Link Report for Friday 5/1 - Welcome to May!

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 7:05 PM pre-game, 7:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We welcome Dan Karcher, who is the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox; follow him on Twitter @SkySoxKarch

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup.

 

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Biloxi: RHP Brooks Hall at "home" in Huntsville vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We also welcome Chris Harris as the very first play-by-play voice of the Shuckers! Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be looking off to his very promising "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - Seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi staff indicates it is hopeful it will be eight when the new stadium opens.

 

NOTE: No MiLB.TV from Joe Davis Stadium, sorry folks.

 

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Brevard County: First, it's LHP Clint Terry at Daytona (Reds), in the completion of this April 11th game, suspended with two outs in the top of the 3rd, the Manatees' Angel Ortega on second base; 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime; this game is scheduled for nine innings

 

Then, in the regularly scheduled game, now cut to a seven-inning contest, RHP Jorge Ortega gets the starting nod.

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio, as all games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2015.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Victor Diaz at home vs. Quad Cities (Astros), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; look for RHP Cy Sneed to pitch in a tandem role; rehabbing Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett will be playing for the Timber Rattlers through Monday

 

Free Live Audio Link - 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.

 

NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

 

***

 

So, for the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sky Sox games, most Shuckers games, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games.

[Mass Haas]

Rehabbing Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett will be playing for the Timber Rattlers through Monday

 

Thus, Scooter qualifies for our "farmhand" birthday greeting, as today (Friday) is his 25th!

 

***

 

NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

 

DVR Alert!

 

Friday evening's (6:30 PM) and Saturday afternoon's (1:00 PM, added to the original schedule) Timber Rattlers games will be broadcast on MyNew32 TV.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County Completion of April 11th Suspended Game

 

Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game

 

Wisconsin

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Look for these just prior to the respective game times --

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - It's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Sky Sox' site.

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

Brevard County Media Notes - It's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' site.

 

Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

 

***

 

STANDINGS:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division

 

AA - Southern League South Division

 

High-A - Florida State League North Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Daytona Beach, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

All via the Manatees:

 

Excellent breakdown and self-analysis by Victor Roache on his swing and approach in 2015 --

 

AUDIO: LF Victor Roache joins Jerry Durney on the Manatees Pregame Show to talk about Roache's hot streak at the plate

 

***

 

AUDIO: 'Tees manager Joe Ayrault recaps the long road trip on the Manatees Pregame Show

 

***

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: Daytona scores two runs in the ninth to defeat Brevard County, 6-4

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson via the Bill Michaels Show

 

***

 

AUDIO: Timber Rattlers CF Monte Harrison, also via the Bill Michaels Show

[Mass Haas]

[TooLiveBrew]

So I really want to go see Medeiros's next start. He started on the 22nd & piggybacked on the 28th, which should line him up for a start on Sunday. Is there any reason to think he won't start on Sunday?

[TheCrew07]

So I really want to go see Medeiros's next start. He started on the 22nd & piggybacked on the 28th, which should line him up for a start on Sunday. Is there any reason to think he won't start on Sunday?

 

Mehring always has you covered with the Media Notes.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Timber Rattlers LHP Kodi Medeiros via the Bill Michaels Show

[WV Brew]

Thinking about how weak this organization is in left handed hitters compared to other teams. Of course, you have Lind. AAA has a number of left handed hitters but none are really prospects at this point. Maybe Clark? Biloxi has Wren and Ramirez neither of whom is particularly exciting. With Johnny Davis out, Brevard County has zero left handed hitters. The Timber Rattlers have Leal, Denson, Demuth and Neuhaus so there is some hope there. Just really bare compared to most other teams.

[WV Brew]

Manatees' suspended game now going to extra innings.

[WV Brew]

Daytona 3, Brevard County 2

 

Suspended game result. Regular game to start around 6:50 CT.

Casey Medlen not on his game right now. Manatees took the lead in the 10th on a Garrett Cooper single and 2 wild pitches. Bottom of the 10th, Philip Ervin, one of the Reds' top prospects hit a walkoff 2 run home run with 2 outs in the 10th (off the foul pole).

 

Brevard County Box Score

(Ignore cumulative statistics--they are as of the suspension date not year-to-date).

