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And B. Root closes the door after R. Rodriguez hits a HR in the top of 9, 5-3 T Rats win. So far so good in the land of the minors. A couple of evening matchups left - Nashville make up, and Biloxi regularly scheduled game. Agree - not the forum to discuss the trades, just DL Hall made his rehab start and not great, so comments stemmed from that. Sorry to have opened that can of worms… ‘Back to regular milb discussions

Aquino looking sharp in his role again. On in late relief. 6 up and 6 down. 20 pitches to get through the 7th/8th innings. Solid work. And TRats still cling to a 4-3 lead. On to the 9th. And yes - Burnes for Ortiz, Hall, Burke is at this time a major win for Baltimore. Ortiz is a good pick up, but shoulda coulda hoped for more, although Burke has yet to sign or take a professional at bat. So too soon. But Hall seems to have regressed sadly. I guess call him up this year and have him pitch relief only and keep that option for next year 🤷‍♂️

Mudcats hold on for the win 3-1, and sweep the DH. Sounds win the first half of the doubleheader. T Rats are still up by a run in the 8th.

So when is it time to just acknowledge that we should not be expecting any major contributions from DL Hall at the mlb level? He went 2.2 IP, 49 pitches, only 26 strikes, with 3 hits, 2 walks and only 1 K. D Williams with a clean rehab outing (well one walk but 14 of 20 pitches for strikes) at AAA so that’s good news!

Once again. First and third for the Mudcats and only 1 out. And Yophery ground to the 2B and he tags DiTuri and throws to first. Another inning with multiple base runners and another inning they are left stranded. I have to head out and will watch some other games this afternoon. Short - Letson looked very solid today, in control and the hits were just good jobs by the hitter. The offense was just frustrating, getting guys on base, but nothing. Dikember Sanchez on. Let's hope for a walk off in the 7th.

Gutty performance by Letson. He breezed through his first 2 innings. Then a change up hit off the end of the bat (nice hitting by the Lynchburg player) to get a 2B. Then single bloop to shallow LF. Runners on the corner. And a ground out to the 1B, keeps the runner at third. A stolen base in there as well. Then Letson bears down and goes K and K to end the inning. Onto the bottom of 6. Still knotted 3-3. Let's go Muddie. Time to get that lead run in

little things. I mean three straight K with the bases loaded. Gotta at least make contact. Next inning, walk by Guilarte, and then thrown out trying to steal with Walling up. Next pitch - double to left. And after a deep fly ball, Walling didn't try to tag up, and is still on 2nd. Then grounder to third and they tag Walling. Lots of traffic on the bases in those two innigns but just no ability to get the lead run across. Frustrating to watch.

Double by Briceno. Then a HBP on Diaz. And a bloop single by Norman. Muddies have the bases loaded for DiTuri. DiTuri strikes out swinging. Dang. 2-0 count had two fastballs to hit but watched them, then swings for strike 3. Now Yophery at the plate. And he got fooled for a swinging strike. Ugh - Lynchburg may escape with no damage after a bases loaded no out situation. And yup. Pratt goes down swinging. Either poor approach by the young hitters, or a great effort by the young hurler for Lynchburg, he strikes out the side after loading the bases.

And it's Letson in to start the suspended game in the 4th inning (instead of starting game 2 as was noted on the MiLB scoreboard). And after a HBP on the first batter, he then goes strikeout, strikeout, strikeout to end the top of the 4th

