Joseph Zarr

INF Tyler Black showcases that sneaky speed beating out a grounder to SS by an ant's eyelash. He then swipes 2B and grabs his 38th SB in 53 games. Folks...this is a historic season we are witnessing. He is now alone in 2nd place for the Shuckers single-season steals record. Amazing stuff.

Boy Chourio gets the classic 107 mph liner snagged by a leaping SS. That ball had some pop. Trust the process on that one. Tip your cap. Keep swinging.

Alexander gets the K and ground out to end the damage. Lotta weak contact in that inning. A classic Zamora throwing error. All-in-all a fine Double-A inning.

BTW, since the Shuckers lost 5-of-6 @ Chattanooga, they are on a 21-9 tear. This offense has been producing serious runs of late.

We are warming up in Wisconsin and Biloxi. OK. Games are headed our way.

This is common in the lower levels, unfortunately. We often don't hear of things until well after they are shelved. At this point, we just hope he returns some time in the early second half (first half ends in two days).

In the interim, some feel good with some of our favorite Shuckers:

Delayed starts in both Carolina and Biloxi. Ruh roh. We do have a tentative start time in Biloxi, however:

Boy, EBJ still on the sidelines. No injury designation. I miss seeing him play. Get healthy and come back to the baseball diamond, young man.

Congratulations to RHP Nick Merkel. A very under-the-radar fantastic season was happening in Low-A - his best work coming in the last month. My neighbor from down in Spokane now gets the opportunity to fine-tune his wares at High-A Wisconsin:

The Brewers Uno, leading 8-2 late, have 10 steals on the day amongst four players. Zesty!

Awesome feedback. It's mildly funny (if not neurotic😅), I've actually had several moments in between thinking about that pitch. "Man, the way that moved and hung, that had to have been a change-up. His heater was way more lively than that all inning." He was really dominant throughout that inning. One mistake is all it takes in such an unforgiving game!

It was another in our ongoing DSL/ACL Mondays. As the title indicates, the Cerveceros did not open their week with a bang - a mild thud was heard throughout both clubhouses. In the evening hours, the ACL Crew played a hard-fought battle and ultimately came out on top. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Transactions: None Final: DSL Dodgers Mega 6, DSL Brewers #1 2 Box Score/Game Log That's right the Brewers Uno were bested by the Mega - I don't quite know what's going on with these LA monikers but it is what it is. There's really not all that much to say about either DSL tilt this fine late June Monday. Like the Dos (more below), the Uno were trailing from the get go. However, after the Uno fall to 7-4 overall, let's just key in a few highlights despite the loss : 1) 17-year-old Dominican INF Gery Holguin hit his first long ball of his young season. For a young man who clearly has plate discipline (6 K: 5 BB), there appears to be the old nemesis of a BABIP (0.214) knocking down the statistical side of what is likely a big second DSL year leap. This young man is definitely on my under-the-radar DSL Brewers list. 2) 18-year-old Venezuelan OF Brian Sanchez (turns 19 July 4th), in his first season with the Brewers DSL, is definitely turning heads very early in his tenure. The obvious addendum with all these spotlights, given the season only started in early June, is these sample sizes are so small they are merely a blip on the season's radar. But, with Sanchez, it's a really good small sample. After today's 2-for-3 performance with a double, Sanchez is now in the midst of a five-game on base streak. And, that's all five games he's played as a DSL Uno team member. 13 AB, 7 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 1 K, 2 S, 1 CS. I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to more. 3) Nicaraguan RHP Nestor Mena is also in his first season as a DSL Brewer. And, like Sanchez, he is absolutely balling in his very brief tenure. After a very uncharacteristic off-outing for Venezuelan LHP Anthony Flores, Mena shut things down over the final three innings: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 ER. That's now 7 1/3 IP over three outings - 4 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HB, 1 HR, 1 ER, 0.154 BAA, 0.65 WHIP, 1.23 ER. A really intriguing beginning. Final: DSL Dodgers Bautista 7, DSL Brewers #2 1 Box Score/Game Log The Brewers Dos faced perhaps the most formidable squad in the entire DSL. The Dodgers Bautista came into this tilt 10-0 and they sent two runs across on what looks like a failed double play in the top of the first inning. Not the start the Dos were looking for. Contrary to the final score, that 2-0 lead held into the sixth inning of a seven inning knock, and all five runs came after two outs. I'd say, glancing the play-by-play, this was a lot closer game than the final score indicates. With that being said, we can highlight a few performances: 1) Let's start with the lone Brewers Dos run. This came in the bottom of the sixth frame. Trailing 7-0, the inning began with a single and a walk. DH Pedro Ibarguen sent a line drive single into CF sending across his 4th RBI of his season in the process. Unfortunately, that feel good rally stopped there. A double play ball off the bat of 1B Smarlin Espinal led to the first two outs. LF Danny Puerta grounded out to the pitcher stranding a runner at third base. 2) 18-year-old Nicarguan RHP Bryan Rivera is continuing to make strides in the early going of his second season with the Brewers. After today's 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 3 K performance, he is looking at a season-long output of 3 GS, 14 1/3 IP, 11 H, 6 BB, 19 K, 1 HB, 2 HR, 6 ER, 0.220 BAA, 1.19 WHIP. This is a solid start that has me intrigued. Let's hope his fourth outing proves to be a difference maker. 3) The Dodgers Bautista were 3-for-9 with RISP and the Brewers Dos were 1-for-10. Interestingly, the Brewers Dos were outhit 10-to-5. The Brewers Dos left eight men on base to the Dodgers Bautista 6. The Brewers Dos pitchers walked four and hit two batters. The Dodgers Bautista walked five and did not hit a batter. This reads very much like a 2-0 game into the late innings that broke open by some opportunistic moments. At least that's how I'm reading the baseball tea leaves. Final: ACL Brewers 4, ACL Rangers 3Box Score/Game Log I recommend you find a moment to listen to Sal Frelick discussing his recent rehab outings for the Brewers ACL (HERE). A couple of things pop out in his interview with Jeff Hem regarding the ACL: the young men down yonder treat every game like their World Series and they are playing in front of essentially no fans in the back fields of a baseball complex. Take a moment to appreciate the journey so many of these young professionals experience. The ACL Crew jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first frame. The Rangers chipped away shortly thereafter and the two teams were tied 3-3 headed into the final innings. 1) Recognition is due to last year's 15th round pick, C Satchell Norman. He seems to be making the most of every opportunity he receives in his second stint in the ACL. Tonight, he hit his first long ball in a 2-for-3 performance - 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. He also picked off a runner at first base to end the Rangers eighth inning - always a key play when you are clinging to a one run lead. He has reached base in all six games he's played and he has multi-hit games in three of these. My curiosity is piqued. 2) In his most dominant outing to date, Venezuelan RHP Gerson Calzadilla (4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 ER) definitely showed savvy. After allowing a lead-off ground rule double to start the 7th in a 3-3 tie ball game, he didn't flinch. It was the type of inning that might lead to higher-leverage outings in the days ahead. He followed that double with a ground out, a walk, and two consecutive strikeouts. The Crew scored the go-ahead run two AB's later. 3) Dylan O'Rae may not have the BA or the OPS to turn heads, but watching along in the play-by-play it certainly seems like he is making winning plays. He hit the go-ahead sac fly after OF Reidy Mercado's seventh inning lead-off triple. His sole knock of his evening in a 1-for-3 night came in the first inning - he quickly stole his 11th base and then scored. And, he turned the game-ending double play to seal the Crew's victory. Not eye-popping but those are all winning plays. View full article

