Link Report for Wednesday 4/22

[Mass Haas]

Thank you, Rob Wooten, for putting the conditions in Colorado Springs in such easily understandable terms for us.

 

h/t to Andrew Gruman

[TheCrew07]

Medeiros is channeling Rizzo from last night, 2 belt high FBs for looping singles, then a HBP, and the first pitch to the 4th batter was ripped down the line the opposite way but 5 feet foul. Bases loaded no out, top of 1.

[TheCrew07]

... and he walked in a run... 20 pitches by my count and no outs yet. Cedar Rapids just isn't swinging at his stuff out of the zone like the 2 previous teams were.

[TheCrew07]

Chris if you read this both internet feeds, iHeartRadio and TuneIn are having volume issues again.

[TheCrew07]

4 runs, 32 pitches, and quite a few hard hit balls including the last out which was an opposite field drive caught just short of the warning track towards the RF corner, but Medeiros is finally out of the inning. I was getting nervous about that pitch count, there's no reason to push a youngster towards 40 pitches in a single inning. I wonder if he would have been done had that hitter got on?

[TheCrew07]

Kodi came out dealing and struck out the side in the 2nd, obviously much better.

[TheCrew07]

Monte Harrison goes YARD! No doubter to straight away left.

[TheCrew07]

Denson tripled off the top of the wall and eventually came around to score, Medeiros has now struck out 8 in his last 4 innings, couldn't ask for better after that 1st inning.

[Mass Haas]

Lakeland's Longstreth Limits Manatees' Offense

Manatees Fall to Flying Tigers, 3-1

By Jerry Durney / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/7/2/73179972/cuts/Garfield_5.26.13_2_640x360_r6kqa6jz_9qieka0j.jpg

 

Cameron Garfield (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Viera, Fla. - The Lakeland Flying Tigers (5-9) were the early bird to get the worm on Wednesday morning capitalizing on early mistakes and riding the strength of a great two-man pitching performance to win the rubber game of their series with the Brevard County Manatees (6-7), 3-1.

 

Lakeland forged their lead in the top of the third, which started with soft singles to right and center by Curt Powell and Ben Verlander, respectively. Jiwan James tapped one back to the mound for Javi Salas (1-2, 1.35 ERA), but with James' speed down the first base line, the 'Tees were unable to turn the double play. Then with Jared Reaves at the plate, Salas was called for a balk, bringing Powell home for the game's first run and moving James to second. Reaves, who had come on in place of Javier Bentancourt, singled off of the third base bag. Taylor Brennan fielded it off of the bounce and tried to throw Reaves out at first, but the throw was wide, bringing James around for the second run of the inning.

 

The Manatees nearly equalized in the bottom of the fourth, kick-started by a one-out walk to Cameron Garfield. After a Paul Eshleman single to center moved Garfield to second, it appeared that Angel Ortega had hit into an inning-ending double play when he rolled one back to the mound; however, starting pitcher Ryan Longstreth (1-2, 4.61 ERA) overthrew second, which allowed Garfield to score and cut the Flying Tiger lead in half. Brevard County soon would have runners at second and third when Longstreth threw a wild pitch with Omar Garcia at the plate. However, Garcia popped out to first and Chris McFarland grounded out to third to end the threat.

 

Lakeland would get insurance in the top of the seventh, when with one out. Francisco Martinez launched a solo home run to right, his second of the season, to put the Flying Tigers back in front by two.

 

Calvin Drummond relieved Longstreth to start the bottom of the seventh and he was especially sharp over the final three innings. The Manatees managed just one baserunner in his first two innings against Drummond before the 'Tees nearly pulled off their third comeback win in four games in the bottom of the ninth.

 

It started with a single to left by Garfield and then to right by Eshleman, who was lifted for pinch runner Steven Halcomb. Ortega then sacrificed, moving both runners into scoring position. Drummond then locked in and when he got Garcia to pop out to second and McFarland to hit a comebacker, he collected an impressive three-inning save, his first of the season.

 

The left-hander Longstreth had his best start of the season in front of a noisy Education Day crowd of 951. He pitched a season-high six innings and surrendered one run on three hits. Longstreth walked four and struck out three.

 

Once again, Salas was on the short side of the decision despite a great outing. Salas went seven innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked none. Kaleb Earls pitched a perfect eighth and ninth to bring his scoreless streak on the season to 6.2 innings out of the bullpen.

 

The Manatees now hit the road for six games, beginning at 6:30 PM on Thursday (5:30 Central) as they start a three-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. In a rematch of Saturday's pitching matchup, RHP Jorge Ortega (1-1, 3.21) will be on the mound for Brevard County against the Blue Jays left-hander Jairo Labourt (1-1, 3.72).

[homer]

Monte Harrison goes YARD! No doubter to straight away left.

 

Just hit another one.

