Wed. 6/7: Six Games, Even with Rookies Off (Sounds Twinbill at 11:00 CT, Mudcats Twinbill at 4:00 CT)

[Joseph Zarr]

Luke Adams. He just has that power you can't teach. He just ripped a 110mph laser shot to the wall in deep LF. One hop. It came back quickly to the LF'er it was hit so hard. Didn't matter. He beat the cut-off and relay by 3'. A two out double. 0-0 here in the first. Chirinos to the dish.

[CheeseheadInQC]

17 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

You are indeed remembering incorrectly. Campbell actually spent the entire season in Biloxi. You might be crossing streams with the affiliated demise (for now) of INF Ashton McGee who was injured Game 1 and never recovered. THAT led to the break-out of Cam Devanney.

EDIT to Add: Oh wait, I am now reading your post accurately. Yes, he was last-minute promoted during the first week of the season. He was initially assigned to Wisconsin a few days before the sudden promotion. And, as you astutely point out, continued to perform and never was sent back down. Apologies. I can't remember, off the top of my head, if it had anything to do with an injury - did it have anything to do with a spot opening up when the Crew traded INF Hayden Cantrelle? That was a long time ago in Minor League terms😅

You might be right that he was filling Cantrelle’s spot. I just remember that the promotion felt like he was a bit of a sacrificial lamb but he proved he belonged.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

You might be right that he was filling Cantrelle’s spot. I just remember that the promotion felt like he was a bit of a sacrificial lamb but he proved he belonged.

Well, if we're going that route, I would 'argue' (politely, mind you) if we're talking 'sacrificial lambs' I'd go the Terence Doston route at Biloxi in 2022. Campbell had a frame and positional versatility from the get go that at least gave the notion he could last.

[Joseph Zarr]

 Low is touching 97-98 on the gun tonight. He continues to showcase he has a pitching future. Lots to like when the ball leaves his hand. He has tools for days that scream future shutdown reliever. He grabs 2 punch outs in the 2nd frame on beautiful darts on the inner and outer stripes. This after getting a couple whiffs on his off-speed offerings. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Will Childers welcome to the Carolina League. He gives up a line drive double to the wall in CF (it definitely may have been misplayed by fill-in CF Jace Avina) on his first pitch. That ball did sail but it looked like Avina never got a proper read. Anyhow, Childers is on the hill for his debut.

[Joseph Zarr]

Welp, Childers' first registered Low-A run will be via a balk. Trailing 0-1, the runner (balked to 2nd) advances to 3B and then Home when C Blayberg Diaz's throw flies way wide and into LF. Mudcats now trail 2-0. The inning ends on a pop fly.

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's another nugget for y'all via the Sounds post-game article:

• Cam Devanney extended his on-base streak to 13 games with his solo homer in game one and a single in game two. Over the span, which dates back to May 17, Devanney is batting .313 (15-for-48) with nine runs, seven doubles, six RBI and an .867 OPS.

[Joseph Zarr]

Early thoughts on RHP Will Childers first look in Low-A:

• touches 93-94 routinely on his four-seamer. It's a bit too flat at present - very little movement and this was resulting in several well-hit line drives. It would be real nice to see some kind of movement tacked on to this pitch or more rise as opposed to a level pitch that comes straight into the zone.
• The breaking ball is a plus pitch. Lot of dip. Can drop out of the zone quite effectively.

Let's see if he grabs a third inning and if we see any more offerings. Mudcats still trail 2-0 into the bottom of the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Bases are juiced for the Mudcats here in the 4th inning. One down. C Blayberg Diaz to the dish.

