Sun. 4/10 - Let's Play Two in Grand Chute

[Mass Haas]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news of the day, lineup updates (when damuelle is available, which is often), etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[damuelle]

We're blessed with 5 games today, starting with the Mudcats trying to complete a 3-game sweep of the Wood Ducks. 20-year old RHP Edwin Jimenez makes his Low-A Carolina debut, with OF Micah Bello (5-for-7), IF Jheremy Vargas (4-for-9) and SS Eduardo Garcia (3-for-7) all looking to continue their hot start to the season:

[damuelle]

Strikeout artist LHP Brandon Knarr (128 Ks in 97 1/3 innings last season) gets the start in Game One of the Timber Rattlers' double-header today, while yesterday's hero 1B Ernesto Martinez (walk-off single, 1-2, 3 walks) leads the offense:

[damuelle]

LHP Ethan Small makes his second start (4 1/3 innings, zero earned runs, 6 Ks in the opener) and 2B Mark Mathias looks to build on his 4-for-7 start (double, triple, 3 RBIs), as the Sounds aim for a 4-2 series win over Durham. Also, Brice Turang gets his first action in center field:

[damuelle]

RHP Edwin Jimenez exits after 4 innings (76 pitches) and 21-year old LHP Pablo Garabitos comes in to make his Low-A Carolina debut. Mudcats are down 4-3 after Jimenez yielded 2 home runs to Down East.

[damuelle]

21-year old RHP Israel Puello (acquired in Sep 2020 in David Phelps trade) makes his Low-A Carolina debut in the 6th inning. Mudcats trail Wood Ducks 5-4.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wow, Smallsy already back on the Mound? LOVE it. It was such a joy to hear of his DL experience and how he adapted. He quickly became one my Brewers Farm faves. Thanks for the posts, gents.

[Joseph Zarr]

9 minutes ago, damuelle said:

21-year old RHP Israel Puello (acquired in Sep 2020 in David Phelps trade) makes his Low-A Carolina debut in the 6th inning. Mudcats trail Wood Ducks 5-4.

That's what we call a 'Deep Cut'. WKLH weeps.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm telling you, watching the Minor League games and/or gamecasts is worth it alone to see where we're going to try out our prospects next. Turang in CF? 

 

When I saw Joey in CF last night in Pensacola, I had to do a double take. Naturally, @damuelle had already posted the line up in the thread, but it was definitely a surprise. And, he looked extremely natural. We truly witness 'development' on the Farm and it's a true joy to watch.

[Joseph Zarr]

21 minutes ago, damuelle said:

21-year old RHP Israel Puello (acquired in Sep 2020 in David Phelps trade) makes his Low-A Carolina debut in the 6th inning. Mudcats trail Wood Ducks 5-4.

In a bounty of hot starts in our Lower Levels, Jefferson Quero continues his truly torrid start. Whewwwwww. Laces a double and it's 6-5 Carolina Bottom of 6. He is 3 of 4 today with 3 rbi's on the day. Jheremy Vargas just walked to load the bases with 0 outs. Put those rally caps on.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh dear...Micah Bello just ripped a deep double to Center-Right on a 1-2 count. Perhaps, if Mr. Lutz would step aside for one moment, Micah Bello is our hottest prospect in the early going. 8-5 Mudcats.

We might have to make an early season 'Doubles Scoreboard' for the Farm. For those scoring at home, that's 5-3 Bello to Wiemer. LOL.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hedbert Perez enters the Double Trouble score sheet with his first hit of the young season - a rope of a double one-hops off the RF fence. It's 10-5 Mudcats.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sibrian with his second hit of the inning, a hard hit grounder that splits 3rd and Short and ricochets to slow down in a dribble to the LF grass. Perez scores and it's 11-5. This is a 7 run inning. If you're weary of the Brewers slow start, my friends, we have plenty of hot bat action going on in Low A through AA. 

[damuelle]

In Appleton, Brandon Knarr exits after 83 pitches (5 2/3 innings), unlucky to be down 1-0 despite only yielding 2 infield hits. 26-year old RHP Kent Hasler relieves him as the hitters devise a plan for a come back.

