Sun. 4/9: Mudcats Try Again for Two

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, RHP Carlos Rodriguez is indeed staking his claim that the Nicaragua surprise start in the WBC was not a fluke. This is perhaps the best starting pitcher in our Minor League ranks at present - yes, including LHP Robert Gasser. What he has done as a pitcher in the past year is nothing short of declaring Ace status. How impressive is this road Start?

[Joseph Zarr]

Hats off to the early starts of Zavier Warren and Tristen Lutz. Both men made my 'Undervalued' lists and it sure seems like they are staking their claims picking up where they left off in 2022. If Lutz can just stay healthy, he is such a fantastic bat for that batting order. 

[Ro Mueller]

Low-A Carolina aims for a 2-0 series sweep at Fayetteville, with 19-year old RHP Yujanyer Herrera getting the start along with surprise battery-mate Tayden Hall. 1B Jesus Parra also makes his Low-A debut.

1 - Gregory Barrios - SS
2 - Daniel Guilarte - 3B
3 - Matthew Wood - DH
4 - Hedbert Perez - LF
5 - Jace Avina - CF
6 - Tayden Hall - C
7 - Jadher Areinamo - 2B
8 - Eduarqui Fernandez - RF
9 - Jesus Parra - 1B
P - Yujanyer Herrera

[Ro Mueller]

Carlos F. Rodriguez exits after 4 scoreless innings and 66 pitches. A single and shrinking strike zone (2 walks) helped Mississippi load the bases in that 4th inning, but CFR closed out the frame with his 8th strikeout. LHP Nick Bennett has come on in relief. Shuckers up 4-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Carlos F. Rodriguez exits after 4 scoreless innings and 66 pitches. A single and shrinking strike zone (2 walks) helped Mississippi load the bases in that 4th inning, but CFR closed out the frame with his 8th strikeout. LHP Nick Bennett has come on in relief. Shuckers up 4-0.

I take full responsibility with my irresponsible post. There's no excuse. I can do better.😒

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, it sure looks like we got that good version of LHP Ethan Small today. 1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K. I am going to go back and watch his inning of work here shortly on my family break and see his wares.

[Ro Mueller]

21 minutes ago, damuelle said:

LF Je’Von Ward collects his first hit since August 2021, a 9th inning leadoff double for Wisconsin in their 4-4 game.

Well, we stranded Ward despite a “successful” sacrifice bunt to get him to 3rd base with 1 out.

RHP Taylor Floyd did his part, breezing through the 8th and 9th innings. They’re still 4-4 in the 10th now, but Wisconsin failed to score in the top half. Hang on men! Extend it to 11!

[Ro Mueller]

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Well, we stranded Ward despite a “successful” sacrifice bunt to get him to 3rd base with 1 out.

RHP Taylor Floyd did his part, breezing through the 8th and 9th innings. They’re still 4-4 in the 10th now, but Wisconsin failed to score in the top half. Hang on men! Extend it to 11!

Yeah, that plea fell on deaf ears. On RHP Kaleb “Bo” Bowman’s 2nd pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning, Beloit knocks the game winning hit to right field. Wisconsin loses the game 5-4 and series 2-1.

Don’t worry: Missing SS Eric Brown Jr. is expected back at their home opener on Tuesday. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Interestingly, watching Small's outing, he is throwing mostly change-ups. This is quite opposite his last outing. Clearly, they appear to have an agenda early with his arsenal. He just pulled the rug out on a beautiful strike 3 for his second K on a late-dipping 80 mph change on the outer stripe (right-handed batter). And, he does the same with his third K. 2 straight change-ups - both whiffs from another righty. Interesting. 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Yujanyer Herrera’s first inning of work in 2023: walk, walk, wild pitch moves runners to 2nd and 3rd, K, walk, K, force out. No runs, no hits, 27 pitches, 12 strikes, lots of sweating.

Just like he drew it up, I’m sure. 0-0 Carolina, Fayetteville after 1 inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Let's give it up to LHP Nick Bennet who goes 3 scoreless innings protecting that 4-0 lead in his inaugural outing as a bullpen arm. Fantastic stuff, Nick!

[Barney Gumble]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Let's give it up to LHP Nick Bennet who goes 3 scoreless innings protecting that 4-0 lead in his inaugural outing as a bullpen arm. Fantastic stiff, Nick!

Very happy for him, hopefully he can keep it up!

