Wed. 9/4 - Biloxi Needs To Keep Plugging Along

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday.

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[Ro Mueller]

It looks like 6'7", 255lb LHP Russell Smith will make his first start (28th appearance) of 2024 for Biloxi tonight, as they cling to a 1-game playoff lead with 11 games remaining in the regular season.

He's thrown 57 pitches and 58 pitches (highest of his 2024 season thus far) on mediocre rest (4 days, 3 days) in his last 2 outings, so don't be surprised if he hits 71 pitches tonight (matching 2023 season high) on 5 days' rest.

[Ro Mueller]

21-year old LHP Mason Molina (2 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks) makes his 2nd start for Low-A Carolina, who aim for a 2-0 home series lead over Delmarva. 2B Filippo Di Turi has a 15-game on-base streak (though just a .546 OPS in these games). 

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin welcomes back 20-year old DH/INF Luke Adams (Midwest League leader in walks (77) and HBP (38)) from a 17-day absence, as they look to grab a 2-0 series advantage at Cedar Rapids. 23-year old RHP Alexander Cornielle is on an excellent 3-game run (2 ER and 18 Ks in last 11.2 IP). 

[TURBO]

Adams 17 day absence was weird...  Still no Pratt, maybe he's getting the 17 day absence plan as well?

Weird.

[Ro Mueller]

22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez has gotten excellent results for AAA Nashville over his last 8 outings (2.14 ERA with 40 Ks in 42 IP, benefitting from a .153 BABIP). They could use another one as they seek a 2-0 series lead at home against Gwinnett. CF Chris Roller has suddenly found a power stroke (3 HRs over last 4 games). 

[Joseph Zarr]

It would appear Salem lost a game on the Fred Nats last night. They are now 3.0 G back with five games remaining. Tough ask. Muddies will likely face the Fred Nats and their formidable one-two starting pitching punch.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Mason Molina begins his second start with a swinging K on a tailing fading change-up. Consecutive swings and misses on the change. Another K to open his first frame of work. He K'd 3 straight to begin his Low-A career. The next batter reaches on a deep grounder past the 3B bag Baez turned and fired a ball up line and Bitonti couldn't apply the tag. man on first. One down. He gets ahead 0-2 immediately to the next batter.

[Ro Mueller]

It is indeed LHP Russell Smith (2.96 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 in 45.2 IP) who gets the call to make his first start of 2024 for AA Biloxi, as they shoot for a 2-1 series lead at Rocket City while battling Mississippi in parallel for a playoff spot. 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. has a 1.248 OPS during his 11-game on-base streak (43 PAs). 

[Joseph Zarr]

He ends the frame with the Mudcats 72nd DP of the season. Weak grounder right to Guilarte at SS for the one-two punch. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti reach pokes an 0-2 pitch 72 mph into the shallow CF grass - seeing eye wobbler. He steals 2B immediately on the first pitch to Dinges. Dinges rocks an absolute oppo rocket to the right CF gap and it's 1-0 Muddies. Absolutely ripped at 108 mph. Fantastic swing. Really nice level power there.

[wiguy94]

3 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Bitonti reach pokes an 0-2 pitch 72 mph into the shallow CF grass - seeing eye wobbler. He steals 2B immediately on the first pitch to Dinges. Dinges rocks an absolute oppo rocket to the right CF gap and it's 1-0 Muddies. Absolutely ripped at 108 mph. Fantastic swing. Really nice level power there.

Dinges has flashed some serious EV in his brief time in Carolina although it hasn't exactly translated to a ton of success.

[Joseph Zarr]

2nd K from Molina opens up the 2nd frame. Another K swinging. Looked like an inside change-up. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Dinges has flashed some serious EV in his brief time in Carolina although it hasn't exactly translated to a ton of success.

I like the swing quite a bit. And, to your point, yes he's had several plus 100 EV pokes or outs. He can absolutely lay a hammer on the ball. And it's a simple swing which I appreciate quite a bit. Let me just edit this to add: quite a bit. Yes, quite a bit.😂

[Joseph Zarr]

Molina gives up an infield single to 1B when he can't beat the runner to the bag. No matter, he caught the runner leaving in a pick-off move and Bitonti threw him out at 2B. He is absolutely dealing the change-up in this outing. He is painting it all over the zone. Many a swing and miss with that arm action. He gets his 3rd K looking on an outside heater over the outer black. That's 3 K through 2 IP. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Muddies bats have allowed Correa to drop several breaking balls belt high dead center over the plate. Both Di Turi and Walling k'd on very hittable pitches. 

[Joseph Zarr]

One pitch ground out to Baez at 3B. Broken bat grounder to the mound on an upper corner breaking ball. Molina continues to paint the zone. Strike looking on an outside breaking ball. Strike swinging on an inside change-up. Foul on an inside breaking ball. 6-of-9 hitter have received a first pitch strike. He induces the weak ground out down the line to Bitonti. 28 pitches through 3 IP. Just fantastic stuff early.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

One pitch ground out to Baez at 3B. Broken bat grounder to the mound on an upper corner breaking ball. Molina continues to paint the zone. Strike looking on an outside breaking ball. Strike swinging on an inside change-up. Foul on an inside breaking ball. 6-of-9 hitter have received a first pitch strike. He induces the weak ground out down the line to Bitonti. 28 pitches through 3 IP. Just fantastic stuff early.

Nothing has gotten out of the infield in 3 innings. Pretty good stuff!

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Nothing has gotten out of the infield in 3 innings. Pretty good stuff!

I mean, I love it. He is all over the corners. Inducing a lot of weak contact. That change-up is a deceptively good pitch. Really good arm action on that pitch and he seems to be able to throw it in a couple different ways. He can drop a line inside or outside at his discretion. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti just hit about a 200 mph foul ball down the RF line. That ball would have killed a moose. 😂

[Joseph Zarr]

He then rocks a single off the 1B glove and we have two on with two down and Dinges back to the dish. I like our odds. I really like Dinges' set up and approach at the dish.

[Joseph Zarr]

Naturally, Baez nearly gets picked off 2B leaning to far up the 3B line. My guy. LOL. Dinges gets jammed on an inside heater and pops out to 1B foul territory. Muddies strand two. 1-0 and we head to the 4th. Fast moving game. I think we're still in the first inning if we're in yesterday's 63 pitch first for the Mudcats bats.

[Joseph Zarr]

That's a wrap for Molina. Let's see if RHP Tyson Hardin can find more accuracy in and around the zone in his second outing as a Mudcat. Struggled with control during his debut.

[Joseph Zarr]

Weak grounder up the middle over the mound. Guilarte charges the gather and makes it look easy (it wasn't). Three pitch first out for Hardin. 3-2 infield single to deep SS. Runner beat the throw but Bitonti couldn't scoop it cleanly regardless (a work in progress for Bitonti scooping balls - not very adept at that in his early tenure at 1B).

[Joseph Zarr]

A very weakly hit swinging bunt up the 3B line has two runners on with back-to-back infield singles. Tough luck here.