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

[TheCrew07]

You guys do realize that Bradley post came at 18:52? Meaning right after his first 2 innings...

 

It may have been a knee jerk reaction, but it was exactly the same thing I was thinking when Chris relayed the BC score during the T-Rats game. For the record while we do make an effort to keep things positive in the LR think I don't think that college players, especially first round picks, should be given the "kids glove" treatment. As long as comments are regarding a player's performance rather than some misplaced personal attack I'm alright with them. MH may feel differently than I do and his word will be the final say, but I do feel that as a site we really need to quit overreacting to criticism.

 

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

-Winston Churchill

[DHonks]

seeing as Thornburg was making his first start of the year, he has a bright future infront of him, and he faded down the stretch last year, I don't mind seeing him pulled after 70 pitches in April. If this happens in June or July, I'll be bummed. But I won't second guess that in April

[TheCrew07]

BTW, am I only the one digging the new affiliation scoreboard on MILB.com?

 

I used to have tabs open for every team's box, now I can just refresh 1 page. Maybe someday they will bring back archived audio and my life will have reached its pinnacle.

 

Chris must be digging it as well, he mentioned it during the T-Rats broadcast.

 

Here's tonight's scoreboard in case you aren't finding it.

 

edit. Added the scoreboard link which I should have right away.

[bkrause2]

BTW, am I only the one digging the new affiliation scoreboard on MILB.com?

 

I used to have tabs open for every team's box, now I can just refresh 1 page. Maybe someday they will bring back archived audio and my life will have reached its pinnacle.

 

Chris must be digging it as well, he mentioned it during the T-Rats broadcast.

 

Here's tonight's scoreboard in case you aren't finding it.

 

edit. Added the scoreboard link which I should have right away.

 

That's awesome! Wasn't aware of it until I saw your post. Thanks for the heads up.

[TooLiveBrew]

Morris Powers Sounds To Win In Season Opener

Slugger Homers, Drives In Four In 5-4 Victory

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/Fu8gMku.jpg

Hunter Morris (credit: Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Hunter Morris enjoyed a solid Triple-A debut on a rainy Thursday evening at Greer Stadium, homering and driving in four runs to power the Nashville Sounds to a 5-4 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs in their season opener.

 

Morris -- the 2012 Southern League Most Valuable Player who finished second in the minors in RBIs a year ago-- started this season seemingly where he left off, going 2-for-4 with a double and homer to go along with his four RBIs.

 

The Sounds were able to win their season debut despite being out-hit by the Zephyrs, 7-4, in the game. Six of the 11 hits in the contest went for extra bases.

 

Right-hander Tyler Thornburg, the Brewers' #2 prospect, turned in a strong first outing of the season, striking out seven batters while allowing one run on three hits over five innings of action. He retired his final seven batters faced and departed with a 2-1 lead but took a no-decision after the Zephyrs rallied against the Sounds' bullpen.

 

New Orleans starter Tom Koehler matched Thornburg's solid effort, allowing only one hit (a two-run Morris double) in his five innings of work and also struck out seven batters while walking a pair. He allowed two runs (one earned) and took a no-decision.

 

Thornburg got off to a strong start by accomplishing a rare feat -- striking out four batters in the first inning. The game's leadoff hitter, Kevin Mattison, reached on a wild pitch on strike three, then the 24-year-old hurler proceeded to fan the next three Z's hitters in succession.

 

Morris delivered a two-run double in his first Triple-A at-bat in the bottom of the first inning to stake the Sounds to a 2-0 lead.

 

Nashville leadoff hitter Josh Prince led off the Sounds' first by drawing a walk from Koehler and moved to second when Scooter Gennett reached on a catcher's interference call before both runners came plateward on Morris' two-bagger.

 

New Orleans halved the Nashville lead to 2-1 in the third when Matt Downs led off with a double to left off Thornburg and later scored on Mattison's one-out RBI single to left.

 

The Z's tied the game with an unearned run against reliever Donovan Hand in the top of the sixth inning. Ed Lucas greeted Hand with a double to left, moved to third on a passed ball charged to Nashville catcher Blake Lalli, and knotted the contest at 2-2 when he raced home on a Ben Lasater groundout to short.

