Link Report for Wed. 6/17 -- Lunch with Parra in Nashville and Butler in Birmingham

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive.

 

For this Brevard County series, you can pick up the Hammerheads' audio via this link.

Nashville: LHP Manny Parra at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 11:45 AM pre-game; 12:00 PM gametime

 

Huntsville: RHP Josh Butler at Birmingham (White Sox), 10:50 AM pre-game; 11:05 gametime

 

Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at Jupiter (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime

 

Wisconsin: LHP Efrain Nieves at Burlington (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; RHP Cody Scarpetta will back Nieves up

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: at the DSL Mets (see this thread for some roster background) -- all games are 10:30 local time in the Dominican, and no need to ask about web audio; we usually won't see updated box scores until the overnight...

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "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.

 

MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_06_17_rreaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_06_17_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_06_17_breafa_jupafa_1

 

Wisconsin:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_06_17_wisafx_burafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2009_06_17_dobrok_dmerok_1&cid=3130&t=g_box

[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):



***

We're going to include the link to Kraig McNutt's Nashville blog in the same post as the Nashville media notes link going forward.

***

AAA All-Star voting is here with your MiLB.com online account.

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

 

Dominican Summer League Standings

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 39 27 .591 - 22-15 17-12 W1 Iowa 34 32 .515 5.0 18-14 16-18 W1 Memphis 31 34 .477 7.5 19-14 12-20 L1 Omaha 25 40 .385 13.5 11-21 14-19 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 37 26 .587 - 14-16 23-10 L1 Carolina 36 28 .563 1.5 21-14 15-14 W2 Tennessee 28 37 .431 10.0 15-18 13-19 L2 Chattanooga 26 38 .406 11.5 13-17 13-21 W1 West Tenn 25 40 .385 13.0 12-18 13-22 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 40 19 .678 - 15-11 25-8 L1 Daytona 31 29 .517 9.5 16-11 15-18 W2 Clearwater 30 31 .492 11.0 15-16 15-15 W1 Dunedin 29 33 .468 12.5 11-20 18-13 L1 Tampa 28 34 .452 13.5 15-19 13-15 L3 Lakeland 26 32 .448 13.5 15-17 11-15 L3 

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Manny Parra hopes lost confidence is restored with Sounds

Brewers pitcher has struggled with lack of power all season

By Maurice Patton

THE TENNESSEAN

 

Manny Parra is in Nashville trying to find himself.

 

Seriously.

 

Optioned to the Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers last weekend after suffering his eighth defeat in 11 decisions this season, the 26-year-old left-hander knows why he has nearly as many losses already this year as he had wins all of last year.

 

"I basically forgot who I was, forgot my mentality as a pitcher," he said. "Normally I'm a power pitcher who commands my offspeed (pitches) along with my fastball. I'd kinda gotten to a point where I'd lost some confidence, changed to a guy who was trying to trick guys and get them to swing at bad pitches - just less aggressive."

 

The result: Parra, who struck out 173 and walked 87 in 192 1/3 innings while going 10-8 in 2008, had just 55 strikeouts with 41 walks in 64 2/3 innings over the first three months of this season. With last Saturday's loss to the Chicago White Sox, Parra fell to 3-8 with a 7.52 earned run average, almost double his 4.39 ERA from last year.

 

"It's just a combination of him getting in a bad rut and losing his confidence," Sounds Manager Don Money said. "We'll try to be positive with him. He's in a little funk. It's our job to get him out."

 

Parra is set to start today's noon matchup against visiting Round Rock. Two years ago, in his second Triple-A start, Parra threw a perfect game at Round Rock.

This time, he'll settle for a solid performance. Parra hasn't won since May 17.

 

"Although it's unfortunate I had to get to this point, I'm happy to be here so I can make progress to get back to where I was before," Parra said. "It makes it a little easier on me by being out of the limelight a little bit so I can go ahead and make adjustments and understand that there's not so much pressure necessarily.

