Link Report for Fri. 8/28 -- Rogers Continues to Impress

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Menu: TGIF!

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Tim Dillard at Round Rock (Astros), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Nick Green at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: First, it's the completion of July 7th's suspended contest at Tampa (Yankees) -- the Manatees trail 1-0 in the 4th -- then it's a seven-inning nightcap, 4:00 gametime; look for RHP's Mark Rogers and Alex Periard to see action, based on the recent schedule

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

Wisconsin: LHP Evan Frederickson at Kane County (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Summer League: at home in Maryvale vs. the bratty Cubbies; no more day games -- 7:00 local time in the desert; no audio, naturally...

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete -- the squad finished 27-43, 11th place in the 12-team division, 24.5 games behind the first-place DSL Giants. If it makes you smile, the DSL Cubs #2 squad finished last at 15-52, and lost their final 19 games of the season.

[Mass Haas]

How about letting Mark Rogers take over in the suspended game (originally an Evan Anundsen start)....

 

If the Manatees come back, that'd be one way to get Rogers his first win of the season, and reward him for his prior efforts...

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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_08_28_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_28_hunaax_biraax_1&did=t559&sid=t559

 

Brevard County Completion of Suspended Game:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_07_07_breafa_tbyafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_08_28_breafa_tbyafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Wisconsin:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_28_wisafx_kccafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_28_grfrok_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_28_cubrok_brrrok_1

[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.

***

"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 70 62 .530 - 40-27 30-35 W1 Iowa 68 65 .511 2.5 40-25 28-40 W2 Nashville 68 65 .511 2.5 36-31 32-34 L2 Omaha 58 75 .436 12.5 29-37 29-38 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 33 27 .550 - 18-12 15-15 W3 Tennessee 32 28 .533 1.0 14-16 18-12 W1 Chattanooga 31 29 .517 2.0 19-12 12-17 L1 Huntsville 24 35 .407 8.5 13-16 11-19 W3 Carolina 21 39 .350 12.0 10-20 11-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tampa 42 15 .737 - 15-9 27-6 L1 Brevard County 34 20 .630 6.5 22-13 12-7 W2 Clearwater 30 30 .500 13.5 17-15 13-15 L2 Dunedin 28 30 .483 14.5 15-13 13-17 W1 Daytona 26 32 .448 16.5 13-18 13-14 W1 Lakeland 23 33 .411 18.5 9-12 14-21 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Missoula 10 13 .435 - 6-7 4-6 W1 Great Falls 9 14 .391 1.0 2-8 7-6 L1 Billings 7 15 .318 2.5 6-6 1-9 L1 Helena 7 15 .318 2.5 4-6 3-9 W1 

[Mass Haas]

This MiLB.com article discusses post-season crowds (or should we say "lack there-of"). Here's an excerpt:

 

Just doing whatever it takes

Huntsville Stars general manager Buck Rogers, a Minor League Baseball front office veteran, didn't mince words when asked about the playoffs.

"Nobody really cares," he said. "Everybody is focused on other things, so you've got to get creative."

Before moving to Huntsville, Rogers served as a GM in the Florida State League. There, he did not hesitate to get creative.

"There was one thing we did that I thought was exceptional," he recalled. "We had an off day [between playoff series], so we took the players out to high school football games and had them hand out vouchers good for buy-one, get-one-free playoff tickets."

The Stars currently have games scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11. The latter contest is being marketed as "Patriots Night," in which all firefighters, law enforcement, EMT and military personnel will be admitted free. Given the solemn nature of the day, the Stars plan to tone down done their usual high-energy game presentation. But if the Stars are able to advance to the Southern League Finals, then all bets are off.

"We'll get crazy if we have to," said Rogers. "I can imagine doing something that ties in with football, because in this area Auburn and Alabama rule the roost. If one of our games falls on a Saturday, we'll even set up TVs on the concourse. We plan on fighting for every fan that we can get."

[DHonks]

Wow, way to go Mark Rogers! 5 innings, no walks, 7 K's! Even the doubters should be excited that he's back!

[wibadgers23]

Whoa, I didn't even realize BC was playing yet. What a nice surprise to open up the boxscore and see Rogers with that pitching line. I believe this is also the first time this year that he has gone at least 5 innings too.

[battlekow]

Nice to see Caleb Gindl playing center, too. Gindl and Rogers have really provided succor in a mostly depressing year for the system.

[True CryM]

Brevard has a nasty arsenal of arms. Between Rogers, Rivas, Anundsen, Merklinger, Periard, Bowman, Fiers, Rapoza and a few others, the big league club could have a very similar look in the next few years. At the same time, the lack of legitimate prospects in Nashville makes one wonder if any of their starters (save Jones) will be around this time next year.

