Link Report for Mon. 5/13 - Manatees and Timber Rattlers pull out one-run wins

[TooLiveBrew]

Well, I just killed a fully completed post on this one. Not even sure how that happened... I definitely clicked "submit"... but... ... so this is just going to be a bare-bones post tonight

 

Sounds Drop Third Straight To River Cats, 8-4

Nashville's Davis Records Two HR; Pairs With Halton For Back-To-Back Jacks

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/slQ2Jo3.jpg

Francisco Rodríguez (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Sacramento River Cats took their third straight game from the Nashville Sounds, prevailing 8-4 on Monday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

River Cats starter Bruce Billings (3-2) turned in a quality start to post the victory, striking out eight batters while allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings of action. It marked the right-hander's third quality start in his last four outings.

 

The defeat was the fourth in a row for Nashville (10-26), which went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the contest.

 

Sacramento took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Sounds starter R.J. Seidel. Jemile Weeks led off with a single, moved to third on a Hiro Nakajima ground-rule double, and later scored the night's first run on a Shane Peterson sacrifice fly. Grant Green followed a Michael Choice walk with an infield single that scored Nakajima to double the visitors' advantage.

 

The River Cats tacked on a run in the third when Choice drew a two-out walk from Seidel and raced around to score on Green's RBI double off the base of the center field wall.

 

Nashville got two runs back in the home half of the third, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of unearned scores against Billings.

 

Catcher Anderson De La Rosa led off with a double, extending the club's longest active hitting streak to six games. He has produced an extra-base hit in five of those six tilts. De La Rosa cut the Sounds' deficit to 3-1 when he scored on Nakajima's errant throw from shortstop after fielding a Blake Davis grounder. Davis later plated Nashville's second run of the frame when he scored from third on a Scooter Gennett groundout.

 

Khris Davis (2-for-3), who homered twice on Sunday afternoon, continued his power surge in the fourth inning when he swatted a game-tying solo homer to left off Billings, his fourth big fly of the year.

 

Sacramento pulled back in front in the sixth after loading the bases with no outs against the Nashville bullpen. With the bases jammed, Weeks fouled off six straight Jesus Sanchez 3-2 offerings before taking ball four high and away to force in Stephen Vogt, who had opened the frame with a double off Travis Webb (0-2), with the go-ahead run. Nakajima followed with a sac fly to right to up the River Cats' lead to 5-3.

 

The River Cats added three more runs in the seventh against Sanchez to extend their advantage to 8-3. Scott Moore delivered the big hit in the frame with a two-run double to right.

 

Francisco Rodriguez worked a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance for the Sounds, allowing one hit and walking a batter during his 15-pitch outing.

 

Nashville plated the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth when Sacramento reliever Pedro Figueroa committed a two-out balk with runners on second and third to allow Khris Davis, who singled earlier in the frame, to score.

 

The teams wrap up the four-game series with an 11:05 a.m. finale on Tuesday morning, when it will be Education Day at the ballpark. Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (1-4, 7.14) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Sacramento left-hander Justin Thomas (1-2, 5.25).

 

 

Nashville Box

I'm really glad the Brewers did the right thing with Khrush Davis & sent him to Nashville to get regular playing time. After taking a while to get back into the groove, he's responded well, going 6-15 (.400) in his last four games. Tonight was also his third game this season in RF -- the club definitely seem to be evaluating him in the corner spot not occupied by Ryan Braun. I think that says a lot about how they value his bat, honestly. He did have two errors tonight (one fielding, one throwing), though.

 

Caleb Gindl is quietly compiling a good start to his season. Even after an 0-4 tonight, and a very slow start to the campaign, he has his OPS over .800.

 

And I really don't know what I think about K-Rod. He didn't live up to his nickname tonight, with no K's. But it was a scoreless outing, albeit a somewhat typical 'twenty pitches of terror' type of outing, with a BB & H allowed. I just am not sold that this guy is worth a $2M rate -- was there really a team the Brewers had to outbid to sign Rodríguez? And, if so, was that even a good baseball decision? And, oh yeah, then you add on his multiple instances of domestic violence... great. It's just depressing that the state of the big club's pitching is this desperate.

