biedergb

You got it. K and double play. Now let’s walk it off

Tie game. He did throw a strike to end 11 straight balls. This reminds me of that outing in May against Kannapolis. Yikes. He cannot find the zone and when he does it gets hit.

And I look back and he’s 2-0, and ball 3. ‘And it’s ball 4. Second straight 4 pitch walk. Run in. Now it’s big time trouble. Ugh. Reyes was goos in June and July but not sharp recently.

Bases loaded. No out. Nursing that 2-0 lead. Reyes is not in command. 2 hits, 3 walks in his 1+ innings. Yikes pitchers are starting to throw in the bullpen.

Handelfry with the base knock. And Bitonti singles up the middle, but Encarnacion tries to go to 3rd and is thrown out. Very aggressive base running. Bitonti takes second but Anderson flies out. No insurance runs today. on to the top of 7.

Reyes was not in command. But gets the fly out to center. 2-0 still May need to get the offense going in the bottom of 6 to give more breathing room.

This is what we have dreamed on for Wande. Let him watch video of this game and try to keep doing it. Command was there. Mixed up pitches. And had some very nice defensive help when needed. Looks like Reyes is in to try to keep the lead. 6 outs to go. They could use an insurance run or two when they get up to bat again.

Torres gives up a hit in the 5th. Perfect game over after 4.2 IP. Comes back to strike out the next batter for his 6th K. I would imagine he is out of the game in the 6th, but he has only thrown 68 pitches. Mudcats offense has gone to sleep. Last 4 at bats were Ks. New pitcher in for Hillcats maybe that will wake up the offense. Doughty (Hillcats starter) was impressive. One mistake that Anderson deposited over the left field fence.

The Hillcats pitcher has settled in and is shutting down the Muddies now. But Torres is matching it. Another 1-2-3 inning notching his 5th K. 50 pitches only to get thru 4 innings of this 7 inning affair. Would be nice to get some insurance runs. Get a few more hits.

And a clock violation on the batter for strike 3 after a great catch on the prior batter by Tyler Rodriguez, and it’s 9 up, 9 down for Wande thru 3. 4 K, the last via that automatic pitch clock violation. Nice

Wande dealing early Handelfry legs out an infield hit - but I think they called it an E6, meh Anderson rockets it to deep left and it’s a 2-run HR Torres goes 1-2-3 in the top of 2.

Getting back to this year's draft. I guess how do you try to avoid having to make bad FA signings or overpay in a trade for quality starting pitchers? Draft a hundred of them 😉 ... well not quite. But in the past 3 drafts (2023-2025) the Brewers have drafted, signed and so-far retained 33 pitchers!! That's not including the ~12 UDFA pitchers from those years still in the system, or the international signings. And the key has been to get them to develop and move up the system, which they have done pretty well. Unfortunately injuries happen which is why you draft so many of them. Key IL pitchers include Knoth, Woodward and Timmerman (all '23 draftees), as well as guys rehabbing such as Hayden Robinson ('23) and Joey Broughton ('24). Looking at them by ages (as of 9/1/25) 23-25 year olds: Yoho in MLB/AAA, Manfredi, Kuehner, Wichrowski (all '23) in AA and add Hardin (currently on IL) and DeBerry (both '24 draftees). Timmerman/Woodward on full season IL. And Sam Garcia is the only one in this age group toiling in A ball. 21-22 year olds: Most are '25 college draftees yet to debut. But Travis Smith ('24) is in high A along with Ryan Birchard ('23) who is months younger than a few '25 college draft picks, and only a couple months older than Thompson/Morrison. Chandler Welch is the only one in low A and has had a forgettable season. 20 year olds: Letson ('23 draftee currently on IL) leads the group in high A. But most are in A ball with Bjorn Johnson ('23) with the most innings there this season. Interestingly, Josh Knoth ('23) who is on the full season IL, is still younger than Griffin Tobias ('24). Hayden Robinson who is rehabbing rounds out this group. Teenagers: mostly '25 HS picks who have yet to debut. But Bryce Meccage leads this group with a almost of full season of low A ball as a teenager who won't turn 20 until just before next season. Dubanewicz is 2 days younger than Meccage and is turning in a fine ACL/Low-A season, as well as fellow '24 picks Dorchies and Renz who are both so young that they are younger than '25 pick Luke Roupe and only a few months older than '25 pick Ma'Kale Holden. Bentley, Flores, Vucinovic and still 17-year-old Cairone round out this group, all of whom are '25 HS picks yet to make a debut. So pick a lot of pitchers, sign them, develop them, and hope for health. If a pitcher or two from each group can make it the bigs, that will help prevent a team from having to make overpayments in terms of dollars or other capital (prospects etc). Still a long road for most of these kids, but it is encouraging that by draft year and age many are at the appropriate level and many of those are pitching successfully at those levels. The draft philosophy for these drafts is pretty apparent. (Fun fact Yoho, Kuehner, Manfredi, and even Hardin are all older than Misiorowski/Henderson; and Sam Garcia is only 6 weeks younger than Logan Henderson, just showing how young those two key pieces from the '21 and '22 drafts are; and Quinn Priester is younger than UDFA KC Hunt '23 and Tanner Gillis '24 😲)

