Link Report for Saturday, April 10th

[TheCrew07]

If Mark could just throw strikes he could be in the rotation next year.

[chemist]

you guys get so wound up about a few walks. Honestly who cares. A few walks don't really hurt... he gave up one hit and one run!. That should be the focus. Plus you are seeing minor league umpires. I mean seriously, there is a reason that they are in the minor league. They might as well be high school umpires that are trying to make a name for themselves (we have all seen those guys). Focus on the fact that he only gave up one hit. Don't worry so much about the a couple of walks. I mean seriously who knows if they were way off or borderline strikes. People just analyze the box score and assume the worst. People should be giving him a congrats that is a very good outing. Espeacially for the first night out. My prediction is that Rogers shreds up that league and gets a call up this year. I personally am very impressed.

[TheCrew07]

I care when he has more walks than strike outs and almost a walk per inning. Not only is he putting unnecessary runners on base, but he's wasting pitches which won't allow him to get deep enough into games. We can't have pitchers in the MLB rotation that struggle to get through 6 IP in 110 pitches for a variety of reasons.

[battlekow]

Mad that Chad accused him of being an American, Lawrie adds an RBI triple.

[chemist]

You are not hearing my point, It is MiLB umpires. I have watched Mark pitch and seen these same umpires flinch at every pitch thrown. I get that walks are not good. That is obvious. I am not stupid...I pitched for many years. My point is that the pitches could have been very borderline strikes, I said that before, you do not know how close they are, and for that matter neither do I . The box score and the radio is not the only thing to go by. Mark will be fine. He is very tough to hit and the control is their. In fact that pass ball... it was a curveball that the catcher could not handle it ( I have a very reliable source at the game).

[TheCrew07]

No I get what you are saying.

 

These are AA umpires, not rookie league, Mark isn't the first power pitcher to come through the minors, nor was he just missing the plate. Chad described many of his pitches "way outside". I love his upside, I've always supported the pick, he just needs to throw more strikes.

[chemist]

Well you can't groove every pitch. You need to hit spots. All I am saying is that he did a nice job tonight. He had 5 base runners in 4.2 innings. Walks or hits that is bot bad at the AA level. I agree that you can not walk guys when it is not necessary. You are right on that Crew. However should that be what the focus is right now? He dominated the hitters. If anything I think that is Mark has learned how to pitch rather than over powering hitters like he used to do. Like I said before he had 5 base runners for the game... he pitched 4.2 innings. I am focusing on the fact that he only gave up one hit. That is very good. Until you go and see a game hold back on your criticism.

[battlekow]

Final: Daytona 7, Brevard County 4 (12 innings)

Brevard County box score

It took Daytona until the 4th inning of the third game of the year to score against the Manatees, but they finally broke out with a four-spot against Dan Merklinger. BC got the runs back in the 7th, and nobody scored again until nepo-tastic Michael Brenly's two-out, three-run walk-off shot off Nick Tyson in the 12th. In between, Dan Meadows, Nick Green, and Corey Frerichs each tossed two innings of scoreless baseball. Kentrail Davis continued his hot start by getting on base three times, 1-3 with a HBP and intentional walk. Unfortunately, that was the only walk the Manatees drew all game. My favorite backup catcher, Mike Roberts, was 3-5 in his season debut.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

The heartbreak:

 

Daytona Bottom 12th

• Pitcher Change: Nick Tyson replaces Corey Frerichs.
  
• Brett Jackson flies out to left fielder Erik Miller.
  
• DJ LeMahieu grounds out, shortstop Brent Brewer to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard.
  
• Kyler Burke singles on a line drive to center fielder Kentrail Davis.
  
• Josh Vitters singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Kyler Burke to 2nd.
  
• Michael Brenly homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Kyler Burke scores. Josh Vitters scores.

