Joseph Zarr

Let's just always keep the Quero hype rolllllllling:

File this under "When you really know you're a Minor League Brewers baseball geek"...: Let's juxtapose Middendorf's leg kick next to Stiven Cruz's leg kick. They are a yin and yang of awesome foot action. For memory's sake: We have Middendorf's quick snap and chill. We have Cruz's Elvis strut. I love it.

I like the cut of your jib, Cap’n. Carry on.

It’s similar to what they did with Turang in 2022. As he neared the MLB roster (I think we all know he’ll be with the Brewers in 2023), they began playing him in CF, then 2B and 3B. I think they see Black is a legit MLB prospect and they’ll ready him across the Diamond. He’s played 2B his entire life, just as Turang is a SS who is capable of playing anywhere but C and 1B, who will expand his toolkit to aid his approach to an MLB roster. I personally think Black is clearly an MLB player - it’s just a matter of time. He has the frame, the size, the strength, the tenacity, the competitiveness, and the bat. I personally love what they do with these Uber-talented Swiss Army knife players - Turang, Warren, and Black definitely come to mind - players with really really advanced baseball intelligence and overall toolkits. The future is very bright for Black. We’ll see where the chips fall and what type of player he becomes.

Nice write-up on Jefferson Quero by MLB’s Jonathan Mayo: Quero Blows Out Candles with Big Day in AFL

I personally think the organization views him primarily as a 2B - as noted in the interview, the plan was to keep getting him reps in the OF but he will also play 2B (apparently) in the AFL. I think part of that ‘clunkiness’ is he is simply bigger and taller than the position customarily is used to. He’s not a great 2B by any measure defensively but, imho, he’s not a negative at the position (he certainly didn’t negatively affect outcomes for the T-Rats in the fielding department) and with the bat he becomes an automatic net positive. Let me put it another way: He certainly isn’t a Keston Hiura level liability there and he’s every bit as good as Valerio. Although, I agree with you and others that he has the size and the profile to ultimately be given a shot at 1B.

I said it in September: I didn't care where MLB Pipeline moved Frelick (up or down - Fangraphs Top 100 be damnned). In this here community of fans, we know his worth. What I was pining for and have been pining for is Quero 'should' be in the Top 100 today. Before the AZL commenced. It just doesn't matter - to me, he's simply showcasing what I already know. What those in the organization who work with these young men (I see you, Joe Ayrault) know: he's the best catching prospect in some time and, frankly, he might be the best Brewers catching prospect ever. He is that good. It's undeniable when you watch him play every day.

Agreed for Ward. It has to feel good for the young man. Zavi is simply continuing his output of an incredibly productive second half to 2022. Given how heady he is as an overall player, this offensive surge is something to get excited about. The fact he can man 1B and 3B competently is a huge plus. I would say the other notable thing going on in the AZL at present is Tyler Black has played every contest in the outfield - it would appear between LF and CF. Not a single game at 2B that I can recall.

Two things are near certain with this current iteration of the Packers: 1) If the team gives up a score or gets punched in the mouth, they will near assuredly witness A-Rod go for three straight shots and punt. It is almost certain they will not stay the course (not that using their best weapon in Aaron Jones is even in their game-plan) and carve out an effective blend of plays to help their defense… 2) To that end, if the opposing team faces 2nd and long (which seems to be quite often) Joe Joe Barry will near certainly drop his CB’s a good 10-15 yards off the line of scrimmage and concede some type of chunk play. No serious contending team would employ Barry as a D Coordinator calling these vanilla off man (let alone the ‘game-plan’ versus the Vikings in week 1) coverages. No serious contending team would trot Amari Rogers out for the sole reason of returning punts. You need to have a baseline of confidence your returner is, in the very least, a sure sets of hands to guarantee possession. The previously empty 3-1 record could not hide what is clear in plain sight: this team is a mess. They really are an utter mess. They have many many a thing to straighten out and rectify - personally, I don’t think they have the prowess or intrepid sense of direction to rectify in the expedited manner that needs rectifying. I mean, you can’t travel back in time and suddenly realize Joe Barry (a) shouldn’t be in the interview process and (b) now that he snuck in certainly shouldn’t be in the list of serious candidates. You can’t help a coaching and personnel department that changes out heir starting O-Line of an entire second half of a season the week of a Home Playoff game. You can’t help said peeps who continue to cling to the Amari Rogers storyline as if it bares an ounce of fruit. Now that we’re seeing Hackett’s results in Denver and Getsy’s results in Chicago, is it really a stretch to question Stenavich’s prowess and ability to lead this offense where it needs to go to (O-Line coaching capabilities aside)? Lotta problems in GB. Lotta weeks left. I have extremely little faith. This honestly feels like an extension of the Brewers season.

