Joseph Zarr

I am late to this party tonight so am behind in both games (I started from the beginning): Let me just say... That RHP Coleman Crow escape in the second inning was a thing of beauty. He was robbed of a glorious K looking at the knees facing the lead-off hitter protecting a 1-0 lead. That batter poked an oppo single into left field two pitches later. SS Cooper Pratt absolutely air-mailed a routine DP ball and throw to 2B - air mailing 2B Zavier Warren (nowhere close according to the announcer) and into deep right field foul territory. Men on 2nd and 3rd. Nobody down. Crow absolutely does not flinch. K's the side. His combo of curve, slider/cutter (?), with the ability to throw in that late moving heater anywhere in the zone is a zesty zesty combination. He has 5 K through two frames. Just really intriguing work.

Ol' friend - Brewers starter and ultimately Sounds pitcher - LHP Eric Lauer gets the call back to The Show:

Well, contrary to what you are asserting here, this Bucks squad says "Hold muh beer, Snappah! We got this!" I'm not talking about a series win with Khash. I'm talking about the organizational dysfunction and discombobulated muddied org vision. Ergo: They tried for two seasons to acquire the least inefficient starting player in the League as if it was some type of meaningful smart maneuver to replace an oft-injured aging Legend with someone who can't handle the ball; can't shoot the ball consistently (from anywhere); and is an unintelligent basketball player. To do so, they sweetened the deal with their best clear upside young talent? And, publicly, they purport it wasn't about the 2nd Apron? It's all absurdist classic Bucks org execution in every facet.

This just in: The 2025 RHP Jack Seppings experience has been...ummm...not good? When you throw as low velo as the 2024 UDFA does, you can't miss the zone like he's missing early and often in 2025. i hate to say it, but, it just does not bode well for his standing moving forward. With this Mudcats squad, though, does it even matter?😅

Well the Mudcats tied it up in the 8th via a selection from the "DSL Menu": Walk, WP, K (Bitonti), BB, HBP, pop out to Catcher (Walling), Balk, K (Walther - 3 K's on the day) 2-2. Top of 9. Hodges walked his first batter - never ideal. As surmised in yesterday's report: We do not see Dinges in today's line-up. I'm still going with that left upper hammy/lower glute as my amateur prognosis given what I saw in the triple and then stretching it out behind the dish in yesterday's fifth frame. Either way, losing his bat for Walther's has obvious implications. Sad face. After getting one out, Hodges now has runners on the corner via a single. One down. He has been in a bit of a slump of late on the bump. Hopefully, he can find his way out of this jam.

Yup. Said it after his first outing. Filthy filthy projections are possible with his innate stuff and his wily frame. Very easy to see how his pitching is a bit like trying to tame a wild horse. But, man, when he's finding those moments in and near the zone...so intriguing.

I've watched enough Bucks basketball in my life to know absolutely no lead is safe under two minutes. None. Zilch. Zero. 7 points? That's obviously not enough and if you thought other wise, no offense, you were fooling yourself. This is the Bucks. An incredible if not predictable way to end their season - I did predict a 4-1 series loss and, predictably as I also, well, predicted Doctor 'Glenn' Rivers made no starting line-up adjustments til way too deep in the series. The sun rises and the sun sets sets. I wonder who Glenn will blame this time? Surely, the injuries will be his fall back again, right? I still go back to: they traded a franchise Legend and their best upside prospect for two weeks of defensible 'Kooooooooooooooz' play before 'The Koooooooz' reverted to the insanely inefficient; unintelligent; truly poor NBA basketball player he is. The Bucks targeted him for two seasons. Mind-blowing. I'd extend that GM, if I were an organization. Just not an intelligent basketball organization in, really, any facet. I'll always love the Buckaroos because I'm a nostalgic schlepp. But, man, they are just not an easy watch and they really make it hard to care about the organization. I'm grateful I watched the Mudcats last night. 😅

Peaks at the Meccage box score... Thanks for the tid bits above, gents!

His defense had been fine - nothing spectacular but more than adequate in Low-A. He's quick laterally (as we night anticipate). Good reflexes overall. Quick to his feet. He is inconsistent catching the ball clean - ie he drops the ball (and possibly an occasional strike) from time-to-time stabbing at pitches in an attempt to frame them in zone. So he may lose some framing strikes as a result. His throw to the corners is solid but his throw to 2B needs quite a but more work - I imagine teams will try to challenge him here as he progresses. Several throws to the middle infield have sailed arm side into the outfield grass when I've watched.