 

Morris wasted no time putting the Sounds back in front, drilling a massive two-run homer to right off Z's reliever Dan Jennings in the home half of the sixth. Gennett, who preceded Morris with a single, also scored on the slugger's first Triple-A roundtripper, which provided Nashville a 4-2 lead.

 

Hand (1-0) was the beneficiary of Morris' blast, picking up the win after allowing one unearned run on two hits in 1 2/3 frames of work.

 

The Sounds tacked on an insurance run in the seventh against Jennings when Josh Prince delivered a well-placed opposite-field, two-out single through the right side of the infield to plate Stephen Parker, who had opened the frame by reaching on an error.

 

Jennings (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Zephyrs after surrendering three runs in his 1 2/3 innings of relief work.

 

New Orleans threatened late, pulling within a run at 5-4 with an unearned run off Jesus Sanchez in the eighth and another run off Rob Wooten in the ninth.

 

In the ninth, the Z's had a pair of runners in scoring position against Wooten after Koyie Hill singled and Downs walked before ex-Sound Jordan Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt. Mattison plated Hill with a groundout to short before Wooten brought a close to the contest by inducing a game-ending flyout from Lucas to secure his first save of the year.

 

The Sounds and Z's will play game two of their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Hiram Burgos, the Brewers' 2012 minor league pitcher of the year, will get the nod for Nashville opposite southpaw Brad Hand for New Orleans.

 

 

Nashville Box

CF Josh Prince: 1-3, RBI, BB

2B Scooter Gennett: 1-3

1B Hunter Morris: 2-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI

LF Sean Halton: 0-4

RF Caleb Gindl: 0-4

3B Stephen Parker: 0-3, 2 E (both fielding)

C Blake Lalli: 0-1, BB, SAC, PB

SS Blake Davis: 0-2, BB

 

SP Tyler Thornburg: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K, WP (70 TP, 47 strikes)

RP Donovan Hand: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R/0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

RP Travis Webb: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

RP Jesus Sanchez: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R/0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

RP Rob Wooten: 1 IP, 1H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 K, WP

 

 

Nashville PbP

Hunter Morris kicked the season off right for the Sounds:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 1st

-Josh Prince walks.

-Scooter Gennett reaches on catcher interference by Koyie Hill. Josh Prince to 2nd. Scooter Gennett to 1st.

-Hunter Morris doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Bryan Petersen. Josh Prince scores. Scooter Gennett scores.

-Sean Halton strikes out swinging.

-Caleb Gindl strikes out swinging.

-Stephen Parker called out on strikes.

 

Thornburg was able to pitch around a little drama in the 1st, and the Zephyrs plated the only run they could muster off of Tyler in the 3rd:

 

New Orleans Top of the 3rd

-Matt Downs doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Sean Halton.

-Tom Koehler out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Tyler Thornburg to first baseman Hunter Morris. Matt Downs to 3rd.

-Kevin Mattison singles on a fly ball to left fielder Sean Halton. Matt Downs scores.

-With Ed Lucas batting, Kevin Mattison caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Tyler Thornburg to second baseman Scooter Gennett.

-Ed Lucas doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Sean Halton.

-Bryan Petersen walks.

-Ben Lasater strikes out swinging.

 

After New Orleans put an unearned run on Hand to tie the game at 2-2 in the top half of the 6th, Nashville answered back with a 'bloop & a blast,' courtesy of Gennett & Morris:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 6th

-Pitching Change: Dan Jennings replaces Tom Koehler, batting 6th, replacing left fielder Matt Diaz.

-Defensive Substitution: Jordan Brown replaces pitcher Tom Koehler, batting 9th, playing left field.

-Josh Prince grounds out, third baseman Matt Downs to first baseman Ben Lasater.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to right fielder Bryan Petersen.

-Hunter Morris homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Scooter Gennett scores.

-Sean Halton flies out to right fielder Bryan Petersen.

