Link Report for Wednesday 5/3 - Hidden Ball Fun

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: LHP Josh Hader at Oklahoma City (Dodgers), 6:35 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him again this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson)

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup.

 

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Biloxi: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Chris Harris is the play-by-play voice of the Shuckers. Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. Erik Bremer (@Erik_Bremer) joins Chris often. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them. Only games in Chattanooga and Mobile won't be available.

 

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Carolina: RHP Marcos Diplan at home vs. Buies Creek (Astros), 9:45 AM pre-game, 10:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We look forward to Mudcats audio with Greg Young (@gregyoungjr), especially after going without gameday audio for much of the Brewers' stay in Brevard County.

 

MiLB.TV - Yes, Carolina home games will be on MiLB.TV, sweet. It appears three other Carolina League teams (Salem, Myrtle Beach, and Winston-Salem) broadcast as well.

 

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Wisconsin: LHP Cameron Roegner at home vs. Bowling Green (Rays), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio.

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the 16 Midwest League teams telecast their home games, and Wisconsin, once again, is among them. We'll let you know when a road TV feed is available.

 

In 2017, fifteen games will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports in Wisconsin, available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332. We'll keep you posted with our "DVR Alerts" days in advance.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

Wisconsin

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Look for these just prior to the respective game times --

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

Carolina Media Notes - Linked on the Mudcats official blog

 

Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

 

***

 

STANDINGS:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division

 

AA - Southern League South Division

 

High-A - Carolina League Southern Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Zebulon, NC

 

Grand Chute, WI

[WV Brew]

Erceg just pulled the hidden ball trick on Kyle Tucker. Ha.

[And That]

Gatewood with a walk and two more hits today, including his fifth home run. I am going to give it another month before getting fully on board with the new and improved and visually unimpaired Gatewood, but he just keeps on hitting. His strikeout rate is dipping lately as well.

 

And Wuilder Rodriguez has been pretty great since being activated a few weeks ago.

[igor67]

Just did a quick recalculation, Gatewood's strikeout rate for the whole season is actually down slightly (per plate appearance) from last year. Not enough by itself to be significant, but given that it is trending downward as the season goes on and he is doing this at a completely new level with the increased walk rate, batting average, and power increase it's real in a pretty significant way I'd say. I can support waiting before we move him to top 5 in the system, but he's got enough plate appearances in that those rate stats are stabilizing and new norms and not just hot streaks.

[WV Brew]

Harber and Rodriguez shutout Astros

Jake Gatewood was 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs

By Carolina Mudcats | May 3, 2017 3:46 PM ET

 

Jake Gatewood batting for the Carolina Mudcats at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. (NIKOLAUS - Carolina Mudcats)

Conor Harber (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K) and Wuilder Rodriguez (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K) combined for a three hit shutout. It was the longest outing for Harber in his professional career. The shutout was aided by Lucas Erceg pulling the hidden ball trick when the Astros had the tieing runs on 2nd and 3rd. Then a ball caromed off Erceg right to Luis Aviles who made an off balance throw to get the hitter by a hair for the final out of that inning.

 

Erceg (1-4, 2B, RBI) drove in the first run with a two out double scoring Trent Clark from first. This was followed by a Jake Gatewood (2-2, BB, HR, SB, 2 RBI) single to plate the second run of the inning.

 

Carolina Box Score

 

Carolina Game Log

 

Key innings:

 

 

Carolina Bottom of the 4th

 

Trent Clark singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jason Martin.

Troy Stokes Jr. strikes out swinging.

Isan Diaz flies out to left fielder Johnny Sewald.

Lucas Erceg doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Kyle Tucker. Trent Clark scores.

Jake Gatewood singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jason Martin. Lucas Erceg scores.

With Luis Aviles batting, Jake Gatewood steals (2) 2nd base.

Luis Aviles strikes out swinging.

 

 

Buies Creek Top of the 7th

 

Kyle Tucker walks.

With Dexture McCall batting, Kyle Tucker steals (8) 2nd base.

Dexture McCall walks.

Pitching Change: Wuilder Rodriguez replaces Conor Harber.

Pat Porter strikes out swinging.

With Anibal Sierra batting, Kyle Tucker steals (9) 3rd base. Dexture McCall steals (2) 2nd base.

With Anibal Sierra batting, Wuilder Rodriguez picks off Kyle Tucker at 3rd on throw to Lucas Erceg.

Buies Creek Astros Manager Omar Lopez ejected by HP umpire Ryan Wilhelms.

Anibal Sierra grounds out, third baseman Lucas Erceg to shortstop Luis Aviles to first baseman Jake Gatewood.

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattler DVR Alert

 

FRI. 5/5 vs. Dayton, 6:30 PM

 

Spectrum Sports are available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332 in Eastern Wisconsin

[reillymcshane]

Gatewood with a walk and two more hits today, including his fifth home run. I am going to give it another month before getting fully on board with the new and improved and visually unimpaired Gatewood, but he just keeps on hitting. His strikeout rate is dipping lately as well.

The walk rate is crazy as well. Last year his walk rate was 3.4%. This year it's 15%.

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday’s scheduled contest between Biloxi Shuckers and Montgomery Biscuits at MGM Park has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a Thursday doubleheader starting at 5:35 pm. The twin bill will feature a pair of seven-inning games, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

[Mass Haas]

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Rattler Radio's Soundcloud: "Thomas Jankins is the pregame interview for May 3. He talks about picking up his first professional win, his college coach who is a former Timber Rattler, and what Netflix show he started while the rain was falling in Burlington last weekend."