Fresh returned from an NFL Draft experience, I was jonesing to get back watching the Brewers affiliates. We were on the precipice of a 5-0 organizational evening (including the Big Club) before we were unfortunate witnesses to a vintage RHP Yerlin Rodriguez melt down. The more things change. Regardless, we're going to focus heavily on player trends and developments below with a keen eye toward positivity - though, as per usual, I'm going to share my honest observations. The Mudcats suffered through a few miscues defensively but were able to pull out the 8-6 game one victory. Wisconsin lost their 4-3 lead late in a hard to swallow 7-4 loss. Biloxi rode RHP KC Hunt's solid start and pulled away late in a 9-2 victory. And, Nashville held on to win a close 3-1 tilt at Gwinnett. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: INF/OF Luiyin Alastre was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats C Blaberg Diaz was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Carolina Mudcats C Eric Martinez was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers INF Luis Lameda was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers RHP Jaron DeBerry was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats from the ACL Brewers INF Luis Pena was placed on the 7-Day IL (retroactive to 4/26) INF/OF Jheremy Vargas was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Final: Nashville 3, Gwinnett (Braves) 1 Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it): Sounds Bullpen Stymies Stripers on Tuesday Night - Nashville Turns Four Double Plays in 3-1 Win Box Score / Game Log Fresh off an impressive run of recent starts, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez was certainly not as sharp on the road tonight. It's a testament to the young man, however, he kept the tally on the scoreboard to a minimum. Working around seven hits and two free passes, Cargo ultimately only managed to complete four frames. He needed 85 pitches to do so throwing fifty strikes. His sole run came on a no doubt solo jack over the left field wall on a hanging belt high off-speed pitch. The ball was absolutely drilled. All told, even without his best stuff, Rodriguez did his team a solid managing to keep the damage at a minimum: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1 ER. He did not factor in the decision. With the victory, the Sounds moved to 16-11 on their season. They remain 4.5 GB the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the International East division. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Why are we always driving the point home to read the Sounds post-game articles? Well, they always have those tasty cumulative statistical nuggets. As I was watching the Sounds on my second screen, I wondered to myself when the last time the bullpen had allowed a run to the Stripers. It felt like a spell given I'd watched their last four tilts (the Sounds have won two straight and the clubs currently hold a season split at 3-3). Well, the article above shares the Sounds bullpen has not allowed a single earned run in the six games played between the two clubs. After tonight's five scoreless frames, that brings the ongoing bullpen shutout to 29 2/3 IP! ? Shout out to RHP Jesús Liranzo who continues to impress with each successive outing. He's essentially a two pitch guy but he's ripping some heavy and imposing 97-98 mph gas with a 87-88 mph cutter to great impact. 2) It won't show up in any box score, but I'm shouting out 1B Wes Clarke for the yeoman's effort at the first base bag. He was diving plenty and making solid scoops and stretches. It obviously isn't going to get to Ernesto Martinez levels of defensive output for Clarke but it is worth noting he's continued to work on his physique and is moving better than he ever has as a Brewer. Is this saying a lot? I don't think so. But, it is noticeable to my eyes. With a 2-for-4 night, he's also bringing his season tallies into a much more respectable domain. He's also only struck out once in his past seven games. His season K:BB ratio of 24:13 is trending in the right direction. Clarke's arrow is pointing up. 3) Beyond the bullpen and the numerous double plays turned by the Sounds infield, this game was a classic tight duel with woeful opportunistic hitting: the teams combined for a 1-for-17 with RISP. None the less, this doesn't take away from INF Oliver Dunn's triple-turned-E4 homer: Final: Biloxi 9, Columbus (Braves) 2 Adams 4 RBI Night Leads to Shuckers 9-2 Win over Clingstones - Shuckers Have Won 10-of-14 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes The Shuckers are back to a 0.500 mark at 11-11. This is simply sweet music to my ears. RHP KC Hunt kept the Shuckers within striking distance with a respectable 5.0 IP of 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 ER work. I have yet to see the shut down Ace of 2024 in the early going of 2025, but I do get the distinct sense Hunt is getting closer and closer to reclaiming that previous form - form that earned him 'Pitcher of the Year' honors just a year ago. A false step off the mound here or there causing an uneasy landing on the bump. Execution just a little off on the margins of the zone with the off-speed arsenal. It's truly fine-tuned precision issues with Hunt at present. His arrow isn't pointing due North but it is certainly heading in a northerly direction - a mildly comical remark considering he's punched out five in four straight starts: Three Quick Strikes: 1) 1B Luke Adams got on base three times in his 2-for-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 2 K evening. The fifth trip was awarded via a catcher's interference. More importantly, he's tapping into his Double-A power stroke smoking his third long ball of his season breaking open a tight 3-2 game late: He has so much innate power in his build. We long-time fans and followers will keep rooting for his increasing comfort in the Southern League. Let's all not forget: this is still very much a just turned 21-year-old talent. 