Joseph Zarr

Is the internet wrong? I've read in multiple locations the Brewers Magic Number is 7 Games. I'm also a middle-aged man prone to forgetting things. I take no responsibility for this post. My dog typed this.

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: - UTL Jheremy Vargas was re-instated from the Development List by the Biloxi Shuckers (I have no idea how this will impact the remaining game(s) in the SLDS but we do know SS Cooper Pratt has not played a game since his HBP on his right thumb - including game one at Montgomery) Final: Nashville 4, Louisville (Reds) 1 Sounds Even Series in Louisville - Black Leads the Way with Three Hits Game Notes Box Score/Game Notes RHP Garrett Stallings managed to keep it all together despite being knocked around for eight base hits over his five plus innings of work. The thing is, Stallings did not allow a single XBH and he did not walk a single batter. Take note, young pitchers: free passes are not your friends. In what is likely his last competitive work for the 2025 season, it's truly awesome to see Stallings sneak his ERA just below 4.00 at 3.99 on his season. He finished with a yeoman's line of 5 1/3 IP of 8 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 ER after 82 pitches thrown with 56 landing for strikes. Despite allowing a whopping 0.353 BAA in three starts in September, Stallings held the damage to a minimum with a 'manageable' 1.47 WHIP. It was a "Here, hit this!" kind of month whereby he allowed 21 knocks over 16 1/3 IP but only walked three batters while striking out six. Stallings is a sinker baller, first and foremost - he invites the ground ball en lieu of overwhelming stuff. Six groundouts induced in today's outing to just two flyouts, for example. I think, when all is said and done, the Brewers will look back at that 2024 Thyago Vieira and Aneuris Rodriguez swap with Baltimore for Stallings and feel quite good about their return. He's eaten innings at Nashville and he's been an adequate if not slightly above-average stabilizing force. After some choppy waters in 2024, Stallings kept it together and improved his numbers and results across the board as a full-time Sound for manager Rick Sweet in 2025. To that end, we salute the 28-year-old veteran who will reach Minor League free agency this fall where he'll consider his options. Three Quick Strikes: 1) He may be mired in a prolonged bad luck slump, but OF Jared Oliva has been a net positive for the vast majority of his time as a Sound in 2025. Before he missed a stretch of games due to injury, you'd be hard pressed to find a more impactful everyday player in that first half of the season. A plus defender on the outfield grass covering large swaths of grass with his blazing speed - speed that also wreaks havoc on the base paths - I want to be sure to mention Oliva here despite his absence from the line-up in today's game. Like former Sounds fan favorite INF Patrick Dorrian in seasons past, Oliva did much more in 2025 than simply offer his services on the field and in the clubhouse. Oliva was meaningfully active in the community of Nashville - all the more impressive, in my humble opinion, as a new arrival to the Brewers organization. He is very clearly more than a professional athlete: It's extremely important we fans remember: these players are much more than the product they put on the field. Like Stallings, Oliva is also headed to Minor League free agency this fall. He didn't get his call-up opportunity in 2025 but if he keeps putting forth the collective good works like this, the karmic wheel of fates should honor his play on the field and give him that next opportunity he deserves. Mr. Oliva, thank you for all you've done in 2025 - on the field and beyond. 