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Mudcats' Greg Young: Recent pre-game interview with OF Trent Clark

[Mass Haas]

Erceg pulls hidden-ball trick on Buies Creek

Milwaukee's No. 7 prospect psychs out Tucker in seventh inning

By Chris Tripodi / MiLB.com

 

***

 

By the way, how about Mudcats announcer Greg Young picking up on the play even as Erceg first faked the throw to the mound. Then, nice coordination of the camera crew and the team's MiLB.TV production staff to wait out the camera shot.

 

Kudos!

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO (this was immediately after the hidden ball play): "Lucas Erceg and Luis Aviles combined on a fantastic play to help the Mudcats out of a seventh inning jam

 

***

 

"Jake Gatewood's fifth home run of the season was a towering blast to left at Five County Stadium"

 

[Mass Haas]

Also posted within our season-long Sky Sox archived feature thread --

 

Looking good at Triple-A, Brewers' top prospects talk success, improvement

Bob Martinez, OnMilwaukee.com

 

 

Colorado Springs outfielders (from left) Ryan Cordell, Lewis Brinson and Brett Phillips. (PHOTO: Bob Martinez)

 

***

 

This is a well-written piece with multiple quotes, and goes beyond just the three outfielders. Nice work, Mr. Martinez!

[BrewersAA]

I was at the sky sox game tonight and not only was everything hit really hard off hader, but he was topping out at 88 and living at 86-87mph. Nothing was popping the mit, and quite a few pitches skipping I. The dirt in front of home. It was concerning, has anyone heard of reduced velocity with him at all lately?

[reillymcshane]

Sky Sox Score Five Straight in 6-3 Win

Sox club three homers to back Hader's shutdown middle innings.

By Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

Andrew Susac tied the game with a two-run homer for his first long ball of the season Wednesday night. (Photo: Paat Kelly)

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Things didn’t start out well for Josh Hader on Wednesday night. He would surrender a home run in both the 1st and 2nd innings - as the Sky Sox fell behind the Oklahoma City Dodgers. But Hader would settle down and throw six innings of ball, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks. He would strike out four while getting the win. Tim Dillard would work the final three innings, yielding only one hit and striking out four, while earning the save.

 

The Sky Sox would get home runs from Lewis Brinson (1-4), Ivan De Jesus Jr. (1-4) and Andrew Susac (1-4). Garrett Cooper (2-4, 2B) would add a pair of hits.

 

Hader has already given up eight home runs in just 30 innings of work this year. It’s a disturbing trend, as Hader only gave up six HRs in all of 2016.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Colorado Springs scored two runs in the 5th and three more in 6th to seal this victory. The big blows were two-run home runs from Susac and De Jesus Jr.

 

Col. Springs Top of the 5th

Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Trayce Thompson.

Andrew Susac homers (1) on a line drive to left center field. Yadiel Rivera scores.

Josh Hader strikes out swinging.

Lewis Brinson strikes out swinging.

Eric Sogard grounds out, shortstop Charlie Culberson to first baseman Max Muncy.

 

Col. Springs Top of the 6th

Pitching Change: Jacob Rhame replaces Wilmer Font, batting 9th.

Ryan Cordell pops out to first baseman Max Muncy in foul territory.

Garrett Cooper singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Verdugo.

With Brett Phillips batting, passed ball by Bobby Wilson, Garrett Cooper to 2nd.

Brett Phillips singles on a ground ball to right fielder Alex Verdugo. Garrett Cooper scores.

Ivan De Jesus Jr. homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Brett Phillips scores.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, second baseman Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Max Muncy.

Andrew Susac grounds out, pitcher Jacob Rhame to first baseman Max Muncy.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WXXV: Biloxi Manager Mike Guerrero comments in a rainout day interview

[Mass Haas]

This extended view of the hidden-ball play includes the umpire argument -- again, nice work here, Greg Young

 

[Mass Haas]

[Mass Haas]

As also posted within our season-long Timber Rattlers feature archive thread -- we do this for those that may come to the Link Report via Twitter and may not sample the other threads on this forum (but you should)

 

Frosty Microbrews: Feliciano Doesn't Use Youth As An Excuse

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

[molitor fan]

I could not be more impressed by Greg Young on his call of the Erceg hidden ball play....holy cow was he ever on it and with excellent detail and insight...

 

Incredible job by Young

[And That]

Bowling Green Shuts out Wisconsin 3-0

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

(Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

The Rattlers drop back to a game under .500 after a sleepy perfmormance at the plate. Monte Harrison hit the lone Rattlers XBH, a double, his sixth of the year. Nate Rodriguez had two of the five hits in the game for Wisconsin, and he walked once as well. Haven't talked about Rodriguez a whole lot this year because Mario Feliciano, but I really do think he is a prospect in his own right. He will stick behind the plate - he does everything pretty well as a backstop. He has a good idea at the plate, will work counts and is able to put the bat on the ball. Not a starting catching prospect, at least not at this point, but I could see him as a valuable big league backup down the road.

 

Cam Roegner started and while he got a few key strikeouts to limit damage, also pitched himself into damage situations. Much like Tom Jankins a day prior, when Roegner is successful, he is creating plane on his pitches with his big frame. When he's not, the ball stays up and he gets hit because he will not blow the ball by hitters for the most part. Today was one of those days. He allowed six hits in five innings, including two doubles and a home run. Braden Webb bounced back from a stinker of an outing, allowing a run over three innings. He has pitched better than his 5.28 ERA indicates.

 

Wisconsin Log