Wed. 9/3: Meccage Received, Wake Up! 10:05 Central for Mudcats Playoff Push

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, the Sounds shutout Norfolk 4-0. Just a sublime piggy back performance from Brucey Z. Got out of a one out bases loaded jam early in his outing and just pretty much shut things down from there. He was fantastic. Gasser, as I mentioned: best I've seen him so far in his ongoing work with Nashville. As I also said: only the third time the Tides have been shutout at Home all season long. Not bad for the Sounds 4th ranked (International League) pitching staff. I'm sure the Tides are lamenting their final four series are against the 1-through-4 ranked International League staffs. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Lara stole that base. Pratt K'd during the SB. Burke walked them full with two down. Wilken walked in the leading run. It's 3-2 in the 7th for new reliever LHP Mark Manfredi who K's his first batter with a back door outer black slider for the K looking. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Wilken with a really nice charging backhanded scoop throw across his body to 1B for the bang-bang second out. Knee looks good!

[biedergb]

Just a random observation - I am really starting to like Biloxi Matt Wood.  Offensively better than what he did in Wisconsin, and when I watch him he is solid behind the dish.  After Quero and Dinges he is most definitely the next catching prospect, and then there are the young ‘uns Corobo and K.  Garcia.  Nice to have some decent depth at C.

[Joseph Zarr]

And, just like that, Lara impacts the game positively again. A rolling topped swinging bunt up the 1B line. He shoots out of a cannon out of the box immediately and beats out the pitcher's attempt to toss it to 1B by a half step. The pitcher hesitated for just a fraction of a second. Shuckers score one more in the process. 4-2 lead. Headed to the top of the 8th.

[Joseph Zarr]

28 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Just a random observation - I am really starting to like Biloxi Matt Wood.  Offensively better than what he did in Wisconsin, and when I watch him he is solid behind the dish.  After Quero and Dinges he is most definitely the next catching prospect, and then there are the young ‘uns Corobo and K.  Garcia.  Nice to have some decent depth at C.

On cue, he adds an insurance run in a 1-2 count bottom of 8th. Hits a nice easy 95 mph oppo under the diving 3B glove. On base 3x tonight. Two key RBI pokes, to boot. 

[biedergb]

I did not watch any games tonight (Wednesdays = meetings night), but boy this one was not one to miss. Carolina trying the emulate the big club build a lead and falter late, leaving men in scoring position which has been the young (and I mean really young) Mudcats MO the past month. Last night was such a treat to watch.

But Biloxi and Nashville both have had good pitching and timely hitting, as the Shuckers close out the win.

TRats still in rain delay. But Birchard was pitching well (I mean yes 3 walks in 3 innings sure ok), but only 1 hit. He’s allowed only 1 hit in his last 10 innings (at least).  That roster will look good together next year in Appleton or Biloxi - Adams, Peña, Made, Fischer, Adamczewski and Dinges.  Which means AAA could feature Wilken, Pratt, Burke, Lara and Wood. Those are solid cores to build some clubs around. 

Alright the Sunday into Monday doldrums are fading. 

Hopeful for a big Mudcat turn around the next few starts.

[brewmann04]

Terrible loss for Carolina 

[brewmann04]

Martinez is starting a late season binge getting his avg to 254 

[biedergb]

I’m not sure what is more impressive : Wilken tied for first in HR with Adams tied for 11th, despite both missing half the season; or Spain tied for 3rd?

And Pratt and Lara are in that 16-22nd range for OPS on the season with both 20 at the start of the year, and both playing very good defense.  Both batting around .250ish and OPS over .700 in this league. 

[Terry]

Behind home plate view from BA writer.

[biedergb]

Also what a season of pitching for Melvin Hernandez who as long as he doesn’t have an blow up game on Sunday should win the ERA title for the Carolina League (currently at 2.00)mans he’s like 5th or 6th in Ks. For a kid who just turned 19 about 2 months ago, and still is a big as most high school sophomore/juniors in his overall build. If he adds weight and muscle he could get velo up to low or mid 90s. 

Going along with Dorchies, Dubanewicz and Meccage as teenage arms for low A or high A next year (assuming they all can stay healthy - please please please)

[Joseph Zarr]

18 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Also what a season of pitching for Melvin Hernandez who as long as he doesn’t have an blow up game on Sunday should win the ERA title for the Carolina League (currently at 2.00)mans he’s like 5th or 6th in Ks. For a kid who just turned 19 about 2 months ago, and still is a big as most high school sophomore/juniors in his overall build. If he adds weight and muscle he could get velo up to low or mid 90s. 

Going along with Dorchies, Dubanewicz and Meccage as teenage arms for low A or high A next year (assuming they all can stay healthy - please please please)

I think they'll take the same path as Manuel Rodriguez here. I don't think they'll focus on the velo bumps just yet - give him another year as they let him mature au natural at High-A. 

[jay87shot]

That Meccage clip is nioce, an explosive 95 mph and the breaking pitches are really crisp and nasty. Give him, Knoth, Letson, ManRod, Melvin, Dorchies, Dubs, Renz, Tobias, Bjorn, and some of the new draftees a couple years and I guarantee like 4 of those guys will be top 100 prospects.

[Joseph Zarr]

11 hours ago, jay87shot said:

That Meccage clip is nioce, an explosive 95 mph and the breaking pitches are really crisp and nasty. Give him, Knoth, Letson, ManRod, Melvin, Dorchies, Dubs, Renz, Tobias, Bjorn, and some of the new draftees a couple years and I guarantee like 4 of those guys will be top 100 prospects.

[brewmann04]

we will need some of those guy to become starters for the Brewers rotation in the Future.

[BrewerFan]

On 9/4/2025 at 12:43 PM, brewmann04 said:

we will need some of those guy to become starters for the Brewers rotation in the Future.

It's the Brewers. They're going this heavy on pitching... they'll definitely find a couple. He was just listing the guys 3-4 years away and not even touching on some of the high upside arms we just took in this draft...

Plus, we've got several guys who have high upsides who'll be pitching in Carolina next year(or AZ). Flores has high upside. 

Them loading their draft classes with prep arms the last couple years plus the guys in their system now PLUS they have Mis, Henderson, Gasser, Ashby, Myers, Patrick, Priester... they have the luxury of not NEEDING anyone to really be ready in the near future. 2 years ago we wouldn't have been counting on at least the last 3 of those guys.