 

Brevard County Game Log\

 

Ervin's Walk-Off Homer Sinks Manatees in 10

Daytona Defeats Brevard County, 3-2

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

05/02/2015 12:39 AM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/9/6/121861396/cuts/_P0A6065_5cpzf7c5_564lh4kb.jpg

 

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Phillip Ervin hit a two-run, walk-off home run to give the Daytona Tortugas (14-7) a 3-2 win over the Brevard County Manatees (9-11) on Friday Night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Daytona's Carlton Daal smacked a leadoff single up the middle against Casey Medlen (0-3, 6.23 ERA). After two fly outs, the stage was set for Ervin. He cranked a line drive down the left field line that hit off of the foul pole to win the game for the Tortugas. It was Ervin's seventh home run of the season.

 

The Manatees had taken the lead in the top half of the frame. Garrett Cooper started the inning with a single to center. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Steven Halcomb entered the game as a pinch runner. After a fly out, Halcomb advanced to third on a groundout to third by Rafael Neda. Evan Mitchell (1-0, 5.19 ERA) then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Halcomb to scamper home and give the Manatees the 2-1 lead.

 

The game, which was a continuation of a suspended game on April 11, was scoreless until the top of the seventh. Clint Coulter started the inning with a walk. Taylor Brennan then singled to left and advanced Coulter to second. Victor Roache then grounded a broken-bat roller to third. Roache, who thought the ball was foul, got a very late break out of the batters box. It appeared Daytona had a shot at a triple play, however third baseman Taylor Sparks stepped on the bag at third and airmailed the throw into right field. Brennan moved up to third to put runners on the corners with one out. After a Cooper strikeout, Brevard County attempted a double steal. Catcher Joe Hudson pump faked a throw to second and caught Brennan too far off of third and in a pickle. Sparks launched a return throw towards the plate and over the head of pitcher Barrett Astin, who was covering home. Brennan touched home and opened the scoring. Astin induced a ground out of Paul Eshleman to end the inning.

 

Daytona tied the game in the eighth against reliever Kaleb Earls. Alex Blandino singled up the middle with one out. Ervin then grounded into a fielder's choice to erase Blandino. After a Chad Wallach single put runners on the corners, Robert Ramirez laced a double down the right field line. Ervin scored, but a good play by Coulter in right forced Wallach to hold up at third. Earls then bounced a pitch that slightly bounced away from Neda. Wallach broke from third, but Neda recovered and made a lunging tag of Wallach to end the inning and keep the game tied at one.

 

Clint Terry, who started on the mound after the resumption of the game, pitched 4.2 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and three walks, and struck out four. Earls allowed just the one run over 2.1 innings. He surrendered three hits and recorded a strikeout.

 

Mitchell was credited with the win, despite allowing the 10th inning run. He allowed one hit and punched out two men in 1.2 innings. Astin, a former Brewers farmhand, allowed just one unearned run on three hits in five innings of work.

 

Omar Garcia and Brennan led the offensive charge for Brevard County, each recording two hits. The Manatees did not have an RBI in the game.

[Mass Haas]

Re: Gatewood, we await MRI results on his knee, as was detailed in Thursday's Link Report.

 

Excellent news via the J-S' Todd Rosiak:

 

Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Jake Gatewood suffered a right knee contusion and is out several weeks. Good news is no torn ligaments. Ash said the team will have a better idea of how long Gatewood will be out next week.

[TheCrew07]

So I finally got around to watching the first episode Timber Rattlers Field Pass last night, I believe Chris said it was filmed on media day.

 

It was entirely a rehash of observations and interviews that have already been posted on this forum already but I'll quickly summarize Erickson's comments regarding the young players again in case these thoughts got bye other posters in the various threads.

 

Gatewood- Grew another 1.5 inches since the draft and added 30 lbs over the winter, he's still learning to play in his new body.

 

Harrison- Far and away the best athlete the Brewers have drafted since Matt has been with the organization.

 

Medeiros- Doesn't have much control yet, hopefully will develop over time, the current plan is to set the catcher behind home plate and just let his fantastic movement get hitters out.

 

Denson- His eye is almost too good, he takes pitches too close and ends up behind in the count. (These are pitches that would probably be balls at MLB, but not in A ball -TC07) The idea is get David ahead in the count and then get to hacking.

 

Leal- Was Matt's surprise player that no one is talking about, said he was impressive behind the dish and at the plate with the bat during the spring.

 

Matt also mentioned he expected players like Victor Diaz and Denson to take a leadership role in the clubhouse as they know what to expect now.