[Joseph Zarr]

OH my, another absolutely blown call by the infield umps costs a Brewers affiliate this week. Unbelievable. The relief pitcher for the Woodpeckers very clearly missed the 1B bag when trying to grab and step on a tricky play off of Barrios' bat. He missed his first step by a good 4-6". His second attempt still came up 2" short. AND, well, when you have one ump and he's in the center of the diamond there isn't much to be done. Here's the first absolutely botched attempt. Not even close.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's the 2nd attempt. You can already see Mudcats 1B coach David Valdez (I believe) already jumping at the bit to protest. And, well, it's Low-A. You go unheard. This is literally the 4th or 5th blown call on the base paths against the Brewers this week. Tough tough luck!

[Joseph Zarr]

Childers' four-seamer is much too flat. He's getting hit hard left and right and it's all coming off his heaters. Flat. Level. Hitters can sit on it. 93-94 mph. No movement. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Well, if we're going that route, I would 'argue' (politely, mind you) if we're talking 'sacrificial lambs' I'd go the Terence Doston route at Biloxi in 2022. Campbell had a frame and positional versatility from the get go that at least gave the notion he could last.

You are correct that sacrificial lamb applies more to Doston. I looked it up and I think it was actually the Howell deal, because you had three outfielders in high-A, who had experience at high-A and promoted Campbell who didn’t. It looked a bit like they did the old maxim where the top prospects get assigned where they belong and everyone else fills in.

Maybe I was wrong and they thought Campbell was the best prepared for high-A, but regardless he took the opportunity and ran with it.

[Joseph Zarr]

We have a possible min-rally here in the 7th and final inning. We have one across. Men on 2nd and 3rd base. Nicasia has taken the count 2-2. Barrios roped a line drive double to knock across Vargas.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nicasia's rough game 1 continued with his 2nd punch out. An 0-for-4 night - no AB with more ramifications than that one. Luke Adams to the dish. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Jesus Chirinos has gotten absolutely owned in Game 1. He just struck out for the fourth time and not a single AB was close. How the mighty has fallen. It's a long time ago when we witnessed his resurgence last summer around his birthday.

[wiguy94]

Bases loaded, 1 out down 3-1 in the final inning of the game and Jesus Chirinos has one of the least competitive AB you will ever see. Looks like he wanted to get back to the dugout as fast as he possibly could. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Avina and Chirinos both strikeout swinging - behind 96 mph heaters center cut. This after precocious vastly underrated Luke Adams was intentionally walked, not so intentionally. The Mudcats leave the bases dripping and fall 2-0 in Game 1.

[Joseph Zarr]

Back-to-back doubles by Darrien Miller and Ben Metzinger have tied their knock in West Michigan at 3-3. Both knocks came with two down. Fantastic. Let's make this a ball game, gents!

[Joseph Zarr]

INF/OF Tyler Black has officially set the Biloxi Shuckers On Base Streak record. Incredible season for an incredible talent:

 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Sam Gardner's High-A debut for the T-Rats. K on a swinging inside heater for his first official tally. He gives up a double down the 3B line on a breaking ball (seeing eye end-of-the-bat poke). Gives up a line drive single to LF. Runners on the corners. Gives up a sac fly to LF. Gives up a line drive fly out to deep CF. 4-3 T-Rats are back behind. 

I would say, like Childers' debut, too much zone with little vertical or horizontal movement heaters. With a plus breaking ball in the mix. A common thread in these debut relief outings tonight.

[Joseph Zarr]

@wibadgers23: Lara is indeed back in the line-up for Game 2 in his traditional lead-off. And he grabs a poke to start things off and scores a run. He's good. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Welcome back, INF Freddy Zamora. His first action since that dangerous LF collision with Isaac Collins. He just doubled home the game-tying rbi. Carlos Rodriguez ripped a double to take the 3-2 lead. Let's go Shuckers!

[Joseph Zarr]

Break it open T-Rats. It's now 8-4 off the bats in the 8th frame. Three consecutive dubs open the affair. Woot woot. Metzinger - to - Garcia - to Ward. Glorious.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy Alex Hall wins sexiest foul ball of the night. He just crushed a breaking ball into the West Michigan parking lot. Unfortunately, it was about 20 feet foul down that right field line. 😅