Joseph Zarr

You can't overcome the coaching of Doc Rivers in the playoffs. He is easily, and I mean easily, the worst coach in the post-season. Not a single intelligent basketball mind, leading an NBA playoff team, would willingly start Prince and Kuzma in game one on the road. He uses a 10-man rotation? Then, post-game, 'The Doctor' doubles down with a prognosis the Bucks need to get one of the most inefficient starter in the League more touches? This isn't surprising. The man is in well over his head. Historicity of Doc-led teams would quite easily predict the following likely scenario: Dame comes back. Doc makes no adjustments. Bucks fall down 2-0 (maybe the game is closer. maybe they lose a heartbreaker). Bucks happen to squeak out Game 3 at Home. Doc still struggles to see the obvious. Indiana feels they have this series. Doc finally begins making line-up adjustments. The momentum has swung and it is too late. Obviously, as a life long Bucks fan I hope this is inaccurate. BUT, this is Glenn 'Doc' Rivers we are discussing. The man is about as thick-headed to understand the trends in modern basketball as he is to understand in-game or in-series adjustments. I remain utterly amazed the Bucks not only targeted this man to lead this team but they paid him the money they did to lure him out of retirement. The Bucks remain the Bucks. I remain forever grateful for Giannis and the Championship run. It remains incredibly difficult to take this organization seriously. They repeatedly demonstrate they are not a competently led organization.

3:03:45 is the start of RHP Garrett Hodges most recent work. I spoke to him after his last outing: extremely intriguing stuff despite his unimpressive debut performance. He came aboard today with a runner on third base and two down in the 8th protecting a 3-2 Muddies lead. He did not disappoint. Pitch 1: Blazes a 94 mph heater on the outer black for strike 1. Pitch 2: blazes a heater on the upper corner of the zone strike 2. Pitch 3: Blazes a high heater rising above the zone up and slightly in a swing and a miss. Three pitch K. THAT is a boost for the team. Alastre cleared the bases with his two out double to the LF wall in the bottom half. There was an early miscommunication with C Blayberg Diaz for strike 1 in the ninth (on what ultimately became a K looking at a slider dotted on the outer and upper black) where he was expecting a pitch down and in and he got a heater upper corner that blasted by his late-adjusting glove into his facemask. A bit of a scary moment and the two were seen discussing it after the game finished (on another slider K - this time swinging). Hodges appears to be taking blame for the miscue. We didn't see his change-up but maybe one pitch (?) and that was his most impressive pitch in his last outing by my eyes. He might even throw a two-seamer/sinker and a four-seamer in there? Either way, he's a raw arm but you can absolutely see the painters palate here should he keep grinding. He essentially ranges 94-96 mph right now. Might have two heater shapes (it certainly seems like he does) and has two primary off-speed offerings.

As I said at the start of this season: RHP Tyson Hardin is a problem in 2025. Spencer with the intel here:

I am predicting a nice bounce back performance from one RHP John Holobetz after getting wee snake bitten by some bad luck (and, honestly, questionable defense from his teammates) his last outing. Here's hoping we see some magic today.

All the action tonight and RHP Garrett Hodges stacking success is my favorite development. I said after his last outing and I'll say it again: when you can sit 95-96mph and casually drop a string change-up in there with natural ease you have a chance to in the least carve out a set up role and advance levels. We definitely may have something here. I'm excite.

That is the beautiful look of a man who just crawled out of his woodshed in the U.P. to toss the white rat before returning to wrestle a bear.

Obviously, I'm hoping for the best. BUT, only 'The Doctor' would watch the last three months from the HC's chair and think: "Gotta keep Kooz and Prince in that starting line-up to maintain our continuity. Gotta do it!" I was legitimately in pain (for three seconds) when they announced today's starting five. Anywho, is what it is. Series underway.

That's a big returnee for the Shuckers. Bowman has been sneakily one of the most consistent and important arms in that Shuckers Pen. He had a really productive Big League ST as well. Here's hoping he stays healthy from here!