[aintbize]

How do you bring Braddock in for 6 pitches and not have him come out for the 9th? That's ridiculous, especially since Wooten has struggled lately...makes no sense.

 

All we have done is brought him out of the bullpen this year...why not let him start the 9th? I am at a lost for words.

[fondybrewfan]

Rogers is like a god to me. For him to be this successful this year after completely missing the last 2 years is awesome. In my mind he has fully regained is uber-prospect status. He should still stay in the minors the entire year next year, hopefully he is ready to go 150-175 innings for the Crew in 2011.

 

Now if only Braddock could get turned back into a start next year..... There are going to be a ton os SP prospects in Huntsville next year so I would think he'll stay a reliever in Hunstville are be given a shot at starting in AAA. I guess it all depends on his health in ST next year.

[brewmann04]

i agree with Doug ( Kudos to Rogers and Jones )

[LouisEly]

Rogers... as Lee Corso would say, "Yo!"

 

Merklinger... "Yo!"

 

Aguilar... "Ouch!"

 

True - I think you're right on that. I have Butler, Jones, Cody, Capuano, and Hand. If Cappy isn't back then... David Welch!

[Mass Haas]

How about letting Mark Rogers take over in the suspended game (originally an Evan Anundsen start)....

 

If the Manatees come back, that'd be one way to get Rogers his first win of the season, and reward him for his prior efforts...

Final, Completion of Suspended Game: Brevard County 3, Tampa (Yankees) 2

 

Brevard County Game One Box Score

It's a sin we're not getting media accounts on Mark Rogers and the rest of the deserving Manatees; a Lee Haydel RBI single tied it at 1-1 in the 6th, Martin Maldonado followed three consecutive singles with a force-in RBI walk in the 7th to tie it at 2-2, and after the first two batters in the top of the 9th were retired, Brent Brewer singled and Logan Schafer doubled him in for the go-ahead and winning run; newcomer RHP Buddy Flores with a 1-2-3 9th for the save; if you remember, the Manatees were experimenting with infield positions when this game began on July 7th -- Eric Farris started at shortstop and Brewer played second base, and sure enough, they picked it up as such...

 

Brevard County Game One Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final, regularly scheduled game: Tampa (Yankees) 5, Brevard County 1

 

Brevard County Game Two Box Score

LHP Dan Merklinger went five shutout innings, but RHP Omar Aguilar had his first "blow-up" in 17 Manatee appearances since his demotion and was bullied in the 6th of this seven-inning game; coming on in the 5th and getting the win for the Yankees was switch-pitching hurler, the amazing Pat Venditte (New York Times story from earlier this season, then

); six baserunners for the 'Tees, one extra-base hit; Caleb Gindl threw out a man at third base from right field -- it is true, as noted above, that Gindl played CF in game one, as the Manatees were experimenting with outfield play back then as well...

 

Brevard County Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Cubs 3, Arizona Brewers 0

Arizona Box Score

Brewer season ends Saturday; three rehabbing pitchers, including Chris Capuano, opened things up for the A-Crew; guessing that LHP Casey Baron is close to rejoining Huntsville; LHP Matt Costello should have been with Helena by now; the only pitcher to allow runs was young RHP Luis Guerrero, who has struggled all season -- not sure if any of his 15 appearances have been scoreless; first baseman Allixon Cequea had two of the team's four hits, all singles -- Cequea hardly prototypical at first base, 6'1", 175...

 

Arizona Game Log

[Mass Haas]

From Thursday:

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Adam Stern

 

From Friday:

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Don Money

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 8, Round Rock (Astros) 2

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Tim Dillard photo, text follows --

 

Dillard, Sounds Derail Express, 8-2

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds got back on the winning track on Friday evening at The Dell Diamond, snapping a two-game skid with an 8-2 victory over the Round Rock Express.

 

The win combined with a Memphis loss pulled the Sounds (69-65) back within 1 ½ games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division. Iowa also won its contest and joins Nashville just 1 ½ games behind the Redbirds.

 

Right-hander Tim Dillard (11-7) picked up a win for the first time in his last five outings with his team-leading tenth quality start of the year. He allowed two runs on eight hits while fanning five batters over eight innings, matching the longest outing by a Nashville starter this season.

 

Corey Patterson paced the Nashville offense with a 4-for-5 evening while J.J. Hardy and Tike Redman each drove in a pair of runs in the winning effort.

 

Round Rock took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on third baseman Chris Johnson's two-out RBI single off Dillard.

 

Nashville took advantage of a pair of Express errors in the third to grab a 3-1 lead.

 

Carlos Corporan opened the frame by reaching on a fielding error by second baseman Matt Kata and was sacrificed to second before Adam Stern walked. Patterson followed with an RBI single to right off Round Rock hurler Polin Trinidad to even the contest. Hardy pushed the Sounds in front with a two-run double to left.