-Caleb Gindl grounds out, third baseman Matt Downs to first baseman Ben Lasater.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

BTW, am I only the one digging the new affiliation scoreboard on MILB.com?

 

I used to have tabs open for every team's box, now I can just refresh 1 page. Maybe someday they will bring back archived audio and my life will have reached its pinnacle.

 

Chris must be digging it as well, he mentioned it during the T-Rats broadcast.

 

Here's tonight's scoreboard in case you aren't finding it.

 

edit. Added the scoreboard link which I should have right away.

 

That's awesome! Wasn't aware of it until I saw your post. Thanks for the heads up.

Same here. Pretty cool addition from MiLB.

[Noche]

You guys do realize that Bradley post came at 18:52? Meaning right after his first 2 innings...

 

It may have been a knee jerk reaction, but it was exactly the same thing I was thinking when Chris relayed the BC score during the T-Rats game. For the record while we do make an effort to keep things positive in the LR think I don't think that college players, especially first round picks, should be given the "kids glove" treatment. As long as comments are regarding a player's performance rather than some misplaced personal attack I'm alright with them. MH may feel differently than I do and his word will be the final say, but I do feel that as a site we really need to quit overreacting to criticism.

 

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

-Winston Churchill

 

Yes, I realize that. The fact is, it is pretty much a par-for-the-course minor league forum comment from that poster. And the comment was not really criticism. It was just a lazy assessment of an incomplete picture. Hardly useful at all.

 

Heaven forbid that same poster actually returns and credits Bradley for righting the ship. Idk, maybe trwi7 will eventually. That would be nice, however uncharacteristic.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers open season with 11-inning win at Peoria

Wisconsin edges Chiefs 5-4

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

PEORIA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started defense of their Midwest League crown with an extra-inning victory over the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday night. Michael Reed scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eleventh inning to give the Rattlers a 5-4 win in the season opening game for both teams.

 

Tyrone Taylor and Orlando Arcia set the table for Wisconsin's first two runs in the top of the third. Taylor, who drew a four pitch walk to start the game, got aboard with an infield single in the third. Arcia followed with a double to right that hit the wall on one hop. Mitch Haniger followed with a line drive to right that carried over the head of the right fielder. Both Taylor and Arcia scored on the play to put the Rattlers up 2-0.

 

Peoria (0-1) got to Rattlers starting pitcher Tyler Wagner with a two out rally in the bottom of the fourth. David Washington doubled down the line at third. Jacob Wilson followed with a double to the gap in left-center to drive in Washington.

 

The Rattlers (1-0) got that run back in the top of the sixth inning. Clint Coulter started the inning with a walk. He tried to score from first on a double by Mike Garza but was thrown out at the plate. Garza took third on the throw home and the Chiefs decided to bring the infield in with Chris McFarland due to bat. McFarland spoiled the strategy by drilling a single through the middle of the diamond to drive in Garza for a 3-1 lead.

 

Tyler Wagner turned that lead over to the bullpen after he pitched a scoreless fifth inning. Wagner allowed one run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

 

The Chiefs would rally to take the lead with two outs in the seventh inning against the bullpen. Reliever Mike Strong struck out the first two batters in the seventh inning, but issued a walk and gave up a single to the eighth and ninth place hitters in the order. That brought Michael Swinson to the plate and he singled to drive in a run to make the score 3-2. Strong looked like he would get out of the inning when he got Breyvic Valera to ground weakly back to the mound. But, Strong's throw to first was wild and two runs scored on the play to put the Chiefs up 4-3.

 

Wisconsin used a pair of defensive miscues in the top of the eighth to get the game back to even. Coulter singled to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by Garza. McFarland's grounder to third went through the legs of the third baseman to let Coulter take third base. Then, the left fielder overran the ball to let Coulter race home with the tying run.

 

Wisconsin almost let the game get away in the eighth and ninth innings. Strong loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning. Taylor Wall came into the game and got an inning ending 6-4-3 double play from the first batter he faced. In the ninth, Wall retired the first two batters he faced. Then, he walked the next three batters to load the bases AND fell behind Jacob Wilson 3-0. Wall recovered to run the count full on Wilson and got him to fly out to the track in left field.

