Wed. 5/7: Matinee-Palooza!

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday.

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[Jastro]

Dinges makes his return. Adamczewski is still out

 

[Jake McKibbin]

Love this, Three games at watchable times for me

[Jake McKibbin]

Meccage's fastball command looks a little of early on, leaving it a little all over the place. A weak lineout to Made at shortstop followed by a walk.

 

Dinges is looking smooth in trying to frame some sliders on the glove side however, and a 2-0 count is recovered to 2-2 before putting away the No. 3 hitter on a sharp slider

[Jake McKibbin]

And he's got it back, he's pounding the zone with his four-seam now, a quick 0-2 before Dinges fires a dart to second base, perfect throw just a little late to miss the SB.

Worked back to 3-2 before he gets him swinging with the high cheese

[Jake McKibbin]

Pena looks so comfortable in the box.

Quick 0-2 before lacing a ball just foul down the left field line. A few foul balls later and he just squares one up to right centre for a single

Made has more pop in his bat, but Pena does look completely unflustered by Low A. Wouldn't be surprised if he got promoted first at all

And yet another SB to follow

For those who haven' listened to the just baseball podcast, you should! But Pena now has 11 balls in 14 games hit over 105 mph, after hitting only one in 2024

[Jake McKibbin]

Payne on the other hand seems to be working through some breaking ball issues. three straight swinging strikes at outer edge sweepers

Not uncommon given his age, just a note

[biedergb]

Meccage is out after 39 pitches over 2 IP.

@Jake McKibbin - any insight into why? Pitch count, or was he hurt or laboring?

Hoping it's just keeping his overall pitch count low, and innings low since it's his first season, but you never know.

[Jim Goulart]

Via the Shuckers, all times listed are Central:

SHUCKERS, BLUE WAHOOS POSTPONED ON WEDNESDAY

Game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday at 5:35 p.m.

BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers and Pensacola Blue Wahoos were postponed on Wednesday at Keesler Federal Park due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, May 8 at 5:35 p.m. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and both games will be seven innings. Game two of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

[Jake McKibbin]

11 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Meccage is out after 39 pitches over 2 IP.

@Jake McKibbin - any insight into why? Pitch count, or was he hurt or laboring?

Hoping it's just keeping his overall pitch count low, and innings low since it's his first season, but you never know.

No clue, he had a 21 pitch first inning and 18 pitch second.

Slightly concerning 

[Spencer Michaelis]

54 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Meccage is out after 39 pitches over 2 IP.

@Jake McKibbin - any insight into why? Pitch count, or was he hurt or laboring?

Hoping it's just keeping his overall pitch count low, and innings low since it's his first season, but you never know.

41 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

No clue, he had a 21 pitch first inning and 18 pitch second.

Slightly concerning 

Good news on this front. Apparently Meccage was having some issues keeping any food or liquid down before, during and after his start today, sounds like not a fun time.

More good news, despite that being the case, Meccage still touched 98.5 MPH in his two innings at some point.

[Jake McKibbin]

2 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Good news on this front. Apparently Meccage was having some issues keeping any food or liquid down before, during and after his start today, sounds like not a fun time.

More good news, despite that being the case, Meccage still touched 98.5 MPH in his two innings at some point.

That seems very impressive all things considered 

[Joseph Zarr]

14 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Good news on this front. Apparently Meccage was having some issues keeping any food or liquid down before, during and after his start today, sounds like not a fun time.

More good news, despite that being the case, Meccage still touched 98.5 MPH in his two innings at some point.

(Please nobody post gag gifts. Thank you in advance)

[Joseph Zarr]

I was not prepared for a 1-0 Mudcats matinee nail biter. Here's hoping they pull this out! 

[Joseph Zarr]

I've had a few people reach out to me in private asking me about this so I'll share this here.

