Joseph Zarr

I actually can't pinch you. You're too far away😔

Holy hyeck, I come in from mulching trees and I miss a walk off?!? I'm still in spring training. Embarrassing.

I gotta say, just saw the Wiemer HR blast to right center. I gotta agree with ol' Keith Hernandez...there was just too much action in his swing on that laser shot. He's gotta clean that up!😁

As I hinted at yesterday, weather is rearing its grumpy head. It would appear we are slated for another double-header - Thursday this go around:

That was an unfortunate end to Sal Frelick's ridiculous 44 game on base streak with the Sounds. He nearly got a key hit late with runners on the corner when he ripped a laser down the first base line. Unfortunately it made it into a glove. What a run. Time for a new one, young gun. Keep that head held high.

It's already the second week of the Sounds 2023 season and we kick it off with an inaugural three hour road trip down to Memphis' AutoZone Park where the good guys face the Cardinals' Red Birds (1-2) over a six game stint. This is my first early season look at Cardinals' prospects INF Masyn Winn and C Ivan Herrera. I am quite excited to see how these young men stack up amongst the Brewers' top talent in 2023 over the course of this series. Let's get into the report! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic It's already the second week of the Sounds 2023 season and we kick it off with an inaugural three hour road trip down to Memphis' AutoZone Park where the good guys face the Cardinals' Red Birds (1-2) over a six game stint. This is my first early season look at Cardinals' prospects INF Masyn Winn and C Ivan Herrera. I am quite excited to see how these young men stack up amongst the Brewers' top talent in 2023 over the course of this series. Let's get into the report! Game Balls: We'll give a nod to Eddie Alvarez for his hot bat from the eighth spot of the batting order (and decent play in the field), Sal Frelick for his web gem diving catch in shallow left center field (see highlight below - unfortunately, he went hitless), Blake Perkins for his fantastic night at the dish (really nice smooth left-hitting strokes to right field and showing his athleticism on the base paths - more below), and Alex Jackson for an early candidate in the 'Possibly the Hardest and Furthest Hit Baseball You will See this Entire Season' category. Transactions: None Highlights from the Week that Was: Everyone's favorite lead-off prospect, OF Sal Frelick, had a fine series this past weekend versus the Bats. Frelick would probably like some of his AB's back from Sunday's series finale, but, all in all, it was a fantastic start to hopefully a short Minor League season from the up and coming young stud. Here's a quick highlight clip from the Brewers Player Development twitter feed to give you a taste of what you may have missed: Note: A triple versus a lefty? Frelick hit .394 with an OPS of .982 in 2022 in 66 official AB's with Nashville in 2022. Lastly, RHP Janson Junk had a fine debut for the Sounds - unfortunately, he was not rewarded the winning decision after the Sounds lost the lead and the game in extras. Take a look at some of his deliveries from his first official start in the Brewers organization: * Note: In the above clip, you will also see the fine catching work of personal favorite, Brian Navarreto, as he sets up the zone with savvy and throws out a runner at second base with one of his classic accurate darts directly to the leg of the sliding runner. He started 2023 in the same way he played the entire 2022: skillfully, athletically, with timely meaningful hits, and with incredible defensive work (he dug out several tough pitches in the dirt in this outing as well). I hope he starts getting the recognition and elevated status he deserves in 2023. Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 7, Nashville 5 Box Score / Game Log Game Notes Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review: Sounds Drop Series Opener in Memphis RHP Robert Stock was making his first appearance stateside in any form of MLB affiliated ball since 2021 when he took his talents to Korea. The veteran hurler was hoping to have a storybook re-entry into the affiliated ranks. Unfortunately for Stock, he was hit fairly hard; encountered a very tight interpretation of the strike zone; and was ultimately sent from the game after 2 2/3 hard fought innings. He will definitely look to sharpen his tools for his next trip to the mound. All