Joseph Zarr

Man, I wish we could challenge balls and strikes like Triple-A. That was a clear borderline first pitch strike.

Oh Joey. Oh Joey.

Remember: talented players deserve multiple opportunities. He is smooth. Sometimes guys need a reset.

Hell yes he does. I've been saying the entire past two years: extremely underrated athlete. Great wheels. Coordination. Soft hands. Power of a Greek sculpture.

That second inning was RHP Colin Ray of Sunshine I mean am I right or am I right?

Heck yes, Perkins! Well done. He's been swinging the lumber beautifully since his re-assignment. Love seeing him come through there.

Every time OF Joey Wiemer lays off an outside pitch low and away or away an angel gets its wings.

Hell yeah, Monasterio. Nice poke.

Come on Mr. Anderson. Let's give Big Jon a chance with runners on base. Come on, baby. Only tears.😪

Three straight full counts? 1-0. Pitch count into the 20's? This is a winning baseball inning. Will it hold? PLEASE baseball gahds. Please, on this fine Saturday give us the gift of good Brewers baseball.

Fantastic 1st AB from Yeli. Let's hope that's a look at things to come.

The scuffling start to this game is about as modern day Cincinnati Reds as it gets.

The absolute best part of this classic @sveumruleschoice nugget is... There are several, and I mean, several HOT bullpen arms in Double and Triple that aren't on the 40 and are fighting to get aboard. This doesn't even get to the arms in Low-A...where the Mudcats remain the clear best watch in the Lower Levels. The bullpen is filled with beef. We just sold RHP Lucas Erceg for cash (and, honestly, you can't object given his up-and-down ways throughout his short tenure as a reliever) and he is doing fantastic in his early Oakland work. Can he sustain this? I have my doubts but it validates what the Brewers saw. AND, they gave him a real MLB opportunity back Home. Good stuff.

Don't worry. He's wearing protection:

I would like to <ahem> give the "I told you so..." on Monasterio's ability at the dish. He's shown a penchant for professional AB's since last summer. LOVE that he's bringing the same patient approach (with a lil bit of pop too - wait for it) to the Big Club. I am here. I am HERE for Big Jon's 7-Year itch today. Man, I am SO pumped. Oh, hey! Three MLB rostered men on this 'Page 3' Offering (!!) (Is he still patting his back? Is he still baking his own cookies? You are damn right I am 😅 ) Oh RHP Lucas Erceg, good bye my sweet Prince. Let's GO Brewers!

Lastly, the mic drop:

And, my last gush post. I'm not kidding y'all. Big Jon is absolutely LOVED within the Nashville Sounds organization. Here's current PA Announcer, Tyler Clemmons (who does an awesome job with the kiddos when they are in the booth announcing batters, btw. Shout out dads!) throughout this 2023 lead-up:

From his wife: Let's remember this ST gem from Adam McCalvy: Jon Singleton Eyes Second Chance at Brewers Minors Camp

Let's keep the GOOD feels rolling. Here we go! LET'S GO, BIG JON!!!!! Absolutely beloved by the Sounds organization. I can't tell you how absolutely STOKED I am for this man. Get it, big fella. Crush this opportunity for you and your family and everyone who is a fan. I just don't know how you can not absolutely love what this man represents. He is one of my baseball heroes.

That's absolutely wild. I think this might be a first?

Very strange moment. I think Naquin wanted a challenge but the umpire doesn't have to grant a challenge (which is very odd) BUT in this case the Sounds didn't actually have any challenges left😅. So, they got into a minor war of words - it actually seemed fairly benign. And, then the ump just tossed him. Naquin was not pleased as you can imagine. In the ensuing hoolabaloo arranging the replacement player, a hoodie-wearing RHP Tyson Miller was tossed from the top rail - obviously, he was saying something the ump was not to pleased with. The count was 2-and-2 so he technically wasn't 'technically' called out on strikes but OF Noah Campbell was but the K goes to Naquin. That's a lottta words for ya.😅

@Mass Haas: Patrick Dorrian was caught off 1B and had to break for 2B where Big Jon was standing. Stuck suddenly in an 'Oh s#$%!' moment, Singleton being the teammate he is took off for 3B. Hence, he was picked off.

It's only appropriate a Mudcats pitcher gets this award. The entire staff - top to bottom (for the most part) - has been fantastic. An intentional nod to the catching outfit - C Matt Wood was rightfully promoted but this emphatically should not take a single thing away from the ongoing work of Sibrian and Diaz who have absolutely fantastic on all sides of the dish. I'll casually toss out the sudden surge of RHP Tyler Wehrle who has really caught my eye in recent outings. AND, a young man from just down the way from my farmstead in Spokane County, WA RHP Nick Merkel has really fine-tuned his offerings in a very very short timeframe. Earlier in the season, Merkel was finding himself - how his mix plays. He doesn't have the velo you'd expect in a man who shares the same height as Misiorowski, but, he has a massive 12-6 breaking ball that he has absolutely come into form. He's using his mix to perfection of late and I'm here for it. Yet another name to watch in the vaunted Mudcats staff. The thing that isn't an advanced stat, or statistically measurable in any way, that I absolutely love about RHP Will Rudy's game is he brings that former shortstop over-confident swagger that borders on arrogance. A bit of "F-You" on the hill, if you will. He is cocky when he has that ball in hand and I love it. He is in charge. The ump is an ornament in the frame. The batter is something he is to dominate and conquer. If this is the beginning of his career, we should be very excited to see how he grow and evolves. An incredible start and as you say @Smichaelis9, he is literally only just scratching the surface. I should also note: Go back and watch Rudy's second inning versus the Wood Ducks last week (Tuesday opening game on 5/23?). Robbed of a gorgeous 3-2 94 mph dart on the inner half to walk first batter. Clearly not pleased. Next batter spins a 3000 + rpm inside breaking ball called just inside (probably was) - gorgeous pitch. Mistake hanger next pitch ball goes to left center gap - fantastic play (showing why the Mudcats lead the Carolina League in fielding % and several other defensive categories) by Lara to Vargas nabs runner trying to stretch into a two bagger. Nails his final pitch where Sibrian frames it - an inside heater with nice rise jamming for a pop-up to shallow shallow RF. Just an inning that shows a little bit of everything outside the change-up.

I see C Blayberg Diaz was behind the dish last night. One of my most recent up-and-coming catching stable favorites. Just for a bit of insight (in the linked Game Notes above): I can't overstate how incredibly impressive the duo of Diaz and Sibrian is for Carolina. I will put them against any catching duo in Low-A and High-A. They are that good.

Not to mention the Mudcats are barely clinging to a 1/2 game lead. I said it this past weekend and I'll say it again here: that completely canceled Down East doubleheader this past weekend could be the difference in the first half. It was a truly unfortunate weather bomb. Why is this important? Well, beyond the obvious that we want our beloved Low-A affiliate to get into the playoffs the Mudcats also hold the current MILB worst 13-year playoff drought. They have to get that monkey off the back! As to when the first half officially ends, Greg Young discussed it in one of the Down East broadcasts last week? I'll go back and find it. 😝