[Mass Haas]

McCalvy:

 

Tyler Thornburg will join the starting rotation at Triple-A as Brewers try to get him straightened out.

[Mass Haas]

Florida Today: Manatees Photo Gallery

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers rally, but fall short 5-4 to Cedar Rapids

Harrison hits two homers for Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/2/6/119966026/cuts/Harrison_Apr22_373_47xg0p1z_yt4g35vk.jpg

Monte Harrison is congratulated on the first of his two home runs on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fell behind 4-0 in the first inning to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Rattlers rallied thanks to a pair of home runs by Monte Harrison, but fell short in a 5-4 loss to the Kernels.

 

Wisconsin starter Kodi Medeiros struggled in the first inning. The Hawaiian left-hander allowed hits to Zack Granite and Nick Gordon to start the game. He hit Zack Larson to load the bases.

 

Cedar Rapids (10-4) took the lead when Max Murphy drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in Granite.

 

The Kernels added runs on an RBI single by Trey Vavra, a fielder's choice by TJ White, and a successful double steal pulled off by White taking second and Murphy stealing home on the throw to second,.

 

Medeiros rallied after getting out of the first inning. The #1 pick of the Brewers in the 2014 draft, allowed one more hit and struck out eight from the second through the fifth inning. The eight strikeouts set a new single game high as a professional for Medeiros.

 

Harrison started Wisconsin's comeback with a solo home run in the second inning. Harrison, Milwaukee's second round pick in 2014, launched a 1-0 pitch deep to left for his first home run of the game.

 

The Rattlers (3-11) scored again in the fourth inning when David Denson tripled with one out and scored on an RBI grounder by Elvis Rubio.

 

Harrison was in the middle of another Wisconsin rally in the fifth. He drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and took third on a grounder to the right side of the infield by Sthervin Matos. Gregory Munoz drove in Harrison with a two-out single and the Rattlers were down 4-3.

 

The Kernels picked up an important insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when David Burkhalter took over on the mound for Medeiros. Vavra doubled on a sinking line drive to left that got by Brandon Diaz with one out. White was next and he singled to left to knock in Vavra.

 

The Rattlers pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh on Harrison's second long drive to left of the game. The multi-homer game was the first of the season by a Rattler and the first of Harrison's career.

 

But, Wisconsin could not get the game back to even and they dropped their second straight game of the series to the Kernels.

 

The series finale between the Rattlers and Cedar Rapids is Thursday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Luis Ortega (0-1, 5.63) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels will counter with Stephen Gonsalves (1-0, 1.38). Game time is 12:05pm.

 

Thirsty Thursday means 16oz soda, beer, and Arty's Old Fashioned drinks are available for just $2. Since this is a weekday afternoon game, it is a BONUS Business Person & Senior Citizen Special from Baker Till, WVBO and WNAM. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $13.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. This offer is also available to seniors aged 55 & older.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio and MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Monte Harrison (1st, 0 on in 2nd inning off Zack Tillery, 1 out)

Monte Harrison (2nd, 0 on in 7th inning off Randy LeBlanc, 1 out)

 

WP: Randy LeBlanc (1-0)

LP: Kodi Medeiros (0-1)

SAVE: Cam Booser (2)

 

TIME: 2:37

ATTN: 702

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

This was a cold one, it was about 35 degrees at game time, at least here in Green Bay.

 

I said enough about Kodi Medeiros' night earlier, it was the same plan as it's been all season, the C sets the same target every time and the ball just goes where's going to go. Pinpoint control is not part of Kodi's game at this point, but my goodness does he rack up Ks.

 

Monte Harrison did not get cheated on a single swing all night, and he needed a big night in the worst way. Hopefully he relaxes a little bit and starts to let his talent play.

 

Speaking of talent, Cedar Rapids attacked Jake Gatewood with a simple plan tonight... off speed low and away and FBs up out of the zone, and he struck out 3 times. He was one of many Rattlers who smacked the ground with their bat after a strike out, the team once again struck out 16 times, they are averaging well over 10 strike outs per game.

 

David Denson had a nice night, missed a HR by about a foot in right center, it hit right off the top of the wall, and had a nice sharp line drive single the opposite way as well. He started really slow last year and then started a gradual ascent towards a good year till he broke that bone. Hopefully he gets off this 1 hit per game thing and starts putting more multi-hit games together like he did tonight. He's actually had a hit in 8 of the last 10 games but is only hitting .231 over that span.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[TooLiveBrew]

Two bombs from Harrison on a night as cold as tonight is particularly impressive. I have to admit that I've been waiting for the weather to warm up to head out to see the T-Rats in person... needless to say, I can't wait for a warm patch to come along! I hope it's here in time for Medeiros's next home start.

