Tue. 7/4 - Hopefully the Good Kind of Fireworks; DSL Clubs Faceoff

[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

[Jim Goulart]

Organizational Press Release:

Brewers name Minor League Players and Pitchers of the Month for June
Clarke and Rodríguez Named Players of the Month; Gasser and Rivero Selected as Pitchers of the Month

The Milwaukee Brewers have named first baseman/catcher Wes Clarke and outfielder Yophery Rodríguez as Minor League Players of the Month and left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser and right-handed pitcher Jesús Rivero as Minor League Pitchers of the Month for June.
 
Clarke, 23, carried a .404 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage in 21 games for Double-A Biloxi in June, drawing 21 walks in 89 plate appearances. He led the organization in RBI (19) for the month, tied for the lead in walks (21) and ranked second in home runs (5).
 
Selected in the 10th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, Clarke ranked among Southern League leaders in June in home runs (T7th, 5), RBI (T7th, 19) and on-base percentage (9th, .404).
 
Clarke drove in multiple runs in 6 games in June, including recording a season-high 4 RBI on June 2 vs. Pensacola. He made starts at first base (12g), designated hitter (5g) and catcher (4g) in June.
 
Rodriguez, 17, made his professional debut with DSL Brewers 1 in June, batting .286 (18-for-63) with 4 doubles, a triple, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 17 runs and 7 stolen bases in 19 games. He posted a .465 on-base percentage with 21 walks to just 14 strikeouts in 86 plate appearances.
 
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in January, Rodriguez carried a .941 OPS for the month.
 
Gasser, 24, went 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA (25.1ip, 8er) in 4 starts for Triple-A Nashville in June. He recorded 27 strikeouts to just 4 walks. Opponents batted just .206 (20-for-97) off Gasser in June, while he posted a 0.95 WHIP.
 
Gasser ranked among International League leaders for June in opponent batting average (2nd, .206), WHIP (2nd, 0.95), ERA (4th, 2.84) and strikeouts (T6th, 27). He threw his first career complete game (7ip) on June 7 at Jacksonville.
 
Rivero, 20, went 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA (11.1ip, 4er) in 3 relief appearances for the ACL Brewers in June before being promoted to Class-A Carolina on June 27. He made his debut for the Mudcats on June 29, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts over 2.0 innings.
 
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June of 2021, Rivero worked no fewer than 3.0 innings with at least 6 strikeouts in each of his appearances with the ACL Brewers. He finished his time in the Arizona Complex League with 1 walk, 19 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP.

[wibadgers23]

Just turned 18-year old Juan Baez continues to rake in the ACL.  Three more hits including a double and RBI today. I wonder if the Brewers will be aggressive with him just like they were with Lara and move him up to Carolina before season’s end.

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi plays at Marlins’ affiliate Pensacola this week. RHP James Meeker (2.90 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 in 40.1 IP) is somehow starting the opener after throwing 65 pitches 4 days ago. C Wes Clarke has a 13-game on-base streak. 

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin hosts Marlins’ affiliate Beloit this week, with a healthy RHP Alexander Cornielle (5.61 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 8.5 K/9 in 43.1 IP) making his first start in 30 days. CF Joe Gray Jr. is 5-for-9 in his last 2 games. 

[Joseph Zarr]

We have a RHP Ryne Moore sighting in the ACL. Nice to see the young man make it back to the mound.

[Joseph Zarr]

This is the third start in a row for RHP James Meeker. An interesting development, if nothing else. And, it certainly doesn't appear it's anything more (in the current moment) than a 3 IP maybe 4 IP ordeal. Are they actually trying to stretch him? OR, are they simply strapped for starting pitching? I would imagine it's the latter.

[Joseph Zarr]

We have a four spot here in the top half of the 3rd frame. The Shuckers now lead 5-0. Bases juiced. Two down. OF Lamar Sparks is at the dish. Let's see if these young men can find some mojo today to close this one out. Sparks takes the 3-1 count high and inside. Another batter crosses as he takes the free pass. 6-0 Shuckers. INF Tyler Black will look to do some real damage here.

[Joseph Zarr]

Black couldn't check his swing on a 2-2 high heater. Fringe zone pitch. He leaves them stranded. 6-0 and we'll head to the bottom half where Mr. Meeker will look to keep dealing scoreless frames.

[Ro Mueller]

3 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Black couldn't check his swing on a 2-2 high heater. Fringe zone pitch. He leaves them stranded. 6-0 and we'll head to the bottom half where Mr. Meeker will look to keep dealing scoreless frames.

…and Black immediately exited. Uh oh.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, damuelle said:

…and Black immediately exited. Uh oh.

Did he? I didn't notice anything remarkable on the pitch or the swing. He just seemed ticked off he swung😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Chourio just crushed a ball over the LF wall...a moon shot...but, ultimately it's just another foul ball. That appeared quite close. He swings and misses on a high heater on the next pitch. His hot-and-cold 2023 soldiers on.

[Joseph Zarr]

OK @damuelle. I went back and watched his final AB. He appears to have tweaked his left leg in the AB. Unknown how it happened but he was working it out some every swing after it happened. The AB starts at the 1:44:01 mark fwiw. Regardless, I would gather this is some kind of left leg tweak. Mysterious. Actually, upon further review, he's already uncomfortable with it before the first pitch. This must have happened earlier in the game. Ugh. I'm going to investigate those first two innings.

