Link Report for Mon. 4/15 - Sounds, Burgos nipped in matinee; Stars walk off; Rattlers roll

[TheCrew07]

Same way offensive side... Brett Carroll who's too old to be considered a prospect (this isn't a prospect based award system though) makes the list for the Pirates. James Ramsey a CF prospect for the Cards and Stetson Allie who's now a 1B for the Pirates also make the list.

 

Offensive Players of the Week

[Minigoon]

Per Alex Cohen on the Stars broadcast, Jimmy Nelson up to 95 in the top of the 4th.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy focused on the farm system on this big league off day

[TheCrew07]

Chris mentioned a 99 mph FB earlier in the game on 2 strike count, Damien's arm certainly isn't in question.

[brewmann04]

Is it the Brewers plans to use Damiem as a starter.

[TheCrew07]

I wouldn't think so, but using him as a starter in the minors provides him with greater opportunity to work on all of his pitches during games as well as side bullpen sessions to work on his command/stuff.

[TheCrew07]

In depth discussion of the possibility of Houston selecting former Pirates #1 pick Appel starts about 1 page down followed by a question regarding Taveras vs Profar and more in depth analysis.

 

Ask BA: What Leverage Does Appel Have?

[Minigoon]

Huntsville fighting back. Still time to listen in to the broadcast.

[Noche]

You guys will not hear this enough throughout the year, so let me just reiterate how fantastic of a job ya'll are doing. Top notch.

 

Another thing, seeing as how Magnifico had a good night, I just want to say what a pleasure it is to follow that young man on Twitter. Down-to-Earth, humble, kind and smart would be just a start of my description for him. He seems like a real gem.

[nate82]

Is it the Brewers plans to use Damiem as a starter.

 

No but it is SOP to use pitchers as starters until they show they are not starters in the minors. Very few pitchers are converted to relief pitchers only in the low minors. I wouldn't be surprised to see Magnifico as a starter until AA or possibly even AAA. AA would depend on the roster construction you could see Magnifico still starting in AA and then being turned into a reliever in AAA.

[brewmann04]

Thanks appreciate the feedback

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers crack Kernels

Wisconsin crushes three homers in 14-2 rout at Cedar Rapids

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The weather hasn't warmed up yet, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers offense brought the heat on Monday night. Wisconsin banged out sixteen hits, including three home runs, on the way to a 14-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field. Tyrone Taylor and Michael Reed each drove in four runs for the Rattlers. Mike Garza, Jose Sermo, and Taylor all cranked their first home run of the year to get the Rattlers to the .500 mark for the season,

 

Wisconsin (4-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Reed doubled with two outs to drive in Sermo for the early advantage.

 

But, the Kernels (7-3) answered in the bottom of the second. Adam Brett Walker hit a home run over the wall in center to tie the game 1-1.

 

Garza put the Rattlers back in front with a lead-off home run to left-center in the fourth. Chris McFarland followed with a triple to right-center. That would be the first of three hits on the night for McFarland. Reed pushed Wisconsin's lead to a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to score McFarland.

 

The Rattlers offense sent ten men to the plate in the top of the seventh inning and scored six runs to grab a big lead.

 

Parker Berberet doubled and Clint Coulter walked with one out to set up the inning. Then, Sermo launched a three-run homer to left for a 6-1 lead. Garza and McFarland kept the hits coming with consecutive singles. Reed was next and he lined a triple to the corner in right field. Taylor finished off the streak of seven straight Rattlers to reach base with an RBI single and the Rattlers were up 9-1.

 

Wisconsin poured it on in the top of the eighth. There were two runners on with two out and McFarland sent a fly ball deep to right field. Walker made a leaping attempt on the catch and the ball hit the heel of his glove. The play was ruled a three-base error and two runs scored. Reed would draw a walk to bring Taylor to the plate. Taylor lined a three-run homer to left and Wisconsin's lead was 14-1.

 

Damien Magnifico was the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. He went five innings and allowed only one hit other than the homer by Walker. Magnifico walked none and struck out five. Leonard Lorenzo tossed three scoreless innings and struck out five in relief of Magnifico.

 

The Kernels did score in the ninth on a solo homer by Dalton Hicks off Rodolfo Fernandez, but it was too late for the Kernels.

 

The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids with game one starting at 5:00pm. Wisconsin will send Brent Suter to the mound as the starting pitcher on game one. Jorge Lopez is set to go in the nightcap. Cedar Rapids has named Brett Lee as their starting pitcher in game one, but had not announced their game two starter as of the writing of this article.

