Link Report for Friday 4/10 -- Rogers Feature Story; Gamel Red-Hot; Drama in Huntsville

[trwi7]

Trey Watten with six strikeouts and six ground ball outs in four innings. That's awesome.

 

Wisconsin wins again, 10-1.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Wisconsin 10, Quad Cities (Cardinals) 1

 

Wisconsin Box Score

LHP Evan Frederickson and RHP Trey Watten combine on a six-hitter, no earned runs, 13 K's, three walks; seven Timber Rattlers reached base at least twice, with Brock Kjeldgaard leading the way (four times); just a dominant effort all the way around -- enjoy the box and log

 

Wisconsin Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 10, New Orleans (Marlins) 6

Full details from the Nashville site a bit later...

Nashville Box Score

Everyone in the lineup with at least one hit with Mat Gamel leading the way, as you've by now read; Lindsay Gulin effective in four innings of relief for the win; clean defense throughout -- Angel Salome threw out the only baserunner attempting to steal -- nice...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Wow, hope you were listening to Brett in Huntsville -- after his eighth-inning heroics described above, closer Juan Sandoval got himself in a 2nd-and-3rd, no out jam in the 9th, and then proceeded to get out of that as well!

It's Fireworks Night in Huntsville -- good for the fans there, what a show...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 2, Mobile (Diamondbacks) 1

Full details from the Huntsville site a bit later...

 

Huntsville Box Score

Mobile strands 12; Stars managed only five hits and did not score after the 1st; Huntsville has turned four inning-ending double plays in two games, two with the bases loaded, two with runners on 1st and 3rd...

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Orlando Mercado grounds into a force out, center fielder Chuck Caufield to catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Gerardo Parra out at home.

 

You read that right. It was part of Juan Sandoval's Houdini act in the 8th. With the bases loaded, it was difficult for the man on third to judge whether a sinking line drive to center would be caught (so tag up) or fall. Huge, weird play.

 

Ricardo Sosa grounds into double play, third baseman Kevin Melillo to first baseman Vinny Rottino. Evan Frey out at 3rd.

 

That's how the game ended, with the bags juiced, ground ball to 3rd, step on the bag, then throw home for the tag. Deserves another "wow".

Great calls by Brett, as usual.

[Mass Haas]

The always detailed Nashville site game summary is now available.

[Mass Haas]

Link, text follows:

 

Rogers back where he belongs

By John Torenli / Special to MLB.com

It had been two years and eight months since Mark Rogers had thrown a pitch in a professional game.

The Milwaukee Brewers had to like what they saw from the former fifth overall pick when he took the mound for the Brevard County Manatees on Friday night against the Daytona Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

He did, too.

"I was excited," Rogers admitted after pitching in a Minor League game for the first time since Aug. 18, 2006 with the Arizona League Brewers.

"I'm just very, very happy to have this opportunity again. It's great to be back on the mound facing this level of competition. I tried to settle myself down on the mound because there was a lot of anticipation. It would have been very easy to get ahead myself."

Rogers, who battled his way back from a pair of shoulder surgeries, the second of which allowed him to finally pitch pain-free, certainly didn't appear to let the excitement get to him on the hill.

Heralded as a potential ace of the future when the Brewers selected him in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, the 23-year-old right-hander fired three scoreless innings in the Manatees' 7-6 loss to the Cubs.

"I just slowed the game down," Rogers said after allowing two hits and a walk with one strikeout before approaching his 50-pitch limit for the night. "That's the beauty of being a pitcher. You can make the game work at your own pace."

After surrendering a one-out single to Marwin Gonzalez in the opening frame, Rogers escaped trouble when he stranded Gonzalez at second by striking out Jovan Rosa to end the inning.

A leadoff walk to Dylan Johnston in the second was erased when Rogers got Marquez Smith to hit into a double play before Andrew Rundle lined out to second base.

Rogers yielded another one-out single to Starlin Castro in the third, but Nate Samson flied out and Castro was caught stealing, capping a confidence-building performance for the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Brunswick, Maine native.

"It was awesome," Rogers said. "You can't expect to go out there and go three-up, three-down every time. It's all about staying in the moment. The one thing this process has taught me is to feel comfortable out there and enjoy playing baseball."

While fulfilling his ultimate dream of making the Major Leagues is still off in the distance, Rogers is looking forward to working his way up through the Brewers' system. He's also glad the organization continued to have faith in him.

"The Brewers had a lot of patience with me," he said. "I was never at the point where I was pain-free after the first surgery. After they cleaned up some scar tissue, I came back and started throwing bullpens again last December.

