Wed. 8/20 - Upper Levels Home, Lower Away

[biedergb]

Ragsdale just lines in the gap between SS and 3B into left and it’s 2-0 Muddies. Ebel up.

[biedergb]

And hello that is two 5 inning outings by Timber Rattler pitchers with nice outings.  Tonight Rodriguez was dealing, last night Smith was outmatched by Milbrandt

[biedergb]

Tobias gets two quick out. Then a double to right and a hit to deep center that Ragsdale may not have played well, and it’s a triple.  Mudcats still lead 2-1.

[biedergb]

Another hard hit ball to deep left off Griffin Tobias. 2-2 game. He cruised for two batters and now 3 straight hard hit balls.

[biedergb]

Ok. I need to quit. I start watching and Muddies are in the lead, big club in the lead and Sounds + TRats dominating.

Now Mudcats are behind 3-2, wrong team ahead in Illinois, and Nashville struggling to keep the lead and TRats giving up runs 

ugh. I’m sorry for the bad luck folks 😟

[Joseph Zarr]

21 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Ok. I need to quit. I start watching and Muddies are in the lead, big club in the lead and Sounds + TRats dominating.

Now Mudcats are behind 3-2, wrong team ahead in Illinois, and Nashville struggling to keep the lead and TRats giving up runs 

ugh. I’m sorry for the bad luck folks 😟

Go to your room! No dinner tonight. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Man, tuning back in to watch Manuel Rodriguez flame 88 mph past these Beloit bats in the fifth frame for two more consecutive K's at 81 pitches is sure something. The movement of the off-speed arsenal just truly helps that 88-90 mph 'heat' blow by these guys. It's uncanny.

[Joseph Zarr]

He is charged for his first walk with two down here in the fifth. Home plate ump definitely squeezed him on two of those balls. When you are dealing like this? I do not understand how the home plate ump squeezes like that. Reward the work!

[Joseph Zarr]

Another single to RF for Adamczewski. That's three more quality AB's tonight. After two really plus ground out AB approaches. He just knows how to hit. Uncanny. And he swipes 2B while Castillo K's swinging. His first High-A SB as well. You love to see it.

[Joseph Zarr]

2B Raynel Delgado with the reverse natural cycle last night. Here in the 6th inning (I'm behind) 1B Blayberg Diaz grabs his first stolen base! What a week!

[Joseph Zarr]

Shuckers had a big opportunity after a fantastic EBJ bunt up the 3B line got the bases full with one down in the bottom of the 4th. And, in a 1-1 count Vargas one hopped liner into a DP to end the threat. Woof. Just couldn't find the hole on that one. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2:05:09 classic example of why I purport 1B Blake Burke's defense is vastly underrated. Just a fantastic charging gather and throw to 3B to get the lead runner in a bunt sacrifice move the runners over attempt. Not an easy play. Had to throw across his body to Warren at 3B in a full big man sprint. Accurate. Bang bang. Got the out. He is just a much better athlete than given credit for due to his body type.

[Joseph Zarr]

99 mph ground ball up the middle for a single for Fischer. That's two singles. 1 BB. 1 K. Much better evening. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Made beats out a 95 mph tailor made DP ball grounder to 2B. The man has some absolute jets. No business beating that ball. He did so comfortably by a step or two. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, biedergb said:

Tobias gets two quick out. Then a double to right and a hit to deep center that Ragsdale may not have played well, and it’s a triple.  Mudcats still lead 2-1.

Yeah, Ragsdale took two false quick steps in on the liner and couldn't recover. That ball was roped, however. He needed to immediately go toward the wall so it landed past him. BUT, the real misplay in that inning was from LF Handelfry Encarnacion. He was absolutely eaten up and turned around at a ball that bounced at the foot of the wall in the warning track dirt. He was there. Had plenty of time to get to it. Went the wrong way to track the ball. Stepped forward a few steps and watched it land behind him to his left. Brutal play. That's the third out and Tobias is out of the inning and the Muddies lead 2-1. Instead...it's 2-2 and another man is aboard. Here is where he stops when tracking the ball.

[Joseph Zarr]

Here is where it lands. Directly behind him back and to his left and below that broom/brush on the black and white sign in the dirt. Like where did he lose it?😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, after leading 7-0 in the 7th I am knee deep in a classic 2025 RHP Patricio Aquino experience. One out. Line drive single to CF scores another. It's 7-3. This is the type of season he has absolutely had. 

[Joseph Zarr]

My gods. Holguin, who has been playing fantastic D all series, over runs a routine foul pop fly down 3B territory. LOL. This sixth inning is a quagmire for this Mudcats defense. Mis steps. Misplays. And now over running bloop foul pop outs with your pitcher struggling. 3-2 count on the very next pitch. Holguin manages to track the next foul pop by the dugout. 3-2 the Muddies trail headed to the 7th. They will rue there many missed opportunities with men on base earlier in the game. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bauers just went yard to RF. Noice! The rehabbers doing good things in Nashville.

[Joseph Zarr]

Yerlin comes aboard. How many combined WP/HB/BB will we see tonight? 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Yerlin comes aboard. How many combined WP/HB/BB will we see tonight? 

I kid you not my dear friends:

First pitch absolutely over jacked and whipped wide and to the backstop. We might hit double digits. That's as Yerlin a beginning as there is to any outing. This young man. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

SO, we got a WP and a four pitch free pass right off the bat. We are at 2. Will we reach double digits?!?

[Joseph Zarr]

We'll call it 'The Yerlin Effect'. Made gets a tailor made ground ball right to him for the step on 2B DP. He botches the collect - may have taken a sharp high late hop up into his body. He rushes to 2B and seeing he won't get there he throws wildly and wide of 1B instead. That is like a fielding and throwing error all in One. When you have 'Wild Thing' on the bump that really can't happen. Sigh. No room for error with Yerlin. Men on the corners now. Nobody out. 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, why can't you do that? Because Yerlin will walk the next batter in five pitches. 😅. Folks, I wouldn't be laughing if hadn't experienced this exact scene - a repeat story - at least 10 times over the past two seasons. 

None the less, Yerlin does get the 2-2 DP on the next pitch. Nice quick toss to 2B by Peña. Even better gather and rocket to 1B by Made. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats have been the beneficiary of two blown CS calls in favor of the Mudcats at 2B. Both runners appeared to be out. Both called safe. Doesn't matter. Payne K's with the runner on third on a pitch low, away, and bounced in the dirt. Sighs. So many sighs. Lefty on lefty. Still a poor swing decision.