Link Report for Thurs. 8/13 -- Cain Leaves Another Game with Injury

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

Nashville: Idle

Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime
Sorry, no audio for this series

Wisconsin: RHP R.J. Seidel at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime; LHP Efrain Nieves will also pitch
Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Chad Robinson at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime; look for long relievers to follow...
Live Audio Link

Arizona Summer League: at the Cubs' complex in Mesa; no more day games -- all games begin at 7:00 local time in the desert; no audio, naturally...

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: at home vs. the DSL Giants; (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 Thursday'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.

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_13_hunaax_mobaax_1&did=t559&sid=t559

 

Brevard County:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_08_13_dunafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Wisconsin:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_13_wisafx_cedafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_13_ogdrok_helrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale):

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_13_brrrok_cubrok_1

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_13_dgirok_dobrok_1

[Mass Haas]

"Voice of the Rattlers" Chris Mehring's informative and entertaining Rattlers Radio Blog includes game notes an hour or two before gametime.

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

 

Arizona 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 63 55 .534 - 37-22 26-33 L1 Nashville 63 56 .529 0.5 34-25 29-31 L1 Iowa 60 58 .508 3.0 36-22 24-36 W2 Omaha 48 69 .410 14.5 24-34 24-35 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 26 20 .565 - 16-10 10-10 W2 West Tenn 23 23 .500 3.0 10-11 13-12 L1 Tennessee 23 24 .489 3.5 9-13 14-11 L2 Huntsville 17 28 .378 8.5 7-12 10-16 W2 Carolina 17 29 .370 9.0 7-14 10-15 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tampa 32 11 .744 - 11-7 21-4 W2 Brevard County 26 17 .605 6.0 17-10 9-7 W1 Dunedin 24 20 .545 8.5 14-8 10-12 L1 Clearwater 22 22 .500 10.5 12-11 10-11 W1 Lakeland 21 24 .467 12.0 8-9 13-15 L1 Daytona 18 26 .409 14.5 9-15 9-11 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Missoula 5 4 .556 - 2-4 3-0 L3 Great Falls 4 5 .444 1.0 0-3 4-2 L1 Billings 3 5 .375 1.5 3-2 0-3 L3 Helena 3 5 .375 1.5 2-1 1-4 W1 

[jvrocksaz]

Mike Jones is pitching "VERY" well through 4 innings tonight!

 

Edit: Sorry Mike!

[Never Outhustled]

Mark Rogers with another very strong night. 3 1/3 innings with 0 ER and 5 Ks. He allowed 3 hits, but all were groundballs as were 4 of the 5 outs in play against him. He He did allow an unearned run, but is was very unearned. Heres the inning:

 

• Raul Barron grounds out, first baseman Chris Errecart to pitcher Mark Rogers.
• Bradley McElroy singles on a ground ball to first baseman Chris Errecart.
• With John Tolisano batting, Bradley McElroy steals (9) 2nd base.
• John Tolisano reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by shortstop Brent Brewer. Bradley McElroy advances to 3rd, on missed catch error by shortstop Brent Brewer.
• Moises Sierra strikes out swinging.
• Manuel Rodriguez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Brent Brewer. Bradley McElroy scores. John Tolisano to 2nd.
• With Matthew Liuzza batting, wild pitch by Mark Rogers, John Tolisano to 3rd. Manuel Rodriguez to 2nd.
• Matthew Liuzza walks.
• Jesus Gonzalez lines out to shortstop Brent Brewer.

 

It sucks when bad defense extends his pitch count. 3 walks is a bit much, but 1 was issued after he had already earned 4 outs in the 3rd. He is just dominant right now. Hitters must take some very weak swings against him just trying to make contact, because he just doesn't give up extra base hits.

[DHonks]

Good to see Rogers and Jones throwing well again. Jones was the victim of strategy as they went for the gidp and allowed a run to score. The next inning they "singled" him to death

[BrewCrewForever]

Am I a sucker for getting very excited for Jones and even more so for Rogers? I have never found myself checking the minor league forum so much, specifically the link reports to see how they did when they start. Would it be a stretch for these guys to be ready for 2011? Maybe even at some point in 2010?

