Joseph Zarr

What are we going to ignore the first Double-A stolen base?! 🤭

It's strange indeed but the reality is they are trying to find out what they have in their youth group. Ragsdale probably should be in High- taking innings from Alastre/Nicasia/Guilarte. Which gets into the fairly sobering low end depth of that Wisconsin OF at large. This was before Luis Castillo's likely injury and the challenges he was already facing vs High-A arms. What we've really been grappling with, however (from my vantage point), if I keep waxing unsolicitedly (😅) is we see a very top heavy system and we also have some serious regressions happening. A large percentage of the youngest players have really found their current limitations and challenge - they are playing up in years, yes, but this is their trajectory and their paths within the org and they have often met their current plateaus. With some major injuries to key players before and during the season the depth is being severely tested. Many of the players have simply not stepped up to the challenge. We also are witnessing a system that just really hasn't played any semblance of consistent winning baseball stateside throughout the second half. The Mudcats were essentially the only winning team and they've seen their heavy hitters promoted to a team in Wisconsin that has had an underperforming pitching staff essentially all season long. As one example: How long can the Brewers continue to validate rostering the RHP Yerlin Rodriguez sideshow? Another 4.0 WHIP inning. At least no wild pitches or hit batters? Is that our success matrix here? The man has wellllllll more than nine lives. It's extremely strange to see the massive amount of opportunities he is given - and high leverage opportunities no less. It's extremely fair and honest to opine there is zero consistency or lasting improvements here. The narrative, for me personally, around him is just a bit tired at this point. RHP Aaron Rund is a 26-year-old struggling in his second season at Wisconsin. Etc. etc. These are depth issues and a multitude of regression issues from my vantage point.

Two banger thread titles in a row. We are so back!

Muddies gained 1/2 G on the Fred Nats tonight with their 1-1 split. They are now 0.5 G outside the division lead.

At this point, I'm expecting injured bats to return with cutters. Cutters for All!

I've been waiting for a thread title like this. A nice early Saturday gift. Hopefully the Mudcats can stymy another late half fade and get right back into a tie atop the division. Problem is, nobody is really consistently hitting on that current roster. Sigh. Warm up ye young bats!

Fitting Chourio's first rehab AB was a K. It certainly wasn't going to be a walk.🤭

Man, it would be really nice if Gery Holguin showed he could actually hit Low-A pitching. I've quite enjoyed the defense at the hot corner. Nice to see LF Tyler Rodriguez back in the line up. He is deserving of PT given his recent output.

Speaking of Complex League...it certainly appears as tho OF Kenny Fenelon's peripherals boost his overall season output. You love to see this type of data:

About last night...

It's Chourio's first rehab outing with Nashville... And, Jim leads with his woe over a six game report? I am speechless. (No I'm not - I'm just teasing 🤭).

Did you get that @biedergb. You've officially made it. Mention and quote in Daniel's report. Time to hire an Agent and go on a press tour.😊

The Sox definitely love themselves some former Brewers. It is in their organizational DNA. I saw Hamilton got the call and I didn't even blink.😅

Hold that thought. After his torrid start to this Home series vs the Bats, the OPS is back to 0.711 and the BA is up to 0.271. Starting to hit for power with plus 100 exit velos regularly in this stretch too. It's been wild! I honestly don't know what to make of it other than it's fun as heck to witness.

The staff is certainly paper thin. And this also means more spot starts for LHP Nate Peterson - we all know that isn't ideal given his Starter/Reliever splits. He is vastly more impactful and positively impacts games out of the Pen. He has been getting absolutely shelled as a spot Starter. It feels unfair to the player. I do wonder, however, if Hardin isn't ramping up. That would certainly help!

Signed to a Minor League deal this off-season, INF Abraham Toro had been on the Red Sox 40-Man since early May. That is no longer the case. Heck of a run that came to a screeching halt with his recent offensive woes.

The Mudcats lost last night but Fredericksburg was postponed. Fredericksburg won tonight but the Muddies were postponed. We have a divisional tie atop the leaderboard. Fayetteville remains 3.0 GB. It certainly seems every seaeon of late it is coming down to the Fred Nats and Muddies when it matters most. Let's hope these young Mudcats can flip last year's script and kick the Nats out of the post-season picture. Great situation for the young men to test their mettle.

McGee pitches 1 1/3 scoreless IP. Payamps closes the door with a very clean 2 K frame to grab another Save. Payamps now has 5 SV with the Sounds. That's also a 3-0 series lead.

Delgado has had an absolutely insane series. Just like that, and he is hitting 0.271 with an 0.718 OPS on the season after 402 PA's. I love this. He is a very underrated player in that AAAA class of Sounds picked up this past off-season. I also love that he's starting to get looks at 3B with Murray up. He'a also clearly on top of his physical health as he hasn't missed an opportunity all season long.

Whewwww that is an entertaining Triple-A affair! Fans getting their moneys worth on both sides.

I think if Ortiz has a major hammy they likely go with Zamora. He isn't going to hit for essentially any power to any field other than the rare occasion he barrels and gaps a ball. BUT, he's proven clutch in key spots moving runners and scoring them. His defense has only gotten better and more consistent since his promotion to Triple-A last season. He capably makes web gem type plays. I don't think the moment would be too big. Ethan Murray only just got called up to Triple-A. I love him. Plus defense and arm everywhere in the infield with some pop. BUT he doesn't have tenure. Obviously Pratt and Made are the blue chippers but they aren't ready and they won't do that. Made has stated his case he has the most defensive upside in addition to that insane switch hitting pop. I just don't see a need for Dunn to be on the 40-Man if this injury is indeed serious. Let's hope it isn't.

It's always darkest before the dawn. I truly hope Middendorf finds his joy again and, should he stay in baseball, that wizardry from back in 2022 when he was signed out of the Indy circuit and made his way from the ACL Brewers up to Biloxi and then pitched well in the AFL even getting the final out in the Championship game. He fell off considerably the last season plus. I hope he finds what he is looking for wherever he may land. An incredible story regardless of the end result with the Brewers.

Well, the Mudcats still use Greg Young's voice over in many of their in game broadcast adverts. I am entirely unsurprised. They are a Low-A bootstrap op - and, hey, Chris might be in charge of that very thing or an intern😅

Many of us already know of RHP Lucas Erceg's ongoing journey with sobriety. Jeff Passan adds another wrinkle as he shares a depiction of his recent visits with a correction facility in Boonville, Missouri. Worth the read.

This is huge. Absolutely love Chris Edwards on the mic. He is a boon to the current Mudcats experience and am truly grateful he'll be going ahead and staying on with the Warbirds.