Link Report for Thurs. 8/16 -- Stars and Manatees picking really bad time to falter

[Tedaldtada]

I got the A-Crew. Did not feel like waiting up.

[Tedaldtada]

Manatees swept by Blue Jays

08/17/2012 10:29 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees were doubled up by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-2 on Thursday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The 'Tees were swept in the three-game set by the Jays and finishes its season series with Dunedin, 5-13 and 0-9 on the road.

 

Manatees (28-25 second half, 57-64 overall) starting pitcher Nick Bucci (1-1, 1.32) had his first struggles of the season with Brevard as he allowed three runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings of work. He gave up four hits, walked five and struck out six.

 

The 'Tees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a solo homer from Nick Shaw, but Dunedin (28-23, 70-48)tied it up in the bottom of the inning on a RBI ground out from Jon Talley.

 

It remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth, as Marcus Knecht led the inning off by reaching on an error by Mike Walker. The Jays would then make the Manatees pay for that mistake as Pierce Rankin hit a two-run homer to give Dunedin a 3-1 lead.

 

Brevard would cut it to a 3-2 Blue Jays advantage with a two-out RBI single from Shaw, but that's all the 'Tees would get the rest of the way. Dunedin added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI triple by Knecht off of Thomas Keeling.

 

Shaw was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game. Keen, Jason Rogers and Franklin Romero Jr. had the other Brevard County hits. Along with his one hit, Rogers walked three times.

 

The Manatees have now fallen to fourth place in the jumbled North division race, two games back of first place Tampa. Dunedin is now in second as they are one game back and Lakeland is in third, 1.5 games back of the Yankees.

 

Brevard County will continue their road trip with a three-game set against the Clearwater Threshers (27-25, 63-55), who are just a half game behind the 'Tees for fourth place.

 

The series will open on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and Matt Miller (1-0, 3.60) will get the ball for his second start with the 'Tees. Miller allowed two runs in five innings of work for the win in his first start with Brevard, last Saturday against Tampa.

 

Southpaw Jesse Biddle (8-5, 3.45) will toe the rubber for the Threshers.

[Tedaldtada]

Brewers edge Owlz in extras

5 hours ago • Independent Record

 

Michael Turay’s home run did more than win Thursday’s game for the Helena Brewers.

 

It helped Helena snap a seven-game losing skid, helped Brent Suter pick up his fourth victory on the mound and got the Brewers off to a good start in Orem, Utah.

 

Turay slammed a bomb over the left-field fence at Parkway Crossing Stadium in the 10th inning Thursday night, lifting the Brewers to a 5-4 win over the Owlz. The run came after the Brewers were shut down for seven straight innings following a four-run outburst in the second frame. Orem tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Jonathan Walsh came home on an error by Emmanuel Quiles. The Brewers catcher was attempting to pick off Walsh at third.

 

The Owlz nearly tied it again in the home half of the 10th, but the Brewers gunned down Wade Hinkle at home plate on the relay throw from left field to secure the win.

 

Alfredo Rodriguez and Quiles each had two hits for the Brewers, while Jose Pena — who was assigned to Helena earlier in the day — went 1 for 4 with a home run and a pair of RBIs in his Helena debut. The right fielder was promoted from the Arizona League Brewers.

 

Suter threw five innings of two-hit relief for Helena, striking out eight in the process. Taylor Mangum picked up his first save after pitching a scoreless 10th inning.

 

The Brewers will try to make it two in a row when they face the Owlz again tonight.

 

NOTE: Kevin Berard was released from the Brewers on Thursday, according to transactions on the Pioneer League website. Chris McFarland's Reaction

[Tedaldtada]

AZL Indians 8 AZL Brewers 4

 

Box Score

 

The Brewers scored single runs in 4 separate innings but the Indians scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th alone. At that point it was 8-4, and that is how it ended.

 

[sarcasm]TV drama hero[/sarcasm] Clinton T. Coulter went 1-2 with 2 BB and a HBP. His .296/.433/.437 line is holding strong in the middle of this sterile offense. Dustin Houle went 2-4. Houle is so young still (18 until Nov.) that you just have to have patience. He is hitting .286 with 1 BB and 1 XBH over his last 10. 9-hitter Dionis Hinojosa went 3-4, all singles, and added a SB. With a .747 OPS on the year, I have no idea why Dionis is hitting 9th in this lineup. Alan Sharkey hit a 2B for the only A-Crew XBH.

