Link Report for Mon. 9/2 - Nashville, Huntsville, Wisconsin Wrap Things Up

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: LHP Aaron Laffey at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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 Brooks Hall at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 12:48 PM pre-game, 1:03 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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: Season complete (66-68), final individual stats found here

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Austin Ross at Burlington (Angels), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 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: Many of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and WACY-TV My NEW32 will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and will try to provide day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check with us.

 

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Helena: LHP Trevor Seidenberger at home vs. Billings (Reds), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers.

 

MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online.

 

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Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete (23-33), final individual stats found here

 

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DSL Brewers: Season complete (26-45), final individual stats found here

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[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.

 

New this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

[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

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

Rookie - Arizona Summer League

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division

 

***

 

NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, Helena and Maryvale, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Burlington, IA

 

Helena, MT

[Mass Haas]

Via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)”

 

"Here this week’s — and the season’s final — installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero, who discusses the team’s finish to the season, some of his favorite moments of the year, his favorite ballparks or cities in the Pacific Coast League and some of the players on other clubs that have impressed him this season."

[TheCrew07]

Bees sting Rattlers one last time

Burlington beats Wisconsin 3-1 in 2013 finale

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers received a fine pitching performance from starter Austin Ross on Labor Day at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa. But, the Burlington Bees used three consecutive doubles in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Rattlers 3-1 in the final game of the season for both teams. Wisconsin went 6-9 against the Bees this season, including 2-7 at Community Field.

 

The Timber Rattlers (59-76 overall, 30-40 second half) took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Orlando Arcia singled start the inning and was at second base with two outs. Alfredo Rodriguez punched a single through the right side of the infield to shallow right to drive in Arcia for a 1-0 lead.

 

Ross allowed was a single with one out in the second inning to Exicardo Cayones. He retired the next fifteen Burlington batters he faced.

 

Angel Rosa broke that streak with a one out triple in the bottom of the seventh inning. Matt Scioscia followed with a single to right and the Bees tied the game. Ross got out of the seventh without another run scoring. He struck out eight and walked one over seven innings, but would get a no decision.

 

Wisconsin had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth. Rodriguez doubled with one out and Michael Reed drew a walk. Daniel Hurtado got the next two batters to get out of the inning with the score still tied.

 

The Timber Rattlers offense was held to five hits on the afternoon. Arcia and Rodriguez each had two hits in the game.

 

Reliever Alan Williams took over for Ross in the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out the first batter. Then, Julio Concepcion doubled. Chevy Clarke followed with a double to drive in Concepcion and give the Bees (56-78, 30-39) their first lead of the game. Sandy Martinez was next and he doubled to send Clarke in for a 3-1 lead. Riley Good would single to center, but Reed threw Martinez out at the plate.

 

Brandon Love came on in the top of the ninth and retired Wisconsin in order to close out the game.

 

Wisconsin ended the 2013 season on a six game losing streak.

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will open the 2014 season at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Thursday, April 3 against the Peoria Chiefs. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

WP: Daniel Hurtado (2-1)

LP: Alan Williams (0-2)

SAVE: Brandon Love (1)

 

TIME: 1:59

ATTN: 2,466

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

[TheCrew07]

As my Link Reporting is done for the season I just want to take a minute as pass along some thanks.

 

First to all of my fellow LR's, thank you all so much for taking a team, it's so much easier to commit for an entire season when you only have to cover 1 team for the duration. Reducing the time commitment from an hour or more down to 20 minutes made a significant difference for me on a personal level, especially with how busy I've been over the last 6 weeks.

 

A special thank you to Mass Haas for getting things going each day and plugging all of the gaps all season long. None of us would be contributing on this forum without his hard work over the years.

 

Finally, a shout out to Chris Mehring for his fantastic work all season long. Between his game stories, the blog, Timber Rattlers Field Pass, the TWC profiles from Bob Brainerd, and the Post Crescent stories no team has more coverage nor the quality of coverage that Rattler fans enjoy.