 

 

Nashville PbP

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 5, Burlington (Angels) 4 (11 Innings)

 

Rattlers walkoff with an extra-innings win

Haniger draws bases loaded walk in eleventh to beat Bees 5-4

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rallied a couple of times and eventually defeated the Burlington Bees 5-4 in eleven innings on Monday night. Mitch Haniger drove in a pair of runs, including the game winning run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eleventh inning, to send the Rattlers back to .500 and to their first walkoff win of 2013.

 

Burlington (12-20) took the lead with a two out rally in the top of the first. Sherman Johnson singled with two outs. Wade Hinkle followed with an RBI double on an 0-2 pitch.

 

Wisconsin (17-17) tied the game in the bottom of the third. Jose Sermo drew a leadoff walk and Orlando Arcia followed with a hit-and-run single. Arcia stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tyrone Taylor grounded out to short to drive in Sermo.

 

The Bees went back in front in the top of the fourth. They had the bases loaded with one out against Preston Gainey. The Rattlers starter got Kyle Johnson to send a slow chopper to short. The Rattlers got the runner at second, but Johnson beat the throw to first to allow the go ahead run to score.

 

Wisconsin rallied to go in front for the first time in the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Reed extended his hitting streak to seven games with a leadoff single. Haniger followed with a triple to right-center to drive in Reed to tie the game. Victor Roache put the Rattlers up on a sacrifice fly to right that got Haniger home.

 

But, the Bees tied the game with two outs in the top of the eighth. Andrew Ray singled to left to drive in Anthony Bemboom from second base to even the score at three.

 

Chevy Clarke put Burlington back on top with two outs in the top of the tenth. Clarke hit an opposite field solo homer to left and the Bees had a 4-3 lead.

 

Reed started the Rattlers comeback in the tenth with a leadoff double, his second of three hits on the night. He took third on a ground out by Haniger, but he was still at third base with two outs. Chris McFarland drew a walk and ball four went to the backstop to let Reed score on the wild pitch to tie the game

 

Arcia started the game winning rally by drawing a walk against Kenny Hatcher, the sixth Burlington pitcher of the night. Taylor was asked to bunt Arcia into scoring position. The Rattlers centerfielder bunted up the first base line on a 1-2 pitch and reached on a bunt single to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Then, Reed singled on a sharp line drive to right field with the outfield playing in and Arcia could only make third base.

 

Haniger stepped to the plate and fell behind 1-2. But Hatcher missed with the next three pitches to walk Haniger and force in Arcia with the winning run.

 

Taylor Wall picked up the win for the Rattlers with a scoreless top of the eleventh inning.

 

The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand on Tuesday when they welcome in the Quad Cities River Bandits. Mike Strong (0-1, 2.63) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The River Bandits have Jamaine Cotton (0-0, 0.00) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM present a Business Person Special on Tuesday. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to seniors (aged 55 & older).

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will televise the game. You may also tune in for the radio call on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Tuesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Taylor Wall (1-1)

LP: Kenny Hatcher (0-1)

 

TIME: 3:34

ATTN: 1,688

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well outside of the commentary on the TV this was an exciting game to watch.

 

Things that weren't in the game story or box and Chris might cover in the blog but I'll cover here: The Rattlers had 3 misplays defensively at the beginning of the game that weren't scored errors (though Clint Coulter did commit 2 PBs and now has 12 on the season). On the Hinkle double Victor Roache whiffed on the ball in foul territory, it got between him and the fence heading towards the corner but somehow Hinkle didn't take an extra base, he must not have been paying attention.

 

A harder hit ball got under Adam Giacalone's glove (I believe it was in the 2nd) that was scored a hit and then in the 4th Jose Sermo had a 2 hopper smoked at him that he kind of awkwardly fell away from and turned his head at the same time. The ball took a bad hop into the air off his glove and went over by the tarp against the 3B wall and was scored a double. The 2 IF plays were tough plays but I bet both players would say they should have made them.

