Joseph Zarr

2025 Mudcats baseball. Where they are even giving their trademark Chris Edwards slogans away to opponents...not just division titles. "The Cardiac Fred Nats!!!" ?!? (I'm just being silly y'all. Losing sucks. But it happens. Hopefully, the young men learn from these experiences and still have the resolve to finish this series strongly.)

Ooooof. After the sheer and total first half Mudcats collapse - getting swept by Lynchburg late in the season when entering the series leading the division by 1.5 G - a walk-off grand slam to lose out on a second half opportunity feels quite fitting. Metaphorical, even, for the entirety of this organizational wide full-season affiliate second half of baseball. Man. This second half has truly been glimmers of twinkling stars at a distance. Whole lotta losses. Mudcats find new and creative ways to lose in 2025.

Two of RHP Patricio Aquino's last three outings are in the very interesting (in a good way) category. This includes tonight's fantastic relief performance. Muddies are trying to push tonight's game to extras. 1-1 bottom of the 9th. Eeeeek

We are so back. Affiliates on the verge of going 1-6 on the Day. A real tried and true Second Half special.

AND Payne and Bitonti both K swinging. Woof. They head to the 6th.

Huge moment in the Mudcats game. Bases loaded. One down. Ragsdale just worked a seven pitch walk. It is now a 5-3 Nationals leaf. Mound visit and a pitching change. Payne with an opportunity to chip into their deficit even further in the bottom of the 5th of a 7-inning game.

Dinges just ripped a homer. Noice!

Quezada ran into a lil bases loaded no out trouble in the bottom of the 7th, but he navigated out of it like a champ: K, Force Out, Fly Out. Muddies win game 1 with a final score of 5-1!

I mean the only story actually happening in that T-Rats game is a healthy Letson expanding his pitch count, once again, dominancing. Guilarte? CF Guilarte, no less. Yeah...moving on.😅

I do believe I will take Quezada's 2.0 IP of 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 E most nights.

I do believe Ebel's double early in Game 1 was his first professional XBH, no?

Bitonti has absolutely showed up in the most important series of the Mudcats season. Through 2 G and 3 innings (Muddies lead 5-0): 5-for-8, 3 R, 5 RBi, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 0 K. You absolutely love to see this. Ebel, Di Turi and Kevin Garcia all 2-for-2 through 3.

Precisely it, fine Chap. It was pre-scheduled - to the gills, as one might say in some high school or college locker room (somewhere?). I don't really know. I'm middle-aged and extremely un-hip to the new parlance(s).

Just checked. All is apparently fine with Patrick. It appears as though they had a scheduled 70-pitch intention with the outing. He struck out two in his final frame (including a beautiful outer black hook for a swinging K). Gave up two ground ball singles up the middle. At 71 pitches, Quero looked to the dugout and the bullpen was already warming and LHP Brian Fitzpatrick got the call. Very much all appearances of a pre-planned 70 pitch outing.

I see RHP Chad Patrick was pulled at 3 2/3 IP. Pitch count was at 71 with 7 K. Seems a bit inauspicious. Did anyone have eyes on this?

Man, I am so Friggin glad the Nestor Cortes circus is no longer our concern. I'll take Lockridge bolstering our OF depth 7-Days a week over that Cortes sideshow. Good riddance.

Man, just some AWESOME news coming in for some former Brewers in Alfaro, Navs, and Ponce. How about an INF Cam Devanney first MLB knock? Let's top that first career poke off with some zesty MLB controversy:

Can the Sounds win their seventh straight? More importantly, will they ever lose a baseball game ever again? Back to you in the studio, Daniel.

