Joseph Zarr

Oh I understand what he is saying. I still disagree with it. It is mildly misleading but I know what he is saying. In no world I live in is Made a below average defender at any level. He has 12 errors at SS over 68 games. If I wipe out the adjustment period of April, I put that quite comfortably at maybe 8. I lived through Wily Adames fielding last season. I know he thinks he can be future Plus. I also disagree with this. I think it's pretty obvious if his total package comes together he has a lot higher ceiling than Plus. His short area quickness and hand-eye coordination and his overall athleticism is just absurd. He is the very definition of an elite defensive profile. But, regardless, it doesn't matter. Made isn't going to the MLB today or this season. It's a moot exercise. But, I do disagree with it even if it is 'fair'. And, like I said, I often disagree with Longenhagen in this area which is fine. The overarching body of work of what he does is absolutely incredible and an absolute gift to baseball heads.

Frankly, I am most unnaturally excited by the possibility Made and Fischer are sent upon season's to form the Super Line-Up😅 I mean EBJ is back on the IL. They 'need' the bodies.

Areinamo is so far 0-for-12 with 5 K vs his old organization. And, I already regret typing this. 4-for-4, 1 2B, 1 HR incoming.

Luke Adam back is the gift we need for the Biloxi playoff experience.

Yerlin gifted yet another high leverage opportunity. 1 H, 1 BB, 2 WP, 2 ER. A 5.71 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP on his season. He's appeared in 40 Games this season. I can very likely count on one hand the number of outings he has had a clean bill of work - ie, no walks/no HB/no WP/no runs. It's an uncanny level of wild. On one hand I get it: when you see those rare glimpses it is so darn electric. BUT, we kind of know the drill by now. This is his fifth season with the Brewers. He does not have a WHIP below 1.47 in any season.

Oh, and hey, just like that after Adamczewski gets the nod back to 2B and the T-Rats win. Huh. I don't make the rules. I just report the results.

I mentioned it in last night's report but don't look now. Tyler Black is getting hot. Very productive AB's this past week. You absolutely love to see it.

Haven't you heard? 40-Grade defender right now 🤭

Micah over the Middle, fwiw, is a serious problem. There are an abundance of these types of clips: They will likely move him everywhere. Because, well, he's a weapon everywhere.

I mean the Reggie comparisons are very legit. AND, we get Micah at Age 26 to Reggie's Age 32. Only two players in NFL history to record 12 + sacks in their first two seasons. Dallas D, by EPA, were the best Defense in the NFL with Parsons on it. Bottom 5 with him off the field. I mean...giving Hafley this level of weapon is unbelievably exciting. I. Can. Not. Believe this just happened.

It could be given the strange nature of his lower back injury. I would casually (and in a friendly way, mind you) opine they are prioritizing giving those reps to Made and Peña. Before he was promoted from Carolina, he returned from the ACL on July 18th. Made and Peña were still playing Mudcats games through August 2nd. In that timeframe, Josh played 7 games at 2B to 5 games at DH. After they left? He played 10 more games without that dynamic duo. Of those 10 games, he played 7 as the primary 2B and 3 as the DH - including one as the DH in a Fayetteville double-header on the 13th. I can tell you, because I do actually know these things, by the time he left Carolina his body was in good standing. There hadn't been any known relapses. He has DH'd so many times because he has solely DH'd since arriving in Appleton. And, this very much simply appears to be a "Keep his bat in the line up. Give the reps to Made and Peña." That's all fine and dandy to an extent. My main overarching point here, and stated above, is Peña specifically isn't a good enough defender to solely stash Josh as the DH. If we're keeping him there, for the time being or into the future, they really 'should' continue to give him reps in the rotation. And, this all being said, and as you allude to above him staying healthy is very much at the organizational forefront and it should be. My contentions are really just nagging advocating contentions and nothing more. I know, knowing the player, he will just put his head down and do his work with a great attitude and 100% effort regardless. Adamczewski is anything but a head case. He is the consummate team player.

Ho. Lee. Buckets. I mean, the loss of Kenny is a thing. BUT, you do this trade 8 days out of 7. My goodness. Micah is quite arguably the best defensive player in the entire NF of L when he's healthy. Man, pairing him with Edge Cooper and Rashan Gary is all sorts of Hafley's Lab FUN. Here's hoping that back is just fine.