2) CF Luis Lara continues to showcase his defensive prowess ranging to make several long haul catches in deep center field. He makes it look much too easy out there - let me tell you he was plucking deep gappers with ease tonight but these were just not easy catches. He also ripped two doubles (five two-baggers on the seaosn). His early adjustment struggles are feeling like a distant memory. Each at bat feels a little more composed and a little more comfy for this talented young outfielder. Don't sleep on Lara. I see a player relaxing into his Southern League fit. 3) Major kudos are due to the combined scoreless bullpen work from LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and RHP Will Childers. They held it down while paving the way for the bats to send this one into the victory column. Impressive performances from both. Which, well, it leads me to a very random question: did we ever even hear what's going on with LHP Russell Smith and INF/OF Dylan O'Rae? This is a strange tangent to end with here but I can't help but hear the crickets when it comes to both players standing on the Shuckers (though both listed as 'Active' on their MiLB playe pages they are both very much absent on the Shuckers Roster page) and within the Brewers organization at present. I'm not trying to be remotely conspiratorial here, I'm just baffled we've heard so little considering their previous draft status and standing within the organization. If anyone wants to chime in below please do so. Final: West Michigan (Tigers) 7, Wisconsin 4 Ninth Inning Unkind to Wisconsin - West Michigan Scores Four Runs in Final Frame Box Score / Game Log Game Notes The Timber Rattlers clung to a 4-3 lead headed to the Whitecaps half of the ninth and, unfortunately, RHP Yerlin Rodriguez had a blow up outing. We've seen it all too many times. He giveth and he taketh away. That truly feel good 2024 Timber Rattlers post-season run feels like a very very distant memory. We'll get to Rodriguez's struggles more below. RHP Ryan Birchard continued his run of using 80 or more pitches to complete four frames. Birchard certainly doesn't make quick work of his innings even though he absolutely has the stuff to do so. None the less, it's good to see the K:BB ratio sitting at a more favorable 7-to-3. Unlike with Rodriguez, with Birchard I continue to believe it's literally just a game of inches and a matter of repetition and fine-tuning. Tonight's outing was another small step in the right direction. He continues to strike out over a batter an inning. He continues to give up precious few hits (0.169 BAA on the season). It's all a matter of fine-tuning and further dialing in his tools and his delivery. When he's missing, he's typically missing arm side slightly up and in. He has a fairly violent (in a good way) delivery requiring quite a bit of physical force and follow-through. Moving forward, my ask to the baseball gods is to see Birchard start flirting with five inning outings on a semi-consistent basis. All told, Birchard's work ended after 4.0 IP of 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 1 ER work. He threw 81 pitches with 51 strikes. He has yet to factor into a final decision. Post-Game Podcast: Full-Game Highlights: Three Quick Strikes: 1) The Timber Rattlers have now blown 8-of-12 Save Opportunities as a ball club. Yikes. Just one year ago April, we were watching one RHP Craig Yoho gracing our late innings in Wisconsin. In 2025, Houston we have a problem. RHP Yerlin Rodriguez came into tonight's tilt having walked a mere single batter to 15 punch outs over 7 1/3 innings of relief work. Well, he walked five tonight and tossed a couple wild pitches to the back stop. You can almost tell instantly with Rodriguez whether he has his stuff or he does not. Tonight, he was wild from the jump. And, yet, he inexplicably dialed it in for a filthy first out strikeout on a gorgeous slider on the inner black. There were two men on at the time. He threw his first wild pitch. The runners advanced. They intentionally walked the bases full. A blown check call strike by both umpires gave the Whitecaps all the edge they needed as it fell apart from there. This is the charnal ground of Rodriguez's development path. He has high-leverage high-upside tools. However, he must learn to master the moments. The kryptonite in his career-arc is most definitely zonal consistency. He will live and die by this development as his career progresses. Where will he go from here? 2) When your ball club is struggling to find footing at the 0.500 mark there are typically a bounty of reasons. I briefly touched upon the bullpen above. Let's briefly discuss the bottom of the order and sloppy defense. The bottom of the T-Rats order continues to be a production sink. We have seen far too little production from INF's Juan Baez and Daniel Guilarte and, despite his strong start, DH/1B Tayden Hall is mired in a 4-for-34 slump. Guilarte had a truly costly and unnecessary error in the ninth on a throw home and RF Hedbert Perez had two costly errors on the right field grass. The Timber Rattlers continue to be inconsistent with the little things needed to win ball games. If they want to turn their season around they're going to need more inspired and fundamentally sound play. 