"The first time I went out there and felt great was Spring Training, and tonight was the first real test. My arm answered the test."

Rogers also admitted that for now his top priority is remaining healthy, but he indicated that Double-A Huntsville would be a great place to finish up his first full season in the Minors since 2006.

"I just want to go out and take the ball every fifth day," he said. "Tonight was a step in the right direction. I'd like to advance levels, but that's one of the things that's out of my hands. If I pitch well, I can move up and perhaps pitch at Huntsville by the end of year."

 

 

Former fifth overall pick Mark Rogers saw his first pro action since Aug. 18, 2006 on Friday. (Photo by Jerry Hale/MiLB.com)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/04/10/xEDcQu6I.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Lawrie and Frederickson have a night of firsts in Rattler win -- Wisconsin Site Game Summary

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

SANDOVAL PLAYS HOUDINI AS HUNTSVILLE ESCAPES WITH WIN

 

Juan Sandoval worked out of bases loaded jams in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve Huntsville's 2-1 win over Mobile Friday night in the second of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The teams have split the first two games of the series, as both contests have been decided by one run with the losing team missing out on scoring chances in the ninth inning.

 

Sandoval entered with the bases full and nobody out in the eighth and got Mark Hallberg to pop up the first pitch he saw for the first out. Orlando Mercado then sent a sinking line drive to center field that Chuckie Caufield could not make a diving catch on. However, he alertly picked up the loose ball and threw to second baseman Shane Justis, who threw to the plate to retire Gerardo Parra for the second out amidst confusion and indecision as to whether or not the ball was caught. Sandoval then blew a fastball by Chris Rahl to strike him out to end the threat.

 

The Stars' closer induced Ricardo Sosa to bounce into a game-ending double play with the sacks full in the ninth, marking the fourth inning-ending twin-killing the Stars have turned in the series and the second with the bases loaded. Mobile also left the bases full in the first inning and

stranded a dozen runners.

 

Vinny Rottino's run-scoring single and Jonathan Lucroy's run-producing groundout in the first inning against Hector Ambriz provided just enough offense for the home side. Ambriz suffered the loss after yielding all five Huntsville hits, walking one and striking out six. Ambriz, Jason Urquidez and Scott Maine conspired to retire the last 12 Stars' batters, the second time in the series a dozen straight Huntsville hitters have been set down in succession.

 

Chris Cody tossed 4 2/3 scoreless frames in his double-A debut, allowing three hits, walking one and fanning four. He retired the last 11 batters he faced before giving way to Mike McClendon, who earned the win in his first appearance at the double-A level. The right-hander was charged with Mobile's lone run, albeit an unearned one, in the seventh inning, over 1 2/3 innings worth of work during which he allowed one hit, issued one walk and recorded one strikeout.

 

The series continues Saturday night with right-hander Mark Holliman taking the hill against BayBears' right-hander Barry Enright. Coverage of the game begins at 5:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Cubs hold on in wild home opener

Daytona loses 4-0 lead, wins in 8th

By RANDY RORRER
Daytona News-Journal Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH -- Fans attending the Daytona Cubs home opener at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday night got to see a little of everything.

In the end they saw the Cubs hang on to win a nail-biter 7-6 to even their season record at 1-1.

An overflow crowd of 5,113 -- a Daytona Cubs' opening-day record -- was treated to a pitcher's duel for the first half of the game, as Daytona shut down the Brevard County bats through the first five innings and the Cubs were shut out through four.

That all changed in the fifth, when Daytona exploded for four runs off reliever Lucas Luetge and seemingly took control of the game. Luetge walked the bases loaded and Daytona got a two-run single by shortstop Starlin Castro and a two-run double by second baseman Nate Samson.

The Manatees answered with five runs in the top of the sixth inning off Daytona reliever Ryan Searle. Searle induced leadoff hitter Brent Brewer to ground out to second, but Brewer's broken bat hit Searle in the leg.

Nothing good happened for Searle after that incident. He got the following hitter to ground to short, but Castro mishandled it and Brevard County followed with four consecutive hits to chase Searle from the game and tie the score at 4. Manatees center fielder Logan Schafer then doubled off Craig Muschko to give Brevard County a 5-4 lead.

Suddenly the pitcher's duel had turned into a slugfest.

The game featured poor fielding and great plays in the field.

Daytona committed three errors that led to two unearned runs. The Manatees' only error led to the game-winning run for the Cubs.