 

On the mound, Eduard Reyes (an egregious snub in my P50) started well. He made 15 outs giving up just 2 H 2 R 1 ER 3 BB 6 K 2 WP with a 6:2 GO:FO. Reyes has really had a fantastic year. At just 6'0" and 174 lbs, Reyes will have to overcome the small pitcher stigma to succeed. Jono Armold got destroyed before Alex Lavandero finished with a scoreless inning. I am going to write a Bruce Seid defense post here shortly, but I have to wonder what the heck Bruce and company saw in this kid to pop him in the 9th round of the 2012 draft?

 

FIELDING

E: Ortega (13, fielding), Rivera (4, fielding), Harris (6, throw).

DP: (Reyes, E-Ortega-Sharkey).

 

Game Log

[Tedaldtada]

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

 

It is interesting that you see Seid see "thoroughly' outmatched. Are you building a thread to discuss, or should we do it here?

[Mass Haas]

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

 

It is interesting that you see Seid see "thoroughly' outmatched. Are you building a thread to discuss, or should we do it here?

 

No, no specific thread planned. More an indication that the discussion will probably be ripe when we look into a post-season analysis and review. Anyone can feel free to kick something off any time...

[Mass Haas]

For Nashville Sounds, defense becomes routine

by Nick Cole, The Tennessean

 

When it comes to defense, the Nashville Sounds are versatile and effective.

 

Nashville leads the Pacific Coast League in fielding percentage at .983 and has committed a league-low 79 errors.

 

“We take pride in our defense,” infielder Edwin Maysonet said. “All our guys will tell you that pitching and defense win championships, and that’s why we work hard to get better each day.”

 

Defense and pitching, which is fourth in the PCL (4.43 ERA), have helped Nashville (57-68) offset a team batting average (.256) that is tied for last in the league.

 

Maysonet, a 10-year veteran, has spent time at five positions this season (shortstop, second base, third base, left field and right field) and is one of several Sounds who play multiple positions.

 

Eric Farris, who leads all PCL second basemen with a .989 fielding percentage, also has spent time at shortstop, left field and right field.

 

“It’s all about practice,” Farris said of learning the new positions. “When we’re out taking batting practice, it’s not just hitting. A lot of that time is dedicated to getting work in at other positions that you’re not as comfortable with.”

 

Manager Mike Guerrero works his team through a steady routine of groundballs in warmups, something Maysonet and Farris attribute to the team’s strong defense.

 

“Mike is really good with the fungo,” Maysonet said. “Whenever you have a good guy on the fungo and you’re able to get your work done quickly, it’s a good thing.”

 

“We see it all off the bat from Mike,” Farris said. “He wants us to practice the tough plays. Having someone who challenges us when we’re practicing is definitely important.”

 

Outfielder Caleb Gindl, who has played errorless ball this season, says defense is something the Brewers set a priority on throughout their system.

 

“With the whole organization, from top to bottom, defense is a big thing,” Gindl said. “It’s always been like that. They preach defense; everybody works hard on it.”

 

Seeing at least 20 games at all three outfield positions, Gindl knows that versatility can sometimes mean the difference between getting a call to the big leagues and being passed over.

 

“Trying to get to the big leagues, being able to play multiple positions definitely helps,” he said. “I’ve got to take as many balls as I can off the bat (during batting practice), because I’m trying to play all three (outfield positions).”

 

Farris sees the defensive work as a necessity for a team that is lacking power hitters, with first baseman Sean Halton as the only active player with a double-digit home run total for the season at 12.

 

“We’re not a big power-hitting team, so we’re not going to provide a lot of thump at the plate,” Farris said. “You’re going to be in a lot of close ballgames, and in close ballgames defense wins them.”

 

This season Edwin Maysonet has played five positions for the Sounds. / GEORGE WALKER IV, THE TENNESSEAN

 

http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20120817&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=308170077&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&For-Nashville-Sounds-defense-becomes-routine

[Mass Haas]

You've got to think Dunedin's Kevin Pillar has been interviewed on MLB Network's "Intentional Talk" with Kevin Millar, right?