 

I'll post some end of the season thoughts on the T-Rats when I have some time to sit down write up something on each prospect.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 4 Jackson 3

 

The Huntsville Stars ended the 2013 season on a high note with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Jackson Generals Sunday afternoon at The Joe. With the win, the Stars ended the season on a 3 game winning streak and won their final series. Brooks Hall took the mound to start for the Stars. Working within an innings/pitch limit, Hall (2-4, 4.01) worked 5 innings allowing only 2 unearned runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4. With 5 innings without an earned run, Hall just missed getting his ERA under 4, finishing at 4.01. He threw 75 pitches, 51 for strikes and had a 6-2 GO/FO ratio.

 

After Hall left, the Stars got 4 solid innings of relief from their bullpen. Frankie De La Cruz was first out. He pitched a scoreless 6th, hitting a batter and striking out 1. De La Cruz (2-4, 4.87) earned the win today. Casey Medlen was next out of the pen. He worked a scoreless 7th allowing a walk and striking out 1. Finally, Kevin Shackelford worked the last 2 innings. He earned his 6th save. He allowed a run on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1. The run scored on a solo home run.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Brock Kjeldgaard led the Stars offensively today. The big outfielder went 2-4 with a home run, a run scored and 2 RBI's. The home run was Brock's 24th on the season, tops in the Southern League. With the 2 RBI's, he finished with 70, good for 6th best. Brock finished the season on a 6 game hitting streak. Third baseman Mike Walker hit his 12th home run on the season today. Micah Owings stayed hot at the plate, finishing 1-3 with a run scored. After starting his season with the Stars by going 1-27, he finished on a 4 game hitting streak going 7-14. Shortstop Hector Gomez had the Stars other hit, going 1-3. Shea Vucinich and Jason Rogers each drew a walk. Vucinich also scored a run.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Mike Walker got things going for the Stars

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 5th

 

Micah Owings strikes out swinging.

Joey Paciorek grounds out, shortstop Chris Taylor to first baseman Steven Proscia.

Mike Walker homers (12) on a fly ball to right center field.

Hector Gomez grounds out, pitcher Cam Hobson to first baseman Steven Proscia.

 

Brock Kjeldgaard with his league leading 24th homer in the 6th.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 6th

 

Chadwin Stang lines out to shortstop Chris Taylor.

Shea Vucinich walks.

With Jason Rogers batting, passed ball by John Hicks, Shea Vucinich to 2nd.

Jason Rogers grounds out to first baseman Steven Proscia. Shea Vucinich to 3rd.

Brock Kjeldgaard homers (24) on a fly ball to right center field. Shea Vucinich scores.

Rene Tosoni grounds out, second baseman Gabriel Noriega to first baseman Steven Proscia.

 

So that's it. Huntsville finished with a 59-79 season record. They avoided the worst record in the league by 1 loss. They won their last 3 game on the year and their final series on the season.

[Minigoon]

So, my first season as a link reporter is in the books. Hopefully I kept you informed throughout the season. It was a fun experience. I enjoyed following the Stars through the summer. It was very different from anything I've done as a fan before. I want to thank Mass Haas and The Crew for letting me work on the Link Report. Also, I'd like to thank my fellow reporters. You set the bar high with all your work and insights. Well done to all! I'd also like to thank Alex Cohen, the Stars Radio Broadcaster. Many times throughout the year I would reach out to him for a piece of information and he was always quick to respond. It helped me be able to pass, what I thought, were some fun and informative pieces of information on to you through the report. I plan on putting a season end post on the team out sometime this week.

[Minigoon]

Stars Victorious in 2013 Regular Season Finale

 

By Alex Cohen / MILB.com

 

To wrap up their five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium and 2013 regular season, the Huntsville Stars beat the Jackson Generals by a score of 4-3 on Sunday.

 

For Huntsville, they began the trek to their third straight victory facing an early deficit.

 

Against starting pitcher Brooks Hall, a RBI single by Generals catcher John Hicks in the second inning and a sac fly from outfielder Denny Almonte in the fourth inning put the Stars in a 2-0 hole. Hall ultimately ended up taking a no-decision after giving up those two runs on five hits in five innings of work.