[DHonks]

It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Jones to be up in September. If the Brewers are interested in him next year, they'll need to re-add him to the 40 man roster, as he'd surely be a good project in the Rule V draft.

[brewmann04]

no it's very exciting to see both these former #1 Healthy and as Important pitching well

[fondybrewfan]

LuCroy with another 2 hits tonight. I am getting pretty excited about the kid. I would like to see more power out of him, but he has a ridiculous K/BB ratio. 65BB to only 56K is pretty awesome. Every where he has gone he has hit, it just took him a bit longer this year. In 78 AB's since the AA All Star break is OPS is an awesome 1.027. His home road splits are a bit puzzling though.

 

It will be a very interesting offseason. Either one of Salome or LucRoy gets traded or one of them is in the Bigs

[TheCrew07]

Isn't sort of funny that so many spelled LaPorta "Laporta" and now so many spell Lucroy "LuCroy"? Or is it only amusing to me and my simple mind? I hope you take my post the way it's intended Fondy, I mean no disrespect as you certainly are not the only one doing it.

 

Dang, Jones pitched better than his naked box score line would suggest when I looked at the game log.

 

Rogers ERA is reaching ridiculous levels for any MiLB pitcher. I'm disappointed in Luetge, I really thought he'd have a good year before being tested in AA next season (not a certainty now, but coming into the season that was my thinking)

 

Speaking of disappointments, I know I was hard on Seidel last season, but dang man. I probably pull too hard for him being a WI kid which has led to some unfair expectations, but he's looking more like a reliever with each passing year, if he makes it at all. I'm not sure I buy the whole "slipping while jogging on the ice" line either so that bothers me some as well.

 

WI wins again... we have a streak... positive in nature, and they've won 3 of 4.

 

Krestalude gets rocked a little bit.

[Boy Jeenius]

Waaaaaaay too early to be worried about Seidel. Guy blows up a knee, works hard and comes back earlier than expected to throw to people in mid season form? No biggie. It often takes a full year before one can get over the mental hurdle alone, much less get smoothed out in the mechanics and start throwing well.

[TheCrew07]

Paciorek finished the game for the H-Crew, and pitched better than Miller and Morales, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K. He's never hit much... just saying..

[MTBrew]

Complete meltdown in the 6th inning in Helena. Errors, lack of effort, mentally not being in the game.

There is no energy, no attitude, no spirit here. Halton made a strong effort chasing a foul ball into the Brewers dugout and not one Brewers player got off their butt to help him. Unacceptable!

This team needs a major shakeup, Gonzales is obviously not getting thru to these guys and the hitting is awful.

There have to be some kids in Maryvale that would bust their butts for the opportunity to move up.

[homer]

I dunno. Jones' numbers in a vacuum don't impress me much at all. 26 in AA, decent K ratios I guess but there's no wow factor for me. Given his backstory you can't help but root for him but I really am not excited about him as a prospect.

[LouisEly]

I have wondered why Paciorek has stayed on their rosters so long with so little production.

 

MTBrew - I seem to recall that same thing being said about Helena teams in previous years. Maybe I am mistaken. Is it a coaching/organization thing, or just the result of being down big?

 

Frerichs only pitched to two batters in the 9th; they got a hit and a walk off of him, but only two batters before he was replaced? This isn't the majors. Anyone know if there was an injury?

[Mass Haas]

It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Jones to be up in September. If the Brewers are interested in him next year, they'll need to re-add him to the 40 man roster, as he'd surely be a good project in the Rule V draft.

DHonks, Jones would only be a Rule 5 candidate if he agreed to yet another minor league extension deal with the Brewers and wasn't placed on the 40-man.

 

Jones is free to seek employment with any organization should he and the Brewers not agree to terms (unless the Brewers add him to the 40-man before minor league free agency begins in October.)

[Mass Haas]

MTBrew - I seem to recall that same thing being said about Helena teams in previous years. Maybe I am mistaken. Is it a coaching/organization thing, or just the result of being down big?

