Tue. 9/2 - Can the Mudcats Win 5 of 7 This Week to Likely Stave Off Franchise Extinction?

[Jim Goulart]

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

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[Jim Goulart]

Biloxi's Monday contest (idle Tuesday) will be documented within Tuesday's Link Report (thanks, Joseph!)

[Jake McKibbin]

Bryce Meccage is back in action this week!

[Ro Mueller]

The Carolina Mudcats’ final series as the Low-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (as they’re moving to Wilson, NC next year) has them battling the Nationals’ affiliate in Fredericksburg, VA with a playoff spot up for grabs this week.

Stalwart Nicaraguan RHP Melvin Hernandez (2.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 7.1 K/9 in 116 IP) gets the start in Game 1. SS Brady Ebel is hitting .323 over his last 8 games (10-for-31).

[Ro Mueller]

2 hours south of Fredericksburg, AAA Nashville are in Norfolk to battle the Orioles’ affiliate.

LHP Tucker Davidson makes his 3rd start after spending most of 2025 in Korea (where his replacement Vince Velasquez has an 8.05 ERA). 3B Raynel Delgado had a 1.021 OPS in August, while C Jeferson Quero posted a .999.

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are in South Bend to play the Cubs’ affiliate for their final series of 2025.

RHP Tanner Gillis has had an exceptional campaign (2.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 in 84.2 High-A/Low-A IP). 1B Luke Adams is making his 4th rehab start and DH Marco Dinges is back in the lineup after being a late scratch on Sunday.

[biedergb]

And the Mudcats take a 5-0 lead. Woo hoo.

(but I hope they don't mirror the big club and give away the lead right away, yes I know but my PTSD with blown leads is too strong recently 😩)

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, biedergb said:

And the Mudcats take a 5-0 lead. Woo hoo.

(but I hope they don't mirror the big club and give away the lead right away, yes I know but my PTSD with blown leads is too strong recently 😩)

[Joseph Zarr]

9-0 Muddies in the 6th baby. Let's do this!

[Joseph Zarr]

They've needed their more tenured bats to get going...

Di Turi 2-for-4, 2RBI, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K

Bitonti 2-for-2, 2 BB, 1 R, 2RBI, 1 2B

Melvin absolutely doing Melvin things. Can he pitch all 7? 😁

[biedergb]

I started the Mudcats game from the beginning. The first thing I noticed was the eye and patience. Drawing walks, hitting the ball and fouling off pitches, and they get the starter to 56 pitches in the 2nd inning when Bitonti chases him out with a big double - a flare hit down the LF line. He and DiTuri had identical doubles. BItonti fouled off like 5 pitches in a row.

[biedergb]

Man Melvin was cruising in the 2nd, got two Ks and made them look bad. No audio bottom of 2 either 🙄

Then a bunt single by Willits. And a grounder to third and Lameda rushed the throw up the RF line a bit, but Bitonti you gotta get that. Sure maybe it takes you off the bag, but rather 1st/2nd, then 2nd/3rd. Hernandez gets a deep fly out. He is efficient, only tripped up by a bunt single and an error through 2.

[biedergb]

Man I love watching this. They are just making the pitchers work - similar to early season relentless mudcats. Taking balls, and fouling off pitches.

The first pitcher was out of the game at 56 pitches after 2.2 IP

The relieve is at 38 in the 3rd inning at 0.2 IP and is out. That is nearly 100 pitches thrown in 3 innings!!

That approach will get you wins. Love it keep it up boys

[biedergb]

First. Ebel looks like he can handle SS. The few games I have seen he makes routine plays. Tonight a nice grab in the hole and a strong enough arm to make it.

Second, the ump is not liking the Mudcats style I guess.  He gave like 4-6 inches on the outer half against DiTuri. Then this inning a lot of high strikes on big breaking balls, and OK. But then he calls Encarnacion on a pitch inside. Then a low strike to Anderson.  I mean OK, but you can't have top of zone, both corners and bottom of zone expanded all of a sudden.

[biedergb]

Another "error" on the fielder as DiTuri throws to Bitonti's right again, and man he should have had it.

Hernandez rolling again. Hit 90 mph on the radar gun once. Mostly 87-89 and breaking stuff high 70s to 81-82

[biedergb]

Dang Eli Willits stole a hit from DiTuri.

And F-Nats pitchers at about 120-125 pitches to get through 5 innings. That is impressive for the Muddies.

[Joseph Zarr]

I see LHP Bjorn Johson got out of Hernandez's bases loaded two out jam in the 6th without surrendering a run. I see he then gave up a five-spot in the bottom of the 7th? Yeeesh. 9-5 Mudcats. Trying to hold on for a 'W'.

[biedergb]

DiTuri hits a grounder that hits the 3rd base bag and it's a hit and drives in two. Didn't deserve a hit, but that's baseball.

[biedergb]

Announcer talking about Hernandez going out for the 6th, saying that his velo is down and he was 91/92 early on, I think I saw a couple of 90 and maybe there was a 92 I missed, but I don't think Melvin is a consistent 91-92 this season, or am I wrong?

He gives up a couple of 2 out hits, and walks Eli Willits. And he is out, and Bjorn Johnson is in.

[biedergb]

19 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I see he then gave up a five-spot in the bottom of the 7th?

Walks the lead off batter, which is a no-no ever. Then gets bled to death with singles, a few seeing eye grounds and a couple of hard hit liners. Ebel range to the middle was challenged on at least one and maybe not as good as hoped, but he did get a very good throw on a RBI double play.

But after a walk, it was a no doubt HR to left, and all of a sudden it's 5 runs!

[biedergb]

Fowler has some heat, kept pumping 95 mph fastballs and a breaking ball (maybe curve?)

But his command is not there - he is not wild per se, but just missing his release or footing and it high or wide.

But he buckles down after a walk he gets the K, then another walk, and he gets the game ending GIDP. DiTuri nice play and flip to Ebel who guns it to first. His arm is solid - he can handle 3B if needed I think.

[biedergb]

Alright Mudcats win the big game.

Now T-Rats are up late.  Tanner Gillis - I have slept on him, with 2.89 ERA in high A. He was a NDFA last year and is 25 now, and only 40 K in 60 IP. But another decent outing for him.

"Struggling" Luis Pena with 4 K and I see Dinges got thrown out after a K.

Nicasia with another HR, he has been hot of late.

[biedergb]

Blake Holub concedes a run but that's it. Nashville score 2 in the top of 10, and give up only 1 in the bottom of 10 and that is your ballgame there. OK Affiliates are 2-0.

Let's go T-Rats

[ghostdrew]

3 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Fowler has some heat, kept pumping 95 mph fastballs and a breaking ball (maybe curve?)

But his command is not there - he is not wild per se, but just missing his release or footing and it high or wide.

But he buckles down after a walk he gets the K, then another walk, and he gets the game ending GIDP. DiTuri nice play and flip to Ebel who guns it to first. His arm is solid - he can handle 3B if needed I think.

Ebel played 3rd in high school watched many games he has the arm for third but  is a ss  and ofc  u know why he didn't play ss  right .

[biedergb]

Hoskins-Quero-Black however are a combined 1-12 with 6 K (3 by Hoskins and Black each). Yikes.
Hoskins needs to get his timing and rhythm back I think, and just when I was ready to get into the prospect chatter with Black....

Liranzo continues to impress as a reliever in Nashville - could he be a future bullpen arm? And I do like how Will (don't call be Matt) Childers has been going mostly in Nashville a few tough outings when he first, but has been solid mostly since.