Joseph Zarr

Oh no! Craigtember to Remember fail. My heart aches for Couns and the Cubbies and their incredible fanbase and ownership group. It aches! Live Feed from the orchards: Can we go back to discussing Attanasio's sand theft?!

The cool thing about Chase is he regularly sits 93-95 mph. And, it just feels like he can easily land at 95-97 mph as he matures a little more. He absolutely has the build. He's a formidable presence on the mound, as you know. He's only 24 years old and it just feels like he's just starting to get who he is as a pitcher in pro ball. We have to remember, he was pitching for the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer League after kind of a collegiate journeyman route. This is only his second season in the org. The Brewers just find those arms. It's uncanny.

Man, Gardner is really really good. Amazing how easily he coasts under-the-radar. It's really awesome to see him come into this regular season after absolutely dominancing in Australia and just hit the ground running. The injuries were a bummer but it certainly doesn't minimize how fantastic he has been. He's easily one of the most "If he can execute like this at Triple-A?" guys tossing that pillow around. His breaking ball is a truly filthy pitch.

All this talk of dealerships makes me want to share a recent experience at a Toyota Dealership in Spokane Valley south of me: My wife has a 2009 RAV 4. It's a commuter - we drive our daughter roughly 50 minutes to her school in Sandpoint, Idaho every day. We need the AWD and the burly AT tires. Anywho, this is a used vehicle - my personal vehicle take is I will own them outright - no liens no interest payments. I perform most of the mechanical work myself (I'm a farmer so have been fixing my tractors for many man years); and because I buy used I know I am behind the eight ball from the get go. It's a decision I'm comfortable with knowing buying a new vehicle is an instantly depreciated investment. Anywho, I swapped out her charcoal Evap canister set up (driver's side essentially right below the back of the driver's seat) within the first months of us shipping this low-mileage biscuit. This was just after I had to pick-and-pull a replacement rear differential - drive one it was uber-apparent the bearings were shot. You never know what you're truly getting when your shipping these vehicles but I trust I can fix most and if the engine is good I really don't care. Anywho, when I was replacing the Evap set up I noticed the hard plastic cover's plastic fastening hardware was wearing thin. Sure enough, in her last road trip the cover fell off. Now, I don't have these weird pieces of 'hardware' to re-fasten it. SO, I decided to take it to the dealership to simply re-attach it. This is where it gets hilarious and classic dealership repair shop experience. I expressly told them: I just want you to attach that piece for me and I'll be on my way. As part of their repair process, however, they have to do an All Points Inspection type thing. SO, after they attached the cover they gave me their recommended laundry list of repairs. Keep in mind: I bought this vehicle outright for roughly $11,500. They showed me a repair list covering $9,500 of work. 😅 Oh man. It was like a Les Schwab (the corporate tire and suspension shop out this way) experience on steroids. I mean it's amazing what they try to get away with. Needless to say, I did not take them up on this enticing offer of mostly entirely unnecessary work.

I need to find someone who stands up for me the way y'all are standing up for Quay. He's a very athletic not very good NFL football player. You can toss blame at other players for making him look the way he does. That's fine. At a certain point in time, the primary play-calling ILB has to actually make the plays. Quay routinely does not. Kenny Clark hasn't graded out (or played) all that well early in the shift to 4-3. BUT, I have 10x more faith Clark turns it around given his historical year-in and year-out performances for the Packers. I'll say it again: if he wasn't a premium draft pick, Quay wouldn't be playing. It's pretty simple. He's getting every and any opportunity because the Packers lack the options they have the confidence in. He certainly isn't starting every game because he's earning these opportunities or out-performing his peers. This is year 3. He is making the exact same mistakes he made in year one in terms of pursuit and reading gaps or playing off his D-Line. You can blame the D-Line. I simply see the exact same player I saw in year one. And that's just not a very good NFL player. But, a very athletic one. That's nice. Anywho, I hope he starts playing much better. I have very little faith he does. I just don't think the lightbulb of instincts magically turns on. You can criticize the clips chosen as well. Herman and Brooke consistently watch the All-22. They aren't cherry-picking these plays. They are literally watching the tape every week and seeing what they are seeing. Do you think they want to criticize Walker? I don't. I think they're simply reporting and sharing what they're seeing that is not sitting well.

