Wed. 5/1: Birthday Boy Patricio Aquino Starts Wisconsin's Matinee

[wiguy94]

Ernesto Martinez just hit an absolute bomb. Unfortunately no EV or distance, but I did not see the ball drop over the fence in RF.

[wiguy94]

Yophery starts out the 9th with another strikeout. I was hoping that strikeout rate would have started to trend down at this point, but it continues sitting in that mid to upper 30's range.

[Joseph Zarr]

Yophery's Slump continues. He has been very overmatched at the dish tonight. He swings and misses on a 3-2 count to lead off the 9th and looked overmatched for his third consecutive AB. The young man will learn from these trials. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Yophery starts out the 9th with another strikeout. I was hoping that strikeout rate would have started to trend down at this point, but it continues sitting in that mid to upper 30's range.

He has a good eye at the dish, actually. AND, this being said, he struggles to make contact consistently. I personally don't like how he consistently takes himself away from the ball in his swing. His momentum takes him to the edge of the box. He's obviously uber-talented but this isn't Chourio. He's well behind in the development arc. And, that's just fine. Miles to go.

Meanwhile Ernesto Martinez Jr. just absolutely murdered a baseball to RF. 5-1 Shuckers.

[Joseph Zarr]

We're going to Extras in Zebulon after Baez grounded out sharply to SS. Hall had walked and then took 2nd on a WP. But, with two down, the Baez grounder was the end of the frame. On to the 10th.

[wiguy94]

Shane Smith's struggles have made an appearance in inning number 2. Single, double, single to open the inning for the Smokies and it's suddenly a tight game again 5-3.

[Joseph Zarr]

Root took a Sac bunt for an out at 1B (nobody covering 3B). He then gets the crucial K for the 2nd out. He'll try to escape!

[wiguy94]

Smith turned it around. Infield popup then two strikeouts. Good job from him not letting the inning spiral.

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith has a chance to escape without further damage. Pop up to 1B. K. Two down. Man on first. 5-3 Shuckers.

[Joseph Zarr]

What an inning for Root. He walks the batter to have men on the corners with two down. He then throws a gorgeous breaking ball low center cut for the 1-2 punch out. It really really pays if you can mow batters down in the Manfred Man sponsored innings. Just fantastic work there.

[wiguy94]

Ashby not really locating well at all, but I don't think these Norfolk hitters have any clue what pitch he's about to throw. He's thrown all 5 of his pitches between 15 and 21 times.

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith ends that thread K'ng 2 in the process. The last batter on 3 pitches. Big escape there when a mini-rally had obviously started. 5-3 Shuckers on to the 7th. 

Meanwhile Ashby K's another (Stowers, no less) and strands a runner on 1st base. 6 K through 5 IP. All things considered, even with the 4 BB, the HB...this is a much needed really solid outing for Ashby. We know the control is still an issue. We know the recovery road is dark and filled with terrors. THIS is good work. 1-1. To the bottom half of the 5th.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Ashby not really locating well at all, but I don't think these Norfolk hitters have any clue what pitch he's about to throw. He's thrown all 5 of his pitches between 15 and 21 times.

Precisely. Been talking to that all Thread. The hitters are completely confused as to what is coming. IF he's finding the zone (a mystery inning-to-inning), they have very little chance. BUT, to your point, we both know that is elusive! Good outing all things considered, however. Hopefully he can build off this.

[Joseph Zarr]

Castillo leads off the Mudcats part of the 10th K'ng on a really nice 3-2 splitter. Regardless, another rough night for Castillo - who also had that really bad error earlier. 

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Precisely. Been talking to that all Thread. The hitters are completely confused as to what is coming. IF he's finding the zone (a mystery inning-to-inning), they have very little chance. BUT, to your point, we both know that is elusive! Good outing all things considered, however. Hopefully he can build off this.

Yeah a good outing and probably how he needs to pitch to find success until he gets back to his pre-injury velo levels. It does suck a bit to watch him basically have to be a junkballer to get by in AAA, but maybe in the long run this will benefit Ashby as a pitcher.

[wiguy94]

Golden Sombrero for Kay-Lan Nicasia. 0-4 with 4 SO.

[Joseph Zarr]

ROUGH rough night for Nicasia. His 4th K. These are rough K's too. He's just not reading pitches and is losing check swings. Then swinging out of the zone down in the count. Two down. Man still on 2nd.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Golden Sombrero for Kay-Lan Nicasia. 0-4 with 4 SO.

Yeah, that struggle is very real. Just a rough rough day at the dish. He's been caught in between on numerous pitches. Down in the count repeatedly. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy Zavi just missed Xtra bases and an RBI by about 3 feet down the LF line. Game of inches I say! Game of inches! Whewwwww. 

[wiguy94]

Reidy Mercado strikes out. 31 combined strikeouts between Columbia and Carolina through 10 innings. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy these Mudcats hitters have been absolutely overmatched inning-after-inning on these off-speed pitches. Just swinging, flailing and missing all over the place. Mercado leaves runners on the corners and flails at off-speed in the dirt. He certainly isn't the only one and we could say the same for the Fireflies hitters too. 1-1 on to the 11th frame. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Reidy Mercado strikes out. 31 combined strikeouts between Columbia and Carolina through 10 innings. 

Yep. Batters absolutely overmatched throughout this One. Both sides. These batters have absolutely no answers for the bevy of off-speed deliveries they are seeing. Lotta flailing swings and misses. 

[Joseph Zarr]

This is my fourth time seeing RHP Blake Holub. Every outing I have watched I have felt the exact same thing: he pitches entirely too much in hittable parts of the zone. With a arm slot release 12-6 essentially, his pitches come in flat and on a downward trajectory. He can not pitch to meat. BUT, I see him do it consistently. He does it in 0-2 counts consistently too. He sits 94-96. I just don't see it. I'm pretty sure he's rostered too? I remain waiting to be convinced. 

[wiguy94]

110 EV, 430ft on the Ernesto Martinez Jr blast.

 

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

This is my fourth time seeing RHP Blake Holub. Every outing I have watched I have felt the exact same thing: he pitches entirely too much in hittable parts of the zone. With a arm slot release 12-6 essentially, his pitches come in flat and on a downward trajectory. He can not pitch to meat. BUT, I see him do it consistently. He does it in 0-2 counts consistently too. He sits 94-96. I just don't see it. I'm pretty sure he's rostered too? I remain waiting to be convinced. 

He's not on the 40-man, but he's not been very good this year. Definitely a bit of early regret with Canha playing well in Detroit.