 

"I'm just disappointed that I let myself get to that point where I was actually getting demoted. I know they gave me so many opportunities to turn it around at the big league level. It's disappointing.

 

"But I got to a point where I realized I can either worry about that and think about everything that got me to that point, or I can take it from this point and look at the positive and move forward. That's what I'm basically doing right now, looking forward to getting some things squared out and getting my confidence back."

 

Nashville has been a good stopover for Parra in the past.

 

In four starts for the Sounds in 2007, he went 3-1 with a 1.73 earned run average. Today, the visiting Express can expect to see Parra's fastball - which tops out at about 95 mph - on a consistent basis.

 

"It's not going to be just fastballs; it's going to be command of everything," he said. "But I'm basically going to get back to being the power pitcher I am, and the demeanor that goes with that.

 

"I've sometimes gotten to the point where I'm trying to hit a spot and I'm easing up, trying to throw a little slower so I'm not overthrowing.

 

"But for the most part, when I'm throwing hard and aggressive, I'm having confidence in my stuff and trusting my stuff and my ability. I'm commanding the ball actually better."

 

Manny Parra, shown warming up on Tuesday, was optioned to the Sounds by the Brewers after his eighth loss in 11 decisions. (Photo by DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)

 

http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20090617&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=906170397&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

[Paulus88]

I think every one of Parra's quotes is encouraging to hear. It was Parra's power stuff that made everyone excited about him in the first place. Let's hope it translates!

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Parra gets the first two outs, walks a guy, gives up a hit, another walk to load em, and a single. 1-0 RR.

 

26 pitch first inning. I've seen this before.

[Godspeed]

Another stellar outing for Josh Butler. What a difference between this year and last.

[Mass Haas]

Wow, a pretty reliable (in 2009) Mike McClendon has totally blown up Josh Butler's fine six-inning start. Ugh...

 

Jonathan Lucroy continues a super streak, three hits thus far, including a double.

[battlekow]

Another stellar outing for Josh Butler. What a difference between this year and last.

Everything X touches turns to gold.

 

Aguilar turned in a Jeffress-y inning, walking a couple guys and then, after an error that should have gotten him out of it, allowing a huge XBH:

 

Birmingham Bottom 8th

• Pitcher Change: Omar Aguilar replaces Mike McClendon.
• David Cook flies out to center fielder Adam Stern.
• Stefan Gartrell strikes out swinging.
• Javier Colina singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew T. Anderson.
• With C. J. Lang batting, Javier Colina steals (1) 2nd base.
• C. J. Lang walks.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• John Shelby walks. Javier Colina to 3rd. C. Lang to 2nd.
• C. J. Retherford reaches on force attempt, throwing error by shortstop John Raburn. Javier Colina scores. C. Lang to 3rd. John Shelby to 2nd.
• With Tyler Flowers batting, wild pitch by Omar Aguilar, C. J. Lang scores. John Shelby to 3rd. C. Retherford to 2nd.
• Tyler Flowers homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. John Shelby scores. C. Retherford scores.
• Brandon Allen flies out to right fielder Freddy Parejo.

Man, he's been terrible this year.

[trwi7]

Does anybody want to tell me why Parra threw 114 pitches on three days rest? There doesn't appear to be any good reason for that.

[jvrocksaz]

Does anybody want to tell me why Parra threw 114 pitches on three days rest? There doesn't appear to be any good reason for that.

It doesn't make sense other than that he only went 1 2/3 innings his last start in MIlwaukee

[jjfanec]

Wow, a pretty reliable (in 2009) Mike McClendon has totally blown up Josh Butler's fine six-inning start. Ugh...

 

Jonathan Lucroy continues a super streak, three hits thus far, including a double.

