Link Report for Mon. 5/11 -- Strong Nights for Cody, Butler

[WisconsinSportsRule]

TGJ having a nice year batting .328 thus far. If he could start hitting well, he could be in Milwaukee next year. He has an OBP of .393 and more BB's (16) than K's (15).

yeah, but in spite his improved average, his OPS is still terrible

 

Really???? I forgot OPS is all that matters! Wow he is a lead off hitter, in the major leagues, that means he is supose to get on base maybe steal some bases and score runs but I guess only hitting double and homers can do that. That whole next year comment is ridiculous. I'd still take him over Duffy. You can continue to think that OPS is the only stat that matters if you want but secret is that it truely doesn't make a player worthy of being in the major leagues. If he can start hitting well..... okay I forgot .328 is god aweful, maybe next kid!!!!

This is his is only his second year with an average of over .300 (counting this year). If you want to put him in the majors because he's done it one year, then go ahead. He needs to be consistent. He's a career .248 hitter.

[LouisEly]

Tony Gwynn with a leadoff home run (yes, over the fence, not inside-the-park), he's really played well.

Gwynn has gotten off to a hot start at the plate, and has also walked more than he has struck out so far (.393 OBP prior to a 3-hit night tonight). The power will never be there, but maybe the plate discipline light bulb has finally gone on. Meanwhile, Chris Duffy... has not exactly gotten off to a hot start. Small sample for Duffy, and comparing AAA to the majors is apples and oranges, but if TGJ and Duffy continue on their current trends, how long before the switch should be made?

 

Several relievers are off to a good start, but one guy who was talked a lot about two years ago who fell off of the starting pitching prospect radar and was for some reason moved to the bullpen last year is Mike McClendon. The ERA last year and H:IP ratio was not good for the FSL, but he only walked 15 in 88 innings and had a GO/AO of 2:08 so he was keeping the ball down. So far this year the walk ratio (2 in 20 IP) and GO/AO (2.28) are still there, and at 6'5" and 215lbs I'm not sure why he isn't starting. Anyone know what the word is with the brass/scouts on him? Similar with Donovan Hand... not sure why Hand and McClendon are in the pen and Holliman is in the rotation.

 

Also, if Gulin and Cody continue on their current trends (a little concerned about Cody's 1.15 GO/AO), at what point do they consider swapping them?

[piccione88]

Chris Smith has pitched really good for nashville this year, striking out 25, while only walking 3 in 21 innings. Does anyone know what he throws?

[wibadgers23]

Looking at Smith's numbers from last year, he only walked 11 hitters in almost 60 innings in AAA Pawtucket. The guy just doesn't walk people. Looks like he also got promoted to the big leagues last year and struggled a little bit in 18 innings with the Red Sox. But I think it might be time to get rid of Julio and see what Smith can do in Milwaukee.

[Team Canada]

Really???? I forgot OPS is all that matters! Wow he is a lead off hitter, in the major leagues, that means he is supose to get on base maybe steal some bases and score runs but I guess only hitting double and homers can do that. That whole next year comment is ridiculous. I'd still take him over Duffy. You can continue to think that OPS is the only stat that matters if you want but secret is that it truely doesn't make a player worthy of being in the major leagues. If he can start hitting well..... okay I forgot .328 is god aweful, maybe next kid!!!!

Thank you for today's example of how not to conduct a debate here.

It's great that Gwynn's hitting over .300 in a few weeks of AAA, but let's see what he's doing in a couple months.

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Clearwater (Phillies) 4, Brevard County 3, ten innings

 

Brevard County Box Score

The 549 in attendance got their money's worth in this one. Not sure why we're not getting a game summary from the 'Tees for these recent home games, but if ever we suggested to review the game log, this would be the time to do so -- you can almost chew on the late-inning tension; the Manatees were down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th when a Zelous Wheeler sacrifice fly tied the game. Brevard then loaded the bases with one out setting things up nicely for Brent Brewer, who is just struggling mightily, and did so again in this at-bat, striking out. Steffan Wilson grounded out and on to the 10th they went. Mark Willinsky surrendered two runs in the top of the 10th, but Brevard fought on, and had the bases loaded with one out and Caleb Gindl at the plate. A wild pitch brough the boys within one and all the runners moved up. The normally reliable Gindl then struck out however, as did Chris Errecart to end the game, but obviously Gindl's one-out at-bat, like Brewer's the inning before, was the key there.