[trwi7]

They fear Lawrie. A double away from the cycle and they walk him. Boo! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 11, Chattanooga 1

 

Huntsville box score

Wow, where to start? All five prospects atop the Stars lineup had good days, with the best performance belonging to Brett Lawrie, who was 3-4 with a triple, homer, and two walks, the second of which came in his last plate appearance, in which the Lookouts seemed none to eager to give Lawrie the chance to get the double he needed to complete his cycle. Jonathan Lucroy and Taylor Green were each 3-5 with a double and a walk, Caleb Gindl was 1-4 with a double and a walk, and Lorenzo Cain was 2-6. Lee Haydel was the only Star without a hit--and that's including Mark Rogers, who doubled off the wall in his first plate appearance since 2005--but he did walk. When not impersonating a cleanup hitter, Rogers pitched decently, sitting at 93-95 with his fastball but having problems controlling it, resulting in four walks (only 45 of his 87 pitches went for strikes) in his 4.2 innings; however, he did allow only a single hit and run and struck out three. Jim Henderson and Mark Willinsky finished out the last 4.1 innings for Huntsville to cap the rout.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

The Stars' biggest inning was their four-run 7th. You know it's a good game when your middle relievers get to hit:

• Lee Haydel walks.
• With Anderson Machado batting, wild
  pitch by James Adkins, Lee Haydel to 2nd.
• Anderson Machado
  singles on a line drive to right fielder Tommy Giles. Lee Haydel
  scores.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Jim Henderson flies
  out to center fielder Trayvon Robinson.
• Lorenzo Cain grounds
  out, pitcher James Adkins to first baseman Corey Smith. Anderson
  Machado to 2nd.
• Brett Lawrie triples (1) on a fly ball to
  right fielder Tommy Giles. Anderson Machado scores.
• Caleb
  Gindl walks.
• Pitcher Change: Jesus Rodriguez replaces James
  Adkins, batting 9th.
• Jonathan
  Lucroy doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Tommy Giles. Brett
  Lawrie scores. Caleb Gindl scores.
• Taylor Green grounds
  out, second baseman Jaime Pedroza to first baseman Corey Smith.

[battlekow]

Final: Nashville 2, Iowa 1 (10 innings)

 

Nashville box score

Nashville won their third straight over Iowa, which combined with Brevard County's 2-1 showing so far against Daytona makes Brewers affiliates 5-1 against their Cubs brethren to begin the year, always a welcome sight. Marco Estrada pitched very well in his first start for the organization, striking out five and walking none in six scoreless innings while allowing only two hits. After David Johnson and A.J. Murray combined to allow the Cubs to tie the game in the 8th, John Axford entered the game with runners on first & third but got a clutch strikeout to end the threat. Axford also pitched a scoreless 9th, and Chris Smith did likewise in the 10th for the save. Ray Olmedo was 3-5 with a triple, and Brendan Katin was 2-3 with two walks (!). Adam Heether was 0-5, and Angel Salome entered the game with Axford in a double switch and went 0-1.

 

Nashville play-by-play

Nashville loaded the bases with no outs in the 8th but got skunked:

• Trent Oeltjen singles on a fly ball to right fielder
  Micah Hoffpauir.
• With Brendan Katin batting, Trent Oeltjen
  steals (2) 2nd base.
• Brendan Katin walks.
• Coaching
  visit to mound.
• With Joe Koshansky batting, Trent Oeltjen
  steals (3) 3rd base. Brendan Katin steals (1) 2nd base.
• Joe
  Koshansky walks.
• Pitcher Change: Jeff Gray replaces Jeff
  Stevens, batting 6th.
• Defensive Substitution: Matt Camp
  replaces pitcher Jeff Stevens, batting 9th, playing third base.
• Adam
  Heether called out on strikes.
• Ben Johnson grounds into
  double play, pitcher Jeff Gray to catcher Chris Robinson to first
  baseman Bryan LaHair. Trent Oeltjen out at home.

[jjfanec]

Just got back from the Nashville game. Here are a few thoughts.

 

Katin looked very good at the plate. Great patience. He did not look like a guy who stuck out 164 times with just 35 walks like he was last year. I was low on him last year because of the K to BB rate he had, but maybe he is figuring things out.

Koshansky on the other hand looked lost at the plate.

Axford has really good stuff.

Estrada looked solid as well. Had the Cubs hitters off-balanced all night. Only one really hard hit ball off him

 

I was disappointed I did not get to see Salome much.

[juancastillo3]

I was at the Rattler's game today. Nieves didn't pitch nearly as bad as it may look. The error on George opened the door to a big inning, but there were also at least two fly balls that probably should have been caught too. Richardson and Davis both misplayed balls, though to be fair, it was a bit windy and the Kane County outfielders struggled a bit also. Of course after the ball Richardson didn't catch, some idiot behind me remarked "he'll never make it as an outfielder". It was all I could do not to turn around, smack him, and tell him this was the kid's third professional game! There was also a strange play where a Kane County runner was picked off first base but Halton for some reason didn't throw the ball to second, then nobody was covering third so the Kane County player took third on the same play. After the inning I noticed Isom gathered the team together in the corner of the dugout. I have some pictures from the game here if anyone is interested in taking a look. I should be out there again tomorrow and possibly Monday if my work schedule allows.

[battlekow]

Sounds Win Third Straight In Extras

NashvilleSounds.com

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Nashville Sounds moved to 3-0 after topping the

division-rival Iowa Cubs, 2-1, in 10 innings at Principal Park in Des

Moines.

 

Second baseman Ray Olmedo lead Nashville by going 3-for-5 with a triple

and both runs scored in his Sounds debut.

 

Right-hander Marco Estrada was strong in his Brewers organization debut.

He earned a no-decision after allowing just two hits with five

strikeouts over six scoreless frames, retiring 17 of 19 batters.

 

For the third consecutive game in the series, the Sounds bounced out to

an early lead. Olmedo tripled in his first at-bat and later came home on

a RBI base hit from outfielder Trent Oeltjen.

 

 

The Cubs were able to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Third baseman Matt Camp singled to start the rally, followed by a James

Adduci double. Bobby Scales then grounded out to Joe Koshansky that

plated Camp from third to tie the game at 1-1.

 

 

Nashville regained the lead in extras, as Olmedo reached base again on a

base hit to right field, advanced to second on an Oeltjen sacrifice,

and scored on a Brendan Katin base knock.

 

 

Right-handed reliever David Johnson allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings.

John Axford (1-0) earned the win after fanning two in his 1 1/3 innings

of scoreless ball.

 

 

Chris Smith shut the door with a scoreless frame to earn his second

save.

 

 

Cubs starter Thomas Diamond surrendered one run on four hits to earn a

no-decision.

 

 

The Sounds and Cubs wrap up their season-opening four game series with

tomorrow's 1:05 pm finale at Principal Park in Des Moines.

 

 

[battlekow]

I-Cubs' anemic hitting leads to third straight loss

Randy Peterson/Des Moines Register

 

There’s nothing wrong with the Iowa Cubs that a few hits won’t

correct.

 

The pitching — it’s solid.

 

The hitting?

“We’ve got some work to do,” manager Ryne Sandberg said after a

10-inning, 2-1 loss against Nashville Saturday night dropped the Cubs’

record to 0-3 in Sandberg’s first season as the manager.

 

Iowa

got seven hits on this chilly night. The Cubs enter today’s 1 p.m.

series finale against the Sounds with a team batting average of .182.

 

“It

came down to a clutch hit — they got it, and we didn’t,” Sandberg said.

 

Nashville

broke the tie when Ray Olmedo scored from second on a single to left

field by Brendan Katin against Mitch Atkins, Iowa’s fifth pitcher.

 

That

came after Iowa stranded runners at first and third in the eighth

inning after Matt Camp scored on Bobby Scales’ ground out.

 

The

threat of additional runs ended when Jason Dubois struck out.

 

The

Cubs’ ninth inning ended when Darwin Barney struck out with Chris

Robinson at second.

 

“That’s the story for us so far,” said

Sandberg, whose team has scored multiple runs in an inning just once.

“Everything’s been single digits.”

 

Iowa starting pitcher Thomas

Diamond, a waiver claim by the Cubs from the Texas Rangers organization,

allowed a run and struck out five in five innings.

 

Reliever Jeff

Gray worked out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the eighth—first by

striking out Adam Heether, then by turning Ben Johnson’s grounder into

an inning-ending double play.

[battlekow]

D-Cubs finally score, go 12 innings for 1st victory

Sean Kernan/Daytona Beach News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- It took 12 innings to get done, but the Daytona Cubs

got their first win of the season Saturday night.

Mike Brenly's three-run walk-off homer off Nick Tyson delivered a 7-4

Cubs victory over the Brevard County Manatees at Jackie Robinson

Ballpark.

The Cubs (1-2) had been shut out in each of the first two games of

the season against Manatees (2-1), a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate.

Daytona finally scored its first run in the fourth inning -- 21 2/3

innings into the season -- and it was Brenly who did so when he came

home on an infield hit by Marwin Gonzalez.

"A lot of people might have been down on us or whatever, but we were

working our tails off just to get that monkey off our back," Brenly said

moments after his three-run blast over the left-field wall. "Now were

going to see if we can get this going a little bit. The fans just need

to stick with us. We've got a good club here."

Two-out singles by Kyler Burke and Josh Vitters in the 12th brought

Brenly to the plate with his second chance to win it in extra innings.

"I didn't get a good swing on it my last at-bat with a runner on

second (in the 10th inning)," Brenly said. "Kyler and Josh did a great

job keeping the (12th) inning alive."

The dramatic ending saw the entire Cubs team circled around home

plate waiting for Brenly to round the bases.

The Cubs might have scored one of the most anticlimactic first runs

of the season. Gonzalez dribbled a grounder down the third-base line

that went about 40 feet with the bases loaded, but it was as effective

as a sharp single to left field.

 

"It's hard to believe that we played 12 innings and there were only

three innings that runs were scored," Cubs manager Buddy Bailey said.

"The thing I'm happy with is we didn't strike out like we had the first

two games. We put the ball in play.

"The first RBI we got is a perfect example. Gonzo hit the ball 40

feet and we got a run out of it. The last inning, the first two hits

weren't squared up like Brenly's (homer), but we put the ball in play."

David Macias followed Gonzalez's RBI infield hit with a bases-loaded

double to the left-field fence.

"We had two really big blows in the game -- Macias' double and

Brenly's homer -- and one really, really small one," Bailey said.

Daytona's four-run fourth was set up by Brenly and Ryne White walks

sandwiched around a Smailey Borges single up the middle.

Daytona starter Alberto Cabrera limited the Manatees to just two hits

in six scoreless innings. Cabrera didn't allow any other baserunners

and he struck out two.

Reliever Luke Sommer came on in the seventh and didn't make it

through the inning.

With the help of a hit batter and a throwing error by Macias, the

Manatees rallied for four runs. Sergio Miranda and Michael Roberts each

had RBI singles with two out, and Anderson De Le Rosa drilled a two-run

triple to left-center field.

Mike Perconte got the final out of the seventh and worked three

scoreless innings to keep the game tied at 4. Relievers Chris Siegfried

and Aaron Shafer (1-0) combined for 2 1/3 shutout innings.

The Manatees and Cubs play again today, but the series moves down to

Viera's Space Coast Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. start.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/images/2010/04/11/cubs20411.jpghttp://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/baseball/2010/04/11/d-cubs-finally-score-go-12-innings-for-1st-victory.html#

Daytona’s

Marwin Gonzalez successfully steals second base after the throw gets by

Brevard County’s Sergio Miranda on Saturday in Daytona Beach. (Nigel Cook/News-Journal)

[battlekow]

I have some pictures from the game here if anyone is interested in taking a look.

Very cool, thank you for sharing. It's nice to see what guys like D'Vontrey Richardson and Scooter Gennett look like.

[Mass Haas]

Stu Paul's blog post after Nashville goes to 3-0

[Mass Haas]

More photos from the Rattlers game (some actually of players) from the Post-Crescent -- lefty Caleb Thielbar a frequent subject despite a relatively brief outing...

 

Franklin Romero Jr. (21) can only watch as a ball leaves the park on a home run hit by the Kane County Cougars Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, WI. The Post-Crescent photo by Dan Powers.

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=U0&Date=20100410&Category=APC0206&ArtNo=4100808&Ref=PH&Profile=1009&Item=16&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

[hsvstarsfan]

you guys get so wound up about a few walks. Honestly who cares. A few walks don't really hurt... he gave up one hit and one run!. That should be the focus. Plus you are seeing minor league umpires. I mean seriously, there is a reason that they are in the minor league. They might as well be high school umpires that are trying to make a name for themselves (we have all seen those guys). Focus on the fact that he only gave up one hit. Don't worry so much about the a couple of walks. I mean seriously who knows if they were way off or borderline strikes. People just analyze the box score and assume the worst. People should be giving him a congrats that is a very good outing. Espeacially for the first night out. My prediction is that Rogers shreds up that league and gets a call up this year. I personally am very impressed.

I saw the game in Chattanooga. Mark had a good fast ball, but he got a bit lucky tonight. He was too often up in the strike zone.

 

 

[Mass Haas]

II have some pictures from the game here if anyone is interested in taking a look. I should be out there again tomorrow and possibly Monday if my work schedule allows.

JC3 maintains a Rattler blog of his own that we'll continue to keep an eye on for everyone, similar to our friend Kraig in Nashville, who is often on the scene with photos and video for home games. Two more appreciated online resources!

 

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser of starsboxscore.com:

 

Made the road trip to Chattanooga and I'm glad I did......... A Stars win alone would have satisfied me, but watching Mark Rogers, in his debut for Huntsville, combine with Jim Henderson and Mark Willinsky to pitch a one-hitter, seeing Brett Lawrie hit the first HR of the season for Huntsville, and then watch him try to become the first Huntsville player to hit for the cycle in the 9th, was frosting on the cake.

 

More than 5,500 packed AT&T Field to see probably the Zooperstars first and baseball second. The Zooperstars added a few more names to the roster. Even though it's old, you gotta love it, and you gotta love names like Nolan Rhino, Derek Cheetah, and Rusty Walrus. But let's get back to baseball.

 

To win the first game of the season with a one-hitter was not without precedent........ Will Schock, Steve Maye, and Joe Klink combined to open the 1989 season (Athletics organization) with a one-hit victory over Greenville, 3-1. In fact, the no-hitter carried into the 9th until Tommy Dunbar singled with one out........ The anticipation for me was built around seeing how good Rogers was, or was going to be. The line score says four walks, but he was in control of this game, at least, through the first four innings, even though he issued two-out walks in the 2nd and 3rd. He was also throwing the ball at 91-93 mph, peaking at 94. Rogers had an impressive 1st inning when he struck out Elian Herrera and Trayvon Robinson, and then was saved by Lorenzo Cain's terrific diving catch of a low liner that ended the inning. But he had trouble keeping the ball down as the game progressed....... In the 5th, he walked Anthony Hatch, who went to second on Corey Smith's grounder, and then scored when Jaime Pedroza doubled on a high 1-0 pitch off the left field wall, fair by just a few feet. When Herrera walked on a full count, and there were a lot of those from Rogers, that was all......... And it's a shame........ Rogers, who missed so many decisions last year because he was on such a strict pitch count, could not get the win because he could not get that last out.

 

Jim Henderson, who got his only win for the Stars last year in one of his only two appearances at the Joe, entered the game and held the Lookouts hitless for 2 1/3, and got the win. Mark Willinsky, making his debut for the Stars, walked Herrera to lead off the 8th, then retired six in a row to finish the game.

 

The Stars feasted off Mario Alvarez (27-38, 5.10 in six minor league seasons), a converted position player who was 21st among the Dodgers' top minor league prospects two seasons ago. Alvarez gave up six of the Stars runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings........ Caleb Gindl doubled in Brett Lawrie, who walked with one out in the 1st. The Stars failed to add more that inning, despite putting runners on second and third with one out....... Rogers hit a one-out double deep to center, went to third on Cain's single through short, and scored on a failed double-play attempt.........

 

And the three-run 4th started oddly with Rogers swinging at strike three in the dirt, then reaching first when the ball caromed off the glove of catcher Lucas May and towards the third base line. Four singles and a force out at second followed. After Jonathan Lucroy singled up the middle for the third hit, it was all over for Alvarez .......... Taylor Green finished it officially with an RBI single to right off reliever James Adkins and after he struck out Steffan Wilson on a 76 mph breaking ball, the Stars had a 7-0 lead.

 

Brett Lawrie made it 8-1 with a home run that barely made it over the high ACE Hardware sign in left and to make the game interesting, at least as far as I was concerned, added an RBI triple in the 7th. That meant he was just a double short for hitting for the cycle -- and he stood a good chance of getting one last at-bat in the 9th....... No one in Stars history had ever hit for the cycle, and only a handful had come really close. Only two (Drew Anderson and Yohannis Perez) came within reach last year...... Ozzie Chavez (on August 29, 2008) was the last to come up a double short....... Lawrie came up with one out in the 9th, took strike one inside from reliever Eric Krebs, then four straight balls........ Oh, well. Sometimes the suspense is better than the movie.

 

***

 

You have to appreciate David's passion for Stars' history -- amazing...