Your 2010 Nashville Sounds -- Latest: Top 10 Moments

[Mass Haas]

An inaccuracy or two (Baseball America had Lorenzo Cain # 8 entering the season...)Link while active, text follows:

 

Sounds outfielder catches club's eyes

Cain could soon receive call to join Brewers

By Bryan Mullen, THE TENNESSEAN

 

Lorenzo Cain doesn't get many days off. When he does, he likes to chill out and play some Xbox at his home, preferably sports games.

 

If the speedy Sounds outfielder continues his sparkling play, he will be featured in a video game very soon.

 

In the same lineage as Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, Cain is the latest Sounds player destined for a successful big league career. The 24-year-old Georgia native is ranked as the Brewers' top prospect by Baseball America. He was called up to Milwaukee recently, played in three games, and displayed talents that could one day make him an everyday big leaguer.

 

"You sit there and say, 'Oh, this is actually happening,' " Cain said. "When they called me up, I was pumped and nervous at the same time. It was a great moment. I had a blast. I'm just trying to get back up there as soon as I can."

 

Cain has shot through the Brewers' system. Milwaukee selected him in the 17th round of the 2004 draft while Cain was playing for Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College. After putting in his time on the lower levels, he emerged last year and ended the season at Double-A Huntsville. He was hampered with a knee injury and played in only 70 games, but when Cain was healthy, he was a potential game-changer with his speed.

 

The Brewers' brass noticed. He was promoted to Nashville earlier this season, then made the big jump on June 17.

 

Cain knew the call-up to Milwaukee was going to be short lived. Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo was about to come off the disabled list and Cain would be optioned back to Nashville. Cain, however, made the most of his opportunity.

 

He played in three games and went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and four total bases. He would have been 4-for-5, but Braves outfielder Matt Diaz made a diving catch in Cain's first game.

 

"I got to see the way those guys handle their business, how hard they work and how they prepare," Cain said. "It was a blast. I had a great time and I knew what the situation was."

 

When Cain was optioned back to Nashville a few days later, he didn't hang his head.

 

"Everybody needs playing time in Triple-A," Sounds Manager Don Money said. "It's very rare you see a position player go from Double-A to the big leagues and be successful on an everyday basis. You need to see pitching everyday and get the at-bats."

 

Entering Friday, Cain was hitting .324 in 17 games, including five doubles and three triples.

 

"Coming up here to Triple-A, these guys know how to pitch," Cain said. "In the lower levels, you see a lot more fastballs. Up here, they throw a lot of off-speed. It's just about adjusting to that and improving my plate discipline. I think I need it."

 

His Sounds highlight came on July 26 when he hit two triples in the first inning at Albuquerque. He became only the fourth player in minor league history to accomplish that feat.

 

"After the first triple, I didn't think I was going to hit again that inning, of course," Cain said. "But I came back up, the bases were loaded and I was able to put a good swing on the ball."

 

Then, with a laugh, Cain added, "I was a little tired. Two triples in two at-bats, I'll take it, though."

 

While Money enjoys seeing Cain prosper, he's waiting to see how the prospect deals with adversity.

 

"When they're successful, everybody can play this game," Money said. "When you're hitting .330, it's nice coming to the ballpark. But what happens when you go into that 10-for-60 slump? You have to play every day to find that out about a player."

 

Given Cain's optimism and big-picture outlook, dealing with adversity likely won't be an issue. The bigger question is what the Brewers' plans are for Cain. Given his production so far this season — and his successful stint with the Brewers — Cain is forcing the team's hand.

 

"Does he get called up in September?" Money asked. "That's up to the big club. But I would expect so."

 

Many see Sounds outfielder Lorenzo Cain as the parent club Milwaukee Brewers' next can't-miss prospect, drawing comparisons to Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. (JEANNE REASONOVER / THE TENNESSEAN)

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[battlekow]

Getting to know second baseman Eric Farris

[Mass Haas]

Getting To Know Pitcher Chuck Löfgren

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Palo Verde product resurrects his career

Nashville's Kintzler on verge of majors after 2006 release

By TODD DEWEY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

 

Buried on baseball's scrap heap with a bum shoulder after getting released by the San Diego Padres in 2006, Palo Verde High School graduate Brandon Kintzler has since made a remarkable comeback.

