Tue. 8/29 - See You Next Summer, Rookies. Back to the "Core Four"...

[Joseph Zarr]

Rivero has a 'No No' going. BUT, he also has 2 HBP and 4 BB. And, now we're 3-2 on the next batter. He always seems to skate on precariously thin ice no matter how effective he is. He'll simply have to work out these kinks as he tries to progress up the system. Another walk. The bases are juiced now and a second visit to the mound in the inning. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Tyler Wehrle is coming to the hill. All I can say is: Please, Mr. Wehrle, can we get back to the majority of your outings and far away from your recent work? That would be quite nice.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, Wehrle induces yet another weak chopper. Baez flexes his ongoing defensive question marks. He charges it and rips a throw wide of the bag into foul territory. That throw had no chance. He needs to eat that ball. VERY lucky it rebounded so directly off the foul territory wall to Chirinos. The Mudcats nabbed a runner at home then after the throw to the runner at 2B. 2-2. AND, Wehrle then gives up a hard hit liner scoring the runner from 2B. 3-2 Wood Ducks.

No matter how you put it, the facts are the facts: Wehrle is trending down at the most important time of the season. It's sad but true. He got the weak chopper - very unlucky there. BUT, that ball was ripped into CF. 

AND, saying all this: it also goes directly back to Rivero and his ongoing walk issues. So much talent. Has yet to harness it consistently.

[Joseph Zarr]

We have a call and a look at the 435' 104 mph launch from Clarke:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats strand runners on 2B and 3B in the 5th. Baez ripped a doulble to the LF wall. Hall walked. They advanced on a WP. Chirinos struck out swinging on a very tasty off-speed pitch that dipped below the zone. 3-2 Wood Ducks as we head to the 6th.

[Joseph Zarr]

Metzinger loops a shallow bloop liner to RF and it scores Mendez from 2B. Moore advances to 3B. 2-0 T-Rats. Two down. Top of the 4th.

AND RF Edquarqui Fernandez then rips a double to the wall in right CF. 4-0 T-Rats. Beautiful two-out piece of hitting.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, we are now in a downpour and a rain delay in Tennessee. Top of the 7th. SHuckers still lead 9-0. Myers has been fantastic til this point despite a stupid two-base throwing error with two down in the bottom of the 6th. We'll let it slide.

Vallecillo is getting tagged early here in the 7th. If it wasn't for an expert relay throw from Jadher Areinamo nailing the first batter at 2B by a hair, he'd have just given up a run on a hard hit liner to LF. Two hits for the Wood Ducks in this inning. They still lead 3-2. Runner at 1B.

[Joseph Zarr]

Vallecillo has given up three straight hits to start the 7th. The next a soft liner to CF that found the shallow grass. Men on 1st and 2nd. 1 down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Vallecillo's ongoing woes continue as well. The Mudcats pitching staff is in serious trouble at the most important time of their season. It's really unfortunate as they've been the strength of the team for the majority of the season. He now walks the bases full. 3 H, 1 BB in this inning. They just aren't anywhere near as dominant in the middle and late innings like they were. It is suddenly a weak spot and it may cost them a playoff birth. Bases juiced. One down. 

BTW, I'm not just spitballing here:

Since mid August (8/14) the Mudcats are 5-7 and own a cumulative 7.03 ERA in that timeframe. It's not pretty at present. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Yup. It's a catastrophe in the Mudcats bullpen at present. There's no getting around it. After K'ng a batter. And with what appears to my eyes as significantly reduced velo from Vallecillo he hung a 3-2 hanger and it is ripped deep of the LF wall. 6-2 Down East.

It's hard to watch. Vallecillo's hardest FB this inning is 90. That's not normal. Is it fatigue? Hard to tell. But, the point remains: the bullpen continues to be in serious serious trouble. And the post-season is hanging in the balance.

Let's also share some 'blame' with the Mudcats offense. They haven't scored since the third inning. And, they've been routinely putting pressure on the collapsing bullpen night-in and night-out. 

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[wibadgers23]

Chourio’s bat has been relatively quiet the past few weeks but he did pick up a hit and his 80th RBI of the season.  Just one homerun shy of 20 on the year.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sibrian crushes a hard hit rocket liner/grounder and it one-hop ricochets up off the 3B glove into LF. Long AB and battle. Fine AB. 6-3. The Mudcats grab one back. Men on the corners. Two down. Barrios at the dish. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Barrios strikes out looking in three straight pitches. Yikes. Gorgeous looping breaking ball caught him staring. On to the 9th and final frame. It certainly looks like somebody is going to gain a game on the Mudcats (Fredericksburg and Lynchburg are head-to-head).

[sveumrules]

@Joseph Zarr clearly spent the late season off day with the white coats in the Brewers Posting Lab further fine tuning his already considerable skillz.

Impressive effort, mon frere.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

@Joseph Zarr clearly spent the late season off day with the white coats in the Brewers Posting Lab further fine tuning his already considerable skillz.

Impressive effort, mon frere.

 

I had to rework my release point on the 'Return' button. was missing wide right for over a week. Sad and sorry stuff.

[Joseph Zarr]

With two men aboard, DH Tayden Hall had an opportunity to knock some runs in and extend his hit streak. It ended. Fly out to CF. 1B Jesus Chirinos now will have an opportunity. Two down. 2-2 count. Is there some magic in this bat?

[Joseph Zarr]

Chirinos goes down swinging on an inner to right center cut breaking ball. He sat on it. He saw it. He simply swung and just missed slightly under the fast-dipping pitch. It was a nice pitch. The Mudcats bullpen continues to have issues. The Mudcats continue to struggle knocking across runs. 10 men LOB. Fredericksburg beat Lynchburg. They are 2.5 and 2.0 GB, respectively.

[Joseph Zarr]

The T-Rats get fantastic pitching from LHP Nate Peterson, RHP Nick Merkel, and RHP Shane Smith. They win 5-0. AND, they gain a game on Peoria. They are now 4.0 GB of the second half Playoff birth. I believe.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Evan McKendry worked around a lead-off walk and a two-out walk by striking out the side to leave the 1st with the Sounds leading 1-0. Really nice work.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well things pretty much fell apart for McKendry in the 4th and 5th frames. Thankful this is only a seven inning contest. The Sounds bats haven't gotten much of anything going whatsoever. And, their run was crossed after three opening walks and then a failed DP on a routine grounder (dropped by the Bulls' 1B). 7-1 here headed to the 6th. McKendry gave up 2-run and 3-run long balls.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds lose 7-3. Tough game 1. 

Side Note:

I absolutely continue to believe RHP Luis Contreras has a future in the MLB. I sincerely hope the Brewers can re-up him in ML FA. He has flashed enough for me. He has been inconsistent, yes, but he has big upside talent by my eyes. I hope he can continue finishing his season strong.