 

Reed started the Wisconsin eleventh inning by drawing a walk. Taylor dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Reed to second and a wild pitch with Orlando Arcia at the plate sent Reed to third. Arcia would send a slow chopper up the third baseline that was booted to let Reed score the go ahead run.

 

Austin Blaski, who pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the tenth, worked a scoreless bottom of the eleventh to close out the Chiefs.

 

Game two of the four game series in Peoria is Friday night. Damien Magnifico is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lefty Dail Villanueva is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

 

Wisconsin Gameday

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

This was very entertaining game, take that #1 rate farm system by BA! Taylor Wall saving the day for Strong was just awesome, he would have been my player of the game for that double play. Not mentioned above was Tyrone Taylor's outstanding diving catch on the warning track to end the 3rd, hopefully Chris covers that in the 9 after 9. That inning was looking pretty bad and then a pick off at 2B and the outstanding catch in CF ended the fake rally. It sounds like Taylor can really run, he covered a ton of ground on that play, from the call Chris didn't think Taylor had a shot off the bat. Orlando Arcia seems to be a very good SS, though he did nearly air mail a throw earlier in the 3rd; the play reminded me a bit of Escobar back in the day hurrying a throw and costing an out. It wasn't scored an error because they got the out at 2b so won't show up in the box. Chris said the coaching staff had been real impressed with his defense, which if true would lessen the sting of Rivera's lack of ascension offensively. Arcia hit the ball hard in every AB until the nubber that won the game. Finally Chris McFarland made a couple of nice picks from Chris' calls, hopefully this T-Rats team plays defense like last year's squad.

 

I'm loving the top of WI's order... Taylor, Arcia, Haniger, and Clint Coulter in the top 5, it's so nice having legitimate prospects up and down the line-up. Speaking of Coulter, he did run into 2 outs on the bases, one was pretty bad getting nabbed at 3rd, he's still pretty raw as a baserunner. However he seemed to be on top of the pitchers though there were a couple of sequences where there was a disconnect with the pitcher that required a mound visit later in the game, but nothing I would read into. For example Tyler Wagner was pounding the zone until the 3rd when he started the inning with 6 straight balls but Coulter was out there right away to talk to him. Speaking of Wagner, he didn't miss many bats but he did throw 40 of 67 pitches for strikes which was impressive.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

I thought we were cruising to extras until Wall made it interesting in the 9th walking the bases loaded with 2 out:

Peoria Bottom of the 9th

• Alex Mejia flies out to right fielder Mitch Haniger.
  Michael Swinson grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Mike Garza.
  Breyvic Valera walks.
  Patrick Wisdom walks. Breyvic Valera to 2nd.
  David Washington walks. Breyvic Valera to 3rd. Patrick Wisdom to 2nd.
  Jacob Wilson flies out to left fielder Michael Reed.

[bkrause2]

Hawn's bat leads 'Tees to Opening Night win

Brevard tops Daytona 4-3 to start 2013 campaign

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/8/0/43929580/cuts/4.4.13_mediawall_480x270_vs28znpg_p36d7gfq.jpg

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - In a game that turned out to be Cody Hawn against the Daytona Cubs, the Manatees' slugger helped Brevard County edge out their rivals, 4-3, for an Opening Night win on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

Hawn finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, drove in three runs and scored once. His evening got started with Chad Stang on base, knocking him in with a base hit to left field to put the 'Tees (1-0) on the board in the top of the first inning.

 

Daytona (0-1) answered right back in their half of the frame, sending their first two batters all the way around the diamond. Zeke DeVoss split the infield and then scored on Tim Saunders' double, with Saunders coming around on a sacrifice fly.

 

The score stayed at 2-1 until the top of the third, in which Stang opened up by taking a walk. He swiped second and easily crossed home on Hawn's first two-bagger.

 

A 2-2 stalemate was broken in the bottom of the sixth, with Stephen Bruno smacking a double of his own, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a John Andreoli base hit.

