Joseph Zarr

Really nice to see talented RHP Alexander Cornielle find a bit of a stride after inconsistencies in 2023. This is a young man who always had the strikeout stuff in spades. It was consistency finding the zone that typically has been his 'downfall'. Pitching 6 complete scoreless frames with very little action on the basepaths, 6 K, in a very fragile 1-0 T-Rats lead is the stuff that really solidifies what several of us have been pining for since he was called up from Carolina. Always had the K numbers. Always had the build and the raw stuff. Really hoping he is finding another step up with his arsenal and performance.

That's a very fair assessment. Perhaps, I'm just a wee over-cantankerous because I'm hobbling around with a broken toe. I should be giving up grand slams. Not these men who work 10x harder at their craft than I do!😅

I understand it's a bullpen game. What I am saying, plainly is: don't start him. He's still available, obviously. That's my point. I've seen this play out with him starting one too many times. It's just not setting him up for success. I understand what you are saying. I don't agree with the approach. And I'm not using a hindsight is 20/20 here. I don't like him starting any game. That's just me, perhaps.

Absolutely not. Grand slam. Sheeesh. What a terrible start. 😅 Sounds trail 5-0. Still one down. He's already at 30 pitches. From my vantage point, and what do I know - I am not managing these young men, obviously - just watching all the games I do. Bennett and Seminaris have demonstrated they are better out of the Pen. Much much better warming up and entering game in the middle innings. They regress nearly every time they Start a game. I don't know what it is. BUT, sometimes, I just feel like we should let these pitchers excel where they are effective. I've seen this type of thing play out one too many times.

LHP Nick Bennett is giving us 'that' version of Nick Bennett. 3 Hits. 1 BB. 1 K. 1 down. A single just plated the Bulls first run. Bases are still juiced. 1-0 Bulls. Hopefully, he can get a DP ball and get out of this.

Pedro Ibarguen's slow start in Arizona has me sad face.

Well, we need to remember he came out of the gates rocking and rolling and then was shelved with that injury - was it a broken finger? Either way, he definitely pulls or hits middle more than oppo. BUT, I will just say the most important thing at this stage is he looks the part in nearly every way. So much to build with.

Hard not to be very excited. And, why not? Let's have FUN!

Heck of an effort getting this report in and a fantastic write-up at that?! What can't this man across the pond do for our Minor League addled brains? Go Brewers!

I just came here to share this 🤮 after reading the name 'Andrew Chafin'...who is predictably having a fantastic early bounce back campaign with the Tigers. Now, that's 'Chafey'!

Ahhhh for Kripes! What is this realistic and well-reasoned perspective?!?

We approach this second weekend of May with the affiliates holding a combined 72-56 record (including the ACL Crew's 1-3 mark). Carolina: 20-8 Wisconsin: 19-11 Biloxi: 15-15 Nashville: 17-19 * Carolina is tied for 1st Place in the Carolina League South Division with the Fredericksburg Nats. Again, we see a tight first half playoff race - those postponed, and ultimately suspended two games vs. Columbia just last weekend, weigh heavily into this picture. Last year the Mudcats lost two entire games vs Down East during their first-half playoff push. Hopefully, that won't happen again this year! ** Wisconsin is going toe-to-toe with Quad Cities (in Quad Cities) this very week. Their 2-1 mark through three games of this hotly contested six-game set has opened up a tenuous 1.0 G lead over the same River Bandits. Beloit and Cedar Rapids also hover a mere 1.5 GB @ 17-12 records. It gives me great pleasure to share the South Bend Cubs and Peoria Chiefs are holding serve in the cellar - 11-19 and 9-21 records, respectively. *** Biloxi's bullpen has allowed 14 runs in just a two-inning span in the past two contests. They'll quite obviously want to stop that nonsense 😅. Regardless, sitting at 15-15 they are still very much in the Southern League's South Division - 2.0 GB 1st place Pensacola, 1.0 GB 2nd place Montgomery (why this current series holds obvious importance). Hopefully, with the returns of Clarke and Wilken we can see the offense continue to turn things around for the better. In the 'What a Difference a Year Makes!' category, last year's last place stepping stone, Birmingham (51-87 overall in 2024), is leading the North division by 5.0 G at 20-9. Second place Rocket City sits 5.0 GB at 15-14. **** Nashville sits smack dab in the lower half of the greater International League. Remember, here, there is no divisional winner each half - it's the overall leader amongst both the East and West divisions. It's a gambit to ultimately face the PCL's winners. At 17-19 (a record that represents what we've seen on a night-in and night-out basis, honestly) they remain 8.5 GB of overall 1st place leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (25-10) of the Yankees org. If the Sounds have any notion of making a move up the standings in the first half, the current series vs Durham; the next series @ Jacksonville; and the following series vs Charlotte are a good opportunity. All four of these teams currently hold various versions of sub 0.500 records. Let the bottom dwellers feast upon each other!