2) After leading the Sounds offense with a three hit day, UTL Tyler Black is suddenly hitting 0.311 in September with an 0.848 OPS. Well, how about that? Let's honor this sudden turnaround with some gratitude and recognition. Black has six XBH's in the month (all doubles) while swiping eight bags and not getting caught once. Everything has looked just a notch more dialed in in his 52 September PA's - that inside out swing a bit more meaningful. And, as this season comes to its close Black is salvaging a bit of the shine of his once illustrious prospect status. The season BA is up to 0.238 with the season OPS just north of 0.700 points at 0.709. These overall numbers are a far cry from his best seasons when he was on the come up in the organization, but, as we all know, if he continues to close out this series the way he's approached all of September to date Black will close his 2025 season on a high note. As I sit here today, as a fan writing about the Brewers Minor League system, I can definitely take a bit of solace knowing Black fought back through an unfortunate injury; he's fought back through many doubts of his place on the baseball diamond defensively; and he's actually salvaged much of his value as a 40-Man Brewers player. When Tyler is right in the baseball world, when he is his best baseball self, swings like this and results like this are fairly commonplace: I've seen this swing and this near exact same result twice through two games of this current Louisville series. Black is closing his season on top. 3) OF Brandon Lockridge continues to show his value as a Sound hitting safely for the 8th time in 10 games since being optioned. Today, his lone poke was an insurance run adding double high off the left field wall: Lockridge's current Nashville OPS is a smidge below 0.700 at 0.695 because he only has two XBH's (both doubles) despite hitting a very palatable 0.286 after 47 PA's. On the other side of the diamond, it is obviously time for LHP Robert Gasser to provide more meaningful upside depth for the Brewers bullpen. Those of us who have watched the majority (or all, in my case) of his ongoing outings with the Sounds, know this was likely true when he was first optioned. Now that the Brewers have seen his multi-inning bullpen wares for a longer stretch - including today's 2 2/3 IP of 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 R work - surely they know his call-up back to the MLB pitching staff where he belongs is imminent. It would also appear @Jim Goulartand I are both on the exact same page here: What's that you say? The Brewers are reading my reports and heeding my words? Oh stop. You just stop that now. The Shuckers will be back at it with game two of their SLDS tomorrow night. Down 0-1, they'll need a win back home at Keesler Federal Park to avoid elimination while forcing the deciding game three (also at Keesler Federal Park). They will turn to RHP Jaron DeBerry who will look for a quick and potent bounce back after his last outing's struggles. And, Nashville will turn once again to newly acquired LHP Tucker Davidson who is coming off two consecutive solid efforts. The Sounds will attempt to jump to a 2-1 series lead at Louisville. With that, in what could very well be my last Minor League Link Report of 2025, I thank you readers for joining me in this journey. It certainly hasn't always been easy in 2025. We saw many players suffer unfortunate injuries abound as well as a fairly disappointing second half as a whole. Regardless, and as always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. If I don't see you here again in 2025, perhaps you'll see me on the forums and even recapping the season with @Spencer Michaelisin the off-season for our second annual Brewers Minor League system review. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores MiLB Audio Links Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Nice 4-1 win for the Sounds. Childers pitches the scoreless 9th for his second Save as a Sound. A 9th inning Tyler Black double aided by a fielding error and a WP allowed the 3rd run to cross while a Lockridge double sent the 4th run across. They tie the series at 1-1.

