Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/29): Taking Note of a Broadcasting Workhorse

[Mass Haas]

Good morning to all - we'll be visiting a suspended game for the Sounds, an unsuspended game for the Mudcats, a shutout reversal for the Shuckers, and a wild one for the Timber Rattlers and their play-by-play stalwart Chris Mehring. Do check out the noteworthy Twitter thread. 

 

Now while it seems like Chris has been with the Link Report (born in 2001) since the beginning, remember that the Timber Rattlers were a Mariners affiliate through 2008. But we gladly accept Chris as "an original" with us, and to say he's been anything less than a Friend of Brewerfan through the years would be an understatement. Congrats Chris, Here's to the next 20 years with several championship seasons mixed in, both on the big league and prospect stage!

Transactions: 

• Outfield shuffling in Nashville, as per the Sounds Media Notes - Abraham Almonte and Garrett Whitley were each placed on the 7-day injured list, both retroactive to 4/25. Just in time to help patrol the grass, Jonathan Davis played in his first game since 4/9. We are not aware of the status/reason behind the placements.
• OF Tristen Lutz has been activated from the 7-day IL at Biloxi. In his latest minor league notes extravaganza, Will Sammon of The Athletic indicates that Lutz has been out since fouling a ball off his cheekbone during a batting practice session in the cage. Sammon's full piece is here, and while I won't pretend that subscription fees (even discounted) are everyone's cup of tea, rest assured that if you do invest, you won't be disappointed in Will's Brewers organizational coverage top to bottom.
• Fireballing RHP Abner Uribe (season-ending knee surgery) was formally placed on the Shuckers' 60-day IL.
• 19-year-old catcher Jesus Garcia hopped on a plane from Maryvale to join the AAA Sounds. Garcia, with all of 44 pro at-bats under his belt from 2021, is clearly a temporary visitor. What this tells us is that Mario Feliciano is currently unavailable, as Nashville's other catcher, Brian Navarreto, started on Friday. Normally if there is going to be a brief need, the organization prefers not to mess with existing tandem catching situations in the other full-season locales. So, we've seen similar placements in past years, good for Jesus, though.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes

Suspended after six innings: Nashville 3, St. Paul (Twins) 3
Gameday Thus Far

Via the Sounds' site, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Sounds, Saints Suspended After Six Innings - Turang and Singleton each homer in second straight game

Despite the relatively short night, several worthwhile nuggets in that just-linked report.

In miserable conditions, the shot shown here was a serious poke. We are watching some wonderful Brice Turang evolution taking place, folks. Tickle Brewers brass pink for sure. 

If I'm not mistaken, if Luke Barker had held a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th, the game would have been called and not suspended, with the Sounds victorious. But it was an uncharacteristic sequence for Barker, and neither the Saints' announcer nor I am sure where this Jonathan Davis throw was headed on the game-tying knock. 

***

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes via the Shuckers' Virtual Press Box

Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 4, Biloxi 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please review:

Wahoos Flip Script, Blank Shuckers 4-0 - Nick Bennett Turns In Quality Outing For Biloxi

We had spotlighted then-still-18-year-old Miami RHP phenom Eury Perez when Biloxi opened the season on the road. But Biloxi got to Perez as he tired on that first night, and the young man's subsequent two starts left him with an ERA of 7.50 entering play Friday night. But five innings of one-hit ball with 12 K's (no walks, two HBP's) reminds us all that the Marlins' pitching development success is set to continue.

Via the Biloxi broadcast booth, Garrett and Thomas got to practice their "swing and a miss" calls here -- 

Let's wrap up with this web gem via Freddy Zamora's first-ever professional game at second base -

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes via their all-encompassing Virtual Press Box

Final: Peoria (Cardinals) 13, Wisconsin 10
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please review:

Chiefs Outrun Rattlers for Comeback Win - Wisconsin led 9-5 with two outs in bottom of the seventh, but drops 13-10 decision at Peoria

Whew, there was a lot to digest there, but Chris Mehring didn't let 42 combined baserunners (and their ten stolen bases) interfere with getting his work in for us on his noted Cal Ripken-esque night of duties.

Nineteen games into the T-Rats season, and three players - Ethan Murray, Tristan Peters, and Carlos Rodriguez - each with their first big fly of the season, so that was uniquely fun.

How often will there be two players on the losing side of the ledger reach base all five times up? Catcher Darrien Miller and Rodriguez with the perfect evenings at the plate.