 

The Stars were able to free Hall from a decision and a snag the win in the rubbermatch of this five-game set starting in the fifth inning with one swing of the bat. Against Generals starting pitcher Cam Hobson, third basemen Mike Walker crushed a solo homer over the center-field wall to cut the Stars deficit to one.

 

In the sixth inning, Huntsville got another dinger from a likely source to go ahead for good. With a runner on first and one out, outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard hit a two-run blast for his third homer on the series to give the Stars a 3-2 advantage. Kjeldgaard not only finishes the regular season with a league-leading 24 homers, but that total is also the high mark among Brewers minor leaguers.

 

After the offense scored another run in the seventh on a wild pitch, the Stars bullpen sealed the victory. Righty Frankie De La Cruz improved to 2-4 on the year with an inning of scoreless relief while Kevin Shackelford notched his sixth save of the season after giving up one run on two hits in two innings of work. Reliever Casey Medlen also tossed a scoreless inning.

 

With the victory, the Stars capped off the 2013 season with three straight wins and a series-victory against the Generals. Overall, Huntsville finished with a 59-79 record on the season and ended up the second half with a 30-40 mark.

 

Along with Kjeldgaard leading the league in homer, first basemen Jason Rogers topped the Southern League in runs batted in with 87 and was among the top-10 in the league in hits, total bases, extra-base hits, runs scored and doubles.

 

The Stars will begin their 2014 season on April 3rd at Bragan Field against the Jacksonville Suns and will return to Huntsville for their home opener on April 9th against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

[TooLiveBrew]

Morris Powers Sounds To 2-1 Win In Season Finale

Slugger Belts Team-Leading 24th Homer Of Year

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/AYQ1iqM.jpg

Mike Guerrero congratulates Hunter Morris after his 1st inning HR (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

• AUDIO: Hunter Morris Two-Run HR
  
• AUDIO: Hainley Statia Robs A Home Run
  
• AUDIO: Final Out Of The Season -- Sounds Win!

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Hunter Morris belted a two-run homer and Hainley Statia made a game-saving catch in the top of the ninth to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 2-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Monday afternoon in the season finale at Greer Stadium.

 

With today's crowd of 4,586 fans, the Sounds finished with their largest seasonal attendance in six years (355,003).

 

Nashville (57-87), which took three of four in the season-ending series against the I-Cubs, finished the season with just the 14th losing record in the club's 36-year history.

 

Morris spotted the Sounds a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with an opposite-field, two-run homer to left-center off Kyle Hendricks that careened off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. The blast, which also scored Eugenio Velez, was the slugger's team-leading 24th roundtripper of the year.

 

Velez (3-for-4) extended the Sounds' longest hitting streak of the season to 22 games with a fourth-inning infield single. The knock also upped his league-best consecutive games on-base streak to 36 straight contests. He finished his red-hot Sounds tenure with a .377 average in 38 games.

 

Aaron Laffey started for Nashville on three days' rest and worked three scoreless frames.

 

Cubs second baseman Tim Torres (2-for-3) halved the Nashville lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth when he belted a solo homer to left-center off Tim Dillard, the infielder's fifth big fly of the year.

 

Dillard (4-2) picked up the victory in relief for the Sounds after allowing one run on one hit (the Torres homer) in his three frames of action.

 

Johnnie Lowe followed with two scoreless innings for Nashville before the Cubs made things interesting against Jesus Sanchez in the ninth.

 

After walking the leadoff batter, Sanchez struck out the next hitter before Greg Rohan lifted a high fly ball to left, where Statia made a leaping grab with his glove extended above the wall to rob him of a potential go-ahead homer. Sanchez followed by coaxing a game-ending groundout from Luis Flores to secure the win and nail down his seventh save.

 

Hendricks (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year despite turning in a quality start for the Cubs. He allowed two runs on six hits in six innings of action.