 

I turned on tonight's game just in time to catch Erickson's pre-game interview with the TV crew and he talked mostly about the team's strike out issue and trying to put more pressure on the opposing defense.

 

edit. Forgot about Leal.

[Mass Haas]

Wrapping up Bill Michaels' day in Appleton (Grand Chute) with two more interviews --

 

AUDIO: Scooter Gennett

 

***

 

AUDIO: Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring

[Mass Haas]

(thus far) in this Link Report is with RHP Tim Dillard, from Thursday night's Colorado Springs pregame show.

 

This is part one with fun to come, but plenty of serious worthwhile baseball talk to start things off, enjoy.

 

[TheCrew07]

River Bandits edge Timber Rattlers 2-1

Gennett goes 1-for-3 in first of four rehab starts for Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/4/8/121845948/cuts/5_1_15_Gennett_WEB_yaq91uwf_ibudnu6f.jpg

Scooter Gennett went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored for the Timber Rattlers on Friday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Jake Hansel)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Quad Cities River Bandits took advantage of three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers errors to defeat the Rattlers 2-1 Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin had nine hits, but could only push across a first inning run and saw their brief two game winning streak ended by the team with the best record in the Midwest League.

 

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett singled to start the bottom of the first inning for Wisconsin. He moved to second on a grounder. Sthervin Matos knocked in Gennett with a two-out single and the Rattlers (8-14) were up 1-0.

 

Mott Hyde reached on an error by Gennett to start the top of the fourth inning. A missed opportunity on a force play at second for what would have been the second out of the inning, allowed the River Bandits (16-6) to have runners at first and third with one away. Wisconsin starting pitcher Victor Diaz walked the next batter to load the bases. Diaz walked Jason Martin to force in the tying run.

 

Reliever Tyler Linehan took over for Diaz and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a force out at third base.

 

The Rattlers had an opportunity to retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Elvis Rubio started the inning with a single and Carlos Leal followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners. But, a safety squeeze attempt by Luis Aviles went awry with a bunt right back to the mound and River Bandits starter Chris Lee had plenty of time to flip the ball to the plate to retire Rubio at the plate. Lee would get the final out of the fourth and pitch around an error and a two-out hit batsman in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game tied 1-1.

 

Alex Hernandez started the top of the sixth inning with a single. He stole second with one out and took third on a throwing error on the play. Martin put the River Bandits in front with an RBI single.

 

Wisconsin had more opportunities after falling behind by a run. Rubio singled to start the bottom of the sixth inning against Keegan Yuhl, but was picked off first before Leal walked.

 

In the eighth, Tucker Neuhaus doubled against Yuhl with one out and Leal drew another walk with two outs against reliever Ryan Thompson. But, Thompson struck out pinch-hitter David Denson to maintain the 2-1 lead.

 

David Denson did not strike out, in fact he grounded out sharply to 3rd to end the inning. - TC07

 

Mitch Meyer extended his current hitting streak to four games with a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth. Thompson struck out the next three batters to close out the Rattlers.

 

Gennett was 1-for-3, stole a base, and scored a run in the game for the Rattlers. He is scheduled to start at second again on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for the Timber Rattlers on this homestand.

 

Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon. Zach Hirsch (1-2, 3.24) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has Kevin Comer (2-0, 4.26) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 1:05pm.

 

Festival Foods Saturday is Superhero Day at the ballpark. Marvel's Thor and Iron Man will be at the ballpark to meet young crime fighters and pose for pictures.

 

If you can't make it out to the stadium, there are many ways to catch the action. MyNEW 32's Sports Showdown will televise the game beginning at 1:00pm. The radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starts at 12:45pm and may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. Subscribers may watch the game on MiLB.tv.

 

WP: Chris Lee (1-2)

LP: Cy Sneed (1-2)

SAVE: Ryan Thompson (1)

 

TIME: 3:10

ATTN: 3,456

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

I admit I don't understand the fascination fans have with watching MLB players on rehab assignments... every minor league team markets the rehab assignments like they are 2nd coming of Christ, and the TV crew literally talked about Scooter the entire game. I already know what MLB players can do and expect them to do well against subpar competition, and if I wanted to see big leaguers I'd just go down to Miller Park. I've just never got it, not since I first started following the minors all those years ago. Regardless Scooter Gennett was not sharp, offensively he made good contact but his single was a fortuitous skip under the 2B's glove. He made some errors in the field and on his "steal" he brought the big league team's poor base running skills with him to Grand Chute and was actually picked off. In fact he initially lolly gagged towards 2nd and then somehow the opposing player missed him with the tag on his slide. They replayed it 3 times and it was hard to believe he was safe even having seen it for the third time.

