season promotion and Rodriguez had a pretty solid debut.

[nate82]

LF WHOAAAAA SOLVVVD with Lutz?

[Jim Goulart]

Here's your final Link Report from Saturday 4/9