I think maybe that T-Rats ninth inning (defensively - seeing Fischer access that power we all know with his first solo Johnson in the bottom half was awesome. He's been playing generally an extremely positively impactful brand if baseball) last night was a little bit of the straw that broke the camel's back for me? It was absolutely brutal. Don't do yourself a favor and go back to watch. I will never get that time back. BF Community service and all. 😅

It's not shade. It's just honest feedback. The system as a whole has suffered many a significant impactful injury. AND, man, we've lost a lot of games in the second half. Lots of regression. Hitting slumps. Pitching slumps. Sloppy defense. It hasn't been all that pretty. But, as always, within that trend there is always positive stuff happening. Always. And, really, we live and die by that as Brewers fans. I absolutely support the true youth movement. It's a very worthwhile commitment for the Brewers limited payroll. There is very very much a youth playing a couple Levels up challenge happening impacting this. And, given the Brewers innate ability and proclivity to find repeated diamonds in the Minor League FA and Rule 5 portions of talent acquisition, I am not a single ounce concerned by my my opinions.😅

I witnessed a 1-7 early week. A story all too familiar in the second half. Let's hope, with the attention on the evening games, the squads can pull out some more favorable end results! Muddies tied atop first place. Can Bitonti and Di Turi please start hitting? Please? Lovely performance from the bottom of the Mudcats line up last night. Can they stay disruptive? That would be huge.

After watching this Brewers Minor League second half, I think it's very fair to say (especially given the impact of system-wide injuries and their unknown impacts moving forward) the idea they are the best system in baseball is overinflated. I personally 'believe' they are extremely top-heavy with premium young talent. This is awesome. But, we've witnessed a large number of regressions and recurring injury woes. The depth of the system is very thin and I think the second half records speak to this. I mean we've witnessed a loss of like 30 games on the 45 over .500 cumulative high we saw earlier in the season. Since that time, the system as a whole has lost a lot. That has to mean something in the universe of prospect group think.

Well, in fairness, if you compiled the number of times I've 'pounded my fist' for Josh since, well honestly, his ACL days...you'd likely have an encyclopedic volume. AND, like Areinamo before he was traded (who I politely opined had a different ability bat-to-ball en lieu of his unorthodox approach) I'll counter the defensive narrative, in this case, with Josh. We all know (well we all should know) the bat has elite traits. Remember, before this season even really got underway Del Chiaro went on record that the Brewers felt Josh was the best bat on Carolina's stacked roster. Yea, even with Peña and Made. His defense has been more than adequate at 2B this year. Is it gold glove caliber? Very likely no. Is it below average? Absolutely not. It's dependable. He makes the plays he should make and he occasionally makes the plays you don't think he will. The only concerns I have for Josh as a prospect are not directly touched on in this article: why haven't the Brewers tried him defensively anywhere else? The Brewers can't tell me with a straight face they are willing to work with plodding Tristen Lutz (sorry, Tristen I am casting strays!) and Luis Castillo on the corner grass - heck even give old friend 2B Felix Valerio opportunities in LF - while suddenly using Josh as a DH-only High-A hitter. Heck, they're using C Blayberg Diaz at first base. They used 1B/DH Tayden Hall on the LF grass last night. By my eyes, they continue to drop the ball here. When you have a bat and an approach as advanced as Adamczewski's, they would be wise to start exploring avenues beyond 2B/DH. There ultimately may be none. But, imho, they need to see it in action first. It's why, given the missed time over the past two seasons, I've been hoping for an AFL opportunity this fall. He'll likely be forced into other positions via prospect and positional backlog. I mean, if we were looking at an Ethan Murray level defender, with Josh's bat, we'd be looking at a Top 100 prospect already.

In a more serious tone, riffing off Sveumsy... Watching Peña and Made at High-A is really a reminder, in my humble opinion, that Made is in a different tier. Granted, we all know this sample size is negligible. One two game '0-for' stretch and Made suddenly looks very human again. BUT, different movement skills. A different type of hand-eye coordination and short space athleticism. Made's defensive upside and switch-hitting abilities just really drive it home for me. And, as a direct aside, can we please start giving Adamczewski some reps ar 2B again? Peña, by my eyes, just is not a good enough defender to merit siloing Josh as a DH-Only player. He just isn't. The Brewers - organizationally at large - stubborn insistence on giving the prospects they have higher on their internal rankings totem pile all the innings continues to be my biggest (in a very short list) grievance as an org philosophy.