 

Sthervin Matos made a fantastic play coming down the line on a slow roller, the more I watch the more he's looking like he could be a plus defender, he has all the tools. I would have never guessed this outcome after how tentative he appeared last year.

 

Monte Harrison is just completely lost right now, he's constantly guessing and he's pulling his front shoulder open so excessively he's swinging through very good hitter's pitches in every single AB. The 9th inning was particularly frustrating as every hitter let the best pitch of the AB go bye without even offering.

 

The pitchers walked more batters than they struck out (8-7) and the Rattlers basically gave this one away with walks and poor defense. Tyler Linehan was the exception, he was sharp for the duration on the mound.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 9th

• Mitch Meyer singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Martin.
  Gregory Munoz called out on strikes.
  Monte Harrison strikes out swinging.
  Dustin DeMuth called out on strikes.

[WV Brew]

Brevard County 5, Daytona 1

 

Ortega's Gem Helps Manatees Bounce Back

'Tees Defeat Tortugas, 5-1

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

05/02/2015 12:49 AM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/7/0/121863170/cuts/SM2_1672a_XL_zp906qhc_qgc4c8jd.jpg

 

(Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Daytona Beach, Fla. - In need of a dominant pitching performance after a heartbreaking end to their first game on Friday night, the Brevard County Manatees (10-10) would get exactly that as Jorge Ortega threw a seven-inning complete game in a 5-1 victory over the Daytona Tortugas (14-8) at Radiology Associates Field.

 

The Brevard County offense would do its part early on as Chris McFarland would leg out an infield single to start the game. Following a Taylor Brennan strikeout, Tortuga starting pitcher Jackson Stephens would get two strikes on Clint Coulter. Manager Joe Ayrault would send McFarland on the pitch and Coulter would rip a double down the left field line, bringing McFarland all the way around to put the Manatees on the board.

 

The Manatees would put the game away for good in the second inning, which would start when Jose Pena singled with one out on the first pitch he saw in a Manatee uniform. He would take second base on a wild pitch by Stephens, who then lost Omar Garcia on a walk. Both the runners would move up on a groundout by McFarland, setting up a prime spot for Brennan. Brennan drove one to left center that would've been a home run on a less breezy night. However, the winds blowing in from straightaway centerfield kept the ball in the park but it would be just beyond the diving reach of Tortuga centerfielder Phillip Ervin. Pena and Garcia would score easily as Brennan wound up with his first triple of the season to make it 3-0. Coulter then brought him home with a single to center to tack on another run. He followed that up by stealing second with Victor Roache at the plate. It looked as if the inning would come to a close when Roache hit a routine grounder to third but Taylor Sparks' woes at the hot corner in this series would continue as his throw to first was wide, allowing Coulter to score.

 

Stephens would escape the inning immediately after when he got Garrett Cooper to ground out. He would settle in after that as he and reliever Blaine Howell allowed just two Manatee baserunners over the final five innings. However, the 'Tees had already given Ortega all the support he would need.

 

Ortega retired the first nine Daytona hitters before allowing a leadoff single to Ervin in the fourth. That would matter little as it turned out because he would get Alex Blandino to foul out to McFarland and when Sebastian Elizalde tapped into a 1-6-3 double play, Ortega had still faced the minimum through four.

 

The 'Tugas finally broke through in the sixth, as Carlton Daal was the catalyst with a leadoff single. Following an Ervin flyout, Blandino sacrificed to move the runner into scoring position. Elizalde would hit a grounder just beyond the reach of McFarland at second and into right field, bringing home Daal to make it 5-1. The threat was extinguished immediately after when Chad Wallach flew out to right.

 

Ortega would finish with a flourish in the seventh as he coaxed a flyout by Robert Ramirez and then struck out Sparks and Jon Matthews to end the ballgame. With that performance, Ortega improves to 3-1 on the season and lowered his Earned Run Average to 2.57 in the process. The most impressive aspect of his outing was that this was his third consecutive start without issuing a walk, running his streak overall to 26 innings without a free pass.