MTBrew's notation in this regard holds true specifically to this year and last. He's expresed dissatisfaction with Rene Gonzales' warmup routines for the team, the players' demeanor under Gonzales, etc., but I should stop there before potentially mis-representing his prior posts. Hoping he'll re-visit his thoughts with us soon, perhaps with comparisons to prior Helena managers such as Johnny Narron.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Mobile (Diamondbacks) 7, Huntsville 1

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Roemer Deals Mobile Past Huntsville

BayBears Break Open a Close Game Late to Down Stars

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Wes Roemer spun seven scoreless frames and Ricardo Sosa drove in three runs to power Mobile past Huntsville 7-1 Thursday night in the second of a five-game set at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears evened the series at a game apiece and won for just a fifth time in their last 22 games to improve to 19-28 in the second half and 56-61 overall, while the Stars fell to 17-29 in the second half and 55-60 overall. Mobile has taken eight of the 12 games in the season series.

 

The Stars threatened early against Roemer but could not cash in against the right-hander. They had runners at first and second and nobody out in the first inning and could not score and put runners at the corners with one out in the third before Drew Anderson bounced into an inning-ending double play. The Stars stranded a runner in scoring position again in the fifth and seventh innings against Roemer, who threw his first scoreless appearance in 18 outings at the double-A level.

 

Roemer allowed four hits, walked three and fanned five in picking up the win to square his record at 7-7. He had allowed 20 runs, 18 earned, on 22 hits over 20 innings in his prior three turns. Roemer yielded one run in 12 frames against the Stars and beat them in both of his turns against them this season.

 

Mobile finally pushed across the game's first run in the home fifth when Brian Byrne led off with a walk, advanced to third base on a hit and run single by Orlando Mercado, the BayBears first hit, and came in to score on a Cyle Hankerd double play grounder.

 

Evan Frey's one-out infield single started a two-run rally in the sixth, as he came in to score on a Pedro Ciriaco single that was followed by Sosa's single to center field that drove in Mark Hallberg. Stars' starter Mike Jones induced a double play grounder off the bat of Byrne to end the inning and his night. The right-hander induced three double play grounders in his six innings of work during which he allowed five hits, walked two and fanned four. He fell to 3-5 on the season.

 

Huntsville managed to push across a two-out run in the eighth against Leyson Septimo when Anderson singled, stole second and came around on a double by Jonathan Lucroy, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games, off the glove of a diving Chris Rahl in right field. Mobile broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by Sosa and run-scoring two-base hits by Byrne and Hankerd.

 

The series continues Friday night with right-hander Nick Green taking the mound for the Stars against BayBears' right-hander Matt Torra. 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

Huntsville Game Log

Just a shame in a "lost" season, but it appears Lorenzo Cain again injured himself on a defensive play -- looks like he stayed in the game for one play, but then was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the next half-inning...

 

Mobile Bottom 6th

• Wes Roemer strikes out swinging.
• Evan Frey singles on a ground ball to first baseman Kevin Melillo.
• Mark Hallberg singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew T. Anderson. Evan Frey to 2nd.
• Pedro Ciriaco singles on a line drive to right fielder Chuck Caufield. Evan Frey scores. Mark Hallberg to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Ricardo Sosa singles on a line drive to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Mark Hallberg scores. Pedro Ciriaco to 3rd.
• Injury Delay.
• Bryan Byrne grounds into double play, second baseman Shane Justis to shortstop Michael Garciaparra to first baseman Kevin Melillo. Ricardo Sosa out at 2nd.

