Wed. 8/27 - Need to Flip Recent Scripts

[Jim Goulart]

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

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[wiguy94]

I think the Brewers as a minor league system maxed out at 45 games over .500 earlier this year. They are now sitting at 21 games over .500 after an 0-4 night last night. There’s been a lot of losing during the second half of the minor league season.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

I think the Brewers as a minor league system maxed out at 45 games over .500 earlier this year. They are now sitting at 21 games over .500 after an 0-4 night last night. There’s been a lot of losing during the second half of the minor league season.

Yes there has and many a painful night of watching (as you surely know). Just lots of K's, bad AB's, defensive miscues, and many a poor pitching performance. There have been brief moments of brilliance and certain players have definitely had plus second halves - the wild Raynel Delgado reverse natural cycle was amazing; Quero getting healthy and returning to really fantastic form; Burke's Double-A power surge; RHP KC Hunt putting it together; Yeager's Triple-A beginning; Melvin Hernandez continuing to defy the odds etc.. - but, as a whole, we have definitely lost more than we've won. And it is palpable.

It's precisely why I have little faith in the Mudcats reaching the playoffs. They are not playing like a winning team. Their bullpen is very unreliable. Their starting staff is ridiculously young. They are getting absolutely nothing from Di Turi. Jose Anderson is back to mostly ice cold. You are relying on Lameda or Holguin to round out the infield. Bitonti isn't really doing all that much either. It's unfair, at this time, to expect more from Ebel. The age, inexperience, and regression is rearing its unfortunate ugly head. Hopefully, they can pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat and suddenly start playing synched and unified quality baseball. It would most definitely be out of nowhere. And, it's really sad - the division is absolutely there for the taking. At this point, it very much feels like a Low-A version of the Shuckers backing into the 2024 playoffs with whomever wins this division.

We had some incredible runs this Minor League season. The second half aint it. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Gone but not forgotten, it's awesome to continue to get DSL snippets like this. RHP Gustavo Garcia was one of the more intriguing arms picked uo in the 2025 class. He did not disappoint.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Carolina find themselves in a 3-way battle for the playoffs with 12 games to play. 18-year old LHP Enderson Mercado (21 IP, 6 ER, 19 Ks in Low-A) starts as they aim to even their home series against Delmarva. 1B Eric Bitonti continues to lead the Carolina League in HR (18), RBIs (70) and Ks (156).

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Tyler Hardin makes his 2nd start since a 6-week injury absence (1 IP, 1 R, 1 K in 21 pitches on Friday), as AA Biloxi needs a win at Montgomery to knot their series. 1B Blake Burke has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

LHP Tucker Davidson’s Friday debut didn’t go so well (1.2 IP, 4 R, 2 Ks in 57 pitches), so he looks for a better outing to even AAA Nashville’s home series against Charlotte. It’s time for rehabbing LF Jackson Chourio (1-for-15, 1 BB, 7 Ks) to get on track.

[Joseph Zarr]

The current Mudcats broadcast has gone the way of their recent play: it suddenly disappeared. Boooo! Come back to us, Chris. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

We have sound back. No video. Infield is at DP depth so apparently someone got on base.

[Joseph Zarr]

Seeing Walther already lose track of a slider low and away - not an easy play but a play a catcher can make - reminds me I meant to share C Kevin Garcia was extremely impressive last night. Very very clean behind the dish. Clearly has an advanced bat and approach for his age. He is definitely a player we will want to keep a close eye on as the season comes to its close. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Mercado has the single, WP, and a BB to start his night. Men on 1st and 2nd. Nobody out. Not the start we're looking for given last night's blown lead and loss. 

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin were on the wrong end of a walk-off home game against Quad Cities last night and now turn to RHP Tanner Gillis (2.20 ERA, 1.09 WHIP. 6.8 K/9 in 81.2 Low-A / High-A IP). The T-Rats needs to find some offense (last in Midwest League in runs/game (3.97) and batting average (.220)).

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti saves Mercado's low throw to 1B and grabs the first out on a well executed sac bunt. Heck of a scoop on a short hop. Delmarva has been sac bunting all up in these first two games. Men on 2nd and 3rd. One down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sac Fly to RF and Delmarva leads 1-0 in the first. Two down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Mercado is already at 22 pitches. His second 3-2 count in the first frame (after being up 0-2 in this count). Lefty-on-lefty match-up. Ground out to 3B. Another throw up line. Bitonti on point early nabbing some off-target throws. Nice work young fella!

1-0 and we head to the bottom of the 1st. 

[Ro Mueller]

I don’t think our minor leaguers bunt as much as other teams, and I’m okay with that.

I hope the Mudcats’ offense erupts for something like an 8-spot at some point tonight.

[Joseph Zarr]

Four pitch walk for Payne to open the Mudcats evening. Didn't have to take the bat off his shoulders. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh my, Braylon took 2B on a WP but he rounded with intent to go to third. He was caught dead to rights but the throw back to 2B from 3B was in the basepath and Payne slid into the glove. Ball popped out. He stays at 2B. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, after a clean half inning from the homeplate ump he gives a very questionable strike 2 below the zone. He then calls Ragsdale out on a low pitch outside. Both were below the zone. Ragsdale was not into that. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti continues to be extremely susceptible to the low inside change-up. He continues to be well ahead of off-speed offerings. Two strikes right off the bat - a change-up low and inside and a slider. Meanwhile, the ump just gave a ball to Bitonti that was a glorious center cut breaking ball. That was very obviously strike three looking. LOL. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bitonti walks (even though he really K'd looking). Men on the corners. Handelfry grounds out weakly topping an inside dipping off-speed pitch up the 1B line. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, this isn't good. Mercado just took a rocket right off his left ankle region. 101 mph off the bat. He is on the dirt. Sitting up, however. And, he'll be coming out after 1.0 IP. Sighs. Man, the bad luck to pitching staffs continue. Can't put any weight on it. Good grief. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Yeah, talk about unbelievably bad luck. That was a 101 mph short hop liner that ricocheted directly off his interior left ankle. Are you kidding me?!

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Bjorn Johnson will be tasked with trying to eat some innings while salvaging the relief corps. Brutal.

[Joseph Zarr]

Kudos to Johnson. Extremely unfavorable conditions to come aboard. Man on 1st. Nobody out. They get the CS (overslid the bag - Walther's throw was high and not quite in time). Ground out to 3B. Ground out to the mound.