Link Report for Mon. 7/30

[TooLiveBrew]

Chattanooga 6, @Huntsville 5

 

Huntsville Box

Huntsville lost a close (& in some ways, crazy) one tonight. Ariel Pena struggled mightily in his first start as Brewers property: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 6:2 GO:AO. Pena gave up 5 XBH (3 2B, 3B, HR) in the 1st & 3rd innings; he worked 1-2-3 frames in the 2nd, 4th, & 5th. Johnnie Lowe was fantastic in relief of Pena, tossing two perfect innings with nothing hit hard against him. Kyle Heckathorn only gave up two hits in his two IP, but one of them was a solo HR in the 9th, which was the decisive run in this contest.

 

Hunter Morris homered in the 4th -- a solo shot -- for his only hit on the night; he finished 1-4. Jean Segura went 1-5 with one RBI, and his lone hit was an interesting single in the 3rd... check the PbP section for more on that. Lee Haydel was 4-4 on the game, with three 1B and a 1-RBI 2B in the 7th; Haydel was also picked off once & CS once. Scooter Gennett went 1-4 with a single. Josh Prince was 1-4 with one 2B & one BB.

 

Kentrail Davis finished 0-3, with a SB after reaching on a HBP in the 7th; Anderson De La Rosa and Hainley Statia both were 0-4. T.J. Mittelstaedt singled in a PH appearance in the 7th.

 

 

Huntsville PbP

Not sure exactly how to decipher the Segura IF single in the 3rd -- maybe it was that Segura beat out an IF single, Haydel scored on the grounder, Pena scored on the throwing error, and Segura got caught getting greedy... ? :

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 3rd

-Lee Haydel singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman J. T. Wise.

-With Ariel Pena batting, Aaron Miller picks off Lee Haydel at 1st on throw to J. T. Wise.

-Ariel Pena walks.

-Josh Prince doubles (20) on a fly ball to left fielder Brahiam Maldonado. Ariel Pena to 3rd.

-Jean Segura singles on a ground ball to shortstop Rafael Ynoa. Ariel Pena scores. Josh Prince scores. Throwing error by first baseman J. Wise. Jean Segura out at 3rd, shortstop Rafael Ynoa to pitcher Aaron Miller.

-Scooter Gennett flies out to left fielder Brahiam Maldonado.

 

The 7th also saw two Huntsville runs score:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 7th

-Anderson De La Rosa grounds out softly, pitcher Wes Roemer to first baseman J. T. Wise.

-Kentrail Davis hit by pitch.

-With Lee Haydel batting, Kentrail Davis steals (16) 2nd base.

-Lee Haydel doubles (4) on a ground ball to right fielder Blake Smith. Kentrail Davis scores.

-Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter T. J. Mittelstaedt replaces Johnnie Lowe.

-T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a ground ball to right fielder Blake Smith. Lee Haydel to 3rd. T. Mittelstaedt to 2nd on the throw.

-Josh Prince walks.

-Jean Segura grounds into a force out, second baseman Luis Nunez to shortstop Rafael Ynoa. Lee Haydel scores. T. Mittelstaedt to 3rd. Josh Prince out at 2nd. Jean Segura to 1st.

-Pitching Change: Steven Rodriguez replaces Wes Roemer, batting 7th.

-Scooter Gennett lines out to second baseman Luis Nunez.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

I was just looking at the T-Rats position prospects and a solid argument could be made that both Walla and Rivera should repeat WI. The problem would be holding back the development of the guys behind as the Helena OF is actually pretty stacked with talent and Alfredo Rodriguez has been performing well.

 

I bet they both get bumped, but a sub .700 OPS from Walla was certainly unexpected. He could easily get above .700 for the season but I would have hoped he'd have at least matched last year's OPS from Helena (.785) and that he would be ascending as a prospect right now.

[TheCrew07]

Edit: Oh and "NO PEANUTS FOR YOU!" -Steve Wendt

 

A certain peanut inning is actually the most irritating thing in MiLB audio and I can't believe the fans are such sheep they'll repeat it so incessantly. I love me some peanuts at the ball game, well I actually just love peanuts but the crowd mic just grates on you after a while.

