Link Report for Fri. 6/1 -- Manatees with the most productive night (rainout)

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Hiram Burgos at Tennessee (Cubs), 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: Huntsville road games in four locales (Mississippi, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Pensacola) will be broadcast.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Brooks Hall at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 5:35 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton 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 Will West at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; RHP Jacob Barnes will tandem

 

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]

MiLB.TV note -- Reminder that in addition to the always-available Sounds feed, you're treated to Stars video for this series finale in Tennessee, so good time for friends and family of Huntsville players (and the rest of us) to invest in MiLB.TV if so inclined.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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.

[TheCrew07]

It's nice that pretty much every day is an interesting day from a pitching standpoint... Peralta, Burgos, Hall, and West today, each is intriguing for their own reasons, this MiLB season has been quite a bit of fun regardless of what has been happening with the big club.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

For the first time in at least a couple of years, the Brewers make an appearance in the "Not-So-Hot" portion of Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet.

 

Personally, I think it's silly to place a starting pitcher there after one bad performance when he's been fine otherwise.

 

Bad call, BA, bad call...

[Mass Haas]

Brewers' Jed Bradley ready to move past groin injury

[Mass Haas]

The DSL Brewers open their summer schedule by hosting the fearsome DSL Braves Saturday AM!

 

I have sent a private message to "Young Geezy", hope to have him on board for Link Report duty.

 

No finalized roster on MiLB.com until tomorrow, although a couple of teams posted theirs today.

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Getting To Know The 2012 Sounds: Manager Mike Guerrero

 

Favorite MLB Teams: Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees

 

Want a mulligan on that answer, Mike? Some of your bosses are reading...

[Mass Haas]

Reminder from the Manatees -- sweet jersey auction (will ba available for bid as of 4:00 PM Central today, Friday)

 

***

 

Fans, don't forget that the Manatees will be wearing beach jerseys both tonight and tomorrow for Beachside Weekend! The jerseys will be auctioned off online at manatees.milbauctions.com and all proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Taylor 4 Teens. The auction will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET today and end on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. ET (10:59 CT).

 

[Mass Haas]

From Brevard:

 

Tonight's game has been postponed due to inclement weather. The Manatees and Marauders will play two tomorrow at 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Breakdown of Florida State League North Division All-Star Team:

 

Dunedin (Blue Jays) - 6

 

Daytona (Cubs) - 5

 

Lakeland (Tigers) - 4

 

Clearwater (Phillies) - 3

 

Tampa (Yankees) - 3

 

Brevard County (Brewers) - 1, RHP Jimmy Nelson

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[Tedaldtada]

Breakdown of Florida State League North Division All-Star Team:

 

Dunedin (Blue Jays) - 6

 

Daytona (Cubs) - 5

 

Lakeland (Tigers) - 4

 

Clearwater (Phillies) - 3

 

Tampa (Yankees) - 3

 

Brevard County (Brewers) - 1, RHP Jimmy Nelson

 

Gotta think Burgos was good to go.

 

Bradley was on track, but has cooled since his hot start and Jungmann did not have the sexiest numbers.

 

Still, only one??

[TheCrew07]

For the first time in at least a couple of years, the Brewers make an appearance in the "Not-So-Hot" portion of Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet.

 

Personally, I think it's silly to place a starting pitcher there after one bad performance when he's been fine otherwise.

 

Bad call, BA, bad call...

 

This has to be a season long type thing because he went from his best start of the season to his worst, and every pitcher is going to have a forgettable start or 3 over the course of a season, but his last start just happened to push his numbers into "not a legit prospect" territory with the ERA over 4. He hasn't put up shiny peripherals all season outside of that one start so maybe they were just waiting to pile on? I guess if that's the way they want to handle it then fine but if that's the way they are going to play it he should have been mentioned in last week's hot sheet for his May 22nd start, at least a mention in the team photo if nothing else.

[TheCrew07]

Mass linked the Hot Sheet above, here's the one divisional mention:

 

No. 8 ALEN HANSON, SS

PIRATES

Team: Low Class A West Virginia (South Atlantic)

Age: 19

Why He's Here: .556/.619/.889 (10-for-18), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-4 SB

The Scoop: Say hello to the biggest breakout prospect of the year so far. Hanson has always intrigued scouts with his speed and flashes of ability to hit in games, but this year he has shown more power and a well-rounded skill set. He's hitting .345/.404/.597 on the year, good for a 1.001 OPS that ranks third in the SAL. With a 58 percent success rate stealing bases (14-for-24), he's going to have to become more efficient, but there's plenty of time for Hanson to add polish.

