Autumn Dreamin

I would have re-signed Gio just for netting us Quero and then pickpocketing the Guardians, so him pitching himself back into our price range is just icing on the cake, really.

Despite a great play to get the first out in the 6th... A HBP ends the (combined) perfect game bid after 6.1IP. The subsequent HR ends the no hitter and shutout. Still, Knights up 8-2 after 7.

Matthews follows up with his first AAA homer in his next AB, Knights now up 7-0. Nastrini's first AAA W would be a nice bow on his season.

Jason Matthews got his first AAA hit on an IF single. He and Popeye (single) scored on a Neslony HR. Knights up 3-0 through 6, behind 5 perfect innings from Nasty Nick Nastrini (5IP, 0ER/H/BB, 3K) and a perfect 2K sixth from Solesky...

?

I figured Leasure might be headed there after he quietly disappeared from Charlotte, similar to how Eder did for Bham and then it came out that he was in AZ prepping. And although I thought it might have been interesting to see Colson potentially get some reps at 3B, BOS SS Marcelo Mayer being injured (he was basically a lock to go) frees up that logjam and makes more room for Ramos.

Game suspended before Nastrini threw a pitch. Hopefully that means he's good to go for the makeup.

Another good day for the bats gets Mena his first AAA win, 13-3. Colas didn't play. Popeye was hitless but hustled to reach on a strikeout WP, stole 2B, and later scored. Cespedes was 2-5 with 2RBI and a 2B. Hackenberg went 1-3 with a 2B and 2BB, and scored every time he was on. Since Grifol said publicly that guys should show up to camp with the expectation that they have a shot to make the team...the Knights are undefeated and have outscored their opponents 30-8. Barons also won their last two after his comments.

From: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/02/12/brian-bannister-and-art-making-pitchers-better/MjT29OjB0q9TnYZyLggpDJ/story.html

Mena done after 5IP, 3ER, 8H, 0BB, 4K. Settled in after some early contact and retired his last 7 batters in order including striking out the side in the 4th.

Can Cristian Mena and Nick Nastrini Miss Bats in the Big Leagues? | Fangraphs Fangraphs with a little piece on Mena and Nastrini. Both are MiLB standouts in swinging strike % (rank 3 and 4 respectively), but will likely take different paths in translating that to Ks against higher level competition despite their similar arsenals and seasons. They suggest Mena needs more velo/shape separation between his pitches to keep getting chase swings while upping whiffs in the zone vs. higher level hitters. Nastrini has more refined stuff, but needs to tighten up the command so that everything plays off of each other better. I mostly agree that Nastrini has the higher ceiling, but I also think Mena seems to take a step forward every time people doubt his potential...

Popeye hit his first AAA HR in his first AB today, and his second 3 innings later. The latter scored Cespedes, who was on base after his 4th double in 6 games. Knights up 6-1. Honeywell has been pretty solid and started the 5th, but his velo was dipping. Got the hook after a 1 out double. Finished with 4.1IP, 2H, 1ER, 3BB, 4K. The hits were a solo shot and a 2B, but nothing else was hit hard. All the walks were in the first.

Hey look at that, a sweep! Charlotte pitching held a shutout into the 8th and ultimately won 9-3. Solesky gets the W: 6IP, 6H, 1BB, 5K. Popeye 0-5 but had an RBI FC. Colas 1-3 with a BB. Hack 2-4 with 2RBI. Cespedes 1-4 with a 2B. Mondou hit a slam after coming in for Fernandez, who left with a shoulder injury. Barons won 8-6. Thompson looked better than his line shows, but got burned by 3 scattered HRs: 5IP, 5H, 4ER, 3BB, 9K. Colson is bored of walks and HBP, so he went 3-5 with a pair of 2B. Ramos 2-3 with 2BB and a 2 run HR. Veras 1-4 with a 2B, Quero 1-5, Elko 1-3 with 2K.

Short rest, he pitched in the DH on the 12th.

Knights have decided to play out of their minds today, currently leading 9-0. Very solid defense, more walks than K's, lots of XBH, and 6 strong from Solesky. Second time Solesky has gone 6IP scoreless this month, although the start in between was a 5IP/8ER/7BB mess. Barons also off to a good start, up 4-0 early, Colson 2B, Ramos HR in the first. Maybe everyone heard roster sports were up for grabs in ST...

Barons defense absolutely railing Cannon today. He's out after 3IP, 1ER... 7 unearned runs and dozens of extra pitches thanks to a circus behind him. FIVE starters have errors in the game, and there's probably another handful that could have been called. Make that SIX starters with errors, these guys are all drunk or something.

Leasure in his last 10 has a 1.80 ERA (2ER, both Charlotte solo shots) and a 16.2K/9 (18Ks in 10IP). However, he hasn't pitched since September 5. He's not on the IL, so I wonder what's up.

Bush out after 5IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 5K. Wild in the first and gave up a run on a walk>steal>WP>WP, but mostly settled down afterwards. The other two runs were a solo HR and a single>sac bunt>single. He made a pretty nice play fielding the bunt. No walks or WP after the first. Barons lead 4-3 after a game tying double from Veras and a go ahead single from Elko for his 100th RBI of the season. Elko got RBIs 98 and 99 on a 2R shot earlier in the game.

Troy Claunch to CLT from WS. Maybe just as a relatively age-appropriate fill in for Perez?

Oof.

Wowza. The White Sox bats have let down their arms plenty this season, but maybe never quite as bad as what the Brewers just did. Burns threw 8 no hit innings. Devin Williams threw a no hit 9th. Abner Uribe threw a no hit 10th. They don't scratch a run across until the 11th, which is also when they gave up their first hit to force a 12th. End up getting walked off in 13 after 10.1 no hit innings...15K, 3H for their pitching staff.