 

Denson, Medeiros, Harrison, Gatewood, DeMuth, Neuhaus, Diaz... there's a lot of talent on this roster (for now)

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Wisconsin game highlights via the MyNew32 TV broadcast, including both Monte Harrison home runs

[Mass Haas]

Harrison goes yard twice, snaps out of slump

Brewers prospect records first multi-homer game for Timber Rattlers

By Ashley Marshall / MiLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/5/0/119961350/cuts/harrison_r6jlmplu_kcfav63u.jpg

 

Monte Harrison had one long ball before his two-homer performance on Wednesday. (Ann Mollica Photo/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

For a player who prides himself on his speed, Wednesday was all about slowing things down for Monte Harrison. And while you can't steal first base, you can give all four bases a courtesy glance if you smack the ball out of the park.

 

The Brewers' No. 3 prospect belted a pair of solo shots, walked and scored three runs in his first career multi-homer game, but Class A Wisconsin dropped a 5-4 decision to visiting Cedar Rapids on a chilly night at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

"I would say that I felt so much more relaxed," said Harrison, who entered Wednesday batting .135 with one extra-base hit and one RBI in 11 games. "I was working with my hitting coach [Chuckie Caufield] to decide what I needed to do to slow the game down and get back to basics.

 

"I feel like baseball can be a very fast game if you let it be. I wanted to focus on the game and I told him I wanted to break it down to the point where it feels like it's in slow motion."

 

Having struck out 20 times in his first 37 Midwest League at-bats, that's exactly what the 19-year-old center fielder did, breaking down his swing into three distinct phases -- the load, planting the front foot and the actual swing. In doing so, he was able to identify the reason for his mechanics and timing being off the first two weeks of the season.

 

"First, you put your hands in a loaded position. ... You want to get them in a cocked position where you can just fire it like a gun," said Harrison, who had committed to play baseball and football at the University of Nebraska before being taken in the second round of last year's Draft. "You want to be ready to fire at any second. Once you get cocked, you can get that separation where the pitcher is going into his delivery and you can recognize the pitch all the way down to your front foot and getting the heel down to the ground.

 

"In the third phase, you don't try to do too much. You see a lot of guys that can do everything right with the cock and getting the foot down, but they do too much with the swing. You have to see the spin and read it. The ball can jump off the bat if you don't swing too hard."

 

Drafted out of Lee's Summit West High School in Missouri, Harrison took right-hander Zach Tillery deep to left field with two outs in the second inning. He walked and scored in the fifth and homered to left-center field on the first pitch he saw from 2014 10th-rounder Randy LeBlanc with one away in the seventh.

 

"I pretty much told myself I would hunt the fastball," said Harrison, who also produced his first multi-hit game of the season. "I got to a 2-0 count and saw the first couple pitches well, so I told myself to be ready to hit it. [As a right-handed hitter], you don't want to hit the ball down the right field line, you want to pull it. You want to be early on it -- 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, you can't get beat in those counts."

 

Harrison, who's been held hitless in half of his 12 games, came to the plate representing the potential tying run with one out in the bottom of the ninth but struck out against Cameron Booser. He knows he'll still have his struggles at the new level but said he was disappointed in himself, despite already having gone yard twice.

 

In 50 Rookie-level games with the Brewers' Arizona League affiliate last summer, Harrison hit .261 with a homer and 20 RBIs and led the circuit with 32 stolen bases. A third homer on the night might have been a long shot, but he wants to be a player who performs in the clutch.

 

"Just to know I was 2-for-3 with two home runs, but what it came down to was that third at-bat," said Harrison, taken 50th overall and signed to a $1.8 million bonus. "Your third, fourth, fifth at-bats are the ones that really matter. I felt bad that I couldn't help my team.

 

"An 18- or 19 -year-old kid jumping up to a full-season league, you can't say every kid will be successful right away at that age. It all depends on what they do to slow the game down. At the beginning [of the season], the speed got to me, but the last couple days I've told myself to just let the game come to me. I'm not trying to be a guy that's one-dimensional -- I want to be able to do everything."

 

First baseman Trey Vavra was 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI out of the No. 5 spot for the Kernels, who improved to 9-4. He raised his average to .372 with hits in each of his last six at-bats. Cedar Rapids reliever Randy LeBlanc (1-0) got the win after allowing a run on one hit while striking out five over 2 1/3 innings. Booser also fanned five over two scoreless frames for his second save.

 

Wisconsin starter Kodi Medeiros (0-1), Milwaukee's eight-ranked prospect, took the loss after yielding four runs on four hits over five frames. He struck out eight and issued one walk.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Voice of the Shuckers Chris Harris:

 

At the end of Southern League play Wednesday, Biloxi's Michael Reed and Orlando Arcia hold the No. 1 and 2 spots in batting at .417 and .414 respectively.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 9, Round Rock 0

 

Additon Leads Sky Sox To Rout Of Express

Left-Hander Goes 6.2 Strong Innings In 9-2 Win Over Round Rock

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Nick Additon picked up his second win of the season, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings against Round Rock on Wednesday. (File Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

Nick Additon turned in the most effective performance by a Sky Sox starter this season in a 9-0 win over the Round Rock Express on Thursday night in front on 5,442 fans at Dell Diamond.