Huntsville Top 7th

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Freddy Parejo replaces Lorenzo Cain.
• Freddy Parejo walks.
• Chuck Caufield pops out to first baseman Bryan Byrne.
• With Michael Garciaparra batting, Freddy Parejo steals (2) 2nd base.
• Michael Garciaparra strikes out swinging.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Yohannis Perez replaces Mike Jones.
• Yohannis Perez pops out to catcher Orlando Mercado in foul territory.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com:

 

Lucroy goes on... Stern moves on

Stars lose game and Stern, but Lucroy hit streak climbs to 14

 

Shane Justis picked the wrong time to go into a slump...... With Adam Stern's promotion to Nashville prior to this game, Justis, who's never gone more than two games without getting a hit, went hitless for the third time in as many games as the Stars lost without a fight to the Mobile Bay Bears at Hank Aaron Stadium...... The Stars, who had won two straight coming into this game, have not put together a streak longer than that since late June........ Justis is 1-for-17 in his last four games, and hitting .209 for the month of August....... And just how has Justis done as a leadoff hitter this season? He's started 16 games in the leadoff spot. It doesn't look too successful.

 

		AB	R	H	RBI	ADD.
April 29		5	1	1	1	SO
May 29		4	0	0	0
June 13		5	0	0	1
June 15		4	0	2	1	BB
June 19		4	0	0	0	SO
July 1		4	0	1	0	BB
July 11		5	1	1	0	2b, 3 SO
July 15		5	0	1	0	SO
July 17		2	0	0	1	SO, 3 BB
July 18		5	2	4	2	3b, SB
July 19		5	1	1	0
July 23		4	1	0	0	SO, HBP
July 25		4	1	2	0
July 29		4	0	0	0
August 9		5	0	0	0	SO
August 13		3	0	0	0	2 BB
		68	7	13	6

 

Doing the math, that's a .191 average coming from a leadoff hitter, who is carrying a .296 average after a 1-for-17 slump at the plate! He's walked seven times, was hit once, and struck out nine times. More revealing is that the Stars are 5-11 with Justis in the leadoff spot...... I say put Cain in there. He's hitting .318 on a current six-game hit streak.

 

Speaking of hitting streaks, Jonathan Lucroy stretched his to 14 games tonight, while driving in the Stars' only run with a two-out line drive double to right in the 8th inning. Talking about sweating this one out. It scored Drew Anderson, who stole his 7th base of the year to set it up. Lucroy raised his average to .273 -- his highest mark since May 8. He's gone 22-for-50 on his streak (.440), driven in seven runs, and scored six times in his last four games...... Lucroy has doubled in three straight games.

 

Wes Roemer had allowed 20 runs in 20 innings prior to this start, but for whatever reason, he's got the Stars number this year...... He's won both his starts against the Stars and yielded one runs on seven hits in 11 innings...... The Stars have now lost 12 of their last 15 and are 8-18 since the Southern League All-Star break.

 

J.R. Hopf, who went 11-for-30 in July, is 6-for-19 this month...... The Stars back-up catcher carried a light stick for the first three months of the season, hitting .185 going into July. His average is now .241.

 

Juan Sandoval has now given up 11 runs on eight hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings in his last two appearances. He finished July with a 1-1 record and 3.21 ERA.

 

The Stars send Nick Green for his third start Friday night. Going for Mobile is All-Star Matt Torra, who in two starts against the Stars, has given up 10 runs on 13 hits in 11 innings, but won the season opener, 5-4, thanks partly to Huntsville pitchers walking 10.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 5, Dunedin (Blue Jays) 4, ten innings

Brevard County Game Summary:

 

Manatees Use Late-Inning Heroics to Stun Blue Jays

Tyler Stover, Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) It was better late than never for the Brevard County offense on Thursday night, as the Manatees rallied from a 4-1, ninth-inning deficit to beat Dunedin, 5-4, in 10 innings. The win gave the Manatees a series victory, and they are now 11-4 against the Blue Jays in 2009.

 

Dunedin looked to have the game well in hand as they built a 4-1 lead behind a solo home run from Jesus Gonzalez and a two-run shot by Kevin Ahrens. With heralded reliever Tim Collins entering the game in the eighth inning to close things out, the lead seemed to be safe. The Manatees came up with two hits off Collins in the eighth, but were unable to push any runs across the plate.