 

Dude rakes, too...

[Mass Haas]

STARS FALL IN EXTRAS TO MONTGOMERY

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In their fifth straight loss, the Huntsville Stars fell to the Montgomery Biscuits by a score of 4-3 in ten innings on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the tenth inning, Stars reliever Kyle Heckathorn got out the first two batters of the inning. Biscuits center fielder Ty Morrison hit a single through the hole at second and advanced to second with a stolen base. Third baseman Omar Luna hit the game-winning single to bring home Morrison and give Montgomery the final lead.

 

In the first inning, the Stars took their first lead of the entire series. Following a one-out double by third baseman Hainley Statia, a RBI single by second baseman Scooter Gennett put the Stars up 1-0.

 

After the Biscuits scattered two unanswered runs off of Stars starter Josh Stinson, Huntsville regained the lead in the sixth inning. To begin the frame, Gennett crushed a solo home run over the right field wall to tie up the ballgame. Two batters later, first baseman Hunter Morris hit his Southern League leading 23rd home run, a solo shot, to give the Stars a 3-2 lead.

 

In the eighth inning, Montgomery tied up the game on a RBI infield single by Mikey Mahtook to send it into extras. The Stars couldn’t plate another run, giving the Biscuits the 4-3 win.

 

The loss wasted yet another strong start from Stinson. The 24-year-old righty gave up just two runs on five hits in seven innings of work. For the second game in a row, Stinson pitched seven innings and gave up less than two runs while earning a no decision in the process. This was his fourth start in search of his 12th victory.

 

Reliever Brian Garman recorded one out in relief, giving up an unearned run on one hit. Darren Byrd was stung with his fifth blown save of the season, working 1.2 innings, giving up one hit. Heckathorn took the loss, his 11th of the season, pitching one inning and giving up the one run on two hits.

 

On offense, the Stars were led by Gennett and right fielder Kentrail Davis, who paced the bunch with two hits. For Gennett, the multi-hit game was his tenth in his last eleven contests.

 

For the Stars, the loss was their fifth straight overall and clinched their second straight series defeat.

 

Game four of a five-game series take place on Friday when the Stars send RHP Evan Anundsen to the mound. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Would have liked to see more recent quotes and updates, but his hometown Florida paper, the Sun Sentinel, has an article on Brewer pitcher and former Naval Academy student Preston Gainey.

[ramssuperbowl1999]

The two Brewers' rookie level squads are now a combined 30-71.

 

If it wasn't for Matt Erickson and his staff somehow coaching up water-into-wine a not-so-deep-in-top-prospects Rattlers team to relevance (amazingly strong in fundamentals, that unit), we'd forget that last season's rookie clubs performed very poorly as well.

 

And this isn't just about wins and losses, these clubs aren't even competitive day-to-day.

 

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

No kidding. No direspect to our middle round picks, but do you remember the last really impact player we had who was taken in the 7th or later? Remember the last really awesome overslot signing we had?

 

No disrespect to Chris McFarland, who I really like, but that's not enough.

[Mass Haas]

Orem trailed 5-4 entering the bottom of the 10th inning, and former Utah Valley University pitcher, Taylor Mangum, was looking for the save. Wade Hinkle walked with one out to put the tying run on base. Two batters later, Chevy Clarke doubled off the wall with two outs. Hinkle did not slide at home and was tagged out on a close play at the plate.

[brewmann04]

Intresting especially for a team the depends on the draft to bulid it team. I guess something to watch in the offseason.

[Mass Haas]

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

 

It is interesting that you see Seid see "thoroughly' outmatched. Are you building a thread to discuss, or should we do it here?

 

No, no specific thread planned. More an indication that the discussion will probably be ripe when we look into a post-season analysis and review. Anyone can feel free to kick something off any time...

 

On a side note, we regularly accentuate the positive here because it's fun, it's the right thing to do, and it's been an established Link Report pattern for 11 years now. The Power 50 (site, forum, fan, whatever version you may see) tends to do the same. So in that type of commentary atmosphere, sometimes the larger picture is overlooked. In that light, further discussion this fall will prove more beneficial, and certainly folks will have thoughts on both sides of the ledger.

[Tedaldtada]

The two Brewers' rookie level squads are now a combined 30-71.