Man, speaking of Costello, he threw a sinker last night with 19" of movement. It caught even Javik Blake by surprise. He continues to be one of my favorites. RF Connor Scott botched a tricky diving catch in RF to open his second inning of work. He didn't blink. He didn't blink when that same hitter easily took 3B off of C Darrien Miller. He was cool and calm. Just buckled down. Such an underrated bullpen arm. I could very much see him going the route of a RHP Shane Smith. I continue to wonder if Bryant will actually be sent to Australia ala Meeker and Gardner. I want to see him in the AFL scenarios but the Brewers have sent those mid-season Indy singing bullpen arms to the Aussie League of late.

Reminder: Wisconsin @ Lake County is indeed the MiLB.TV 'Free Game of the Day'. Any and all can tune in to see if the T-Rats can bounce back with a more polished performance in the series finale.

Let's try this again: RHP Logan Henderson hopes to end his season on a better note RHP Will Rudy hopes to have an immaculate series-clinching Championship performance *** Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday. Organizational Scoreboard MiLB Audio Links

That's two consecutive butt whoopings by the very much better-executing Biscuits. The ballpark felt like a regular season early week tilt - lifeless. AND, that's now 19-2 Biscuits over their past two tilts (going back to Sunday 9/1's 10-0 thrashing). The Shuckers may have won the season series. BUT, the Biscuits are clearly the class of the South Division. The only thing the Shuckers appear to have going for them in Game 2 is RHP K.C. Hunt will very likely keep them in the thick of the game into the 5th or 6th frame. Beyond that, I saw very little to inspire any sentiments other than: you have to re-up 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. Gotta find a way to keep that young man in the fold.