"We need to catch the ball better," Daytona manager Buddy Bailey said. "That's two games and six errors. "But the play in left field was basically the ballgame."

The play Bailey was referring to was a catch by Marwin Gonzalez in the seventh inning with two outs and two men on.

"If he doesn't make that play, it's two runs and probably a triple," Bailey said. "We have a lot of young players, so we're going to make some mistakes, but we have a lot of talented young guys that will be playing in the big leagues someday."

Daytona regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Colvin and Jovan Rosa led off with back-to-back doubles to tie it at 5, then Rosa scored on a one-out double by Marquez Smith to make it 6-5.

 

Brevard County tied the game again in the top of the eighth when Zelous Wheeler led off with a single off Daytona's fifth pitcher, David Cales, and scored on Schafer's fourth hit of the night.

The Cubs scored the deciding run in the bottom of the eighth. Colvin reached base to lead off the inning on an error by Manatees shortstop Brent Brewer and scored on Castro's second double of the game to make it 7-6.

Cales (1-0) earned the win.

"That was a good win," Bailey said. "We needed to win one after giving away a game (Thursday). The thing I like about this team is we have some gamers."

The Cubs and Manatees play the second-game of their three-game series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark tonight.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com:

The Great Escape

Bases full in 8th and 9th, but Sandy saves the day

 

When I think of what Juan Sandoval did tonight, I think of that song by The Marvelettes -- "My baby must be a magician, cause he sure has the magic touch"...... Juan Sandoval was the great escape artist Harry Houdini tonight, escaping a no-out, bases loaded situation in the 8th. Then in the 9th with the bags loaded and one out, Evan Frey hit into a 5-2 double play, giving Sandoval his 21st career save as a Huntsville Star (passing Matt Childers) and the Stars their first memorable win of the season on a chilly 53° night.

 

Hopefully, this is a good omen. Last year, the Stars blew 25 saves after totals of 18, 15, and 14 from 2005-2007. This is as far back as records go. Not even the defunct Sporting News Baseball Guide have records. And my records from STATS, which supplied the official numbers for the minor leagues, has them.

 

The Stars collected just five hits, all of them singles, yet as they did in Game One, the Stars scored in the 1st inning, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to Vinny Rottino's RBI single and Jonathan Lucroy's RBI grounder....... Adam Stern led off the Stars' inning with a single to left on a 2-1 pitch from Hector Ambriz, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Orlando Mercado. After Shane Justis walked to put runners on the corners, Rottino, behind 0-and-2, singled to right to score Stern. Justis took third on the throw and Vinny took second....... Lucroy, after a called strike, grounded out to short to bring in Justis.

 

Chris Cody got out of a bases-loaded situation in the top of the 1st by getting Mark Hallberg to ground out, then the lefty, who had a dandy spring with 11 scoreless innings, retired the side in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings before Chris Rahl's one-out single in the 5th....... But Cody never got a chance to get the last out of that inning which would have earned him his first victory for the Stars..... Cody walked Evan Frey on five pitches and with two out, he was done....... I don't know what the early season pitch count is as dictated by manager Bob Micsik, but that was 17 for Cody that inning and 78 for the game.

 

The winner, Mike McClendon, after retiring the side in the 6th, allowed the only run....... That came after he exited the game, throwing 15 pitches to the first two hitters. Then after Chris Rahl singled to left, lefty Casey Baron made his debut, facing righty hitter Cyle Hankerd. Hankerd reached first on an error by Rottino, loading the bases. Frey grounded out for the 2nd out, but that forced in Mercado, making it a one-run game for the second straight night.

 

But hopefully the tone was set for the season...... Sandoval was put on the spot the 8th after Baron gave up singles to Gerardo Parra and Ricardo Sosa, and hit Bryan Byrne with a pitch...... With no one out, Mark Hallberg popped out to Justis at second on the first pitch he saw, Orlando Mercado then sent a sinking line drive to center field that Chuckie Caufield could not make a diving catch on. However, he alertly picked up the loose ball and threw to Justis, who threw to the plate to retire Gerardo Parra for the second out amidst confusion and indecision as to whether or not the ball was caught. Sandoval then blew a fastball by Chris Rahl to strike him out to end the threat.

 

After the Stars were retired in order in the 8th, Sandoval induced Ricardo Sosa to bounce into a game-ending double play with the sacks full in the ninth, marking the 4th inning-ending twin-killing the Stars have turned in the series and the 2nd with the bases loaded.

