Spencer and Joseph's Five-Part Minor League Pod Series: Episode 5 on the Sounds (and Mailbag ?'s) is now Available

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey all,

@Spencer Michaelisand I have penciled in the recording of our first Brewer Fanatic podcast - first of five in a five-part Brewers Minor League system dive - next week Wednesday (11/20). I would like to use this thread as an ongoing question submission for any and all. I would also like to keep the questions generally focused within the body of our intended discussions in each respective episode. SO, please do submit any questions here or suggestions as to areas you'd like to hear/see us dive into deeper. 

To that end, here is a current rough outline of areas we will travel in the FIRST Episode:

• Releases and Signings 
• Rule 5 protections - deadline for the 40-Man adds is in four days
• AFL recap
• Winter League happenings
• No Australian League participation in 2024?
• Macro View of the System: Combined records, individual records, post-season appearances and results
• The 2024 DSL season
• The 2024 ACL season
• The 2024 Draft and player placements and performances (if applicable)

If the (formerly known as) Bird App is your thing:

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That's the general gist of Episode One - lots of intriguing ground to cover. As we go through the remaining episodes we will be spending dedicated attention and time to each affiliated full-season team per episode. Low-A Carolina is coming down the pipeline.  So, to that end, please consider the rough outline I've shared above and ask any and all questions or consider adding a little flavor to the above topics - or any other topics that might marry well within we simply may not have thought of.

We look forward to sharing this conversation together!

[TURBO]

Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!  Looking forward to this!

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[CheeseheadInQC]

While there were definite bright spots, the ACL season also produced a fair amount of struggles for the youngest team in the league. Is there anyone who you are still optimistic on despite mediocre or poor numbers there last year?

[Playing Catch]

Questions off the top of my head...

1 - (40-man related?) What will Ernesto Martinez Jr. need to do in Spring Training to make the MLB roster, and how great would it be to see him be/become at least a serviceable left-handed 1B/DH/pinch-hitter/runner?

2 - Is the MLB roster young enough and potent enough to allow the Brewers to be more patient with their prospects? Is there any organizational benefit to "fast-tracking," prospects?

3 - My perception is that the Brewers are breaking into the enviable category of elite draft/develop organizations. Is this perception (A) accurate? (B) shared among the scouting community? Does this give an artificial "bump," in the faith that scouts have that prospects will reach their potential? If they are "elite," how long before the league catches up?

4 - Do you expect statcast-like data to become available to AA-ball, A-ball, rookie-ball soon?

5 - What free (or inexpensive) advanced data websites do you follow?

6 - Are there personal eye-test or stat-related indicators that each of you have that make you fall in love with, or mitigate your enthusiasm for, a prospect?

Not sure how related these are to your initial pod's outline, but I'll send more as I think of them. Looking forward to the series!

[snoogans8056]

We’ve drafted roughly 10 high school pitchers in the last two years, any updates on any not named Letson or Knoth?

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, snoogans8056 said:

We’ve drafted roughly 10 high school pitchers in the last two years, any updates on any not named Letson or Knoth?

Maybe SM or JZ can provide more on the scouting side but Hayden Robinson (2023 round 14) had a nice run in Arizona with 26 K | 7 BB over 18.2 IP of 2.41 ERA work before going on the injured list.

His last two outings were particularly impressive at a combined 8 IP | 1 ER | 3 H | 1 BB | 1 HBP | 16 K

Believe this highlight reel from Brewers PD was the only real look we got before he went down…

 

[duewizard]

2 hours ago, snoogans8056 said:

We’ve drafted roughly 10 high school pitchers in the last two years, any updates on any not named Letson or Knoth?

2023:

Chambers was dealt for Hudson.

Bjorn Johnson had a 8.38 ERA in the ACL.

Timmerman had a 3.99 ERA in Carolina and played one (bad) game in Wisconsin.

Robinson had a 2.41 ERA in 18 ACL innings.

2024

Meccage, Tobias, Dorchies, Broughton and the rest havent played official games. Maybe some instructional league but I wouldnt have any info on that

[Ro Mueller]

Do you see Eric Bitonti remaining at third base or shifting to first base? If he's staying at third, could that delay Luis Pena's arrival in Low-A ball?

Outside of Braylon Payne, isn't Low-A Carolina's outfield wide open? Doesn't that give Jose Anderson a good shot to immediately seize a spot?

Is Marco Dinges going to stick at catcher? Where should he commence the 2025 season?

[Joseph Zarr]

<Joseph in his Man Cave pondering how he will calmly and with a level head celebrate and tout his guy RHP Chad Patrick getting Rule 5 protected on the 40-Man...😜>

[Joseph Zarr]

Our Epidose One OPUS is up. 2 hr and 30 minutes to put you all to sleep before we dive into the full-season clubs. 😅

Please submit any and all questions pertaining to the Carolina Mudcats - their 2024 season and what might be in store for the 2025 season. The Mudcats (or is it the Wilson Whirligigs?) will be the focus of Episode 2. 