 

There has a to be a way to sabotage the PA...

[Tedaldtada]

AZL Brewers 5 AZL Reds 1

 

Box Score

 

I am fully expecting Nic Bucci (5 IP 2 H 0 R 0 BB 4 K 6:1 GO:FO) promotion news tomorrow. Could he be headed to the already stacked Huntsville rotation? That was his likely assignment had he been healthy. Alejandro Lavandero pitched scoreless inning, amazing. Jonathon Armold continues his solid AZL Leagues season finishing off the Reds in the 9th.

 

The middle of the order made a big impact as Jose Pena (1-3 BB), Clint Coulter (2-3 2B BB), Deivi Mejia (1-4 HR) and Jose Sermo (2-4) all had good games. Dustin Houle is all the way down to .190 now thanks to his recent cold spell. Houle was the youngest player in the 2011 draft, so he has plenty of time to come around.

 

Tanner Rahier, who many would have liked to see in a Brewers uni, is struggling in the AZL League (.210/.300/.352). One hot week, and those numbers would look much better.

 

Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Taillon hasn't found his groove yet, but he drops a gem like this every so often.

Marauders' Taillon tames Tigers

Pirates' top prospect allows two hits over seven innings

By Robert Emrich / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/30/L3zC3WIH.jpg

Jameson Taillon is 5-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 20 starts for Bradenton. (Cliff Welch/MiLB.com)

 

In every start, there are two or three situations that can change the outcome of the game. Jameson Taillon's success in those situations on Monday night were the difference in his performance and could be the difference in his long-term outlook.

 

The Pirates' No. 1 prospect allowed two hits and struck out four over seven shutout innings, but did not figure into the decision as Class A Advanced Bradenton fell to Lakeland, 1-0, in 10 innings.

 

Taillon held the Flying Tigers hitless through the first four innings before Wade Gaynor singled to lead off the fifth. The 20-year-old right-hander worked his way out of trouble in that frame after walking Daniel Fields and uncorking a wild pitch.

 

Taillon recovered to strike out Adolfo Reina and James Robbins back-to-back before getting Hernan Perez to fly out to center field.

 

"Honestly I wasn't thinking much, I stuck to my plan," Taillon said. "I had second and third, and I knew I had an open base to work with the bottom of the lineup. I wouldn't say I worked around guys, but I threw my pitches. It worked when I got ahead and I varied a couple of curveballs."

 

Taillon walked three and faced four over the minimum for the Marauders, but left with the game scoreless.

 

"Early on, I kind of just eased my way into the game," the Florida native said. "It was an aggressive offensive team and I was pitching in and using their aggressiveness to my advantage. I went at them early with kind of a fastball-heavy dosage the first time through the lineup. I was at 31 pitches through four innings and that allowed me to go deeper into the game."

 

MLB.com's No. 5 prospect has endured a tough season for the Marauders, going 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA. In his previous start July 25, Taillon was touched up for four runs on eight hits over six innings against St. Lucie. He pointed to his success Monday in big spots as being the difference.

 

"Last start, I felt really good out there," Taillon said. "I would say there were three pitches that made the difference. Tonight, I had a couple of situations and I made big pitches when I needed to."

 

"Absolutely," he added when asked whether the fifth was one of those situations. "Just keep sticking to my plan, I had done well to that point. That's a situation that can make or break an outing."

 

Taillon thinks there are a couple of things that he can improve upon in order to take the next step.

 

"I'd say consistency from start to start," Taillon said. "One of the smaller aspects of the game that people don't pay attention to is holding runners on. I'm not the best at it, I'm a big guy and I'm not the quickest to the plate. There are different ways to go about it, from holding the ball longer to being quicker to the plate, those are the things I'm going to work on."

 

Kenn Kasparek (0-3) took the loss after allowing a run on five hits over 2 1/3 innings of relief for Bradenton.