in all, it was a disappointing evening that ended on a two-run jack to deep right center field. Hopefully, in his next trip to the mound he can limit the loud contact we hear early and often tonight. Three Quick Strikes: 1) OF Blake Perkins was picked up this past off-season as a Minor League free agent. He was also given a spot on the 40-man roster surprising Brewers fans. There were some snarky comments here and elsewhere but, I said at the time, having contacts in the Yankees organization, this was a young player who was a roster crunch victim in a talented system but he was a player scouts in the organization really liked. An under-the-radar ascending player, if you will. Early in 2023 he is certainly showing his wares. He is a fluid athlete with a switch-hitting, smooth swinging bat and he is a respectable if not solid glove in the outfield grass. Tonight, he put all that on display in every at bat and in the field - though, at the plate is where he shined the brightest. He legged out a routine but well struck single to right field (something we're growing accustomed to seeing as Brewers fans with the young stallions in the prospect ranks) and he later legged out a weakly hit dribbler in front of home plate forcing a high throw and getting on base in a key spot in the game. This is a Sounds player to watch in 2023 and beyond. There are enough tools in the Perkins kit to warrant attention and I suggest you start taking his talents more seriously. 2) When do those Auto Balls and Strikes arrive in the International League? Not soon enough, I tell you - lest we forget umpires are in the Minor Leagues too. Both starters were robbed of strikes throughout the early innings tonight (and this continued throughout) and it was clearly vexing both clubhouses and fans alike. RHP Luis Contreras was robbed of a walk-off second consecutive punch out in his first 2/3 IP on a beautiful heater that ripped the outer stripe. These calls matter for pitchers trying to his establish their stuff and they matter to the folks spending their money and their time to support these athletes. Having seen the positive impacts of the pitch clock all last year as it was integrated across the Minor Leagues, I can wholeheartedly say this shift to Auto balls and strikes couldn't come soon enough. If we've rightfully chosen to speed up the players let's at least get the balls and strikes absolutely consistent and correct. This isn't American football with interpretive rules like 'Pass Interference' and 'Roughing the Passer'. Baseball is a game with a clearly defined zone. Now we have the technology to further demonstrate why this game is so great. I, for one, can not wait for this change. 3) Inopportune in key moments and sloppy in key moments. Unfortunately, this a key storyline in the early Sounds season. Though the record is even at 2-2, there have been all too many early season jitters fielding the ball; throwing the ball; and with runners in scoring position. Heading to the 8th inning before the Cam Robinson mini meltdown (a wild pitch and a combined Toro-to-Singleton error allowing two more runs than necessary), the Sounds had outhit the Redbirds 11-6 but had left men stranded at third base in two consecutive innings. In the seventh inning they stranded men on first and third base with nobody out. As the season progresses, manager Rick Sweet and his staff will look for their players to fine tune their games and their poise in big moments as they look to reclaim the success of 2022. In a road game not all that ripe for Sounds highlights, we do have two extremely worthwhile clips. First, we have this web gem diving grab from Frelick charging the infield dirt from back in the center field grass. Quite the grab with a runner on first base: And, lastly, we have C Alex Jackson obliterating a ball into the streets beyond the left center field wall and, well, the entire stadium. It was rumored this ball may have been launched into orbit to seek its own membership at the YMCA just past the parked cars on the street. 114.4 MPH and 471 feet?!? Pulverized indeed! The Sounds will look to beat potential incoming inclement weather and the Redbirds tomorrow afternoon in a matinee affair. Stay tuned to our game thread and any potential viewings earlier in your schedule. I am projecting LHP Robert Gasser's 2023 debut though this isn't officially announced as of now. Gasser is a young arm you do not want to miss! 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

