Tue. 9/5 - How Would Potential Postseason Series Kick Off?

[Joseph Zarr]

At this rate, they might pull Shook at 55 pitches because this inning is taking too long. Sheesh. ANother run crosses. One down. It's 6-0 Shuckers now. And the bases are still juiced. Carlos D. Rodriguez is up for the second time this inning as the lineup has now flipped to the top. Rodriguez walks in a full count and it's 7-0 Shuckers. Warren is back to the dish and the bases are still juiced and there is still only one down. He absolutey rips one to deep RF. It knocks across two. It's a ripped single. And it's 9-0. 

This was a 1-0 game after 6 complete. Yeah baby!

[Joseph Zarr]

Montgomery leads 6-4 late over Chattanooga. With the Shuckers leading 9-0 here in the 7th frame the Barrons have now conceded 23 runs over their past 16 IP. Yikes. At this juncture, it's looking like Biloxi will likely maintain a 0.5 GB deficit from the also hot Biscuits.

[Joseph Zarr]

Man, Beloit leads Peoria 6-3 in the bottom of the 9th at Peoria. AND, the T-Rats have scuffled their way to a 6-3 deficit and repeatedly discovered why the Kernels are the juggernaut they are: timely hard hits and zero mistakes. They are just such a good High-A team. Bases juiced for the Kernels here on LHP Justin King with two down in a 2-2 count. If the T-Rats can't steal this late they are going to really lament letting a key game slip away at Home. 

[sveumrules]

Sounds have tacked on a few more runs, now up 6-2 bottom of eight.

Greg Allen (2-4, SBx2), Abraham Toro (2-4, 2B), Jahmai Jones (0-1, BBx3), Chris Roller (1-3, BB) and Cam Devanney (2-3, 2B, BB) have joined the aforementioned Tyler Black with busy days in the box and on the bases.

Josh Donaldson is 1-4 with an RBI and 2 K as he leads off bottom of eight with a pop out to third base.

[Joseph Zarr]

Brock Wilken is very clearly already a Double-A player. He is getting on base at an absurd rate of late. Everything is hit hard. He's taking walks. Is that now 9 straight trips on base? I may have missed an AB earlier here. Regardless, he is absolutely the part and more. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bob Moore lets his pitchers down a second time tonight dropping an absolute dime by C Matt Wood throwing out a runner at 2B. The runner slid into his glove but the throw was there well in advance to ensure he could get a better hold on the ball. These are crucial mishaps by Moore in the T-Rats most important game of their season - the throwing error earlier (leading to 1-2 runs) trying for the force out at 2B and this drop (yet to hurt his pitcher in terms of runs mind you) are just not the form you need from a key middle infielder. He needs to step up his game.

[Joseph Zarr]

Rattlers owe themselves for this impending loss. Just poor fundamental baseball. Suspect pitches in key spots. And bad base running decisions and errors when you needed to be better. 

Eduardo Garcia inexplicably leaves on the first pitch, trailing by 3, versus one of the best defensive catchers in the League. He is thrown out by 2-3'. AND, the next batter walks. Just poor form. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Lara takes a poor route on a deep fly to right CF and it sails over his glove. It's a lead-off double for Fedko - on base now for the fourth time tonight. Lara makes that play 9 out of 10 times. This is the type of game 1 we are in tonight. Frustrating outing versus a team you absolutely can not make these mistakes against. They capitalize entirely too many times in these scenarios. Let's hope Gardner can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Seven Kernels hits - 6 XBH. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't know what happens for RHP Sam Gardner the rest of 2023 or where he is placed in early 2024 but after shaking the rust off in his first couple of outings in High-A I've become a big fan of his. He doesn't give in in AB's versus dangerous hitters - won't force a pitch over the plate if the base is open. He has many tools in his arsenal. He's just a gamer. I think his best pitching is ahead of him.

[Joseph Zarr]

And, in Brimingham, leading 9-1...it wouldn't be a RHP Robbie Baker relief outing without surrendering a mammoth shot. Another HR surrendered. 9-2 Shuckers. Man, it's hard to fathom how he has fallen from the mountain top after his first two months. He closes the game with a hard hit grounder to SS. Shuckers win 9-2. Montgomery managed to squeak one out 7-6 vs Chattanooga. The Shuckers remain 0.5 GB. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just a friendly reminder:

We are on the doorstep. The doorstep, I tell you of resetting history. The Mudcats are right there to end the longest playoff drought in the Minor Leagues. Let's friggin' GO!

[wibadgers23]

Nice night for Black who has been scuffling for some time now. Walked twice, tripled, drove in three runs and stole a base. He really needed a night like tonight.

[sveumrules]

Meatloaf said two out of three ain’t bad,  so he really would’ve been impressed by three out of four affiliate SPs surrendering zero earned runs tonight…

Jesus Rivero (5 IP | 5 H | 0 BB | 4 K)

TJ Shook (6 IP | 1 H | 1 BB | 3 K)

Julio Teheran (5 IP | 1 H | 3 BB | 3 K)

[Joseph Zarr]

22 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Meatloaf said two out of three ain’t bad,  so he really would’ve been impressed by three out of four affiliate SPs surrendering zero earned runs tonight…

Jesus Rivero (5 IP | 5 H | 0 BB | 4 K)

TJ Shook (6 IP | 1 H | 1 BB | 3 K)

Julio Teheran (5 IP | 1 H | 3 BB | 3 K)

"Ma! The Meatloaf!"

Of the three Shook was the most impressive by my eyes - in total control (albeit against Birmingham but I won't focus on that!). 55 pitches through 6 IP? Yowza. Meatloaf would weep.

 

(He's singing about weeping here. I swear.)