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Finally finished the whole Mudcats game. I had a lot of high expectations for Travis Smith, and while his profile with a mid90s fastball and 3-4 pitch mix, and all I heard was at least one fastball at 95. But he didn't look as smooth, looked like his release was not as consistent, and he did fine but had some hard contact. OK but was hoping for more given the draft profile. Garcia looked better, but really struggled with command I think - 47 pitches but only 26 strikes. His fastball looked good - draft profile had it low 90s but with that angle it looked faster. When he got his offspeed over it looked good. Hard hit ball off his throwing arm, so hopefully he will be OK and ready to go soon. Bjorn Johnson really stood out. The stat line was good, but he looked like he was ready to pitch. From Spencer's write up in 2023: "Johnson has a fastball in the low-90s that he has held deep into his outings. He also mixes in a slider and a changeup; the changeup is probably the better of the two offerings at this moment". Don't know the velo today, but tall lefty with at least low 90s who is young and projectable. His stat line today is in very sharp contrast to his nearly 9.00 ERA from last year in the ACL Very pleasantly surprised by him. I am also impressed with Pena's approach. For an 18 year old he seems comfortable at the plate and has quick hands. Payne also impressed as he has more strength than advertised in that swing. And Joseph's call on Adamczewski is on - he definitely is locked in at the moment. His 'strikeout' today was a ball at least 4-6 inches outside, should have been ball 4. Hopefully Made can return, and let's see if DiTuri gains some strength in his swing as evidenced by his HR today (which was batting right-handed against a LHP), and then you have a pretty solid core of hitters. On the bad end - Bitonti is chasing pitches and not connecting on some in the zone. Nadal seems over-matched at the moment which is to be expected given his young age (still only 20 yo) and the fact he missed last season with injury. OK that was longer than I expected - ha! just like the Muddies/FredNats game today lol

I didn't hear any mention in today's broadcast, but yesterdar Chris mentioned his day off, and he was in the dugout during yesterday's game if I saw correctly. So hopefully just minor I agree. On one of those plays, Pena had to rush it (looked like he was playing deep and maybe didn't charge as quickly, but the throw wasn't bad and I think Bitonti would have made it if he was 1B based upon what I have seen, but Walling did struggle with throws.

Wow missed an adventurous afternoon. I will try to catch some games later tonight. @Joseph Zarr is in mid-season form in the game thread today :) Looks like TRats bats are waking up a bit - particularly Yophery and Burke, with Areinamo and Hall having XBH as well. And the Mudcats line up is good and deep, need to get Bitonti hitting the ball, low batting average and lots of Ks. If he can figure it out at the plate whoa boy. Offense could also look a little deeper if/when Dinges can return. Nice start to the season for Payne, Pena, Adamczewski. And wonder what is up with young Mr. Made? Suckers are what they are - a team without enough runs or hits. And oof to Wilken, and will Lara, Pratt, Adams get sucked into that Biloxi black hole?? Or will they find a way to hit out of it. On the pitching side - kudos to Stiven Cruz, and nice to see quality innings from Childers/Yeager who look like the probable back end of the Biloxi 'pen. Bjorn Johnson and Jeferson Figueroa also with nice scoreless outings. But a rougher day for the season debuts of Welch and T. Smith (both '24 draftees), while KC Hunt had a very very un-"KC Hunt"-like outing. Lots to take in and an off day tomorrow.

Thanks for the updates @Joseph Zarr Haven't watch anything yet - but looks like our pitchers today are not having a great day. Welch 2 runs in the 1st Hunt is really struggling given up 3 runs with a balk and WP. I'll have to watch but none of this sounds like the KC Hunt I watched dominate last year. And T. Smith gave up 4 hits and 2 runs in 2 IP. Looks like the TRats offense is finally going however. And the Muddies keep putting up runs too. And KC Hunt is out in the 1st inning what an absolutely disappointing start to the season for him.

