Link Report for Sun. 5/25 -- Brad Nelson with a 12th inning Granny

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Lindsay Gulin at Memphis (Cardinals), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime

 

Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link):

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559

 

Brevard County: LHP Zach Braddock at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 12:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

West Virginia: RHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Lakewood (Phillies), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime

 

Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log" or "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_25_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_25_biraax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_25_breafa_dunafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_25_lwdafx_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated several hours prior to gametime.

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 26 24 .520 - 10-12 16-12 L1 Omaha 23 24 .489 1.5 13-13 10-11 W4 Iowa 23 25 .479 2.0 14-10 9-15 L1 Nashville 20 28 .417 5.0 11-12 9-16 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 31 18 .633 - 19-10 12-8 W1 West Tenn 31 18 .633 - 18-6 13-12 W1 Carolina 29 20 .592 2.0 14-10 15-10 W2 Chattanooga 25 24 .510 6.0 14-11 11-13 L1 Tennessee 18 32 .360 13.5 8-17 10-15 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 30 19 .612 - 17-8 13-11 W1 Brevard County 25 24 .510 5.0 16-10 9-14 L3 Daytona 24 25 .490 6.0 10-13 14-12 W1 Vero Beach 23 25 .479 6.5 15-8 8-17 L1 Jupiter 22 26 .458 7.5 13-10 9-16 L4 St. Lucie 10 39 .204 20.0 5-20 5-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 30 19 .612 - 14-12 16-7 L3 Delmarva 27 21 .563 2.5 18-11 9-10 W3 Hagerstown 25 23 .521 4.5 12-12 13-11 L1 Hickory 26 24 .520 4.5 10-14 16-10 L1 Greensboro 25 24 .510 5.0 10-13 15-11 L4 Lakewood 25 24 .510 5.0 15-13 10-11 W4 West Virginia 19 29 .396 10.5 7-14 12-15 L1 Lexington 15 33 .313 14.5 6-16 9-17 W1 

[Mass Haas]

I've been remiss in not mentioning that the Sounds series in Memphis has been available in video on MiLB.TV.

 

At $6.95 for a monthly subscription ($29.95 for the season), that may be a choice for some of you. The Sounds have the only evening game today. Of course, there's less reason to watch now that Mr. 3TO is in Milwaukee now http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

 

[Mass Haas]

As noted in a featured article on this forum this morning, RHP Donovan Hand will debut with the Stars Sunday, piggy-backing Mike Jones' effort.

[And That]

Taylor Green (playing first base) with his 4th home run of the year, and his 3rd in the past 4-5 games, IIRC.

[TheCrew07]

While Big League club puts up a 6 spot, WV (Etheridge) has a disasterous 5th and gives up 6.

 

BC with a nice comeback win, Braddock was OK with the start.

[PrimeTime955]

Is there any chance that with WV playing so poorly that some of our higher draft picks/older draft picks may debut in WV instead of Helena right from the start?

[battlekow]

Where the picks debut will be determined by their level of talent, for the most part, not someone else's; i.e. (completely hypothetically) if the Brewers draft a third baseman at #16 and think he can handle A-ball, Steffan Wilson and Zelous Wheeler aren't going to stand in his way.

[And That]

Gamel has an outside chance at breaking the Brewers' all-time minor league record for hits in a season, currently held by Lavell Freeman of the '87 El Paso club (208). Even sniffing 200 hits in the minor leagues is a rare accomplishment.

[gregmag]

Taylor Green (playing first base) with his 4th home run of the year, and his 3rd in the past 4-5 games, IIRC.

All four of his homers, and three of his 12 doubles, have come in his past eight games.

Greg.

 

[LouisEly]

Typically the Brewers M.O. has been to start the high picks, even if they are college players, at Helena for a couple of weeks to get their confidence up and get them accustomed to playing pro ball. LaPorta and Braun spent a couple of weeks in Helena after they were drafted. LaPorta was moved up to help give the Power an offensive boost in their playoff chase; he wasn't exactly mashing at Helena when they called him up, but he did mash at West Virginia. Weeks played one game in AZ before going to Beloit; not since TGJ has a pick technically debuted in A-ball for the Brewers.