 

On Tyrone Taylor's bunt single he actually missed the ball on the 1-1 pitch, and it was a pretty easy pitch to bunt, he was just in too much of a hurry. Then he comes back with a perfectly placed bunt up the 1st base line just past the pitcher, what a big spot to pick himself up.

 

Orlando Arcia hit the ball hard 3 times, getting 2 hits and walk, he doesn't strike out much only 11 times in 105 ABs, and he has 8 walks. Hopefully this is a sign of better times ahead for him.

 

Coulter absolutely turned on one and crushed screaming line drive past the T-Rats dugout way foul, but it was the best contact I've seen him make in some time.

 

Michael Reed's 3 for 6 day boosted his AVE to .314 and his OPS to an even .800.

 

Many hitters got down in the count and came back to do something productive tonight, I think progress is being made with the approaches at the plate. I'll be surprised if Roache, Coulter, and Arcia are still hitting at or under .200 at the break.

 

The defense still is in definite need of tightening up though, 2 errors, 1 each from Roache and Giacalone plus 2 PBs by Coulter and 3 more questionable defensive plays leaves much room for improvement.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

This was a very slow roller to Arcia that he probably should have charged 2 more steps but waited on and the young middle infielders tried to turn 2 away. The runner at 1st was safe easily but Toribio went home for reason and was out by a mile, he didn't even attempt a slide.

 

Burlington Top of the 4th

• Chevy Clarke strikes out swinging.
  Andrew Ray doubles (6) on a ground ball to left fielder Victor Roache.
  Pedro Toribio walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Preston Gainey. Andrew Ray to 3rd.
  With Wendell Soto batting, Pedro Toribio steals (7) 2nd base.
  Wendell Soto walks.
  Kyle Johnson grounds into a double play, shortstop Orlando Arcia to second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Adam Giacalone to catcher Clint Coulter. Andrew Ray scores. Pedro Toribio out at home. Wendell Soto out at 2nd.

 

Kyle Johnson is perfect no more, Coulter and Semmelheck combine for his first CS on the season, in a big spot!

Burlington Top of the 9th

• Wendell Soto flies out to left fielder Victor Roache.
  Kyle Johnson walks.
  With Sherman Johnson batting, Kyle Johnson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Clint Coulter to shortstop Orlando Arcia.
  Sherman Johnson singles on a line drive to left fielder Victor Roache.
  Wade Hinkle flies out to right fielder Michael Reed

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Hamilton finally finding way at Triple-A

[TheCrew07]

While I don't think it was some deviation from his m.o., I do give Melvin credit for this trade.

 

Somehow I missed this reply but I hope no malice towards Melvin was inferred on my part as I'm actually really happy with last year's Greinke trade. I have plenty of reasons to dislike Melvin's organization building strategy (or lack there of) but in this case he was spot on.

 

I was speaking more to the idea of "being one player away" and I started thinking about potentially giving up 6-7 WAR per season over the course of 6-7 years for 2 months of a rental pitcher. That's just terrible value by any measure.

[Mass Haas]

Four-run seventh powers 'Tees past Mets

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees used a four-run seventh inning to power past the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5 on Monday night at Tradition Field.

 

With the Mets leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Chadwin Stang roped a double to center field to lead off the frame. With one out, Greg Hopkins smacked an RBI double down the third base line to trim the deficit to one run.

 

After Nick Ramirez was retired, Cameron Garfield laced a two-out RBI double to tie the game. Cody Hawn followed up with single up the middle to score Garfield and give the Manatees (19-17) its first lead of the night.

 

Ben McMahan belted an RBI triple into dead center field to give Brevard County a 6-4 cushion. McMahan, who was recently activated off the disabled list, went 2-for-3 with two RBI in his Brevard County debut. Garfield and Hawn had two hits each as well for the Manatees.

 

That was enough for the back end of the 'Tees bullpen. Daniel Meadows retired all four men he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. St. Lucie (22-13) would plate a run in the ninth to make it a one run game, but Seth Harvey struck out Cam Maron with runners on second and third to end the ballgame.

