Link Report for Wed. 9/9 -- Manatees Swept, Sweet Season with a Sour Ending

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: Season complete

 

Huntsville: Playoffs begin Thursday

Brevard County: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime; game two in a best-of-three series; Tampa leads, 1-0

Live Audio Link -- Thank You Stephen Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com

 

Wisconsin: Season complete

 

Helena: RHP Eric Arnett at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game; 8:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Summer League: Season complete

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens:

Brevard County:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_09_09_tbyafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_09_helrok_grfrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

[And That]

Brevard has been delayed by rain... shocking. They've got two scoreless in the books so far.

[trwi7]

Listening to Stephen Smith. He said they're scheduled to restart the game 7:30 Central time.

[trwi7]

The Jeremy Jeffress thing from last night was just cleared up. Rapoza was wearing #30 last night because his usual #16 jersey was left behind. So Stephen Smith not being familiar with the Manatees having just moved from California wondered whether or not suspensions only counted in the regular season since 30 was Jeffress' number.

[trwi7]

Rivas gives up a 2 run HR to Austin Romine. Tampa now leading 2-1 in the 6th.

[Mass Haas]

Chris Mehring promises posts all off-season, he was busy today, continue to check out the Rattler Radio Blog

[Mass Haas]

UGH -- Michael Fiers gives up a two-run HR in the top of the 9th, sigh...Laird again. 4-2 Yankees.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site:

2009 Sounds Season In Review

[wibadgers23]

Disappointing end to the season, but I'm already looking forward to the '10 Huntsville team. Schafer, Gindl, Farris, Rivas, Anundsen, Rogers, and possibly Lawrie. Should be a lot of fun to follow!

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville playoff audio with Brett starting Thursday -- riding high on a nine-game losing streak!

[dadofandrew]

I'm always glad no one got hurt in the playoffs, as stats don't even count. I'm shocked Helena is still playing as well.

[Mass Haas]

I'm always glad no one got hurt in the playoffs, as stats don't even count. I'm shocked Helena is still playing as well.

The Helena season, well the Pioneer League season, always staggers a week or so beyond the other seasons.

 

In terms of being concerned about getting hurt in the playoffs as stats don't count, I'm not sure I understand your point. The concerns aren't weather-related, like playing World Series games in November.

 

Minor league seasons above rookie ball are about 140 games. A best-of-two series followed by a possible championship best-of-three series isn't worth the risk of injury in order to give players something to shoot for all season from a team standpoint, beyond individual stats? Guess they shouldn't have instructionals in Maryvale or the Arizona Fall League because players might get hurt?

 

I'm glad when players in the playoffs don't get hurt, too, but what that has to do with stats not counting is beyond me, sorry.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Tampa (Yankees) 5, Brevard County 2

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Tampa bounces Brevard

Manatees eliminated from FSL playoffs

BY MARK DeCOTIS

FLORIDA TODAY

 

The Brevard County Manatees gave it their best shot but it just wasn't enough.

 

The Manatees, the Florida State League's North Division first-half champions, fell 5-2 to the second-half champion Tampa Yankees at Space Coast Stadium Wednesday night in the second game of the best-of-three divisional playoff. Tampa won the series opener 11-5 on Tuesday.

 

The Manatees didn't go quietly. They put runners on first and third with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, igniting the announced crowd of 1,408.

 

Lee Haydel walked and Eric Farris laid down a bunt that Yankee reliever Noel Castillo threw into right field. Logan Schafer hit a grounder to short, scoring Haydel and tying the game 2-2.

 

But in the ninth, Tampa's Brandon Laird slammed a two-run homer to left for a 4-2 lead. Jack Rye added a run-scoring triple for the 5-2 margin and the series.

 

Tampa plays the winner of the Fort Myers-Charlotte matchup -- the final Game is tonight -- for the FSL championship beginning Friday.

 

"They swung the bats; the long ball tonight killed us," Manatees manager Mike Guerrero said. "You can't defense the long ball.

 

"I thought we played a great ballgame. Everything came their way.

 

"We played outstanding defense."

 

Things were slowed by a 47-minute rain delay that followed a cloudburst in the top of the third.

 

The Manatees struck first as Yankee reliever Adam Olbrychoski walked the first two batters in the fourth and Chris Errecart singled in Schafer for a 1-0 lead.

 

But Tampa went ahead 2-1 three batters later on Austin Romine's two-run homer to right.

 

Brevard County Box Score

The 'Tees didn't take better advantage of some Yankee wildness in the middle innings; had a chance to listen to the game after the early rain dealy, thanks again to Stephen for setting up the broadcast...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Brevard County's Logan Schafer slides back safely to first during Wednesday's playoff game against Tampa. (Photo by Craig Rubadoux, FLORIDA TODAY)

 

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20090910&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=909100321&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

[Diskono]

I'm always glad no one got hurt in the playoffs, as stats don't even count. I'm shocked Helena is still playing as well.