 

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280m WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 4:40pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

 

WI:

Mike Garza (1st, 0 on in 4th inning off David Hurlbut, 0 out)

Jose Sermo (1st, 2 on in 7th inning off Matthew Tomshaw, 1 out)

Tyrone Taylor (1st, 2 on in 8th inning off Josue Montanez, 2 out)

 

CR:

Adam Brett Walker (1st, 0 on in 2nd inning off Damien Magnifico, 1 out)

Dalton Hicks (3rd, 0 on in 9th inning off Rodolfo Hernandez, 2 out)

 

WP: Damien Magnifico (2-0)

LP: David Hurlbut (1-1)

 

TIME: 2:48

ATTN: 703

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

What Chris didn't mention was this was actually the first time all season the Rattlers had double digit hits, and my goodness was it a hit parade. There was a ton of good contact which you could hear through the crowd mic, it was a joy to listen to this game. The only bad news from the entire contest was that Orlando Acria's hit streak came to an end, he only smoked 1 ball and it nearly carried over Buxton's head after he initially misjudged it.

 

I would very much like Chris McFarland and Micheal Reed push themselves up farther in the line-up, it would be great to have legitimate prospects hitting 1-6 line-up... similar to the 2008 Huntsville line-up.

 

Both McFarland and Reed had a 2B and a 3B in the game and it sounds like McFarland can really run. PG had McFarland's 60 time as 6.47 which is plus, just to provide some context I read somewhere that Hamilton ran a 6.22. For those that don't follow the draft and scouting an average time would be in the 6.7-6.9 range.

 

Wisconsin Recap

This is worth a look, the young Minnesota pitchers weren't fooling anyone, look at how busy the left side of the diamond was... All the more impressive is the fact that Rattlers haven't had on field batting practice in a week.

 

Jose Sermo says, "What up?!" The 7th in all it's glory.

Wisconsin Top of the 7th

• Mitch Haniger pops out to shortstop Niko Goodrum.
  Parker Berberet doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder J. D. Williams.
  Clint Coulter walks.
  Jose Sermo homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Parker Berberet scores. Clint Coulter scores.
  Mike Garza singles on a ground ball to right fielder Adam Walker.
  Christopher McFarland singles on a line drive to left fielder J. D. Williams. Mike Garza to 3rd. Christopher McFarland advances to 2nd, on a fielding error by left fielder J.
  Michael Reed triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Adam Walker. Mike Garza scores. Christopher McFarland scores.
  Tyrone Taylor singles on a fly ball to right fielder Adam Walker. Michael Reed scores.
  Pitching Change: Josue Montanez replaces Matt Tomshaw.
  Orlando Arcia grounds into a force out, shortstop Niko Goodrum to second baseman Jorge Polanco. Tyrone Taylor out at 2nd. Orlando Arcia to 1st.
  Mitch Haniger grounds into a force out, shortstop Niko Goodrum to second baseman Jorge Polanco. Orlando Arcia out at 2nd.

 

Taylor's blast was Weeksesque, a line drive rocket to LF, McFarland was probably robbed of a triple by the official score keeper, Chris didn't agree with the scoring.

Wisconsin Top of the 8th

• Defensive Substitution: Romy Jimenez replaces center fielder Byron Buxton, batting 1st, playing left field.
  Defensive switch from left field to center field for J. Williams.
  Parker Berberet walks.
  Clint Coulter strikes out swinging.
  Jose Sermo singles on a line drive to center fielder J. D. Williams. Parker Berberet to 2nd.
  Mike Garza pops out to first baseman Dalton Hicks on the infield fly rule.
  Christopher McFarland reaches on a fielding error by right fielder Adam Walker. Parker Berberet scores. Jose Sermo scores. Christopher McFarland to 3rd.
  Michael Reed walks.
  Tyrone Taylor homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Christopher McFarland scores. Michael Reed scores.
  Orlando Arcia grounds out, shortstop Niko Goodrum to first baseman Dalton Hicks.

[TooLiveBrew]

This crap weather needs to go away so I can get out & see these T-Rats in action

[bkrause2]

Final: Lakeland 6 Brevard County 3

 

The Manatees got three runs in the first inning but then got totally shut down the rest of the way and fell to Lakeland 6-3. Chadwin Stang and Greg Hopkins started off the first inning with back-to-back singles. Cameron Garfield followed with a one out single to score Stang. Then Hopkins would score on a fielder's choice groundout by Cody Hawn to make it to 2-0. Yadiel Rivera doubled to put runners on second and third and then Lance Roenicke and John Dishon logged back-to-back walks to force Brevard's third run across. The Manatees managed only two hits the rest of the game, a second inning single by Hopkins and a ninth inning single by Stang.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Chadwin Stang and Greg Hopkins continued getting on base at the top of the order, each picking up two hits. Hopkins also drew a walk and stole his first base of the season. Cameron Garfield was 1-4 and Yadiel Rivera had a double for the other Manatees hits. Lance Roenicke walked twice. It's been tough going for the offense early on and they rank dead last in the FSL with a team average of .205 and a team OBP of .272.

