Sat. 8/6 - Season Rolls Along, What Will This Day Bring?

[Joseph Zarr]

Apologies to Adrian Houser and the rest of the Sounds but it's time to check in on Biloxi and LHP Robert Gasser's debut. Sounds lead 1-0. Dorrian just walked. There are two down and Dorrian on first and Wiemer at third base (after a weak ground out from Alex Jackson).

[Joseph Zarr]

Well LHP Robert Gasser will have a tough act to follow. Braves lefty (and coveted recently promoted prospect) Dylan Dodd misses an immaculate inning by a single ball striking out the side on 10 pitches. Welcome to Double-A Robert! ?

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh boy. It's early. It's only two batters in. I don't care. We're going to love Robert Gasser. 94-95mph on the heater. Slider drops to 75-76. He's got a change and a curve ball. Man, this kid has a lot of tools. We might have a really really good one. AND, he just picked off a runner with a super savvy move. You love to see it.

[Robocaller]

4 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Oh boy. It's early. It's only two batters in. I don't care. We're going to love Robert Gasser. 94-95mph on the heater. Slider drops to 75-76. He's got a change and a curve ball. Man, this kid has a lot of tools. We might have a really really good one. AND, he just picked off a runner with a super savvy move. You love to see it.

that's a slow slider.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Who other than INF Cam Devanney to suddenly make LHP Dylan Dodd look pedestrian? He smashes a deep left center double off the low wall and the Shuckers have a man in scoring position here in the second inning. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, Robocaller said:

that's a slow slider.

 

Indeed it is. And, it moves. Like it really moves horizontally and then dips a good foot. This young man has that 'It' you look for in a pitcher. He's doing all sorts of stuff with speed, movement, and placement. That interview where he spits all the analytics talk and spin and movement is legit. I'm seeing it live. Let's also remember: He just turned 23 in May. So, this is a young 23. If that means anything (it doesn't). LOL.

[Joseph Zarr]

Jeeeeeez, these recent ACL call-ups in Castillo, Fernandez, Areinamo, and, Avina are dealing. Fernandez just led off the 8th with a triple for crying out loud. They're crushing it. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2nd K for Gasser on a nasty slider down the heart of the plate after a sweet change-up lower outside. I am extremely impressed here early. He has a plan of attack.

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats win 9-3 behind a heck of a start from Alexander Cornielle and the ongoing output of the ACL Crew. Hedbert Perez also goes 2-for-5 in the lead-off slot. All in all, the Mudcats knock 15 hits. Heck of a game!

[Joseph Zarr]

3rd K for Gasser on a breaker in the dirt. 7 batters in and he's made one mistake. Still 0-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Through 3 IP, 4 K, 1 H, 1 BB for Gasser. What a debut. 0-0 into the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Who other than INF Cam Devanney to knock in run number one for Biloxi? I mean, come on Cam! He hits a sacrifice fly to middle right field sending OF Garrett Whitely home who had taken third with a super savvy move to third base off a well hit chopper single from OF Tristen Lutz. How did he get there? Savvy and wheels. Whitley is extremely fast. 1-0 Shuckers into the bottom half of the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 K's through 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB for LHP Robert Gasser. This is a young pitcher who is literally just scratching the surface. And, he already has a plethora of piñatas to work with. Very very impressive young hurler. He has made one mistake today. One. Every other pitch had intent and purpose. He doesn't give anything. It's all meticulously around and near the zone. Rarely exposed. This is a student of the game.

[Ro Mueller]

Some tight games still going:

- Gasser exits after 5 shutout innings (2 singles, 2 walks, 5 Ks). Shuckers lead 2-0 in the 6th inning 
- Turang doubled and scored on an error. Sounds lead 2-1 in the 7th inning
- Timber Rattlers trail 2-0 in the 4th inning. Just 2 hits for Wisconsin thus far

[markedman5]

 

[Ro Mueller]

A 2-run, zero-hit, 4-walk 7th inning helped Biloxi crack open the game a bit. Dillard and Diaz then singled in the 8th inning to add another run. It’s 5-1 Shuckers in the 8th inning.

