Link Report for Thurs. 5/17 -- Manatees Walk Off On An Otherwise Miserable Night

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at Tucson (Padres), 8:50 PM pre-game, 9:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Jeff Hem is the new play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Josh Stinson at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page

 

I-Phone friendly audio link

 

Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV subsciption note: A total of 24 Stars' games (in Jacksonville and Tennessee) will be broadcast.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 5:35 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Fort Myers feed from the MiLB main audio page

 

Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM WNAM

 

Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio.

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too).

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

STANDINGS:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division

 

AA - Southern League North Division

 

High-A - Florida State League North Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

[Mass Haas]

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter

[Mass Haas]

From the Manatees, a very nice opportunity --

 

Bookmark the link by clicking on the red text below.

 

Bid on a Breast Cancer Awareness jersey!

 

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The Brevard County Manatees will be wearing pink jerseys against the Fort Myers Miracle for Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend on May 17-19. The jerseys will be auctioned off online at manatees.milbauctions.com and all proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Health First Diagnostic Services. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. on May 17 and end at 11:59 p.m. on May 19.

[Mass Haas]

Nicole from BrewCrewBall was at last night's Rattlers game

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

 

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Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

TimberRattlers Notebook: Andy Moye callup, Matt Erickson and aggressive baserunning

 

Kudos to Nicole, that's just fantastic work and effort at that link.

[TheCrew07]

Pirates’ Alen Hanson Continues Breakout Spring

Posted May. 17, 2012 9:44 am by Jim Shonerd

 

It was only natural that Pirates shortstop Alen Hanson would cool off after his blistering April, when the 19-year-old ranked second in the entire minors with a .410 average for low Class A West Virginia. Hanson’s hitting a more modest .263/.317/.474 so far in May, but he’s already put himself solidly on the prospect radar.

 

A night after taking home a golden sombrero, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Tuesday, Hansen righted the ship by going 3-for-5 with a double and a homer, his sixth of the campaign. Hanson raised his slash line back up to .358/.397/.617. He ranks second in the South Atlantic League in average and slugging and leads the circuit in hits (58) and doubles (16).

 

The blight on Hanson’s spring has been his defense, as he’s made 17 errors in 32 games, easily the most of any SAL shortstop. He made four errors on Wednesday, all of them fielding errors. Hanson’s throwing arm is expected to be the biggest obstacle to him staying at shortstop, but just three of his 17 errors have been of the throwing variety. His errors have also tended to come in bunches. Wednesday was his fifth multi-error game, and he committed seven in his first 11 games at shortstop in April.

[TheCrew07]

Not division related, but this is worth keeping an eye on.

Rangers Rolling In The Minors Too As Profar’s Hit Streak Hits 25

Posted May. 15, 2012 10:09 pm by J.J. Cooper

 

The Rangers are generally acknowledged to be the best team in the majors right now, even if they don't have the best record in baseball. Texas also ranked as Baseball America's No. 1 farm system heading into the season, and there is little that has happened in the early going to change that assessment.

 

No. 1 on the Rangers' prospect list coming into the season was shortstop Jurickson Profar. With the top four prospects on our Preseason Top 100 now in the majors, Profar, ranked No. 7 on the preseason Top 100, is in the conversation for the best prospect currently in the minors. Double-A Frisco's shortstop extended his hitting streak to 25 games with a 3-for-5 night against Midland. Profar also stole his sixth bag of the season in six tries.

 

While Profar was extending his hitting streak, Frisco starter Barrett Loux improved to 8-0 in eight starts this year. While wins are not the most useful stat to measure a pitcher's success, Loux's eight wins have been largely deserved. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start and currently has a 2.70 ERA.

 

But most importantly considering his backstory, he's made every one of his eight scheduled starts. As many prospect followers know, Loux's medical history made him one of the most unusual draft picks in recent years. The No. 6 pick overall in the 2010 draft, Loux failed his physical with the Diamondbacks as they had concerns about his shoulder and elbow. With the Diamondbacks not offering him a contract, Major League Baseball ended up declaring Loux a free agent (while granting the Diamondbacks a compensatory first-round pick in the 2011 draft). The Rangers signed him for $312,000, and up to now, he's proven durable.

 

Texas did shut Loux down in August last year, but that came after he made 21 starts and threw 109 innings. He's made all eight starts this year as well. While there are some scouts who see him as a reliever in the big leagues, he's shown up to now that he can handle a starting job.

[TheCrew07]

very long and interesting article, note that I'm not including all the links that are in the MiLB story, Jed Bradley notes near the bottom

What a relief: 'Pen prospects do exist

Phillies' Aumont prime example of valued, bullpen-bound arm

By Andrew Pentis / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/15/lfugMfxb.jpg

Phillippe Aumont made 29 starts in the Minors before shifting to the 'pen. (Frank Mitman)

 

Addison Reed is a member of "The 1 Percent," and not because of his Major League salary. Reed is the lone relief pitcher in MLB.com's ever-evolving Top 100 Prospects rankings, which are based on polling of scouts. How can this be when seven members of the modern-day 25-man roster are relievers, some of whom take the ball for the game's most crucial moments?

 

"I'm not sure why the perception is that relief pitchers aren't as valuable," White Sox pitching coordinator Curt Hasler said. "Tell that to Addison, because this guy is going to be very valuable."

