Tues. 7/30 - Grab a Six Pack (of Games)

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

Mudcats missing Pratt here early. Di Turi boots one of the most routine grounders you’ll ever see with 2 outs that puts the Mudcats down 1-0.

68 mph of scorching wet noodle 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Wait, shouldn't I say @wiguy94:

Are you sure your eyes are OK? That ball was smoked at 68 mph!

[Joseph Zarr]

"The pitch to Juan Baez who swings at the first pitch..."

And, the sun rises and sets and the moon rises into the sky. Life on Earth. The Juan Baez story.

[Joseph Zarr]

Luis Castillo worked real quick like to come back to Earth. He swings and whiffs at a high inside heater (well above the zone) and strikes out on three pitches. On to the 2nd inning.

[sveumrules]

Will be interesting to see how games get divvied up in the Carolina infield.

Adamczewski was 2B only on the complex.

Baez has a 42 at 3B vs 8 at 2B split for the year. Maybe he gets more 2B time so Bitonti can still play some 3B?

Di Turi is obviously the everyday SS with Pratt’s promotion, but who is the backup? Miguel Briceno? Bitonti?

Also wonder if Bitonti gets some RF reps as that’s another spot he theoretically has the tools for.

[Joseph Zarr]

Adamczewski flashing the leather - snaring a hard hit liner with a quick leap. Rodriguez is definitely hanging the off-speed to these left bats. Gotta sharpen that location up if he wants to see this outing go into his patented 5th/6th inning mix.

[Joseph Zarr]

Three up and three down for Rodriguez in the 2nd - he grabs his first K swinging and missing sandwiched between two hard hit line outs (to 2B and deep to the fringe of the LF warning track for Castillo).

[wiguy94]

Bitonti looks massive in the box. I would not be shocked if he was taller than the listed 6'4.

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti looks amped. LOL. He is putting together a solid AB after two initial half swing check strikes on high heaters. Fouled off several. BUT, chases a really nice breaking ball down and away for a swinging K. 

[sveumrules]

5 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Di Turi is obviously the everyday SS with Pratt’s promotion, but who is the backup?

Totally glossed over Guilarte in the DH spot, duh.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Bitonti looks massive in the box. I would not be shocked if he was taller than the listed 6'4.

Was thinking the same thing. LOL. Is he an NBA SF? Jeeeeeze. That's a big boy. He is taller than Walling.

[wiguy94]

Bitonti quickly went down 0-2 but battled back to 2-2 with a couple of foul balls. Ultimately struck out swinging on a changeup low and away.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, sveumrules said:

Totally glossed over Guilarte in the DH spot, duh.

How could you? Run a lap, why doncha?! Chug a flat Hard Seltzer.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Bitonti quickly went down 0-2 but battled back to 2-2 with a couple of foul balls. Ultimately struck out swinging on a changeup low and away.

This is a really good Low-A pitcher in Gill Hill. He has a legit five pitch mix. Very impressive set of tools. I swear, every other ball that hits the dirt or grass is bobbled here early. 

[wiguy94]

This Gary Gill Hill guy has looked very good here early. Check the season numbers and it makes sense. Pretty highly regarded Rays prospect who has had a very good season in the Carolina league.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

This Gary Gill Hill guy has looked very good here early. Check the season numbers and it makes sense. Pretty highly regarded Rays prospect who has had a very good season in the Carolina league.

He is very good. One of the better starters in the entire Carolina League. As I said, has a legit five pitch mix (that K change-up to BItonti was filthy). Hits mid 90's with regularity. Won Pitcher of the Week last week, at least. In the pre-game lead-up I ran to the Carolina Mudcats Game Notes but, alas, there are no pre-game Media notes in 2024! 🤪

[Joseph Zarr]

He hung a hanger to Polanco in the 1st frame and it died at the RF warning track. He did the same in the 3rd frame, and Polanco absolutely scorched that ball over 100 mph and 377 feet well over the RF wall. As I said: Rodriguez has to stop hanging those breaking balls. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti is definitely an athlete. Handled a hard hit chopper 1B side with ease and fluidity. Love to see that. 2-0 Mudcats trail headed to the bottom of the 3rd.

[Stealofhome]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Bitonti is definitely an athlete. Handled a hard hit chopper 1B side with ease and fluidity. Love to see that. 2-0 Mudcats trail headed to the bottom of the 3rd.

Is this your first real look at Bitonti in game action, other than highlight reel type stuff?

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, Stealofhome said:

Is this your first real look at Bitonti in game action, other than highlight reel type stuff?

Absolutely. I mean, the ACL offers the very occasional Brewers PD highlight or <insert Prospect highlight feed here>. I certainly didn't travel the HS baseball ranks. LOL. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Man, Gill Hill has a filthy set of off-speed tools. My goodness. Love this young arm. Mudcats bats currently getting dominanced.

[Stealofhome]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Absolutely. I mean, the ACL offers the very occasional Brewers PD highlight or <insert Prospect highlight feed here>. I certainly didn't travel the HS baseball ranks. LOL. 

Cool, exciting day then!

[wiguy94]

I don't think Carolina is going to get much going against Mr. Gill Hill today. He looks like someone who should be pitching in A+.

[Joseph Zarr]

I have a very very hard time fathoming there are 30 better players in the Rays system than this young arm. MLB Pipeline seems a bit behind the proverbial curve with this one. I see Baseball America, at least, has him as a notable riser in the Rays system - added weight and muscle in the off-season apparently. And, apparently, to fantastic results.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

I have a very very hard time fathoming there are 30 better players in the Rays system than this young arm. MLB Pipeline seems a bit behind the proverbial curve with this one.

Pipeline with super outdated and inaccurate prospect lists? I am shocked, shocked I tell you. Fangraphs list posted on 7/4 had him as the 10th best prospect in the system