Must have been rehabbing.

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: C Nick Kahle (who was warming up in the depleted Sounds bullpen in the 10th inning) was activated by the Nashville Sounds Final: Charlotte (White Sox) 11, Nashville 10 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 Rally Twice, Fall in Extras to Charlotte - Delgado and Black Each Have Three Hit Games Box Score/Game Log Game Notes The early LHP Tucker Davidson experience has been, shall we say, unkind. 2 2/3 IP of 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 5 R (4 ER) work tonight. This is on the heels of his 1 2/3 IP of 5 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K work just five days prior. Are we really ramping up here? Is this a stateside jet lag hangover? It certainly could have something to do with it. A new League. A new organization. Things can come at you fast when you are a veteran Minor League free agent pitching in Korea. Regardless, we'll obviously hope for more positive impact in outings ahead as the Sounds head into their home stretch. Three Quick Strikes: 1) I just love it when umpires confidently blow calls. Strikes and balls. Outs on the base paths. I swear we live in the baseball era where ties go to the defense. It's a "Prove you're safe!" baseball world in 2025. In the 10th inning, the Sounds amidst their second comeback rally in consecutive innings, DH Tyler Black (3-for-6, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B - he's heating up!) hit the potential game-tying single through the left-hand side. LF Drew Avans (on in relief of Jackson Chourio) sprinted on contact and was given the go signal. Now, credit is absolutely due to LF Corey Julks who makes an incredible throw. BUT, I hate to break it to you: when you slow this play down Avans absolutely beat the throw. It was bang-bang, yes. BUT, there is a rule that clearly states the tie goes to the runner. The problem here is: there wasn't a tie. Avans beat the tag by a half step. The proof is in the Slo-Mo. None the less, that was ball game. I'm adding my own asterisk. So there! 😯 2) 1B Rhys Hoskins and LF Jackson Chourio played defense into the 10th inning. 1B Rhys Hoskins hit a sac fly to deep right field in the 10th. LF Jackson Chourio did not take his AB as he was pinch hit for one LF Drew Avans (seen above - worked a walk). Chourio gave us an 0-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K line - the rehab stint has not been all that kind to us Chourio dreamers. Hoskins, on the other hand, continues to put forth professional AB after professional AB. 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB. Hoskins is very clearly ready to get back with the Big Club Brewers. Chourio ran down a fly ball in the ninth inning down the left field line - physically, he looks ready. Seeing today's presser with manager Pat Murphy, the Brewers clearly don't care about Chourio's current results. They simply want him to believe in a healthy body again. 3) 3B Raynel Delgado stayed scorching hot with a 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB night at the dish. He worked a pivotal 0-2 count to a free pass in the game-tying ninth-inning Sounds rally. He is truly seeing the ball incredibly well and is clearly oozing confidence at present. At the same time, who sent him on the shallow sac fly to end the ninth inning? Was it David Tufo? Was it Delgado's own decision. On one hand, I get it: try to walk it off and steal a victory. The right fielder caught it a bit flat footed. But, on the other hand, your pitching staff is absurdly depleted. Why not try for another chance at the dish? The Knight's had been walking batters left and right. Go at their bullpen some more. Either way, it did not work out and Delgado was thrown out by a good several feet. Regardless of the out at home plate, it's nice seeing Delgado get action back at third base. He very clearly has the arm for it and has very clearly played the position in the past. He continues to state his case as this season progresses. Final: Montgomery (Rays) 3, Biloxi 2 Box Score/Game Log Broca Turns in Strong Double-A Debut, Shuckers Fall in Extras - Wood, Vargas Provide Multi-Hit Efforts Game Notes Consecutive one run road losses hurts just a little bit. The second loss coming in extras hurts just a little bit more. RHP Tyson Hardin is slowly working himself into game shape and into form as the post-season lingers around the corner. Tonight, he completed two frames after his debut one frame outing. 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2K, 0 R. The storyline of the night, however, was the immaculate debut of one LHP Jesus Broca. I've told you for quite awhile now: Broca had figured some things out. He was pitching more efficiently and with more attack than he had his entire career as a Brewer over the past two plus months. Well, tonight, he put that evolution all on display with a masterful and controlled 3.0 IP of 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 R work. Sublime stuff. Absolutely sublime. He needed just 31 pitches and threw 21 strikes. More of this, please! Three Quick Strikes: 1) 3B Brock Wilken's return to the line up has not been all that smooth if we're being honest. We've seen this before with his return from injury - a slow sluggish start. 