 

Gillespie with an outfield assist throwing a runner out at home. While he doesn't have the strongest arm in the system, I think he might be athletic enough to play CF. It will be interesting to see who is still around in 2010 with Hart, Braun, LaPorta, Gamel, Gwynn, Nelson, Gillespie, Errecart, Brantley, and Gorman Deer (or Robb Thomas, a.k.a. Brendan Katin) all potentially vying for a roster spot in the OF. I'd have to think that no less than three of them will be dealt sometime between now and spring training 2010.

 

Good to see Nelson playing 3B and Heether playing some SS (but not today); they'll never be starters at those positions but it can only help their chances to make the team in '09 (if not be the only way they can make the team in '09) if they can play those positions adequately as a reserve.

[bork]

Taylor Green (playing first base) with his 4th home run of the year, and his 3rd in the past 4-5 games, IIRC.

And didn't Gamel go half a season there before he hit his first homer?

[LouisEly]

Gamel has an outside chance at breaking the Brewers' all-time minor league record for hits in a season, currently held by Lavell Freeman of the '87 El Paso club (208). Even sniffing 200 hits in the minor leagues is a rare accomplishment.

Ah yes, La Vel Freeman, a former first round pick who was given all of three major league at bats before being traded for a pitcher who never played for the major league club and was allowed to leave via free agency the following off-season. You know, because Mike Felder and his .293 OBP and 75 OPS+ was the answer. Ranks right up there with Steve Stanicek, the #11 overall pick in the 1982 draft who was given all of seven at bats in 1987 to prove himself. You know, because Greg Brock, Jeffrey Leonard, Terry Francona, and Gus Polidor were the answers. It's those mediocre past-their-prime veterans who always get you over the top.

 

So how many hits did Todd Brown accumulate in 1985 or 1986 when he hit over .400 for Stockton?

[battlekow]

Todd Brown's career stats.

 

He hit .447 in 208 ABs at Helena in 1985, but never over .400 at Stockton. The most hits he had in a season was 138 for El Paso in 1987, when he hit .330/.401/.488 overall.

[Minigoon]

Now that Brewerfan.net got 3TO promoted, time to work on getting Brad Nelson up to the show. A 12th inning game winning grand slam tonight. Turns out they needed all 4 runs as the usually reliable Erasmo Ramirez gave up a 3 run dong in the bottom half, but worked out of it to finish out the Redbirds. Nelson now hitting .327 with 8 homers and 31 rbis.

[dadofandrew]

Nelson getting an AB every other day won't make much of a difference, I don't see a spot for him, barring injury or going with 11 pitchers.

[And That]

Nelson getting an AB every other day won't make much of a difference, I don't see a spot for him, barring injury or going with 11 pitchers.

Wow. Dude hit a grand slam. Way to bring it back to earth, Al.

[battlekow]

Branyan will most likely move on next year, and I don't see why Nelson can't fulfill his role or a similar one in 2009.

[LouisEly]

Todd Brown's career stats.

 

He hit .447 in 208 ABs at Helena in 1985, but never over .400 at Stockton. The most hits he had in a season was 138 for El Paso in 1987, when he hit .330/.401/.488 overall.

Thanks for the link. Don't know why I though he did that at a higher level; I guess memory fades after 20+ years or so. He must have gotten hurt in 1988, thus why he played only 68 games that year and didn't play at all in 1989. At least I hope it was an injury that derailed his career, because the dude could hit. I know El Paso is a hitter's park, but you have to have some skill to hit .330 over the course of a full season anywhere in AA ball (and .319 and .393 in partial seasons in 1986 and 1988), and he had a good BB:K ratio also. Man, they did not put much into player development back then.

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakewood (Phillies) 13, West Virginia 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

BLUECLAWS BURY POWER

 

The Lakewood BlueClaws scored 13 runs on 17 hits on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park and received seven scoreless innings from their starting pitcher Chance Chapman in a 13-2 victory over the West Virginia Power.