As the second half of the minor league season is underway (the official start was a few weeks ago, the unofficial post ASG just started), here are some things I look forward to, and also in keeping with the articles posted earlier this week for the Major League club, here are prospects that have exceeded expectations, and those who have underwhelmed in my opinion (and happy for others to chime in with their thoughts as well) First 5 prospects who have underwhelmed so far 1. Eric Brown Jr - his first half has been terrible. Last season was chalked up to first full pro season and injuries. This year he doesn't have those excuses. Granted the timing of this is odd given his hot bat the past few weeks, but overall his first half has been poor and he fell down rankings quite a bit. 2. Daniel Guilarte - part of that teenage infield group at Carolina last year (along with Areinamo, Barrios, Adams, and O'Rae) he was the only one to repeat low A and hasn't been lighting it up offensively. From a consensus top 20-30 prospect last year to likely falling off most lists this year (also due to some playing well and new players added). 3. Matt Wood - last year he looked like the legit 2nd catcher prospect in the system, but also stalled out at high A. Again timing is not great since he has been hot the past few weeks but overall his defense has not improved a lot (from reports here and the few games I watched), and offensively he is about average on the club, and above league average. 4. Pedro Ibarguen - he had a break out DSL campaign, and much was expected. Even in the offensively oriented ACL he is not hitting. Time is on his side, but he has not been able to continue any success from last year. 5. Luis Lara - look I am big supporter of his and he is incredibly young at age 19 in high A. And we cannot expect a Chourio type of ascent for most of our international signees. But he has not had the success at the plate and not developed much power. Time is on his side as well. And this is not a statement of anything poor about the prospect but just comparing to expectations (mine and I assume several of you as well) coming into the year. HM - Quero due to the injury. Not his fault but missing this season has been a disappointment. Also the entire ACL pitching staff (sans Hayden Robinson) who have been the worst in the ACL. Expectations were unknown, but I don't think we ever expected one of the organization's pitching staffs to rank this low given the track history of pitching success. Lastly, Tyler Black. Still a good prospect but from being expected to be on the big league club to now a likely trade candidate in a deadline deal his stock has come down a bit. 5 Prospects who have exceeded expectations 1. Craig Yoho - there were several of you very high on this guy, and most (including me and the prospect list creators as well) who were not. A "senior" signing who pitched little and did not have great numbers in college seemed like he was just there to make sure we signed Pratt/Bitonti. But wow, he is in AA and looks like a MLBer already, and is on at least Baseball America list despite being a reliever. Lots of upward momentum here. 2. In keeping with this theme - Brett Wichrowski - who I had as #3/4 on the list, but bumped him up after last nights performance (OK I am not being consistent here I acknowledge) but this keeps him with his fellow draftee. I had no expectations on him, and he looked like a college pitcher depth signing. I remember watching him in the Prospect game against KC and was like "wait, who is this pitching?". He dominated high A and has struggled in AA, but settling in during the past month. Despite that he is 21, drafted last year and is already in AA and profiles as a starter, with some reliever risk, but a lot of helium for him in 1 year. 3. Mike Boeve - coming in he was looked at as a poor man's Tyler Black, and he has just hit and hit, and also another 2023 draftee in AA already (Wilken, Boeve, Yoho and Wichrowski and that's impressive to have 4 draftees in AA less than a year after being drafted). He cooled a litte and is injured now, but he has just hit. 4. Jadher Areinamo - for all that Guilarte did not do, Jadher has. He has continued excellent defense at 2B/SS in high A and is hitting well. Power still lags, but a defensively solid MIF who can hit for average is a good commodity to have and his stock is going up. 5. The DSL hitters - Pena, Made, Anderson, Ortuno. Expectations were high that one or some could be high end prospects (like Chourio, then Lara, then Y Rodriguez before them). But this group is making a mockery of the league with their hitting prowess. I didn't expect that so they have exceeded what I think was a realistic expectation for them. HM - Gasser, he is now on the shelf, but showed that he can be a reliable middle rotation starter. Pratt has jumped up a lot, but I think he was a 1st round talent and is doing well to look that part. Things to look for 1. Biloxi's second half. With a rotation that is all prospects and mostly all homegrown (Misiorowski, Henderson, Wichrowski, S. Smith and Blalock) and an offense that is starting to hit with prior top draft picks (Brown despite his struggles, O'Rae, Wilken and Boeve) there is a lot to hopefully watch for this team. 2. Promotions - Pratt and Bitonti lead this list of players destined to move up. But other will potentially see a move in the next few weeks as well. 3. Draft signings - the top selections are in and hopefully all of the top 10 round players will sign, and hopefully more than half of the day 3 picks will as well. Plus no UDFAs signed yet, but the Brewers MO is to sign a few of them, so still waiting for that to occur. Long winded, sorry. But I am so excited to continue watching the rest of the minor league season.

