Tue. 4/2 - Aaron Ashby Gets the Sounds' Home Opener Starting Nod

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

A walk. A SB (no throw from Kahle on a 92 heater up). And a 1-2 count single to LF and it's 1-0 Sounds. Ashby is now sitting 91-92 and is down 3-0 to Miranda.

We probably  need to give him until June at the very least. Clear he just doesn't have the stamina yet. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, Brewcrew82 said:

We probably  need to give him until June at the very least. Clear he just doesn't have the stamina yet. 

At least, yes. Hey, he got into the 70's pitch count today. He hit 94 mph. He still struck out 5. He ran out of steam. But, all in all, a successful debut all things considered.

[Joseph Zarr]

Rain Delay is over. Sounds are in the dugout. Still no video feed as of yet. RHP Ryan Middendorf will make his second appearance of the year for Rick Sweet and the Sounds. He'll take over for Ashby, obviously.

[Joseph Zarr]

According to the MiLB.TV feed we are still in a rain delay even though Middendorf just threw strike one. Ugh. Come on.

[Joseph Zarr]

Middendorf gives up a 1-2 seeing eye single through the left side. Men on 1st and 2nd. Sounds trail 2-0. Run is charged to Ashby.

[Joseph Zarr]

A strike out. Followed by a first pitch Middendorf curve hitting the batter smack dab in the center of his back. Bases juiced. One down. Sounds still trail 2-0. Middendorf is sitting 96-97 on his sinker. That off-speed one clearly got away.

[Joseph Zarr]

Line drive hit to LF - sounded good off the bat. Ashby is given another run as Middendorf allows both RISP to score. 3-0 Saints. Bases still juiced. One down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sac Fly to RF. Roller appeared to have made a decent attempt to Home but Hem says it was just a hair up the line. 4-0 Saints. Runners on the corners. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Middendorf gets the last out swinging. He strands two of his own; allows both RISP to cross; and allows a sac fly of his own. Sounds trail 4-0 headed to their bottom half. Let's see if those sleepy sleepy uninspired Sounds bats can wake up.

[Joseph Zarr]

A Tyler Black walk. An Oliver Miller pop out. Then a Brewer Hinklen roped Double down the 3B line. We have men on 2nd and 3rd. One down. Chris Roller to the dish. Let's go, men. Let's get some runs across.

[Joseph Zarr]

Alright Mr. Roller! He rips a single up the middle and drives in both Black and Hicklen. Sounds pull within two runs. Dorrian represents the tying run at the plate.

[Joseph Zarr]

Zastryzny dealing in his lone inning of work tossing 2 K's in the mix. He's setting up to be a key member of the Sounds staff here early. He's been very very effective in limited action so far. On to the Sounds half of the 7th trailing 4-2.

[Joseph Zarr]

Old Sound hurler RHP Hobie Harris just got Vinny Capra on three straight pitches. Man, he was fantastic out of that Sounds Pen in 2022. 30 years old now, he's coming off some Big League action with the Nationals last year. This is just his 2nd outing in the early season for the Saints. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Harris is still throwing 95-96 and working that splitter cutter with aplomb. Such a nice Triple-A reliever. I hope he gets another shot at the Bigs. He K's Miller and Capra. He walks Wiemer (nice, Wiems!). Black flies out to RF on a pitch that tailed in on his bat. On to the 8th frame. 4-2 Saints.

[Joseph Zarr]

WHOA Yonny Hernandez 3-0 splitter down and in RIPS a 3-Run Bomb that just snuck in over the LF wall! He gulfed that baby out. WOW. It's 5-4 Sounds. Off ol' RHP Hobie Harris! 

Geeeeee it sure would have been nice to see that one in a video feed!!!! Still grateful to hear to call from Jeff Hem! Woot woot!

[Joseph Zarr]

28-year-old Enoli Paredes will try and shut this down. He's on the attack sitting 95-96 mph. He last worked a 1-2-3 frame in Toledo on Saturday with a K. He comes out dealing a K on another 96 mph heater. 

[Joseph Zarr]

WOW. Paredes strikes out the side. Whewwwwwww. WHAT an improbable 5-4 comeback victory. AND, that is why having such a trusty veteran arm in LHP Rob Zastryzny is so important. His two innings of work were huge.. What a 'W'!

[rickh150]

Thanks, Zarr!

I like the idea of adding Black to the infield mix at some point. The walks and speed alone will fit right in.

Ashby outing is good news. We’ll take 94mph and several innings on April 2.

[Jim French Stepstool]

A step in the road back for Ashby. Agree with Brewcrew82, it just feels like it'll be awhile before he can be a plus addition in Milwaukee.

Thanks Zarr for putting up with the technological pratfalls. You put me in mind of someone in 1943 hunched over a ham radio set.

"This is 17ypx33 calling home base......come in home base......🎧"

[duewizard]

Rough game and rough viewing experience (if you can call it that). As always thanks for the great report Joseph

[SF70]

No hurry on Ashby. I believe he has 2 more option years including this year so they have plenty of time for him to get the velo back.

[jay87shot]

12 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

He may be shaking off rust. And, his velo certainly isn't where we'd like it to be but Ashby is fighting through it and has 3 scoreless 4 K innings. His change-up is really showing out with aplomb. He is learning the art of the Mix with his patented sinker not having the life it once had currently.

Also, this just in:

Tyler Black has made two nice grabs at 1B. You love to see it. He just expertly scooped a quick scoop and throw from Kahle in front of home plate on a bang-bang play to get the dangerous Miranda out by a couple of footsteps. 0-0 and we are on to the Sounds bottom half.

Maybe having Ashby throwing 91-92 hitting 94 can be a blessing in disguise. If he learns to mix up his pitches and can hone done his accuracy when that 95-98 comes back he could greatly benefit from learning to battle with lesser stuff. 

Black playing a good 1st is awesome to hear, I doubt Bauers is going to last long this year. If Black comes up say in June he can play 1st a couple times a week (Rhys DH), essentially be a utility guy at 2B, 3B, and a 5th