Lucroy's BABip is probably just evening out. It was somewhere in the .220 or .230's not long back. It is nice to see his BA up to .271 and an OBP .90 points higher. I would like to see his slugging percentage higher obviously but it is nice to see him doing well again.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 11, Huntsville 5

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

Late Rally Leads Barons Past Stars

Butler Impressive in First Start with Huntsville

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Tyler Flowers smashed a home run and drove in five runs in Birmingham's 11-5 comeback win over Huntsville Wednesday afternoon in the opener of a six-game set at Regions Park. The Stars fell to 37-27 and saw their lead in the North Division temporarily trimmed to a game over Carolina, which opens a five-game series tonight at Tennessee. The Barons won their sixth straight game to improve to 44-20 on the season and 21-8 at home.

 

Josh Butler went six innings in his double-A debut and left with the lead after allowing a pair of runs on four hits, walking one and striking out six. Mike McClendon took over in the seventh and gave up a sacrifice fly to Javier Colina that cut the Stars lead to 5-3 with two outs. C.J. Retherford's single, the third straight for the Barons, scored C.J. Lang to trim the lead to one. Flowers then sent a sinking line drive into left field that got past a diving Drew Anderson allowing John Shelby and Retherford to cross the plate to give the Barons their first lead of the day. McClendon was tagged with the loss after yielding the four runs on five hits and has now been scored on in five straight outings on the road.

 

The Barons loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth against Omar Aguilar, who appeared to get out of trouble by getting Retherford to bounce into a force out at second base but the throw from shortstop Johnny Raburn was offline allowing Shelby to slide in safely and Colina to score to make it 7-5 Barons. Aguilar then wild pitched in another run and gave up a three-run home run to Flowers, his ninth of the season. Clevelan Santeliz earned the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to improve to 3-0.

 

Kevin Melillo's two-run home run in the second inning got the scoring started. It was his sixth long ball of the year and first since May 31. Dayan Viciedo doubled with one out in the second, stayed put when David Cook walked and then both runners advanced when Vinny Rottino made a diving stop on a Stefan Gartrell ground ball to first base. Colina then looped a broken bat fly ball into shallow left field to plate both runners to tie the game.

 

Freddy Parejo started the fifth inning with a single and advanced to third base when Raburn singled. Adam Stern popped out for the first out of the inning before Shane Justis dropped down a sacrifice bunt to push Parejo across with the go-ahead run. Stern's sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double in the seventh by Jonathan Lucroy pushed the visitors lead to 5-2. Charlie Shirek lasted 6 2/3 innings in his second double-A start, giving up the five runs on eight hits, while walking one and fanning three.

 

The series continues Thursday night in with right-hander Donovan Hand taking the hill against Baron's right-hander Lucas Harrell. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Omar Aguilar hasn't been able to overcome errors behind him, nine unearned runs allowed -- on top of a 7.43 ERA, his season to forget continues...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Bottom of the 10th, tied at 2-2 in Nashville, as of 3:00 PM Central, jump on board with a direct link to Chuck's audio.

 

Adam Heether four hits thus far...

[trwi7]

Bourgeois with the walk-off single to score Gillespie off former Brewer Jose Capellan, who drops to 1-8.

[brewmann04]

wow Don money Boys Keep winning ,I believe we see Katlin and Heether up for their taste of the Bigs come Sep.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 3, Round Rock (Astros) 2, 11 innings

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for celebration photo from today's game, link follows --

 

Sounds Close Homestand With 11-Inning Win

 

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds wrapped up their homestand with a 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Round Rock Express on Wednesday afternoon at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a three-game series.

 

Nashville (40-27) concluded its seven-game homestand with a 6-1 record, including taking two of three from the Express.

 

Left fielder Cole Gillespie led off the Nashville eleventh with a single through the right side of the infield off ex-Sound Jose Capellan and advanced to second on a Ryan Houston sacrifice bunt. Jason Bourgeois followed with a line-drive single to left that plated Gillespie with the winning run.

 

AUDIO: Bourgeois Game-Winning Single

 

The contest was the Sounds' sixth last at-bat win of the year and the club's third of the current homestand. Nashville improved to 4-1 in extra-inning play this season.