 

Baseball returns to Greer Stadium in April 2014 when the Sounds begin their 37th season of competition. Season tickets are available now by calling 615-690-HITS or visiting the Greer Stadium box office.

 

 

Nashville Box

 

 

Nashville PbP

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Outfield roulette in the Huntsville finale box score and game log

[Mass Haas]

Stars finish with win, Rogers and Kjeldgaard finish as statistical champs

by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Stars

 

The Huntsville Stars clinched a pair of championships on Monday - just not championship that has eluded this franchise since 2001.

 

Outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard blasted his 24th homer of the season in the Stars' 4-3 victory over Jackson in Monday's 2013 finale, giving him the league's home run title. It gives Huntsville back-to-back home run leaders (Hunter Morris had 28 last year) but only the fourth Star to lead in that category (Brendan Katin, 2007, and Mike Coolbaugh in 1997).

 

First baseman Jason Rogers was 0-for-3, but his 87 RBIs won the RBI title. Rogers finished with 22 homers, second to Kjeldgaard.

 

"A lot of good things happened," said manager Darnell Coles. "We had some pitchers that got better. We had (some palyers) called up and they'll eventually be called to the big leagues. Jason Rogers had a fantastic year. Nick Shaw and Hector Gomez were steady up the middle. We had some struggles, but palyer development is just that.

 

"By no stretch of the imagination am I disappointed. The guys got better and I'm pleased with that."

 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Stars finished the year 59-79 and were last in the Southern League in average attendance, at 1,877 per game in 66 dates.

 

That's six straight losing seasons for the Stars since Don Money's clubs reached the Southern League championship series in back-to-back years in 2006-07 - and five straight losing seasons since Jack Zduriencik moved from his post as the Brewers' director of scouting to the Seattle Mariners.

 

Of the Brewers' five minor league clubs, only short-season Helena finished with a winning record and is going into postseason play.

 

Class AAA Nashville won its finale Monday, 2-1 over Iowa, with Huntsville's Hunter Morris socking a two-run first-inning home off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. Morris, last year's Southern League MVP, finished with 24 homers, 71 RBIs, a .242 average and .755 OPS.

 

Only three minor league promotions to Milwaukee were announced Monday - outfielder Sean Halton, pitcher Johnny Hellweg and pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who began the season in Huntsville.

 

The Stars' attendance, which has been at or near the bottom of the league the past decade, had a double-dose of bad luck. According to general manager Buck Rogers, some 40 percent of the dates were impacted by rain, either at the stadium or within the nucleus of the Huntsville fan base.

 

Huntsville was also reported, along with Jackson, as one of the franchises most likely to be purchased and moved to Biloxi, Miss., where a new stadium is planned. While Biloxi still hasn't broken ground and organizers have backed off their initial plan to open the 2014 season with a team there, there is uncertainty where baseball will be here in 2015.

 

Miles Prentice, the team's majority owner, did not attend a game in Huntsville this year and has reportedly not returned calls from local parties who are interested in pursuing a purchase of the club.

 

"I have no clue. I hear the rumors like everybody else that the team is sold or it's moving downtown but I have heard nothing official from the league, from Minor League Baseball, from the ownership group or anybody building a ballpark downtown," said general manager Buck Rogers.

 

"We're going to go box things up today, shipping things to (the Brewers' spring quarters in) Arizona, October first start going crazy for next year. I don't know anything beyond that. It's status quo. Keep on rocking on. We're going to start working on a promotion calendar and we're starting to renew season tickets for next year."

[brewmann04]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone here an the excellent coverage. It was a very dissapointment season but the work here was top notch.

[homer]

Jose Pena finishing strong at Helena. 5 homers in his last 10 games.

[Mass Haas]

McCalvy: Guerrero brings praise for lower-level prospects

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 6, @Helena 2

 

***

 

Late Rally Boosts Mustangs

Billings scores four runs in final two frames

By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers

 

Through the first seven innings on Monday afternoon, the Brewers and Mustangs were locked in a pitcher's duel at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

But in the eighth inning the game got away from Helena as the Mustangs scored four runs in the final two frames en route to a 6-2 victory.