 

Marcus Lemon delivered the win for Lakeland with a walk-off single in the 10th. Matt Crouse earned his fifth win after giving up a hit and fanning four over two innings of relief

[TheCrew07]

2nd feature in a week for Didi

IL notes: Gregorius thriving at new level

Reds prospect already boasts stellar glove, adding quick bat

By John Wagner / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/29/8VPFhBsR.jpg

Didi Gregorius already has six homers, one shy of a career high. (Louisville Bats)

 

No one has ever argued that Didi Gregorius doesn't have the defensive skills to play shortstop.

 

Just 22 years old, Gregorius ranks among the Reds' top prospects because of his strong throwing arm and good range.

 

But Gregorius, who was promoted to Louisville two weeks ago, has garnered more attention these days because of improving hitting, including developing power.

 

"He's a well-rounded player," Bats manager David Bell said. "One thing that jumps out at you is his arm strength, but before it's all said and done, he's going to show people he has a lot more skills than that.

 

"He's going to hit. He's young and he's still developing. He's going to be a good all-around Major League player."

 

Gregorius began the season with Double-A Pensacola in the Southern League and hit .278 with one homer and 31 RBIs in 81 games to earn a promotion at the All-Star break.

 

"I was playing like I think I can play," Gregorius said. "I relaxed in Double-A and I think I'm bringing that same game to Triple-A."

 

"The pitchers here are more in the strike zone. You face big league pitchers every day, guys who have pitched in the Majors before they were sent down."

 

Gregorius has thrived against IL pitching, going 5-for-10 in his first two games and hitting .314 through 17 contests with the Bats.

 

"What excites me about his offense is that he has a quick bat," Bell said. "He can get to a fastball, and that's what separates Major League players from Triple-A players.

 

"He's going to adjust to the other pitches and he's going to learn how to hit in certain situations. But you can't teach bat quickness, and he has that."

 

Gregorius said he is working on developing his offense by taking batting practice seriously.

 

"I'm just working hard every day, trying to get better every day," he said. "I take BP like it's game time, trying to get ready for every game. I'm just trying to hit line drives."

 

What has been most notable about Gregorius in his brief time in Triple-A is that he's hit four homers in only 70 at-bats with Louisville. Last year, it took him nearly 200 at-bats to hit five home runs for Class A Advanced A Bakersfield in the California League.

 

"He's not going to be a home run hitter, he's going to be a line-drive hitter who hits some home runs," Bell said. "He has four home runs [for us], and I'm sure he didn't try to hit any of those four home runs. He's trying to hit a line drive and occasionally, he's going to pop one that goes out."

 

Bell said Gregorius continues to work on driving the ball to the opposite field, pitch recognition and other refinements to his batting.

 

"He's young and he's going to go through struggles -- at this level and at the Major League level," Bell said. "But he's swinging the bat really well and showing what he is capable of."

 

In brief

 

Something old, something new: Gwinnett made a pair of moves to help restock its pitching staff this week. One was the addition of 41-year-old RHP Miguel Batista as a free agent. In his first start for the G-Braves, he allowed two runs over five innings to earn a victory against Charlotte on July 28. The other addition was 22-year-old LHP Sean Gilmartin, who was promoted from Double-A Mississippi. Atlanta's first-round pick in the 2011 Draft, he was 5-8 with a 3.54 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 26 walks in 20 Southern League starts.

 

Sweet Lew: Norfolk's Lew Ford was closing in on contending for the IL batting title, moving within 20 plate appearances of qualifying. And with a .331 batting average through 62 games, he certainly had the numbers to step into the top spot. But Ford, who had 11 homers and 40 RBIs with the Tides, ran into a roadblock: He was promoted, joining the Orioles on Sunday and returning to the big leagues for the first time since playing for the Twins from 2003-07.

 

East Division showdown: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has used a strong start coming out of the All-Star break to set up a showdown for first place in the East Division with Pawtucket. The Yankees won their first four games following the break to jump-start an 11-4 run that vaulted them atop the division, a half-game in front of the PawSox. The teams began a four-game home-and-home series Sunday.