I really didn't like what I saw in Middendorf's outing earlier in the week. I find it unsurprising he got peppered a bit and lost the lead (and ultimately the game). He just did not look dialed in and he certainly didn't have the zonal accuracy or movement I've come to expect in his pitches. I continue to wait to see the next jump in his tools - and he absolutely has some tools - but I continue to see an arm that has kind of stagnated or has been struggling to find its grip the last season plus. I'm absolutely hoping this is just a blip on the greater radar of a full season. BUT, I have my reservations given the length of time I've been hoping for the next level up. And, as it is known, historically I've been one of his biggest fans on this board. I just don't like the current state of what I'm seeing when he's on the mound though I obviously really hope he turns it around. He may have been sporting a 0.00 ERA coming into last night's appearance but I wasn't buying it. When he is best, his two-seamer/sinker are really moving and dipping. He parlays with the slider. Presently, as I've seen it, he's lost that movement.

Yeah, as I said earlier this week: The problem with the T-Rats roster as currently constructed on any given night is there are literally 5-to-6 guys in the batting order would could try to hide on previous teams. Maybe you were only playing a few of these players on any given night but you could mix them around a deeper line-up. You rest your lead-off in Tayden Hall (I still can't get used to this but here we are - and he's been doing a bang up job), and then you are pushing Areinamo out of a run-producing slot. Wayyyyyyy too much boom and bust in the majority of the bats of very very hot/cold streaky players. If Burke isn't mashing (and he hasn't been - he's had some bad luck on some well hit balls but he's also not lofting or elevating enough of these liners as is) you are essentially relying very heavily on Areinamo and Hall and hoping that Garcia is hitting disciplined (a 50/50 proposition on any given night, still). Then, you are praying to the baseball gods the rest of the line-up gets hot somewhow. It's a tough watch. It puts a lot of stress on the pitching staff as well - they have essentially no room for error and that's just no the type of staff they have.

INF Juan Baez sees these marks and...

Go Nate! Great news!

Woody peppered for six knocks and three bases on balls surrendering 3 earned runs. T-Rats have no hits. They trail 3-0 in the bottom of the third frame. Sounds about right given their current run of play. Sighs. Woody's rehab High-A WHIP sits at a ripe 3.00. Ruh roh.

INF Oliver Dunn was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers INF Caleb Durbin was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds RHP Brandon Woodruff was assigned to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from the Nashville Sounds to continue his Rehab assignment INF Sharlisson De La Rosa was officially assigned to the DSL Brewers #1 - the 17-year-old Dominican De La Rosa signed back in January as part of the 2025 International Free Agent Class

Can I also just say: Since I called for C/DH Ramón Rodríguez (Wednesday morning's report) to start getting back into the line-up (and, hopefully, on a more regular basis): 4-for-7, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR. I'm just saying, and have been saying, he is a sneakily very good bat and AB. Gotta have that in the line up with more regularity given the limitations of the Shuckers line up. There's no need to over think this. He's a veteran. He's a disciplined hitter. He has some power. He is not an easy out.

Not only 10 Wins...Let's turn it up a notch. Congrats to the Muddies and the Brewers! And, here's Chris Edwards with the call. And, is it just me, or does the way INF Jesus Made walks even give off Vibes?!? (I did say just two reports ago: It's all Mudcats. All the Time. Sorry. Not sorry😅)

That's right! Holy heck. I completely forgot they played that Tues-through-Thurs before the lower levels picked up on debut Fridays. Absolutely nuts what this squad has done to date. Thanks for reminding me.

Can the Timber Rattlers end their skid? They've certainly been creative in finding ways to lose two of their three straight losses half way through this Home set. The young Rattlers are down 0-3 to the Lansing Lugnuts. RHP Brandon Woodruff will try to give his best efforts to support a winning cause as he continues his rehab tonight. Will the sleep-walking bottom of the line-up wake up? Can 1B Blake Burke find that big hit? 2B Jadher Areinamo moves into the lead-off spot with DH/1B Tayden Hall getting a much deserved day of rest.

Of Note: Remember: Triple-A squads have all played three more games than the Mudcats. Such a special special squad.

Six of the Shuckers nine batters in their line up are below the Mendoza Line. Six. Wooof.

It doesn't matter if it's Miller or Rodriguez, the Barons have been swiping bags left and right this entire series.

Oliva has low key been awesome for the Sounds. I spoke to it last night but, man he is just a really good baseball player. Absurdly fast and absurdly smooth.

In fairness, it sounded like he was reaching on the 92. But, it did sound like he was confident he hit 90-91. Who knows? Either way, we both know he isn't lighting up any radar guns.

Mehring post-game pod. Discussed the velo. Admittedly, he wasn't sure on 92.