A right-hander who throws in the mid-90s, Kintzler had two strikeouts for the Nashville Sounds on Monday in a scoreless inning against the 51s at Cashman Field and is on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues with the parent Milwaukee Brewers.

 

"He's got to learn a little more about things, but stuff-wise, I don't have any doubt he would have a good chance to go up and get major league hitters out," Nashville pitching coach Rich Gale said Tuesday before the Sounds' 19-8 loss to Las Vegas. "He's been a wonderful, pleasant surprise."

The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pounder started this season at Double-A Huntsville, where he was a dominant closer, and earned his first promotion to Triple A on June 7. He was placed on the disabled list July 14 with a strained oblique muscle but returned to action Friday, pitching a perfect inning against the Reno Aces.

Kintzler is 2-0 overall this season with a 1.19 ERA, 13 saves, 37 strikeouts and three walks in 37 2/3 innings.

"I'm just trying to challenge them," he said. "The main thing is throwing strikes and staying healthy."

After playing a year apiece for Pasadena (Calif.) City College and Utah's Dixie State College, the Las Vegas native spurned a scholarship offer from UNLV to sign with the Padres, who drafted him in the 40th round in 2004 despite concerns about his shoulder.

But Kintzler, who turned 26 on Aug. 1, was released after two seasons in the Padres organization.

"I never had a healthy season," said Kintzler, who pitched with a frayed labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. "Finally they said they were going to let me go because they were getting impatient."

Kintzler didn't play in 2006, when he had surgery on his shoulder.

He signed with Winnipeg six months after surgery and toiled in virtual obscurity there in 2007 and 2008. At his request, he was traded to the St. Paul Saints last season and finally managed to attract the attention of some scouts.

A day after he started the American Association All-Star Game and hit 94 mph on the radar gun, the Brewers offered him a contract and sent him to Double A, where he went 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA as a starter.

Moved to the bullpen this season, Kintzler has thrived.

"It's kind of amazing to see a kid with this kind of arm and this kind of stuff that was in independent ball last year that some organization hadn't picked up on him," Gale said. "He throws 94 to 96 (mph), which is a very (legitimate), live major league fastball."

Kintzler, who worked at Wynn Las Vegas as a driver last offseason, can barely believe his good fortune.

"It's still unreal," he said. "A little over a year ago I was taking 16-hour bus rides in independent ball making zero money. Now we're taking airplanes and playing in Vegas."

[battlekow]

Carlos Gomez will begin a rehab assignment with the Sounds on Friday.

[Team Canada]

Good grief, are there enough 1 sentence paragraphs in that article? You know it's ok to connect two thoughts on the same subject..

[Mass Haas]

Getting To Know Shortstop Luis Cruz

[Mass Haas]

Getting To Know RHP Donovan Hand

[pete]

Luis Cruz drives an Escalade, likes eating at a Japanese steakhouse and thinks he's the best dresser on the team. I checked out a couple Mana songs on Youtube and they've got a Grateful Dead feel to them. Sounds like a character. I wonder if he gets a bench spot next season. Take a walk Luis!

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Nashville Sounds' left-hander Chuck Lofgren has perfect pitch

Pitcher is comfortable on mound or stage

By Bryan Mullen, THE TENNESSEAN

Chuck Lofgren didn't know whether to stand up or throw up.

 

Here he was, sitting in the sixth row of the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this year. One of his musical idols, Garth Brooks, was performing on stage.

 

Lofgren, dressed in a purple, long-sleeved shirt, jeans and boots, was soaking it all in. As a singer in a country music tribute band, Lofgren had sung Brooks' songs hundreds of times.

 

An hour into the performance, Brooks addressed the audience.

 

"Is Chuck in the crowd?" Brooks asked.

 

Lofgren froze.

 

Are. You. Kidding. Me?

 

His girlfriend, Jen Maul, nudged him out of shock.

 

Lofgren raised his hand.

 

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime," Maul whispered to him.

 

Lofgren headed to the stage.

 

'I was always singing'

 

Lofgren's stage is usually a pitcher's mound. The 24-year-old lefty is a starter for the Nashville Sounds and is 7-8 this season, his first on the Triple-A level.

 

His hobby is singing lead in a country music tribute band near his offseason home in Arizona. They mostly cover Brooks and George Strait.