[Ro Mueller]

Low-A Carolina is home this week to take on Astros’ affiliate Fayetteville. Red-hot RHP Patricio Aquino (2.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.1 K/9 in 43.1 IP) starts today’s contest. CF Luis Lara is 6-for-8 in his last 2 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

James Meeker is at 60 pitches over 5 shutout innings. That's 125 pitches in a 5-day span (June 30 - July 4). I hope this man can rest now. And that this all ultimately pays off for him with a successful MLB career. Shuckers lead 7-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

OK, INF Tyler Black:

1 AB: line out to CF - well hit...right to the CF'er unfortunately

- Not a single bit of action toward 3B in any fashion before his final inning at the dish -

Here is the play: 1:33:53 (for MiLB.TV subscribers)

With runners on the corners (Black hit a line drive single up the middle infield sending Sparks to 3B), Chourio rips a chopper with Black already in motion. A classic hit-and-run. The chopper is toward the 2B gap with the second baseman running to cover the 2B. Black holds up for a moment but realizes the ball had gone under the 2B glove during a false tag situation - the ball traveled into shallow right center. However, upon dashing to the actual bag Black appears to hit the nearside far right corner of the bag and definitely trips himself up awkwardly and stumbles past the bag before sprinting to 3B. That's the play. Right there. And, whatever happened there carried into his next AB where he was clearly in discomfort. And, as @damuelle adeptly pointed out: was pulled shortly thereafter.

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's a few stills of the trip-up for those of you who don't have MiLB.Tv. You'll notice him awkwardly on that far corner and then it led to the second shot - a clear stumble before he adroitly kept his step:

 

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville welcomes Guardians' affiliate Columbus for 6 games. RHP Janson Junk (3.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.6 K/9 in 75.2 IP) starts tonight after throwing 98 pitches in 7 innings 5 days ago. In his last 5 games, DH/INF Abraham Toro is 8-for-16 with 5 extra base hits and 10 RBIs. 

[Ro Mueller]

6 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

OK, INF Tyler Black:

1 AB: line out to CF - well hit...right to the CF'er unfortunately

- Not a single bit of action toward 3B in any fashion before his final inning at the dish -

Here is the play: 1:33:53

With runners on the corners (Black hit a line drive single up the middle infield sending Sparks to 3B), Chourio rips a chopper with Black already in motion. A classic hit-and-run. The chopper is toward the 2B gap with the second baseman running to cover the 2B. Black holds up for a moment but realizes the ball had gone under the 2B glove during a false tag situation - the ball traveled into shallow right center. However, upon dashing to the actual bag Black appears to hit the nearside far right corner of the bag and definitely trips himself up awkwardly and stumbles past the bag before sprinting to 3B. That's the play. Right there. And, whatever happened there carried into his next AB where he was clearly in discomfort. And, as @damuelle adeptly pointed out: was pulled shortly thereafter.

That’s some serious serious sleuthing. Thanks! Hopefully it’s just a minor tweak and Tyler’s back latest Thursday. Fingers crossed.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Kaleb Bowman is on the hill and, unfortunately, predictably gives up runs right off the bat. He has now given up runs in 6-of-12 Biloxi relief outings. It's extremely hard to know who to trust in that Shuckers bullpen now that the Shookster is back to starting games; Uribe is in Nashville; Chirino is on the IL; and Yeager is on the IL. Robinson continues to be a quagmire in 2023. I think we honestly have to look to our recent promotions in Brady, Amaya, and Lazar as possible set up men to Vennarro? But knowing how manager Mike Guerrero attacks things on a year-in and year-out basis, he'll likely continue tossing the ball to his 'veterans' while still giving that closing role to RHP Cam Robinson in hopes he miraculously discovers his 2022 self again. I don't begrudge this, to be clear - these could be orders from beyond the dugout. But, as a baseball fan first and foremost it can be frustrating when you just want to see these young men win games.

[Joseph Zarr]

You have to love to see INF Zavier Warren have a 3-for-3 night at the dish. He smashed a double off the RF wall earlier. And, here in the top of the 7th frame he just smashed a solo shot to extend that lead to 8-2. All the more pleasing was he started the AB with an 0-2 mark on two off-speed deliveries. He laid off the high inside heater on the next pitch. Then took an off-speed delivery over the wall in RF. His 3rd XBH of his afternoon. THAT is how you turn the corner young man!

[brewmann04]

Unreal how injuries come up with Black. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Robbie Baker on in relief of Bowman here in the 8th. Come on, Robbie. It's a new month. Let's go an outing with no long balls. Let's get back to those first two dominant months!

[Joseph Zarr]

Carolina is out to a 2-0 lead versus Fayettevillle but RHP Janson Junk has given up 3 runs early here. He has runners on 2nd and 3rd. And he has nobody down. Yikes. Sounds trail 3-0. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't know if Junk has the stuff tonight to make it out of his first inning. Yikes. 5-0 Clippers. One down. And he's into the mid 20's pitch count already. Not pretty.