Wisconsin got 3 runs on 3 singles (Gray, Miller, Pinero) and a walk in the 6th inning to grab a 3-2 lead. It’s the 7th inning now.

Luis Perdomo escaped a two-on, nobody-out 8th inning. Nashville leads 2-1 heading to the 9th inning.

[Ro Mueller]

A walk and a single off Trevor Kelley nearly tied the game in Nashville, but RF Joey Wiemer gunned down the pinch runner at home. However, Norfolk walked it off with another walk and a 2-run double, basically tripling Kelley’s season ERA in the process (now 1.09). Sounds lose 3-2.

Zach Mort completed 6 innings of 2-run, 4-hit, zero-walk, 5-K ball to give Wisconsin a solid chance, leading 3-2 in the 8th inning now.

[Ro Mueller]

Jeez. Similar happenings in Mississippi, as Zach Vennaro retires just 1 of 5 batters, so Cam Robinson comes in. 5-3 Shuckers, bottom of 9, 2-on, 1-out.

[Ro Mueller]

Just now, damuelle said:

Jeez. Similar happenings in Mississippi, as Zach Vennaro retires just 1 of 5 batters, so Cam Robinson comes in. 5-3 Shuckers, bottom of 9, 2-on, 1-out.

But Mr. Robinson will have none of that drama. Pop out. Ground into force out. Shuckers win 5-3.

[Ro Mueller]

But the drama spreads. Wisconsin strands the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning (that’s 10 LOB in the game vs. 3 for Quad Cities). Then James Meeker walks the leadoff batter in the bottom half. C’mon, shut ‘em down! 3-2 T-Rats trying to hang on.

[Ro Mueller]

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

But the drama spreads. Wisconsin strands the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning (that’s 10 LOB in the game vs. 3 for Quad Cities). Then James Meeker walks the leadoff batter in the bottom half. C’mon, shut ‘em down! 3-2 T-Rats trying to hang on.

And Meeker does get it done with a fly out and 2 strikeouts swinging to end it. Wisconsin wins 3-2.

All in all, a good day for our affiliates.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP James Meeker shuts it down with a third out strikeout to get yet another Save and increase the wide gap of dominance over Quad Cities in 2022. 3-2 T-Rats victory!

[CheeseheadInQC]

33 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

RHP James Meeker shuts it down with a third out strikeout to get yet another Save and increase the wide gap of dominance over Quad Cities in 2022. 3-2 T-Rats victory!

Speaking as someone who lives in the Quad-Cities, pretty much everyone has been dominating the River Bandits this season.

[Joseph Zarr]

33 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

Speaking as someone who lives in the Quad-Cities, pretty much everyone has been dominating the River Bandits this season.

You can’t possibly be talking about the same Quad Cities that’s 27 games under 0.500? LOL

This being said, QC has a winning record against South Bend (9-7), they have a winning record versus Fort Wayne (4-2), they are 5-7 versus Peoria. Wisconsin has far and away given the River Bandits their most losses (19 of 64) and is responsible for 15 of their 27 games under. That’s significant.

Your point stands, in flavor. I’m just clarifying the deets.

[CheeseheadInQC]

21 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

You can’t possibly be talking about the same Quad Cities that’s 27 games under 0.500? LOL

This being said, QC has a winning record against South Bend (9-7), they have a winning record versus Fort Wayne (4-2), they are 5-7 versus Peoria. Wisconsin has far and away given the River Bandits their most losses (19 of 64) and is responsible for 15 of their 27 games under. That’s significant.

Your point stands, in flavor. I’m just clarifying the deets.

Early on they were competitive with everyone except Wisconsin and Cedar Rapids, but the second half record is just brutal. South Bend is the only team they have won a series against since May.

We got spoiled having an Astros affiliate here during their system's recent heyday when they could turn over 75% of the roster that built the big lead to start the year and still have a good enough team to win the title come playoff time.