Adamczewski update:

Apparently after last Friday's game, Josh's back tightened up on him. This must be a frustrating time and any man can tell you a back not being right is a pretty tricky thing to deal with. Now imagine all the torque in swinging a baseball bat over the course of many AB's in a single game. All I'm hearing at this juncture is it is doing a little bit better but there's just not enough improvement to warrant testing it out on the playing field. Obviously frustrating for the player as a fast turnaround bodes well overall. It goes without saying, as fans we're all hoping this is just a tweak and nothing major. But, I think we all know backs can definitely be tricky. Let's hope it doesn't regress! 

[sveumrules]

38 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I was not prepared for a 1-0 Mudcats matinee nail biter. Here's hoping they pull this out! 

& they did!

Jesus Flores (3.2 IP | 3 H | 1 BB | 3 K) and Jack Seppings (3.1 IP | 1 H | 1 BB | 4 K) followed Meccage's early exit to combine on the shutout. Lone Carolina run came on a Bitonti HBP followed by a Luis Pena double.

[biedergb]

T-Rats need to make a late comeback here. Still down 0-3, late in the 8th, and they have a few guys on base

Maybe they can break into that Peoria bullpen like last night (he says being greedy)

[Joseph Zarr]

I see RHP Chandler Welch worked around 7 BB and 5 H with 1 K while allowing only 2 ER?! That's wild. Rough early season for Welch who impressed late last season in his first action.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm going to go out on a limb and state Daniel Guilarte's 32 K in 80ish PA's is not a fun trend. 0-for-4, 3K today. Just struck out swinging top of 9. Men on 1st and 2nd. Nobody out. 

[ghostdrew]

Why do people write 0-3 instead of 3-0 doesn't make any sense

[biedergb]

Just now, ghostdrew said:

Why do people write 0-3 instead of 3-0 doesn't make any sense

Just to be quirky.  😉

But some use it as the home team, or your team first, and the other last I guess.

I've seen it more in europe in soccer matches.

[biedergb]

Dang it Hedbert and Areinamo get to 3-2 counts

Hedbert strikes out swinging on a nasty slider.

Areinamo pops up to the catcher.

Had a chance.

But they lose 3-1

[Joseph Zarr]

T Rats put two on to lead off the 9th. In typical 2025 fashion they K twice and pop out to the catcher. Zesty work. They fall 3-1.

[Ro Mueller]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

& they did!

Jesus Flores (3.2 IP | 3 H | 1 BB | 3 K) and Jack Seppings (3.1 IP | 1 H | 1 BB | 4 K) followed Meccage's early exit to combine on the shutout. Lone Carolina run came on a Bitonti HBP followed by a Luis Pena double.

Luis Pena - only extra base hit (a double) and RBI of the game for either team; also the only player with multiple hits; and he stole 2 bases to give him 18(!) on the season. The guy’s a menace to opposing teams.

Jack Seppings had not passed 2.1 IP in any of his prior 12 MILB games, but went 3.1 IP to close it out today. The 46 pitches slightly surpassed the 42 he threw on April 16.

[Joseph Zarr]

11 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

Luis Pena - only extra base hit (a double) and RBI of the game for either team; also the only player with multiple hits; and he stole 2 bases to give him 18(!) on the season. The guy’s a menace to opposing teams.

Jack Seppings had not passed 2.1 IP in any of his prior 12 MILB games, but went 3.1 IP to close it out today. The 46 pitches slightly surpassed the 42 he threw on April 16.

That was a massive bounce back outing for Seppings who had struggled with free passes and runner aboard in recent outings. He desperately needed that type of performance (and, honestly, so did I😂). You love to see it. Adversity will always happen in this absurdly difficult game. How a player bounces back in the near and mid-term can define organizational standing and their career in affiliated ball. Big day for the young Ivy Leaguer!

Putting into perspective with numbers:

April struggles saw him with an unsightly 0.311 BAA and an unsustainable 1.91 WHIP over 7 appearances and 11 IP. So far, in early May through 2 appearances and 3 2/3 IP, he has experienced a 0.100 BAA and a 0.55 WHIP. Obviously, this isn't an apples-to-apples comparison given the disparity in total innings and appearances but it's a fantastic start since the calendar flipped to May.