 

Surely Reed, now a late-inning stopper in Chicago, isn't the lone bullpen prospect worth discussing. Are his short-stint successors in the Minors being short-changed?

 

To answer this question, let's establish two different positions: First, there simply aren't elite relief prospects currently; and second, there are elite relief prospects -- but they're currently stuck in starting roles. And if the latter is affirmative, is this a workable way to develop the next shutdown setup man or closer?

 

"There simply aren't elite relief prospects currently:" This straw-man argument is easy to dismantle. A review of bullpens in the Minors reveals that some live arms are on their way. Here is one to watch in nine of the 10 full-season leagues:

 

Relievers To Watch in 2012

• 
  Name Ranking League Club APP K/IP
  Corey Williams Twins' No. 19 Midwest Beloit 12 1.26
  Bruce Rondon Tigers No. 6 Florida State Lakeland 12 1.62
  Clayton Schrader Orioles' No. 17 Carolina Frederick 10 1.42
  Juan Rodriguez Dodgers' No. 12 California Rancho Cucamonga 8 1.61
  Kevin Chapman Astros' No. 14 Texas Corpus Christi 14 1.35
  Donnie Joseph Reds' No. 10 Southern Pensacola 16 1.42
  Lisalberto Bonilla Phillies' No. 13 Eastern Reading 15 1.47
  Stephen Pryor Mariners' No. 9 Pacific Coast Tacoma 14 1.55
  Jhan Marinez White Sox's No. 10 International Charlotte 11 1.14

 

"Future relievers are stuck in starting roles:" So we've established that there are, in fact, relief pitching prospects in baseball. Phew. But who the heck is Lisalberto Bonilla? He's not ringing any bells.

 

Maybe fellow Phils farmhand Phillippe Aumont, one of three players sent from Seattle in the December 2009 Cliff Lee trade, will register. Before they shipped him east, the Mariners deemed Aumont, the 11th overall draftee in 2007, more suitable for the bullpen and did so after he made just eight pro starts in 2008. So why did the Phils return him to the rotation in 2010?

 

"You can't diminish the value of a guy if he can start -- it's harder to develop starters," Phillies assistant G.M. Benny Looper said. "More of our thought process is looking at the individual pitcher trying to develop them and [find] what role fits them best. Even if we see them as a bullpen guy, how can we help them develop that other pitch?"

 

Aumont, the owner of a plus fastball and curveball, did not dramatically improve the consistency of his splitter as a starter. By 2011 and back in the bullpen, where two above-average offerings is more than enough, he flourished. His 2.68 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley helped him regain his once-lost luster.

 

"His arm and his body reacted better pitching more often than every five days [so] that he has command of those pitches and can maintain," Looper said of the 6-foot-7, 260-pound right-hander. "The velocity of shorter periods [is higher]."

 

The Phillies don't make these decision overnight. Like Aumont, the organization's No. 5 prospect, No. 7 Justin De Fratus and recent callup Jake Diekman made 34 and 39 starts respectively in the Minors before they were given new roles.

 

De Fratus, currently out of action with a forearm strain, features a fastball-slider combo with a lagging changeup, while Diekman remade himself with a lower-arm angle. Both possess the requisite power for the 'pen.

 

"A guy that [starts] knows how to pitch, can make you swing at pitches out of the strike zone -- moved the ball up and down, in and out, change speeds," Looper said, "Even though you want relievers doing that, if they have power arms and power pitches, they can get by with more mistakes that aren't up and down and in and out."

 

"To be a reliever later in the game," agreed the White Sox's Hasler, "they need to show plus stuff."

 

And he would know. In addition to Reed, a fast-moving reliever from the beginning of his career, Hasler has presided over the development of starters-turned-relievers Hector Santiago and Nate Jones (and before he returned to the rotation, Chris Sale). All have gone from prospects to important pieces; all were given the opportunity to make the transition.

 

"When you have a good arm come into the organization, maybe we see him as a starter, maybe we see him as a reliever -- sometimes we're not sure," Hasler said, stopping to think. "Maybe it's good that they fly under the radar."

 

Prospect Up

So we know Red Sox No. 18 prospect Jackie Bradley has not seen the film adaptation of Moneyball, but have we asked him if he he'd like to star in the sequel? Bradley has reached base in 28 straight games, upping his on-base percentage through 33 games to an even .500. Like Kurt Suzuki and Dustin Pedroia before him -- products of college powerhouses who didn't go early in the Draft's first round because of a perceived low ceiling -- Bradley is looking like a very good player, even if he is still early into his first full season.

 

Prospect Down

The base on balls and the American League East, huh? Then let's go with No 37 overall prospect Dellin Betances, who has issued a remarkable 35 free passes (to go with his 35 strikeouts) through 40 innings of 2012. The Yanks' right-hander is not new to issues with command, but he's now 24 and in his second Triple-A stint, so if he's not close to solving them now, then when will he?

 

Notebook Items

Spend enough time talking with the game's best pitching prospects and one thing you will notice many of them have in common -- a personal pitching coach from a young age. That's the case for both No. 10 prospect Gerrit Cole (Pirates) and No. 92 Jed Bradley (Brewers).

 

Cole learned his changeup and curveball in Little League from his mentor, Zak Doan. Cole started working with Doan when he was 11 and still talks pitching with him to this day. "He introduced me to all of it," Cole said. After Pittsburgh chose the right-hander first overall in the 2011 Draft, the organization asked him to reincorporate that original curveball into his five-pitch mix, which also comprises a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a circle-changeup and a slider.

