Sat. 4/8: Mudcats Postponed - Day's Action Begins at 3:05 Central

[Joseph Zarr]

Ruh Roh. The training staff is looking at Tyler Herb after a 93 mph sinker . Something seemed to happen with his hand or elbow there? Not good. That ended quickly. Ugh. One of my favorite Sounds is getting shelved here. He'll make way for LHP Alex Claudio. If you're looking to see what happened, you'll find it at the 2 hr and 17 minute mark. Bummer! This just after inducing a key double play in his first batter faced. And then after ripping an 0-1 sinker inside he just came up shaking that arm and Navarreto quickly came to the mound and he was followed by the entire Sounds staff. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Not the outing RHP Max Lazar was looking for. He walks his final batter. Leaves the bases loaded with two down and can't complete his first inning here of 2023. He'll look to bounce back his next time out. We'll see #35, lefty Luis Amaya in his first outing as a T-Rat.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, that's what you're looking for in Amaya's first outing. Three pitches. 3 strikes. And a punch out to leave them full. He saves Lazar further damage to his ERA and holds the T-Rats deficit to 0-3.

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi seeks to grab a 2-0 series lead at the Mississippi Braves, with 24-year old LHP Brandon Knarr (2.83 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 in 146 1/3 IP last year) getting tonight's start. We'll see 2023 debuts for DH/OF Tristen Lutz and 2B Felix Valerio. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Tyson Miller will take the hill to protect the Sounds' 5-1 lead here in the bottom of the 6th frame. Let's go, Tyson. Get at it! And he goes 1-2-3 in his first inning. A nice dig at deep SS by Monasterio who rips an intentional two-bounce deep throw to Singleton who shows his glove in the dig - a fine play.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Jake Cousins is on to start the 7th frame and he starts with a walk and a single to right field. There are men on 1st and 2nd. Nobody down. And the top of the order to the dish. He K's Winn on an 0-2 slider low and outside to grab his first out. The ensuing pitch, he launches a ball about 6' outside and in the dirt to the back stop eliminating the double play ball and sending runners to 2nd and 3rd. Let's go, Jake. Find that poise.

[wiguy94]

Not a great inning from Cousins. He got some bad chases from AAA players that likely wouldn't have happened against MLB guys. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The wild pitch costs Cousins here. Robertson hits a weak chopper that dies in the grass and he beats the bare handed throw to first by Toro and the wild pitch concedes a run. Men on 1st and 2nd. 1 down. 5-2 Sounds.

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Not a great inning from Cousins. He got some bad chases from AAA players that likely wouldn't have happened against MLB guys. 

I would counter to you: He struck out Moises Gomez on another dominant slider. With his sinker hitting 95 mph, this is what we want to see. Gomez is on the Cardinals 40-man roster and hit 39 HR last year between Double and Triple-A (formerly of the Rays organization, if you recall). He struck out 3 batters. His only blemish was the walk and the wild pitch - obviously, he doesn't want that. The run itself crossed on a groundout that probably traveled 30 mph. LOL.

[Joseph Zarr]

Don't blink. The T-Rats have the bases juiced in the top of the 9th here after Joe Gray Jr. worked a very tough walk. 

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Blake Perkins just grabbed back the run. 6-2 on a 390' jack over the wall in LF. I might have been mentioning Perkins recently. Maybe, just maybe talking about his skills. He's a player folks.

[wiguy94]

8 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I would counter to you: He struck out Moises Gomez on another dominant slider. With his sinker hitting 95 mph, this is what we want to see. Gomez is on the Cardinals 40-man roster and hit 39 HR last year between Double and Triple-A (formerly of the Rays organization, if you recall). He struck out 3 batters. His only blemish was the walk and the wild pitch - obviously, he doesn't want that. The run itself crossed on a groundout that probably traveled 30 mph. LOL.

30% zone rate isn't going to fly in the MLB. His command at the moment is just not at a level that will be competitive in the MLB.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, the T-Rats grabbed two runs to make it 4-2. With Joe Gray Jr. standing at 2B, I would argue the umps blew a tie goes to the runner call as Jesus Chirinos clearly hit the bag as the ball arrived. And, so it goes. There is no replay in the lower levels on these bang-bang plays. T-Rats lose 4-2.

And, further exemplifying the disparity of the Minor Leagues, Jon Singleton is called out on a check swing by the umpire standing behind second base. Because, well, that's life in the lower levels. Certainly didn't look like he broke the plane. It's on to the bottom of the 8th. Sounds lead 6-2.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

30% zone rate isn't going to fly in the MLB. His command at the moment is just not at a level that will be competitive in the MLB.

Command is an issue. Yes. But, the command at issue is his sinker. The slider is a pitch he uses out of the zone. The mistake slider was in the zone. And, it resulted in a well hit ball on an 0-2 count to deep short. Regardless, we agree on some things. We don't on others. This is fine. The ball that reached the back stop was a heater that ripped about 6 feet wide (?) and was a 'Huh?!' pitch. 😂

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Lucas Erceg on to start the 8th frame here. And, dare I say, he's working a moustache. Love it. Go for it, Lucas!