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: RHP Joel Payamps had his contract selected by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds (RHP Shelby Miller was placed on the 60-Day IL by the Milwaukee Brewers as the corresponding move) Final: Nashville 4, Norfolk (Orioles) 0 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): Strong Pitching Leads Sounds to Sixth Straight Win - Gasser and Zimmerman Combine for 13 K's Box Score/Game Log Game Notes The Sounds won their sixth in a row and they managed to shutout a Norfolk Tides team at their ballpark that had only been shutout twice at Home all season. It's a heck of an accomplishment. LHP Robert Gasser threw better than I've seen him throw it since, well, since 2024 really. 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 R. 45 pitches thrown with 31 landing for strikes. It was a highly impressive outing. The change-up was working brilliantly. The sweeper was sweeping quite 'sweepily' (it's OK, you can use this dynamic alliterative license). When Gasser is pitching like he was pitching tonight, the MLB bullpen role is a matter of when not if. He averaged a smidge above 92 on the four-seamer. He averaged 92.5 mph on the sinker. He averaged 89.3 mph on the cutter. He leaned heaviest, as we might expect, on the sweeper followed by the four-seamer. The change-up really stood out in its impact though only thrown five times. He grabbed eight swings and misses in 22 total swings. Three Quick Strikes: 1) LHP Bruce Zimmerman really had a couple very rough outings in August. However, his last two starts have been sublime. Tonight's 6.0 IP of 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 0 R work may have been the best I've seen him all season long. I've waxed poetic on Zimmerman's low velo savy several times in 2025 so I won't belabor it here. But, when he's dotting the edges and mixing his sinker, slider, curve, splitter, and four-seam (take a breath!) to perfection he's grabbing a near 33% whiff rate on 40 swings. Absolutely sublime performance. 2) A night after lauding the recent work at 3B in addition to his scorching hot bat, the Sounds moved up-and-coming SS Raynel Delgado to, well, shortstop yet again. That's nine appearances manning the crucial shortstop position for the extremely versatile defender. Delgado is fielding at a 96 FP% or higher at every position he's played in 2025. Long gone are the days he's the primary second baseman. Oh, and another multi-hit effort in his 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 K work. That's now four consecutive multi-hit games. 3) It's always fascinating to see a long-tenured MLB vet return to the Triple-A level in the quest for another opportunity. 2B Luis Urías did not disappoint in his first game back as a Brewers 'prospect'. 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 B, 1 2B. Everything was quite smooth and easy throughout the contest for him. He was even credited with a stolen base of home. Urías can thank Delgado for getting caught in a rundown and then successfully sneaking his way back to 1B when the Tides' infielder mishandled a high throw. What can't Urías do?! Final: Biloxi 5, Pensacola (Marlins) 2 Lara Reaches 40 Stolen Bases Mark, Shuckers Reel in Wahoos with 5-2 Win - Shuckers Reach Base 21 Times, Record 40 Home Wins for First Time Since 2019 Game Notes Box Score/Game Log RHP Brett Wichrowski was solid if unspectacular in a 6.0 IP outing allowing 7 H, 2 BB, 1 HB, 1 E and 2 ER while punching out three. I did like the movement profile on the slider and curve, however, and he was touching 95 mph into the sixth frame. These are all good things. When all was said and done, Wichrowski gave his team a Quality Start though he did not ultimately factor into the final decision. Three Quick Strikes: 1) Double-A C Matt Wood very much continues to be a thing. As one of our daily game thread posters, @biedergb, opined (HERE) it's nice to discover bourgeoning catching depth beyond the big names in Quero and Dinges. 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K. Both pokes for RBI were extremely telling of the progress we've witnessed since arriving in the Biloxi clubhouse. He's experienced an uptick in very professional AB's. Take this oppo single into left field as an example. A 1-2 count. He's protecting the edge of the zone: With his uptick in power, with his sudden prowess catching runners on the basepaths, and with increasingly more professional looks while in the batters box C Matt Wood is a prospect on the rise within the organization. 2) The power hasn't quite arrive since his return, but this was the most impressive game I've seen yet from recently returned 3B Brock Wilken. He made a very slick charging backhand grab and cross-body throw to 1B for a slick out. He also went 2-for-2 with 1 R, 1 RBI, and 3 BB. I'd say the knee is looking much better. 3) What kind of season is CF Luis Lara having? I feel like we're asked this semi-regularly in the Minor League forums. How about this kind of season: He's truly been phenomenal as a 20-year-old playing up in Double-A. He also leads the League in walks, fwiw. Does he hit long balls? Not really. But, he definitely hits doubles. He definitely steals bases. He covers an absurd amount of grass in center field with an incredible glove and arm. He takes free passes with the best of them. He's just a fantastic baseball player in nearly every facet. 