Fri. 7/18 - Sounds at Home, Shuckers, T-Rats and Mudcats All Hit the Road

[Joseph Zarr]

Sometimes a Sac Fly should be awarded to the runner. Pratt gets the SF here. He owes Garrett Spain a six pack. My goodness what a play!

 

[biedergb]

Oh hey look minor league baseball is back. 🤩

I got together with a friend for a night out that has been months in the planning, so missed the second half opening night, bummer.

But just from box scores and comments here some observations....

1. Didn't put the A-team starters out across the org. No Hardin, M. Rodriguez, Henderson etc.

2. Yes, Jadher Areinamo needs, absolutely needs the challenge of a promotion. And with Adams/Wilken out, he can work with Pratt and Murray to make that Biloxi infield and line up much better.

3. Matt Wood is definitely looking to make himself the 3rd catching prospect (pending draftee signings) in the organization. But every time I call him out, he goes like 0-5 the next day, so I didn't say anything about him, nothing to see here... move along

4. Cortes- just throwing innings and being effective is good enough for me. I mean at this point he is the 4th/5th/6th starter so getting him back is bonus. But sure I'll be greedy and hope for more the next rehab start.

5. Man, I do hope that Travis Smith really is starting to figure it out. He was one of those guys who has the tools but the starts were not impressive and the stats were middling.  I will throw Wichrowski in that group too as his low K rate, and high pitch count in year #2 of AA was disappointing, but if he can pitch deeper and get to 9+K/9IP, he can put himself in that top tier pitching prospect log jam (with Henderson, Rodriguez, Patrick, Crow and Hardin).

6. Talking about middling results - I love watching DeBerry pitch, but just too much contact and not enough put away and a bad  inning or two just ruins what should be great starts. I am hoping for a switch to turn on for him. But reality is he was drafted/signed so that we could get Renz/Dubanewicz/Broughton.

7. That top 4 in Carolina - Payne-Adamczewski-Made-Pena - could make that offense click again, love to see those 4 together for now. 

8. Finally, Jorge Quintana is the forgotten bonus baby from the '24 IFA class, and overshadowed by Anderson, Paulino and Corobo who were lower bonus signings. But Quintana after his 8-40 start in the ACL has done quite nicely, and reportedly is a true SS defensively, so I am holding out hope that he will join his mates Anderson/Pena/Made in Carolina sometime this season. Maybe Encarnacion too.