 

Eric Farris and Steffan Wilson started the ninth-inning rally with back-to-back singles. The following batter, Chris Errecart, was drilled by a pitch to load the bases. This may have rattled Collins, as he walked Lee Haydel to bring in a run for Brevard County. Trystan Magnuson was summoned from the Dunedin bullpen to stop the bleeding, but he was unable to hold off the Manatees. He issued a walk to his first batter, Zelous Wheeler, scoring another run. Sergio Miranda followed with a bloop single into center field, scoring Errecart and tying the game at 4-4.

 

The Manatees appeared to be on their way to victory, with the bases loaded and no outs in a tie game. Brent Brewer ripped a line drive, but it was right into the glove of shortstop Raul Barron, who doubled up Wheeler at second base. Martin Maldonado grounded out to end the inning and send the game to extras.

 

After Michael Fiers sat the Blue Jays down in order, Logan Schafer led off the tenth inning with a walk. After Schafer was bunted over to second base by Farris, Wilson was intentionally walked. Errecart ripped a line drive off the extended glove of Barron, allowing the ball to drop safely behind second base, and loading the bases with one out. Haydel came through, lifting a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring Schafer easily and sending the Viera faithful home happy.

 

Fiers (1-0) picked up the win in his Manatees debut, pitching 2.1 perfect innings in relief. Magnuson (4-1) was charged with the loss, his first of the year. The late heroics by the Manatees ruined a dominant outing by Dunedin starter Chuck Huggins, who allowed just one run on two hits in six innings of work, striking out seven Manatees.

 

Brevard County finishes the homestand at 4-3. They head to Lakeland on Friday to open a three-game series, which is part of a seven-game road trip. Michael Bowman (3-4, 3.18) will pitch the opener for the Manatees.

 

Brevard County Box Score

Great write-up, Tyler; nice work by the two Mark's, Rogers and Willinsky, early on; the Michael Fiers story continues to be a great read -- just keep giving him different uniforms all the way up; fun ending for the locals...

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Growing process part of the game for Manatees

Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

 

Playing baseball in the Advanced Class A Florida State League is not for the faint of heart.

 

There's the travel and the tenacious competition, but most of all, the oppressive heat and humidity that drains a player during the course of 140 regular-season games from April 9 through Sept. 6.

 

But the way Brevard County Manatees Manager Mike Guerrero sees it, it's just part of growing up and getting ready for the bigs.

 

"Obviously, the weather makes it tough," Guerrero said. "But if you want to be a big league ballplayer, that's what you're playing this game for.

"You still have two months to go," he added, alluding to the Major League regular season that concludes at the end of September.

 

The Manatees have 24 regular-season games to play and then at least one round of postseason games beginning Sept. 8. It's no time to be tired.

 

"As you go up the ladder you are going to play more games and you have to find a way to pace yourself so you can perform on the field, because players are measured by their performance on the field," Guerrero said.

 

"That's how the game's played, and wherever you go you're going to be measured by that. Everyone, every player, basically, wants to have a great season, but it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

 

Speaking of starts, the Manatees tore up the FSL North Division in the first half, finishing 40-24 and winning the championship by 71/2 games. The second half hasn't been as easy as the Manatees find themselves at 26-17 and in second place, six games behind the surging 32-11 Tampa Yankees.

 

But Guerrero isn't conceding anything to Tampa, the Manatees' first-round playoff opponent should the Yankees win the second half. Nor is he taking anything away from his team.

 

"How many people did we send up and how many people did they receive?" he said. "I think my players are way better this half. We sent out a lot of people. We sent out a lot of pitchers (including four All-Stars). Obviously, pitching in this league makes a difference. They've (Yankees) probably got some position players and they probably have some help from pitching.

 

"They're playing better, I think we're playing pretty good ball, too."

 

But with three weeks to go in the regular season, Guerrero isn't concerned about Tampa or the playoffs. In fact, he's not even thinking about them. The way he sees it, he's got three weeks to continue his main mission: developing his players for the next step in their careers as part of the Milwaukee Brewers system.

 

And if he does his job, his coaches do their jobs and the players do theirs -- and survive a minimum of three more weeks of Florida's fiery summer -- everything should fall into place.