 

"As a kid, I loved country music," Lofgren said. "I was always singing in the car with my dad. He always told me he loved it. I thrived off that."

 

As high school neared, Lofgren continued to sing (privately) and pitch (publicly). He attended Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif., the school that produced Barry Bonds and Tom Brady. In 2004, the Cleveland Indians drafted him in the fourth round.

 

Lofgren played his first gig at 19, when he was pitching for a Single-A team in Eastlake, Ohio. It was at a small sports bar near the stadium. The small crowd dug it.

 

As the years progressed, and as Lofgren moved up the baseball ranks, his band became a little bigger and the crowds grew a little larger.

 

'A great outlet for us'

 

Lofgren and three friends play six or seven gigs a year from October to January in Arizona. The band — which has no official name — consists of Lofgren and friends Chris Armanino, Jon Ponzo and Todd Goodrich.

 

"Both of our careers are pretty stressful so it's definitely a great outlet for us," said Armanino, 24, a police officer. "We try and go out there and give the good people a nice time."

 

When Lofgren got word he would be playing baseball this season in Nashville, his ears pricked up.

 

"It's a dream for country music people, but obviously my No. 1 focus is baseball," Lofgren said.

 

Still, he's found time for some karaoke and has hit the stage at Buck Wild Saloon downtown. Lofgren talked to The Stage into letting him sing a song but the request was denied.

 

"It would be awesome to play there, but, hey, I understand that the people on that stage are way more famous than me," Lofgren said.

 

Garth calls him onstage

 

Whether or not Lofgren plays The Stage, his signature moment will be tough to surpass.

 

Lofgren is involved with Garth Brooks' Teammate For Kids Foundation, which features professional athletes who raise money for children's charities.

 

Earlier this year, Lofgren and other pro athletes were invited to Brooks' Nashville-area ranch. Brooks was set to play a fundraiser at the Country Music Hall of Fame the next evening.

 

"I was joking around with him and said, 'Hey, don't be afraid to call me on stage tomorrow night because I can sing a little bit,' " Lofgren recalled.

"He started laughing and said, 'Yeah, I hear that all the time.' "

 

Lofgren was persistent.

 

"I told him, 'Seriously, I'd love to do it. It would be an honor,' " Lofgren said.

 

The next night, Brooks asked if Chuck was in the crowd.

 

"My heart was beating a million miles per second," Lofgren said. "I didn't know whether to say I was there or not. There were a lot people there, major league players from Cliff Lee to Ryan Franklin to Larry Walker."

 

Lofgren raised his hand, got a nudge from his girlfriend and walked to the stage.

 

Brooks shook Lofgren's hand and asked what song Lofgren wanted to sing.

 

"I was like, 'Well, you haven't done Much Too Young,' " Lofgren said.

 

Lofgren was prepared to sing backup. Instead, Brooks pushed Lofgren to the main mic. The fiddle started. Lofgren sang the first three lines. A huge applause followed.

 

"It really was an opportunity of a lifetime," Lofgren said.

 

' … get somebody out'

 

When Sounds Manager Don Money was told about Lofgren's singing, he smiled.

 

"Would I like to see him sing? No," Money said, laughing. "I'd like to see him get somebody out. I'm just kidding. Look, everyone has their own things they do to get away from the game. Some guys play the guitar. Some guys carry big snakes around."

 

Sounds officials have asked Lofgren to sing the national anthem but he is hesitant.

 

"Singing the national anthem is a little different than singing on stage," he said.

 

Maybe the P.A. announcer just needs to ask one question.

 

Is there a Chuck in the crowd?

 

Photo by SANFORD MYERS / THE TENNESSEAN

Sounds pitcher Chuck Lofgren can not only throw a fastball but he can carry a tune, as he has been part of a country music tribute band for years. Lofgren got the thrill of a lifetime recently by singing onstage with Garth Brooks.

 

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[battlekow]

Haudricourt on the Sounds we might see in Milwaukee in September:

Melvin noted that some players who would have been September call-ups, such as centerfielder Lorenzo Cain and reliever Mike McClendon, already are up with the Brewers.

 

"We don't like calling up players unless they're going to play," added Melvin.

 

Nevertheless, the Brewers probably will summon third baseman Mat Gamel once Nashville's season is done. Gamel has been one of the hottest hitters in the minors, batting .376 with 43 RBI over his last 38 games.

 

Reliever Carlos Villanueva, who has a 3.38 ERA in 10 outings since being sent to Nashville, probably will be recalled. The same cannot be said for left-hander Mitch Stetter, however, who has a 7.38 ERA in 38 relief outings.

 

Remember when Stetter was the left-handed specialist in the Brewers' bullpen? What happened?

 

"We've asked him to pitch against right-handed hitters, too," said Melvin. "He's struggled at times with that. He has given up nine home runs.

 

"That's what we like about Zach Braddock. You can leave him in to face right-handed hitters, too."

[uwisfan]

I wouldnt be surprised to see Gamel in the minors for a few more weeks. I just dont think Melvin/Macha are going to put him in the lineup much and they dont want him to sit on the bench much either after last year.. Rogers and Jeffress sounds about right.

[Mass Haas]

I wouldnt be surprised to see Gamel in the minors for a few more weeks.

Only one week left for the Sounds...

[JohnBriggs12]

I still say they should give Dillard one last look too. As a starter this season, he's 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA, and .178 opponent BA. Granted that's only over 6 starts, but form-wise, he's been the best they've had at AA or AAA lately. True he's not 23 or 24 and he's had a couple looks, but he's only a year and a half older than Butler. Given their pitching situation, I would think they'd be better off auditioning him than letting Bush run out the string of his Brewer career in meaningless games. If he fails, he can just be let go. If he shows something, he can be added to the mix for next spring.

[twobrewers]

"We've asked him to pitch against right-handed hitters, too," said Melvin. "He's struggled at times with that. He has given up nine home runs.

I do not understand Melvin.

 

Stetter was great as a LOOGY. Why try to turn him into something he isn't?

 

Stetter still has a 3.77 FIP against LH batters with a 14.5K/9 IP in the minors. I understand keeping Braddock up instead of Stetter, since Braddock uses the same roster spot and can also get out RH batters. But to pass on calling up Stetter when the rosters expand makes no sense.

[biedergb]

I can only guess that with Braddock and possibly seeing Parra as a future bullpen guy, you've got 2 lefties. Plus Stetter isn't young anymore, so not really a prospect. But the flip side is a guy like Brian Shouse, who was one of our best LOOGies and his 'career' started in 2003 with Texas at age 34. (he had some 'cups of coffee' in a few years prior to that, but was essentially relegated as a career minor leaguer until then).

[kramnoj]

But to pass on calling up Stetter when the rosters expand makes no sense.

 

It would cost $60-70K to bring him up. That's not a small amount of money, and he wouldn't pitch a meaningful number of innings.

[TooLiveBrew]

"We don't like calling up players unless they're going to play," added Melvin.

 

Put your money where your mouth is, Melvin, and don't let Gamel rot on the bench.

[pete]

Stetter was really good far a while as a LOOGY, but the reason he went to Nashville wasn't because he was great.

[dadofandrew]

It's especially tough to carry a loogy with a 7 man bullpen. Braddock has been babied, Hoffman hasn't pitched more than an inning in years, and so on. Someone has to go multiple innings.

[Never Outhustled]

Why recall Villanueva? He's no different than Chris Smith. I'd be much more interested in the power arm of Brandon Kintzler. Kintzler has to be added to the 40 this offseason anyway, do it now, and get him some big league experience. To open a 40 man spot, just release Villy.

 

If Melvin pays Villy his arby salary next year and lets Kintzler walk, it will be just another clueless move in the long list of horrible moved made by him the last 2 years.

[pete]

I'd say Villy has a higher skill level than Chris Smith.

[battlekow]

McCalvy:

If he is passed over on Wednesday, [Luis] Cruz would be a candidate for a

callup after Nashville plays its season finale on Monday. Other pitchers

already on the 40-man roster who could garner consideration include

Josh Butler...

[Mass Haas]

The first of the rotating links on Nashville's home page features four impressive photo galleries -- if you wore a Sounds uniform this season, you made the gallery in their alphabetical salute. Kudos -- we may not miss Greer Stadium, but we'll miss the production values that Doug Scopel, Stu Paul (and his predecessor Chuck Valenches), and the Sounds' staff provided us.

[And That]

if you wore a Sounds uniform this season, you made the gallery in their alphabetical salute.

 

Merklingered!