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Friday, lineup updates, etc. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores MiLB Audio Links Tonight's Expected Starters: RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (6:35 EST - Free Game of the Day) RHP Brett Wichrowski (7:35 EST) RHP Yujanyer Herrera (7:30 EST) RHP Josh Knoth. (7:05 EST)

You and I both know: The strides he has made since you watched him in Quad Cities just last year (!!) are, frankly, jaw-dropping. He has matured in the batters box in less than a year's time in ways we just didn't know were possible (well, I'll speak for myself: I had major doubts). We both knew he had a proclivity for making some of the hardest bat-to-ball contact in the Midwest League when he was with the T-Rats. But, boy oh boy, he was consistently prone to huge hacks every swing - it was all-or-nothing and it was a long deliberate hack. Many misses. Head flailing away up the 1B side and into the stands. Then things just, well, 'clicked'. And, that click hasn't stopped. AND, he's continuing to get better. It's phenomenal. EMJ is undeniably one of the best stories of the system since the summer of 2023.

As a lifelong Packers fan, I can not recommend this one page Q & A from the Legend that is Cliff Christl. Just incredible stuff in here:

You would think this would be the approach of every D-Coordinator. Very very refreshing to hear. He says all the right things. He's purportedly an incredible teacher of young men - with special focus and impact on secondaries. It's hard not to be bullish on the prospects of what we might see on the defensive side of the ball in 2024.

You know what they say about small samples: When you stack them together, they get bigger! EMJ CF All-Star HOF trajectory: ENGAGE!

Er merrrr gerrrrrd. Ortiz played a whole game! He wasn't even subbed out in the 7th for the Chorizo. Spicy!

The ACL Crew pulled it out and move to 1-3. That's a 4-1 day overall. 5-1 if we count the Crew.

Two consecutive games the Shuckers bullpen has given up a seven-run inning? Yikes. At least they were leading 8-1 at the time. They sneak across a run in the bottom of the 9th and with 9-8. Rough stretch for that Pen.

It was a couple hour delay to the Start. He warmed up and then wound down. Ot impacted both clubs' scheduled Starters.

Thanks!

Nah. We all have lives outside of our passions here. I thought the Mudcats were going to rollll. They jumped to that 3-0 lead early. Then Rivero melted down. Threw 33 pitches. Didn't record an out. And they headed to the 2nd frame down 5-3. LOL. I do highly recommend going to the timestamp and watching that late inning play at the plate after Morris Austin launched a pick-off throw to nearly the CF warning track. Yophery is such an incredible hustler when he knows a run is imminent. He just attacks that baseball. I've seen it on several occasions now. He certainly is a rollercoaster at the dish but his effort and will is undeniable. 40 K in 102 officially registered AB's is not a good look for Rodriguez - especially given how pretty his swing is when it is dialed in. Last night, it was the inability to see the pitch and take the swing. he had several pitches to hit in his K's looking. He just never got the bat off his shoulder.

@MudcatsfaninBrunsCO:What is the traffic like on 264? I live in a rural Mountain Valley and I am 45 minutes to 60 minutes from Spokane/Coeur D'Alene/Sandpoint (ID). If I need to go to a grocery store, for example, it is a minimum of 20 minutes for me. I see that Wilson is 30 minutes away on Google Maps and I think to myself: If I lived in Zebulon, I would personally have zero problems driving to games. Emotions and sentimentality aside: I sense this is going to be problematic for Mudcats fans in and around Zebulon. Is this a major new commute for people in the area to consider a new venue? Obviously, it will never be the same now that this is moving forward. What will happen to fans in and around the Zebulon proper area?