 

Both clubs traded runs in the first four innings, alternating single runs in each frame. McMahan hit an RBI single in the second to score Garfield. Then in the fourth, Mets starting pitcher Hansel Robles walked four consecutive batters with two outs to force in a run. T.J. Mittelstaedt was credited with an RBI when Robles forced in Brandon Macias.

 

The Mets would break the trend of alternating runs when Dustin Lawley and Travis Taijeron hit solo homers off of Manatees' starter Jed Bradley to give St. Lucie a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

 

Bradley (3-1, 3.69) did not factor in the decision as he surrendered four runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He walked three and struck out three.

 

Matt Miller earned the victory by throwing a scoreless frame in the sixth inning. Harvey locked down his ninth save in as many opportunities.

 

St. Lucie reliever Chasen Bradford, who was on the mound for the explosive seventh innings, took the loss after he gave up four runs off of five hits - with four of them being extra-base hits - in just one inning.

 

The Manatees and Mets will square off for a 10:30 AM (9:30 Central) contest on Tuesday at Tradition Field. Drew Gagnon (3-2, 5.29) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. The Mets will counter with Matthew Bowman (1-0, 4.50), a southpaw who made his A-Advanced debut against Daytona last week.

 

Manatees relief pitcher Seth Harvey, seen here in a game from earlier this season, picked up his league-leading ninth save on Monday night as Brevard County defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5. Harvey is a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities in 2013. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/0/8/47465008/cuts/Harvey_4.7_ze9unohd_k4jrmiwk.JPG

[Mass Haas]

Listen to three minutes of game highlights from the Brevard broadcast crew.

[Mass Haas]

You'll find a few recent Nashville video plays from Greer Stadium here, including a Khris Davis HR and double.

 

***

 

Speaking of Davis video highlights, watch Kentrail's triple in Mississippi for the Stars from Sunday's game.

 

***

 

To complete the Davis media trifecta, here's audio of Khris' HR Monday night.

[Mass Haas]

Stars Shutdown by M-Braves Bullpen, Lose 5-1

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

Four M-Braves relievers combined to give up one run over seven innings following an injury to their starter J.R Graham, defeating the Stars by a score of 5-1 on Monday at Trustmark Park.

 

Graham exited the ballgame after throwing his warmup pitches in the third inning. The second-ranked prospect in the Braves organization gave up a hit in two innings without giving up a runner while striking out a batter.

 

With the game scoreless after five innings, it was the Stars that took the initial lead of the game, scoring their only run on the contest off of righty Andrew Russell. Following a leadoff single by right fielder Kentrail Davis, first baseman Jason Rogers crushed a double that one-hopped the centerfield wall. The two-bagger scored Davis from first to give Huntsville a 1-0 lead (audio).

 

For Rogers, the RBI double marked his tenth run batted in over the last six games.

 

Unfortunately for the Stars, the M-Braves scored the final five runs of the game over the next two innings.

 

After Stars starting pitcher Ariel Pena began the night with five scoreless frames, he gave up back-to-back singles to pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin and outfielder Mycal Jones. One batter later, Christian Bethancourt hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones, snapping a 16.2 inning scoreless streak for Pena while chasing him from the game.

 

Once Pena exited the ballgame, lefty Alan Williams gave up an RBI single to second basemen Tommy La Stella and another sacrifice fly by third basemen Edward Salcedo to make the score 3-1.

 

Since the RBI single scored Jones, who was the responsibility of Pena, the 23-year-old former Angels prospect fell to 2-3 on the year with the loss. Pena gave up two runs and four hits while striking out five in 5.1 innings of work.

 

In the seventh inning, the M-Braves tacked on two insurance runs off of Stars righty Santo Manzanillo. Following singles from shortstop Jaime Pedroza and Jones, back-to-back RBI singles from Bethancourt and La Stella put Mississippi up 5-1.

 

Earning the win for the M-Braves in relief was Russell, improving to 1-0 on the year after giving up a run in three innings of work. Righty Mark Lamm earned his third save of the season after shutting out the Stars over the final three innings of the game, giving up four hits and striking out three in the process.

