Tue. 4/21: Morning baseball at Rick Sweet's "favorite" place (Charlotte, 10:00 AM Central)

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Who is more worrying- Wilken, J. Williams, or Pratt??

Birchard - if he can limit walks he can be so good.  I see a bullpen move for him to try to use his arsenal and give max effort in shorter stints.

None of the above? It's still April. I know they'd all like to be finding more success but we aren't even a month old yet. I think Pratt starting off extremely slow is extremely on par with expectations. He's very young for the League and his hit tool just hasn't caught up to his defense and overall make-up. It is likely going to take time. Wilken is very streaky as is. Jett is just getting started in a new org and is likely pressing. Lotta season left regardless.

Birchard's ongoing walk issues are certainly notable and continually concerning. Walks don't work in a bullpen role either. 

[ErnieRilesBrianGiles]

I'll admit, when Carson Benge made the opening day roster for the Mets, especially with our outfield uncertainty, I was wondering if we made the wrong pick choosing Payne. It's still early in their journey for both, but oh, how the turntables!

[wiguy94]

31 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

 Braylon Payne hit a 109 mph nuke. We should all take a moment to appreciate the shot and the Tin Caps glowing broadcast:

Eric Bitonti also ripped his second tater. Yay! I continue to absolutely love his swing:

 

115 EV on the Bitonti blast per Aram 

[Jim French Stepstool]

51 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

 I think Pratt starting off extremely slow is extremely on par with expectations. He's very young for the League and his hit tool just hasn't caught up to his defense and overall make-up. It is likely going to take time. 

😠😠😠😠😠BUT WE PAID HIM ALL THIS MONEY!!!!!!!!😠😠😠😠😠

                                                     😄.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

115 EV on the Bitonti blast per Aram 

Goodness. The man can really send it when he squares it. His 18:12 K:BB in 52 PA is also pretty fascinating.

[Jake McKibbin]

3 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Goodness. The man can really send it when he squares it. His 18:12 K:BB in 52 PA is also pretty fascinating.

He also has a 54.4% contact rate according to Fangraphs. That's honestly wild

[Jake McKibbin]

Also, looking under the hood, but keep an eye on Brady Ebel's at bats. Some of the background stats have me wondering if he's not that far off, there's some very positive signs in there. The downside is you'll probably catch some other Warbirds AB's, which are really not pretty (Jose Anderson 50% strikeout rate, 47% whiff rate, I see you)

[Terry]

2 hours ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Also, looking under the hood, but keep an eye on Brady Ebel's at bats. Some of the background stats have me wondering if he's not that far off, there's some very positive signs in there. The downside is you'll probably catch some other Warbirds AB's, which are really not pretty (Jose Anderson 50% strikeout rate, 47% whiff rate, I see you)

Oh boy, young guys are really struggling...

[wibadgers23]

It feels like Bitonti has been in single-A for years now.

[biedergb]

On 4/21/2026 at 9:53 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

None of the above? It's still April. I know they'd all like to be finding more success but we aren't even a month old yet. I think Pratt starting off extremely slow is extremely on par with expectations. He's very young for the League and his hit tool just hasn't caught up to his defense and overall make-up. It is likely going to take time. Wilken is very streaky as is. Jett is just getting started in a new org and is likely pressing. Lotta season left regardless.

Birchard's ongoing walk issues are certainly notable and continually concerning. Walks don't work in a bullpen role either. 

I hear you. And this is based upon these reports and box scores as I have not been able to watch any but a few games here and there. But Wilken is streaky, but honestly has had two hot streaks - August of 2023, and then April/May 2025 with a lot of cold streaks.  The power is legit and unless he regressed his defense plays at third.

Jett was a borderline MLB consideration, and unlike Durbin last year, hasn't taken advantage of the poor IF production in the bigs this year.  I hope it's just trying too hard, and he settles in.

Pratt I'm less "worried" about but a big contract - maybe it is the pressure of that, or bad luck, but he is going to be part of the org for a while and a lot of money associated, so you would love to see him pick it up. But these three were candidates to show up early, and so far have not so much, and I will be happy to look back and laugh at my comments in June or July, but I do have a tiny bit of angst for them at the moment.

Birchard - of course the walks don't work anywhere. My thoughts is if he can focus on a a few batters in a relief setting and find a few pitches that works, maybe he could harness better command, and his raw stuff can play up better in those shorter outings, but maybe I'm oversimplifying these things.