Sun. 7/9: Just a Four Pack This Time, Daniel!

[Joseph Zarr]

14 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

When does the first half of the minor league season end for each level?

It is never every clear, is it?! Like I can never find explicit info unless I reach out directly to each club.

Needless to say, it would appear the series taking place third week of June. OR, another way of saying it: I believe they each have roughly two more series to close the first half. 

Well, scratch that, the T-Rats only have 9 games remaining. SO, would that mean the first half ends mid-way through their series next week? It would appear so. The main difference, then, is Carolina will have two double-headers with a much better Columbia team (than their original series, at least) to make up for their two postponements earlier this season. SO, Carolina has 11 games (?). Spitballing here. 

I know the T-Rats have 9 to play and their 'magic number' is 6.

[Jim Goulart]

37 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

It is never every clear, is it?! Like I can never find explicit info unless I reach out directly to each club.

Needless to say, it would appear the series taking place third week of June. OR, another way of saying it: I believe they each have roughly two more series to close the first half.

Chris Mehring has indicated that it's after three games of the six-game series starting on June 18th, so June 20th would be the final day.

It is likely the same for Carolina and Biloxi, clearly more important for Carolina regarding playoffs, though Carolina likely clinches by the end of this week.

Nashville and AAA is on a whole different level, we'll see.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, Mass Haas said:

 

It is likely the same for Carolina and Biloxi, clearly more important for Carolina regarding playoffs, though Carolina likely clinches by the end of this week.

Carolina plays suddenly fading Fredericksburg - who only a series ago it feels was a mere 1.0 G back. They've fallen to 3 games over - tho, imho, still very dangerous. Muddies then play at a Columbia team who is now 5 games over and in 2nd place in their division - they'll have those two make-ups from earlier rain outs. SO, to that end, I think the Mudcats have 11 games remaining. I would like to think they could seal the first half with series splits BUT I also know I've seen the Mudcats come into late first half scenarios in tight races and get swept. I am fragile, Jim. A fragile fan. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Key plays in that T-Rats game were defensive plays - despite the clutch deliveries at the dish (which were also obviously quite nice).

• Wood's key grab and lunging tag at home plate in a bases loaded scenario in the fourth - quite an agile play there. Crucial.
• Vargas' savvy and adept decision to relay to Adams standing in the third baseline running path as a key relay throw in the 9th. It would be quite easy for a LF'er to feel antsy and go for more than he should at home plate with his pitcher (Root) struggling mightily yet again. But, Vargas makes the smart play and fires to Adams who cuts off the runner and gets him in a run down back to second to apply the tag. 

Those two plays were huge in allowing chance for victory. This team just shows time and time again the ability to make the plays needed to scratch and claw their ways to wins. So enjoyable to watch.