 

If it wasn't for Matt Erickson and his staff somehow coaching up water-into-wine a not-so-deep-in-top-prospects Rattlers team to relevance (amazingly strong in fundamentals, that unit), we'd forget that last season's rookie clubs performed very poorly as well.

 

And this isn't just about wins and losses, these clubs aren't even competitive day-to-day.

 

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

No kidding. No direspect to our middle round picks, but do you remember the last really impact player we had who was taken in the 7th or later? Remember the last really awesome overslot signing we had?

 

No disrespect to Chris McFarland, who I really like, but that's not enough.

 

I mean, w/o even looking anything up, how about Scooter Gennett (overslot) and Mike Fiers (22nd rounder, major impact as a rookie).

 

I am going to look closer at this later, but I think Seid catches too much flack. He also seems to have a knack for drafting late bloomers.

[ramssuperbowl1999]

The two Brewers' rookie level squads are now a combined 30-71.

 

If it wasn't for Matt Erickson and his staff somehow coaching up water-into-wine a not-so-deep-in-top-prospects Rattlers team to relevance (amazingly strong in fundamentals, that unit), we'd forget that last season's rookie clubs performed very poorly as well.

 

And this isn't just about wins and losses, these clubs aren't even competitive day-to-day.

 

This organization has been thoroughly outdrafted in the Bruce Seid era -- it'll get it's own thread soon enough, but hopefully Keith Law's hint has some merit regarding the Brewers' scouting director.

No kidding. No direspect to our middle round picks, but do you remember the last really impact player we had who was taken in the 7th or later? Remember the last really awesome overslot signing we had?

 

No disrespect to Chris McFarland, who I really like, but that's not enough.

 

I mean, w/o even looking anything up, how about Scooter Gennett (overslot) and Mike Fiers (22nd rounder, major impact as a rookie).

 

I am going to look closer at this later, but I think Seid catches too much flack. He also seems to have a knack for drafting late bloomers.

Credit where it is due for Fiers and Gennett, who also came to mind.

 

But, if we look at 2009s top picks, here's what we get:

Eric Arnett

Kentrail Davis

Kyle Heckathorn

Max Walla

Cameron Garfield

Josh Prince

Brooks Hall

D'Vontrey Richardson

Hiram Burgos

Khris Davis

 

Not to insight a riot, but I don't think there is a single impact MLB player in there. Garfield potentially, but he's in Low A ball and had scuffled up until about 3 months ago.

 

Ouch.

 

 

We look at 2010, which has, to this point, been alright. Not signing Covey was a blessing in disguise, though Jed Bradley hasn't made me completely elated with it so far in his career. Nelson, Thornburg and Morris have all established themselves. Now let's take a look at the middle rounds:

Matt Miller, Cody Hawn, Austin Ross, Rafael Neda, Gregg Holle, Mike Walker, Christopher Bates, John Bivens and Michael White are long shots to make the big leagues. And I don't know if anyone would say they ever had a really good shot at it, even on draft day.

 

Unless you REALLY like Joel Pierce and Yadiel Rivera, you'd have to say the middle rounds of that draft were completely wasted.

 

2011 is where I thought there was some improvement. Jungmann was fine, I like the Bradley pick at the time (whoops?). I liked Lopez and Gagnon. Ramirez was a terrible pick, but 4/5 ain't bad at the top.

 

The middle rounds here were better too - Michael Reed, Dustin Houle, Daniel Keller and Chris McFarland are good picks whether they turn out or not. David Goforth might not have the ceiling of those guys, but he was a nice pick too. Carlos Rodon would have been the best pick in the ENTIRE FREAKING DRAFT had we been able to sign him. That's the problem. The Brewers, historically, have stuck at slot. Now, maybe we can't blame Seid for that, but that's a huge reason why our rookie teams are just getting destroyed every night.

 

 

Our drafting in rounds 5-10 under Seid has been really bad for 2 years and a little better for 1.

[TheCrew07]

I've posted this before but Carlos Rondon is going to be the one that really hurts... they drafted the right guy at the right time and couldn't get a deal done. Whatever extra it would have taken would been much cheaper than any FA pitcher... it's too bad.

 

Wily Peralta made this week's BA Hot Sheet, I'll get a full post up into Friday's LR later this afternoon.