 

Brevard pitching got hit around a bit tonight as well. Tommy Toledo was the only BC pitcher not to give up a run. This was the third rough start in a row for Drew Gagnon to start the season. He allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings. Kevin Shackelford took the loss after giving up the one run over three innings and Seth Harvey allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in his one inning.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 1st

Chadwin Stang singles on a ground ball to shortstop Eugenio Suarez.

Gregory Hopkins singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Krizan. Chadwin Stang to 2nd.

Nick Ramirez strikes out swinging.

Cameron Garfield singles on a line drive to center fielder Chad Wright. Chadwin Stang scores. Gregory Hopkins to 3rd.

Cody Hawn grounds into a force out, first baseman Aaron Westlake to shortstop Eugenio Suarez. Gregory Hopkins scores. Cameron Garfield out at 2nd. Cody Hawn to 1st.

Yadiel Rivera doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Jason Krizan. Cody Hawn to 3rd.

Lance Roenicke walks.

John Dishon walks. Cody Hawn scores. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Lance Roenicke to 2nd.

Adrian Williams grounds out, shortstop Eugenio Suarez to first baseman Aaron Westlake.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 8 Tenessee 7

 

Walk Off Win!!! The Huntsville Stars fought back from a 7-3 deficit with 4 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to break their 4 game losing streak. Stars Starter Jimmy Nelson had another solid outing. Nelson worked 5 strong innings, giving up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 8. Nelson threw 83 pitches, 52 for strikes. Stars broadcaster Alex Cohen mentioned the readings he was getting for Nelson was 91-94 with a couple pitches at 95. After Nelson exited, both Brian Garman and Thomas Keeling struggled, allowing the Smokies to extend their lead. Garman, who has been really solid for the Brewer organization throughout his minor league career, had an inning to forget tonight. He allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. The 3 runs scoring on a Rubi Silva home run. Keeling allowed 2 unearned runs on 1 hit and 3 walks. Greg Holle worked a scorless 8th and closer Casey Medlen worked a clean 9th to give the Stars bats a chance for the comeback. Medlen was credited with the win tonight.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

For the most part, the Stars bats were silent early on. A leadoff triple by Brock Kjeldgaard in the 2nd followed by a sacrifice fly by Mike Walker in the 2nd was the only offense they could muster until the 6th when they put together a 2 run rally. Stars pitching and defense gave those 2 runs back in the top of the 7th and things didn't look good. The Stars rally started in the 8th when they sent 9 to the plate and scored 4 times. The inning highlighted by a run scoring single by Jason Rogers, a bases loaded single driving in 2 by Walker, and Rene Tosoni's ground rule double to drive in another and tie the game.

 

After Casey Medlen retired the Smokies in the top of the 9th, the Stars went to work in the bottom. Nick Shaw led off the 9th with a walk. Hector Gomez sacrificed him to 2nd. The Smokies threw to 2nd to try and get Shaw, but Shaw beat the throw and both runners were safe. This turned out to be the key play in the inning, as now the Stars had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Next, heads up base running by Shaw as he took 3rd on a fly ball to center from Kentrail Davis. This set up Jason Rogers with the chance to win the game for the Stars and he delivered, with a sacrifice fly to center. Had the Smokies just gone for Gomez on the sacrifice bunt and recorded an out, Rogers would have needed a hit there to win the game. Instead, they took the chance on the lead runner but Shaw's speed won out.

 

Rogers finished the game 2-4 with a run scored and 3 RBI's. Mike Walker also contributed 3 RBI's on a 1-3 night. Nick Shaw scored 3 runs going 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk. Brock Kjeldgaard was on base 3 times, 2 walks and a triple, scoring twice, and Kentrail Davis stayed hot, going 2-4 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI, his 3rd stolen base on the season. Davis has now walked 8 times in 11 games. Rene Tosoni had the Stars other extra base hit, a double.

 

Team RISP: 6-for-11. After struggling with runners in scoring position against Jacksonville, the Stars were clutch tonight.

