Link Report for Thurs. 4/4 - Play Ball! 3-0! All One-Run Wins

[Mass Haas]

Welcome to the 2013 Link Report season, everyone!

 

If you come to the Daily Link Report directly via Twitter links, please remember that this Minor League Forum contains many threads with feature articles, transaction updates, and other news that is not necessarily game-related. Enjoy it all.

 

They may not see my formal thanks again until year-end, so allow me to give big shout-outs now to the affiliates' broadcasters and media relations directors, the local journalists, our intrepid crew of dedicated nightly Link Reporters, and of course, all of you who follow us here day after day (oh, the players, too.).

 

We've been at this since 2001, and if anybody across MLB is doing it as well as we are, promoting the webcasts (love those morning matinees!), collecting the timely recaps, providing the miscellaneous tidbits and analysis as well as the next-morning media reports, well, then good for them...

 

Here's to a healthy, productive and entertaining year on the Brewers farm!

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

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

 

Jeff Hem is the 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). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime

 

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

 

Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule.

 

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Brevard County: LHP Jed Bradley at Daytona (Cubs), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 PM gametime

 

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

 

Manatees audio, hooray! Dave Walkovic is the first play-by-play voice of the 'Tees since 2007; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio. All home games and road games in Daytona and St. Lucie, are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed, we'll let you know that.

 

NOTE: Dave indicates that he hopes to include a pre-game interview prior to each game; it's a 30-minute pre-game! We'll fill you in if Brevard masters archiving a la Nashville and/or Helena.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Tyler Wagner at Peoria (Cardinals), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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 four Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV.

 

So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games.

 

NOTE: 32 of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel has seventeen games scheduled and WACY-TV My NEW32 plans to show fifteen games. We'll let you know when, but won't be providing day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check for proper channel and time planning (scroll to the bottom of this link).

[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]

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times.

 

Once we're aware of the new online location for Huntsville's Media Notes this season, we'll let you know.

[Mass Haas]

NEW FEATURE!

 

Weather.com:

 

Nashville

 

Chattanooga

 

Daytona

 

Peoria

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Sounds ready for season opener -- Sounds manager Mike Guerrero and players Hunter Morris and Caleb Gindl discuss preparing for the season ahead.

 

Sean Halton and Tyler Thornburg are quoted in the article linked with the video above.

 

***

 

Other Sounds notes from the Tennessean:

 

“Milwaukee has been telling me this is the cream of the crop coming up,” Sounds owner Frank Ward said. “They never really talk about hitting, but they think their future pitching staff is here with us."

 

Moving around: After starting 100 games at first base for the Sounds last season, Sean Halton is prepared to expand his defensive horizon this year.

 

The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is expected to see time in left field, right field and at third base in addition to his natural spot at first.

 

The addition of Gold Glove-winning first baseman and Southern League MVP Hunter Morris to the roster made the adjustment for Halton necessary.

 

“I’ll do whatever I can do to get in the lineup and help us win,” Halton said. “Versatility helps, and the closer you get (to the big leagues) it really makes you a valuable person. It is tough to sneak in if you play just one position, so anytime you can help your chances you try to do so.”

[Mass Haas]

FloridaToday.com Manatees video and article preview

 

One typo - Nick Ramirez not a shortstop...

[TheCrew07]

One of my favorite days of the year, the LR officially returns...

[TheCrew07]

Prospects And Draft Chat With Jim Callis

 

Divisional mentions:

Frank (Chicago): Between Clint Frazier and Javier Baez, who has better bat speed and overall plate discipline?

 

Jim Callis: They have similar bat speed, which is to say a ton of it. Frazier hasn’t faced pro pitching, so plate discipline is a tough call, but Baez is so aggressive at the plate that I’d expect Frazier is ahead of him in that regard.

 

@Jaypers413 (IL): Could you see the Cubs taking RHP Jon Gray if the Astros pop Appel at 1-1?

 

Jim Callis: I could. If the draft were today, I’d expect Appel and Gray to go 1-2 or 2-1.

Joe D (Everson, PA): Do you see Jameson Taillion getting taken off the leash this year? How do you think he will fare in AA?