With the Sounds postponed due to rain, it was a full on post-season fanfest between the Timber Rattlers and Shuckers. Wisconsin played some inspired ball early despite the struggles of RHP Alexander Cornielle but ultimately fizzled as the game progressed. The Shuckers, with a mostly empty home ballpark despite the playoff Game 1, were pounced on early and they never recovered in a mostly uninspired effort. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: INF Owen Miller has been added to the Temporarily Inactive List by the Nashville Sounds Final: Montgomery (Rays) 9, Biloxi 2 Via the Shuckers' 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): Shuckers Fall in Game One of SLDS to Biscuits - Martinez and Warren Both Hit Solo Homers Box Score / Game Log Pre-Game Media Notes LHP Tate Kuehner had executed two stellar starts agains the Biscuits over the past month - one on the road and one at home. Despite some recent struggles, the matchup felt like a favorable one. Tonight was not one of those stellar starts, sadly. Kuehner was pounced on from the get go in a game one loss. His final line reads: 3 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 6 R (5 ER). 80 total pitches. 51 strikes. This being said, the vast majority of the damage done during Kuehner's total work came during his first frame. A three-run homer and a run-scoring double did the heavy lifting. O'Rae's first of two throwing errors did Kuehner no favors either helping the fifth run cross home plate. And, as to the sixth and final run I don't know if you can do much about this: Tip the cap to Tanner Murray. That's just a heck of a hit. Three Quick Strikes: 1) 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. has been a hot topic over the past day plus in the Minor League forum. And, for good reason. He continues to be the most consistent player on the Shuckers roster. He's been healthy and available - this young man hasn't missed a game since September of 2022. And, he's only gotten better as the season has progressed. If we're being openly honest: he's only gotten better as the past two seasons have progressed. All I can say, dear Brewers organization: just go ahead and find a way to keep this young man in the organization. 109 mph off the bat and over 440 feet of distance. This young man is an absolute menace. There has to be a way he is prioritized in the early off-season. He routinely hits some of the hardest balls in the entire system. What isn't shown in any highlight? He also took a first pitch heater just below his kneecap in the ensuing AB. He shook it off immediately and jogged with purpose down the 1B line. The umpires gathered. With the Biscuits leading 7-1 and their new reliever having thrown one pitch, they tossed RHP Evan Reifert. They then tossed the Biscuits manager. I ask you, dear Brewers: What can't young Ernesto Martinez Jr. do for a ball club?!🤭 2) 3B Brock Wilken missed a long ball in the AB prior the above Martinez long ball by about a mere single foot left of the left field foul pole. I still have no idea how the ball hooked foul. He then struck out looking on a sinker on the outer black. In the next AB, with two down and runners on 1st and 2nd, Wilken flew out harmlessly to center field on an 0-1 inside heater. In his final AB, Wilken struck out again versus a lefty taking several massive upper cut swings he was nowhere near close to hitting. It felt about the most metaphorical sequence I could imagine for Wilken's season as a whole. I can't think of a more talented player in the system who simply needs an off-season reset. So much talent in his bag. And, his 2024 season has mostly been a struggle since the HBP off the face. 3) I have to say, for the first post-season appearance at home since 2019, the Shuckers ballpark was mostly empty and lifeless. It's certainly fair to say the team didn't give the fans all that much reason to be raucous as the game wore on. However, it's truly remarkable to see such little fanfare given the Shuckers won the season series over Montgomery 16-14. One would think there would be more energy given the circumstances - no Brewers Double-A affiliate has won their League Championship since 1994! I can only wonder how it feels to the players and the clubhouse at large. It's just not a good look. Final: Lake County (Guardians) 6, Wisconsin 2, Lake County Pushes Rattlers to Game Three in Championship Series - T-Rats Drop 6-2 Decision in Game Two Box Score / Game Log Pre-Game Media Notes RHP Alexander Cornielle was in a mighty struggle with his location from the jump. His heater was riding high and outside with excessive arm side run reminding me of a slice off the tee box beyond the fairway and into deep rough. He was hanging breaking balls over the meat of the plate. He had bases loaded traffic in his first two frames. Given the circumstances, it was clear manager Victor Estevez was trying to salvage his bullpen and stretch Cornielle as long as he could. Ultimately, he managed to push him to 3 2/3 IP of 7 H, 3 BB, 1 HB, 2 K, 1 HR, 3 ER ball. The home run was the killer as it put the T-Rats behind 3-2. They would never recover. This was not the Cornielle we had seen over his past 20 plus innings pitched. He, unfortunately, did not meet the moment. I'm sure he'll ponder how it all got away from him in his final test of his 2024 season. Three Quick Strikes: 1) We've seen some very aggressive sends over the past two games from manager (and, by proxy, third base coach) Victor Estevez. It took a perfect throw from the left field grass to get 2B Jadher Areinamo going for the tie game in the top of the fifth, but a perfect throw is what the Lake County Captains got: The game got away from the T-Rats from there. Unlike the send in Game 2 versus the River Bandits, I agreed with this send by Estevez. The lefty Wilkinson had kept the T-Rats bats mostly under wraps and he has been one of the more dominant starters in all of the Midwest League. You take your chances and go with the speedy Areinamo there who nearly slid under the tag despite the fantastic throw. 2) After looking completely outmatched and completely overzealous in his first AB, we have to celebrate the remarkably professional AB's we saw from young RF Yophery Rodriguez in the clip above and in the clip below: In his first AB, Rodriguez was swinging at pitches high and inside at his eyes from the jump. In his second and third AB's, he was patient; selective; and pounced in a lefty-vs-lefty match-up facing one of the more dominant starters in the entire 2024 Minor League season. This was in-game maturation the likes I haven't seen from the young outfielder in quite some time. It was, perhaps, the most refreshing thing I witnessed in my entire night watching both affiliates. I've watched a lot of Rodriguez AB's in 2024. These may have been his most impressive AB's I've seen. That's saying quite a lot given the circumstances. 3) In an 0-for-2 night, 3B Luke Adams still managed to get on base twice via HBP's and he stole his fifth base of the series in the process. Those were his 42nd and 43rd HBP's in his 2024 season. It's just an incredible number. I don't know if we can consider this a translatable skill but it certainly shows you Adams is entirely unafraid to literally take one for his team. In what is my penultimate Minor League report of the 2024 season (I can't believe I'm writing those words!), I'm feeling many things Brewers baseball related as the season comes to a close. Perhaps @Spencer Michaelisand I need to do a deep dive season-ending Brewers Minor League recap pod under the Brewer Fanatic banner. Who knows? The T-Rats will look to try to end their season with some Championship hardware tomorrow night. RHP Will Rudy will take the bump to start things off and I would like to remind manager Victor Estevez: LHP Mason Molina is a very impactful pitcher. Please feel free to use this young man as your change-of-pace lefty piggy-back. 😊 What do I know? I'm just a gentleman farmer who watches too much Minor League baseball. The Sounds will return in an attempt to play a double-header at Norfolk as shown above. As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

Wilken K's swinging. Ernesto rips an oppo hard hit grounder under the glove of the charging 3B. That ball was hammered. EMJ with yet another poke. He has half the Shuckers hits. Two men on. One down for Scott. SHuckers trail 8-1.