 

Round Rock scratched across the game's first run in the top of the first inning as a two-out walk came back to haunt Sounds starter Manny Parra. After the first two batters were retired, John Gall drew a free pass, moved to second on a Chris Johnson single, and the Express filled the bags when Mark Saccomanno drew a walk. Yordany Ramirez followed with a grounder to second that was slowed down by a wet infield and resulted in an RBI single as Gall came plateward.

 

The Sounds knotted the score at 1-1 in the fourth with a pair of doubles off Express starter Mark McLemore. Erick Almonte continued his torrid hitting with a leadoff double that dropped just inside the left field line and scored two batters later on an Adam Heether RBI two-bagger off the base of the wall in left-center.

 

Almonte is batting .370 (34-for-92) over his last 29 contests for Nashville. Heether finished a team-best 4-for-5 for the Sounds on the afternoon.

 

The Express pulled back ahead, 2-1, in the fifth with an unearned run. Chad Spann led off with a double left off Parra then advanced to third when catcher Carlos Corporan's pickoff attempt sailed into center field and scored on a Tommy Manzella single to right.

 

Nashville rallied to tie the game once again in the bottom of the eighth, squaring the score at 2-2 with a run off Express reliever Casey Daigle. Almonte led off with a single and advanced to second on the play when left fielder Brian Bogusevic mishandled the ball. Two batters later, Heether followed with a game-tying single to left.

 

Houston (4-1) worked a pair of scoreless innings to pick up the victory for the Sounds, while Capellan (1-8) was tagged with the loss after surrendering the game-winning run to conclude his 2 1/3-inning stint.

 

Parra took a no-decision for the Sounds in his first Triple-A outing of the season .The southpaw allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings of work, walking four batters and striking out four.

 

The Sounds hit the road on Thursday for a nine-day, eight-game road trip that includes stops in Oklahoma City (AAA-Rangers) and Albuquerque (AAA-Dodgers).

 

Left-hander Chris Cody (1-1, 1.35) will take the hill for Nashville in Thursday night's 7:05 PM series opener in Oklahoma City. The RedHawks will counter with right-hander Josh Rupe (0-4, 6.61).

 

Baseball returns to Music City on Saturday, June 27, when the Sounds begin a brief four-game homestand against the RedHawks with a 6:00 PM contest.

 

Nashville Box Score

Sorry to put a damper on things, just pointing out Alcides Escobar was 0-for-5 and Brendan Katin 0-for-5 with four K's, but obviously both have been studs as of late; guess you'd call Manny Parra's outing "successful", but with the four walks, nothing more glowing than that..

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Jason Bourgeois

Naturally, today's extra-inning hero...

[jjfanec]

Has any player upped his stock more this year than Butler? I hated dealing Gross last year because I liked him as a player, but I am liking the deal more each start from Butler this year

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

Probable Pitchers (@Kane County) (Starting Thursday)

 

June 17, 2009: Tonight's pitchers (Nieves / Scarpetta)

 

June 17, 2009: Game Notes

[Mass Haas]

From Chris' Game Notes:

 

SOMETHING AGAINST GUYS NAMED JUSTIN? Brock Kjeldgaard's homer was off Burlington reliever Justin Garcia. Kjeldgaard also homered off Garcia in a game at Time Warner Cable Field on May 6. Kjeldgaard hit a game-ending homer off Justin Murray of Kane County on June 10. Murray also gave up a single to Kjeldgaard the only time the two faced each other in a game at Kane County on May 22. The Canadian slugger did not homer against Great Lakes starting pitcher Justin Miller on April 30, but did go 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles.

 

YOUR TIM KURKJIAN DID YOU KNOW? FOR THE NIGHT: This season, Kjeldgaard is 6-for-6 with a walk, three homers, and two doubles in seven plate appearances against Midwest League pitchers named Justin.

 

***

 

And here I didn't think Chris had much time on his hands...

[TheCrew07]

I don't recall a pitcher with Aguilar's talent ever repeating a level and getting significantly worse, you gotta wonder if he's healthy or not.