Miller is such an impressive offensive presence, and just turned 21 last month. But especially with the new baserunning enhancement measures at MiLB's lower levels, Miller has posted ugly caught stealing defensive numbers and I'll be honest, it's hard unless we're watching night in and night out just what to make of it all. But on the surface, having 167 stolen bases against (vs. 30 thrown out) in 77 games is not ideal. By the way, catchers should never be charged with two stolen bases allowed when a double steal takes place.

Joe Gray Jr. was 1-for-5 with a double. Doubles are good, but Gray K'd in his four other at-bats as the designated hitter. He's working on things, as he sent this our way pre-game:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes

Final, Completion of Thursday's Suspended Game: Carolina 6, Down East (Rangers) 5
Box Score / Game Log

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: Carolina 6, Down East 5, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please review:

Mudcats Sweep Doubleheader in Kinston - Carolina came back from a late deficit in game 1 and an early hole in game 2 while sweeping the twin-bill

Wow, mark that as the rare 6-5 double play on your virtual scorecard!

Bonus points for the use of "de facto" in the summary.

Yeah, the Muddies were gifted Game One, but they (and we) will take it.

And to immediately make a point in Game Two, how many 6-5 games ever were recorded where each team scored all their runs in a single frame? This one was bottom of the 1st deficit, top of the 2nd comeback.

Can't really tell from the game log what prompted Hitting Coach Ken Joyce's ejection in the nightcap.

A sweep despite K'ing a combined 21 times and drawing only three walks (Carolina batters were plunked four times in the twinbill). Love digging into Low-A box scores - just wait until the complex leagues begin!

Nice Game Two outcome when one considers Hendry Mendez, Hedbert Perez and Jeferson Quero all on the bench.

Just a reminder that every day we kick off a preview and live commentary thread on our Minor League Forum. Here was Friday's, and my fellow Link Reporter damuelle was particularly active with tidbits and updates on this date. The volume there will vary day-to-day, but it's a way to check in prior to the formal Link Report posting, which we continue to strive for in the "by 7:00 AM Central" ballpark.

Looking for Saturday daytime baseball? The in-effect Nashville doubleheader (some might say "de facto") begins at 12:30 Central.

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

Links for affiliate audio

Standings and sortable stat pages

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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[damuelle]

When you give up 5 runs before recording your second out, then keep the other team scoreless for the next 5 2/3 innings, that’s some nice resilience. Way to go Israel Puello. He truly earned the Win this day.

Too bad Wisconsin (lost) and Nashville (tie game, continuing today) couldn’t hold those leads.

1 hit, 1 walk and 18 strikeouts for Biloxi’s hitters?! That’s rough. Hopefully Valerio and Reetz are back in the lineup tonight. 

[damuelle]

When you give up 5 runs before recording your second out, then keep the other team scoreless for the next 5 2/3 innings, that’s some nice resilience. Way to go Israel Puello. He truly earned the Win this day.

Too bad Wisconsin (lost) and Nashville (tie game, continuing today) couldn’t hold those leads.

1 hit, 1 walk and 18 strikeouts for Biloxi’s hitters?! That’s rough. Hopefully Valerio and Reetz are back in the lineup tonight. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Man I was wondering about Abner. That really really stinks as it sure seemed he was primed to take that next step up. Now we are left to watch Lucas Erceg try to figure out how to work multiple batters?

[Joseph Zarr]

Man I was wondering about Abner. That really really stinks as it sure seemed he was primed to take that next step up. Now we are left to watch Lucas Erceg try to figure out how to work multiple batters?

[Joseph Zarr]

Also, that Johnny Davis throw?

?

I don’t imagine that endeared him any further to Rick Sweet.

[Joseph Zarr]

Also, that Johnny Davis throw?

?

I don’t imagine that endeared him any further to Rick Sweet.

[Joseph Zarr]

Quote

A sweep despite K'ing a combined 21 times and drawing only three walks (Carolina batters were plunked four times in the twinbill). Love digging into Low-A box scores - just wait until the complex leagues begin!

One of the fascinating qualities to watching Low A games is a pitcher could look other-worldly k’ng the side in one inning and then walk in 3 runs and leave the game in the next. It’s incredible to watch the distinctly different baseball from low to high levels ball.

[Joseph Zarr]

Quote

A sweep despite K'ing a combined 21 times and drawing only three walks (Carolina batters were plunked four times in the twinbill). Love digging into Low-A box scores - just wait until the complex leagues begin!

One of the fascinating qualities to watching Low A games is a pitcher could look other-worldly k’ng the side in one inning and then walk in 3 runs and leave the game in the next. It’s incredible to watch the distinctly different baseball from low to high levels ball.