Joseph Zarr

They are already warming up in Zebulon. Sheeeesh. 😂 2024 6th Rd pick (Tulane) RHP Chandler Welch just assigned from the ACL Brewers is already on the hill as today's starter. Let's hope for good things as the Mudcats look to build upon last night's 18-run outburst. CF Braylon Payne is swapping into CF and batting lead-off. Love it. Yophery drops down to 3rd and is today's DH. Mudcats lead the series 3-2 and are looking to take it today.

As you know, I watched that live and I certainly didn't handle it well 😂 There truly are few words. AND, what I missed in the original viewings was that unbelievably lazy and indifferent swipe tag attempt from C Nick Kahle. What is that? Show some urgency for crying out loud. I mean. Whewwwwww.😅 Only way to move on from that type of failure to execute is make a statement today. With this Shuckers team? I have absolutely zero expectations.

Do ensure to watch that Braylon Payne 'My Draft Day' video linked by Jim above. It. Is. Awesome. I said it in the game threads the past couple nights: this young man has something. He has that 'It' factor. He carries himself differently on that field than pretty much anyone else on it. He knows. We absolutely have something here I was, frankly, entirely unaware of. Obviously, the sample size is ridiculously small and inconsequential in a vacuum. However, he is already smashing 100 mph + line drives to the OF grass. He is already causing massive havoc on the base paths. It certainly seems his swing set up and easy follow-through can build up toward higher loft. I think we might have an unknown amount of untapped power here. He already has the frame to get stronger - a true specimen. Anyhow, extremely exciting young prospect. We should all be waving a finger at the Draft Industrial Complex that yet again wasn't ready to celebrate this moment. Shoutout to my guy LF Yoshwar Garcia for picking up his 65th SB last night - continues to be entirely overlooked by the Minor League fan base. A true lead-off guy the Muddies continue to bat in the lower part of the order like a second lead-off type of deal within their line-up. I continue to root for this young man. He continues to be an afterthought, somehow. Very good player. Final shoutout to my guy INF/OF Miguel Briceno. Just continues to have a truly fantastic season as the every man for manager Nick Stanley and the Mudcats line-up. He just always seems to step up and perform when called upon. You can not underestimate what that type of thing does for a team. He is nearly always popping with solid play and line drives and really plus AB's every opportunity he gets. What's more? He can step to the mound as well and give you a relief inning. Incredible. And, I would be remiss if I didn't share 1B Reece Walling's absolute bomb from last night. This puppy left in a hurry.:

Words truly can not describe how happy this makes me. Collins is definitively a 'my guy' kind of thang for this ol' codger. I've been touting his wares in my reports since last May. He's only gotten better, more consistent, more versatile. He hits anyone - both sides of the dish he is in the mid 0.800's OPS. Switch-hit versatility. Can play 3B, 2B, CF, LF and play acceptable defense. His bat and his offensive prowess, however, are what set him apart. He did have an OF assist to 3B this year that absolutely caught me by surprise (from LF) - he has a better arm than I gave him credit for. It's not 'Wow' but it won't kill you from the outfield grass and it is more than fine at 3B. Line drive gap power. Has developed HR pop. Has a very very good eye at the dish and knows how to fight off pitches. I've been calling for the need, organizationally, to ensure he doesn't get nabbed in the Rule 5 draft. He just offers so much as a Utility guy. Today is a GOOD day!!!

Going to share this here too because it is pandemonium at my Brewers Minor League viewing Man Cave station! Words can not describe how absolutely PUMPED I am about this move. Brewers see what I see: a must add roster addition. He can avoid Rule 5. He can become the master utility wizard that he already is at his next stop. This young man has so many skills with that bat in his hand.

Dude. DUDE!!!

The best part of tonight's debacle? BOTH Mississippi and Pensacola lost. 😂 SO, the Shuckers just go about their business as if they're actually trying to win baseball games and get into a post-season. Business as usual. Nothing to see here. 3.0 G lead over Mississippi and 3.5 G lead over Pensacola. Javik, bless his professional heart, will put lipstick on this pig. But, for those of us who watched that late-inning failed execution across the board? We know what's really going on in that Southern League South division playoff 'hunt'. It's OK to speak that truth. We're all adults here. These men are professionals. It just isn't pretty in any fashion. IF these Shuckers get into the playoffs they are going to have to find a magical potion to help them play fundamentally sound baseball. Because, we just haven't seen it but for a two-to-three week stretch to start the second half. It is what it is at this point.