[Barney Gumble]

 

[Ro Mueller]

28-year old LHP Darrell Thompson graduated from Shenandoah University in Virginia in 2016 and has now made his long-awaited debut in affiliated baseball: facing the minimum 3 batters in the bottom of the 8th inning for the Shuckers. A leadoff walk was wiped out by a C Jeferson Quero cannon, followed by 2 Ks. Still 4-0 Biloxi. Shuck-yeah!!

[Ro Mueller]

6 minutes ago, damuelle said:

28-year old LHP Darrell Thompson graduated from Shenandoah University in Virginia in 2016 and has now made his long-awaited debut in affiliated baseball: facing the minimum 3 batters in the bottom of the 8th inning for the Shuckers. A leadoff walk was wiped out by a C Jeferson Quero cannon, followed by 2 Ks. Still 4-0 Biloxi. Shuck-yeah!!

LHP Darrell Thompson came back out for the 9th, getting a ground out and 2 more Ks to finish off an impressive 4-0 victory. Rodriguez, Bennett and Thompson held Mississippi to 2 hits. Biloxi wins the series 2-1.

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Yujanyer Herrera and his Fayetteville counterpart kept the game hittless and scoreless through 3 innings, before LF Hedbert Perez's 4th inning leadoff double. Unfortunately, Perez was left stranded.

RHP Chase Costello, signed from independent ball, has entered in the 4th inning for the Mudcats, making his debut in affiliated baseball.

[Ro Mueller]

Now we've got 23-year old LHP Nate Peterson, an 8th round pick in 2022, making his organizational debut for Carolina in this 0-0 game in the bottom of the 5th inning. 1B Jesus Parra doubled in the top half, but was left on base.

[Ro Mueller]

Peterson recorded 3 strikeouts in the 5th inning, but 2 singles and a wild pitch have given Fayetteville a 1-0 lead.

Let's go Mudcats!

[Ro Mueller]

Ah, Carolina has a terrific shot go by the wayside for the 3rd straight inning. Matthew Wood and Tayden Hall singled around a Jace Avina hit-by-pitch, bringing up Jadher Areinamo with the bases loaded and 1 out. Unfortunately a line drive double play to first base ended this 6th inning chance. Carolina trails 1-0.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Well, it sure looks like we got that good version of LHP Ethan Small today. 1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K. I am going to go back and watch his inning of work here shortly on my family break and see his wares.

10 changeups to 9 FB today and the FB was back to about a 93 mph average. Great bounceback from him today.

[Ro Mueller]

Unfortunately, Peterson got lit up for 4 runs on 4 hits in his 2nd inning of work, including a 3-run homer to left. Mudcats trail 5-0 after 6 innings. We've got some serious wood to chop!

[Ro Mueller]

For the 2nd inning in a row, Carolina loaded the bases with 1 out, but failed to convert.

At least this was preceded by a sac fly. We now trail 5-1.

1B Jesus Parra collected his 2nd double and also stole a base, in what's looking like a career resurgence.

RHP Tanner Shears, an independent signing, has entered in the bottom of the 7th inning for his affiliated baseball debut.

[Ro Mueller]

5 minutes ago, damuelle said:

RHP Tanner Shears, an independent signing, has entered in the bottom of the 7th inning for his affiliated baseball debut.

Trying to emulate Herrera, Shears walked 3, hit 1, threw a wild pitch and gave up a stolen base. All in one inning. And gave up 0 runs, aided by a pick off. 😁 Carolina still trails 5-1 though, now entering the 8th.

[Spencer Michaelis]

18 hours ago, damuelle said:

Quinton Low has struck out 4 batters in 2 innings of hitless work, walking one (caught stealing by C Matthew Wood) and hitting one (stranded at first).

Here is some video of Low’s stuff. He’s pretty filthy on the mound. Command will need to improve, but he was able to land the slider in 3 ball counts multiple times and may have actually commanded that better than the fastball. He’s one I will be watching closely.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, Smichaelis9 said:

Here is some video of Low’s stuff. He’s pretty filthy on the mound. Command will need to improve, but he was able to land the slider in 3 ball counts multiple times and may have actually commanded that better than the fastball. He’s one I will be watching closely.

He was an easy Top 10 add to my Undervalued and Under-Hyped list. I had a chance to view some ACL video beyond the Brewers Player Development Twitter and it was extremely impressive. He gets such downhill leverage and velo. I knew when I saw it he had a chance to be an absolute flamethrower. I had to go back and watch his first outing and he had batters just guessing and pre-swinging at that heat. Loved the mojo on the mound too.