While his numbers aren’t great in AA, the offense certainly looked different since Dylan ORae joined in mid June. Didn’t coincide with that date, but the May Shuckers offense was terrible and tough to watch. After Clarke was bumped up and later Zamora. But Mid June on there was a spark, along with a Sparks (Lamar), and then Wilken and CD Rodriguez started to get hot as well. Recently the former high round draft picks from other teams have helped plug in the line up (Hall, Martin and Scott) although they joined in recent weeks so not the start of it, but helped keep it going. I still think having that speed and OBP player at the top of the line up helped add a dimension to the club. Great run by Biloxi and it would be so nice to see them in the mix for second half division title.

I don’t think the brewers are going to revamping swings. That interview with Brenton Del Chiaro, MILB hitting instructor has the “you be you” approach. Now they will encourage players if they want to make changes, and offer suggestions, but that is the current coaching philosophy. So likely to see tweaks, and offer data to make suggestions to players to try to help them see what they can do to try to improve, but let them start with whatever got them here and had success in the past.

Biloxi now with a winning record at 44-43. So all affiliates with winning records won. The lone affiliate with a losing record lost.

It was EBJ 3 run home run that set the team record. His second HR tonight I think. Meanwhile in Cedar Rapids, crazy stuff. As above runner on 2nd and now 2 out. Rund gives up a massive hit that hit the top of the wall, and came back into the field. 2 runs score the batter at second, just missed the home run by absolutely inches (like 1-2 in.). Vargas gets hurt on his attempt to catch it. Exits the game and Valero comes into LF. But he was the PR for the DH. So no DH now for TRats if it goes to extra innings. Rund says “no worries”, and strikes out the next batter. Tayden Hall with the GWRBI as he brought in the 4th run in the top of the inning. Phew. 4-3 TRats win!

Shuckers set a record 19 run. Woo hoo TRats unraveling. 4-1 after a single, double with a rare error to Areinamo (I’ll watch again as I thought it was Garcia), the a HBP. Two on tying run up bottom 9.

Trats with an insurance run. Double, sac fly then T. Hall rips a single to right. Ninth inning now and Rund will hope to close it out.

And Rund gets him out. On to the ninth. Of note Manfredi 2.1 IP in relief, and 5 of the 7 outs were Ks. One hit, no walks. Solid outings by the ‘23 draftees Kuener / Manfredi.

Manfredi gets the first out in the 8th, A. Rund on now. Still 3-0 game. ‘Shuckers now up to 16-1

Shuckers pouring it on. Bases loaded and D. Miller 105 EV double to right field. The EBJ sac fly (4th RBI for him), and a new record for runs this season for the team.

Russel Smith 3 up, 3 down with 2 K. 10 pitches. Should be able to pitch the 8th as well. Shuckers up to bat to try to extend the 12-1 lead. Manfredi gives up a hit, trying to strand the runner in the bottom of 7, and he gets the third out. On to 8th inning, 3-0 TRats lead.

If Biloxi can hang on (it’s now 12-1 😎) they will join the rest of the organization (sans ACL Crew) above .500 winning record for the season. Let’s go Shuckers!!

Was just looking at the overal milb brewers scoreboard - both Halls were up (Adam and Tayden) at the same time …. And then both struck out. Oh well

I saw that. A classic 0-0 with 3 HBP, just like they draw it up 🙄 Hope he is OK. We don’t have video to review from the complex games.

Wichrowski getting into some trouble in the 6th. 3rd time through the batting order. 1 run in. Lost Carson Williams to a walk, and now a pop up for out 2. Some command issues this inning (only inning I have watched of this game). Manfredi in for Kuener in Cedar Rapids. Wow - Wichrowski strikes out Keegan swinging! 94 mph fastball up in the zone. Nice work young man. 6 IP. 11-1 Shuckers lead!

So will any of the stats from what was started count? I don't see a boxscore, but I do see the highlight and comments above so some innings were played, correct?