 

That was the end of Daytona's offense, but Brevard County wasn't done. They came back and scored a pair their next time up, with Hawn driving in Nick Ramirez on another two-base hit. Greg Hopkins pushed Hawn across with the game-winning RBI after Hawn had moved to third on a wild pitch.

 

Eric Marzec picked up the win in relief as he threw 2.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball with two strikeouts.

 

Starter Jed Bradley (0-0, 4.50) took a no-decision after allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out four in four frames of work. Seth Harvey nailed down a save with a perfect ninth inning.

 

The Manatees and Cubs continue their series on Friday at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. It will be Drew Gagnon (7-3, 2.83 in 2012) taking the hill for Brevard County, while Daytona will counter with Starling Peralta (5-8, 3.44 in 2012).

 

Admission is just $2 and the first 2,000 fans will receive a 2013 magnet schedule picture frame presented by Health First and Via Tuscany Apartments. There will also be a post-game fireworks show.

[TheCrew07]

Yes, I realize that. The fact is, it is pretty much a par-for-the-course minor league forum comment from that poster. And the comment was not really criticism. It was just a lazy assessment of an incomplete picture. Hardly useful at all.

 

I don't think this discussion is very productive so this will be my last post on the subject. I also don't think it's fair to characterize the post as a lazy assessment of a player's performance, it's a comment on a snap shot in time. In some rare cases when there is a big game, a top prospect is making a debut/pitching, or many posters are excited about a particular event like a potential no hitter the LR can be like an in game thread from the MLB side. That's how I took the particular comment, and again I was pretty much thinking the exact same thing at the exact same time, and the game story written by BC actually highlighted how poorly Bradley pitched early, the comment spot on given the time it was posted.

 

I realize this is a big year for Bradley, I realize many posters and family members are pulling extremely hard for him, I realize how badly the Brewers need him to find his velocity and stuff, but he did start poorly and a couple of comments along those lines should be expected. If someone does say something I certainly don't think it's necessary for them to repost something later, especially if they quit following the game. I don't expect everyone who reads the forum to sit and listen to the minor league games like I do nor am I willing to make any assumptions about what people have going on in their personal lives at any given moment in time.

[homer]

Hunter Morris picking up right where he left off.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Interview - Manager Mike Guerrero

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog -- 2013 off to a good start

 

includes this, but do click the link, too:

 

Yes. It is possible to have a game saving catch for the first out of the sixth inning. Tyrone Taylor made a catch for the ages to take away at least a double from Michael Swinson. If there were video of that catch I would like the folks that do the Sports Science segment on ESPN to break it down for me in the following order: How much ground he covered. How fast he was going. How much force he hit the warning track with when he landed after the dive. It was one of the best catches I have seen in a long time.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Fox 17 brief video reports, includes Hunter Morris' double but not HR, we do tend to get the early-inning action from these types of links:

 

Media Day Wednesday

 

Game Report / Highlights

[Mass Haas]

Morris plates four in Triple-A debut

Brewers top hitting prospect homers, doubles in Sounds win

By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com

 

Brewers prospects Hunter Morris and Tyler Thornburg spent two months together last year with Double-A Huntsville.

 

Morris went on to lead the Southern League with 28 homers and 113 RBIs, while Thornburg went 8-1 in 13 starts before advancing to Triple-A and, ultimately, the Majors.

 

Together again to start 2013, the duo is looking to wreak havoc on the Pacific Coast League.

 

Morris homered, doubled and drove in four runs and Thornburg recorded seven strikeouts over five innings Thursday as the Nashville Sounds opened the PCL season by edging the New Orleans Zephyrs, 5-4.

 

"To start the year out and be able to collect some big hits and drive in a couple runs and help the team get the win, it was good," Morris said. "I knew that if I didn't get it done, someone else would.

 

"Tyler did a great job going out there and setting the tone. That first inning, it's so important. It gives everybody confidence in the dugout, it's such a big part of the game. To strike out four guys in the first inning, it sets the tone for the rest of the game."