Well, gents, have great rests of your nights! That one was, I don't even know. @biedergb nailed it spot on. There are no words for what I just witnessed. I've seen truly inept Shuckers baseball this season. That ending took the Blue Ribbon. It was...just...I would expect that in the DSL. In Double-A? In a playoff push? Just no. Absolutely no.

Fundamentals. Fundamentals. Fundamentals. You have to make the easy plays routine. You have to make the difficult ones look easy. This is why you are a professional. Big moments showcase big time players. The shuckers only big time player was pinch run for (inexplicably, I might add) in the 9th inning. Ugh.

Not only did Hall and Sparks just let that ball fall between them with not a single one of them taking initiative to own that play, Wilken and EBJ are just ball watching the misplay happen. SO, Wilken hasn't covered 3B. The runner took off, predictably, and Sparks panic throws a one hop rocket to 3B and Wilken can't get to it due to the runner. Ball sails into 3B foul territory. Walk-off. You literally couldn't write a more metaphoric and emblematic ending for this team. So much to digest from that unbelievable inning.

RF Lamar Sparks with his absolute cannon of an arm has to own that pop fly. He has the beat on the ball. He has the throwing angle. Just an unbelievable classic Shuckers loss. Here's the picture of the season for you:

OMG these Shuckers. Unbelievable botch job to lose this. UNBELIEVABLE. What is this a high school game? You can't make that loss up. Truly indefensible (pun intended).

I should add a run crossed. 3-2 Shuckers. One down. Execution matters in big moments gentlemen.

I'm back. Nothing he can do on that weak contact dribbler. Got back in the count. Got a swing on a low heater. Just a weak chopper that died and EBJ tried to make that bang-bang play. EBJ then sails a DP high to the diminutive O'Rae (who hesitated in his cover to boot - not playing solid D late). Runners on the corners. One down. Sheeesh. These Shuckers.

Fittingly, I have to go read my 6-year-old to sleep. Here's hoping the Shuckers pull this one out. Come on, men. You can do this.

Woessner buckles down. Falls behind 2-0. Gets a K looking and a K foul back to the netting. Gets the weak liner hit directly into a deep shift by O'Rae shadowing 1B (lefty bat). Easy flare line out. We are on to Extras.

O'Rae follow up his 0-for ongoing woes by getting absolutely eaten by a routine one-hop liner right to him at 2B. Have no idea what he was thinking in that misplay error but it was not a good look. Can't give free base runners, young man. No way not in these scenarios with a pitcher who has struggled all season. Give him confidence. Sigh.

Woessner with a filthy K for the second out. That may be the best pitch I've seen from him all season. Zesty!

Really don't understand the decision to pinch-run EMJ there after the stretch double. At all. He's 18-of-23 SB on his season. He is the hottest player on this team by a country mile. He gives you everything at 1B defensively. What, for a nominal speed advantage in Hall? Not a fan of that move at all.

I did not have an RHP Aaron Rund 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R eighth inning on the Bingo card tonight. No, I did not. Get this out of your system young man. This T-Rats team is going to need your sharper self in the playoffs. He has been extremely consistent all season that's a really odd one.

Kahle. Oh Kahle. Flails at a slider. Reaches at a high outside heater and oppo line grounds out to 2B. New pitcher young man. You can't be swinging at the first pitch. The previous pitcher just threw 8 consecutive balls and walked three straight. Classic. Undisciplined.

EMJ broke this puny closer. He broke him in two.

He gets ahead 2-0 laying off high inside and low inside. He takes well inside 3-0. Whewww baby. Come on Zavi. We have a TIE GAME FOLKS. And the bases are still juiced. 1-1 game.

He walks! Bases are JUICED. Whewwwwww. It's up to Zavi Warren. Can he find a clutch poke?!?

Takes it full high and outside.