Joseph Zarr

Well, this was not the news I needed at the end of my day. Darn it. My sweet catching Prince. May you thrive wherever you land.

How could YOU?!? Of all people!

It's not as straightforward as it is being made to be here. They have already adjusted the way they formulate the strike zone once already in 2023 (I'm on record questioning the zone myself on more than one occasion). Before the season began: "The second question (we’re trying to answer), which is also a very tricky question, is the geometry of the zone,” Sword said. “And coming up with a strike zone to load into that system that will produce ball-strike calls that make sense to both teams and promote the kind of on-field outcomes that we are seeking to promote. That is, we are finding, a very tricky problem. We’re hoping to make some progress on that question this year.” The zones aren't universal and the way the tech is used or set up park-to-park is different. What IS universal in a game, however, is the zone used is the zone used - ie there is no discrepancy or alterations happening in real time. The other thing not mentioned here, even though it isn't relevant tonight, is the final 3 games of every 6 game series in the International League in 2023 uses the Challenge system (which I am highly in favor of). In other words the ABS is only used the first three games of every series.

I have to think if RHP Logan Henderson begins the season healthy (well, let's be honest if he's healthy in April he is in High-A in the second half), and isn't playing the shortened innings ramp-up approach starting May 9th, he's one of the first SP listed as a Carolina League All Star. SO, I am going to give him my own unofficial ceremony of recognition in a Gif:

Well the Brewers tend to lean on players to use what they are most comfortable with and when that proves to be a detriment...then they work on changing things. I see this as: Triple-A is the place to work on these changes not the majors where a glaring lack of success could be detrimental. They did the same thing with Turang when they worked on his hand placement adjustments at Triple-A Nashville.

Considering Noah Campbell was sent to Nashville in mid to late July, I personally don't consider him all that integral to the Shuckers near miss of the Playoffs (which was a strictly second half attempt). We could probably swap him out for numerous players there (I know, you love yourself some Noah Campbell - he's a fun player but he also missed the majority of his second half to injury). I think of several unheralded Shuckers who had brilliant moments or min-runs in 2024: Ernesto Martinez provided real meaningful 1B and dish work immediately after his call-up to Biloxi. He lost momentum at the dish but I can definitively say his size and range and sure catching glove at 1B were a boon to a sometimes erratic tossing infield. RHP TJ Shook really discovered his best Double-A self in the latter part of the 2023 season after glimpses but inconsistency in the first and second halves. He found great impact with his change-up and curveball. He re-discovered his impact as a starter in the most important portion of the playoff push INF's Freddy Zamora and Ethan Murray were bedrocks on the left side of the infield. Seamlessly bouncing between 2B and SS - and 3B for Murray. Zamora, in particular, gave us his best defense of his season in the final two weeks. Both had solid overall seasons at he dish to boot and proved themselves as core utility system players. I've been hard on Zamora at times in the past year plus. He has earned my 'trust' after his 2023 season. OF Lamar Sparks became one of my favorite players to watch. Tho certainly prone to the swing and miss, he also provided clutch knocks (and some line drive power) and numerous web gem defensive plays including several astounding OF assists. The greatest thing about the Shuckers second half run is they found contributions up and down the line-up. A bullpen that struggled with any semblance of consistency throughout the season became lock down in two pivotal road series at Tennessee and Birmingham. RHP's Max Lazar and Cam Robinson found their best stuff during that time (despite Lazar's lone grand slam hiccup). Robinson, in particular, reclaimed his season and became the Southern League Saves leader. It was just a fantastic second half all around with many storylines and many many players played a part.