Oh hey that one guy who can kind of pitch a little bit, LHP Robert Gasser, he continues to do Bobby Petrol things. 36 pitches. 23 strikes. 2 2/3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 R. Sounds lead 2-1 headed to the 9th. Boy, that September bullpen has the potential to look reallllly good despite RHP Trevor Megill's ongoing maladies.

RHP Garrett Stallings is doing his best to showcase: A man can allow 1.6 hits per inning, but as long as he isn't giving up XBH's and walking batters he can find work arounds. 1-1 game after 5 innings. Stallings: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 ER.

Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to injury after a challenged third Triple-A start. Regardless, 2025 was a promising season at large for Tate.

Man, I seriously wonder what would have happened in the outing had the homeplate ump just given him the rightful strike 3 on that filthy slider un the second inning after those consecutive singles. I personally always feel when a pitcher is absolutely bringing it, the umps need to elevate their work to meet them. He missed that call and that inning fell apart. Very high pitch count thereafter. Now we wait word on his health, I guess. Ugh.

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: RHP Manuel Rodriguez was transferred to the Development List by the Biloxi Shuckers Final: Louisville (Reds) 3, Nashville 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): Cornielle Fans Six, Sounds Offense Quieted in Loss to Bats - Cornielle Strikes Out Six in Second Triple-A Start Game Notes Box Score/Game Log One thing is true through two RHP Alexander Cornielle Triple-A starts: he can absolutely get the swing and miss at the Triple-A level. 5.0 IP of 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K, 3 R (2 Earned), 2 HR, 1 HB work. 80 total pitches were thrown with 54 landing for strikes. 11 swings and misses amongst 40 total swings. Though he touched 94-94.5 mph with the heaters he averaged just below 92 mph on those offerings. Two early mistakes in pitcher's counts were the difference, really. Both long balls traveled roughly 380 feet over the right field wall. I tip my cap on the first homer - it was a high outside corner heater. Heck of a swing and favorable result. The second long ball, however, certainly appeared to tail right over the heart of the plate: Cornielle continues to show just enough to keep us quite interested, honestly, but he remains far from a finished product despite some very workable tools in his pitching kit. I did appreciate there were no four-pitch walks in this second start. That's a small step. Many more steps to take on his professional path. Unfortunately, his offense didn't really do all that much to support his cause. The nature of this game was very much the stranded runner(s). The Sounds simply couldn't come up with any sort of rally starting key knock with runners aboard. After a torrid start to his tenure as a Nashville Sound. DH Luis Urías has now gone 0-for-7 with 1 BB and 2 K over his past two games including tonight's 0-for-3 with a walk. RF Jared Oliva came into tonight's game amidst an 0-for-20 slump. He went 0-for-4 with 2 K though he did suffer some very unfortunate luck on a well hit liner directly to the shortstop who promptly picked the runner back at 1B. When it isn't going your way, it often really isn't going your way in baseball. 1B Raynel Delgado remains a late season bright spot with his 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB effort. 3B Oliver Dunn managed a 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K effort as well on the heels of his grand slam on Sunday. Finally, I salute the shutdown bullpen efforts of RHP Justin Yeager (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and LHP Josh Maciejewski (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K). My, what a Triple-A debut Yeager has had since his call-up back in late July. In 17 Nashville relief outings, Yeager has allowed an earned run in only two outings. Final: Montgomery (Rays) 7, Biloxi 2 Shuckers Fall to Biscuits in Game One of SLDS - Wichrowski Ties Career-High with Seven Strikeouts Game Notes Box Score/Game Log The Biloxi Shuckers have indeed now lost seven straight at Montgomery's home park. They were swept to close the month of August, 6-0. They lost game one of this three-game divisional set in convincing 7-2 fashion. And, this being said, boy will the Shuckers rue their blown bases loaded no out opportunity in the top of the second inning of a 0-0 game. Three consecutive K's by Zavier Warren, Garrett Spain, and Eduardo Garcia left all three men stranded. It was a sign of things to come. 1-for-9 with RISP and 8 men stranded in total on the night. Montgomery managed a productive 5-for-14 mark with RISP. RHP Brett Wichrowski's three strikeout first inning may have been the best inning I've seen him pitch all year. He touched 99.8 mph (!!) on the radar gun. That heater shape I've been lamenting of late? Perhaps, the best I've ever seen it. It had rise; ride; and movement abound. If only this was the new bar! Things fell apart a bit in the second frame but the final line reads worse than it may have been. He was left hanging when the home plate ump blew a very clear strike 3 looking on a gorgeous back door upper corner slider. He walked the batter on the next pitch to load the bases after consecutive singles opened the inning. Another single scored the first run but with the runner holding at third base, RF Garrett Spain was able to quickly hit the relay man in 2B Eduardo Garcia and they grabbed their first out in a run down between second and third base. This is where things got dicey. A wild pitch to the backstop (as per usual, I disagreed with this ruling - it is my humble opinion C Matt Wood had to catch that ball. It was inside, yes. But, it was off the webbing of his mitt and it very much looked catchable) scored the second run. A throwing error to first base by SS Jesús Made extended the inning. None the less, two runs were all that crossed. All three knocks, all singles, came in that frame as did his sole free pass. 3.0 IP of 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 2 ER work were ultimately put on Wichrowski's ledger. The concerning element of this outing? Wichrowski was pulled after warming up to pitch his fourth frame. Something had obviously gone wrong between innings. His night was done at 66 pitches and 43 strikes. His replacement, one LHP Mark Manfredi, was not up to the task at hand in his 2/3 IP of 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 3 ER work. He was pulled at 28 pitches. Trailing 7-0 in the ninth inning, both Shuckers runs came via back-to-back long balls off the bats of 3B Luke Adams and C Matt Wood. Adams' shot, in particular, was an absolute 104 mph mammoth pull shot over the left field wall. This had to have felt incredible after two HBP's and one HBP off his helmet the AB prior: The Shuckers will look to bounce back at Keesler Federal Park this Thursday. It's a win or go home game two. Hopefully some of those late well hit balls (Adams HR, Wood HR, Boeve PH 2B) can spring some much needed momentum back in Biloxi. Will we see SS Cooper Pratt back in action? We shall see. Biloxi will be off tomorrow as they prepare for Game Two in Biloxi on Thursday. The Sounds, however, will be back at it in Louisville. RHP Garrett Stallings will get the nod. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores MiLB Audio Links Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Lara grounds out sharply to 2B. That's a wrap. 7 straight losses to Montgomery for the Shuckers.