3) Let's end on a positive note. You heard me rave about 1B Blake Burke's vastly underrated defense earlier in April. You likely read my comments in the game threads he was unlucky to start the year barreling several balls right to opponents. Well, he's starting to get on a heater. And, when Burke is on a heater he is ripping scorching 111 mph line drives like this over the center field wall and into the opponent's bullpen: Burke also knocked in another RBI later via a seeing-eye inside-out grounder into left field. With a 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 K evening Burke is now hitting 0.288 with an 0.824 OPS on the season. The arrow is most definitely pointing up. Final: Carolina 8, Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 6 Mudcats Take Series Opener from Myrtle Beach - Made's Big Night Paces Young Mudcats Box Score / Game Log LHP Wande Torres' second inning was, by my scrutinizing eyes, his best in full-season affiliated ball to date. It was all working and I started to see the future horizons open up just a little more clearly. Torres grabbed a strikeout looking. He grabbed a strikeout swinging. He was causing swings and misses on his zesty change-up as well as his breaking ball. The heater mixed in to great impact from there. Can we build from here? He has come leaps and bounds from start one where he was leaning heavy on a two-pitch primary mix. Maybe he can pull a Misiorowski and pull a new plus plus pitch out of thin air in his next start. Whoa now. Let's not get greedy - you spoil us young Misiorowski. The young lefty, Torres, also pitched into the 50's for the first time in Low-A ball. He is slowly ramping up and we are seeing real improvements in a very short period of time. All told, we saw 3.0 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 ER, 1 HR work. Both runs came in his first frame where his pitch count ran into the low 30's. He finished after 58 total pitches throwing 36 pitches for strikes. The heater still runs high and wide arm side - common amongst taller young pitchers, in general - but, again, I am telling you: watch the second inning. When you see an inning like that second frame you toss the WHIP and early struggles out the window. The Development Path is gaining clarity. Three Quick Strikes: 1) We start with SS Jesus Made. 4-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR in the lead-off slot. The switch-hitting phenom has such a smooth and innately potent stroke. Just take a nice long look at this 107 mph long ball off the Five County Stadium scoreboard: He came into this season on a hype train running hot. He has most definitely not disappointed. It's such an added bonus to have this type of talent stateside when he can rip from both sides of the dish. 2) The 2B Josh Adamczewski RBI in the first frame (his 19th of his season - he grabbed his 20th RBI later) on a line drive hustle double past the diving second baseman was a fantastic reminder on what type of young hitter we are watching on a weekly basis. He lost a favorable 3-0 count when the home plate ump late called a 2-0 pitch (high and outside) a strike. Sitting 2-1, instead, Adamczewski ultimately worked a full count and then muscled a liner into shallow right field in a lefty-vs-lefty match-up. He truly is just an incredibly talented hitter. He was facing several lefties, a wide strike zone, and yet he worked for two pokes. 3) 1B Eric Bitonti finds himself in his first prolonged mini-slump. He was given the rest on Sunday after a nine strikeout series at Columbia. He came fresh off that series with a golden sombrero. I didn't dislike any of his swing decisions. What is apparent, however, at present is his timing is just off. He is fouling back some hangers as opposed to barreling them up. He leads the Carolina League in doubles but we have yet to see his first long ball of 2025. It just wasn't clicking in full to start the season and now he finds himself searching. This is a good test for the young phenom. He was charged with two fielding errors but the second error was definitively not his fault. Substitute catcher, Yannic Walther ran into him and the two collided during the catch. How does the scorer determine that is allotted to the first baseman? I do not know. Walther had replaced the scorching hot C Marco Dinges (3-for-3, 1 3B, 3 RBI) to start the sixth frame. I rewatched Dinges' fifth inning of work. Nothing was apparent. We'll have to monitor in the days ahead. The Dinges three-bagger further proved he has the best belt high to high outside tomahawk in the system: Come to think of it, is it just me or does he pull up at third base grabbing that upper left hamstring. He was definitely stretching that same left leg out a couple times in his last inning of work behind the dish. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say he was pulled with pre-caution because he felt a little something there. Let's hope it's nothing serious. Rest up, young stud! Carolina gets things started with that not so coveted 11 EST 'matinee' - that's 8 am my time so I'll be reviewing that tilt late. RHP Bryce Meccage will look to build on his last outing. RHP Brandon Woodruff will continue his rehab work with the Timber Rattlers in Wisconsin's mid day matinee. In the evening RHP Elvin Rodriguez will take the bump for Nashville while RHP Coleman Crow is back atop the mound for Biloxi. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. 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The Timber Rattlers as a team are literally 4-for-12 in Save Opportunities. Last season, RHP Craig Yoho was pitching high leverage innings in April for the T-Rats.