 

Additon would pitch 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits while striking out three. The left-hander would not give up his first base hit until the fifth inning when Express outfielder Alex Hassan singled to centerfield.

 

Additon's outing was the longest and first scoreless performance by a Sky Sox starter this season.

 

Spot-starter Jimmy Reyes would pitch well over four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk. The Round Rock bullpen, however, would not be so lucky.

 

Already with a 3-0 lead heading into the eighth inning, the Sky Sox would tag left-hander Juan Perez for six runs in his 0.2 of an inning pitched on the strength of a Ben Guez two-run homer to centerfield followed by two consecutive walks and singles. Right-hander Jon Edwards would finish out the inning, and the game, for the Express, limiting the scoring and stabilizing the score at 9-0 over his final 1.1 innings of work.

 

Jed Bradley, Corey Knebel and David Goforth would combine for 2.1 scoreless innings pitched to wrap up the ballgame for the Sky Sox in what would be the team's most complete performance of the season.

 

Pete Orr, Luis Sardinas, Guez and Bryan Petersen each finished with two RBIs in the game as the Sky Sox outhit the Express 12-6.

 

The Sky Sox are back at it on Thursday as Drew Gagnon (1-0, 5.23) takes the mound for the Sky Sox in a face-off with Express right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez ((0-2, 6.52). First pitch at Dell Diamond is slated for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central).

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Jed Bradley fanned the only batter he faced, stranding two of Nick Additon's baserunners; Corey Knebel has had nice outings each time out (six of them), as we dreamily look to move past K-Rod's two-year deal; Pete Orr singled four times; Matt Clark didn't join in the fun, 0-for-5 with three K's...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

The six-run frame --

 

Col. Springs Top of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Juan Perez replaces Alex Claudio.

Nevin Ashley grounds out, second baseman Ed Lucas to first baseman Brett Nicholas.

Shane Peterson walks.

Ben Guez homers (2) on a fly ball to center field. Shane Peterson scores.

Bryan Petersen walks.

Donnie Murphy walks. Bryan Petersen to 2nd.

Matt Long singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Strausborger. Bryan Petersen to 3rd. Donnie Murphy to 2nd.

Pete Orr singles on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Strausborger. Bryan Petersen scores. Donnie Murphy scores. Matt Long to 3rd.

Luis Sardinas doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Alex Hassan. Matt Long scores. Pete Orr scores.

Matt Clark strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Jon Edwards replaces Juan Perez.

Nevin Ashley strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Another real-life reminder -- this one that Biloxi RHP Jorge Lopez pitches each time out with thoughts of his hospitalized son in his mind. His young son has had a lifelong battle.

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Link Report will be out in time for the noontime Wisconsin game today. Plan your audio-listening afternoon.

[igor67]

I wonder if the cold impacted Kodi's first inning?

[brewmann04]

Thank you for Reminding us that these players have Personal issues in their life Prayers out to his family

[Mass Haas]

OF Matt Long gets an occasional start at second base, as was the case for the Sky Sox Wednesday -- you'll see in this photo gallery there was one anxious moment.

 

Nice photo of LHP Nick Additon, also...

[JohnBriggs12]

Strong has had problems walking people in the past and he's walked 5 guys in his first 10 1/13 IP this year, so I would be careful with promoting him until he shows he is able to repeat the command improvements he exhibited last year. I'd guess that Obispo, Chapman, and maybe Ross have a leg up on promotion to AAA should the need arise, at least in the near term.

 

I'm also somewhat concerned by Wagner's lack of strikeouts. I know it's a small sample early in the season but his K rate hasn't exactly been great the past few years and he needs to start missing more bats if he's going to be successful at AAA and beyond. Especially if his groundball rate doesn't bounce back from last year.

 

What will they have to lose by promoting Strong at some point? He's 26 and a lefty reliever so it's not like you need to worry about arby years or team control. Teams that lose 100 games typically go through more than 20 pitchers in what amounts to trial under fire. He's not perfect. Neither is most of the staff in Milwaukee.

 

As for Wagner, the object of pitching is missing barrels, not necessarily bats entirely. I wouldn't worry much about room on the 40 man if you want to give him a look in September. Those spots will be opening up too.

[yoshii8]

The pitching of Tyler Wagner and Michael Strong is certainly encouraging. Even if they pitch great the entire season I wonder if they stay in AA instead of going to Colorado. Maybe a September callup for Strong since he is on the 40 man.

 

I'd like to see both of them moved up to AAA, if they continue to dominate AA. Especially Strong since he is already 26.