 

Brevard County Game Log

Did Brent Brewer and his .545 OPS get a "mental break" by acting as the designated hitter? 0-for-5 says it didn't help; it's cool that Zelous Wheeler can fill in at shortstop; Eric Farris with three singles and a walk, but didn't score; Wheeler walked three times, Chris Errecart reached base three times; left-on-base -- oh yeah, tons, Manatees stranded 17, that must be a season high for the organization; Josh Butler with an impressive seven innings...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 2, Chattanooga (Dodgers) 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

More Ninth Inning Magic for Stars

Huntsville Moves Into Top Spot All Alone

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville StarsV

Vinny Rottino's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth pushed Huntsville past the Lookouts 2-1 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have won a season-high five in a row to improve to 15-12 and take a one game lead over Tennessee in the North Division, while Chattanooga dropped to 12-19 and five games behind. All six of the Stars' home wins have been decided by a run and they are now 10-5 in one-run games.

 

Kevin Melillo singled with one out in the ninth against Matt Sartor to end a string of 14 straight Huntsville hitters retired. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a fly ball to center field that Adam Godwin got to, got his glove on but couldn't hold on to in front of the wall, which allowed Melillo to advance to third base and Lucroy to second. Drew Anderson was intentionally passed before Rottino lined an 0-2 pitch to left that was caught by Andrew Lambo. Melillo was able to tag and score ahead of the throw home to give the Stars their fifth straight walk-off win on home soil.

 

Stars' starter Chris Cody retired the first 10 batters he faced before issuing back-to-back walks to Russ Mitchell and Josh Bell. However, he battled back to fan Jamie Hoffman and Lambo to end the frame. Cody kept the Lookouts hitless until Mitchell's single with one out in the sixth and took a 1-0 lead into the seventh. Rottino's two-out, run-scoring hit in the fourth had produced the game's lone run to that point.

 

Lambo led off the seventh with a single, moved to third base on a Lucas May double and scored to tie the game on a Godwin infield hit. Juan Gonzalez advanced the two runners with a sacrifice bunt and Cody was removed in favor of Robert Hinton, who got pinch-hitter James Tomlin and Justin Sellers to ground out to keep the game tied. Cody was charged with a run on four hits, while walking two and fanning four over 6 1/3 innings, the longest outing by a Stars' starter this season.

 

Lookouts' starter Jesus Castillo worked six innings, yielding a run on three hits, walking one and striking out a season-high six. He set down the last seven batters he faced and was followed to the mound by Jesus Rodriguez, who threw two perfect innings. Sartor started the ninth and suffered his second loss, while Omar Aguilar threw a shutout ninth inning to grab his first win.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with right-hander Jeremy Jeffress taking the hill for the Stars against Lookouts' right-hander Travis Chick. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Super-clutch work by Robert Hinton; FYI -- Johnny Raburn getting the starts at second base as of late, Shane Justis is home with the loss of his grandfather, our best to his family; the Huntsville Times notes that Adam Stern singled in the first and now has a nine-game hitting streak and that Hinton hasn't allowed a run in his last 9 1/3 innings over eight games...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Schedule could help out Sounds

Nashville faces two of PCL's worst teams

By Maurice Patton

THE TENNESSEAN

 

After playing virtually .500 ball for the first five weeks of the season, the Nashville Sounds have a chance to get on a roll over the next week or so.

 

Today marks the opening of an eight-day, eight-game homestand at Greer Stadium against Reno and Las Vegas - teams that have two of the four worst records in the Pacific Coast League heading into this week's play.

 

The Reno Aces, relocated from Tucson over the offseason, were 13-17 through Sunday under first-year Manager Brett Butler, who began his 17-year major league playing career with the Braves.

 

Following the scheduled four-game series with the Aces, the Las Vegas 51s - whose 11-20 record through Monday includes more losses than any other PCL team - come to town on Saturday for a four-game set.

 

Nashville, 17-15 overall and 5-4 over its just-completed nine-game road swing, could use momentum to boost itself in the PCL American North standings. The last-place Sounds trailed division-leading Memphis by 1 ½ games after Monday's games.

 

First-year Sounds Manager Don Money typically downplayed the significance of the upcoming homestand.

 

"We're not really looking at who we're playing or not playing," he said. "We'll come home and play Reno and (Las Vegas) and do the best we can. We've still got 112 games left. We're not looking at this as that important a series. Every series is important.

 

"(With) a hit here or there, we win the first three games of this series (versus Omaha). Their guys made a couple of good plays on us. We don't worry about that. We just play the best we can and hopefully we come out on top."

 

After winning three of four games at Iowa, the Sounds lost three of their five at Omaha - splitting a Sunday doubleheader to grab the one victory prior to Monday's win.