0-for-5, 5 K is about as bad a night as a man can have at the dish. There's not that much more to say than let's hope he is shaking the cobwebs off. Yeeeeesh! 2) I have a request for 1B Blake Burke that he harness his defense. He's been a bit of a wild horse since he charged a bunt in Knoxville and made an incredible play throwing the lead runner out at third base. Since that time, his glove hasn't felt pure on the gather and catch and he's leaned slightly over-aggressive. I still contend Burke is an underrated defenseman - I've seen him make plenty of solid plays and I do believe he can be a solid glove and arm at the bag. However, I've seen one too many hiccups already early in Montgomery. It's time to up the focus and dial it in for the first round of the post-season. I contend the throwing error charged to SS Cooper Pratt was simply a complete whiff by Burke when he lunged for the ball. 3) The story of tonight's game was the Shuckers bullpen effort. I highlighted Broca's sublime debut above. Just take a look at the box score and get a feel for the zeroes being put down across the board. Why have I been so passionate about LHP Mark Manfredi's season? Well, because he is a legitimate lefty in the mold of one time Brewer fan favorite LHP Brent Suter. Manfredi has some deception in the delivery and most definitely a bit more gas in the tank: It's a matter of continuing to grind. There is an MLB reliever in his tools. Final: Quad Cities (Royals) 9, Wisconsin 5 Box Score/Game Log Rattlers Fall as Bandits Break Tie with Five-Run Ninth - Made & Fischer Headline with Big Nights Game Notes RHP Tanner Gillis left the game early after a lead-off double and walk to start his fourth inning of work. His night ended at 56 pitches on what pretty clearly looked like a case of a blister or blisters on his throwing hand. He was seen showing his throwing hand and fingers to the trainer and he was repeatedly looking at the fingers in the dugout. I do wonder if this issue hadn't popped up in the third frame. Gillis was absolutely dialed in through the first and second frames. His ball was moving in all directions and the Quad Cities bats clearly were uncomfortable. When all was said and done, he left with the score at a 3-1 Timber Rattlers lead and his two runners aboard in the fourth. His final line reads: 3.0 IP of 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 3 ER. Both runners he left aboard would score and another one would cross - all two out runs off reliever RHP Jack Seppings. Full-Game Highlights: Post-Game Podcast: Three Quick Strikes: 1) 3B Andrew Fischer is very clearly getting more and more comfortable with High-A pitching. This is a beautiful thing. 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR tonight. That's his fifth multi-hit game in just 11 total games played with Wisconsin to date. His 106 mph nuke over the right field wall was also his first long ball as a professional. 2) Jesus Made continues to get more and more comfortable in High-A. 4-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 2B on the evening. He made numerous athletic plays at shortstop throughout (though, this is still a work in progress - the reps are invaluable given the raw tools). His wrists and lower body strength are just absurdly potent. He can turn on a ball in the blink of an eye and send it to all fields. There just isn't all that much we can't dream on here. 3) The Timber Rattlers bullpen continues to be its kryptonite. When you pair that with a young team, a thin bench, and blow-up innings filled with gaffes it's a recipe for a second half 19 games under 0.500. RHP Aaron Rund certainly didn't concede all that much hard contact in his ninth inning of work in a 4-4 game the River Bandits broke open. Honestly, you'd be hard pressed to convince me Quad Cities hit anything harder than 85-86 mph. And, Rund certainly suffered some truly bad luck via calls on the base paths and his defense behind him. But, it's also fair to say as a 26-year-old veteran arm in High-A in a regression year he's likely on thin ice. This is just the nature of the professional baseball ranks. Outings like today certainly don't help his cause. It's an unfair game, baseball, much of the time. Seppings gave up both inherited runners. He then walked five batters in 3.0 IP. Yet, he was charged with a single run on his ledger. Rund was poked around by a bevy of seeing-eye goose snorts and bunt singles with his defense dropping the ball (literally and figuratively) all around him. He was charged with six hits and three earned runs. It may be unfair, yes, but the Timber Rattlers' ninth inning mini meltdown was emblematic of their entire second half. Final: Carolina 7, Delmarva (Orioles) 5 Box Score/Game Log Mudcats