 

FIELDING

E: Davis, Ke (1, fielding), Nelson (1, missed catch), Rogers, J (1, throw). 3 Stars errors lead to 3 unearned runs tonight.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Cutting right to the chase. Stars 4 run 8th:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 8th

 

Nick Shaw doubles (3) on a ground ball to right fielder Johermyn Chavez.

Hector Gomez grounds out, third baseman Christian Villanueva to first baseman Justin Bour.

Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to right fielder Johermyn Chavez. Nick Shaw to 3rd.

Pitching Change: Trey McNutt replaces Tony Zych, batting 6th.

Jason Rogers singles on a line drive to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Nick Shaw scores. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.

Brock Kjeldgaard walks. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Jason Rogers to 2nd.

Mike Walker singles on a line drive to right fielder Johermyn Chavez. Kentrail Davis scores. Jason Rogers scores. Brock Kjeldgaard to 3rd.

Rene Tosoni hits a ground-rule double (2) on a fly ball to center field. Brock Kjeldgaard scores. Mike Walker to 3rd.

Robinzon Diaz grounds out, third baseman Christian Villanueva to first baseman Justin Bour.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter T. J. Mittelstaedt replaces Greg Holle.

T. J. Mittelstaedt lines out to right fielder Johermyn Chavez.

 

And the winning rally:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 9th

 

Nick Shaw walks.

Hector Gomez hits a sacrifice bunt. Nick Shaw to 2nd. Hector Gomez to 1st.

Kentrail Davis flies out to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Nick Shaw to 3rd.

Jason Rogers out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Nick Shaw scores.

 

Game 2 of the series goes tomorrow night. Ariel Pena getting the start. 6:43 game time with Alex Cohen's pregame show starting at 6:28.

[TheCrew07]

Hmm, I'm not liking Gagnon's start at all, I was liking him as a mid to back of the rotation after watching him pitch last year.

 

edit. Obviously there's still plenty of time for him to ascend this season, I was speaking specifically to his first 3 starts. He pitched awesome in BC last year and is basically repeating...

[Mass Haas]

It's been tough going for the offense early on and they rank dead last in the FSL with a team average of .205 and a team OBP of .272.

 

Sortable team stats, click on the walks column

 

In particular, the two youngest and highest upside kids, Garfield and Rivera, have yet to draw a single walk in a combined 84 AB's. Thanks, hitting coach, Ned Yost IV. At some point that's just laughable. In Garfield's breakout 2012 at Wisconsin, he approached the acceptable 10% of AB's with a walk threshold.

[Mass Haas]

After Casey Medlen retired the Smokies in the top of the 9th, the Stars went to work in the bottom. Nick Shaw led off the 9th with a walk.

 

There's a reason that young man (Shaw, 24) saw as much action in big league camp as he did this spring. Consistently getting on base over 36% of the time tends to do that for you.

[Mass Haas]

STARS SNAP SKID WITH IMPROBABLE WIN

Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars

 

To snap a four-game losing streak, the Huntsville Stars came back from a four-run deficit starting in the eighth inning to beat the Tennessee Smokies in dramatic walkoff fashion by a score of 8-7 on Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

In regards to scoring, the game starting off slowly as Stars starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB) and Smokies starting pitcher Dallas Beeler (6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) were dealing early.

 

After an RBI double by Smokies LF Jae-Hoon Ha made the score 1-0, the Stars provided the equalizer in the bottom of the second inning. Right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard led off the frame with his second triple of the year off the center field wall. One batter later, third basemen Mike Walker drove Kjeldgaard home with a sacrifice fly to tie up the ballgame at 1-1.

 

The score stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning, where the Smokies seemingly took control of the ballgame. Center fielder Rubi Silva doubled to off of Nelson to start the inning, and went on to score after two consecutive errors by the Stars defense gave the Smokies back the lead.

 

Then, in the top of the sixth inning, Silva struck again. Following singles from Ha and first basemen Justin Bour, the 23-year-old golfed a three-run homer just over the right field wall off of Stars reliever Brian Garman to give Tennessee a commanding 5-1 lead.

 

To limit the damage, the Stars cut their deficit in half with two runs in the bottom half of that frame. After a leadoff double by second baseman Nick Shaw, a walk from shortstop Hector Gomez, an RBI single from right fielder Kentrail Davis and run-scoring groundout from first baseman Jason Rogers made the score 5-3.

 

Unfortunately for Huntsville, the Smokies regained their four-run lead in the top half of the seventh inning, scoring two runs off of Stars reliever Thomas Keeling to bring the score to 7-3.

 

Down to their final six outs and trailing by four, the Stars began their comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning.