 

The Express pulled back within a run at 3-2 in the bottom of the frame on another Johnson RBI single.

 

The Sounds tagged on three more runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2. Patterson opened with a single off Polidad and stole second before the left-hander issued walks to Joe Koshansky and Hernan Iribarren to load the bags.

 

Redman (3-for-5) greeted new Express reliever Roy Corcoran with a two-out, two-run single to left before Corporan followed with an RBI single of his own.

 

Pinch-hitter extraordinaire Erick Almonte closed out the evening's scoring in the top of the ninth when he came off the bench to belt a two-out, two-run homer to left off Geoff Geary. The blast, which also scored Redman, was Almonte's second roundtripper of the year and the Sounds' third pinch-hit blast of 2009. Almonte is batting .375 (15-for-40) as a pinch-hitter for Nashville.

 

AUDIO: Erick Almonte Pinch-Hit HR

 

Trindad (5-5) took the loss for Round Rock after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in his 4 2/3 frames of action.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 PM matchup on Saturday night. Left-hander Chase Wright (8-7, 4.22) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Round Rock right-hander Eric Abreu (2-2, 7.90).

 

Nashville Box Score

Tim Dillard 116 pitches through eight innings -- not his usual groundball game, ten in the air; J.J. Hardy a double and two singles -- still odd seeing his name here; Corey Patterson means business, doesn't he? Mat Gamel 0-for-5, I miss the old Mat -- to be honest, we haven't seen the old Mat since April (seasonal stats including monthly splits)...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Kane County (Athletics) 4, Wisconsin 3, ten innings

 

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Odd ending gives Cougars a win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday night at Elfstrom Stadium. The winning run scored after an infield fly had been called for the second out of the inning with the bases loaded. After the infield fly was called, the ball was dropped and Nino Leyja streaked home with the winning run.

 

Wisconsin (57-73 overall, 23-37 second half) scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning on an error. The Rattlers added to their lead with another run in the third inning. A Kyle Dhanani RBI single to left knocked in Mike Brownstein with two outs for a 2-0 lead. But it would not last.

 

The Cougars (70-61, 29-32) charged into the lead in the bottom of the third with three walks, a hit batsman, an infield single and an error. Rattlers starting pitcher Evan Frederickson got the first out of the inning, but walked the next three batters to load the bases. Frederickson got the second out with a strikeout, but Mike Spina was hit by a pitch to force in a run.

 

Franklin Hernandez was next and he sent a smash to the hole at short. Josh Prince made a diving backhanded stab, but his throw to first was wild and two runs scored. The play was ruled an RBI single and a throwing error to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead. But it would not last.

 

John Delaney drew a leadoff walk and was at second base with two outs. Derrick McPhearson blooped in a single to right-center and Delaney scored the tying run.

 

The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth inning. Brandon Ritchie, who had already tossed two perfect innings out of the bullpen, went back out for the tenth. He allowed back-to-back singles to Leyja and Leonardo Gil. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base. Ritchie walked Spina intentionally to load the bases.

 

Wisconsin's infield and outfield moved in to try to cut down the run at the plate as Hernandez stepped in to the batter's box. Hernandez swung at the first pitch from Ritchie and popped the ball up to shallow right field. Brownstein, the second baseman, raced back and Pete Fatse, the right fielder, came in on the ball and the umpires ruled the infield fly rule in effect and Hernandez was out. But, Fatse could not make the catch.

Leyja alertly broke for the plate and scored the winning run.

 

Game two of the series is Saturday night. Cody Scarpetta (4-10, 3.39) is the scheduled starter for the Timber Rattlers. The Cougars will send Mathieu Leblanc-Porier (3-7, 4.84) to the mound. Game time is 6:00 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

LHP Evan Frederickson's poor line was saved a bit when RHP Rigo Almonte stranded two of his baserunners; RHP Wily Peralta three hitless innings, walking two, fanning four; everyone in the lineup hitting .250 or under; SS Josh Prince hitting .227 in 97 AB's since his promotion from Helena; over 6,800 in attendance in this road affair...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 8, Birmingham (White Sox) 6

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

Stars Break Out the Bats to Beat Birmingham

Huntsville Holds Off Ninth Inning Rally to Down Barons

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Drew Anderson's tie-breaking three-run home run ignited a five-run fifth inning rally that carried Huntsville past Birmingham 8-6 Friday night in the opener of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Stars won their fourth straight game to improve to 25-35 in the second half and 63-66 overall, while the Barons dropped a fourth in a row to fall to 36-25 in the second half and 84-46 overall. The Stars won for a fourth time in 11 games against the Barons, including two wins in seven tries in Birmingham.

 

Birmingham loaded the bases with a hit, a walk and a hit batter with one out in the ninth against Rob Wooten, who then got Dayan Viciedo to ground out to drive in a run that cut the lead to 8-6. Wooten finished off his 11th save in 11 chances by getting Jim Gallagher to ground out to end the game with runners at second and third.