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Command is an issue. Yes. But, the command at issue is his sinker. The slider is a pitch he uses out of the zone. The mistake slider was in the zone. And, it resulted in a well hit ball on an 0-2 count to deep short. Regardless, we agree on some things. We don't on others. This is fine. 

That last pitch to Gomez missed the zone by well over a foot. Just because a minor leaguer will swing at that doesn't mean MLB players will. 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

That last pitch to Gomez missed the zone by well over a foot. Just because a minor leaguer will swing at that doesn't mean MLB players will. 

I don't disagree here. I will say what I do know: that pitch resulted in a huge swing and miss. But, as we both know: Cousins isn't at the MLB level. He's in Triple-A, presently, most likely because of what we're talking about here. But, he also has a track record of success at the highest level so we also know it's somewhere in the tank. Hopefully, he finds it. Anyhow, currently watching Erceg strike everyone out. Man, Erceg looks fantastic. This may be the best I've ever seen his slider.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

I don't disagree here. I will say what I do know: that pitch resulted in a huge swing and miss. But, as we both know: Cousins isn't at the MLB level. He's in Triple-A, presently, most likely because of what we're talking about here. But, he also has a track record of success at the highest level so we also know it's somewhere in the tank. Hopefully, he finds it. Anyhow, currently watching Erceg strike everyone out.

A huge swing and miss by a guy with a career 35% K-rate in the minors. I think that context is necessary. I don't think it was a good pitch. The second pitch in the Gomez AB that he took for a ball was a much better executed slider. 

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

A huge swing and miss by a guy with a career 35% K-rate in the minors. I think that context is necessary. I don't think it was a good pitch. The second pitch in the Gomez AB that he took for a ball was a much better executed slider. 

Fair enough. Perhaps, he knows (or the entire staff does) he is a guy with a 35% k-rate? Anyhow, I really don't want to further argue this with you. I am saying you have valid points. And you are entitled to your opinions and I'm not saying you're wrong in your POV. But, we can disagree on some things. That's ok. Really, it's not a big deal. Also, I should add: it's awesome having debates on these finer points in our lower level contests! Most of the time I'm giving play-by-play to anyone who wants to read. So, thanks for your passion and your observations. Truly. 

[wiguy94]

Mississippi Braves need to figure it out. Once again their game isn't even showing up as an option for me on MiLB.TV...this happened last night as well.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds close it out on a weak grounder on a jam shot past the diving Lucas Erceg. Singleton, incapable of beating the runner to the bag, appeared to have reach-tagged him out just a step before he took first. Sounds currently lead the series 3-2 and will look to take the series with tomorrow's final game. It's on to Biloxi where it appears they are once again not on live TV. Let's hunt the Game Logs and Box Scores.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Mississippi Braves need to figure it out. Once again their game isn't even showing up as an option for me on MiLB.TV...this happened last night as well.

Right?!? I was not pleased last night. There's all sorts of new things going on at that stadium, however. I believe there were turf concerns (?) heading into the series. But, yeah, it's pretty frustrating. We've had Chourio touted and amped up all off-season especially this week and we can't even watch him?!? It's pretty hilarious.

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Right?!? I was not pleased last night. There's all sorts of new things going on at that stadium, however. I believe there were turf concerns (?) heading into the series. But, yeah, it's pretty frustrating. We've had Chourio touted and amped up all off-season especially this week and we can't even watch him?!? It's pretty hilarious.

I'm just not surprised at this point. I haven't been able to stream games on my First Pitch app in ages. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

I'm just not surprised at this point. I haven't been able to stream games on my First Pitch app in ages. 

The entire roll-out in 2023 of games suddenly viewable by MLB (via 'At Bat') and no longer viewable in the MiLB.tv portal has been very weird. The entire payment process was strange. For a professional League, honestly, it's pretty Bush League stuff. Make it easier for your fans. Communicate clearly or have landing pages with an explanation and instructions. I'm fairly tech savvy so I figured it all out but it's not a very likable process. I, for one, loved the MiLB.TV bundle as everything was in one place. i could watch any Minor League game I wanted. And, they were in an archive I could go back and watch. I don't quite know what I'm actually working with now and it is a bit bothersome. None the less, I guess it is what it is in a wonky transition.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Brandon Knarr struggles through his 3 1/3 IP - walks and doubles seemed to be the deal. He left the game with a 3-0 deficit and men on 2nd and 3rd base after a, you guessed it, double. RHP Zach Vennarro comes on and walks his first batter (may have been intentional to have a DP ball at all bases), uncorks a wild pitch to score a runner, and then gives up a, you guess it, double to left fielder Carlos Rodriguez scoring two more. The ensuing batter rips a single and it is suddenly 7-0 Braves. Yikes. It's a rough one here in Game 2.