2-for-3 with 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB on the evening batting lead-off. I mean, he has a mere 16.28 K % with a 13.66 BB %. There's so much to like with this favorite of Brewers manager Pat Murphy. The downpour came with a fury when this was first delayed after completion of the top of the fourth inning. RHP Ryan Birchard had revisited his walk habits with three free passes through three frames. But, he also pitched an absolutely sublime first inning and earned four punch outs while surrendering just a single knock. I still politely contend there is far more positive happening in Birchard's progression than there is worrisome trends - I say this despite the elevated WHIP and the ongoing walks rearing their head. Lead-off 1B Luke Adams absolutely did Luke Adams things. He was plunked on the left butt cheek. He took a walk. He made a web gem catch over his shoulder sliding down the right field line. Adams' ridiculous athleticism is such a boon at the first base bag. DH Marco Dinges (2-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI - including the strangest near home run RBI single you'll see in a while) and LF Luiyin Alastre (2-for-2, 1 RBI) sent across a run apiece. C Andrick Nava left the game early after an apparent throwing hand finger injury after a failed CS attempt thrown to third base. Final: Fredericksburg (Nationals) 4, Carolina 3 - Final/10 innings Fredericksburg Rallies Past Mudcats - Mudcats Fail to Capitalize on Numerous Opportunities Ultimately Falling in Extras Game Notes Box Score/Game Log What a golden opportunity squandered by the young Mudcats. The young Muddies demonstrated a failure to execute in numerous fashions on both sides of the ball. 3-for-14 with RISP. 13 men LOB. Strange base running sends and decisions. Pick your poison. And, given all this, they still led 2-0 headed to the bottom of the eighth inning and they still led 3-1 headed to the bottom of the ninth inning. In a season filled with untimely failed scenarios like this, ultimately, this was yet another one. RHP Bryce Meccage returned after a month's absence and boy did he light it up in his sole inning pitched. 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K - all swinging. Our man @Spencer Michaelis had us all covered, once again: What a wonderful return to action. It's a shame the bullpen couldn't close the door when all was said and done. I'm not going to belabor the collective inabilities of LHP Anferrny Reyes and RHP Jose Nova to close said door - their box scores tell the tale in this game and, really, their inconsistent seasons. We saw multi-hit efforts from 1B Eric Bitonti (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 CS), RF Jose Anderson (4-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR) and DH Braylon Payne (2-for-5, 1 SB). Finally, I turn my attention to one LF Tyler Rodriguez who appeared to suffer a fairly significant lower leg injury while running down the line to first base. The cart was indeed brought onto the field and he was carted off. All thoughts are with the young Rodriguez as he faces an unknown injury future. This event certainly added insult to injury when all was said and done. With the series knotted at 1-1, it will be up to the Mudcats to dig even deeper to pull out the 4-1 mark over the final five games. Can they start with a double-header sweep tomorrow? It's a tough ask but they have a tough task ahead regardless. One last nugget from our semi-regular poster @Terry. He shares Bridge League highlights from one of the Brewers recent two Taiwanese signings (HERE): Thanks, Terry! With the Timber Rattlers now playing two tomorrow and with Carolina's scheduled double-header we have a flashback summer six-pack on the docket tomorrow. RHP Chad Patrick will take the bump for the Sounds. RHP Bishop Letson is scheduled to start game two for the T-Rats. RHP Alexander Cornielle will look to help the Shuckers jump out to a 3-0 series lead over Pensacola. And LHP's Wande Torres and Enderson Mercado will toe the rubber for the Mudcats. Torres certainly deserved much better his last time on the bump. Let's hope his teammates have his back this time around. 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

I think they'll take the same path as Manuel Rodriguez here. I don't think they'll focus on the velo bumps just yet - give him another year as they let him mature au natural at High-A.

On cue, he adds an insurance run in a 1-2 count bottom of 8th. Hits a nice easy 95 mph oppo under the diving 3B glove. On base 3x tonight. Two key RBI pokes, to boot.

And, just like that, Lara impacts the game positively again. A rolling topped swinging bunt up the 1B line. He shoots out of a cannon out of the box immediately and beats out the pitcher's attempt to toss it to 1B by a half step. The pitcher hesitated for just a fraction of a second. Shuckers score one more in the process. 4-2 lead. Headed to the top of the 8th.

Wilken with a really nice charging backhanded scoop throw across his body to 1B for the bang-bang second out. Knee looks good!