My thoughts exactly. For the "always beating expectations" that this team has done since 2017, and seemingly finding pitching anywhere, and remaining resilient, this year does start to feel like karma payback this season. It will be interesting to see if the pitching staff can hold up yet another year - the task keeps getting taller year after year. It is hard to just offset the major losses from the big league roster the past couple of seasons (Hader/Burnes/Williams via trade; Adames via FA; Woodruff due to injury)

Or not. Looks like weather has intervened earlier than expected - Nashville/Gwinnet game is formally postponed and rescheduled to 5/1.

A consistent third pitch for him with a potential fourth would be so great. Command is his biggest liability now and will be the biggest question for him in the near future. But the can he start or is he a potential closer question will come down to whether there is something else beyond that filthy slider and extreme gas fastball. His development this season is probably one of the biggest storylines for the Brewers '26-'28 teams, as the hitting side is filling out nicely, and the bullpen will always be good. It is the starting pitchers or lack thereof (after this season) that will be key, and a few homegrown starters can do wonders (see '20-'23 teams).

Great wrap up for a mostly successful day on the farm. Lara hopefully adjusts over the next month. And given Wilken's down year, poor showing at AFL and rough start to this season, I think his prospect status is fading, and getting sucked into the same vortex that engulfed Eric Brown Jr. It's like Biloxi has a prospect black hole force, and only rare prospects can escape that gravitational force. He looked good doing so. Again got into trouble and out of it in the 8th. And back into trouble and was given the chance to end it, but couldn't quite, but did limit the damage. That is a good trait to see - being able to work around trouble. And if this first appearance was an indication he may be bound for the T-Rats at some point this season. I thought I saw Made in the team's dugout. Was he truly out of the country or away. In fact Mehring I thought just stated during the broadcast that Made was "given the day off" but that could mean many things. I guess today we may learn more?

And 2 pitches and 2 out for Langhorne. Induces a GIDP, and Mudcats win. Yes sir

Well he walks the next batter. Two on, still only 1 out. And Miles Langhorne in making his professional debut.

They send Gillis out for the 9th. And he makes a throwing error on a weakly hit ball by the first batter. Then a K. Looking good until he gives up a single that was ripped into right. Then a wild pitch and now a mound meeting. He got himself out of his jam in the 8th. Let's see what he does in the 9th.

So Bitonti and Nicasia go a combined 2-10 with 8K, but Nicasia had the HR, and Bitonti with the early double. Adamczewski and B. Diaz both 2-3. And Adamczewski with a triple and 2 walks.

Mr. Nicasia with a no doubter to RF. HR # 1 for his young season. Muddies extend the lead to 6-3 in the 8th.

Dang the Sounds bats came alive as they plated 10 runs. CRod with an effective start 4IP, 2R (1ER), and 4K with 6 H and only 1 BB. Then later Miz came in - and threw 3.2 of the last 4 IP - he had 66 pitches to get through those innings and 4K, 4B but no hits and no runs allowed. Nice tandem there with Mears throwing the middle inning and Easton McGee getting the final out.

Hodges did not look sharp in his next inning and gave up some walks and a big well hit double that led to 2 runs, and then Reyes comes in and balks in a run. Tanner Gillis has looked sharp but bailed out by defense (nice throw Mr. Walling) and has himself in a pickle in the 8th with bases loaded, and he gets the K. Heck yeah! Nice debut by Mr. Gillis. 3 IP and pitched scoreless and got himself out of a jam with the help of Reece Walling. Bitonti doubled in his first at bat then 3 straight Ks. Oof. Back up again in the 8th with a runner on.... EDIT: and he watches strike 3, his 4th strike out. Man not a good night after his first at bat.

The Meccage tonight - Bryce looked good. In command. A hitless 45 pitches to get through 4.2 IP, with 2K and 1BB, and several ground outs. Definitely looked like he belonged. His FB was 92-95, and max was reported at 96. Offense got going early with Pena and Bitonti get some big hits in the first. Hodges came in for Meccage tonight and got out of the 4th inning.

