Fri. 3/29 - Sounds Drop Opener; Quero Injured

[Jim Goulart]

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

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

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Wow, we're here (already)! 3:05 Central

Link Report Saturday morning as we ease into things (Biloxi, Wisconsin and Carolina all begin play on Friday 4/5).

Nashville has to get this roster down to 28 active players. It's at 31 as of this post date and time.

Jeff Hem enters his 13th year in Music City and his 19th overall season behind the microphone, as per the Sounds' site. An MLB.TV subscription gets you MiLB.TV access. For road games, listen for free here in order to hear Jeff's call.
 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Opening weekend in Toledo and we'll get to say a warm 'Hello' to our ol' friend Keston Hiura. Let's get the party started right! I'll be tuning in early and often in the game thread. This first week is so joyous getting to focus in solely on the Sounds. Hopefully we start the season out strong and healthy.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

If we’re to believe the score preview, we’ve got 22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez starting the opener against 26-year old RHP Matt Manning.

Gotta figure we’ll see Quero at C, Black at 1B and an outfield of Roller, Wiemer and Hicklen. Main question for me is whether Yonny Hernandez or Vinny Capra starts at short.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Any one see that every team plays as the https://www.milb.com/team/oatly once at home this season!?

[wiguy94]

Poor Carlos Rodriguez having to face the AAA Great Bambino today. Let's all say a prayer for him.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 3/27/2024 at 5:31 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

Opening weekend in Toledo and we'll get to say a warm 'Hello' to our ol' friend Keston Hiura. Let's get the party started right! I'll be tuning in early and often in the game thread. This first week is so joyous getting to focus in solely on the Sounds. Hopefully we start the season out strong and healthy.

In true fashion, this old crotchety farm hand completely forgot he has a date night getaway with his wife. She booked a place 'on the river' as it twere for an overnight escapade. I think I forgot because, well, I essentially never leave my farm. LOL. I guess I'll be reading through the game thread later in the evening, checking the box score, and then attempting to tune in early and often on Saturday. 😅 Here's hoping the men come out ready to go. Enjoy the game y'all. Brewers baseball is back!

[Ro Mueller]

We’ve got our first Nashville Game Notes of 2024. Yes, Carlos F. Rodriguez gets the start tonight, then it’s Evan McKendry scheduled for Saturday and Tobias Myers on Sunday. Go get ‘em! 

[Ro Mueller]

We don't usually post opposing teams' lineups, but we don't usually face cleanup 1B Keston Hiura on opening day. The Mud Hens' lineup also includes mlb.com's #58 overall prospect, 23-year old 3B Jace Jung (last played for AA Erie). 

[Ro Mueller]

22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (2.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 in 123.2 IP in AA last season) starts the Season Opener for Nashville at Tigers' affiliate Toledo. The Sounds' lineup features the #35 (C Jeferson Quero) and #45 (DH Tyler Black) prospects in baseball according to mlb.com. 

[Ro Mueller]

They're under way in Toledo, with Tyler Black getting jammed into a groundout, Jeferson Quero working hard to earn an 8-pitch walk only to get picked off first, and Owen Miller striking out on 4 pitches.

And we've got immediate trouble in paradise, as Quero exits in favor of Brian Navarreto. God, please make this minor: 

 

[wiguy94]

Well disaster to start the season for Nashville. Quero gets picked off 1st in the 1st inning and leaves the game injured.

[Ro Mueller]

I thought maybe Quero jammed his left elbow diving back to first base, but Sam Dykstra speculates it could be an injured shoulder. 

 

[wiguy94]

9 minutes ago, damuelle said:

I thought maybe Quero jammed his left elbow diving back to first base, but Sam Dykstra speculates it could be an injured shoulder. 

 

When he rolled onto his back he grabbed his right shoulder. I immediately was reminded of the Jimmy Nelson injury.

[Ro Mueller]

After the injury to Quero, Rodriguez gave up a double and an RBI single (Keston Hiura) in the bottom half of the inning, despite appearing to benefit from a rather wide strike zone. Wiemer, Hicklen & Capra were then each K'd in the top of the 2nd inning. 

Man, and it's Quero's right arm too. Good grief. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

INF Patrick Dorrian was at risk of being the forgotten man, especially if fellow INF Oliver Dunn hadn’t been recalled to the Brewers after Mitchell’s injury.

Instead, Dorrian starts at third base, calmly watches two strikes, then blasts the next strike he sees 440 ft at 106.7mph to center field to claw a run back. Sounds trail 3-1 in the 3rd inning.

Meanwhile, Tyler Black is pressing, swinging low, swinging high to end that 3rd inning with a K.

[Ro Mueller]

CF Rodriguez has not been that sharp, but then again the Mud Hens have made quality contact even on several pitches outside the strike zone.

Things nearly came to a head in the bottom of the 3rd inning, with CFR issuing his 4th walk of the game to load the bases with 2 outs.

Already at 79 pitches, they had a mound visit, but the coaches left him in the game. CF Rodriguez then promptly K’d Mud Hen catcher Dillon Dingler (ranked #14 on their prospect list) on 3 pitches, the last a 73mph curveball well down. Whew!

[Joseph Zarr]

Quero injured? Good grief. Let's hope hope hope he is Ok! UGH.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh man just saw that clip of Quero. I am officially scared; nervous; heartbroken. Please baseball gods if you can hear me: let it be a shocking stinger or a bruise or a jammed shoulder. PLEASE.🥹

[Ro Mueller]

22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez of Rivas, Nicaragua gives way to 32-year old RHP Kevin Herget of Teaneck, New Jersey to start the bottom of the 4th inning. Nashville still trails 3-1.

Herget threw 47.1 IP in AAA and 24.1 IP in MLB for the Reds last season.

[Ro Mueller]

LF Brewer Hicklen successfully challenges that wide strike zone (ABS system reversing an 0-2 pitch), getting new life and ultimately starting the 5th inning with a single. But the Sounds collect no runs in that frame…

[Ro Mueller]

Kevin Herget gave the team what it needed: 2 scoreless frames, including working around 2 singles and an error in the 5th inning by getting the 6-4-3 GIDP.

Then Tyler Black gets hit by a pitch and scores on an Owen Miller double to left field. It’s a 3-2 ballgame in the 6th inning.

26-year old RHP Ryan Middendorf comes in for the bottom half of the inning, returning to AAA ball after struggling in 10 games at this level in May/June 2023.

[Ro Mueller]

3-up, 3-down for Middendorf in the 6th inning and Brewer Hicklen puts the Sounds immediately in business with a leadoff double in the top of the 7th inning. Go Sounds!

[Ro Mueller]

Excruciating to put up a Zero there in the top of the 7th inning, after having the bases loaded with nobody out. Dorrian chased low (K). Yonny took the count full (K). And Tyler Black is just not himself (popped out on a high, inside 1-1 pitch).

Nashville still trails 3-2.

[Ro Mueller]

Middendorf was excellent in retiring all 4 batters he faced. Now 25-year old Blake Holub (acquired for Mark Canha) comes in for his AAA debut with 1 out in the bottom of the 7th inning, facing some of his old teammates.