Wed. 8/31: Can Ethan Small Put it Back Together?

[Joseph Zarr]

3-run game-winning HR last night? Sure. How about 98th walk on the season here in the bottom of the 2nd. Man, I absolutely LOVE watching Jon Singleton play baseball. Such a treat.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wiemer just stole his 30th base (off a BB). That's two seasons in a row. He's only been caught 3 times. Incredible stuff considering his overall toolkit. Such a stud.

[BallFour]

Just completely silly what Chourio is doing at High A for an 18 year old. I was a little worried about the K rate at Carolina but he has improved that so far, was not expecting to see that moving up a level.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm just going to say it:

I'm very worried about Ethan Small. I don't believe in anything he's throwing up there at present. No flow. No consistency in anything. No mix. He's simply fighting to stay alive. Which is incredible to say given his overall numbers. But, the eye test and the recency bias don't lie. It's problematic for the rest of his season.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, BallFour said:

Just completely silly what Chourio is doing at High A for an 18 year old. I was a little worried about the K rate at Carolina but he has improved that so far, was not expecting to see that moving up a level.

Yeah, 3 straight game with HR's coming off an extended absence with unknown soreness is silly. Just silly. Couple that with, as you say, an improved K rate. It's wild. Just wild. Honestly, it's hard to fathom. 

[wibadgers23]

16 minutes ago, BallFour said:

Just completely silly what Chourio is doing at High A for an 18 year old. I was a little worried about the K rate at Carolina but he has improved that so far, was not expecting to see that moving up a level.

And apparently it was an absolute moonshot to right centerfield.  This kid is unreal.

[Joseph Zarr]

In consecutive plays I witness an absolutely blown strike 3 call on a gorgeous off-speed pitch right down the heart of the plate getting the bases loaded on Small in Nashville. Totally blown call. AND, just like that Burleson hits his 3rd knock versus Small and it's 6-0. Totally blown strike 3 mind you. Which, biven his struggles, well, par for the course.

ON my 2nd screen Hedbert Perez lays out for, really, a ball he should have caught...and completely biffs the dive. Ball falls behind him. It was like he didn't even see it. LOL. 6-1 Columbia who are about to take a 2-0 series lead. Tough sledding tonight. These are tough games to watch. 

[markedman5]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

And apparently it was an absolute moonshot to right centerfield.  This kid is unreal.

Moon shot? Nope. Rocket launch? Absolutely.?

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Two walks for Wiemer (LOVE it) and, at present, the Sounds are being no-hit in the bottom of the 4th. This game, given Small's ongoing slow struggles, is a snail paced slogggggg.

[Joseph Zarr]

HEY NOW! Mario Feliciano manages another HR off the CF wall. It was straight away CF. Not as crushed. The CF for the Redbirds actually lept and smashed into the wall, got a glove on it, BUT the ball was off the batter's eye. That's now 6-2. The no hit jinx worked to perfection. 2 HR. 2 Nights for Feliciano. Well done! In the pre-game show, Feliciano mentioned he felt his power was coming on. Well, sure as heck looks like it!

[markedman5]

So 7 and up 7 down for Erceg.

It will get interesting to see if Brewers protect him in the off-season.

[Joseph Zarr]

Another two Double-A IP for RHP Ryan Middendorf. Another 4 K, 2 R, 1 HR outing. It's a new world in the Southern League as the young upstart is discovering.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sal Frelick just hit a single to left field and that's now 11 multi-hit games with the Sounds. He had an absolute chop dribbler to third base earlier. He's not hitting much for XBH, but who cares when he's getting on base at this clip (OK, I'd like to see some pop but I'm not complaining). Sounds lose 9-3 when Pablo Reyes hits a 103 mph rope shot to the second baseman who runs three steps to double off Lipka at second base. That kind of night. Sounds lose. Second outing in a row Cam Robinson has given up 2 runs in a relaxes setting. 

[UpandIn]

4 hours ago, markedman5 said:

So 7 and up 7 down for Erceg.

It will get interesting to see if Brewers protect him in the off-season.

Do they have to protect him with him being a minor league Free Agent?

I thought Minor Leaguers who were free agents were not subject to the rule 5 because...well, they were free to sign with anyone. In either event, I hope they bring him back. 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

8 hours ago, UpandIn said:

Do they have to protect him with him being a minor league Free Agent?

I thought Minor Leaguers who were free agents were not subject to the rule 5 because...well, they were free to sign with anyone. In either event, I hope they bring him back. 

They can add him to the 40-man roster, in which case he would then not be a minor league free agent.

[UpandIn]

48 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

They can add him to the 40-man roster, in which case he would then not be a minor league free agent.

Yes...I get they can just put him on the 40 man roster. 

I'm saying if he's a free agent, I don't believe they have to do anything other than simply try and re-sign him to a minor league deal and he doesn't go through the rule5...though I'm not certain. 

 

[CheeseheadInQC]

6 minutes ago, UpandIn said:

Yes...I get they can just put him on the 40 man roster. 

I'm saying if he's a free agent, I don't believe they have to do anything other than simply try and re-sign him to a minor league deal and he doesn't go through the rule5...though I'm not certain. 

 

If they re-sign him to a minor league deal before the Rule 5 draft (or at least the date when players have to be protected by) he would still be eligible to be picked. It doesn’t happen often, though, because usually the other team would have bettered the minor league offer by giving him a 40 man slot while he was a free agent.

[UpandIn]

25 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

If they re-sign him to a minor league deal before the Rule 5 draft (or at least the date when players have to be protected by) he would still be eligible to be picked. It doesn’t happen often, though, because usually the other team would have bettered the minor league offer by giving him a 40 man slot while he was a free agent.

Thanks. Makes sense. I guess I'll hope he's re-signed after the rule 5 deadline then. I'd imagine given how new he is to pitching and the upside he's already shown(albeit not great command) teams will be interested. Not sure how interested they'd be in rostering him for a full season on the 40, but we'll see. 

[Jim Goulart]

Here's your final Link Report for games of Wednesday 8/31

[Playing Catch]

Chourio is gunna need to start wearing a facemask, because with the way he covers low and away, he's gunna get A LOT of high and tight.