Boeve fights off two two-strike pitches (pinch-hit appearance) and manages to rip a double to the RF wall. EBJ pinch runs. Lara with the opportunity to keep this mini rally alive. 7-2 deficit remains with two down in the top of the 9th.

Wood follows with an 0-2 golf shot over the RF wall. 7-2 game. No outs. Yay?!

8-of-12 long balls in 2025 for Adams have come versus the Biscuits. 104 mph off the bat. 394 feet over that far LF wall.

Well, trailing 7-0 in the 9th inning in a 3-0 count, 3B Luke Adams - who had been plunked twice in the game and straight off his helmet in his last AB - absolutely crushed a pull shot over the LF wall. 7-1 game. Yay?

He was seen back in the dugout. Hoping it was precautionary. Regardless of this series, Wichrowski is scheduled to appear in the AFL. He needs those reps.

0-2 pitch. Can't happen. Definitely can't happen in this type of game. Wayyyy too much dead center. Hanging slider that came back door to absolutely dead center.

More importantly, here, is the fact (touched on by the Biscuits announcer) Manfredi had to come aboard because something happened to Wichrowski in his warm-up for the fourth inning. This was definitely not planned. It wasn't pitch count related. Something happened. So many sighs. Wichrowski really looked fantastic regardless of that silly second inning. This is not a good development whatsoever, obviously.

I come back in to see Wichrowski K 2 in his 3rd frame. My reward is Manfredi's work? Woof.

<And we now pause our post-season late-season solo coverage for a Farm Chores break. >

Wichrowski ends his inning with another K swinging - foul tip into Wood's mitt. Nice escape given the circumstances. He salvages Made's throwing error with a shutdown effort. 2-0 Biscuits.

Barrios steals 2B. Wood has been having a seriously hard time transferring balls to his throwing hand the past two starts I've seen of his. He double pumps there and Barrios beats it.

Inside slider gets Wichrowski's 4th K. Two down. men on the corners. 3 H, BB, Error, WP/PB (as predicted, they scored it a WP - BS).

Now Made throws down the RF line and Burke can't corral it falling off the bag. Runners on the corners again. Still one out. SO, we have the Shuckers stranding the bases loaded with not a single ball even entering the infield. And, now we have the WP/PB and throwing error. Glorious. 2-0 Biscuits. One down. Runners now on the corners.

AND, just like that, Wood fails to corral an inside heater. That has to be scored a Passed Ball - classic Wood snafu. Knowing Minor League scorers they'll credit that a WP. 2-0 Biscuits. Wood has to catch that ball. It was off target, yes. BUT, it was still very catchable. Goodness.