Sat. 8/9 - Just-Turned 19-year-old RHP Miqueas Mercedes Set to Make Mudcat Debut

[biedergb]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Can we talk about the cajones of one RHP Jose Nova?!? Incredible stuff. That 2-2 rising four-seamer atop the zone for the K. Cool as a cuke. Then the sinking tailing first pitch to a lefty - sinking tailing away below the zone inducing the grounder. AND, the savvy collect; tag; and throw to 1B by Adamczewski?! Come on now! THAT is winning baseball. 

Sure. Can we give a shout out to Walther. Nova has a 0-2 count, non-competitive pitch and then a foul, and he has a quick word with him. You can imagine him saying just throw it in the zone as he can’t hit you. Gets the K in that pitch. I may be wrong but feel Yannic just willed that pitch out of him.

Maybe I’m just partial to a fellow German 😂

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Up the middle through the drawn in infield.  Walk off win. Nice

And it’s Reyes who gets the win 😂 and Torres not factored in 🙄

I need to take a shower after reading this. 😜

[Spencer Michaelis]

Feel like I should maybe drop in and clarify that the pitchers available, and the order they’re going to be used in, is more or less set before the game for minor league games. Obviously injury, extra innings or major struggles could change something later in a game, but Nick Stanley is not really managing the bullpen, nor are any of the other minor league managers in the system (only one I’m not 100% sure on is Nashville).

It’s all development focused and having guys on a schedule that’s best for them moving forward. So personally, I’m never going to read much into a manager’s ability to manage a game in the minors, because that’s not really their role.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, biedergb said:

Sure. Can we give a shout out to Walther. Nova has a 0-2 count, non-competitive pitch and then a foul, and he has a quick word with him. You can imagine him saying just throw it in the zone as he can’t hit you. Gets the K in that pitch. I may be wrong but feel Yannic just willed that pitch out of him.

Maybe I’m just partial to a fellow German 😂

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Feel like I should maybe drop in and clarify that the pitchers available, and the order they’re going to be used in, is more or less set before the game for minor league games. Obviously injury, extra innings or major struggles could change something later in a game, but Nate Stanley is not really managing the bullpen, nor are any of the other minor league managers in the system (only one I’m not 100% sure on is Nashville).

It’s all development focused and having guys on a schedule that’s best for them moving forward. So personally, I’m never going to read much into a manager’s ability to manage a game in the minors, because that’s not really their role.

In a game thread. During a game? We will judge every player, every manager, every concession stands worker, every fan in attendance (I'm looking at you @MudcatsfaninBrunsCO).

AND, then, in retrospect, take it all back and highlight the positives. My personal vendetta with Stanley goes back to him leaving in Cornielle last year after taking a come backer off his throwing arm and then leaving him in to give up 7 runs at Fredericksburg (I think it was the Fred Nats). That game t!cked me off. And, yes, it has colored my thinking. We need a cage match. I'm like a wife whose husband hasn't done his dishes 😅.

Also, thank you for clarifying for the readers here. I already knew this. I'm simply being irrational. 

[wibadgers23]

Dinges is back!

 

[Ro Mueller]

Marco Dinges is back from injury (first game since June 29), taking his rightful place on the thr…er…behind the plate, as High-A Wisconsin strives to take a 3-2 series lead at Peoria. RHP Ryan Birchard is on a decent 3-game run (11.2 IP, 4 R, 15 Ks).

[Joseph Zarr]

BLAKE BURKE!!! First Double-A HR. Two-run SHOT.

[Joseph Zarr]

He punishes a belt high hanging curve ball over the RF wall. Love to see him punish a mistake. I'll say it again, and the announcers have been talking about this all series: Knoxville may be the hardest ballpark in the Southern League to go yard. 

[Joseph Zarr]

After consecutive walks to Garcia and Warren. Wood grounds out hard to a LF'er subbing as 1B and what was a DP ball ends up in LF as a throwing error. 3-0 Shuckers. Love this trend. One out. Men on 1st and 2nd. Still top of 1st. This Knoxville starter is back on the mound after a month absence. That error hurts. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Spain watches two pitches right down the heart of the plate. Strikes out on an off-speed pitch down and in below the zone. A Garrett Spain special. 😂 3-0 Shuckers and the threat is over. Nice to see them plate some early runs!

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's hoping we have good 2025 KC Hunt today. You never know with Hunt in 2025. Hoping for the best.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, he gets a 3B Zavi Warren fielding error right off the bat. Sigh. Routine grounder absolutely ate him up on the bounce. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Alrighty gents. Farm chores await. Hunt just got a K swinging on a 3-2 pitch off the plate. Gotta love that. One down. Man on 1B. 1-1 to the next batter. Best of luck the rest of the way!

[biedergb]

High chopper in front of home plate and KC Hunt makes a nice play and throw.

Next batter just got under it and a high fly out to left center.  Phew. On to the 2nd. 3-0 Shuckers.

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville needs to stop their 5-game losing streak and LHP Bruce Zimmermann could use a bounce-back outing (6 IP, 5 R, 7 Ks last week) at home against Jacksonville. 3B Ray Delgado leads the team in hits (85) and is 2nd in stolen bases (31).

1 - Berroa - CF
2 - Avans - LF
3 - Black - 1B
4 - Quero - C
5 - Dunn - 2B
6 - Haase - DH
7 - Oliva - RF
8 - Delgado - 3B
9 - Zamora - SS
X - Zimmermann - P

[biedergb]

OH look another DSL starter for Mudcats.  Mercado an eventful start yesterday.

Torres with a beautfiul gem today.

Now Miqueas Mercedes making his debut for low A.

[biedergb]

Bitonti Bomb!!

That is #17 for Eric. 

When he makes contact good things usually happen. But a huge 1-0 lead.

[Ro Mueller]

19-year old Miqueas Mercedes (4.11 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 46 ACL IP) makes his full season affiliate debut, as Low-A Carolina seeks to polish off a doubleheader sweep and claim a 3-1 home series lead over Lynchburg. 3B Gery Holguin had the walk-off hit in the first game of the day. 

[biedergb]

Tyler Rodriguez had a beautiful catch in the 2nd or 3rd of the first game to help out his pitcher Torres.

Unfortunately Ibarguen doesn't have the same left field magic and can't corral it. Two men on in the 2nd.

[biedergb]

After a wild pitch it's a bloop hit

Hillcats get 2 runs. Mercedes is pitching well. Not bad for his low A debut. Not sure how much longer he will stay in.

[biedergb]

stepping away for a bit. Will check in later

[Joseph Zarr]

I do believe Burke enjoys playing in Knoxville. Who knew?! Adds a dub to a Johnson. AND, what's more? We have the good version of KC through 4.0 IP. Let's go! Shuckers lead 3-0 still.

[Joseph Zarr]

6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 R for one RHP KC Hunt?

"Waiter? Check, please!" 

4-0 Shuckers bottom of the 7th as LHP Mark Manfredi looks to bounce back after his last outing.

[Ro Mueller]

Miqueas Mercedes ended up conceding 6 runs in 3 innings (on 6 singles, 1 double, 1 BB), but the Mudcats have responded with 4 runs on 5 singles in the 4th inning to make it a 6-5 contest.

Anderson, Di Turi and Kevin Garcia started the frame with back-to-back-to-back singles, with Holguin and Ibarguen following after 1 out.

Luis Lameda's getting at-bats for the first time in 8 days, but he unfortunately K'd for the 2nd out with the game still 6-3. Handelfry then had a 9-pitch strikeout which was thankfully long enough for 2 run-scoring wild pitches to make it 6-5.

LHP Bjorn Johnson is pitching in the 5th.