Indeedly do he is. He's a stud. His bat has yet to pick up down yonder but he's still drawing walks and getting on base. He threw out another runner today (1-for-3 CS). Black grabbed his first hits today in a 2-for-2, 3R, 2 BB day. Russ Smith threw 2 scoreless innings the other night with 3 K. Ward went 1-for-3 his first outing. Uribe with another scorless inning today. All the guys are showing their stuff - you love to see it.

@Mass Haas: Dom is leaving, yes...'Locked on Brewers' is and was Vinny Rotino's (at least I think it was agreed upon last year as far as I know) and Dom filled in for him if memory serves? I imagine he'll be staying with WTMJ but, I guess, we'll have to wait and see.

Firstly, I'm not picking on you. But, I'm also saying: he didn't really struggle in Triple-A. As to playing in Nashville, he was getting intermittent PT - 3-4 days off was routine. He was in a rotation. So, I simply take it with a grain of salt given 66 AB's. What's more telling than anything is he was promoted very late given his absurd production in Biloxi and he wasn't thrust into the starting line-up whatsoever. He was 2nd or 3rd in a rotation. And, when he first played, moreover, he was in LF. You have to remember, at that time there was an Alex Jackson/Navarreto and a Feliciano at Nashville. Severino was also playing in Milwaukee at that time - as we know, he ultimately was optioned and at that time...he's just not high on the pecking order. SO, as you say, he would have had to arrived in Nashville ripping and then some to move up the ladder or to gain relevance.

Firstly, I'm not picking on you. But, I'm also saying: he didn't really struggle in Triple-A. As to playing in Nashville, he was getting intermittent PT - 3-4 days off was routine. He was in a rotation. So, I simply take it with a grain of salt given 66 AB's. What's more telling than anything is he was promoted very late given his absurd production in Biloxi and he wasn't thrust into the starting line-up whatsoever. He was 2nd or 3rd in a rotation. And, when he first played, moreover, he was in LF. You have to remember, at that time there was an Alex Jackson/Navarreto and a Feliciano at Nashville. Severino was also playing in Milwaukee at that time - as we know, he ultimately was optioned and at that time...he's just not high on the pecking order. SO, as you say, he would have had to arrived in Nashville ripping and then some to move up the ladder or to gain relevance.

Good thoughts here. I would say, my personal opinion is Mendez is one of those anomalies. I think we are going to be pleasantly surprised in his age 19 season. He has so much fluidity to his game. His swing is pure and true and smooth and he walks just as much as he strikes out - ie he's already demonstrated he can lead off. He just started to get his foothold and then he ran full speed into the right field foul territory wall - look at his July he was stellar (0.356 BA/ 0.871 OPS/ 90 ABs...ran into a wall. Shelved for two weeks. Never found that rhythm). I think the sky is the limit with this young man. Watching him play on the regular, he instills confidence and a belief. Given his swing, power is merely a time concern for me.

I watched the entire Minor League season, fwiw. In 13% of the Double-A sample size (AB's) at Triple-A Nashville he held serve - ie there was zero regression. It's too small a sample, obviously, but the point and observation 'should be': there was zero regression. Better OPS. Better BA. Same power numbers. Same absolutely fantastic defense. Outside of Turang, today, he is clearly the best SS and 3B in the system. And, honestly, it just isn't that close. He pushed the conversation and he pushed the envelope. You can go ahead and toss Eric Brown Jr. into the picture due to his draft slot, age, and his extremely limited exposure (and then shelved for rest) sample at Low-A Carolina...but, Devanney is clearly backing up Turang on the left side of the infield regarding prospect readiness today. For example, Ben Metzinger is 23. He is nowhere near the 3B player Devanney is. He lacks the twitch and has half the arm. Anywho, my two cents. ** I should add, until Zamora gets healthy and proves his 2022 season pre-injury was an aberration and 2021ish production is more the norm, he is in the waiting room for me. Until Eduardo Garcia can demonstrate he can identify pitches consistently, he will remain a nice back-up prospect for me. I love Garcia but I watched all his games. Super-talented, solid defender. Solely a SS. Not enough evolution in his game, as of yet, to be super excited.

Firstly, he was second runner-up. He certainly wasn't above Chourio. BUT, this being said, he was ranked that high because he literally carried Biloxi's water for the majority of the season when Frelick, Mitchell, and Wiemer all had extensive injury absences. He was incredible. As to @UpandIn's remarks. I tend to disagree on the 'he did terribly'. 66 AB's is definitely a nothing sample size (it is essentially a DSL sample size). Take a look at the 70 AB sample size at KC's Omaha (also International League) and he had a 0.857 OPS. The Brewers have incredibly good catching depth. They just do. When I watched Reetz catch, I couldn't honestly say I liked his overall catching toolkit better than a Navaretto or a Diaz - who are further down the pecking order - he certainly was less mistake prone than a Feliciano (whose bat tool has fared at every level and he's 3 years younger) and was more advanced than Darrien Miller (age, age, age...improving and versatile player). I would offer they simply didn't see his OF work (not all that exciting) as anything meriting desperately holding onto a catcher who is quite honestly average defensively - in every aspect he is acceptable but nothing noteworthy (and, I was clearly driving the Hype Train). That gets into: do they think his offensive output in 2022 is replicable? My answer to that would be: they probably didn't see it as a consistent outcome given his overall track record and like their catching depth more than trying to make it work for him the system. My two cents.

Firstly, he was second runner-up. He certainly wasn't above Chourio. BUT, this being said, he was ranked that high because he literally carried Biloxi's water for the majority of the season when Frelick, Mitchell, and Wiemer all had extensive injury absences. He was incredible. As to @UpandIn's remarks. I tend to disagree on the 'he did terribly'. 66 AB's is definitely a nothing sample size (it is essentially a DSL sample size). Take a look at the 70 AB sample size at KC's Omaha (also International League) and he had a 0.857 OPS. The Brewers have incredibly good catching depth. They just do. When I watched Reetz catch, I couldn't honestly say I liked his overall catching toolkit better than a Navaretto or a Diaz - who are further down the pecking order - he certainly was less mistake prone than a Feliciano (whose bat tool has fared at every level and he's 3 years younger) and was more advanced than Darrien Miller (age, age, age...improving and versatile player). I would offer they simply didn't see his OF work (not all that exciting) as anything meriting desperately holding onto a catcher who is quite honestly average defensively - in every aspect he is acceptable but nothing noteworthy (and, I was clearly driving the Hype Train). That gets into: do they think his offensive output in 2022 is replicable? My answer to that would be: they probably didn't see it as a consistent outcome given his overall track record and like their catching depth more than trying to make it work for him the system. My two cents.

Uribe comes back slinging 101 mph. Gimme gimme gimme! Stay healthy, young man. You have that electricity.⚡

Just a brief follow-up, trailing 6-5 in the top of the 9th inning the Durham Bulls pulled out a five spot and closed out a late Championship victory 10-6. Big Congrats to the Bulls and the Rays who continue to show excellence in Triple-A and at the MLB level. Heck if an organization.

RHP Abner Uribe also pitched a scoreless, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K inning for a Save. His first action since being placed on the season ending IL for Biloxi after his April 12th outing versus the Mississippi Braves. I would add what’s interesting about Zavi isn’t the idea he would be pushed back to Catcher (Glendale already has 3 catchers on their roster) BUT that he is continuing to see more time at 1B. This was a trend that started due to injuries at Wisconsin. It carried over to Biloxi. And it continues in his first game with Glendale.

Tyler Black 0-for-5 with 2K in his first game back. Jeferson Quero 0-for-2 with 1 BB, 1 R, 1K. RHP Ryan Middendorf went 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings - 0 K, 0 BB. Glendale was leading 3-0 in the ninth when reliever Ben Harris (Midwest League, Great Lakes Loons, Dodgers) scuffled to the tune of 5 ER on 2 H, 3 BB, 1 HR. Glendale lost 5-3.

I still find it amazing Frelick will begin his 2023 season (wherever he lands at the start) with a 42 game on base streak. Better days are ahead, Brewers fans. A true lead-off hitter, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time, is waiting in the wings.

I still find it amazing Frelick will begin his 2023 season (wherever he lands at the start) with a 42 game on base streak. Better days are ahead, Brewers fans. A true lead-off hitter, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time, is waiting in the wings.

Well dang. ? The men deserved better. It’s a dang shame they couldn’t show better today. What an incredible season, regardless.