Link Report for Mon. 7/7 -- The Post-Zach Jackson Era Begins

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu: Back to a four-course menu for a day, we ate too much 4th of July weekend...

All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at Omaha (Royals), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 PM gametime

 

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

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t556

Huntsville: RHP Donovan Hand at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Brevard County: LHP Zach Braddock at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 gametime; apparently the "finisher" system isn't an every-day occurance at this time...

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

West Virginia: RHP R.J. Seidel at Savannah (Mets), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525

 

Helena: Idle

Arizona: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday'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_07_07_nasaaa_omaaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_07_biraax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_07_lakafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_07_wvaafx_savafx_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):

 

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 55 37 .598 - 33-16 22-21 W1 Memphis 49 41 .544 5.0 23-20 26-21 W1 Omaha 42 46 .477 11.0 18-23 24-23 L1 Nashville 35 55 .389 19.0 18-24 17-31 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 12 7 .632 - 6-4 6-3 W1 Carolina 10 9 .526 2.0 5-4 5-5 L1 Chattanooga 10 9 .526 2.0 5-5 5-4 W3 Huntsville 9 10 .474 3.0 4-5 5-5 L2 West Tenn 6 13 .316 6.0 1-8 5-5 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 10 7 .588 - 8-3 2-4 W2 Daytona 9 7 .563 0.5 4-1 5-6 W2 Palm Beach 8 7 .533 1.0 7-5 1-2 W2 Vero Beach 8 8 .500 1.5 2-3 6-5 L2 Jupiter 6 8 .429 2.5 1-2 5-6 L2 Brevard County 6 10 .375 3.5 2-6 4-4 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 12 5 .706 - 8-2 4-3 W2 Lakewood 10 7 .588 2.0 4-2 6-5 W1 Hagerstown 9 8 .529 3.0 3-4 6-4 L2 Delmarva 8 9 .471 4.0 1-5 7-4 W2 Lake County 8 9 .471 4.0 2-5 6-4 W1 Greensboro 6 11 .353 6.0 2-8 4-3 L2 Hickory 6 11 .353 6.0 3-6 3-5 L1 Lexington 4 13 .235 8.0 2-9 2-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 13 7 .650 - 5-1 8-6 W1 Great Falls 13 7 .650 - 8-4 5-3 W3 Helena 10 10 .500 3.0 5-6 5-4 L1 Missoula 4 16 .200 9.0 1-10 3-6 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 8 4 .667 - 3-3 5-1 W1 AZL Giants 8 4 .667 - 5-1 3-3 W3 AZL Rangers 7 5 .583 1.0 3-3 4-2 L2 AZL Royals 7 5 .583 1.0 6-0 1-5 L1 AZL Cubs 6 6 .500 2.0 6-1 0-5 W2 AZL Padres 6 6 .500 2.0 5-1 1-5 L1 AZL Athletics 5 7 .417 3.0 3-3 2-4 W1 AZL Mariners 5 7 .417 3.0 3-2 2-5 L1 AZL Brewers 2 10 .167 6.0 2-4 0-6 L1 

[battlekow]

Haha, I love the title. BTW, you're missing the time for Brevard's game; it's at 6 CT.

 

EDIT: Time added, thanks.

[uwisfan]