[TheCrew07]

Hot Sheet Chat

 

Jake (The Friendly Confines): Rumors abound that Rizzo will pack his bags for the big club once he's 100% and the Cubbies return from their road trip. Do you believe he's ready?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: Yes I think he's ready. That doesn't mean he won't have any adjustment issues, but there's not much more he can get out of destroying the PCL.

eddie (cincinnati): with the reds lack of obp at the top of the lineup, how long before billy hamilton starts moving up?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: The two have nothing to do with each other. I know Reds fans want Hamilton in Cincinnati yesterday, but he's not ready to help the team's OBP at any point this year. Now, if the Reds are in the playoff chase come late August could he help as a pinch-runner? Absolutely. He'd be worth carrying on a playoff roster simply to pinch run in crucial late-game situations.

Heavy Early (Cincinnati): What is your opinion on Robbie Grossman? Is his low batting average more the result of a fluky BABIP, or is he hitting alot of harmless flyballs? The guy has a great batting eye, unlike anyone else on the Pirates right now...

 

 

J.J. Cooper: I think some of it is the flukes of a small sample size. That being said, we've been pretty consistent around here in thinking that he's going to have a hard time being a big league regular—he's more of a tweener. The slow start this year isn't helping the other side of that argument.

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): Billy Hamilton racked up 57 steals before June, barring injury, how many do you think he ends up with?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: Playing off my previous answer, I'll guess he makes a run at the record, finishes with 140 then gets a callup to the big leagues where he adds another 10 to finish with the most steals anyone's ever had in a pro season, but without holding any official record (not even the California League record as Donell Nixon stole 144 for Bakersfield in 1983).

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): Should I be concerned that Red 2011 1st rd pick Robert Stephenson is starting in rookie ball, or is that the norm for low 1st rd pitchers out of high school?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: I don't think the Reds are worried, but I would be a little bit. He's out of California, so he's not exactly making the adjustment from Maine. When I did a study of the first full year of every high school pitcher selected in the first round from 1992 to present, I couldn't find one of them who become a successful big leaguer after spending their first full pro season in rookie or short-season ball. The guys who spent a full first year in rookie or short season included Mark Pawelek, Josh Girdley, Donnie Bridges, Mark Mangum, Matt White and Matt Drews, Todd Noel and Jason Stanridge. Now I'll be the first to admit this is kind of a junk stat, as if Stephenson makes 12 starts in Billings and then makes two starts in Dayton at the end of the year he doesn't qualify for the list, but no, the norm for first-round high school pitchers is to make it to low Class A at least.

DH (Brandon, MB): If Billy Hamilton is destined for CF(or some other position other than SS) then why not move him now and let him start working on those skills? Is his trade value highest as a SS, and would the Reds consider trading him? Thanks

 

 

J.J. Cooper: Considering his athleticism, Hamilton could probably learn CF to a passable level in instructs. Heck, he could probably do it adequately with 3-4 days of shagging flies in the OF. So why not leave him at shortstop for now? If he ends up becoming a plus defender at short, you can end up leaving him there, but it's not going to be tough for him to pick up playing CF.

steven (Sioux City): Who is the best starting pitching prospect in the Reds system? Cingrani seems like he might get the nod over Corcino at this point?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: Still Corcino to me. Great season by Cingrani, but I'd take Corcino.

Ben (Columbus, OH): Do you guys ever get tired of answering Billy Hamilton questions?

 

 

J.J. Cooper: No. I find him way too fascinating to get tired of the questions.

[TheCrew07]

I cannot make this post format properly so just going to provide a link, many divisional prospects listed here, Mass linked the breakdown by team earlier

 

Cole, Taillon highlight FSL All-Stars

[TheCrew07]

I hope the Rattler faithful and his family appreciate the feature by MiLB

 

Rattlers mourn loss of popular Calmes

Wisconsin ballpark icon celebrated by team, fans, community

By Benjamin Hill / MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/31/yAR9vR87.jpg

Brock Calmes' booming voice made him a fan favorite. (Photos courtesy of the Timber Rattlers)

 

"Peanuts. Popcorn. Cotton Candy. Licorice Rope."

 

To Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans, these six words are far more than a rote recitation of concession stand staples. As bellowed by vendor Brock Calmes, they became nothing less than a 20-second, 12-syllable ballpark symphony -- a resonant baritone echoing from foul pole to foul pole, with the vowel sounds comically elongated, "licorice" barked at a staccato clip, and, finally, the jaunty sing-speak of "ro-ope!"

 

Sadly, this unique vocal composition will never be heard again at Fox Cities Stadium. Calmes, who had worked for the Timber Rattlers since 1999, passed away earlier this month from a blood clot. He was just 28 years old.

 

As tragic as it was, Calmes' death served as a life-affirming reminder that Minor League Baseball stadiums are more than just a way to spend one's discretionary income on a pleasant summer evening. They are also community gathering places, full of familiar faces who root together, laugh together and, yes, mourn together.