Tanner Murray goes oppo off RHP James Meeker now for his second oppo taco of the evening. 8-1 Biscuits. This is a shellacking. And, this is the Shuckers team we have seen so much during the second half after their mini run to start the second half. The ballpark is absolutely lifeless.

Yup. The Biscuits manager is tossed. This is amazing. Most entertaining thing I've seen all night. They may have just ejected a third Biscuit? Pandemonium! 😅

EMJ came to the dish just one AB after his long ball down the RF line. He is beaned directly on his lead leg just below his knee. And the umpires are gathering to discuss the HBP. After the long ball in the last AB the umps have ejected RHP Evan Refiert after just one pitch. He is not a fan of the decision. Now the Biscuits manager is out to discuss things. They're as confused as I am. The Biscuits are leading 7-1. They aren't trying to hit Ernesto there. They've ruled it intentional. Amazing. Their manager may end up getting tossed. Quite the leash he's getting. Jawing two umps. Pointing fingers. I can't blame him.

Merkel gets past O'Rae's error with a swinging K on an 83 mph knuckle curve below the zone and a hard groundout to Wilken at 3B. 7-1 on to the bottom of the 6th.

Simpson doesn't get the chance to steal a base as Merkel gets the classic first pitch DP ball and Dylan O'Rae botches it with a terrible throw to 1B up the line and beyond the reach of the 6'6" Ernesto Martinez Jr. NOT easy to do. That was a poor turn and an even worse throw with plenty of time to get the DP. Sigh. One down.

Simpson reaches on an infield single. Stealing 2B in 3...2...1. Miller has almost zero chance to catch Simpson on a pitch out.

And Wilken flies out harmlessly to straightaway CF. On to the 6th. Shucker trail 7-1. This game has the feel of regular season Game 1 of 6 down in Biloxi. Very little life from the team or at the ballpark.

A two out O'Rae oppo double down the 3B line. A Miller five pitch walk. Two men on. Two down. Let's see if Wilken can find some better luck after his bad-luck near HR miss in his last AB.

Biscuits taking advantage of sloppy Shuckers work. Merkel walks a runner with one down. Runner takes 2nd base on a swinging K on a change-up - Miller threw late and airmailed it to CF. The runner didn't advance. BUT, with two down, the next batter rips a line drive RBI single to left CF. 7-1 Shuckers. Merkel isn't as sharp as he typically is out of the pen. He seems to be struggling with some humidity and grip issues pitch-to-pitch. Though, in fairness, this ump is giving him absolutely nothing near the outer black unless it is inside that stripe. He's missed on several very very close pitches not getting a single call.

Lamar Sparks doubles with two down. Warren goes down looking at an 89 mph sinker dead center. On to the top of the 5th. Merkel will come back for his first full inning of work after helping end the last frame. Murray makes a fantastic snaring snag of a 2-0 99 mph liner headed to the gap for the first out. That was quite the grab.

Wilken misses a solo jack down the LF line by about 1 foot. My goodness. I have no idea how that hooked foul. He then strikes out looking on an outer black 89 mph sinker. This is the nature of the affiliated games tonight. Martinez does not miss down the RF line, however. He rips a solo jack down the line inside the pole. 109 mph rip. 442 feet. Whewwwwww. SIGN THIS MAN. 6-1 deficit.

Tanner Murray just ripped an oppo homer over the RF wall on a really nice high outside heater from Kuehner. I mean, nothing you can do about that poke. 6-0 BIscuits.

Yes. Carolina held the longest post-season drought in all of the Minor Leagues until they reached the post-season last year. It was, off the top of my head, a 12 or 13 year drought? Last season feels like, well, a season ago. Can't recall off the top of my head.