He had a 15:1 K:BB ratio in 7 1/3 IP coming into this tilt. He walked five. He threw, what, 3 WP? Unbelievable melt down. Yes, he lost the check swing strike - an absolutely blown call by the umpiring crew. BUT, man alive, that just can not happen. Guilarte's throw was the icing on the cake. This T-Rats team truly is just not a fun watch at present. They really just don't have the horses. So many boom/bust error-prone guys on this current squad. There is a literal stable of players looking to challenge this current outfit for High-A playing time.

AHHHHHHHHH. Yes, this T-Rats team is most definitely not last year's team. With the infield in, Guilarte chokes the throw to home plate with no DP at 2B. Two runs cross. Just hesitated. Double pumped. Threw away from his body and fired up the 3B line and over C Matt Wood. I mean, the execution in the 9th here is just unbelievable. THIS is the microcosm of early 2025 T-Rats. Just poor baseball and just not a winning team. 3 runs cross on Yerlin. No hits. Unbelievable. Still only 1 down. The T-Rats are now 4-for-11 in Save Opportunities in their young season. Just brutal. AND, with a swinging K for the second out, Yerlin did what Yerlin tends to do: fired a WP high and to the backstop for another insurance run. His blow up outings are truly, and I mean truly, uncanny.

AND, he misses well inside to the next batter. Gotta dig deep, Yerlin. He gets the bottom of the zone looking. 1-1 count. Clipped the lower zone. Misses outside again. 95 mph off the side of the plate. 2-1 count. Doesn't get a check swing call on a clear check swing strike on a slider. Brutal no call from the infield ump. Just ridiculous. He checked a good quarter past half. Home plate ump has to call that. AND, he walks in the tying run on the next pitch. BRUTAL

Falls behind 2-0 again. Overthrowing a bit again. No bueno. He throws one to the back stop. 3-0. Now we get the WP. Man, Yerlin. Can you ever really trust him? So much stuff. So little consistency outing-to-outing. AB-to-AB. Bases juiced. One down.

OK. Strike looking. Foul down the first base line. 0-2. Here we go. He bluffs back to 2nd base. Foul down the 3rd base line. Gorgeous 90 mph slider on the inner black. He gets the first out looking. That pitch was filthy. One down.

3-0 way high at 96 mph. Man, I have seen this story before. Sad face. And high again off-speed. Nowhere near the zone. Consecutive walks. Nobody down.

Both pitch 1's have been well off the plate. Not a good look given the historicity here. He falls behind again 2-0 and C Matt Wood and pitching coach Mike O'Neill as well as the entire infield visit the mound.

Yerlin leads the ninth with only his second walk in 7 1/3 IP. He feel behind 3-0. Fought back with some heaters (touched 97 mph in there) then missed high on an off-speed offering. Not what we're looking for here. Let's close this out, Yerlin!

Hudson works around consecutive two out singles to induce the 6-4-3 DP. We are sitting at 3-0 in the affiliate world. Let's see if the T-Rats can squeak one out. RHP Yerlin Rodriguez is warming up to pitch the ninth. 4-3 T-Rats lead.

The Sounds stranded the bases juiced in their half of the 9th after K'ng with one down for the second out and then Monasterio grounded out to 3B to end the frame. Old friend RHP Enoli Paredes escaped. LHP Bryan Hudson will try to close this game out and he gets the swinging K to start things off lefty on lefty. They lead 3-1.

Flores gets a K swinging to start his 8th inning. He will face Pacheco again who hit the game-tying 113 mph long ball to deep CF in his last AB. Flores gets the pop out to 3B. Two down.He faces his third lefty. I see what's going on here - LOL. I tuned in late, folks!

Flores will come back out for his third inning of work protecting a 4-3 lead. He will face a lefty to start things off. I wonder aloud if this is the only batter he is planning to face.