 

He said it: "The pitching wasn't good. The defense wasn't good. Today, we made a lot of mistakes. We've got to be more consistent and play smarter baseball. We made a lot of mistakes in the whole series. I've seen lack of communication. Physical errors are going to happen. ... But if you're not mentally prepared, it's a different story. It's getting to the time where we've got to kinda kick it in the butt here if we think that we've got a chance [at the playoffs] at all. We've got to play better baseball." -- Bisons manager Wally Backman to the Buffalo News. His team won its first three games following the All-Star break, then lost 11 of 14, including eight of nine.

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)”

 

Jeff Hem's note -- Here is this week’s installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero. As you might imagine, our main topic this week was what the Sounds’ manager makes of all of the recent roster moves involving the Brewers and Sounds. As of right this second (hey, moves can happen at any time), in the past five days a total of 16 different players have been involved in a Nashville Sounds roster move. Here’s the short version:

 

To Milwaukee from Nashville

Jonathan Lucroy (after rehab assignment)

Jim Henderson

Mark Rogers

Mike McClendon

 

To Nashville from Milwaukee

Jeff Bianchi

Tyler Thornburg

 

From Nashville to the Disabled List

Dayton Buller

Logan Schafer

 

From Double-A Huntsville to Nashville

Mitch Stetter

Hiram Burgos

Khris Davis

 

Others

Seth McClung (released)

Fautino De Los Santos (to Sounds via trade)

Humberto Quintero (to Sounds as free agent signee)

Edwin Maysonet (activated off Temporarily Inactive List)

Juan Sanchez (from Sounds to High-A Brevard County)

[Mass Haas]

Comeback Falls Short As Stars Lose to Chattanooga

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Despite a five-run comeback, the Huntsville Stars were edged out by a score of 6-5 by the Chattanooga Lookouts on Monday night.

 

Unfortunately, the highly anticipated Brewers organizational debut of starting pitcher Ariel Pena did not start off as many had hoped. In the first inning, the newly acquired 23-year-old gave up a leadoff triple to shortstop Rafael Ynoa. Ynoa then scored on a groundout by center fielder Nick Buss to give Chattanooga the first run. Later in the inning, back-to-back doubles by right fielder Blake Smith and first baseman J.T Wise scored Smith to make the score 2-0.

 

In the third inning, it was Wise that got the best of Pena once again. With Buss and Smith on base, the first baseman crushed a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Lookouts a 5-0 lead.

 

However, Pena would go on to earn a no-decision after giving up five runs in five innings as the Stars mounted a comeback to get him off the hook. Starting in the third inning, Pena walked and center fielder Josh Prince doubled to put runners at second and third with one out with Jean Segura up. The shortstop delivered an RBI single that combined with a throwing error from Chattanooga scored both runs to make the score 5-2.

 

One inning later, a solo blast by first baseman Hunter Morris cut the Stars deficit to two. For Morris, the homer was his league-leading 20th of the season and fifth blast in the last seven games.

 

The score remained tied until the seventh inning where the Stars finished off their comeback. After right fielder Kentrail Davis was hit by a pitch and stole second, an RBI double by left fielder Lee Haydel put the score at 5-4. Once Haydel reached third on a pinch-hit single by T.J Mittelstaedt, an RBI groundout by Segura tied up the ballgame.

 

The comeback would not be completed though. With reliever Kyle Heckathorn on the mound for Huntsville in the ninth inning, Chattanooga third baseman C.J. Retherford hit a solo home run to left field to give the Lookouts the game-winning run.

 

To finish off the game, Chattanooga closer Steven Ames shut the door and stranded two Stars runners in the ninth inning for his 12th save of the season. In 1.1 innings of relief, LHP Steven Rodriguez improved to 1-0 on the season.

 

For the Stars, Heckathorn took the loss to fall to 3-10 on the year. On offense, Haydel led the way at the plate with a 4-for-4 night. The four hits for Haydel was the second time he has done that in a game this season.

 

Game three of a five-game series will take place on Thursday as the Stars will send RHP Josh Stinson (11-5, 3.14 ERA) to toe the rubber. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Photo Gallery from the Huntsville Times -- several shots of Jean Segura and Ariel Pena

[Mass Haas]

'Tees edge Jupiter in 11 innings

Brevard takes series opener from Hammerheads, 5-4

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the eighth inning and went on to defeat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 5-4 in 11 innings on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Jason Rogers tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth on an 0-1 pitch that he deposited over the left center field fence for a two-run homer. Casey Medlen came in and retired Jupiter in order in the top of the ninth as the 'Tees (21-17 second half, 50-56 overall) had a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame.

