Tue. 4/18 - Everyone Hits the Road (Plus Tom Flanagan Interview)

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Tuesday, lineup updates, etc.

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

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Via the Journal Sentinel Podcast: "Injury to Woodruff clouds an otherwise exciting week of baseball and a conversation with Tom Flanagan, VP of player operations and baseball administration"

The Flanagan interview begins at the 53:00 minute mark.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Russ Smith gets his first start of 2023. LHP Adam Seminaris returns to Rocket City - a club that surely knows him quite well. RHP Adrian Houser gets his rehab outing #2 in the books tonight - let's keep an eye on his pitch count. And, we're TBD with Carolina at the formidable Down East Wood Ducks.

And, real quickly, let's hear it for one of my early "this young man is definitely turning heads" award getters:

(Aidan) Maldonado Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week

Quote

The 22-year-old Maldonado led Carolina League pitchers in both WHIP (0.43) and average against (.045) last week. His eight strikeouts and seven innings pitched were also tied for fourth in the league during the weekly award window running from April 10 through April 16.

One word: Stud

[Jim Goulart]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

And, we're TBD with Carolina at the formidable Down East Wood Ducks.

Looks like:

RHP Patricio Aquino as per the game notes.

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin has won 3 games in a row and takes on Royals' affiliate Quad Cities this week, with LHP Russell Smith (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks in last outing) getting his first start of 2023. RF Joe Gray Jr. (.344 AVG, .932 OPS in 37 PAs) comes in riding an 15-game on-base streak (carrying over 7 games from last year). 

[Ro Mueller]

The AA Shuckers are in Rocket City (outside of Huntsville, Alabama) this week to take on the Angels' affiliate. Starting LHP Adam Seminaris looks to bounce back from a rough first start (4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks). 3B Tyler Black has a terrific slash through 7 games (.286 / .483 / .619). 

[Ro Mueller]

Low-A Carolina is in Kinston, North Carolina this week to battle Rangers’ affiliate Down East. 19-year old RHP Patricio Aquino gets his second start at this level (4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks last time out). DH/3B Luke Adams (.286 AVG / .524 OBP / .643 SLG through 21 PAs) has an 11-game on-base streak (including 6 games in 2022). 

[Ro Mueller]

The AAA Sounds have dropped three consecutive games and will spend this week at Marlins’ affiliate Jacksonville. Rehabbing RHP Adrian Houser starts the opening game, having thrown 30 pitches in his last outing (2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks). 1B Jon Singleton (.790 OPS in 53 PAs) has reached base in his last 10 games. 

[Joseph Zarr]

It was a gracious and giving first inning for the Mudcats on behalf of the Wood Ducks - all batters stepped to the dish. Many walks were served. And a Luke Adams HBP and a Hedbert Perez walk plated 2. 2-0 Mudcats onto the 2nd.

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Jace Avina's 2023:

17 AB. 13 K. 6 BB. 0 XBH.

[Joseph Zarr]

A 1-2-3 inning for the Sounds - Perkins deep fly to the warning track; another Frelick weak chopper; and a Hiura ground out to SS. On to Housers' first work in his 2nd rehab start.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Patricio Aquino having a very nice outing so far. I wonder if they'll piggy back with Maldonado again. That's two fine outings to start his 2023. Very nice.

[markedman5]

Are we starting to get excited about Black as a prospect? What is his position flexibility? it would really help if he could play one of the infield spots.
 

 

[wiguy94]

29 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

Are we starting to get excited about Black as a prospect? What is his position flexibility? it would really help if he could play one of the infield spots.
 

 

He can play multiple positions but he’s not very good anywhere. He had a pretty brutal throwing error on a routine grounder to 3B today. Still think he might end up at 1B eventually especially if his bat continues to progress.  

[wiguy94]

I’m starting to have major beef with Biloxi’s 3B coach. It’s only game number 10 but he has had two of the worst sends I’ve ever seen already. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

I’m starting to have major beef with Biloxi’s 3B coach. It’s only game number 10 but he has had two of the worst sends I’ve ever seen already. 

I am just tuning in. Sounds about right. In the past, that has actually been manager Mike Guererro.

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't know if y'all have ever watched a game in Jacksonville but that fence to straight away CF is 420'. Hiura missed a homer by about 10 feet there and Frelick failed to tag for 3B. Bummer. BUT, Sal did finally manage to get a chopper through the left side of the infield for a double.

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Eduarqui Fernandez is having a nice bounce back evening. Just hit a solo shot here to make it a 5-1 Mudcats lead and he is 3-for-4 on the evening. 

[Joseph Zarr]

All these people in t-shirts and shorts in Jacksonville has me all kinds of jealous - it was mid 30's and snowing here in my mountain valley today. 😅

[markedman5]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Russell Smith is so much better in 2023. He is in-shape and it is making a very big difference. Last year his release point was consistently off and his heater was always sailing high and outside. This year, he is just pounding the zone. 3 IP, 4 K, 0 ER so far. Really nice to see.

[Joseph Zarr]

Another lackluster outing for LHP Adam Seminaris. A lot of deep, hard contact. He leaves after 3 2/3 and 80 pitches trailing 3-2. His best pitch, by my naked eye, is his change-up. His sweeping curve was getting hammered. As was his heater. Hopefully, he'll improve as the season progresses.

[Joseph Zarr]

Welp, RHP TJ Shook comes on in relief and with a 1-0 count gets absolutely tagged over the LF wall. A 3-run jack. Shuckers now trail 6-2.

[Joseph Zarr]

Russ Smith just robbed of a 2-2 strikeout on a pitch that clearly caught too much dead center cut. What a whiff by the ump. Darrien Miller had a tilt back convo with the man in black. Yuck. He then missed low on the full count walking the batter - a shame. And there's a mound visit now given that was an egregious mis-call and there are now men on 1st and 2nd base.

[Joseph Zarr]

And, hey let's spread the umpiring around. In Rocket City, the ump absolutely blows a bang-bang tag out on a gorgeous throw from Rodriguez to Black (RF-to-3B) and leaves Shook on the Hill to try and end this ongoing threat with two down. These are just flat out misses. Unfortunately, we're on the bad side of the calls. Shook gives up a bases clearing double on the next pitch. 9-2 Rocket City. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: these bad calls actually matter. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

He can play multiple positions but he’s not very good anywhere. He had a pretty brutal throwing error on a routine grounder to 3B today. Still think he might end up at 1B eventually especially if his bat continues to progress.  

Throwing error and now a botched grounder in the 6th. It wasn't an easy play by any measure but it's a play a good 3B can make. If it wasn't for the fantastic stab and throw from Ethan Murray during the ensuing AB, that bobble and drop would have led to more runs.