 

A 2010 fourth-round selection out of Auburn University, Morris ripped Tom Koehler's 2-0 cutter to right field to score Josh Prince and Scooter Gennett in the bottom of the first inning. Milwaukee's top hitting prospect -- ranked fifth overall in the system -- then turned on the first offering he saw from Dan Jennings in the sixth to drive a two-run homer out to right field.

 

"I was just trying to lock in and not be too overly aggressive," said Morris, the reigning Southern League MVP. "It was an approach that just came together. I realized that it was a first-pitch fastball early enough to put a good swing on it, and it worked out for the best."

 

Morris' offense proved enough to help Thornburg -- ranked second among Brewers prospects -- get the win. The 2010 third-round pick out of Charleston Southern allowed a run on three hits and a walk.

 

"It went pretty well for the first start," said Thornburg, a midseason All-Star with Huntsville last summer. "I had my fastball control and my off-speed pitches were working well. I was getting ahead and putting guys away. I think everything was working.

 

"I got three or four strikeouts with my fastball, a couple with my curve and one with the changeup. Throwing all of my pitches for strikes is one thing I pride myself on."

 

The lone blemish for the 24-year-old right-hander came in the third. Matt Downs hit a leadoff double, Koehler sacrificed him to third and leadoff man Kevin Mattison drove him home with a softly hit single.

 

"It was a tough at-bat with Mattison," Thornburg said. "He got a curveball a little bit up and a little bit off the plate and he flicked it over the shortstop's head. I had two strikes and I couldn't put him away. You can't be perfect every time."

 

New Orleans rallied against the Sounds bullpen for a run in the eighth and another in the ninth, but the comeback fell short when closer Rob Wooten got shortstop Ed Lucas to fly out to end the game with the potential tying run on third base.

 

"There are definitely going to be some adjustments to make," Morris said of moving up a level, "but I just have to stay consistent and refine my approach at the plate. The game will dictate what adjustments I need to make."

 

Morris recorded four RBIs three times in 2012 with Huntsville and once with Class A Advanced Brevard County in 2011. His career high is five RBIs, achieved for Class A Wisconsin in a 10-7 triumph over Cedar Rapids on Aug. 15, 2010.

 

Thornburg, who went 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 21 starts between Huntsville and Nashville last year, said it felt good to start the season on the right foot.

 

"Usually two or three starts into the season, that's when you're still feeling fresh, that's when you normally start to get all of your pitches working" he said. "Anytime you're locating this well this early in the season, that's not a bad thing. Hopefully, I can keep going and keep throwing the ball down."

 

In eight Major League appearances, including three starts, last year, Thornburg posted a 4.50 ERA and struck out 20 batters over 22 innings.

 

Koehler allowing two runs -- one earned -- on a hit and two walks while striking out seven over five innings. He did not factor in the decision. Downs finished 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored, while Lucas doubled twice and scored a pair of runs for the Zephyrs.

[Mass Haas]

Position players who didn't see action Opening Night:

 

Nashville - IF Hainley Statia, C Anderson De La Rosa

 

Brevard - OF Ben McMahan, C Rafael Neda, IF Adrian Williams

 

Wisconsin - SS Alfredo Rodriguez, C Brent Dean

 

Hopefully we don't see McMahan idle too often.

 

Until Victor Roache arrives, it's the Taylor - Reed - Haniger show, they're the only outfielders on the roster.

[Mass Haas]

From Nick Cole of the Tennessean:

 

Brewers prospect Hunter Morris arrived in Nashville with high expectations, and he was quick to deliver for the Sounds on opening night.

 

The 2012 Southern League MVP drove in four runs in his Sounds debut as Nashville defeated New Orleans 5-4 in front of 1,901 fans on a rain-soaked Thursday night at Greer Stadium.

 

“It was exciting to come out here, you know, Opening Day is just a feeling that you don’t really get throughout the year,” Morris said. “But this is the first Opening Day that I have had to endure the cold and the rain and all of that stuff.”

 

If the weather bothered the Huntsville, Ala., native, he sure didn’t let it impact his production.

 

Morris finished the night 2-for-4, highlighted by a two-run RBI double and a towering two-run home run to right to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth.