If anybody tell you that I missed prospects, if Melvin say I missed prospects and y'all hear it, then that's that. I mean, I might have missed one prospect this year but if somebody says he doesn't like this prospect, it can be one prospect out of all the prospects this year, that's enough. I told Yost that you don't have to give the people of Milwaukee a reason to think about trading me or anything like that. If you trade somebody, you trade them to make the team better...simple as that. I'm cool with that. I'm all about that. The people in Milwaukee deserve to have a winner. It's simple as that. It goes further than that ... If I can't have a prospect, I can't have a prospect, man if I'm hurt, I'm hurt. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that. It's not about that at all. But it's easier to talk about it. It's easier to sum it up when you're just talking about prospects. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're in here talking about prospects. I mean listen, we're talking about prospects. Not a star, not a star, not a star, we're talking about prospects. Not a star, not the star that goes out there and die for and plays every game like it's the last, not the star, we're talking about prospects man. I mean, how silly is that? We're talking about prospects. I know that I'm supposed to be there, I know I'm supposed to lead by example. I know that. And I'm not shoving that aside, you know, like it don't mean anything. I know it's important. I do. I honestly do, but we're talking about prospects, man. What are we talking about? Prospects? We're talking about pospects man. We're talking about prospects. We're talking about prospects. We ain't talking about the star. We're talking about prospects, man. When you come to the ballpark, and you see me play, you see me play don't you? You see me give everything I've got, right? but we're talking about prospects right now. ... Man, look, I hear you, it's funny to me too, I mean, it's strange to me too but we're talking about prospects man. We're not even talking about the star, the actual star, when it matters. We're talking about prospects. How the hell can I make my teammates better by prospects?

[TheCrew07]

Ha! The thread title made me laugh out loud... the poor guy... ha-ha.

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

A Hardball Mysteries Mailbag via the Nashville Site, Neil Diamond included...

[Mass Haas]

Lorenzo Cain starting in right field tonight for Huntsville, batting 9th.

 

Check out thar Brevard lineup and batting averages. Lucroy and Green sure stand out -- so productive in that league.

 

Didn't everybody think we'd be following the "Bryson and Tyson" show for a lot longer? First Nick gets sent back to Helena, breaking up the tandem, and then the trade.

 

What an awkward situation with Green and Brantley, and hopefully the Indians decide sooner rather than later, although they'll wait a while before they even see Brantley closely. Most folks are big fans of both kids, and you'd hate to almost root for your favorite to underperform for a bit, so the Indians go with the other.

 

That being said, "Welcome CC!"

[Tbadder]

The Post Zach Jackson Era Begins has got to be the funniest headline I've seen here. LOL indeed.

[twobrewers]

Didn't everybody think we'd be following the "Bryson and Tyson" show for a lot longer? First Nick gets sent back to Helena, breaking up the tandem, and then the trade.

I know I did. But I might have over valued them simply because their names sounded so good together.

 

Bryson was certainly the "nugget" Cleveland was hoping to mine.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Braddock is having a nice outing tonite...I'm glad he wasn't a part of this. Does anyone thing there is a shred of possibility that Salome is the PTBNL and the ankle and drug testing issues are keeping this undone at this point? Lord I hope not!

 

Bryson reports to Lake County Captains tomorrow and could be facing the Power two weeks from friday...I'm hoping he moves up before then personally!

[TheCrew07]

It's Brantley or Green, Agent39 confirmed the press reports.

[wvpowerblkwel]

I'm just still not convinced. Something still seems off....indians officials seem really excited about the PTBNL and I just don't put another surprise outside the realm of Brewer possibility....seems like every one is so giddy about losing LaPorta, er getting CC that I can't figure why they (the indians) wouldn't confirm who is on the list. Of course if they have and I missed it, this post was just a waste of everyone's time!

 

Anyone know Braddocks pitch count tonite...this is a little over the number of innings he went last year, and just curious where he's at.

[TheCrew07]

no i'm still at work unfortunately, no broadcasts tonight and following the MLB game on gameday

[battlekow]

Apparently Hitaniel Arias tweaked his knee; that's why he's been MIA the last week. Supposedly not a big deal.

[BrewCrewWS2008]

a good pitchin night tonight, seidel got goin with a real nice start, and Braddock pitched very well, im really starting to like hand more and more! by any chance does anyone know when odorizzi is set to start? im really excited to see maverick lasker and him start their careers.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 5, Savannah (Mets) 2

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

SEIDEL SIZZLES IN SAVANNAH

 

R.J. Seidel allowed just a pair of unearned runs on five hits through seven innings of work against Savannah on Monday night as the Power began their eight-game road trip with a 5-2 victory over the Sand Gnats.

