Fri. 4/22 - Can Shuckers Snap Losing Skid?

[Mass Haas]

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

 

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[Joseph Zarr]

If the Shuckers do snap the skid, it's going to have to come from the 5-9 spots in the batting order. They have been a ghost town for the most part as of late. I'm looking at Dillard, Devanney, McGee, (insert a non-injured Lutz), and Zamora mainly.

Zamora is definitely qualifying as one of my most disappointing prospects in the early season. I came in expecting more and he has definitely under-delivered.

[damuelle]

DH Hendry Mendez returns from injury and C Jeferson Quero (7-game hitting streak) re-joins the starting lineup as the Mudcats search for yesterday's missing offense against Lynchburg. RHP Edwin Jimenez aims for a 2nd straight solid outing (3 innings, 1 hit, zero runs, 4 Ks last time out):

[damuelle]

LHP Ethan Small brings his microscopic 0.68 ERA (13 1/3 innings) into his 4th start, as AAA Nashville aims to bounce back from yesterday's defeat to Charlotte. LF Abraham Almonte sees his first action since April 17:

[Joseph Zarr]

I was literally just going to post that. LOL. I was wondering: Maybe I should post this for @damuelle. It's getting close. And, voila, there it is. Magic! (Speaking specifically of the Carolina lineup. I had a fist pump seeing Mendez in the DH spot!)

[Joseph Zarr]

It would appear the Timber Rattlers game 3 versus the River Bandits is postponed due to rain. Well, shucks.

[damuelle]

Pre-Game Notes:

• Carolina
• Biloxi
• Nashville

Note: Wisconsin is rained out, with a doubleheader starting at 1:10pm central time on Saturday.

[Joseph Zarr]

Jimenez looking sharp in inning One. Really nice changeup. 3 up and 3 down with a sexy strikeout to end the top half.

[Joseph Zarr]

For a 20 yo, I really like what I'm seeing from Edwin Jimenez. He is mixing in a Breaking Ball, Change-up, and Curve with a fastball early. He is an interesting prospect and, I would argue, with the 'stuff' I'm seeing this is worth a look in the Top 30. 

Oswald Leones with a loud opposite field single rifled through 3rd base and Short. It's 2-0 Mudcats - the bases were juiced. Trenton Denholm was cruising for the Hillcats with 4 straight K's to start the contest but ran into trouble here in that crucial bottom of the order (coughs. I'm looking at you Biloxi). Naturally, the homeplate umpire missed a called strike 3 on a beautiful knee high breaking pitch that had completely fooled Arbert Cipion and he allowed him the free pass to load the bases.

[damuelle]

AA Biloxi needs a win today to avoid a 4-game skid, with solid RHP Victor Castaneda (2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) making the start at Birmingham. Felix Valerio makes his first appearance at third base this year, coming into the contest with a 12-game on-base streak:

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's my comparison, early, for Edwin Jimenez (I realize these are always a wee silly): Mike Fiers

Doesn't have massive velo on his heater. But, boy, he has the size and the mound presence and the mix of really nice off-speed stuff. Lots to like here.

[damuelle]

Another guy we should be wondering about is RHP Abner Uribe at AA Biloxi, who last played on April 12th...

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Another guy we should be wondering about is RHP Abner Uribe at AA Biloxi, who last played on April 12th...

Good mention but they haven't been leading any games. All their most recent bullpen work of the past 10 days (beyond his appearance and the 'shortly thereafter') have been while trailing. Abner is most definitely a guy you put in 7-9th when you are leading. I would imagine we'd see him tonight after they worked in Erceg last night? Regardless, nice pull!

[Joseph Zarr]

Edwin leaves the 4th after one run and a few absolutely seeing-eye and flare hits. He's cruising otherwise. 2-1 Mudcats into the Fifth. Now, I shall migrate to Biloxi and see if we can get some hits and maybe even (gasps) a Luis Urias sighting at some point. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Thomas Dillard has essentially almost only come to the plate in this series, I would gather (without digging into it but from watching the games), with RISP. He is developing an uncanny ability to watch a called third strike. ? He is now 2-11 on the series after taking a called third strike with Wiemer on first and Mitchell on second. 2 down and Felix Valerio comes to the plate.

[Joseph Zarr]

Valerio delivers, baby. First hit of the series (oddly, as he's had many a good AB). Knocks a single and scores Mitchell. Biloxi 1-0. I wouldn't get excited just yet - a familiar scene this entire series is Biloxi gets out early and Birmingham comes on late. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Jimenez makes it through 5 complete with a mere 5 hits (see above: several absolute seeing-eye dribblers or flares) and 5 k's. NO walks. A great outing from the 20 yo Venezuelan. Lots to like here. Be excited. Israel Puello is back on the mound. I'm excite!

[Joseph Zarr]

Puello comes in and struggles. Two first pitch singles, one walk, and a bases clearing double to Left Center. 4 runs on 3 hits. 0 outs. A no decision for Edwin Jimenez. This is not the same Puello we saw in his first appearance. 3-4 Hillcats lead the Mudcats. I should add: after surrendering the first pitch singles Israel fell behind in every count afterward. Several decent off-speed/off-the-plate pitches but all-in-all just an off night.

[damuelle]

DH/C Alex Jackson just hit an inside-the-park grand slam on a 2-out, 0-2 pitch, blowing open the game in the 3rd inning. 5-0 Sounds. Ex-Brewer Wes Helms, now managing the opposing Charlotte Knights, was then ejected from the contest. Go Nashville!

[Joseph Zarr]

8 minutes ago, damuelle said:

DH/C Alex Jackson just hit an inside-the-park grand slam on a 2-out, 0-2 pitch, blowing open the game in the 3rd inning. 5-0 Sounds. Ex-Brewer Wes Helms, now managing the opposing Charlotte Knights, was then ejected from the contest. Go Nashville!

That had to have been a sight. Jackson inside the parker?!? Oh, you bet I'm going back to watch that. LOL. Biloxi strands 2 more runners after Mitchell pops up to 3rd (a very common theme in this series) and it is still 2-0 headed to the Bottom of the 2nd. 

[damuelle]

24 minutes ago, Julio Muchacho said:

That had to have been a sight. Jackson inside the parker?!? Oh, you bet I'm going back to watch that. LOL. Biloxi strands 2 more runners after Mitchell pops up to 3rd (a very common theme in this series) and it is still 2-0 headed to the Bottom of the 2nd. 

Madness ?: 

 

[nate82]

15 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Madness ?: 

 

We have a Wes Helms sighting!!!! Of course something weird happens with Wes Helms. LOL!

[damuelle]

Felix Valerio continues to do his part. RBI single in the first inning. RBI triple in the 5th inning. Shuckers lead 3-0.

[damuelle]

That's Mario Feliciano's 2nd passed ball tonight and 4th of the year. I don't have the video feed, but the GameDay App suggests he's also not getting those full-count borderline strikes called (5 walks for LHP Ethan Small tonight). Feliciano's still young, but I imagine he's got a ways to go defensively. Hopefully he improves leaps and bounds over the course of this season.

[damuelle]

SS Brice Turang collects his 5th hit of the night. That's 5-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. He's the youngest player on AAA Nashville (by one year vs. Mario Feliciano, 2.5 years vs. anybody else), but it's not deterring his march to the majors.