And Peek gets a grounder - force out at home, and then a long at bat getting the K looking. Peek did a good job to keep it close. Nice debut by him. Now the O has to get going. I am hopping off and will catch the box score later. Nice start by Letson and some key hits by the O, but so far not enough, but got a couple more opportunities to get the lead back. CHeers

Sanchez's day is over. He got an out on a grounder to Burke (nice play by him) which scores a run. But the next batter walks the bases loaded again. Down 6-4, and Dikember had 30 pitches with only 8 strikes Peek is in making his organization debut. Let's see what he can do being put in a tough spot, bases juiced and only 1 our and the top of the order.

Offense goes quietly again. This is a theme. Sanchez up and starts out promising getting to a 1-2 count. Then 7 straight balls and two walks. Ooof. Gotta get dialed back in Dikember. We need out, no more runs please. And a mound visit (no surprise) to get Sanchez back on track I hope. But nope 3 straight balls and a gimme strike then a HBP, and bases loaded. 16 pitches and only 4 strikes. Bases juiced no outs. Oh boy EDIT: another wild at bat. Wild pitch and a walk. Another run in. 21 pitches and only 5 strikes. And a ball to the next batter on the first pitch. Dikember has absolutely no command today. This could get ugly very quickly. They need to get an out and maybe get another reliever in soon to keep this respectable.

Not a lot in the bottom of 6 - Yophery did leg out an infield "hit" - not sure if he would have beaten it out, but the 1B did not field the throw cleanly, so error vs hit? Generously called a hit, but good for Yophery to leg it out and make it close. FLores back out for his 3rd inning of work, and gives up a single. Need to keep them off the score board. Will probably see more bullpen arms soon. Flores gets the next out with a 7 pitch K. His pitch count is now 39, gotta figure his last batter or two - with the top of the line up now back up again. Gives up a single, and a mound visit and Flores given the chance to get out of the inning with Dikember Sanchez ready. WP and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Let's get this out .... which we did but it went to the second baseman a runner scores. But 2 outs, so a chance to keep it tied at least. Man that wild pitch cost a run otherwise that would be a DP. And then a wild play - a snap throw by the catcher to third, and gets away, runner would have score except it was called batter interference on the throw, so the runner is back to 3rd base. Flores completed the inning with a K. Phew. Unfortunately it is tied, but at least they did not give up the lead. So the hitters need to get their bats going here. C'mon TRats.

Flores in for another inning. A quick out - nice play by Baez whose D at 3rd has been good. Then a long at bat and a walk. A 3 pitch K. Then a dribbler up the 3rd base line that never curved foul, so an infield hit, but the next batter hits is deep and Y. Garcia with a good read and it there in plenty of time. On to bottom of 6, still up 4-3. Flores has done his job, now the BP needs to find 9 more outs, and the offense could make their life easier with another rally or two please?

Grounder to 1st by Baez, and Areinamo scores, and Burke to 2nd. Tie game. Yes.. And Garcia time - with Eduardo up and he hits a double that just misses a homer by a few feet (wind blowing in). Either way, the lead is here, now 4-3. Yes. Luis Castillo is now up and he has not looked great today, so let's see if he can change that. Of note the 3XBH by repeat T-Rats (E. Garcia x2, Areinamo).

Let's go T-Rats Areinamo with a double. The a 10 pitch at bat by Burke, and a WP gets Areinamo to 3rd, Burke draws a walk. Now it is up to Baez to see if we can get a tying run across. C'mon boys

Flores in, and after a 9 pitch battle with the #9 hitter, he gets him out. Then two quick outs (one was a well hit ball that Yhoswar makes a nice run to get at the warning track). So on to bottom of 5, and a new pitcher for Cedar Rapids. First pitch Yophery grounds out.

A Garcia rally - Eduardo with a double (first XBH for the TRats this season), then after Castillo grounds out, Yhoswar with a single up the middle for an RBI. Then Yhoswar steals 2nd and 3rd. But Guilarte strikes out. And David (the 3rd Garcia up this inning) is up and then .... strikes out. OK well, They got a run back, TRats down 3-2 still.