[jay87shot]

I haven't listened to episode 1 yet but hear are mine.

1) What do we do with the overload of seemingly talented pitchers, especially at AA/AAA by my count there are 8/9 guys who could be AAA starters and like 18 guys who could be relievers. On top of that we have only begun adding minor league contracts.

2)Who are the dark horse pop out of no where prospects for next year. I am looking for deep cuts if possible. 

3) With like 7/8 guys preforming at or above Chourio/Lara/Yophery level in the ACL how many players skip rookie ball from the Dominican league and how many might be like Di Turri and get promoted like 20 games in.

4)Not really a question but more a segment. I think it is always nice to have a fun/comedic section on podcasts maybe like a wild facts/stats from the minors or weirdest minor league team names. Like a top 10 or something like that

This is a great idea, hope you get lots of listens. I dont have x but will need to get it to listen.

[Spencer Michaelis]

32 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

This is a great idea, hope you get lots of listens. I dont have x but will need to get it to listen.

You won't need X to listen! It's available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and almost anywhere you can get a pod! It's also available on the site 🙂 and you can listen directly through there. Hoping it'll be on YouTube soon as well, as we used a lot of graphics and video on this episode.

https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/milwaukee-brewers-podcasts/special-episode-1-2024-minor-league-recap-r2819/?do=getNewComment&d=1&id=2819

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Questions about my Muddies!!

1. As the new name is out " By the time you post".... How do yall like it?

2. Will Nick Stanley stay as Manager?

(:

[BlazingGunz]

Youtube would be great - thats where I consume all video/audio these days (even if its just a pod)

 

Update:   Its on youtube as of 45 minutes ago:  

 

[SF70]

Nice job Spencer & Joseph. 
 

It really is hard to grasp just how much IF talent this team has in their system, both depth & impact potential.

Couldn’t agree more with you Joseph — this really is the golden age of Brewers fandom  —  and the best part is, it’s in the early stages.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I’ve only listened to the last chunk (because I am who I am, I started with the DSL/ACL sections), but so much good stuff there. Glad to hear the Tyler Rodriguez optimism.

Question for the next episode: With the exception of Yophery Rodriguez, none of Carolina outfielders get much prospect love. Who do you think is most likely to break out in Wisconsin next season?

[Joseph Zarr]

Just a 'fwiw' heads up: We won't be recording the Mudcats episode until the week after Thanksgiving - for obvious reasons. Tho, I am near certain the Mudcats will be the talk of each and every one of your Thanksgiving dinners. I apologize we won't be able to augment your collective POV's.

[Spencer Michaelis]

We will be recording Episode 2 tomorrow night, focused on the Mudcats. If you have Mudcats questions for us, make sure to get them in ASAP!

(FYI, because Jack and I will be recording a normal episode tonight, this minor league episode will likely be uploaded early next week to spread them out a bit more)

 

[Playing Catch]

I don't know that I have any questions, but boy, oh boy, that roster is chock-full of legitimate, though unranked prospects. There's like a dozen that very well could be in the BF list by this time next year with another strong season.

[Joseph Zarr]

For those of you who made it all the way through our episode One Opus (3 Hours?!? Sheeeesh, who hired these guys?!?) I can avow: We will not record a full-season episode longer than an hour and a half. I think we can get these in at 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. And, as I prepare more fully for this episode I am so so fondly looking back on the past two seasons of Mudcats baseball. A true testament to the depth of talent throughout the youngest ages of Brewers prospects.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I knew that the Carolina pitching staff was young, but I recently looked it up and I think Baseball Reference has them as the youngest low-A staff since the post-pandemic realignment.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

For those of you who made it all the way through our episode One Opus (3 Hours?!? Sheeeesh, who hired these guys?!?) I can avow: We will not record a full-season episode longer than an hour and a half. I think we can get these in at 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. And, as I prepare more fully for this episode I am so so fondly looking back on the past two seasons of Mudcats baseball. A true testament to the depth of talent throughout the youngest ages of Brewers prospects.

If you guys can keep the Carolina and Wisconsin episodes under 75 minutes it might be the most impressive piece of podcasting ever because I know both you and @Spencer Michaelis could probably talk about some of these prospects for a good 10+ minutes. 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Looking forward to the Mudcats episode!!!! Can't wait for my shout out as well(:

[Austin Tatious]

Love the idea behind these podcasts.  Length doesn’t bother me in the slightest.  

As for questions, maybe which players from the DSL you expect to see in Carolina and what we might expect in terms of adjustments and progress (eg, signs of ability to face breaking pitches, etc) ?