Please help me understand why these idiots keep saying our farm is crap....our scouting staff is ELITE finding these diamonds in the rough.
Snake Guy Ryan Gusto vs. Sacramento: 7 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K Zach Dezenzo's first AAA game: 3-4, 2B (that drove in 2), 2-R HR, 4 RBI
Asheville came out on top 5-1 in Greensboro... Anthony Sherwin (5) and Cam Fisher (10) went deep for the Tourists. Nic Swanson allowed the one Greensboro run on a homer, three other hits, walked one, and struck out five over six outstanding innings. Ian Foggo, Kelly Austin, and Layne Henderson each threw a scoreless inning: Foggo walked one and struck out the side in the 7th, while Austin and Henderson struck out two in a 1-2-3 8th and 9th, respectively. Austin is now 3-0 with 2 saves and a 2.02 ERA in 25 relief appearances (8 Fayetteville, 17 Asheville; 35.2 IP total) this season. He's got 45 strikeouts to just 7 walks.
Mercedes struck out 8 of the 12 batters he faced. He's the kind of arm strength lottery ticket that often gets thrown into trades.
Mercedes threw 3 innings and 48 pitches. I hope they have seen something from him to warrant stretching him out as a SP, his stuff is elite and he can hit triple digits.
Fayetteville scored 4 in the 9th to beat Down East 6-3. Will Bush tied it with a solo homer, then Waner Luciano hit a sac fly to give the Woodpeckers the lead and Cesar Yankyel Hernandez completed the comeback with a 2-run single. Bush went 3-3 and also had an RBI double. Jancel Villarroel went 2-5 with a solo shot (2; 4 season). If Mercedes hadn't been god-awful in May (14.14 ERA, 15 BB in 7 innings), he would probably be in Asheville. I don't think he's really a prospect right now, but being probably the hardest thrower in the system gives him a real leash.
Very interesting to promote two of your best prospects right before the deadline. Dana Brown be like “you can have anybody from our AA roster except Matthews.” Yoink!
Melton didn't exactly crush it at Corpus, but I guess the organization saw enough of what they wanted to move him to the final level.
I know you don't want to hold your prospects back, but it's interesting that there is now another OF in SL that will need everyday ABs when Loperfido, Cabbage, or Chas will be back there as soon (if ever) as Tucker returns. And Brown publicly said they are converting Whitcomb to an OF. There simply must be multiple OFs going out at the trade deadline. ( or Tucker isn't back until 2025)
One of the most underrated players in baseball history. 7 batting titles.... finished second twice.... lead the league in WAR three times.... He isn't Stan Musial level under-rated.... but pretty damn close.
He needs to cut down on his strikeouts, but he has overall had a very good year in AA. They have told him to focus on his hitting, they know he can steal bases and play a strong centerfield.
He really has a silver spoon in his mouth ..... for comparison, Cole has an OPS 100 higher in AA than Melton, and Cole is the better fielder (marginally - both are good) and are roughly the same age. They just feel strongly that Melton will end up turning it on at some point.