 

The top of the eighth inning started harmlessly as Brandon Moore (photo below by Seth Eikomstead) struck out Avain Rachal to start things.

 

Then it started to fall apart for the Brewers.

 

Carlos Sanchez singled to right-center and Moore walked Adam Matthews. Jose Ortiz then put the Mustangs up for good as he pulled a double into the corner in left to plate Sanchez.

 

That would be it for Moore as Tyler Alexander came into the game.

 

Alexander struck out Daniel Paula but he then threw a wild pitch that allowed Matthews to score. It was the first inherited runner he allowed to come home all season.

 

Things would not get better for Alexander in the ninth as Sanchez drove home Ty Washington, who had reached on a single, with a base hit up the box.

 

After Sanchez took second on the throw home, he would advance to third on wild pitch, and score on the third wild pitch of the game by Alexander.

 

It was a rocky outing for the southpaw who had only allowed one earned run coming into the game.

 

"He could have been a little flat today. We have had two day games in a row, not that it will ever be any excuse, but the preparation could have been a little bit different and he could have been a little flat today, that's about all," said Helena manager Tony Diggs.

 

The Brewers went down in order in the eighth and ninth inning as Austin Muehring pitched the final two frames for his sixth save.

 

Moore would be given his second loss of the season after allowing three runs on three hits, including a game-tying homer by Paula in the sixth, in 3.1 innings of work.

 

"I don't think he ran out of gas I think he was just trying to be a little to fine and when you try to be too fine you tend to make a mistake," said Diggs.

 

Helena starter Trevor Seidenberger allowed just one run on three hits in four innings, but on an afternoon when Zach Weiss and Scott Brattvet allowed just one run each, the performance of Seidenberger and Moore was not enough.

 

"They did do a good job. In a low scoring ballgame like that you have to have a little bit better. Not that they did a bad job but I'm quite sure that there are a couple of pitches that Moore would like to take back and probably Seidenberger too, but they did a pretty good job today," said Diggs.

 

The Mustangs would take the first lead of the game in the fourth inning on a beautiful hit and run play. With two outs and runners on the corners, Nick Benedetto was put on the move and Carlton Daal hit the ball in the vacated hole at second base as Matthews scored from third.

 

Helena would tie the game in the bottom of the frame when Jose Pena hit a solo homer to left-center. It was his third homer against Billings in two days and his seventh long ball against the Mustangs this season.

 

"He stayed on the ball he hit another ball hard and he hit the ball hard all day so kudos to Pena again for coming up with a big one," said Diggs.

 

The Brewers would grab a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Charlie Markson scored on a wild pitch, but it wouldn't last long as Paula tied the game in the sixth and Ortiz put the Mustangs ahead in the eighth.

 

Helena ended the five game homestand with a record of 5-2. The Brewers will head to Billings for a pair of games before returning home to face Great Falls on Thursday.

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/1/8/59359218/cuts/31_Brandon_Moore_P_2_an210a3w_ot2zs2c5.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Photo Gallery from the Helena Independent Record

[Mass Haas]

Helena Box Score

 

Charlie Markson pinch-hit and took over for CF Omar Garcia in the 6th, Garcia as hit by a pitch in the 1st, but unclear that the substitution was related. Jose Pena's OPS is up to .846. Adam Giacalone's scorching July return to Helena melded into just an "OK" .772 OPS in August.

 

Helena Game Log

[WV Brew]

Thank you Mass and link reporters from those of us who usually lurk on these pages. Much appreciated.

[saget]

When can we expect to see them announce promotions and such? Curious to see what they do with Arcia. I'd probably start him out in A-ball again to see if he puts up better numbers, but maybe they'll push him harder because of his high potential?

 

I wish I had gotten up to Appleton to see him and Roache play.

[Mass Haas]

When can we expect to see them announce promotions and such?

 

Not to be sly about it, but literally when rosters are announced around April 1st next year.