Sun. 5/12: Win Games for Mom, Please

[Ro Mueller]

There's clearly an intention to work Shane Smith as a multi-inning guy. He surpasses 40 pitches for his 3rd straight outing.

[biedergb]

Nashville down to their last bat.  Black singled, and stole a base, but two outs (Capra before him, and Hicklen pops out after).

UP to Miller

[Joseph Zarr]

We can say what we want about the process of these ML games - we know they are filled with player-focused motivations etc. - BUT, and I stated this last season, one of the reasons I find Victor Estevez so dang likable is he bridges the gap. He plays to win. He plays to get into the post-season. AND, he very clearly implements player-motivated decisions in the process. We're seeing similar qualities in Nick Stanley's work in Zebulon in 2024. I personally feel post-season games should be a primary focus for the organization, as well. Get these young men in favorable high-leverage games. Last season, pushing Ashby so quickly through High-A/Double-A/Triple-A when Wisconsin was pushing and Biloxi was neck-and-neck and the Sounds still mathematically (though highly improbable) in the hunt for a lot of the 2nd half. Well, it just never made sense. Send him to the Complex and get him working on his many issues in a low-stress no-demands environment. I digress.😁

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

There's clearly an intention to work Shane Smith as a multi-inning guy. He surpasses 40 pitches for his 3rd straight outing.

I have to think the development of his slider as a legitimate pitch is a possible reason they are stretching him out? It's an interesting exercise, however. We know he's started games before so it's in his mental repertoire.

[biedergb]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Send him to the Complex and get him working on his many issues in a low-stress no-demands environment. I digress

Agree. Or when he pitches a few good innings let him have the confidence that day. Oh well, Nashville loses a heartbreaker, but really not Ashby's fault.

[Ro Mueller]

Sounds hit 4 homers and led 7-3 after 6 innings, but credit the Bulls for the home comeback. Hicklen will wish he'd done better with that 9th inning slider (got under it for the 2nd out). 3-3 split in Durham.

[biedergb]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I have to think the development of his slider as a legitimate pitch is a possible reason they are stretching him out? It's an interesting exercise, however. We know he's started games before so it's in his mental repertoire.

Right or it is about getting innings. Maybe more innings, less appearances? The more hitters you see the better for understanding what works. He has a couple of arm injuries I believe, and missed a lot of time in college, so this is catch up time for him I would think.

[Joseph Zarr]

Looking at the Shuckers line-up:

5-through-9 hitters all sub 0.200 BA. All sub 0.600 OPS. Toss in EBJ's lead-off role at a 0.145 BA and 0.420 OPS. Man, their offense is a legit struggle at present. Once you move outside Boeve; Wilken; Clarke; and EMJ...it's a whole lotta ugly. <sad face gif>

[Joseph Zarr]

After the T-Rats bats stranded Jheremy Vargas on 3B with one down in the top of the 7th, RHP Aaron Rund does his part inducing a key double play after a lead-off River Bandits single to start their bottom half. He gets the first two outs. He then sees a bloop flare single on a nice chang-up down and low - just a nice piece of two-strike hitting. The long-haired reliever will see if he can get out of his second man on first scenario unscathed.

[Joseph Zarr]

Rund escapes. The runner took 2nd base uncontested (nobody covering). The lefty batter took a massive hack and massively undercut the ball on the outer half (low and away). Vargas casually catches the pop-up even though he was almost run over by the River Bandits' baserunner. 5-0 to the top of the 8th.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Justin King's first inning of work since he gave up the grand slam in this same series. He already has runners on the corners with nobody out. The struggle is very real. I watched his work his last time out. He is not on top of his stuff. ERA already north of 12.00. Let's see if he can prevent further ballooning to levels no pitcher wants to see.

[Joseph Zarr]

King gives up the sac fly. Shuckers trail 5-0. Runner on 1st takes 2nd and 3rd. King walks the next batter on 5 pitches. Have I mentioned the struggle is very real? 

[Joseph Zarr]

Ethan Murray fielding error - have I discussed Murray's struggles? - and we have another run across. 6-0 Biscuits. Runners on 2nd and 3rd. My goodeness. King gives up a single to LF. 8-0 Biscuits. His ERA is approaching 16. When it rains it pours. Happy Mother's Day y'all. I'm headed to plant flowers. That's enough of this. 😅

[Ro Mueller]

Through 8 innings, the Shuckers have been utterly dominated. More errors (2) than baserunners (a single, no walks). 0-for-6 throwing out opposing basestealers. We've K'd 13 times. Down 7-0.

[Ro Mueller]

We’ve still got the Low-A Mudcats, who can earn a road series win in Fayetteville with a victory behind RHP Josh Timmerman (4.70 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 in 15.1 IP) tonight. 2B Daniel Guilarte has a 9-game hitting streak and C Victor Torres makes his first start. 

[Ro Mueller]

Timmerman has thrown 71 pitches through 4 innings (1 ER), so it may be time for the pen. A Nicasia solo homer and 2 RBI singles (after Briceno doubled) have the Mudcats ahead 3-1.

[Ro Mueller]

KC Hunt gives up his first run (HBP, double) in 17.1 IP this season. It's tight - Mudcats lead 3-2 after 5 innings.

[sveumrules]

Mudcats two out rally top of six with a Kay-Lan Nicasia walk, wild pitch, Yhoswar Garcia single & stolen bag, and Miguel Briceno single running the score to 5-2 Carolina.

[Joseph Zarr]

Two runs conceded by K.C. Hunt (lead-off solo jack here in the bottom of the 6th) was not on my Sunday Bingo Card. Tells you just how dominant he's been. He has a runner on 2nd base (single, SB). He just struck out a guy. And, now he just threw his 2nd WP of his 1 1/3 IP so far. It's fair to say: not his best stuff today. Let's hope he buckles down and at least preserves the lead. 5-3 Mudcats.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, Hunt is breaking out his Complex days. He just balked in the 3rd run of his outing. And, then strikes out the next batter. 5-4 Mudcats. Two down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, he K's the side. 5-4 Mudcats lead. They have countered every Pecker run with a run or runs of their own. SO, let's hope they can gain further separation! 

Here's a fun tidbit to warm your hearts regarding the competitiveness of this series: 

Between last night's 8-7 Mudcats win and between the Mudcats heartbreaking Xtras loss this past Wednesday, these two clubs shared 17 Lead Changes. Nuts.

[Joseph Zarr]

Three quick groundouts from Guilarte, Rodriguez, and Pratt bring us into the 7th inning stretch. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Hunt will come back out for his third inning of work. Let's hope he buckles down. Still a precarious 5-4 lead.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hunt reaches 50 pitches and is pulled. It looks like RHP Jeferson Figueroa will get the call. Hunt closed his work with a 2-2 weak grounder to Guilarte at 2B. Then he finished it off with another K check-swinging and missing on a 2-2 low outside slider. Two down. 5-4 Mudcats. Figueroa on the bump. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Figueroa missed giving up a laser shot solo jack on a 1-0 high heater to a lefty. That ball was crushed. And, it hooked about 6-9' foul as the ball traveled down the RF line. Whew.