 

A one-out single by John Dishon put the winning run on base and then with Reggie Keen at the plate, Dishon took second on a wild pitch and then stole third to put the winning run 90 feet away. Keen would fly out to right field but not deep enough for Dishon to tag. Nick Shaw then stepped in and lofted a pitch to left field that looked like it may fall for the game-winning hit but Dallas Poulk made a diving catch to send the game into extras.

 

Medlen came back out for the tenth and after getting Terrence Dayleg to fly out, Poulk singled to left and then Marcell Ozuna drew a walk to put runners on first and second with just one out. 2010 first round pick Christian Yelich then stepped in with a chance to give Jupiter (17-19, 53-53) the lead, but Medlen would get him to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and the inning.

 

Brevard went down in order in the bottom of the tenth and then Greg Holle came on to face the Hammerheads in the top of the 11th. After allowing Mark Canha to lead off the inning with a single, Holle would also benefit from the double play as he forced Ryan Fisher to ground into the 6-4-3 double play. Holle would then retire Jacob Realmuto to end the frame.

 

A one-out single by Parker Berberet put the winning run on board for the 'Tees and then two batters later with two outs, Dishon walked to put runners on first and second. Keen then stepped in and worked a 3-2 count against Jupiter reliever Tyler Higgins, who was in his third inning of work.

 

Keen would then hit a ball sharply to the hole that the shortstop Dayleg was able to get to, but Keen beat the throw that ended up in the dirt. All the meanwhile, Berberet kept on running and was able to score thanks to the Dayleg error as the Manatees won the series opener.

 

Drew Gagnon (0-1, 3.50) got the starting nod on the hill for the 'Tees and tossed his fourth quality outing in six starts with Brevard County. Gagnon allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits, while fanning four and walking one in seven innings of work.

 

Brevard County and Jupiter will continue their four-game set on Tuesday night beginning at 6:35 p.m. Brandon Williamson (2-8, 6.64) will toe the rubber for the Manatees, while Jose Fernandez (2-1, 3.60) will get the ball for the Hammerheads.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Drew Gagnon did not factor into Monday's decision despite his fourth quality start in his first six outings with Brevard County. Gagnon allowed two earned runs in seven innings of work as the 'Tees defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads, 5-4 in 11 innings on Monday night. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/31/Q8YshrBU.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Helena Video Game Highlights

 

***

 

Chris McFarland photo in the detailed Helena road game story via the Missoulian

 

***

 

Helena audio interviews --

 

RHP Chad Wagner

 

Billing play-by-play broadcaster Ryan Schuiling

 

1B Adam Giacolone

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog: Notes from the bus ride home

[Mass Haas]

More Helena video

[CheezWizHed]

Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)”

 

Jeff Hem's note -- Here is this week’s installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero. As you might imagine, our main topic this week was what the Sounds’ manager makes of all of the recent roster moves involving the Brewers and Sounds. As of right this second (hey, moves can happen at any time), in the past five days a total of 16 different players have been involved in a Nashville Sounds roster move. Here’s the short version:

 

To Milwaukee from Nashville

Jonathan Lucroy (after rehab assignment)

Jim Henderson

Mark Rogers

Mike McClendon

 

To Nashville from Milwaukee

Jeff Bianchi

Tyler Thornburg

 

From Nashville to the Disabled List

Dayton Buller

Logan Schafer

 

From Double-A Huntsville to Nashville

Mitch Stetter

Hiram Burgos

Khris Davis

 

Others

Seth McClung (released)

Fautino De Los Santos (to Sounds via trade)

Humberto Quintero (to Sounds as free agent signee)

Edwin Maysonet (activated off Temporarily Inactive List)

Juan Sanchez (from Sounds to High-A Brevard County)

 

Programs! Git yer programs here! Can't tell the players from the fans without a program!

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Video Highlights (Pena, Morris)