Tue. 4/9 - New Six-Game Series Begin

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

6 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Meanwhile, Biloxi and Mississippi are in a weather delay already. Boooo!

I am worried cats may ppd Thursday's at 11:00am due to weather): I am driving up and going so.........

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Update from Biloxi: 

Due to the weather, our first pitch for tonight's game has been pushed back to 6:30 pm CT "7:30 ET"

[Joseph Zarr]

Mogollon takes the hill in relief to start the 5th for the Mudcats. His first Low-A inning. He looks good so far - even with the ump blowing a beautiful strike 3 call on his 2nd batter. 

AND, RHP TJ Shook starts his 2024 season with his change-up looking like the Ace pitch that it is for his first K of 2024. Beautiful pitch.

[Joseph Zarr]

I have a hard time telling you how good Shook's change-up looks. My goodness the life on that pitch is glorious. He goes a scoreless first frame and he looked in control and dialed in doing it. Love it.

[Joseph Zarr]

Ernesto Martinez is in the zone. He gets the first hit of the game here in the top of the 2nd with a broken bat liner flare to shallow LF. When you are in the zone you get knocks like that. Good result!

[Joseph Zarr]

A beautiful piece of fielding from Nicasia-to Briceno-to Pratt to grab the out at 2B after a ball off the wall saw the batter round a step to far. Wonderful piece of fundamental baseball - starting with Nicasia's adept corral reading the angle and dart to the relay man. He has a really good arm - been saying it for a year.

[Joseph Zarr]

Baez has started 2024 red hot. He just smoked his second ball of the evening for a lead-off single in the bottom of the 6th. Let's get a mini rally going, lads! Mudcats still trail 3-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Yophery strikes out swinging and he doesn't look particularly good doing it. That was a rough AB for the talented young OF'er. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Osbriel Mogollon gives me saerious Andy Otero vibes. Diminutive in stature. Savvy. Good off-speed tools. A heater that plays and rides because of the impactful off-speed. He's looked very much like he belongs in his first full-season action. Really nice to see it! 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, just as I say that he throws a nasty 2-2 curve ball for the final out of the Wood Ducks 7th. Should have 3 K. That'll count for his 2nd officially. Beautiful pitch!

[Joseph Zarr]

Adams at 1B is such an weapon with his athleticism. He has beat out about 4 runners to 1B with athletic scoops and turns and sprints to get the runners out. It eliminates any botched tosses or gathers. Just a weapon. He continues to validate my belief that is likely his best position (at least in the near term).

[Joseph Zarr]

This just in: Down East is still really good. They play such good defense and they have a collective physical presence reminiscent of the physical presence of the Kernels of last year's Midwest League. THey continue to lead the Mudcats 3-0 into the 8th frame. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The Syackkkkkks are dripping in Zebulon with nary an out for the Mudcats! LET'S GO! What's more? The red hot Juan Baez is to the dish! Let's see a rally men!

[Joseph Zarr]

 Baez foul pops a 3-2 ball to 3B foul territory. Yophery takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. And it's a 3-1 game. Pratt will be to the dish. One down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Ahhhh yes the tale of Minor League umps as both Carolina and the T-Rats were just robbed of RBI hits down the 3B line. Unrealy botched call in South Bend. I mean that ball drew a massive dust cloud of chalk. Barrios just absolutely robbed. Ugh.

[Joseph Zarr]

Pratt likely robbed of an RBI grounder down the 3B line. Barrios absolutely robbed of a line drive right on the chalk for RBI's. He ultimately strikes out and strands 2. Brutal.

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats strand 3. They drive in one via walk. Pratt ultimately flew out to CF. Hall grounded out sharply to 2B. They trail 3-1 headed to the 9th.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP TJ Shook's evening ends after a weak pop fly flare found the grass between a sliding Noah Campbell and a charging Cargo Rodriguez. It winds up a double. He completes 4 2/3 scoreless with 5 K. The change-up. The chef's kiss. Fantastic first outing. Exactly what I was hoping to see. This young man has all the tools if he can keep grinding. LHP Russ Smith will inherit the runner and face the righty bat in Conley.

[Joseph Zarr]

The runner takes 3B. AND Smith ends up giving up an 0-2 double deep the warning track in LF. Just a bad pitch. You can't be hanging that 0-2. Woooof. Shook deserved much better. And, bringing on the lefty to face consecutive righty bats might be a move Ayrault regrets in the end. 

[Joseph Zarr]

It's RHP Bayden Root's second consecutive outing where he's loaded the bases. Interesting tactic. He did just manage to get a K swinging. He walked the bases full in his first outing. I missed what happened here and he did just give up a one run line drive single to RF. One down. Mudcats now trail 4-1.

[Joseph Zarr]

Rain is coming down in Memphis as the Sounds have the bases juiced and just walked in their 8th run. They lead the Classiest Triple-A ball club 8-0. Woot woot.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, Dylan O'Rae hits a two-out oppo blooper down the 3B line into the shallow RF grass and it scores the T-Rats first run. It's 1-0. Let's go men. Runners on 1st and 2nd for Lara.

[markedman5]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

 

He just needed me to opine publicly he's in an ongoing slump. The exit velo is finally being rewarded and he's lifting the ball again! Meanwhile, Junk just gave up a double deep to the warning track in right scoring one. He has runners on 2nd and 3rd with one down. It's 8-1 Sounds.

[Joseph Zarr]

Childers works around a one out single. And a wild pitch advancing the runner to 2B. He K's two consecutive. With the runner on second base, he K'd his final batter on 3 straight masterful pitches mixed along the outer stripe. Gorgeous work. T-Rats still lead 1-0.