C Satchel Norman continues to flash in the ACL. He hit his first HR tonight and he just picked off a runner at first base to end the 8th frame for the ACL Rangers. A OF Reidy Mercado 3-bagger and a INF Dylan O'Rae sac fly to LF have given the Brewers the lead 4-3 as we head to the top of the 9th. If the ACL Crew can hang on here they would move to 8-2 on their season.

Check out this Box for the Dodgers Bautista. Now 11-0 after taking a 2-0 game and making it a 7-1 victory over the Dos in the final two innings. If the DSL Brewers were sporting lines like this I may still be palpitating. Sheesh:

Not the way to start a week - two-game sweep to the Dodgers? Yuck. Hopefully the ACL Crew can give us a semblance of recovery by knocking one out versus the Rangers. Both contests (as alluded to in my first post) were deficits from the get go.

The DSL Cerveceros Dos are in a 2-0 deficit in the first frame to the 10-0 DSL Dodgers Bautista. This will likely be a very tough test given the Dodgers impeccable record to date. And, it would appear the Cerveceros Uno gave up a three-spot in their first frame. They trail 3-0 headed to the 2nd vs the Dodgers 'Mega'. Ummm, those Dodgers monikers tho?

This Norfolk series in Nashville will be a very real test of where the team really stands at present. The Orioles affiliate has been far and away the class of the International League this first half. Can the Sounds build off their six game sweep of the Stripers? OF Hedbert Perez has been ridiculously clutch over the past month. That has to he at least three 9th inning key blasts (?) to either tie; win; or close the gap. An extremely pleasant surge for a very likable player.

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On this Father's Day - a day in which I have been scampering to put frost cover on my many of my hot weather crops...yeah this mountain valley is fierce (three straight days of likely light frosts in late June is not ideal on the seasonal menu!) - I want to give great thanks for how good we have it as Brewers Minor League baseball fans. We are spoiled. The coverage we experience on a nightly basis across the system - from the broadcast booths to the affiliate write-ups and highlights - is a real blessing for those of us who can't get enough of the lower levels. I never take this for granted and I hope y'all don't either. Here's to a healthy end to the first half and a second half beyond our wildest dreams! P.S. Nashville completed the six-game sweep (first since May of 2021)...apparently, they also did so in front of three consecutive sell-outs. Do you think this city is ready for an expansion team?

And, on the heels of another extremely successful 6 IP outing for LHP Robert Gasser (averaging 6.5 IP over his past 4 outings - each one a quality start), I want to simply focus on how tremendous LHP Clayton Andrews is and has been. Just check out this filthy change-up: Stud. Plain stud.

How absolutely solid and consistent had INF Eddy Alvarez been in 2023? Just so steady. Another in the long line of: definitely deserves a chance with the Brewers. He is having such a fantastic season: ** A moment so good Daniel and I will both share it. Woot woot. Let's Go!😄