Do the stats even count for anything important in the regular season though? Obviously they're important so we can see how the players are doing, but I thought the minor leagues in general were more about learning an dexperience.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 6, Helena 5

 

Helena Independent Record:

 

Brewers fail to hold 2-run lead in ninth

 

GREAT FALLS - The Helena Brewers let one slip away Wednesday, in a topsy-turvy contest at Centene Stadium. The Brewers went into the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run lead over Great Falls, but allowed three runs to score in the Voyagers' last at bat to fall by a score of 6-5.

 

With Great Falls runners on second and third with two down, Helena was clinging to a one-run lead and were one out from victory, when Jose Vargas popped a high fly ball to the right side of the infield.

 

But Brewers' second baseman Cutter Dykstra dropped the ball, as Zachary Kayne and Jeffrey Tezak both raced home, with the tying and winning runs, respectively.

 

The loss drops Helena to 11-25 for the second half of the season, while Great Falls improves to 20-16.

 

Paul Burnside was the winning pitcher, and Kristian Bueno took the loss.

 

Helena got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead after the opening inning when Scott Krieger drove in Chad Stang with a triple to left field.

 

Great Falls went on top 2-1 in the third frame. Jesus Avila scored Robert Cummings with a sacrifice fly, and Nick Ciolli's ground out drove in Chase Blackwood.

In the sixth stanza, the Brewers plated two tallies to pull back ahead, 3-2. Sean Halton delivered the crucial base knock, a ringing two-run double to center field, driving in Michael Marseco and Chris Ellington.

 

The Northern Division foes traded runs over the next two innings. The Electric City group tied it up at 4-all in the seventh, but the Brew Crew answered back in the eighth, when Ellington doubled, and then sped home on Halton's RBI single to left.

 

Halton finished with a double, a single and three ribbies.

 

Helena added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. After Dykstra singled, Michael Roberts stroked an RBI triple over the center fielder's head, as the Brewers went up 5-3.

 

Then came Great Falls' fateful three-run rally for the victory.

 

Helena will next host Missoula Thursday at Kindrick Legion Field, the first pitch slated for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

Cutter Dykstra wasn't given an error on the game-ending pop-up, but regardless Helena's miserable season continues as the Great Falls newspaper clearly states it was a drop; Dykstra on base four times, Chad Stang and Sean Halton each reached thrice, as Halton continues to rake; 22-year-old LHP Caleb Thielbar was beyond fantastic in Maryvale and he stranded two runners by getting two outs for RHP Eric Arnett here; Arnett alllowed seven baserunners in a pretty solid 5.1 innings of work...

 

Helena Game Log

Brewer batters struck out 18 times -- yowza!

[MTBrew]

Unbelievable end to the Helena game. That Dykstra was not charged with an error is unbelievable as well.

He just stood there and waited for someone else (Halton?) to make the play before he made a stab at it. The night before, on 2 consecutive steal attempts, he neglected to back up Marseco at 2B as the ball sailed into CF (Garfield's arm is another story). For all his physical talents I don't believe he can be taught to play baseball.

There have been Brewers brass at the past couple of games, all the strike outs, all the attempted and caught steals by the Brewers makes me wonder if players were being "show cased".

Another good pitching effort down the drain, story of this season.

[Never Outhustled]

For all his physical talents I don't believe he can be taught to play baseball.

Maybe we'll have a better idea of that when he goes through his 1st spring training as a 2B. He finished hot at the plate, he's a top basestealer. He has a quick bat. There's alot to work with there. I understand your statement is mostly venting, but its a massive overstatement none the less.

[MTBrew]

X ellence, having watched Cutter the past to summers I disagree with your assertion. I was very supportive of him this year and have been complimentary in his move to 2B. I don't understand why he wasn't moved to AZ along with the position switch. I also think he has played better ball this summer compared to last. However his inability to follow the game, give good effort and make baseball decisions are not going to be corrected in ST. This isn't new, as last summer he dogged in the OF, couldn't hit a cut-off and continuely ran thru signs. I agree with what you mentioned - quick bat, good base stealer, and although his average doesn't reflect it he was much better at putting the bat on the ball this summer, he can really sting the ball. At this point I am at a loss at where to play him.

[Never Outhustled]

I agree that lack of effort is a damning characteristic, but Cutter has been battling injury, and playing hurt, since the day he was signed. He was described as super intense before that. Hopefully he can find health, and hopefully more focused baseball will follow.

[colbyjack]

I'm always glad no one got hurt in the playoffs, as stats don't even count. I'm shocked Helena is still playing as well.

 

Not to pile on, but one could argue that none of the stats really count in the minors. Should prospects not participate in all-star games or the Arizona Fall League? Development requires the players to play the games, which of course puts them at risk of getting injured. You can't get better and magically ride the bench to the big leagues.

 

As for Cutter Dykstra, I'm halfway between the points MTBrew and X ellence are arguing. On one hand, I agree with X that the tools are there for Cutter to succeed. But on the other hand, he has been a disappointment since being drafted. There have been some bright spots, as he did hit well at times last summer and finished strong this year, but for the son of a former MLB player that supposedly was more polished than the average Joe, he's a lot more like an average Joe based on the reports we've heard from both Helena and Appleton. He needs to have a good year with the T-Rats next year to put himself firmly back on the prospect map, otherwise he's going to be subject to a lot of scrutiny (if he isn't already).