 

Bradley, whom Milwaukee selected 14 spots after Cole last June, learned his 80-mph slider from his private guru, Joe Fletcher. During his sophomore year of high school, Bradley started working on everything from mound presence to nutrition with Fletcher, who passed away during Bradley's career at Georgia Tech University. "I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't work with him," he said. "He taught me everything I know about pitching."

 

Speaking of elite starting pitching prospects, here are the probables for what has to be among the season's best matchups: When Mobile visits Jackson on Thursday, Trevor Bauer (D-backs' No. 1) will meet Danny Hultzen (Mariners' No. 1) on the mound. Also expect to see Tyler Skaggs (D-backs' No. 3) and Taijuan Walker, James Paxton and Brandon Maurer (all among the M's Top 20). The five-game series concludes Monday.

 

These clubs also meet Aug. 19-23, but do we really expect all these guys to still be at Double-A by then? Already gone from these still-sterling staffs: Patrick Corbin (Mobile to the Majors), Charles Brewer (Mobile to Triple-A Reno) and Andrew Carraway (Jackson to Triple-A Tacoma).

 

Memo from Mayo

For Draft and prospects expert Jonathan Mayo's analysis, visit MLB.com's Prospects Central.

 

Your Questions, Answered

Tweet your prospect-related queries to @AndrewMiLB and @MinorLeagues.

 

Reading Material

 

Trevor Story is worth scouting, writes Fangraphs' Mike Newman.

Prospects' long-tossing could go a long way, writes SI.com's Albert Chen.

Jace Peterson has leadership down pat, writes MLB.com's Corey Brock.

Nick Castellanos' average isn't average, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck.

Charlie Culberson is not a finished product, writes MLB.com's Bernie Pleskoff.

The Astros are on the clock at pick No. 1, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Speaking of the Draft, it's time to mock, writes Minor League Ball's John Sickels.

Jameson Taillon is learning to like his changeup, writes MiLB.com's Danny Wild.

Bryce Brentz is becoming a man of routine, writes MiLB.com's Sam Dykstra.

 

Prospect Tweet Worth Re-tweeting: "Things I hate: 1- Lists And 2- hypocrites.....". -- San Antonio Missions slugger Cody Decker, aka @Decker6.

[TheCrew07]

catching up from yesterday

Redbirds' Miller plays role of stopper

Cards' top prospect goes six scoreless in best outing of 2012

By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/16/nrP7oqRO.jpg

Shelby Miller has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last six games. (Allison Rhoades)

 

Shelby Miller may only have five weeks of experience pitching at Triple-A, but he's already turning into a leader on the mound. On Tuesday, he took on the role of stopper.

 

MLB.com's No. 4 prospect scattered three hits over six scoreless innings in the Memphis Redbirds' 6-0 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to snap a nine-game losing streak.

 

"The clubhouse was down," the 21-year-old Texas native said. "Baseball's just not fun when you're losing, especially nine in a row. Winning was key for the game today.

 

"I didn't want to go out there and get the loss. After last night, I wanted to be the guy that changed that."

 

Miller stranded runners on first and second in the first inning, and he worked around Chad Tracy's leadoff base hit in the second.

 

The Cardinals' top prospect then walked Hernan Iribarren and yielded a two-out double to Matt McBride in the third, but he retired the next 10 batters he faced before turning over a 6-0 lead to the bullpen.

 

"It was probably my best so far," said Miller, who threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes. "I was just looking for a win. The team put a shutout together and we got a 'W'.

 

"I really didn't throw the off-speed much. I threw a couple curveballs and changeups, but my out pitch was definitely my fastball. I got a lot of pitches in play with it and I think all of my strikeouts were on fastballs. It's obviously my best pitch and it was working tonight."

 

Miller's best Triple-A start -- and his fourth victory -- didn't come easily. The Redbirds were held without a hit until the fifth inning by Rob Scahill (3-4), who kept the game scoreless until Memphis pounced for six runs -- five earned -- in the home half of the fifth.

 

"It's tough when you know the other pitcher is going well," said Miller, selected 19th overall in the 2009 Draft. "He had a no-hitter through four innings and you knew he was on top of his game. It brings out the best in you because you want to do better than he is."

 

The 6-foot-3 right-hander has now won four consecutive decisions, and he has not lost since dropping consecutive games to Oklahoma City at the start of the season.

 

In eight Pacific Coast League games, Miller has a 3.79 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. He has issued 18 free passes and allowed five homers, and opponents are batting .291 against him.

 

With plenty of room for improvement, the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year hopes to replicate Tuesday's performance in his next couple outings.

 

"I'm just getting stronger and working out really hard and doing the right things between starts," he said. "Triple-A is a grind, the whole Minor Leagues are. But here is a tough league to pitch in. The hitters are better. I didn't think it would be as big of a jump, but there's no doubt that Triple-A hitters are much better than at Double-A."

 

And Miller's schedule between starts?

 

"Day one is usually legs, all lower body, and the second day after a start I throw my bullpen. Then it's upper body on day three, I'm off on the fourth day and then I pitch again on the fifth.

 

"I'm pitching more than I'm throwing and it's all coming together. Hopefully I can get better. You can always get better somewhere. I have to keep doing all the right things; getting my running and lifting right and making sure I'm on top of my game 24/7."

 

On Tuesday, left-hander Barret Browning struck out one batter over an inning of relief, fellow southpaw Sam Freeman tossed a perfect eighth and Chuckie Fick worked around a pair of hits to complete the shutout.

 

First baseman Matt Adams smacked a three-run homer -- his seventh longball of the year -- and second baseman Pete Kozma plated two runs in the win.

[TheCrew07]

also from yesterday

FSL notes: Szczur conquers struggles

Daytona outfielder flashing potential following sluggish start

By Guy Curtright / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/15/3mS45tJG.jpg

Matt Szczur is hitting .286 with 10 runs scored in his last 10 games. (Kevin Hill/MiLB.com)

 

The shirts play off the pronunciation of Matt Szczur's last name (pronounced like the Roman emperor Caesar) and are a clever way for the Daytona Cubs to make a few extra souvenir sales. "Hail Szczur," the $15 T-shirts read, with a laurel wreath crown surrounding Szcur's No. 4 and the D-Cubs logo.

 

It's a good thing the shirts didn't arrive until fairly recently, though. There wasn't much to hail the first couple of weeks of the season when it came to the center fielder or the team.

 

Szczur, the Chicago Cubs' No. 4 prospect, had just five hits in his first 37 at-bats and was hitting .176 when Daytona's record bottomed out at 2-11 on April 19.

 

But the former Villanova football standout began hitting as expected soon afterward, and the D-Cubs have improved as well, although they are still near the bottom of the Florida State League's North Division.

 

"It was a tough start," Szczur said. "But things have been getting better."

 

The early struggles in Daytona were in contrast to last year, when the D-Cubs started red-hot en route to the North's first-half championship and won the Florida State League title with a three-game sweep of St. Lucie in the championship series.

 

Szczur joined Daytona for the second half after hitting .311 for Peoria of the Midwest League and batted .368 in the postseason.

 

But with Brett Jackson playing center field for Triple-A Iowa and Jae-Hoon Ha doing the same at Double-A Tennessee, Szczur found himself back in Class A Advanced to start this season.

 

Szczur, 22, insists it wasn't disappointment, though, that contributed to his slow start at the plate.

 

"This is a tough league," he said. "It's a challenge. I obviously still have things I'm working on."

 

Szczur's .250 average through 33 games may not be where he'd like it yet, but his stolen bases and walks show that he has been making solid strides even with his early lack of hits.

 

Szczur, who took a few days off to attend his grandmother's funeral, had drawn 17 walks compared to 22 strikeouts and had swiped 16 bases in 21 attempts. Last season, he had 26 walks and 24 steals in 109 games with Peoria and Daytona.

 

Last year was Szczur's first full year of baseball. After being taken in the fifth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, he got $1.4 million from the Cubs early last year to pass on the NFL Draft in addition to his original signing bonus of $100,000.

 

The MVP of the 2009 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title game was a do-everything offensive threat for Villanova. But the New Jersey native picked baseball, and it is his speed and aggressiveness that set him apart as a prospect.

 

Szczur can already run down almost any ball in center field. But the would-be leadoff hitter needs to get on base more frequently to maximize his disruptive potential.

 

After going full speed year-round while playing both football and baseball, Szczur took time off last October to visit Hawaii and hike the Grand Canyon.

 

"It was great being able to have a month to relax and let my body recover," Szczur said. "But then I got right after it so I'd be ready for Spring Training."

 

In brief

 

Mejia gets first win: St. Lucie's Jenrry Mejia got a victory in the second start of his comeback from Tommy John surgery, allowing a run on three hits over six innings against Bradenton. The one-time top Mets prospect struck out seven and walked one, the run he allowed coming on a homer.

 

Burgos promoted: Brevard County's Hiram Burgos, who led all regular Florida State League starters with a 0.87 ERA, was promoted to Double-A Huntsville. The right-hander was 2-1 in seven games and had 41 strikeouts to six walks over 41 1/3 innings.

 

Surgery for Fields: Lakeland center fielder Daniel Fields will need surgery to repair an abdominal muscle tear. Fields, who is ranked as the Tigers' No. 7 prospect and received a $1.6 million bonus as a sixth-round choice in 2009, was hitting .250 with 13 RBIs in 18 games.

 

Neil stays unbeaten: Jupiter's Matthew Neil pitched six scoreless innings against Palm Beach, improving to 6-0 while lowering his ERA to 2.06. The 6-foot-6 right-hander walked one and struck out four.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[DHonks]

Josh Prince starting at 3b tonight. I wonder if they are moving him the OF to gain him experience there, and then we'll later see him moved around all over and groomed as a super utility guy. He's also back to drawing walks at a nice rate

[TheCrew07]

Final: Burlington 8, Wisconsin 3

 

Bees sting Rattlers with 7 two-out runs in 8-3 win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Burlington Bees snapped a five game losing streak by cracking four key two-out hits to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-3 Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Bees got five RBI from Wade Kirkland and six solid innings from Raul Alcantara to top the Rattlers.

 

Burlington (18-22) scored single runs in the first and second inning off Wisconsin starting pitcher Matt Miller to take a 2-0 lead. A two-out RBI double by Dusty Robinson in the first and a two-out RBI single by Sean Jamieson in the second gave the Bees their runs.

 

Wisconsin (24-17) came back in the bottom of the second inning with a couple of two out runs of their own to tie the game. Max Walla singled with two away and none on base. Yadiel Rivera drove in Walla with a triple. Tyler Roberts was at the plate and waiting on a 3-2 pitch from Alcantara. The Bees righty was on the way home with the pitch when he stopped in mid-delivery. The balk allowed Rivera to trot home with the tying run.

 

But, Miller gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Kirkalnd in the top of the third inning and the Rattlers trailed 4-2. The Rattlers starting pitcher reached 70 pitches and was done after three innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout.

 

Wisconsin reliever Michael Strong took over in the fourth and loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single. Strong got the second out, but Kirkland came through with another big hit. The Bees third baseman doubled into the left field corner on an 0-2 pitch to drive in all three runs for a 7-2 lead.

 

Walla drove in Wisconsin's third run with a two out single in the bottom of the fourth inning. But, Alcantara retired seven of the last eight batters he faced and kept the Rattlers from scoring again as he wrapped up his six innings of work. He walked one and struck out four in the game for his third win of the season.

 

Strong settled in after his first inning of relief and would strike out nine over four innings. Strong, who struck out 13 in seven innings during a game in the Arizona League last season, set a new season high for K's by a Timber Rattlers pitcher in a single game.

 

The Bees got one more run when Robinson hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning off Tyler Cravy. Robinson's ninth home run of the season came with one out in the inning.

 

The final game of the series is Friday night at 6:35pm. Drew Gagnon (3-1, 2.01) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Sean Murphy (3-3, 1.27) is slated to start for the Cougars.

 

Break out the costumes and get ready to trick or treat! The Rattlers have a lot of spooky plots for Halloween in May at the ballpark on Friday night!

 

Plus, it's a North Shore Bank Family night. Children 12 and under eat free and - after the game - children 14 and under may participate in Kids Run the Bases presented by Jernegan's Health Mart.

 

If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Friday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Raul Alcantara (3-4)

LP: Matt Miller (2-4)

 

TIME: 2:42

ATTN: 3,662

 

Wisconsin Box Score

I wanted to post the pitching wasn't as bad as you would think by the score but it's hard to excuse away that many 2 out hits, the T-Rat pitchers just couldn't make the 1 pitch they needed all night long. Last year's 10th round pick Michael Strong is intriguing, here's the scouting report on him from BA:

Lefthander Mike Strong has been Oklahoma State's best starter in each of his two seasons since transferring from Iowa Western CC. Though he's just 6 feet and 187 pounds, he has a quick arm that produces an 88-92 mph fastball and a hard curveball. He throws strikes and has a chance to start in pro ball, though he profiles better as a reliever. He was selected in the last two drafts, by the White Sox in the 25th round in 2009 and by the Athletics in the 22nd round last year.

 

Offensively this game was all about the 4-7 hitters in the line-up. Max Walla went 3-4, Ben McMahan went 2-4, Yadiel Rivera went 2-4 with a triple, and finally Nick Ramirez added a double. [sarcasm]It's a good thing he's busting out in MLB[/sarcasm] because Carlos Gomez has yet to get a hit off of an A ball pitcher, now 0-6 during his rehab, maybe he'll go 3-3 tomorrow and turn his 4 game single A season around. Brandon Macias was CS as was McMahan who got picked off by my least favorite move, the fake throw to 3rd and throw to 1st. I've just never understood how people fall for that pickoff heading out for second on the first move, it never looks like the pitcher is going home in my experience, yet you see players getting nabbed by it at all levels of baseball, crazy. Tyler Robers had an error on a dropped catch and Rivera booted a routine grounder for an error, his 4th on the season.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

1 out and sometimes even 1 pitch away and couldn't get it done through the 4th.

Burlington Top of the 1st

• Sean Jamieson pops out to shortstop Yadiel Rivera.
  Aaron Shipman singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
  B. A. Vollmuth grounds out, third baseman Brandon Macias to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Aaron Shipman to 2nd.
  Dusty Robinson doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Ben McMahan. Aaron Shipman scores.
  Nick Rickles walks.
  Wade Kirkland strikes out swinging.

 

Burlington Top of the 2nd

• Bobby Crocker grounds out, third baseman Brandon Macias to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Ryan Pineda singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla.
  Eliezer Mesa grounds into a force out, second baseman Carlos George to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Ryan Pineda out at 2nd. Eliezer Mesa to 1st.
  With Sean Jamieson batting, Eliezer Mesa steals (3) 2nd base.
  Sean Jamieson singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla. Eliezer Mesa scores. Sean Jamieson advances to 2nd, on missed catch error by catcher Tyler Roberts.
  Aaron Shipman grounds out, second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.

 

Burlington Top of the 3rd

• B. A. Vollmuth singles on a line drive to left fielder Ben McMahan.
  Dusty Robinson grounds out, third baseman Brandon Macias to first baseman Nick Ramirez. B. A. Vollmuth to 2nd.
  Nick Rickles reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to third baseman Brandon Macias. B. A. Vollmuth out at 3rd.
  Wade Kirkland homers (2) on a line drive to left field. Nick Rickles scores.
  Bobby Crocker singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ben McMahan.
  Ryan Pineda singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Macias. Bobby Crocker to 2nd.
  Eliezer Mesa flies out to right fielder Max Walla.
  

 

Burlington Top of the 4th

• Pitcher Change: Michael Strong replaces Matthew Miller.
  Sean Jamieson flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
  Aaron Shipman walks.
  B. A. Vollmuth singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla. Aaron Shipman to 2nd.
  Dusty Robinson walks. Aaron Shipman to 3rd. B. Vollmuth to 2nd.
  Nick Rickles strikes out swinging.
  Wade Kirkland doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Ben McMahan. Aaron Shipman scores. B. Vollmuth scores. Dusty Robinson scores.
  Bobby Crocker called out on strikes.

[Tedaldtada]

'Tees snap six-game skid with walk-off win

05/17/2012 10:22 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/17/mkTLuc7D.jpg

Taylor Jungmann is winless since April 10. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - Mike Walker's walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth inning gave the Brevard County Manatees a 5-4 win over the Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium. The win snaps Brevard County's six-game losing streak.

 

'Tees starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann (2-3, 3.15) threw six innings and allowed four runs - all earned and all in the fifth inning - on eight hits. He allowed one walk and struck out two batters. Despite Brevard's victory, Jungmann is still winless in his last seven starts.

 

Brevard County (15-24) jumped out to a 3-0 lead early thanks to a big second inning. Franklin Romero Jr. and Nick Shaw both had two-out, run-scoring hits. Romero Jr. drove in Walker with a single to center and Shaw then doubled to bring home both Adam Weisenburger and Romero Jr.

 

Fort Myers (15-25) though would take a 4-3 lead with their big inning in the fifth. Jungmann allowed five hits in the inning, including three consecutive to start the frame. The Manatees wasted a big opportunity to answer back and get some runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth as the 'Tees left the bases loaded.

 

Brevard was able to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth as Romero Jr. came up big again with a one-out single to center that scored Shea Vucinich. Romero Jr. was 3-for-4 on the night with two RBI and a run scored.

 

After Jungmann exited the game, Brevard County's bullpen shut down the Miracle as Thomas Keeling (one inning), Casey Medlen (two innings) and Eric Marzec (one inning) held Fort Myers scoreless while fanning five. Medlen recorded four of the five strikouts.

 

In the bottom of the tenth, T.J. Mittelstaedt and Cody Hawn led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put two on with no outs. Shawn Zarraga then tried to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt but he was hit by the pitch.

 

With the bases now loaded, Mike Walker stepped to the plate and deposited a single to shallow left field to give the Manatees their first extra-innings win of the 2012 season. The Manatees racked up 11 hits on the night, which was the first time since April 5 that Brevard had ten or more hits at home.

Along with Romero Jr., both Walker and Weisenburger had multi-hit nights with two hits each.

 

The Manatees will try and make it two in a row as they take on the Miracle again on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. for the second game of a four-game set.

 

Jimmy Nelson (2-3, 2.47) will take the mound for the 'Tees as he is looking for his first win since April 16. Nelson has a 0.61 ERA at Space Coast Stadium so far in 2012.

 

Fort Myers will counter with southpaw Pat Dean (2-2, 3.23). Dean has allowed just one earned run in each of his last three starts.

 

Box Score

 

10th inning walk off in Brevard despite Orlando Arcia's brother, Oswaldo, racking up 3 hits! Loving the bloodlines working here as older bro is raking in the FSL.

 

Taylor Jungmann got the start and did not fare all that well, although all of the damage came in one inning. 6 IP 8 H 4 R 4 ER 1 BB 2 K 11:2 GO:FO. Three relievers held it scoreless the rest of the way highlighted by Casey Medlen's 2 IP 0 R 4 K performance.

 

Mike Walker was the hero with a bases loaded, no-out, bloop single. There is no hitter on this roster that profiles as a starter at the MLB level.

 

Game Log

 

Jungmann's struggles.

Fort Myers Top of the 5th

 

Daniel Ortiz doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

Anderson Hidalgo singles on a ground ball to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Daniel Ortiz to 3rd.

Michael Gonzales singles on a ground ball to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr. Daniel Ortiz scores. Anderson Hidalgo to 3rd.

Angel Morales lines out to shortstop Nick Shaw.

Andy Leer singles on a line drive to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Anderson Hidalgo scores. Michael Gonzales to 2nd.

Levi Michael strikes out swinging.

Oswaldo Arcia doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Michael Gonzales scores. Andy Leer scores.

Daniel Rohlfing grounds out, catcher Adam Weisenburger to first baseman Cody Hawn.

[Tedaldtada]

13-0 Nashville got crushed by Tucson

 

Box Score

 

My cheeks are bloodstained after reading through this debacle. Caleb Gindl is maybe the most disappointing hitting prospect in the system right now. Wily Peralta went 1-1 at the plate. After tonight's pitching line, he may just want to consider a position switch considering he is hitting a robust .333 on the year.

 

Every pitcher gave up too many runs compared to how many outs they recorded.

 

Game Log

 

Fresh from AA, heeerrreeess Gyorko. Jedd factoring into both of Wily's bad innings.

 

Tucson Bottom of the 3rd

 

Blake Tekotte singles on a ground ball to center fielder Corey Patterson.

Logan Forsythe triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Caleb Gindl. Blake Tekotte scores.