 

Jim Callis: I think he’ll do very well and could rate as the game’s top righthanded pitching prospect by season’s end. The Pirates have handled him cautiously, and he started to take off in the second half last season.

 

Jordan (Chicago): Who do you think the Cubs will grab at No. 2? Also have you heard anything of the progress of Barret Loux and his upside? Seems kind of quiet regarding the No. 6 pick in the draft...

 

Jim Callis: Almost assuredly a college pitcher at No. 2, Appel or Gray. Loux is more of a high-floor than a high-ceiling guy. He can pitch but his stuff is average, so he’s probably a No. 4 starter at best.

 

Ben (Miamisburg, OH): Robert Stephenson has had a strong spring dlfor the Reds and has added a slider to his fastball/curveball/changeup repitoire. Can you see him passing Billy Hamilton as the Reds top prospect this year? Top 10-15 nationally?

 

Jim Callis: Stephenson has the potential to do both those things, but that’s probably asking too much. He has an impressive arm but he has pitched just 65 pro innings and still is figuring out his command.

 

Justin (NJ): What are your opinions on Brett Jackson's improved swing?

 

Jim Callis: Let’s see how it plays out in game action. Jackson will always strike out, though it doesn’t have to be 200 times a year, and I do think he can be productive. Even with his 217 whiffs last year, he still put up 19 homers, 60 extra-base hits and 27 steals.

[TheCrew07]

Umm this is a tad unbelievable in the modern era of baseball, high school level or not, I'm shocked someone didn't step up to protect this kid's arm...

 

Exhausted Tomohiro Anraku Loses 17-1 In Koshien Final After 772 Pitches In Nine Days

[TheCrew07]

No Brewer prospects make the list but the PCL is absolutely loaded to begin the year.

 

Profar, Taveras top set of stellar PCL prospects

[TheCrew07]

Cingrani and Hamilton highlight the divisional prospects in this list, lots of familiar names though.

 

Myers, Hamilton top list of IL prospects

[TheCrew07]

Cubs' 1st round pick Albert Almora who's apparently coming off of a broken hamate bone and our own Victor Roache are highlighted in this article.

 

2012 draftees to taste full-season ball

[bkrause2]

80% chance of rain, with strong winds and hail in the forecast for the Manatees game tonight. Play Ball!

[JohnBriggs12]

Halton showing ability to play multiple positions increases greatly his chances of having a major league future in a utility role.

[homer]

Woo hoo!

[WV Brew]

Thanks again to all the link reporters from those of us who can't do it and read it every day.

[bkrause2]

Haven't even played a game yet and the coverage at Brevard County is already much improved over years past. We have Game Notes!

[Mass Haas]

Former Brewers star Don Money likes organization's young talent

 

And a Bryce Harper-related reference you may have missed this week...

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

 

The Silver Hawks Go Pink

 

Fun.

[Mass Haas]

From Alex Cohen of the Stars:

 

Stars Regular Season Opener Postponed in Chattanooga

 

Tonight's scheduled regular season opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts has been postponed due to inclement weather.

 

This game as already been rescheduled for Sunday, as the Stars and Lookouts will play a doubleheader starting at 1:15 PM Central Time (2:15 local Eastern Time in Chattanooga).

 

Friday's game between the two teams is set to go on as scheduled, starting at 6:15 Central Time from AT&T Field in Chattanooga. You can catch the game live starting at 5:50 CT on http://www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

The Stars will return to "The Joe" on Wednesday, April 10 to open up their home slate against the Jacksonville Suns for a five-game series immediately followed by a five games against the Tennessee Smokies.

[Mass Haas]

Interesting that Jose Sermo is starting at third base tonight for the Rattlers, we had read he was seeing some time at first base this spring. Last year in Maryvale he played 36 games at 2B, 6 at 3B, 3 at SS. Mike Garza, who played almost exclusively at 3B last season, gets the start at 1B.

[TheCrew07]

I don't remember MiLB doing this before, I probably just missed it, but I like the idea. The Reds AAA club lead off the article and the Cubs' Daytona (FSL) line-up is farther down.

Minors' top lineups, league by league