 

The Manatees return home Saturday night as they'll continue the series at 6:35 P.M. with RHP Hiram Burgos (1-2, 3.27 ERA) gets the start against Tortuga right-hander Nick Travieso (2-2, 3.38). The matchup is a rematch from the season opener on April 9th which the Tortugas won 5-1.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Interviews 10 & 11 for this Link Report, enjoy!

 

AUDIO: LHP Trevor Seidenberger joins Jerry Durney on the Manatees Pregame Show to chat about Seidenberger's dominant start to the season

 

***

 

AUDIO: Jerry Durney is joined by first base and outfield coach Reggie Williams on the Manatees Pregame Show

 

Williams is always a very good listen -- he discusses Johnny Davis' loss for his outfield, and Clint Coulter's defensive progress, among other topics

 

***

 

AUDIO - Game Highlights, Completion of Suspended Game: Phillip Ervin's 10th inning walk-off home run leads the Tortugas to a 3-2 victory over the Manatees

 

***

 

AUDIO - Game Highlights, Regularly Scheduled Game: RHP Jorge Ortega throws a complete game in a 5-1 Manatees win

[Mass Haas]

From the Daytona News-Journal:

 

The second game was a different story thanks to Manatees right-hander Jorge Ortega, who went the distance and held the Tortugas hitless through the first three innings.

 

Ortega led Brevard County (10-11) to a 5-1 victory in Game 2. The Manatees erupted for four runs in the second inning to give Ortega (3-1) support.

 

“He threw strikes and a change-up with a little slider,” Marrero said. “He was throwing strikes and getting ahead of our hitters.”

[Mass Haas]

Nothing will get a pitcher bumped a level more than elite command -- Here is RHP Jorge Ortega's MiLB Player Page. As noted above, the Manatee who was never a Timber Rattler has been stellar.

 

We should have made more of his control last year with Helena in that offensive environment (eight walks in 83 innings).

 

Notable is the lack of strikeouts and also a low ground ball rate -- Ortega is one odd bird at the moment, but for his pro career, including two Dominican Summer League campaigns, Ortega has walked only 45 over 319.1 IP (204 K's, career 1.15 WHIP).

 

Ortega turns 22 in June, should be fun to see where this all leads.

[Mass Haas]

So, for the Rattlers, catcher Carlos Leal reached base all four times (.367/.436/.551 - .987 OPS), and threw out one of two basestealers.

 

TC07, thanks for watching these games -- you're killing it in your comments, much appreciated!

 

***

 

Extended video interview with Scooter Gennett at the link, not a total rehash of the audio with Bill Michaels you heard earlier in this thread; photo gallery, too:

 

Gennett celebrates birthday with a return to baseball

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/10509488e2abdda0ea88d82cb69b00d371c18deb/c=234-0-3015-3708&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2015/05/02/Appleton/B9317174187Z.1_20150502001833_000_G2FALVBV6.1-0.jpg

 

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Scooter Gennett gets to second base against the Quad Cities River Bandits on Friday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. (Photo: Dan Powers/Post-Crescent Media)

 

GRAND CHUTE – Scooter Gennett turned 25 Friday and the Milwaukee Brewers second baseman received the birthday present he wanted.

 

It was a return to the game he loves following a 10-day layoff.

 

And it came at a venue where he has nothing but good memories.

 

Gennett started a four-game injury rehabilitation assignment with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, playing five innings of the Rattlers' 2-1 loss to Quad Cities.

 

"It was nice just getting back out there playing ball," said Gennett, who spent the entire 2010 season in Grand Chute with the Rattlers. "It's been awhile. I saw some people I remember from 2010 and that was kind of cool. Today was just about kind of easing back into the game. Tomorrow is when I'm supposed to turn the switch on."

 

Wearing a Rattlers' No. 20 jersey and batting leadoff, Gennett had an eventful game before a crowd of 3,456 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. He went 1-for-3 at the plate, scored a run and was credited with a stolen base when he slid around a tag at second base after being caught in a rundown. He also committed two errors, both coming in the top of the fourth and leading to the River Bandits' first run.

 

On his first error, Gennett pulled first baseman Dustin DeMuth off the bag with his throw after making a nice backhand stop of a ground ball. Moments later, he couldn't handle shortstop Luis Aviles' throw to second base with a runner bearing down on the bag.