Jedd Gyorko walks.

Matt Clark singles on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Brown. Logan Forsythe scores. Jedd Gyorko to 2nd.

Yasmani Grandal flies out to right fielder Caleb Gindl.

Sawyer Carroll flies out to center fielder Corey Patterson. Jedd Gyorko to 3rd.

Daniel Robertson doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Brown. Jedd Gyorko scores. Matt Clark to 3rd.

Beamer Weems doubles (4) on a ground ball to left fielder Jordan Brown. Matt Clark scores. Daniel Robertson scores.

Matt Palmer grounds out, shortstop Hainley Statia to first baseman Sean Halton.

Tucson Bottom of the 4th

 

Blake Tekotte walks.

Logan Forsythe homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Blake Tekotte scores.

Jedd Gyorko doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Jordan Brown.

Pitcher Change: Victor Garate replaces Wily Peralta, batting 9th.

Matt Clark triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Caleb Gindl. Jedd Gyorko scores.

Yasmani Grandal singles on a ground ball to center fielder Corey Patterson. Matt Clark scores.

Sawyer Carroll strikes out swinging.

Daniel Robertson grounds into double play, second baseman Eric Farris to shortstop Hainley Statia to first baseman Sean Halton. Yasmani Grandal out at 2nd.

 

Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Final: Chattanooga 6, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Box Score

Well this wraps up a cruddy night on the farm, a Tee's walkoff away from being swept as an organization. Josh Stinson was the starting pitcher and like every other starter tonight he didn't fare particularly well. Josh threw 52 of 82 pitches for strikes over 5IP allowing 7H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, and 1HBP while striking out 3. To top it off he didn't collect a hit and his AVE fell to .444 on the season. He was followed by Mitch Stetter who allowed 1 run in his 1.1IP, Mitch's stats aren't eye popping at the moment. Bradley Banks and R.J. Seidel finished up the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run.

 

Huntsville actually out hit Chattanooga 12-9, both Josh Prince and Hunter Morris collected 3 hits a piece while Hunter had the only Stars' XBH, a double. Tommy Manzella collect the other mulit-hit game with a 2-4 effort. Scooter Gennett had his worst day in the field of the season, committing 2 throwing errors, he now has 5 on the season. Prince also committed a throwing error, his 3rd.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

Huntsville missed a chance to put up a crooked number in the 2nd.

Huntsville Top of the 2nd

• Jay Gibbons grounds out, third baseman Pedro Baez to first baseman J. T. Wise.
  Tommy Manzella singles on a line drive to right fielder Blake Smith.
  Juan Sanchez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Nunez. Tommy Manzella to 2nd.
  Josh Stinson out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Aaron Miller to second baseman Rafael Ynoa. Tommy Manzella to 3rd. Juan Sanchez to 2nd.
  Kentrail Davis walks.
  Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nick Buss. Tommy Manzella scores. Juan Sanchez out at home on the throw, center fielder Nick Buss to catcher Gorman Erickson.

 

Stinson's only clean inning was the first.

Chattanooga Bottom of the 2nd

• J. T. Wise called out on strikes.
  Pedro Baez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jay Gibbons.
  Blake Smith singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Pedro Baez to 2nd.
  Rafael Ynoa grounds into a force out, third baseman Josh Prince to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Pedro Baez scores. Blake Smith out at 2nd. Rafael Ynoa advances to 1st, on throwing error by second baseman Scooter Gennett.
  Gorman Erickson walks. Rafael Ynoa to 2nd.
  Aaron Miller triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Sanchez. Rafael Ynoa scores. Gorman Erickson scores.
  Nick Buss hit by pitch.
  Jake Lemmerman grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Chattanooga Bottom of the 3rd

• Luis Nunez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Tommy Manzella, deflected by pitcher Josh Stinson.
  With J. T. Wise batting, Luis Nunez steals (7) 2nd base.
  J. T. Wise singles on a line drive to left fielder Jay Gibbons. Luis Nunez to 3rd.
  Pedro Baez grounds into double play, shortstop Tommy Manzella to second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Luis Nunez scores. J. Wise out at 2nd.
  Blake Smith grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Chattanooga Bottom of the 5th

• Nick Buss strikes out swinging.
  Jake Lemmerman singles on a line drive to left fielder Jay Gibbons.
  Luis Nunez reaches on force attempt, throwing error by third baseman Josh Prince. Jake Lemmerman to 3rd.
  J. T. Wise grounds into a force out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Jake Lemmerman scores. Luis Nunez out at 2nd. Wise advances to 2nd, on throwing error by second baseman Scooter Gennett.
  Pedro Baez strikes out swinging.

[TheCrew07]

Nine after 9 for May 17, 2012

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Handed 13-0 Loss By Tucson In Road Trip Opener

Wily Peralta Touched For Nine Runs In Three Innings

Nashville Sounds

 

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Nashville Sounds opened an eight-game road trip with a 13-0 defeat to the Tucson Padres on Thursday night at Kino Stadium.

 

The defeat was Nashville's worst since the club dropped a 17-3 contest to the Oklahoma City RedHawks on April 16, 2009 at Greer Stadium.

 

Plating runs in seven of nine innings, Tucson's 13 runs in the game were the most scored against Nashville this season, while the 17 hits given up matched a season-high.

