TheCrew07

Shuckers back in playoff hunt with doubleheader sweep of Generals Brandon Woodruff and Taylor Jungmann earn wins in doubleheader sweep Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/8/6/198457886/cuts/2Q5A1591_sb21dldj_wndt5whi.JPG Brett Phillips smashed his team-leading 15th homer in game one of Monday's doubleheader. (Michael Krebs) Biloxi Game 1 Boxscore Taylor Jungmann only went 5 innings, walking 3, striking out 5, allowing 4 hits and 1 run, he threw just 50 of 89 pitches for strikes. It took 3 relievers to finish off the final 2 innings as Tayler Scott faltered in the 7th so Stephen Kohlscheen had to come on to close it out. Johnny Davis (2-3,2B) bumped his last 10 games up to .333 after game 1. Biloxi Game 1 Log ****** Biloxi Game 2 Boxscore Brandon Woodruff was fantastic picking up a complete game (7 innings) allowing 1 run while striking out 10, giving up 2 hits, and walking 3. Nick Ramirez (2-3,HR,2B) is only hitting .209 even after putting up a .384 AVE over his last 10 games. Biloxi Game 2 Log

The Rattlers just ran themselves out of the inning in 8th on 3 base hits... wow, just wow. edit. Well Erceg's out at 2nd was technically a FC, but still.

Rain postpones Shuckers and Generals Game to be made up as part of Monday doubleheader at MGM Park, starting at 5:40 pm Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/6/198190476/cuts/Rain_828_stqdasde_ghtxytct.jpg

If you live in WI you'll find quite a bit to complain about, so I doubt you're done as a whole we are pretty poor drivers. Around me we've had roundabouts for at least 10 years and local drivers still make constant mistakes with lanes, or think that you can take the outside lane all the way around to the left, when it's a straight only lane once you're into the roundabout. None of this should be difficult as there are 2 signs prior to entering the roundabouts and the lane types are actually painted on the road in the lane, but that didn't matter to the dude in the 4x4 with the lift kit who I nearly T-Boned when he turned across my face from that outside lane as I was going straight from the middle lane, which in a 3 lane roundabout is the first left turn lane. He had literally no idea that he was in the wrong when I had to stop dead and honk at him. Between the road construction and roundabouts if I didn't have to take a defensive driving courses over every year for work there's no way I'd have made it through accident free. At first I felt sorry for people, especially the elderly, but I'm getting to the point where I'm incredibly tired of distracted and/or ignorant drivers. I couldn't find a picture of this type of roundabout but from right to left: Lane 1=straight through or right turn Lane 2=straight through or left turn Lane 3=left turn only

Rattlers Top Bandits 6-3 for Fourth Straight Win Diaz hits homer #20 to keep pressure on Burlington in playoff race By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wisconsin Boxscore Jake Drossner has made very limited strides with his control this season, this game could have gotten out of hand but 3 double plays bailed out Drossner time and again. Jake walked 6 and only struck out 2, but also only allowed 2 hits, and thanks to the DPs allowed just the 2 runs. Monte Harrison (2-4) had the only multi hit game for the Rattlers. Chris mentioned during the broadcast that Burlington doesn't play until 5 PM tonight. Wisconsin Recap

I believe I answered you every time that you asked. He's low 90s with a straight FB. His off speed is MLB averagish. He's got typical A ball control, he gets in trouble when he leaves the ball up in the zone which is why his peripherals don't necessarily represent his ERA (or FIP for people that believe is has value). Anytime he's around the belt he gets hit awfully hard because his FB is easy to square up. With better control and command, and continued improvement in his off speed, his ceiling is would be like a Fiers. The thing I like most about him is that he just competes, there's little change in body language, good or bad, it's just "give me the ball and lets go".

Rattlers Edge Bandits 3-2 for Third Straight Win Gatewood homers, Griep earns save #22 By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wisconsin Boxscore Manager Matt Erickson had lamented recently in both radio and television interviews that this team hadn't gotten hot and gone on a run all year, boy would it be fantastic if they got on one of those rolls going into the post season. Chris has a bunch of nuggets to lead off the game story, please check it out. I know this will seem out of character for me to say, but Jordan Desguin pitched well outside of the walks. Erickson followed him with the big guns, running out Scott Grist and Nate Griep to close it out. Grist was particularly strong striking out 4 in just 2.1 innings. The Rattler hitters got the most out of 4 walks and 4 hits to pull out the victory, all of the necessary details are in the game story. Wisconsin Recap

Win streak snapped after 4-1 loss to Generals Will Middlebrooks picks up two hits, RBI, in first rehab start for Biloxi Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/4/8/198102448/cuts/2Q5A1857_wrn9op88_86cyoplr.JPG Nick Ramirez went 2-for-4 in Biloxi's loss on Saturday (Michael Krebs) Biloxi Boxscore Luis Ortiz' peripherals continue to be uninspiring though the ultimate result has been excellent, his scoreless streak was finally snapped tonight with a HR. Jacob Nottingham recorded his 20 PB tonight which is less than spectacular, I had settled on 20 as the next benchmark to point out, and we've arrived. Biloxi Recap It looks like something happened here with Javier Betancourt but I was at a charity golf outing today and regardless I would have listened to the T-Rats if I was home so I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Biloxi Bottom of the 5th Angel Ortega strikes out swinging. Javier Betancourt singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Leon Landry. Tyrone Taylor walks. Javier Betancourt to 2nd. Brett Phillips lines out to center fielder Leon Landry. Will Middlebrooks singles on a ground ball to left fielder Patrick Brady, deflected by third baseman Adam Law. Javier Betancourt scores. Tyrone Taylor to 2nd. Clint Coulter grounds out, third baseman Adam Law to first baseman Ryan Casteel. Jackson Top of the 6th Defensive Substitution: Gabriel Noriega replaces second baseman Javier Betancourt, batting 9th, playing second base. Leon Landry strikes out swinging. Adam Law lines out to center fielder Brett Phillips. Tyler Marlette strikes out swinging.

Harrison Knocks in Go-Ahead Run in Ninth Rattlers pick up ground in playoff chase with 2-1 win at Quad Cities By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wisconsin Boxscore Wisconsin Recap

Record setting eighth gives Shuckers first ever five-game sweep Biloxi scored a club-record seven runs during the eighth, en route to sweep of Braves Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/0/8/197935208/cuts/Nottinghamthumb2_y218w17n_rgw9jejh.JPG Jacob Nottingham blasted his 10th home run in the Shuckers comeback win on Friday (Mike Krebs) Biloxi Boxscore Took a night off from baseball to watch high school and NFL football, the game stories will have to suffice. Biloxi Recap

Once again, that's not entirely true, PTBNL can be conditional, when the Brewers traded for Sabathia Cleveland got Brantley if the Brewers made the playoffs and would have gotten Green had they not. These trades can be performance based. If you have some inside information that says otherwise that would be awesome, but the I've heard Stearns talk about this issue on 3 different occasions and he never said anything about the terms.

I think the obvious answer is simply PR, as in proving that they aren't tanking, that there are making every effort to win while simultaneously building for the future. I don't think that's done anything to placate the casual fans who don't really understand the mechanisms within baseball and are pissed that the Brewers are once again bottom dwellers, at least in NE WI I hear pretty much the exact same thing from people who sit on that side of the fence. Regardless I have a hard time with the angst towards the Brewers, I see Davies as a #3 best case, I think he's going to be up and down floating around a 4 ERA most of his career. He's not a centerpiece, he's not someone to build around, he's a role player, but if he can be a #3 he'll make a ton of money for himself throughout his career so we're debating relative peanuts by comparison. It's a significant sum relative to what most of us take home yearly, but in terms of professional baseball it's basically nothing. To me this one of those things that's not issue, until someone makes it an issue and blows it way out of proportion, if it's a business, with rules on both sides, as long as rules aren't broken I'm largely indifferent both ways, and this is not on the same level as scheming against Hardy to delay his impending FA by a year. What's truly the core issue here? Are we so pitching starved that we're afraid of alienating anyone who performs regardless of their ceiling as a player? Are we worried about not being an attractive destination for FA players?

The Brewers actually have a reasonably good support system in place for their athletes now, it's not something they've always done and is relatively new. I wonder if Texas has the same? It's not something you ever read about.

As MH noted earlier, AAA stadiums have a requirement of a minimum of 11,000 seats, the current seating capacity is less than 7,000 including the grass seating, it's roughly the same size facility as Neuroscience Field which the T-Rats play in. The Mallards have made some nice upgrades to the facility, but it's not remotely close to AAA standards. I couldn't find any additional information on amenities like an indoor batting cage, weight room, training facilities, and so on that would also be necessary for a modern professional franchise either. Assuming Casey is correct, which would be fantastic news, then the Brewers could easily get involved in MiLB and fund their own stadium. As I've said many times I would very much like the Brewers to buy into good situations like the T-Rats and lock in those relationships. Unfortunately the team never showed that kind of initiative in the past, it was the same reactionary approach to affiliations as it was with the rest of the organization.

Big Hit by Belonis Gives Wisconsin a Walkoff Win Rattlers pick up ground in Wild Card race By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/5/6/197749956/cuts/8_25_PlayerOfTheGame_CarlosBelonis_VERSION_2_blwjxcsu_tc6vaxeo.jpg Carlos Belonis drove in two runs with a two-out, walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Rattlers 5-4 win over Peoria on Thursday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica) Wisconsin Boxscore WOOHOO! I'm going to start out with Matt Erickson, whom I took to task last night for his sac bunt call in the 3rd, but tonight he managed the 9th masterfully. After the Lucas Erceg double the Rattlers were 2nd and 3rd with no out, Monte Harrison struck out a pitch high and away, Erickson pitch hits Luis Ortiz who Peoria walks, then he was able to turn around and pitch hit Isan Diaz with the bases loaded and 1 out. Just a masterful job of manipulating the situation in the T-Rats favor. It didn't work out for Diaz as he swung through a very fat pitch for strike 3, but Carlos Belonis delivered to pick up Diaz and Erceg finished the play to pickup the team. I rarely bag on the umpires because when they are bad, it's typically bad both ways, but I thought the base umpire cost the Rattlers at least 2 outs on the bases, and he initially missed the Erceg HR as well. I was watching the 9th thinking the Rattlers didn't catch a break all game, Belonis hits the ball to shallow RF, the throw is on line but to the 1st base side, and it beats Erceg to the plate by a good 2 steps. I thought he was out watching live but ruled safe, the Peoria manager went ballistic, the Rattlers celebrate, and the TV crew jumps to the replay. The replay showed that Erceg was actually safe as he got under the tag, I was shocked. Very few umpires will stick with the play all the way through and not assume an out when the ball gets there that far ahead of the runner, especially at this this level, but somehow the home plate ump slowed it down enough to see the entire play and make the correct call. Maybe it was just a lucky guess, but he was gesturing that Erceg got under the tag from the start so I"m reasonably sure he saw it the whole way, and correctly. I was impressed. Conor Harber didn't dominate by any stretch, but was effective, and he has a pretty decent pick off move, it's very quick. Christian Trent gave up a HR to the deepest part of the ball park in his first MWL action, it was crushed. Nate Griep did what he does and picked up the win, with a slight uptick in velo he could be interesting down the road, like Jacob Barnes. Jonathan Oquendo (2-4), Jake Gatewood (2-3,BB), Erceg (2-4,HR,2B), and Belonis (2-4) had the multi hit games for the Rattlers. This was supposed to be Diaz' 1 and only game off in the 2nd half as Erickson thought he was starting to look sluggish, but he was needed in the 9th. Isan leads the league in games played. Wisconsin Recap ****** Postgame Post – August 25, 2016 ******

Ortega delivers fourth straight win in walk-off fahion Shuckers pull within 1.5 games of M-Braves in overall standings Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/7/2/197708272/cuts/2Q5A3675_3tlfq66t_iywzwtps.JPG Angel Ortega delivered Thursday's game winning hit in the 3-2 win over the M-Braves. (Michael Krebs) Biloxi Boxscore What a fun night of baseball for me, the big league Brewers aside! Jorge Lopez was very good until the 8th, he didn't break the 100 pitch line throwing 97 and 63 for strikes. The peripherals won't wow you, but 7 scoreless is always impressive, he even collected a hit today. I find Josh Uhen's bump to AA surprising given he's never been statistically dominant and I've been skeptical of his ability to miss bats at the higher levels, but he's done well in his first 2 Shucker appearances. Angel Ortega is hitting an even .300 in his last 10 games, he was at .201 and is now up to .233 on the season. Biloxi Recap

Obviously, but why would that be any different for Madison? Let's not lose sight of the key here which is the average daily attendance. Major metropolitan areas with good management are drawing 8,000-9000 with poor weather and losing dates to double headers as well, not to the extreme as the far northern teams, but it's not like every AAA team has a great weather situation, Charlotte is probably the best location in all of AAA. Biloxi with a brand new team and beautiful stadium has drawn worse than the T-Rats: 2015 - 2,604 2016 - 2,652 It's 1,000+ more fans per game than they were drawing in Huntsville, but isn't great. Jackson has only played 57 home games so far, the fewest in the SL. I'm not sure you can even make the "the first few years will have great attendance" argument because that's not really true in minor league baseball, the local fans usually don't have a connection to the MLB team which has aided the T-Rats and definitely makes a difference for a team like Dayton. You typically have to start from the bottom and build a brand, and that takes time. I think if the Brewers bought into a franchise they could draw 6,000+ on average right away out of Madison, but how would you ever get a stadium out of the city/metro? I remember when the Brewers were sold they had something like $100 million in debt, has that situation improved? Is it worse? I honestly haven't kept up with the financials but the Brewers would have to take on more debt to fund a AAA stadium on their own so I don't even know how feasible that is. People will say they can borrow against the value of the franchise, but without knowing the true financial picture that's difficult to agree with. Moving a team to Madison would probably kill the Mallards, not that I care a great deal about the Northwoods League, but I'm sure that would cause some sort of resistance as well, unless that ownership was brought into the AAA team. I think it's potentially possible to buy a franchise and move it, but no AAA team is moving into a market of less than 500,000 population, and any situation <1,000,000 would have to be special, like with Madison. The majority of AAA teams are in significant markets and for very good reasons which should be self explanatory. The Sky Sox are actually a team to target because of the issues previously discussed in articles in this thread, but there just aren't going to be many opportunities to move a franchise so the Brewers would have to be fully invested in the idea and researching opportunities long before buying in or buying a franchise outright. I'm all for the concept but if you pull out a map and look around major markets in the midwest, almost all already have professional baseball of some sort which complicates matters because you're talking about having to relocate a lesser franchise. You need a team with a poor stadium and poor attendance without a longstanding regional affiliation to a MLB club.

Doesn't it seem like every Brewer manager has a player like Kirk who gets more playing time than the prospect, or some vet who plays out of position like CF in a play-off game? It's a pretty common story, at least Broxton is getting somewhat regular ABs. Gamel couldn't even get an AB because McGehee was hot and ended up getting shifted to first base, where he blew out his knee multiple times due to perfectly conspiring circumstances. Casey faded away and Mat was out of baseball not long after, it's too bad. Macha sat Escobar down every time he went 1 or 2 for 10 because "he's trying to hit home runs"... as if power was ever a significant part of Alcides' game. With the relative overall talent level of all players pretty close, the mental aspect is truly the biggest factor which separates players from one another, and yet most managers and coaches around baseball don't know how to develop or create the conditions for a player to blossom simply because that's never been part of the fabric of baseball. It was trial by error, either you made it or you didn't with your own throwing and hitting mechanics. I've often gotten the feeling that managers/coaches at MLB don't necessarily want to put in all of the extra time to coach up young players every day, they prefer veterans because they already know the drill and are less maintenance... Most people are going to teach what they were taught or figured out on their own, which more often than not isn't a good a thing, and is one of the reasons there's no such thing as "proper throwing mechanics" in baseball. If you read enough you'll discover that very few pitching coaches around baseball over the years actually taught pitchers "how to" anything, many pitchers learned pitches from each other, that's why those coaches who teach are so highly valued and can have a significant impact (Maddux teaching pitchers like Davis the cutter for example). The same is true of position players, those early 80 Brewers teams sat around in the clubhouse after games and drank beer talking baseball. Talking about baseball, bouncing ideas off of each other, and building brotherhood which is all very productive but wasn't coming from the coaching staff. From the development side there's no compelling reason for Kirk to play over Keon, slump or not. It's incredibly short sighted and once again is trading tomorrow for today, when wins today are entirely meaningless if not problematic from a future talent standpoint, but wins next season or the season after could mean something. We're back to discussing instant gratification vs maximizing talent potential, an issue that's supremely important to the Brewers ever being able to play at a high level for a decade or more, and those of us on this forum go round and round having the same debates over and over about. I firmly believe that Santana and Broxton should be playing every day.