 

Chuck Caufield's sacrifice fly in the third inning drove in the first run of the game and the Stars tacked on two more in the fourth when Taylor Green doubled in Jonathan Lucroy and came around on a C.J. Retherford throwing error on an infield hit by Lorenzo Cain. Christian Marrero led off the home fourth with a home run, his 11th with the Barons and second against the Stars, to get the home team on the board. Viciedo doubled in David Cook and then scored on a two-out single by Jared Price to tie the game at three.

 

Brett Lawrie led off the decisive fifth with a single and made it to second base when Cook dropped a Caufield line drive that also allowed him to reach. Anderson then unloaded on a 2-1 offering from starter Johnnie Lowe for his tenth home run of the season and a 6-3 Huntsville edge. Yohannis Perez finished the rally with a two-out, two-run double. Lowe was then lifted from the game after hitting Freddy Parejo and was charged with the loss. He allowed eight runs, four earned, on 11 hits and fell to 0-4 in five double-A turns.

 

Stars' starter Nick Green gave up a run in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single by Viciedo that cut the lead to 8-4 and then retired the side in order in the sixth to close his performance and earn his first win with the Stars. He allowed nine hits, walked one and fanned one and received eight runs of support after picking up just four in his first five turns.

 

Jim Henderson took over in the seventh and gave up a two-out, run-scoring hit to Viciedo that trimmed the lead to 8-5 before getting Gallagher to fly out to end the inning with two runners on. Zach Braddock retired the side in order in the eighth with six pitches.

 

The series continues Saturday night with Stars' right-hander Josh Butler taking the mound against Barons' right-hander Matt Long. 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

Rob Wooten always successful, but proving to be a "heart attack" closer...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 9, Helena 8

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Voyagers edge Brewers in slugfest

By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record

For three hours Friday, the Helena Brewers battled the Great Falls Voyagers evenly at Kindrick Field and after three innings the Brewers led 5-3.

 

But Great Falls erupted for four runs in the top of the fourth to go up 7-5, and then held on for a 9-8 Voyagers' victory.

 

Almost every time the visitors scored, Helena answered back. The hosts had a golden opportunity to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth frame, only to see their rally snuffed out by a double play.

 

Catcher Shawn Zarraga reached on an error, followed by singles by Edgar Trejo, Joey Paciorek and Michael Marseco, bringing Helena to within one, 9-8. Mike Roberts then walked to load the bases with two out, but Chris Ellington grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

 

At 6-foot-10 and 210-pounds, lanky left-handed Great Falls starter Garrett Johnson had the fans rubbing their eyes, making sure they weren't seeing another Johnson on the mound - the Big Unit, Randy Johnson.

 

Donald Brandt relieved for the Brewers with one out in the fourth stanza. The lefthander went 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run, while striking out five.

 

Brandt came to the Brewers from the Chico (Calif.) Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. His catcher on the Outlaws was former Helena Senators' standout B.J. Underkofler. The GBL is an independent league, playing games in the western U.S. and Canada.

 

The Electric City club was led at the plate Friday by Jesus Avila and Kyle Colligan, with two runs batted in each. Teammate Johnny Cellas contributed a home run.

 

Brandon Kloess was the winning pitcher, with Cameron Bayne getting the save.

 

Brewer starter Nick Bucci suffered the loss. Helena's offense was paced by Marseco, Ellington and Trejo, with two base knocks apiece. Marseco, a slender 5-9, 150-pound shortstop, delivered a ringing RBI-double to the left-center gap in the fourth.

 

One of the best web-gems of the contest took place in the second inning, when Brewers third baseman Joey Paciorek dove to his right and speared a screaming grounder by Chase Blackwood, then popped to his feet and fired a bullet to first to get his man.

 

Another big defensive play by the Capital City squad came in the fourth, when left fielder Chris Ellington threw out Jose Vargas at home.

 

Helena slips to 7-16 in the second half, while Great Falls improves to 10-14.

 

Helena Box Score

Three of RHP Nick Bucci's last four outings have been rough, but he's shined in seven of the past ten as well -- to summarize, a rough patch...

 

Helena Game Log

[sfl2hnq17]

Just to comment on bucci... I was listening to Steve last week when Bucci was pitching against Orem and he was saying that they were going after first pitch fastballs and that he was throwing too many strikes. Which got me wondering, and this is kind of ironic considering how some of the other prospects are, Nick might have to start throwing less strikes to be successful. I didn't listening last night so I'm not what Nick's problems were but forget when he got hit hard it was because he in the strike zone too much.

Another side question for people to discuss..... Do you prefer a prospect with great stuff and mediocre control or for a pitcher with great control and mediocre stuff?