LOL. Auto-Corrected. I know it's Alex (I got Auto-Corrected again😂!). I'll go change it. Thanks.

Ball game. Indeed. 7-5 Redbirds. Frelick faces Genesis Cabrera and lunges for an infield pop out completing his hitless evening.

And, you see now why that wild pitch and that poor error between Toro and Singleton costs you: Alvarez just ripped his second deep ball to the wall in right center. This time it clears the fence scoring Austin Jackson (walk) from first. It's now 7-5 Redbirds. What could be a tie ball game is instead probably not quite enough. Two down for the Sounds. Great pop out of the 8-spot from Alvarez tonight.

The early season goings on for the Sounds is a couple things: sloppy and inopportune. Cam Robinson sees a few seeing eye singles knock in another run. He then corks off a wild pitch. And a routine grounder to Abraham Toro sees him throw a push throw into the dirt where Jon Singleton fails to scoop it up. It's all too much of this type of play in the early going. Robinson sees 3 runs cross during his woeful inning. He showed flashes of the dynamic hurler we are all excited about but with an ump squeezing the zone he also showed where he has to polish his game. It's now 7-3 Redbirds.

Headed to the 8th inning now after Tyler Herb punches out 2 and goes 3 up and 3 down. The Sounds have outhit the Redbirds 10-6 but have failed to get those meaningful leading runs across. The Redbirds have maximized the long ball. Here we go to the big money innings.

And, after the ump miraculously calls an inside strike 2 on Frelick (smh) to get the count full Frelick hits a laser shot down the first base line but Luken Baker makes a fantastic diving stab and the inning and the possible rally are over. Still 4-3 Redbirds onto the bottom of the 7th.

Men on the corners with nobody down after a Naquin single and then an Austin Jackson single up the middle (Naquin advanced on a bobble in CF). Eddie Alvarez botches his first pitch bunt and then strikes out on a heater right down the middle looking. Monasterio follows suit with a swinging K. It's up to Sal Frelick. These are the situations we want for the talented young OF'er. Let's see what he can muster on his current 0-for-3 evening (two fly outs and a ground out).

Sal Frelick web gem in CF sprinting into the shallow grass and laying out to grab the 2nd out in the bottom of the 6th. Now 2 down as Tyler Herb looks to keep it a 3-4 deficit for the Sounds. We now have a clip:

Well RHP Tyson Miller struck out Moises Gomez. Walked Luken Baker (got squeezed by the ump - shocker). Struck out his next batter. Got squeezed again on a third out K on a clear outside strike with men on 2nd and 3rd base. AND, a Sounds pitcher is yet again forced to dig deep. He gets the pop up stranding the bases loaded. Miller kept his composure tho he realllllly wanted to say something. 4-3 Redbirds as we head to the top of the 6th with Hiura leading off.

May this current style of play NEVER end. My goodness. Somebody pinch me. Whewwwwww.

I am seriously soooooo pumped for Auto Balls and Strikes. I've seen Sounds pitchers robbed (absolutely robbed) of 3 strikeouts tonight on glorious pitches. Contreras just robbed on a glorious breaking pitch directly on the outer stripe an inning after being robbed of a beautiful strike three heater in the same area at the knees. I am done with 'Well, that's just his zone.' There is an actual strike zone. This isn't poetic licensure. LOL.

Back. To. Back. TWO BACK!>!>!> Yarrrrrrrrrrrr!

Hold on, fine Sir. Wait til we see Auto Balls and Strikes!

Hey Now! C Alex Jackson just destroyed his first HR of his 2023 season on a 2-1 count in the bottom of the 4th. His first HR and his first RBI. He crushed that middle-middle heater over the wall in deep left center and into the streets. It nearly hit parked cars by the YMCA. 3-4 Good Guys still clawing back. Bases now empty and two down for Eddie Alvarez. I was not kidding about the Jackson ding dong. The numbers are in. Whoa:

Stock leaves another pitch well over the meat of the plate and, after a deep shot to the warning track in left field barely missing another long ball the batter prior, Luken Baker hits his 3rd HR of the young season to straight away CF. 4-2 Redbirds. Stock only makes it 2 1/3 IP responsible for all four runs. Not the debut Stock was looking for. He walks 3. Strikes out 3. He gave up several well hit balls throughout the ball park and several to the warning track. He'll look to rebound and fine tune his offerings. RHP Luis Contreras will see his first action of 2023 and he looks fantastic. Great velocity. Active breaking ball. He was, naturally, robbed of a 2nd K from the ump working his magic but, none the less, he looked fantastic in his first 2/3 inning pitched.

A first pitch hanging slider to Kramer Robertson sees its way over the left field fence. It's now 2-2 here in the bottom of the 3rd.

Blake Perkins. Baseball player. Very very athletic. Very smooth. Second double of the evening on another beautiful lefty stroke to right field. Unheralded off-season ML FA pick-up (on the 40 Man) and, as I said at the time, this is an ascending young player.

The ump is not giving Stock the benefit of the outer edge of the plate here in the 2nd frame. That's two beautiful curve balls called for balls - one led to a walk and the other led to a 3-0 count. Give the man a beer. He's not giving him the inside part of the plate either on a gorgeous heater that was strike three but, well, not called by the ump. Give him two beers, please. When do those Auto Zone strikes begin? Not soon enough. Good gracious.