That's all well and good but the T-Rats average 3,513 for their home games this season and they have the entire Fox Valley to draw from as they sit in the middle. It's still a business, and as a business they need to make money, so the average attendance needs to a relative certainty to be attractive to ownership. It's difficult to say how well a team would be supported as I've never lived down there and don't know the community but to average 6,000-7,000 fans for minor league baseball takes a rather large population base to draw from, or an inordinately high level of support such as the Dayton Dragons who outdraw many AAA clubs as a single A club. It's pretty unrealistic to expect 5% of the population to be in the ballpark on a regular basis, but in the right circumstances it can happen. In terms of the IL and average attendance, populations are for the entire metro: Charlotte - 8,927 - pop 2,380,314 Indianapolis - 8,902 - pop approx 2,000,000 Lehigh Valley (Allentown) - 8,754 pop 821,623 (2010) Columbus - 8,700 - pop 2,021,632 Buffalo - 7,741 - pop 1,135,509 (2010) Toledo - 7,584 - pop 651,429 (2010) Durham - 7,524 - pop 542,710 Louisville - 7,100 - pop 1,269,70 Rochester - 6,176 - pop 1,100,000 (2010) Pawtucket - 5,996 - pop 1,622,520 Scranton - 5,867 - pop 563,631 (2010) Norfolk - 5,276 - pop 1,700,000 Syracuse - 4,103 - pop 662,577 Gwinnett - 3,321 - pop 1,010,000 As an FYI: Madison - 641,385

Peoria Beats Rattlers 11-5 Wisconsin's playoff chances take a hit as team commits four errors in loss By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/8/4/197551684/cuts/Clark_PlayerOftheGame_8_24_vovn0ekf_o5vcpaxd.jpg Trent Clark went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI for the Timber Rattlers on Wednesday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica) Wisconsin Boxscore Blah, just blah. MH noted the continued shutdown of the college arms, which honestly irks me. I get it, but if you're going to shut them down then why promote them up from Helena into the playoff race in the first place? When they get shut down, what's left behind? It's entirely possible the current regime doesn't care at all about the Rattlers making the post season, and if that's the case then I guess I have nothing to complain about because I can definitely get behind the argument of development trumping everything else including winning and losing. The Rattlers bunted to win again very early in the game, in the 3rd, and Trent Clark gave the out away without advancing the runners by bunting it right back to the pitcher. His first bunt attempt actually went up into the radio booth and Chris caught it, which provided some comedic enjoyment for the rest of the game. The Rattlers eventually scored 2 runs in the inning, but damn if I don't hate bunting with the top of the order that early in the game. Once again I do understand all of the development angles in play with it, but from a strategic standpoint it doesn't make sense giving outs away when you are already down by 4 runs early. Erickson is an excellent manager and teacher of the game, but this one thing just sticks in my craw and has driven me batty over the years. For those interested in Will Middlebrooks, he did go 2-4 tonight. Jonathan Oquendo (2-4) had the only other multi hit game. Miguel Diaz was good in his first 2 innings, he was coming from a high 3/4 arm slot and hitting spots fairly well, though he occasionally got sloppy with his mechanics on his breaking stuff, he was finishing completely different at times throwing the curve, it just looked out of place. His 3rd inning got away from him when his arm slot started moving around again, he left the ball up and over the plate, which isn't a recipe for success at any level of baseball. I've watched Trey Supak pitch 3-4 times now, there's nothing sexy with him, he's kind of average for A ball across the board, though his FB does bump up to 94. He get's a fair amount of strike outs with out a MLB level out pitch which is probably the most interesting thing about him at this point. With some improved quality in his off speed stuff and his command (he's generally around the plate) he might be something, but it's too early to tell. Wisconsin Recap ****** Postgame Post – August 24, 2016 ****** ****** Bonus Video!