Worked for me. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/smokies-seeking-doubleheader-sweep-after-2-0-win-over-shuckers-with-no-fans-at-stadium/ar-AA1KbE9t

Watched the game this morning. Some obesrvations First, the announcer was filling in for Chris Edwards, and was Drew Blevins, and I wonder if he had some notes on Wande Torres mixed up with Enderson Mercado, who he referred to a fireballer or flamethrower a few times. He did mention that Mercado was supposedly touching 95 at times, but also curious if that was Torres? Or did I miss anything on Mercado? On to Mercado. He sat mostly in the 89-90 range, and had to listen to the broadcast to get velo readings, but the highest I heard was 91, but it does seem live and maybe plays up a bit. His command was off the first inning, and he labored. The strike zone was erratic all night and that didn't help in the first, but his second inning was better and the 3rd inning was fantastic. Yannic Walther is a good catcher. I don't know his pop times or velo on throws, but he sets up well, and seems to know what is going on. His back pick throw to second caught the runner in a rundown and led to the 3rd base runner getting tagged out and absolutely saved the first inning as Mercado had the bases loaded and 2 out but behind on the batter and was still struggling with command. A walk or a hit and this is a very different ballgame. Walther also did a good job of talking to the pitchers and timely mound visits, and made a nice catch on a foul ball. He is not offensively gifted but does approach the catching position well. Hadn't tracked him much before but with Mercado's struggles, the erratic strike zone, and a few plays with Tobias (see below), and the back pick play he was very noticeable in a good way. Griffin Tobias was efficient, and worked pretty quickly mostly. Again around the zone, so he will get contact. Two of the hardest hit balls off of him were at him, one hitting off his leg in the 5th (his first inning of work). He stayed in obviously. But then a liner that was inches from his head in the 7th inning. And Walther had a meeting with him to make sure all was good, and you can see him really coax Tobias' focus and it worked. Tobias stuff is good, and seems to keep batters off balance with different speeds, and will need to bulk up and add some speed as he moves up but he is so young he has that time. Finally, Encarnacion seems comfortable at the plate, and seems to have a good eye. His bat speed is fast. But is still adjusting to a different level of pitching but you see what made him an intriguing prospect and successful in the Complex league. Meanwhile Jose Anderson has that ability, but just doesn't seem to have the same eye, and is just fooled by off speed pitches. Eric Bitonti has such great power in that stroke, and I will keep saying it, he has a lot holes in his swing just missing stuff in the zone, that it is his contact rate and maybe pitch recognition that will hold him back. If he can make more contact he can be an elite power hitting prospect, but way to much miss in his swing and is better than in April, but he still has more to go. I wonder if he will repeat low A next year to start the season before trying to challenge him with better pitching at high A. Josh Adamczewski will not repeat low A, and may not be there for long and is the only true threat in the line up until/unless DiTuri can regain his first half form.

Seems like he is starting to heat up a little. Hopeful Juan can get back in the line up soon. Expect him stateside next year. And Rangel - as long as he can hit we will find a home for him in the Brewers philosophy of have bat will find a roster spot.

Quick check before leaving (waiting on my uber) and Peña gets a hit - a double and no hitter is over. New pitcher in for Peoria to face Made. Let’s go T-Rats EDiT - well Peña thrown out at third apparently- dang it. Made still up but no one on. At least the no hitter is over right?

Good wins T-Rats and Shuckers - Shuckers salvage a plot winning the night cap. Nail biter in Nashville And DSL boys win both T-Rats still being no-hit Stepping out. Will check in later.

Eduardo Garcia with a great play up the middle at SS. Gets out #2. Next batter flies out to left center. Peek closes it out. Shuckers win. Love beating any Cubs team!

Well dang. Restituyo singles. Lara flies out to deep RF and Restituyo goes to 2nd. Restituyo steals third and Pratt Ks. Then Burke grounds out. Dang - great chance for insurance runs. 2-1 Shuckers going to bottom of 7th.

I need to stop watching Cooper Pratt’s at bats. Man they just look weak whenever I have watch him July and August.

Easton McGee gives up a run. Tie game 1-1 who got the rbi single you ask? Well it would be one Joey Wiemer. What are the odds?🙄

Nice breaking ball. Had him fooled. Nice debut Mr. Roberts.

Austin Roberts. strikes out first two batters he faces, the second one with a beautiful pitch on the outer strike zone. Next batter singles to left.

Garret Hodges closes it out for Carolina. Nice job, 3-1 win. I will go back to watch Mercado and Tobias innings. Adamczewski and Tyler Rodriguez with 2 hits each, and Bitonti and Holguin with doubles.

Austin Robert’s debuting tonight for Biloxi- right he was a recent cash pick up? First Biloxi outing as far as I can tell.