 

The Power spotted Seidel an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Lee Haydel kicked it off with a double and scored on Eric Fryer's base hit. Fryer and Eric Farris were on base when Steffan Wilson singled into center field to score Farris. Savannah Sand center fielder Richard Pena bobbled the ball in center field and allowed Fryer to score on the play as well.

 

West Virginia added another run in the fourth inning when Haydel's single scored Anderson De La Rosa. The Sand Gnats got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on Juan Lagares's sacrifice fly that scored Greg Veloz. The Power answered in the sixth inning on Farris's two-out RBI single. Savannah scored the final run of the game in the seventh inning when Lagares scored on Sean McCraw's sacrifice fly.

 

Seidel (6-4) turned in his longest outing of the season to get the victory, giving him a victory in each of his last four starts. Reed Dickert (1) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to get the save. Josh Stinson (2-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits over four and two-thirds.

 

The Power improved to 45-42 on the year and 13-5 in the second half with the win. The Sand Gnats fell to 40-48 on the year and 7-11 in the second half with the loss. Farris extended his hitting streak to ten games while Fryer extended his to eight. Haydel, Farris and Wilson paced the Power with two hits apiece. Wilson has now hit safely in 12 straight road games.

 

The Power will continue the four-game series against Savannah Tuesday night. Left hander Dan Merklinger (3-5, 6.70) will make the start for the Power. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

Wonderful to see steady progress from LaCrosse's R.J. Seidel; Power turns three double plays...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 9, Lakeland (Tigers) 5

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

Manatees Offense Explodes in 9-5 Win

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) The Brevard County offense erupted for 15 hits Monday night, bashing the Lakeland Flying Tigers in their series opener, 9-5. Chuck Caufield led the charge with a 4-4 performance at the plate, scoring three runs, including his third home run of the season in the seventh inning. Yohannis Perez chipped in with three hits, including a triple, while driving in three runs. Darren Ford, Brent Brewer, and Stephen Chapman each had two hits to boost the Manatees offensive attack.

Lakeland was held to just six hits in the game, but was able to stay close due to a couple big hits. Ryan Strieby crushed a Zach Braddock pitch over the wall for a two-run homer in the sixth inning, cutting the Manatees' lead to 4-2. After the Manatees responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, Jeramy Laster ripped a double off the centerfield fence, scoring two more runs. He later came around to score on James Skelton's single, making the score 7-5.

Braddock (4-5) earned the win for the Manatees, going six strong innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out eight. He now has 60 strikeouts on the season in just 50.2 innings. Matt O'Brien (5-5) was rocked for 7 runs and 11 hits, taking the loss for Lakeland. Casey Baron and Mike McClendon each pitched a perfect inning in relief to close out the game. Brevard County is now 2-2 on the homestand. The second game of the four-game set is Tuesday at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score

Of course, after I point out the relative weakness in the numbers of the Manatee lineup, five of those players have a multi-hit game and combine for five extra-base hits -- that's it guys, take it out on me; Stephen Chapman was replaced in the top of the 8th after scoring from second base on a single in the 7th, hopefully OK...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Chuck Caufield led the Manatees attack with four hits, including a double and his third home run of the season. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/07/07/gDePqyYh.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 9, Birmingham (White Sox) 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Huntsville Offense Reawakens in Victory Over Barons

Hand goes the Distance to Gain Series Split

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Donovan Hand tossed a complete game to earn his first double-A win and Huntsville broke open a close contest with a six-run seventh inning en route to a 9-2 victory over Birmingham Monday night in the last of a four-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars split the series to move to 10-10 in the second half and stay three behind North Division leading Tennessee, while the Barons dropped to 12-8 in the second half and into a first place tie with Mississippi in the South Division. Huntsville collected 13 hits after being held to four runs on 15 hits in the first three games.