Woodruff continues MGM Park dominance in win Shuckers take third straight from M-Braves on Wednesday, 5-0 Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/3/8/197528238/cuts/Woody1_wdwcu28i_88p993y9.jpg Brandon Woodruff continued the stretch of great starting pitching on Wednesday with eight shutout innings (Chris Birch) Biloxi Boxscore With 2 features on the game I don't have anything to add on the pitching. If you didn't pick up on it between the stories all of the damage was done by the bottom of the order hit wise (including Coulter as a PH), Biloxi had just 2 hits going into the 8th. At that point it was 10 total hits between 3 games covering 23 offensive innings, and it would have been enough for a 3rd straight win but I'm sure Woodruff appreciated the insurance runs. I keep begging for this team to finish on a high note offensively but it's not happening, maybe I should start posting that I hope they will suck to end the season, maybe play the reverse psychology angle for a change of pace? Biloxi Recap

Video at the link, interesting AB as he had a slight problem putting the hitter away. Woodruff posting zeros again for Shuckers Righty rebounds from off outings by allowing two hits in eight frames By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com Brandon Woodruff made the longest start of his pro career Wednesday, but the other half of his battery made sure his arm got quick treatment. Woodruff's catcher, Jacob Nottingham, promptly gave him an ice bath, dousing him with the water cooler during an on-field interview after the game. "'Notty' took care of me," Milwaukee's No. 25 prospect said. "That was my first time ever and it took my breath away. Notty did a great job behind the plate." And Woodruff (8-8) wasn't so bad on the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven over eight innings in Double-A Biloxi's 5-0 win over visiting Mississippi. "It was awesome, especially this late in the season," he said. "It felt good to get out there and work a lot of quick innings and keep my team in the game." The dominant outing represented a return to form for the 2014 11th-rounder, whose Southern League ERA stands at 3.34. Through July, while dealing with the mid-month loss of his brother, Woodruff allowed two runs -- one earned -- over 30 2/3 innings across five starts. "Just having a great support system ... the Brewers organization has been unbelievable to me and my family. They were great and that made the process a lot easier," he said. "Getting back with the team and on the field, nobody changed their attitude toward me, and that made it seem like it was back to normal. The guys in the clubhouse are like one big family and that made coming back a lot easier to try not to think about what had happened and be focused on the team." Woodruff kept rolling through his first two turns in August, allowing a run over 13 innings, but in his next two, he gave up 11 runs over 10 frames. "That's part of baseball. I had a great month of July and I tried to keep building on that, but sometimes you stumble a little bit," the Mississippi State product said. "This week, I really wanted to get back to attacking the zone -- getting strike one and getting weak contact. I did a good job of that tonight." Neither of the two knocks he surrendered -- a bloop single by Joey Meneses in the second frame and a successful bunt by Johan Camargo in the sixth -- were hit hard. "There were a couple guys who made some hard contact, [though]," Woodruff said. "I had a little trouble with guys on first, but we got quick double plays and erased everything. There were a couple hard-hit balls, but for the most part, I was able to keep hitters off balance, and I worked ahead and got soft contact." He helped provide some run support in the fifth with one out and three men on, bouncing out to second baseman and second-ranked Braves prospect Ozzie Albies. That allowed Nick Ramirez to score from third. "When I came up to bat with the bases loaded," he said, "all I could think about was putting the ball in play, and I didn't want to hit into a double play and ruin the whole inning. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and stay out of a double play." After a leadoff walk to Jacob Schrader in the seventh, Woodruff retired six straight to end his night. He threw 102 pitches -- 76 for strikes -- but even before Nottingham's ice treatment, he didn't feel any fatigue in his arm. "That's something I try not to think about it," he said. "I was taking it pitch by pitch, trying to keep my team engaged. They made some really good plays behind me -- [shortstop] Angel Ortega made a great diving play behind me -- and when things are going like that, you don't feel anything." The great start came a night after Taylor Jungmann tossed eight scoreless frames for the Shuckers. "That's the thing with starters -- you always want to outdo the guy before you," Woodruff said. "Taylor did a terrific job last night, so that was going to be hard to follow up." Ramirez smacked a three-RBI double in Biloxi's four-run eighth. Michael Mader, acquired by Atlanta on Aug. 6, allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings, but he fell to 0-1 with a 0.90 ERA through two Double-A starts and his first two outings in the new organization.