 

With the loss, Nashville (14-25) has been held to two runs or less in 12 of their 19 road games and moves to 4-15 when playing away from Greer Stadium this season, the worst mark in the PCL.

 

Sounds starting pitcher Wily Peralta (1-4) suffered one of the worst starts of his professional career. The young right-hander gave up nine runs on 10 hits (both matching career highs) while walking and striking out three in three plus innings. Six of Peralta's 10 hits allowed went for extra bases.

 

The hits and runs allowed by the 23-year-old also set Nashville highs for pitchers this season.

 

The Sounds' offense went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

 

Third baseman Andy Gonzalez was the lone Sound to have two hits, while outfielder Corey Patterson was responsible for Nashville's only extra-base hit, a double in the seventh.

 

The Padres scored their first run in the bottom of the first as leadoff hitter Blake Tekotte doubled to center and later scored on a two-out RBI single from Matt Clark.

 

Tucson batted around and plated five runs for a 6-0 lead in the third, matching a season-high for runs allowed in an inning. Blake Tekotte led off with a single and scored five pitches later on a Logan Forsyth RBI triple. Later in the inning, after a Jeff Gyorko walk, Peralta surrendered an RBI single to Clark and consecutive two-out RBI doubles to Daniel Robertson and Beamer Weems.

 

The Padres hit for the cycle as a team and quickly extended their lead to 10-0 in the next frame. Logan Forsythe crushed a two-run homer after Peralta issued an inning-opening walk to Tekotte for the first two runs.

 

Gyorko then doubled to remove Peralta from the game, and was followed by a Clark RBI triple. Yasmani Grandal singled to score Clark and complete the cycle.

 

The scored moved to 11-0 in the sixth as Gyorko and Clark reached to open the frame against reliever Amaury Rivas. Gyorko later came into to score on a Yasmani Frandal double play.

 

Tucson made it 12-0 in the seventh as Rivas loaded the bases by walking one and hitting two in the inning. Daniel Robertson would later score on a passed ball by Martin Maldonado.

 

An eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Anthony Contreras pushed the lead to 13-0.

 

Victor Garate gave up one run on three hits in two innings. Rivas allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings. Rob Wooten gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings to end the game, although he did successfully strand three of Rivas' baserunners in the 7th.

 

Tucson starter Matt Palmer (4-2) pitched seven scoreless innings for the win.

 

The Sounds and Padres continue their series at 9:05 pm CT on Friday Night at Kino Stadium. Right-hander Brian Baker (1-2, 7.33) will start for Nashville against Tucson left-hander Colt Hynes (0-4, 5.08).

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Arizona — “(Jordan) Brown’s Town”

May 17, 2012 by Jeff Hem

 

Tonight’s interview is with Sounds outfielder and Tucson resident Jordan Brown, who flew home from Nashville on Tuesday night after the day game so he could enjoy a true off day at home with his family yesterday here in Arizona before the start of the road trip tonight. That’s one of several topics we discussed with the former Cleveland Indian, who was in Spring Training this year with the Astros before getting let go and heading to the Mexican League before the Brewers called.

[Mass Haas]

Here are two links to last year's August 9th Link Report detailing the 2-0 Helena loss in which LHP Mike Strong, who struck out nine in four innings tonight, struck out 13 in seven innings.

[Mass Haas]

Stars Lose Third Straight in Series Opener

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.- In the series opener of a five-game road trip at AT&T Field, the Huntsville Stars fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts by a score of 6-3 on Thursday night.

 

In the second inning, the Stars were able to get out to the initial lead. After shortstop Tommy Manzella and center fielder Juan Sanchez came through with back-to-back singles, third baseman Josh Prince delivered a two-out RBI single that scored Manzella and gave the Stars a 1-0 lead. Sanchez was thrown out at the plate by Lookouts’ CF Nick Buss.

 

That lead was short-lived though. In the second inning, the Chattanooga offense broke out for three runs, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of pitcher Aaron Miller to give them a 3-1 lead.

 

After Chattanooga was able to score another run in the third inning, the Stars cut the lead back to two in the fifth inning on a RBI double by first baseman Hunter Morris. For Morris, the double was his Southern League-leading 17th of the season.

 

That was as close as Huntsville would get though Up 4-2, the Lookouts tacked on a run in the fifth inning as a byproduct of two Stars errors and then another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by catcher Griff Erickson to increase their lead to four.

 

However, the Stars had their chances. After another RBI single by Prince in the eighth inning cut their deficit to three, Huntsville squandered a chance as second basemen Scooter Gennett grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Then, with two-outs in the ninth and the tying run at the plate, Sanchez grounded out to Chattanooga first basemen Nick Wise to end the game.

 

For Huntsville, starting pitcher Josh Stinson fell to 4-2 on the season with the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) and seven hits over five innings.

 

For Chattanooga, LHP Aaron Miller improved to 2-4 on the season as he gave up just two runs over five innings of work.

 

On offense, the Stars were still able to churn out 12 hits, with Morris and Prince leading the way with three apiece.

 

The loss was the Stars third in a row and fourth in their last five games.

 

The Stars and Lookouts will continue their series on Friday as Huntsville will send RHP Evan Anundsen (2-1, 2.48 ERA) to the mound to face off against Chattanooga RHP Matt Magill (3-2, 3.44 ERA). First pitch is at 7:15 ET (6:15 CT).