 

Victor Mercedes' home run in the first inning staked the Barons to the lead, as they scored first in all four games and did so three times with a long ball. The Stars tied the game in the home first with an unearned run and moved ahead 2-1 in the second on Martin Maldonado's first home run at the double-A level and just the fourth allowed all season by Baron's starter Carlos Torres over 98 2/3 innings.

 

Lee Cruz led off the third inning with a long ball, his first at the double-A level, to tie the game before the Stars took the lead for good in the home half. Alcides Escobar started the inning with a double and scored one out later on Angel Salome's two-base hit. Torres walked two to load the bases before striking out Maldonado to end the inning and his night after allowing three hits, walking three and striking out five.

 

Fernando Hernandez worked two scoreless innings and Joe Torres tossed a scoreless sixth before Shaun Babula was knocked around for six runs on seven hits in the seventh. The first five Stars' hitters of the frame all picked up a hit and scored, as Salome and Maldonado singled home runs and Freddy Parejo and Escobar each singled in a pair. The Stars strung together seven hits in the inning, their most in any single frame this season.

 

Hand allowed only four singles after the third inning and finished off his performance by striking out Stefan Gartrell and getting Javier Colina to ground out to end the game with runners at second and third. Hand allowed eight hits, walked one, struck out two and was aided by four inning-ending double plays. The Hatton, AL native recorded 15 ground ball outs in throwing the Stars third nine-inning complete game this season.

 

The Stars open a five-game series Tuesday night at Chattanooga with left-hander David Welch making the start against Lookouts' right-hander Jordan Smith. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Standing ovation for Donovan Hand to end it, no doubt; Alcides Escobar part of all four Star twin killings...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 4, Omaha (Royals) 2, 5.2 innings, rain

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Mark DiFelice photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Defeat Royals In Rain-Shortened Contest

OMAHA - The Nashville Sounds recorded a rain-shortened, five-inning 4-2 victory over the Omaha Royals on Monday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium in the opener of a five-game series.

 

The Sounds grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Omaha starter Roman Colon. Mel Stocker led off with a single and stole second before scoring the contest's first run on catcher Vinny Rottino's two-out RBI single.

 

Nashville doubled its advantage in the second with another two-out run when Adam Heether drew an inning-opening walk, moved to third on a Stocker single, and scored on Tony Gwynn's RBI single to left.

 

Rightfielder Brendan Katin extended the Sounds' lead to 4-0 in the fifth when he belted his 12th home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot to center off Colon that also plated Rottino, who had preceded him with a two-out single.

 

Nashville starter Mark DiFelice opened the contest with four hitless innings before the Royals' offense finally got going in the fifth, plating a pair of runs to halve the Sounds' lead.

 

Brian Buchanan led off with a single for the home team's first knock of the evening and moved to third when Angel Sanchez followed with a double to left. Chris Lubanski delivered Omaha's third straight knock to open the frame, an RBI single to right. The Royals added their second score later in the frame on a Shane Costa sacrifice fly.

 

DiFelice (4-0) picked up his fourth win in five starts this season after he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out a pair of batters in his five innings of work.

 

Randy Choate, who had allowed a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the sixth inning and faced a two-out batter with runners on second and third when the rains came, was credited with his first save of the year.

 

Colon (2-3) was dealt the loss for the Royals. He surrendered four runs on eight hits over five frames.

 

The teams continue the series with a 5:05 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday that makes up an April 25 postponement. All-Star left-hander Lindsay Gulin (4-4, 3.02) will start the opener for the Sounds and face Royals right-hander Carlos Rosa (3-2, 4.89). Southpaw Steve Hammond (0-2, 8.10) will man the bump for Nashville in the nightcap to face an undetermined Omaha hurler.