Video at the link, interesting AB as he had a slight problem putting the hitter away. Woodruff posting zeros again for Shuckers Righty rebounds from off outings by allowing two hits in eight frames By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com Brandon Woodruff made the longest start of his pro career Wednesday, but the other half of his battery made sure his arm got quick treatment. Woodruff's catcher, Jacob Nottingham, promptly gave him an ice bath, dousing him with the water cooler during an on-field interview after the game. "'Notty' took care of me," Milwaukee's No. 25 prospect said. "That was my first time ever and it took my breath away. Notty did a great job behind the plate." And Woodruff (8-8) wasn't so bad on the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven over eight innings in Double-A Biloxi's 5-0 win over visiting Mississippi. "It was awesome, especially this late in the season," he said. "It felt good to get out there and work a lot of quick innings and keep my team in the game." The dominant outing represented a return to form for the 2014 11th-rounder, whose Southern League ERA stands at 3.34. Through July, while dealing with the mid-month loss of his brother, Woodruff allowed two runs -- one earned -- over 30 2/3 innings across five starts. "Just having a great support system ... the Brewers organization has been unbelievable to me and my family. They were great and that made the process a lot easier," he said. "Getting back with the team and on the field, nobody changed their attitude toward me, and that made it seem like it was back to normal. The guys in the clubhouse are like one big family and that made coming back a lot easier to try not to think about what had happened and be focused on the team." Woodruff kept rolling through his first two turns in August, allowing a run over 13 innings, but in his next two, he gave up 11 runs over 10 frames. "That's part of baseball. I had a great month of July and I tried to keep building on that, but sometimes you stumble a little bit," the Mississippi State product said. "This week, I really wanted to get back to attacking the zone -- getting strike one and getting weak contact. I did a good job of that tonight." Neither of the two knocks he surrendered -- a bloop single by Joey Meneses in the second frame and a successful bunt by Johan Camargo in the sixth -- were hit hard. "There were a couple guys who made some hard contact, [though]," Woodruff said. "I had a little trouble with guys on first, but we got quick double plays and erased everything. There were a couple hard-hit balls, but for the most part, I was able to keep hitters off balance, and I worked ahead and got soft contact." He helped provide some run support in the fifth with one out and three men on, bouncing out to second baseman and second-ranked Braves prospect Ozzie Albies. That allowed Nick Ramirez to score from third. "When I came up to bat with the bases loaded," he said, "all I could think about was putting the ball in play, and I didn't want to hit into a double play and ruin the whole inning. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and stay out of a double play." After a leadoff walk to Jacob Schrader in the seventh, Woodruff retired six straight to end his night. He threw 102 pitches -- 76 for strikes -- but even before Nottingham's ice treatment, he didn't feel any fatigue in his arm. "That's something I try not to think about it," he said. "I was taking it pitch by pitch, trying to keep my team engaged. They made some really good plays behind me -- [shortstop] Angel Ortega made a great diving play behind me -- and when things are going like that, you don't feel anything." The great start came a night after Taylor Jungmann tossed eight scoreless frames for the Shuckers. "That's the thing with starters -- you always want to outdo the guy before you," Woodruff said. "Taylor did a terrific job last night, so that was going to be hard to follow up." Ramirez smacked a three-RBI double in Biloxi's four-run eighth. Michael Mader, acquired by Atlanta on Aug. 6, allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings, but he fell to 0-1 with a 0.90 ERA through two Double-A starts and his first two outings in the new organization.

He's also a LH bat and is only being hurt if he's hitting for the power the opposite way. It will more of an issue for Isan Diaz who hit a fair amount of HRs to the opposite field than it is for Ray in this short stint. Still it's been good to see him get on a roll.

The Rattlers are playing atrocious defense, my goodness, this game might get really ugly.