It was an evening with quite a bit of traffic on the base paths for the Sounds pitching staff but the Jumbo Shrimp's inability to make rallies of anything (13 LOB) and two early long balls from IF Owen Miller and OF Joey Wiemer were the big difference. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints Transactions: RHP J.B. Bukauskas was recalled from the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers (and pitched a clean 9th inning for the Big Club!) RHP Colin Rea was officially optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds (and debuted in his first Triple-A start - more below) Nashville 6, Jacksonville (Marlins) 4 Box Score / Game Log Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Ride Night of Firsts to Victory RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez debuted at Triple-A Nashville by getting the starting nod and then firing off a whopping 101 total pitches. Rodriguez wasn't especially sharp, but, as he is prone to doing, he successfully managed to work around the majority of his woes - 4 BB, 1 HBP. He can also thank LHP Alex Claudio for inheriting his final two runners and not allowing a single man to cross home plate. This is Rodriguez's first time working with the ABS system in the International League. And, I have to say, having witnessed the system over a year and a half now I tend to agree with the majority of the players: the challenge system is a better fit. I digress. Rodriguez did manage 6 K in 4 2/3 IP and in grabbing that sixth punch out he entered the history books as it broke last season's team total strikeout record for a single season (which, is interesting considering they currently sit 10th overall in the International League in total team strikeouts). Rodriguez was not the only new face on the hill. RHP's James Meeker and Tobias Myers both made their inaugural appearances with the Sounds in 2023. Of the two, Myers looked like the player who had seen International League action in the past as he punched out the side in stellar fashion with a fantastic off-speed pitch on the inner half: Myers has gotten distinctly better as the season has come to its final week and seeing him come aboard as a bullpen arm was a wrinkle I was not expecting. He continues to make the case as one to watch in the early part of 2024. While rehabbing 1B Darin Ruff and OF Garrett Mitchell continue to struggle in the very early going of their Triple-A work, OF Joey Wiemer has started making consistent hard contact while playing his prototypical stellar defense. Here he is converting a three-run homer to a 413 foot sac fly: And, here he is ripping a two-run jack himself: After an 111 mph line out last night to left field, Wiemer also flew out hard to right field tonight 106 mph off the bat. It also appears to the naked eye he may be working toward limiting his over-active hands. All good things to witness in his brief tenure back in Triple-A. Beyond this, Jackson Chourio made his fifth appearance of 2023 in right field and he made it look easy while also smashing his second two-bagger in two nights. 3B Tyler Black did Tyler Black things at the dish as he gets more and more comfortable (2-for-3, 1 2B while extending his hitting streak to 11 games - hitting an absurd 0.429 since September 7th) though he did drop a catchable (albeit challenging) ball over the dugout railing. I'll close with congratulating RHP Luis Contreras for picking up his first Save as a Sound in 2023. He pitched a clean one walk, two strikeout ninth inning. It isn't always clean with Contreras but I continue to absolutely see MLB-caliber stuff flying off that pitching hand. Though the Sounds have officially been eliminated from the second half playoff chase, they did move to 16 games over on their entire season and lead their division by 1.5 G. Honorable Mention ribbons for all! And with that, I bid ye Brewer Fanatics adieu. This is my official last Link Report of 2023. It's been an awesome ride. It has been an honor reporting back to you what these old eyes see on a nightly basis. We'll have to wait and see what's on tap for the Sounds tomorrow - at this stage, it's hard to tell. 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 Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

- RHP Colin Rea was optioned to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers - RHP J.B. Bukauskas was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds

Nope. But, he was claimed on waivers from Seattle in late April of this season.

Myers K's the side. The man is on one the past month and I am absolutely here for it. Love how he's really taken a big step late in his calendar year.

Myers gets another swinging K. Two down. I believe that is now 170 total punch outs on his season?

9 walks from the Sounds staff so far tonight. Myers is on in a relief role here in the 8th. He got the lead-off K swinging and now a free pass. Man on first. One down. Sounds lead 6-4. Three of the four Shrimp runs have arrived after a runner got on base by walk. A perfectly executed hit-and-run now has runners on the corners with one down.

He's definitely toning down the pre-swing movement. He also has an 111 mph and a 106 mph line out in the past two games. He is starting to put solid wood on many balls.

1B ump just totally blew a clear DP to end the Shrimp's 7th. Devanney's throw beat him by a clear step. Classic. Absolute Minor League vintage right there.

Chourio took the RF rocket throw from Encanacion off his left collarbone it appeared as he slid in safely as the throw was arriving. He was grimacing and rubbing that upper left part of his upper chest/clavicle with a grimace. He walked off under his own power and was not visited by a trainer. Might be something to keep an eye on.

With his pitch count at 97, Rodriguez is going to get a chance to complete the 5th facing the dangerous Austin Allen. He just gave up a second sac fly. It's 5-3 Sounds. He walks Allen on 4 pitches. He'll finish after 4 2/3 IP. Just shy of qualifying for a win in his debut. He was good in spurts. He was not sharp overall. Walks and a hit batter and many a man on base. But, hey, it's a debut in a new ballpark in a new League etc. He'll hand the ball over to veteran lefty Alex Claudio. There are two on and two out.

With Rodriguez's 6th K, the Sounds once again set their club record for most strikeouts in their team's history (set just last season). It was their pitching staff's 1,266th K of the season - which is actually just 10th in the International League.

I have no problems simply copying and pasting the tweet url. I have to wait a few seconds while it auto-embeds but I haven't had any problems.

Jacksonville knocks one across off a broken bat flare liner to shallow CF off the bat of Griffin Conine (who has both rbi's tonight). Rodriguez works around some traffic with a fly out to Chourio in RF (his fifth start in RF in 2023) and two K's. He has 5 punch outs through 4 now.

Here's the Wiemer homer:

Black led off by jumping on a first pitch change-up ripping a 101 mph grounder into CF. He then steals 2nd base on the first pitch. Wiemer is now 2-2...AND 410 feet. Got out in rapid fashion and it breaks an 0-for-14 MLB/Triple-A skid. Take a HR away. Smash one back out of the park. The circle is complete.

Rodriguez sees the minimum after inducing a 3-6-1 DP to end his 3rd inning. 3-1 Sounds and we head to the bottom half.

It was dead center to the deepest part of the Park. Wiemer played it to perfection. Definitely wasn't an easy play.