[Joseph Zarr]

I like what I'm seeing from Israel Puello in his first action outside the DSl and the AZL. He's pitched 2 scoreless today in Carolina with 3 k's: nice action and location on his fastball with good command overall and also appears to have a breaking ball in its early stages of development. This is a relief arm worth monitoring through the season.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, damuelle said:

In Appleton, Brandon Knarr exits after 83 pitches (5 2/3 innings), unlucky to be down 1-0 despite only yielding 2 infield hits. 26-year old RHP Kent Hasler relieves him as the hitters devise a plan for a come back.

Hasler came aboard and walked his first batter and, then, on a full count induced a fly out to Rodriguez in RF. T-Rats escape, enter the Bottom of the 6th still trailing 1-0. Pinero, batting in the 9 hole, will start the inning. The T-Rats will then flip the order back to the top as Frelick is on deck and Black in the hole. 

[Joseph Zarr]

And, just like that, Puello overmatches Down East batters in the Top of the 8th. His first hit surrendered as a seeing eye single up the middle, the 21 yo proceeds to strike out the side with a very nice mix of heat and breaking balls keeping all 3 batters entirely off kilter. 2 go down looking with sneaky breaking balls finding the inner part of the plate. He is scheduled to take the victory in this outing. 6 k's in his 3 ip so far. 

[damuelle]

23-year old LHP Jakob Brustoski comes in for the Mudcats' 9th inning, making his minor league debut.

[Joseph Zarr]

Brustowski comes on to close this game 

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

23-year old LHP Jakob Brustoski comes in for the Mudcats' 9th inning, making his minor league debut.

And proceeds to throw all fastballs...hitting the first batter up and in, striking out the next 2, and hitting the next. Let's hope he gets back to the strikeout route before he injures someone. He's hitting 92-94 mph on the gun but the ball is definitely jumping on guys. Lots of late swings.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nevermind, he just hit his 3rd batter on a full count. All 3 hitters batting from the right side of the plate. I would say, Jakob is a little amped up in his first action. ?

[Joseph Zarr]

It's getting interesting. 11-7 Mudcats. Brustowski just gave up a single to LF for a run and then walked in a run. Tying run is at the plate. 

Excuse me, he walked in another. 11-8 Mudcats and the Go-ahead run is now at the plate. Not a good debut for the former Red Raider. He came in over-amped, then he just looked tired and couldn't locate. We'll go to the pen for our early-season bases loaded SOS commander, Trevor Tietz. 

And, Trevor comes aboard to surrender yet another walk and a run scores. Bases juiced. 11-9 Mudcats. 2 outs.

[damuelle]

Fire-baller RHP Victor Castaneda (131 Ks in 109 innings last year) makes his 2022 debut for AA Biloxi, with yesterday's hero OF Tristen Lutz (2-run game-winning 9th inning homer) batting 7th. They're looking for a sweep of the Blue Wahoos:

[Joseph Zarr]

Whew, baby. Mudcats escape with a lazy ground out - 2nd to SS - for the out at 2nd base. Tietz inherits 3, allows the 1 run on the walk, but induces the 4-6 put out. 11-9 Mudcats who start the season 3-0 with the sweep against the Wood Ducks.

[damuelle]

Ethan Small exits after 3 innings (65 pitches), with the Sounds down 1-0. I'm assuming the short outing was planned, given that he also started 5 days ago.

[Joseph Zarr]

10 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Ethan Small exits after 3 innings (65 pitches), with the Sounds down 1-0. I'm assuming the short outing was planned, given that he also started 5 days ago.

Sounds about right. He did have an abbreviated 4.1 inning outing in the opener yeah? Will be interesting to see what the thinking was there. I'm switching over to that broadcast now. If I hear anything, I'll chime in.

Edit to Add:

Jeff Hem did remind viewers with the Monday Days off across the League, and with 28 game day roster members and 5 on the taxi squad, the rosters are stacked. Sundays might just be mandatory bullpen days to cycle through arms and keep arms fresh. Case and point, Thomas Jankins was electric w 2 k's on 12 pitches and JC Mejia is back on the mound.