 

Karl Bolt began the second inning with a solo home run to put Lakewood on the board. The BlueClaws did most of their damage in the fifth inning where they scored six runs on five hits. Michael Taylor, Bolt and Dennis Winn singled consecutively to bring in one run apiece before Travis Mattair doubled in two and Freddy Galvis's sacrifice fly scored Winn to finish the inning.

 

Lakewood added four more in the eighth inning on Tim Kennelly's run-scoring single and a three-run homer from Derrick Mitchell. The Power avoided the shutout by scoring twice in the bottom of the inning on Jonathan Lucroy's RBI single and Steffan Wilson's run-scoring double. Kennelly doubled in a run during the top of the ninth and T.J. Warren's sacrifice fly scored Galvis.

 

Chapman (2-4) tossed seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball and he struck out eight batters to get the victory. He allowed just two runners to reach second base. Dan Merklinger (0-4) surrendered a pair of runs on five hits and struck out four over four and a third but was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power fell to 19-30 with the loss and the BlueClaws improved to 26-24 with the win. The BlueClaws have now won five in a row. Steffan Wilson had West Virginia's only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. West Virginia has now lost five games in a row at Appalachian Power Park and have not won at home since May 10th.

 

The Power will continue their four-game series against Lakewood Monday afternoon. Right hander Evan Anundsen (3-3, 4.08) will get the start for the Power and the BlueClaws will counter with right hander Drew Naylor (4-2, 2.55). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM (12:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

It was not a pleasant birthday for 20-year-old RHP Jose Garcia, who has been pretty much overmatched all season; not a stellar day for anyone, so it's not fair to single out Jose, although I just did -- this squad need some soul-searching...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia's Lee Haydel in the camoflage uniform

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

BlueClaws manager enjoys homecoming

Lakewood pounds Power 13-2

By Michael Polak, Charleston Gazette

The West Virginia Power was no match for Elkview, W.V. native Steve Roadcap's Lakewood BlueClaws Sunday as the Power fell 13-2.

 

"It's great to come home," Roadcap said. "This is a great environment."

 

The BlueClaws (26-24) put the game out of reach in the fifth inning, scoring six runs to take a 7-0 lead. The Power (19-31) pulled starting pitcher Daniel Merklinger for Wes Etheridge after he walked the leadoff man. Yet, Etheridge struggled.

 

Derrick Mitchell started the fifth-inning hit parade with a single. Michael Taylor, Karl Bolt and Dennis Winn each hit RBI singles and Travis Mattair hit an RBI double.

 

"It's baseball," Power manager Jeff Isom said of the fifth-inning rally. "When they put a crooked number like that on the board, it's hard to bounce back. They had a tough pitcher."

 

"We were hitting the ball well," Roadcap said of the rally. "We're a young team and have been up and down this year, but hitting is contagious."

 

The BlueClaws put up 17 hits in the game. Leftfielder Taylor went 3-for-4 with an RBI. First baseman Bolt went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Third baseman Mattair went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Designated hitter Mitchell went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.

Rightfielder T.J. Warren went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Every BlueClaw starter got at least one hit.

 

Merklinger (0-4) had a solid game, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out four.

 

"He does better each time," Isom said of Merklinger's performance. "He needs to work on consistently finding the strike zone, but I was pleased with his performance."

 

Lakewood took the early lead on a Bolt second-inning leadoff home run.

 

The Power was held in check by Chance Chapman (2-4), who went seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight.

 

"Chapman threw the ball well today," Roadcap said. "He gave us seven strong innings, which we really needed."

 

The Power finally got on the board in the eighth inning. David Fonseca scored on Jonathan Lucroy's single. Steffan Wilson hit an double to drive in Lucroy, making the score 11-2 Lakewood.

[Mass Haas]

FYI -- don't be surprised if you read about a certain 2nd round shortstop for the Power moving up to Brevard County early this week.