Wed. 6/12: One DSL Make Up Game; Four Full-Season Clubs in Action

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

3 hours ago, Kellerowl said:

Just turn volume down. Problem solved

No going to lie, I had something tn so just tuning in haha

[Joseph Zarr]

I've got Yerlin Rodriguez throwing balls to the back stop on one screen. I've got Rivero throwing balls everywhere on the other. This is something. Jeebus. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Another full count after he misses just off the inside of the plate. Garcia can't squeeze the pop fly behind home plate. Gotta get to that ball for your struggling pitcher, David! Not easy but it hung long enough to get there. Ooof. Full count again.

Oh WOW. Diaz snags a hard hit liner down the 1B line and grabs the DP by beating the runner back to the bag. Whew.

8-2. Nothing doing. LOL.

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I've got Yerlin Rodriguez throwing balls to the back stop on one screen. I've got Rivero throwing balls everywhere on the other. This is something. Jeebus. 

Rivero, Yerlin, and Misiorowski on the mound at the same time leaves a high chance of seeing a walk or HBP

[Joseph Zarr]

I will also say: neither Rodriguez nor Rivero are getting any benefit of the doubt on borderline strikes. They have each thrown a few. Not getting any of the calls whatsoever.

AND, for some inexplicable reason, Vargas throws the ball to 3B on a perfect hit-and-run and allows the runner to advance to 2B. That ball has to go to 2B. There's absolutely zero play at third. Silly silly mistake. Can't do that. Men on 2nd and 3rd. Two down. I would opine Rodriguez struck that batter out. 

[wiguy94]

Seeing how well the Smokies have hit every non-Shane Smith pitcher in this series makes Smith's outing yesterday all the more impressive.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, what other than another throwing error from Adams at 3B. trying to force an out at Home plate. There was no play there either. Just silly. Sibrian - oh my sweet sweet Prince - then takes 2B because of the throwing error. Just another stupid defensive decision in an inning suddenly filled with them.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Seeing how well the Smokies have hit every non-Shane Smith pitcher in this series makes Smith's outing yesterday all the more impressive.

Smith is the real Ace on the Shuckers pitching staff. That's my Take. I stand by it. He's also a pitcher that's actually developing. And, developing in a huge way. 

[Joseph Zarr]

With Cedar Rapids leading and the T-Rats with a rare meltdown of execution on the defensive side of the ball is certainly looking like they won't reduce their Magic Number tonight. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Man, I watch Danny Ceretti covering ground and just putting on gold glove displays inning-after-inning at the hot corner for the Whitecaps. All I can think is the Brewers haven't had a guy play defense like that @ 3B in the affiliated scene since...? He's incredible. Meanwhile, Adams throwing balls to unknown destinations at any moment. I am jealous. LOL.

Anyhow, T-Rats go down with a whimper tonight. 4-1 Loss. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats MAGIC NUMBER IS 3. Hellllllo baby. I can taste that first half title. LET'S GO!!

[Joseph Zarr]

12 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Rivero, Yerlin, and Misiorowski on the mound at the same time leaves a high chance of seeing a walk or HBP

In a quiet moment - to myself at muh locker as I clean the mud off my cleats - I whisper:

"Maybe it's a good thing RHP Quinton Low is on the IL during the first half? Maybe I couldn't take another Wild Man?!?"

[Joseph Zarr]

Miller just got HBP for the Double-A leading 11th time - not shocking for Miller. We have two men on. 8-5 game. EBJ (already with a long ball tonight) to the dish. Two down. Bottom of the 9th.

[Joseph Zarr]

2-2 Blooper flare to center LF. EBJ Has reached base four times tonight. Fantastic. This result, regardless of what happens here, means ALL 8 games between the Smokies and Shuckers to date in 2024 have been decided by 2 runs or less. Ernesto to the dish. 8-6 game. Men on the corners.

[Joseph Zarr]

A first pitch ground out to 2B. That's all she wrote. Another Shuckers loss when I tune in. It's uncanny. 😅 All 8 games decided by 2 runs. Shuckers trail the series 2-6.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

12 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

The Mudcats MAGIC NUMBER IS 3. Hellllllo baby. I can taste that first half title. LET'S GO!!

If the Mudcats clinch, I will buy playoffs tickets!!

[jay87shot]

11 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

2-2 Blooper flare to center LF. EBJ Has reached base four times tonight. Fantastic. This result, regardless of what happens here, means ALL 8 games between the Smokies and Shuckers to date in 2024 have been decided by 2 runs or less. Ernesto to the dish. 8-6 game. Men on the corners.

I was starting to lose faith in EBJ, good to hear some things are going right. I was really hopeful at the beginning of the season that he could be close to ready next year and possibly be a contributor next year.

[Playing Catch]

13 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I mean, it depends how you view his season to date. I personally feel his entire season but for a handful of sequential innings has been largely a disappointment. I don't personally see the #1 Brewers prospect in 2024. He is an implosion outing like this, again in my personal opinion, on any given night. It's a really sad turn of events. I came into this season looking for real momentum and real building blocks after his arrival on the scene in 2023. He's regressed in Biloxi. And, well, let's be honest: lots of players have regressed measurably on that Biloxi team. Something is going on in the water down there.

I haven't looked deep enough to have an opinion on this, but there are 22 qualified hitters in the Southern League (AA) with an OPS better than .700. There are 42 such players in the Texas League (AA), and 47 in the Eastern League (AA).

Now obviously, that doesn't help Misiorowski's case at all, but perhaps explains some of the offensive struggles. We'll all have to hope there is a mid-season turnaround for them.

As for Misiorowski, does it seem like he's working on a new pitch, where is his velocity at? Is he working on his mechanics?

[sveumrules]

8 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

I was starting to lose faith in EBJ, good to hear some things are going right. I was really hopeful at the beginning of the season that he could be close to ready next year and possibly be a contributor next year.

Small sample caveats obviously apply, but over the last week (0606 to 0612) EBJ is at 250/344/464 (142 wRC+) in 32 PAs.

Hopefully a sign that he’s starting to get it going.