 

From humble origins

 

When Calmes first started working for the Timber Rattlers at the age of 16, he was, more or less, a concessions utility man. He'd help out wherever needed, running food from stand to stand and doing various odd jobs. But, soon enough, his true calling became apparent. And, literally, it was a calling.

 

"As the story goes, when Brock would hear that 'Da-da da-da da-da,' he'd run to the front of the stands and yell 'Chaaaaarge!'" explained Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav. "And the guys who were running our food and beverage at the time, they heard that and asked him, 'Would you be interested in hawking?'"

 

He was, of course.

 

But a loud voice is only part of the hawking equation. A schtick is needed as well, something that draws the fans attention and then creates a Pavlovian desire to reach for the wallet. And with Calmes, it wasn't what he said. It was how he said it: Peanuts. Popcorn. Cotton Candy. Licorice Rope.

 

"That tag line was legendary, and people came to know Brock as part of the entertainment." said Zerjav. "They'd stay in their seats, and wait until Brock got around to their section so that they could buy specifically from him.

 

"And in the Minors, this is something we always talk about," he continued. "We need to develop characters. You can't control what's on the field, so you have to develop what you have off of it. With Brock, that [idea] really worked for us."

 

And, indeed, Calmes was one of the Timber Rattlers' most recognizable characters -- and not just because of his booming voice.

 

"He was always a big dude, and he had his own jersey with the name 'Brock' on the back," said Zerjav. "1 1/2 was his number, and some people would say that was because he was 1 1/2 times the size of an average person. But his parents told us that, back when we were the Appleton Foxes, that's the number that the mascot wore. So, that's why he had it."

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/31/BcpdLvVK.jpg

 

As any follower of Minor League Baseball knows, one of the ultimate forms of celebrity is to be immortalized via the bobblehead. Calmes certainly had hoped to be recognized in such a way.

 

"We do a 'Fan's Choice' bobblehead every year, and Brock was in the running a couple of years ago," said Zerjav. "Ever since then, he would always mention in passing, 'Boy, I'd love to have my own bobblehead.'"

Brock was included on the list of this year's potential Fan's Choice honorees and, considering this tragic turn of events, it's now especially likely that he'll be the biggest vote-getter.

 

"Vote Brock," reads a comment on the team's Fan's Choice bobblehead press release. "His passion attracted kids to the park; he was taken way before his time. Let's honor him!"

 

A final farewell

 

Calmes died on May 14, and when the Timber Rattlers returned home two days later, a moment of silence was held in his honor.

 

"There were gasps throughout the crowd when we announced it," said Zerjav. "Even if you didn't know Brock personally, you still knew who he was. ... He just loved it at the ballpark. Being here was one of the highlights of his short life."

 

With this being the case, the team felt that they should do more to honor Calmes' memory. So, with the blessing of his parents, an open house memorial service was scheduled for the evening of May 23 (while the Timber Rattlers were on the road). More than 500 fans showed up, and the event was covered by the Appleton region's four major television stations.

 

What resulted was a poignant celebration, one attended by family, friends, fans and fellow gameday staff (one former usher flew in from North Carolina). Upon entering the ballpark, attendees came upon a concourse display featuring memorabilia from Calmes' life. This included his famous No. 1 1/2 jersey and, of course, the overloaded vendor's box that he carted all over the stadium at each and every ballgame. (Ringing the box was a semi-circle of cotton candy, a visual that, in this situation, was far more apropos than any floral display.)

 

As attendees made their way down the concourse, they met Calmes' family in a receiving line and then watched a video appreciation that played in a continuous loop on the videoboard and concourse televisions. The bar and restaurant area was open as well, providing an informal environment in which to congregate and share stories about the unique and unforgettable ballpark presence that was Brock Calmes.

 

The emotion was evident in Zerjav's voice as he reflected on the memorial, and what it said about Calmes, the Timber Rattlers organization and Appleton's community of baseball fans.

 

"Brock was a vendor who knew how to entertain the crowd, but at moments like these you realize that there's a greater purpose," he said. "We touched Brock's life, and then he went on to touch the lives of so many others. And it all happened because we're a little baseball team from Appleton, Wisconsin."

[TheCrew07]

Manny is our only mascot left, I actually forgot to vote after I posted the story... duh.

 

Happy mascots waltz into second round

[Mass Haas]

Audio from OKC — “Mike (McClendon) at the Mic”

 

Jeff Hem's note: Tonight’s interview from Oklahoma City is with Sounds reliever Mike McClendon, who has allowed just one earned run in his last nine innings as a Sound and recently tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings during a call-up for the Brewers while they were in Arizona. The injury-laden Brewers have called on McClendon twice already this season, and the right-handed ‘pen hurler nearly made the Brewers’ major league roster out of Spring Training. He was sent down a few days ago when the Brewers needed to call up Mike Fiers to start last Tuesday in Los Angeles.