 

“I felt good at the plate,” he said. “It really couldn’t have gone much better. I’m obviously glad that I could contribute and drive in some really important runs to help us win the ball game, (but) had it not been me getting it done it would have been someone else.”

 

Sounds pitcher Tyler Thornburg started the season on a high note, striking out the first four batters he faced in the first inning after a wild pitch on a third strike to Zephyrs leadoff man Kevin Mattison caused him to require an extra out.

 

On Thornburg’s start, Morris said: “When you talk about the way to start a season, you know, your first inning pitching in a real game and all that stuff — striking out four guys in one inning is… is…I want go back and see when the last time that happened was.”

 

***

 

Video report including Hunter Morris post-game interview at the same link

[Mass Haas]

Tennessean Photo Gallery -- Looking good in their Thursday Throwbacks!

[Mass Haas]

Via Ron Johnson of the Peoria Star -- Chris McFarland

 

http://i2.wp.com/blogs.pjstar.com/eye/files/2013/04/040413Chiefs_Rattlers1104.jpg?resize=900%2C646

[trwi7]

Bradley picking up right where he left off last year.

 

In trwi7's defense, it was a pretty rough start to the night for Bradley. He settled down nicely after the first inning plus, but I was listening to the game, and I'll admit I thought it was gonna get ugly as well. He retired the last 7 batters he faced, striking out four, including Cubs top prospect Javier Baez on a big curveball, so there were definitely some positives. Looking forward to his next few starts as he gets stretched out and can go longer in to games.

 

Yes, I posted that after the 1st inning where he gave up 3 hits and a walk. Glad to see he rebounded in his final 3 innings.

[brwrsfan]

I know it's one game and it's premature to say this...but seeing Morris do well in AAA just makes me even more infuriated that our MLB team is throwing out Yuni and Gonzalez at 1b every night.

 

I know he struggled in spring, but not giving him a shot for the first month of the season while playing those 2 washed up backup SS at first just makes no sense to me.

[JohnBriggs12]

Jeff Hem's response on whether or not Thornburg was held to a conservative pitch count:

 

Yes he was. Standard early-season limit.

Sounds like Rams's guess of 70 -> 85 -> 100 is what we should be looking for, heading forward.

 

I'd rather they control Thornburg's innings now so he's got bullets left for a call up later on. With two guys in the Brewer rotation having options, that could happen any time.

[yoshii8]

Wow, big night for Hunter Morris! If he has a torrid start to the season, how long before we bring him up to replace the Gonzalez/Yuni tandem?

 

Also, the Rattlers are going to be very fun to follow this season. Looking forward to hopefully dragging the family out to see a few games this season.

[trwi7]

I think part of the reason Morris wasn't given the opportunity is he isn't on the 40 man roster. Of course if we would just get rid of Yuni it would open up a spot for him but maybe they don't want to start his 3 options early but I don't really see why. If he can't establish himself in the majors in 3 years, he probably never will.

 

I'd like a Morris - Weeks - Segura - Ramirez infield with Gonzalez backing up a lot more though than the Gonzalez - Weeks - Segura - Ramirez infield with Betancourt backing up.

[ramssuperbowl1999]

I think part of the reason Morris wasn't given the opportunity is he isn't on the 40 man roster. Of course if we would just get rid of Yuni it would open up a spot for him but maybe they don't want to start his 3 options early but I don't really see why. If he can't establish himself in the majors in 3 years, he probably never will.

 

I'd like a Morris - Weeks - Segura - Ramirez infield with Gonzalez backing up a lot more though than the Gonzalez - Weeks - Segura - Ramirez infield with Betancourt backing up.

You had me at 'get rid of Yuni'.

 

I agree. Honestly, he's a 24 year old 1B. If you don't preserve his option years, you'd have until his age-28 season to send him up and down. If you can't make the big leagues by 28, barring fluke, you're not valuable.

 

I also think it could help his development out. He'd likely be exposed a little bit, but he would be able to see loud and clear that his plate discipline needs work. He can watch tape, go back to AAA where he'll be fine when Hart returns and work on getting better. Then in 2014 the learning curve shouldn't be as steep.