Down Delmarva to Level Series - Fowler Picks up First Save as a Mudcat Game Notes LHP Enderson Mercado didn't look particularly sharp in the early going - a rare occurrence given how consistent he has been as a general rule. But, when you glance at the box score and see 1.0 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 ER work and a mere 26 pitches thrown that's because he took a 100 + mph line drive directly off the interior of his left ankle to start his second inning. It was one of those improbable one-hop bounces that just happened to hit its mark. Are we surprised at this point? This season has been brutal on the injury front. He was helped off the field and was later seen carted past the outfield wall where, at Five County Stadium, the ambulances typically arrive to look at players to determine if they need to be taken for further evaluation. A truly unfortunate development in what was a meaningful victory for the young Muddies. Three Quick Strikes: 1) SS Brady Ebel managed a 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K night at the dish and bumped his early average all the way to 0.276. Ahhh, yes, the glory of small samples and one good night at the dish! I still don't presently see all that much power coming off Ebel's bat. But, his swing path remains pure and quite beautiful to the eyes. He can hit it to all fields. He has a frame where we can envision that pretty swing finding gap-to-gap power down the line. This just turned 18 years old Leo has all the traits and the baseline of a baseball lifer. I remain steadfastly curious what one off-season might do. 2) CF Josiah Ragsdale and DH Braylon Payne are beginning to from quite the formidable duo atop the Mudcats line-up. It's been really fun to watch the two bat in proximity. Ragsdale is the consummate patient slap hitter with a keen eye for balls and strikes and the ability to deftly knock it onto the outfield grass. Payne, on the other hand, has a legitimate axe in his hands. He has line drive power and the ability to barrel balls. The two combined for a 3-for-6, 3 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 2B evening atop the batting order. 3) It was a rare Mudcats evening where the bottom of the order carried its weight and then some! Glorious! C Yannic Walther was truly impressive behind the dish and with his game-tying RBI knock early. 3B Gery Holguin added a little more than defense with his 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K effort. 2B Luis Lameda played feisty impactful defense and added a 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K line himself. It's nights like these that give me that small bit of confidence these young Mudcats may pull out a playoff berth afterall. Let's keep it going! This just also in: The Mudcats lead the Carolina League in walks. They also are third in all of Minor League baseball. That's just a bit bananas considering the youth that has permeated that clubhouse since game one. With tonight's victory, the Mudcats moved into a tie with Fredericksburg atop their division. Fayetteville is nipping at their heels a mere 1.5 GB. We are heading down the Minor League report home stretch. RHP Ethan Dorchies brings his talented wares to the bump tomorrow in Zebulon. Let's get another 'W', Ethan! LHP Robert Gasser continues his rehab with the Sounds and if I'm not mistaken the goal may be to shoot for five innings. At this point, given the nature of the Brewers pitching maladies, they may just need to stay on that exact path. RHP Brett Wichrowski will look to find that elusive purely dominant outing. Maybe RHP KC Hunt's game one will inspire. And, with the latest start the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will be led by the roller coaster ride that is RHP Ryan Birchard. 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

Nope. He's Safe. Catcher is still catching that ball there. Avans foot is on the plate. Tie also goes to the runner...except in modern baseball where the tie goes via whatever the ump thinks he sees. Man, that's brutal. He's looking right at the play. And just misses it entirely.

Well upon further review, the catcher may have very very savvily stayed inside the base path but with his back knee guarding the plate. He very well may have been out but there's really no good angle to see it in slow motion. Tie to the runner! Tie to the runner!😅

Oh my. Avans steals 2B. For the second time this inning the Knights infield drops the ball at 2B (they missed a CS on Berroa earlier). Berroa sees the drop and scores from 3B. 11-10. Avans rounds 3B on an oppo knock through the left side oft he infield and the home plate ump absolutely botches the call at home. He was absolutely safe. The best part is the ump is entirely shielding himself from the play going behind the catcher. Avans slid in front of him. The ump can't even see it. But, of course, he calls it confidently. And, this, folks, is the Minor Leagues. (Let's be honest, umps blow calls at every level 😅)

Sac Fly to RF. 11-9 deficit.