 

On offense, the Stars were led by shortstop Ozzie Chavez and catcher Shawn Zarraga with two hits apiece.

 

In game three of a five-game series, the Stars will send RHP Taylor Jungmann (2-4, 6.51 ERA) to square off against M-Braves LHP Alex Wood (2-1, 0.47 ERA). Wood is entering the game without giving up an earned run in his last five starts, spanning 28.1 IP. First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Chris' post-game blog at Rattler Radio includes the video highlights and his usual late-night insightfulness.

[Mass Haas]

Look for Tuesday's Link Report just prior to game time, but a heads up -- Drew Gagnon and the Manatees at 9:30 AM Central, the Sounds at 11:05 AM.

[TooLiveBrew]

While I don't think it was some deviation from his m.o., I do give Melvin credit for this trade.

 

Somehow I missed this reply but I hope no malice towards Melvin was inferred on my part as I'm actually really happy with last year's Greinke trade. I have plenty of reasons to dislike Melvin's organization building strategy (or lack there of) but in this case he was spot on.

 

I was speaking more to the idea of "being one player away" and I started thinking about potentially giving up 6-7 WAR per season over the course of 6-7 years for 2 months of a rental pitcher. That's just terrible value by any measure.

I didn't read any.

[Mass Haas]

More Rattlers highlights via the TV broadcast archive

 

Manager Matt Erickson Postgame TV Interview

[brwrsfan]

While I don't think it was some deviation from his m.o., I do give Melvin credit for this trade.

 

Somehow I missed this reply but I hope no malice towards Melvin was inferred on my part as I'm actually really happy with last year's Greinke trade. I have plenty of reasons to dislike Melvin's organization building strategy (or lack there of) but in this case he was spot on.

 

I was speaking more to the idea of "being one player away" and I started thinking about potentially giving up 6-7 WAR per season over the course of 6-7 years for 2 months of a rental pitcher. That's just terrible value by any measure.

 

I guess it all depends, while I don't think that's worth it (though I have doubts they thought Segura would be this good), what if Greinke had gone there and pulled a CC? And single handidly pushed them into the playoffs (or further)? Would the trade be better? Granted, we got CC for 3 months and he was just unreal, even if Laporta and Brantley turned into All-Stars, that trade would have been worth it to me.

[TooLiveBrew]

I guess it all depends, while I don't think that's worth it (though I have doubts they thought Segura would be this good), what if Greinke had gone there and pulled a CC? And single handidly pushed them into the playoffs (or further)? Would the trade be better? Granted, we got CC for 3 months and he was just unreal, even if Laporta and Brantley turned into All-Stars, that trade would have been worth it to me.

I think this opens up an interesting line of discussion. I really try not to use results like whether a team makes/misses the postseason to evaluate a trade. I realize that's the motivating factor, essentially, for a trade like Greinke to LAA or Sabathia to MIL. However, that's such a team-dependent result that I think you set yourself up for confusion and/or failure in evaluating a trade if you use making/missing the postseason as a major factor.

 

Really what I want to see is what value did you get for what you gave up. For example, Greinke pitched well for the Angels, & they still missed the postseason -- that shouldn't reflect poorly on him or take away from what the Angels got out of the trade. Conversely, if they'd have made the postseason last year in spite of perhaps less-than-stellar production from him, I can't say that I weigh his addition more heavily than if they'd missed the playoffs with similar subpar performance from Zack.

 

So what did the Angels get? 89.1 IP of ~3.50 ERA baseball, which is about exactly what they should have been expecting. So then, to me the argument is that LAA got exactly what they sought to add. The fact that they were willing to overpay in prospects because they felt that caliber of production from Greinke would be the difference btw. making or missing the postseason simply illustrates a mistake they made in how they valued what Greinke would mean to them. The chance that you capture lightning in a bottle like the Crew did with CC in 2008 are so ridiculously slim that no GM should be even hoping for that kind of performance imo.