 

Nashville Box Score

Unusual save for randy Choate -- thank you, Mother Nature, Choate's 30-day rehab allotment must be up soon; Mark DiFelice walks no one (again), but did hit a batter -- he's economical; Mel Stocker three hits, Adam Heether reached all three times up...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Savannah Morning News:

 

SEEING STARS: Hardly looking like a team that got to Savannah on Monday morning after a nine-hour bus ride, West Virginia scored three runs in the top of the first inning and made it hold up for the final difference. Not that they hit the ball hard in the stanza. Balls flared just over the infield, or hugged the inside of the left-field line to stay fair. Savannah starter Josh Stinson (2-5) got no favors from the baseball gods, though he didn't help himself by hitting two batters. Once past the first, he was solid, but the Gnats couldn't match the scoring output. "To score early, a lot of times you have to get the dinks to fall in," West Virginia left fielder Eric Fryer said ... The lone offensive bright spot for Savannah was leadoff batter Greg Veloz, who was 2-for-2 with two walks and one run scored. He has a team-best 13-game hitting streak.

 

DECISION MAKING: Lanky right-hander R.J. Seidel (6-4) had a very workmanlike night, going a season-best seven full innings and scattering five singles without ever looking in trouble. Reed Dickert earned his first save with two innings of relief. "Our pitchers have been keeping us in ballgames, keeping us close," Fryer said of the team's 13-5 start to the second half.

 

QUOTABLE: "I think everyone slept pretty well on the bus. We came out ready to play." - West Virginia outfielder/catcher Eric Fryer, whose team left Charleston, W.Va., by bus at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and arrived in Savannah at around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

 

GNATS GNOTES: The announced home attendance of 537 was the smallest of the season. The previous low was 552 on April 14 against Columbus ... The Gnats left just one runner on base, to seven for the Power.

 

Some tiny pictures here.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stars earn split with Barons

Sixth-run seventh carries Huntsville to 9-2 victory

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

During the bottom of the seventh inning, Huntsville starting pitcher Donovan Hand trotted to the bullpen to throw a few warm-up tosses.

 

As unusual as it was to see a starter loosening up at that juncture, this was a good sign for Huntsville. The Stars erupted for six runs in the seventh to break open the game and defeat Birmingham 9-2 in front of 2,125 fans at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

"That's never a bad thing," Hand said of his extra bullpen session. "It means the team is scoring runs. It was late in the game, and I'd thrown a lot of pitches, so I just wanted to stay loose."

 

On the day Brewers prospect Matt LaPorta officially headed to the Cleveland organization, the Stars' offense shrugged off his departure. The only Huntsville player who failed to get a hit was LaPorta's right-field replacement, the newly promoted Lorenzo Cain.

 

Though the newest Star didn't have a memorable night, two newer Stars did. The first was Hand, the Hatton High School product who enjoyed his longest outing and received his first Double-A win of the year.

 

Hand entered 0-2 with a 4.87 earned run average, but he benefited from four double plays and settled down after giving up two towering early- inning home runs.

 

"After the first three innings when they were super-aggressive, I started throwing my sinker out of the zone and a lot of fastballs," Hand said. "I got a lot of ground-ball outs."

 

The other catalyst was newly promoted catcher Martin Maldonado, who came up from Brevard County last week. Maldonado, hitting .077, jumped on a second-inning pitch from Carlos Torres for his first home run as a Star, added an RBI single and called a solid game behind the plate.

 

"I know what (Hand) has got," Maldonado said. "We've been together since Low-A, so he's comfortable with me, and I'm comfortable with him."

 

Freddy Parejo and Alcides Escobar had two-run singles in the seventh, while Cole Gillespie and Angel Salome also added two hits. Injured first baseman Chris Errecart went on the disabled list with a broken bone in his hand, and he will go to Arizona today for an MRI to see if he needs surgery.

[battlekow]

Salome gets some love from BA's Daily Dish!

Southern League

Prospect of the Day

The same day the Brewers traded top prospect Matt LaPorta to Cleveland in a deal that included ace C.C. Sabathia, another Brewers prospect had a big day. Huntsville DH Angel Salome went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. A fifth-round draft pick in 2005, Salome has recovered from injury and a failed drug test to become the Brewers' eighth-ranked prospect, and he's hitting .337 this season.