 

One bright spot through the early portion of the season has been the Nashville bullpen, particularly Chris Smith. The Sounds lead the PCL with 12 saves (in 14 save opportunities). Smith, who saved 15 games for Triple-A Pawtucket last season, has converted seven of his eight chances this year, including back-to-back saves Sunday and Monday.

 

"It's all fallen into place," Money said of Smith's emergence. "We didn't really know what roles guys were going to be in, but it looks like he's going to be the closer. He throws strikes when he comes in, throws all his pitches over (home plate). That's what you need coming into a tight situation. He's done a pretty good job."

 

Among the attractions for the homestand are post-game fireworks on both Friday and Saturday nights as well as an autograph session with Sounds players and coaches prior to Sunday's game.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com

 

It's getting to be a habit

10-5 in one-run games, Stars win 5th straight

 

A one-out single by Kevin Melillo and a fielding error by Adam Godwin set up Vinny Rottino's game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th that handed the Stars a season-high 5th straight victory and their 10th one-run win this season. The Stars are now 10-5 in those squeakers. They were 16-31 last year, and didn't win their 10th until June 25th..... Vinny singled in Adam Heether with the Stars' first run in the 4th..... Winning those close games have allowed the Stars to take a one-game lead over the Smokies in the North.... Omar Aguilar, who got his first win as a Huntsville Star (he was 0-3 last year), kept the few fans there on the edge of their seats in the 9th with a pair of walks, one intentional, and leaving a runner on third before Justin Sellers flied out to end the inning. Aguilar threw only five of his 15 pitches for strikes....... Robert Hinton preceded Aguilar in relief and continued his scoreless streak on the mound -- 9 1/3 scoreless innings over eight consecutive appearances. That reduced his ERA now to under 4.00 for the first time this season. He began his streak with an ERA of 7.36. It's now down to 3.98. In 2007, Hinton started the season with seven consecutive scoreless innings in relief and finished it with nine straight, including playoff appearances against Tennessee and Montgomery -- 13 consecutive scoreless innings.......

 

Starter Chris Cody pitched into the 7th and threw a season-high 97 pitches, 58 for strikes (59.8%) and lowered his ERA to 1.93 -- 6th best in the Southern League....... Bryan Augenstein, who shutout the Stars 3-0 on April 12, and is 2nd in ERA with a microscopic 0.78, will not be with the Bay Bears, at least we hope, when the Stars go to Mobile Saturday. Augenstein, who started out 5-0, was promoted to Arizona and will start for the Diamondbacks Wednesday. He's a replacement for Yusmeiro Petit, who's on the DL with a shoulder injury.

 

Blame the unseasonably cloudy and cool (63°) weather for the poor attendance again. This has been the rainiest May in Stars history. Eight games in the first nine days of this month have been rained out, including a couple of make-up double-headers. They are four games behind teams that have been able to play every scheduled game so far. Speaking I guess for other Stars fans, we're all hoping for a break in this continually wet weather. It has not been continuous, but rain has fallen every day for what seems like the past two weeks. We're supposed to get a break Tuesday, but the chance for rain will rise again every day this week, peaking at a 70% chance on Sunday, but the Stars will be in Mobile by then.

 

Juan Sandoval was returned to the Stars Sunday. Sandoval, who was promoted to Nashville April 23, picks up with two saves and a 3.38 ERA in six appearances. In four games with Nashville, he left a 6.75 ERA for 5 1/3 innings work....... Carlos Corporan, who became the 183rd former Star to make it to the majors when he singled against the Reds' Paul Janish last May 6, is expected to be optioned back to Nashville when Mike Rivera finishes his rehab stint in Nashville.

 

Adam Heether has hit safely in all six of the games he's appeared in for the Stars since coming down from Nashville. He's hitting .345 with three doubles and a home run....... Adam Stern, who's had a pair of eight-game hitting streaks, is working on one of six. He's 10-for-27 (.370) on this one with seven RBIs. A pretty good figure for a leadoff hitter in that short span...... Vinny Rottino, who hit .242 in April, is on a .273 clip this month....... Kevin Melillo, hitting .208 since April 23, has had just one extra-base hit in his last 14 games. That was on a 4-for-6 day last Wednesday.

 

Travis Chick, who is pitching in his 6th season in the Southern League with stops in-between, will start for Chattanooga, Tuesday against Jeremy Jeffress (1-1, 5.06).

 

The Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League released former Stars outfielder Travis Ezi last Wednesday, May 8. Ezi hit 4-for-34 in 11 games...... The Diamond Jaxx have placed Patrick Ryan on the temporary inactive list.