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Ok. Just getting back in tonight. And back into the routine after a week of travel and fun last week. So - nice outing by CF Rodriguez- the 3 run HR aside. Sounds like a tough loss there (pun intended) Biloxi - this is May/June offense again. Ugh. But Wilken with most of the offense so I’ll take that. Brock let’s end the struggles now. Now. Kuener a respectable line. I’ll watch hi tomorrow morning. Carolina - extras. But what a starting line by young Josh Knoth. Seemed like a month of meh ok for a 19 yo. But this is an encouraging start based on stats. Too bad the lead crumbled. Let’s go Muddies! And Wisconsin - the team of 2024. Rain delay. But at least Mr. Cornielle has shown his prior self in 3 IP after a solid 1 inning rehab “start” by Enoli Paredes.

Was that intentional? Jarvis for Canha. Canha for Holub.

Baseball America has listed their 2024 MiLB Best Tools, which is where the league managers vote on the top prospects. And the Timber Rattlers appear often. I will not cut and paste the article or put any specific content, but highlight a few of the TRats who were noted. I don't think this violates any rules as I am summarizing what was there, and picking only a few players. (Note: only one player was listed for each section for each league, so this means the managers voted the player as the best [insert title] here in the entire Midwest league) 1. Luke Adams - best strike zone judgement (absolutely no surprise at all!!) 2. Dylan O'Rae - best base runner, obviously he is now at AA Biloxi, but no surprise either. 3. Craig Yoho - best change up, which is probably the best change up in all minor leagues, and he would be voted as Southern league if this were taken now I imagine. 4. Jadher Areinamo - best defensive 2nd baseman. Which is an honor and speaks to his great D. 5 Gregory Barrios - best defensive SS, what an IF we had there. Obviously he has moved on. 6. Luis Lara - best defensive OF AND best OF arm. No surprise, he is a MLB caliber OF defensively. But the two I want to highlight the most: Luke Adams - best defensive 3rd baseman - wow! That was a nice surprise. The MWL managers either see the player he is and are guided by that (like gold glove which isn't always best defensive player), or he is really deemed that good and may stay long term. Victor Estevez - best Manager prospect. Not a shocker to those who follow closely. He was amazing with Carolina last year, and lead one of the best clubs, talent and fundamentals in the MWL. He is a gem and future MLB manager. Congrats to these guys. Again the league managers voted on this, not just BA or some fans so that is some real compliments to the amazing team that Wisconsin has had most of the year. I can edit again if this is needed, but other than the name and the title of the distinction the rest is my own words, so hopefully BA will be OK with this summary. (For those with BA accounts: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-milb-best-tools-managers-vote-on-the-top-prospects/ )

Awesome news on Yoho.congrats to him and his family i watched Henderson- man he was fast and deliberate. Almost always around the zone, a few batters with some non-competitive pitches. And his change up was a weapon. Fastball 92-94. Didn’t see it any higher. Great outing. I think he’s got a chance to be a MLB starter, probably work on consistency of other pitches if his change up,is not there or if batters learn to hit it. I have heard or seen him at 95 and I thought he has hit 96-97 before but today very comfortable at 92-94, and was efficient with his pitches. Only 71 pitches to get through 6 IP!

And really?? OK 2 outs and the Bulls steal second on a bad throw by Mejia. Then the runner takes off for third catching everyone sleeping and the panic throw to no one goes into the seats, and it’s a walk off error on a pickoff attempt. I mean seriously 😒 Holub should have just eaten the throw and focused on the man at the plate. Oh well….

Oof. Error by Capra. Oh boy. Runners at the corners. None out. And a deep fly and it’s tied 9-9.

Stolen base by Zamora. And then Collin’s Ks. Welp. One run lead. Bottom 12. Sounds another chance to close it out.

Brewer killer, and former brewer farmhand. seems to always hit well against us, or maybe I just watch when he gets a hit - it’s called rosenthal syndrome EDIT: but he’s retired. On to 12th inning

And a fly ball to right. Walling hustles and hauls it in. That’s the game 6-3 Muddies win. Nice comeback win.

Brailin gives up a hit. Then strike out on a questionable swing call. That’s evens it out. But a 9 pitch walk. And the tying run is now up for Delmarva.

