Wed. 4/9: Shuckers Get a Chance for Early Redemption (and a First Win) at 11:05 AM CT

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, snoogans8056 said:

That Carolina team is a nightmare.

A ton of talent at the top, and everyone in the order works long ABs.

AND, they've done the vast majority of this without Made. Truly a special special group of young players.

[Joseph Zarr]

We are underway in Nashville and at Quad Cities.

[Joseph Zarr]

Henderson feel behind 3-1 with several high inside heaters and nearly gave up a long ball to LF but the pitch had enough run to go just in up the barrel. One down. Got away with one there. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Gorgeous K on a patented Henderson change-up for out 2. Set up high and inside. Nailed a beautiful change-up for the swinging K. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Torres opens his third frame with a walk and then SS Luis Pena gathers his third error (fielding variety) in his early season. Men on first and second. Nobody down. Remember, one of those errors was Reece Walling incapable of making a save me scoop on a charging two hop throw. 

[Joseph Zarr]

K Looking on a heater on the outer black at the knees. Two K for Hendo. Fantastic. 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

K Looking on a heater on the outer black at the knees. Two K for Hendo. Fantastic. 

Keep the muddies updates coming pls!

[Joseph Zarr]

In a 2-2 count Torres gives up an RBI single to LF. 6-1 Muddies. Men on 1st and 2nd. Nobody down. Mound visit. Pitch count at 40. He'll likely hit the showers. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Josh Timmerman on in relief. Well done, Wande. Good debut. We'll take it. Miles to go. 

[Joseph Zarr]

EMJ does what he does: absolutely destroy a baseball. A 111 mph line drive RBI single to CF (runners got to corners). Unearned on a failed force throw/catch error at 2B. 1-0 Sounds.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well done, Mr. Timmerman! He comes aboard: Fly out to CF. Runner advances to 3B. Men on corners. Man steals 2B. Pop out to Josh at 2B. Line out to Walling in RF. Great stuff. 6-1 lead and he shuts down all inherited runners doing his stablemate Mr. Torres a solid. That was a two on and nobody out scenario.

[Joseph Zarr]

Guilarte just missed a deep oppo double/triple to the corner by inches. Sheeesh. Instead a long foul. Really nice swing. He then goes down looking at a 95 mph heater on the outer black. Man. Baseball. Rough. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Welcome to High-A Kay-Lan. Three Pitch K. Goes down swinging at the mid 90's heater. ON to the bottom of the 2nd at QC and it's 0-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Birchard continues to showcase electric stuff but with the same inconsistency harnessing that run arm-side. It is so close and I can see it. He got to two quick outs in the first frame then walked two but it was all quite close outside a handful of pitches. He really has great late movement and the quality is immense. He is mixing quite well tonight: heater and sweeper. Lotta life on the heater. He is through 2 2/3 with no knocks. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Birchard closes with a K swinging and missing. Man, that heater is zesty. So much late movement and dip. Just a filthy pitch. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy, this RHP Felix Arronde for Quad Cities is filthy. Really a nice young arm the Royals have there.

[Joseph Zarr]

BOY, it sure would have been nice to see RHP John Holobetz come aboard and K two straight to end his first frame of work. Muddies lead 6-1. On to the 5th.

[Joseph Zarr]

Please do not take Jadher Areinamo for granted, folks. That is all. Watching him flash leather on a nightly basis is just such a treat.

[Joseph Zarr]

It appears the Pelicans strategy is wait for the Mudcats fielders to commit an error. Bitonti's fielding error here in the 5th puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with one down. We have no idea what happened there. BUT, Holobetz will try to pull out of this.

[Joseph Zarr]

@Jake McKibbin:

EMJ ALERT

111 single to CF. 116 mph (!!!!) absolute cannon single to RF.

Jeebus Christmas!

[Joseph Zarr]

Holobetz 4 K through 2 IP. MAN, I really wanted to see this outing tonight. Boooooo!

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds putting some insurance runs across in the bottom of the third. 3-0. Got some poke and run action going on. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, Birchard is really finding another level here in the fourth. He's at a pitch count of 64. He has two down coming off a K. 1-2 count. Two fouled back. Misses high on a heater. 2-2 count. He is called for a pitch clock violation which is really odd given the digital clock left of home plate read two seconds. He misses low for a free pass. Man on first. That's his third free pass but that was just a strange AB. I'd also share he's been squeezed on a couple gorgeous pitches. Let's see how he finishes his evening. With a pitch count of 67 they are going to give him the chance to complete this frame and I like the decision.

[Joseph Zarr]

Holobetz now has completed 3.0 IP with 6 K. That's what I'm talking about!

[Joseph Zarr]

Birchard ends his night with consecutive free passes. It continues to rear its head. I definitively see progress. Yet, I see repeated issues of either just missing or getting just squeezed OR losing his stuff randomly arm-side from time-to-time. This is what we call 'Development'.