 

Just like the sixth inning, a leadoff double by Shaw sparked some life into the Stars dugout. Shaw advanced to second on a groundout by Gomez and then to third on a single by Davis to bring runners at the corners with just one out. Following an RBI single by Rogers (advanced to second on the throw) that scored Shaw, a two-run single from Walker off of Smokies reliever Trey McNutt (L, 0-1) brought home Davis and Rogers to make it a one-run game. Later in the inning, center fielder Rene Tosoni drove in Walker with a double to tie up the game.

 

With the score tied 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth, the top of the order made sure that the Stars comeback would be completed. To begin the inning, Shaw drew a walk against McNutt to begin the inning. Shaw then advanced without an out being recorded as a sacrifice bunt from Gomez went to perfection when Smokies catcher Rafael Lopez unsuccessfully tried to force out Shaw at second. After Shaw moved to third on a deep flyout by Davis, it set the stage for Rogers to be the hero.

 

The former Brewers organizational all-star in 2012 did not disappoint. With a full count, his fly ball to deep center field ultimately plated Shaw ahead of a strong throw by Tennessee center fielder Matt Szczur to complete the comeback in walkoff fashion.

 

For the Stars, the win was their first since their home opener on April 10th.

 

On offense, the Stars were paced with two hits apiece from Shaw, Davis and Rogers. Walker and Rogers each also drove in three runs.

 

In regards to pitching, reliever Casey Medlen (W, 1-0) earned the victory for Huntsville with a scoreless ninth inning.

 

The Stars and Smokies will play game two of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium on Tuesday night. Huntsville will send RHP Ariel Pena (0-1, 7.11 ERA) to square off against Tennessee RHP Alberto Cabrera. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard's bats silenced by Lakeland's bullpen

'Tees jump out to 3-0 lead but allow six unanswered in 6-3 loss

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - A 3-0 lead after the first inning wasn't enough for the Brevard County Manatees as they allowed six unanswered runs and were unable to muster any offense against the bullpen of the Lakeland Flying Tigers, in a 6-3 loss on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.

 

Chadwin Stang led off the bottom of the first with a single and Greg Hopkins followed with one of his own to give Brevard County (6-5) two early baserunners. After a Nick Ramirez strikeout, both of them would score on a Cameron Garfield single and a Cody Hawn grounder that turned into a fielder's choice, respectively. Hawn also scored after Yadiel Rivera doubled and then back-to-back walks loaded the bases and eventually forced in a run.

 

Lakeland (4-7) starting pitcher Tommy Collier recorded the first out in the second inning, but quickly left the game with an apparent lower body injury. He avoided taking the loss though as the Flying Tigers send out a trio of relievers to hold the Manatees scoreless through 7.2 innings of work.

 

Brevard County was held hitless from Hopkins' second-inning single off of Alex Burgos, who replaced Collier, until a swinging bunt by Stang in the ninth. The 'Tees only saw three base runners reach base - all via walks - from the third inning to the eighth inning.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Drew Gagnon (0-1, 10.32) did not factor in the decision after yielding three runs in four innings. He scattered seven hits and issued two walks, while striking out five.

 

Kevin Shackelford took the loss as he gave up the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning before two more scoreless frames.

 

In the eighth inning, Jason King added insurance to the Flying Tigers lead with a two-run home run to right off of Seth Harvey.

 

Both teams will again take the field again at 6:35 PM (5:35 Central) on Tuesday as Brevard County closes out a six-game homestand. Another pitching duel is expected between Brevard's Brooks Hall (1-1, 1.64 ERA) and Drew VerHagen (0-2, 2.61 ERA) as they face-off in a rematch from last Thursday's 2-0 Manatees win.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Drew Gagnon struck out five in four innings but did not factor in the decision as Brevard County lost the Lakeland Flying Tigers 6-3 on Monday night. Gagnon allowed three runs and seven hits on the night. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/6/2/44894862/cuts/Gagnon_4.15_2_1v8186fl_l1o62knu.JPG

[Mass Haas]

A chock-full Rattler Radio postgame post -- Thanks, Chris!

[Mass Haas]

Brevard audio from the 6-3 loss

 

***

 

More randomly-added MiLB AAA video (Thornburg, Gindl)

Wait, that wasn't a strikeout, Tyler...

[Mass Haas]

Some Huntsville video highlights; nice call by the umpire - Kentrail Davis out at home...

[Mass Haas]

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette game story:

 

Starting pitcher Damien Magnifico lit up the stadium’s radar gun to the tune of 99 miles per hour on one pitch during his five-inning stint. It’s widely recognized that the gun is generally two miles per hour slow because of its location in the press box.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Photo Gallery via Omaha.com

 

Omaha.com Game Story