Brailin in for the ninth trying for a 9 out save. Sounds up 8-7, 2 out, tying runner at third

Yup another three batter inning for Rodriguez- another caught stealing, and inning ending grounder to Baez at 3B. Sounds big lead heading to bottom 10.

Ugh. So Baez grounds out softly. But only the one out. Lead 6-3. Bitonti then flails on a pitch low, then tries to check on another pitch out of the zone and called as a swing. Bitonti- when he can make contact is a heckuva hitter with elite power. Pitch recognition is his to-do list.

And two 4 pitch walks for the Mudcats and free swinging Baez So pitcher who hasn’t got in the strike zone vs a hitter who loves to swing at anything…..

Mudcats trying for another rally. Base big then a balk (pitcher lost balance and just held on to the ball as opposed to throwing who knows where), then Mercado strikes out. New pitcher in for Delmarva.

And Br. Rodriguez comes in get the first guy out. Then a walk. And an easy caught stealing - I mean out easily. Bad jump or just slow. Then a hard hit ball and nice backhand by Baez to end the inning. 3 up 3 down (via walk and CS). On to inning #8

Ok. Ashby did a great job. Maybe short stint relief is his future? I was wondering about that earlier in the season when he was struggling so much - find out what he does best (slider) and build around it. Gularte Ks and Walling apparently made out - my video cut out but Mudcats up 5-3

Sounds raising the white flag in a tie game? Ashby in…… And Baez gives the Mudcats the lead. edit : Baez a bleeder for a run . Then an error and Bitonti is on for Adamczewski

Wilken gets rewarded for finally hitting it hard, by hitting directly to the SS and the force out at 2B ends it. 1-0 loss. Offense is drying up everywhere this week.

While Boeve has come back and hit mostly, Wilken has been ice cold. Hopefully he figures it out again. His was hitting well in July. Just not great to watch Also - add Lara as one who is struggling. Outside his first few weeks in Wisconsin, he has had a good week here and there but just not consistent on the offensive side. I suspect he will repeat A+ next year.

Does Clarke have much of a fit in the organization after this lost season? Devanney has done the same repeating AAA, and with the IF prospects not much of a loss. Ryan Brady is putting up good numbers in AA. Again he may have been lost in the organization’s depth. Was he ever on the 40 man roster? I doubt he gets protected, and have to check if he’s FA after the season.

I am a big fan of Yoho. But he has exactly 1 year of professional pitching, and I love his talent, but that is a big jump to MLB hitters in playoffs. I am for trying to get him moving up, but we have very talented pitchers (Peguero, Megill, Payamps, Hudson, Koenig, D. Wililams) who would also make AA/AAA hitters look foolish. And Miz - if he is going to be a reliever long term, then sure. But if we want him to be a starter I would let him keep getting reps in the minors. But just my humble opinions. And that is what is great - we can all have different takes on these situations.

EBJ with a big hit and web gem. Like it. Needs to see more from him. I'd love for him to get a big August in there to stay relevant as a prospect. He is precariously close to being relegated down the chain with Areinamo, Pratt and even DiTuri, Made, Pena at the lower levels. And Miz looked sharp. I keep seeing him in the pen (yeah I'm not 100% Keith Law here but start the career in the pen), with guys like Yoho, Megill, Hudson, and even Hall if he does not stick long term as a SP. That is a sick bullpen for a couple of years, and you can see why a guy like Devin Williams could be traded in the offseason.

And in his first start in low A, Austin cruises thru 2 IP, then starts the 3rd with 4 straight hits allowed (including a 2B and a HR), and it’s 3-2 FredNats, with a runner still on..

I could Imagine it’s inning management for Letson as a Midwest HS pitcher, he will slowly build up innings. But hopefully it’s only something like that. Birchard is coming back from an injury, so hopefully he’s ok as I’m sure they want him to get a lot of looks at live game action even if they will limit some innings. I wonder if Birchard or Woodward will be AFL candidates? And what other pitchers, a they have some candidates to get more action. And several who they likely don’t want to send (Henderson, Yoho, Hunt for example who have all jumped up multiple levels and pitched a fair bit).