Saturday, Mark Holliman, who was the author of a no-hitter against the Stars and the losing pitcher in the playoff no-hitter Corey Thurman, David Johnson, and Luis Pena turned in in 2007, gets his first start in a Huntsville uniform. Opposing Holliman will be Barry Enright, the Diamondbacks' #11 minor league prospect......... Pena, by the way, is a part of West Tennessee's pitching staff this season.

Mark Rogers, the Brewers' #1 pick in the 2004 draft, pitched three scoreless innings for Brevard County, two years and eight months after picking up a baseball and throwing it in a professional game. The Manatees lost to Daytona, however, 7-6...... Mat Gamel went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs to lead the Sounds over New Orleans, 10-6. Gamel, in just two games, is 6-for-9 with five runs scored and six RBIs.

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent's Wisconsin Game Summary

[clancyphile]

Cody sure keeps doing well. Definitely performed in a manner worthy of the vote I gave him on the Power 50 fan poll. Any chance they can get him in the Brewers rotation soon?

[JoeHova]

Cody sure keeps doing well. Definitely performed in a manner worthy of the vote I gave him on the Power 50 fan poll. Any chance they can get him in the Brewers rotation soon?

 

To replace whom? I hope he pitches well enough to get a shot in the 2nd half if needed (like CV in 2006), but jumping him to the MLB rotation after 1 AA start seems premature.

[Invader3K]

Boy, I know it's early, but if Gamel keeps hitting like that, the Brewers may be forced to call him up.

[JJHardy7]

I have the 'feeling' Gamel will be up this year. I think working with Money again his defense will once again improve. I think if a guy like CC (Counsell -- why is he called CC on some Brewers tv stuff...) goes down Gamel is up. The main issue with calling Mat up is his playing time. I don't want to see him sharing at-bats in Milwaukee. This means Hall will have to stink or be traded. I don't see Hall happy to be Gamel's backup.

[uwisfan]

Gamel's clearly ready offensively, but for him to have value to the org, he needs to stick at third or wait til Prince is gone (and become an average first baseman). Braun at third was a disaster that the org took a lot of flak for, so I can't see them trying that again anytime soon (even if Gamel has more range). I just don't see the org putting pressure on him and risking him losing confidence. They need to just let him work out the kinks instead of losing him to first base. The players that are ready this year, the Crew just doesnt have open spots for unfortunately.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think working with Money again his defense will once again improve.

 

Can you describe the improvements made working with Money in 2008? Not calling you out, I'm just curious what Money has been able to help Gamel with.

[TheCrew07]

His footwork has been repeatedly mentioned by Money... squaring up to the ball when fielding it and setting his feet properly on his throws. He never had anything negative to say about his glove or tools in general, just his footwork.

 

It's very difficult for athletes to change bad habits once they hit the HS level because of muscle memory, they've done things the same way for so long... success or not. I can only imagine how hard it is to retrain what has essentially become instinct over the course of an additional 5 or 6 years of constant negative repetition for the kids from the south since they have the ability to play more games than we do up here. There's no time to think about properly doing something come game time, you can only react, which is why so often you see athletes repeating the same mistakes. They must work hard enough at a flaw that they essentially train a different set of instincts.

[TooLiveBrew]

His footwork has been repeatedly mentioned by Money... squaring up to the ball when fielding it and setting his feet properly on his throws. He never had anything negative to say about his glove or tools in general, just his footwork.

 

"Footwork" is exactly what I remember being criticized when it came to Braun. So, while the connection may admittedly be 100% semantic, I take no comfort in hearing that's Gamel's main problem too. Thanks for the insight, Crew07. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[pete]

I remember Braun having a couple problems, with the main one being he airmailed throws when he had plenty of time. He would do that stutter step thing and then send it high. The little that is available about Gamel seems to indicate that he is inconsistent. He can make all the plays, has soft hands and throws well, but occasionally crosses himself up with footwork. Really, it seems that the bold declarations of his incompetence come from his error totals and a couple of anonymous "scouts."

[TooLiveBrew]

I just can't wait until a reliable statistical method of analyzing minor-league defense hits the (relative) mainstream. I understand there's some stuff out there now, but I know it still relies a lot (understandably) on the official scorers at the stadia -- who typically don't have access to any replays, etc.

 

I guess what would need to happen is video documentation of lots of minor-league games... and I guess I won't hold my breath on that one http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[uwisfan]

I think the org may have had some patience with Braun's errors had it not been for his equally terrible range. I think (hope) that is the difference between Braun and Gamel.