 

"Two errors, huh," said Gennett. "I knew I had one, but I didn't know I got the second one. It's fine. I'll take all the errors for these guys because it really doesn't matter for me. The one thing with defense is getting back the tempo, the timing. Usually it takes a game or two to get that back. That first ground ball hit to me was a little tough. I had a hard time getting my feet underneath me and almost rolled my ankle on a lip out there."

 

Gennett said he experienced no problems with the injured middle finger on his left hand, which is the reason he's on the Brewers' 15-day disabled list.

 

"There's no pain," said Gennett. "It's just about making sure I take off my batting glove nice and easy so I don't rip the band-aid off. I felt fine."

 

Gennett suffered a laceration on the finger following a bizarre accident while showering in the Pittsburgh Pirates locker room on April 20. Gennett cut the finger on a shower caddie, while reaching for some body wash.

 

"It was definitely the weirdest injury I've ever had," said Gennett with a laugh. "A lot of people are like, 'What really happened?' But I don't lie. I can't lie. It's the truth. My teammates believed me. They were witnesses, so I'm covered. It's one of those things that I'll probably never hear the end of."

 

Gennett — a 16th round selection by Milwaukee in the 2009 first-year player draft — hit .309 with nine home runs and 55 RBI in his 2010 season with the Rattlers.

 

"This feels like home for me," said Gennett. "It's where I spent my first full season of minor league ball and it's pretty nice to come back here. Unfortunately, I'm here because of an injury, but I couldn't have picked a better place."

 

The Cincinnati native was a midseason and postseason Midwest League all-star in 2010, playing for manager Jeff Isom.

 

"I just remember all the fans coming to support us when it was like 20 degrees," said Gennett. "I learned a lot about Wisconsin fans that year. But that's what I remember the most —all the fans out here in the freezing cold with their shirts off. It seems like that was so long ago, but it was only a few years ago.

 

"And you always remember the travel. It kind of sucked at the time, taking those eight-hour bus rides to places like Beloit and Clinton where it smells really bad. At the time, you hated it, but you kind of miss that. You miss all the fun stuff the team does on the bus."

 

Gennett said he'll be happy to talk baseball and share advice with any of his temporary teammates. He recalls when his current Milwaukee teammate, outfielder Carlos Gomez, made the first of three rehab assignments in Grand Chute in 2010 when Gennett was honing his skills as a Rattler.

 

"I remember Carlos coming here," said Gennett. "That was one of the first years we had him. I thought it was really cool and now I'm kind of in his shoes."

 

Gennett played in Grand Chute before the renovation of Fox Cities Stadium, and he's impressed with the upgrade.

 

"I remember it being one of the best facilities in the organization and it's nice to come back and see all the improvements they made — like in the locker room," said Gennett. "It looks like they have a batters eye up now. It wasn't there when I was here and it seemed like the ball would be coming right out of the clouds.

 

"It's nice. The guys — whether they know it or not right now — will be thankful to play here. I know I always was. It's by far my favorite place to play in the minor leagues."

 

Following his four-game rehab stint with the Rattlers, Gennett is expected to be activated Tuesday for the Brewers' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is confident that Milwaukee will rebound from a horrible start to the season.

 

"It's been a little tough, I'm not going to lie," said Gennett. "Obviously, we haven't started the way we planned to. But I think that now that we've gone through that rough patch, we'll be all right. We know we're a good team. Jean (Segura) and Braunie (Ryan Braun) are starting to come back to their normal selves and Aramis (Ramirez) is starting to swing well.

 

"Piece by piece, things are starting to fall into place. There's been no panicking or anything like that. There's good energy and positive attitudes. No one is pointing the finger and that says a lot about our team."

 

Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson said that Gennett will get three or four at bats in today's 1:05 PM game and will then play all nine innings of Sundays series finale against the River Bandits and Monday night's contest against Cedar Rapids.

 

"He looked good at the plate," said Erickson. "He looked like he was in the zone. He stayed up the middle. You didn't see any rust. He's a confident kid with the bat in his hands. Has always been.

 

"On that one error on the backhand, I don't think he got a great jump after it. He could have been a little more aggressive coming after it. I think that's why he had to rush the throw and it was inaccurate."

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog - Postgame Entry --

 

OK, stop counting, we've smashed every Link Report record imaginable with the media clips tonight, five more here, including Jake Gatewood post-MRI, and the game highlights with Chris Mehring's calls: