Link Report for Friday 4/15 - Timber Rattlers' Neuhaus injures finger, will be out "for a while"

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 7:00 PM pre-game, 7:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson)

 

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 Adrian Houser and LHP Wei-Chung Wang in a doubleheader at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 4:15 PM pre-game, 4:35 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Chris Harris is the play-by-play voice of the Shuckers. Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. Thaddeus Krzus (@Shucks1stIntern) joins Chris often. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them.

 

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Brevard County: TBD "at home" vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 5:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link (St. Lucie feed)

 

Unfortunately, the Manatees have dropped their broadcast coverage for 2016.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. Ten of the 12 Florida State League teams provide audio (some only for home games), we'll do our best to let you know when an opponent's audio is going to be available.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Jon Perrin at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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 - Eight of the 16 Midwest League teams telecast their home games, and Wisconsin, once again, is among them.

 

NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on local TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (10) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (29) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County: TBD "at home" vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 5:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link (St. Lucie feed)

 

The reason "at home" is in quotes is because of the special location for Friday's game. Enjoy the hallowed grounds, gentlemen!

 

Big day Friday for the Manatees --

 

Jackie Robinson Game set for April 15

Brevard County, St. Lucie to play in third-annual event at Dodgertown

[Mass Haas]

DVR ALERTS! (INCLUDING TONIGHT!)

 

Timber Rattlers Games

 

Friday April 15th, 6:30 PM -- MyNew32 TV

 

Monday, April 18th, 6:30 PM -- MyNew32 TV

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi Game One

 

Biloxi Game Two

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

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

 

Mobile, AL

 

Vero Beach, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

Gee, that weekend forecast for Colorado Springs is about what we'd expect, even after a week and a half on the road to start the season...

[Mass Haas]

Personal note -- I'll be enjoying this weekend while away and will be staging your Link Report kickoffs, a forum moderator will move them in and pin them / un-pin them as necessary, folks may need to adjust for rotation mentions should situations change.

 

In particular, our team of Link Reporters will be covering Saturday's and Sunday's games in total, their efforts are much appreciated!

 

I will likely chime in with a miscellaneous post or video/audio link, but for the most part, I need to spoil Mrs. Haas from time to time so she'll continue to allow me Link Reporting duties throughout the season . She's an angel!

[FVBrewerFan]

Michael Reed in cf tonight

[MoreTrife]

Personal note -- I'll be enjoying this weekend while away and will be staging your Link Report kickoffs, a forum moderator will move them in and pin them / un-pin them as necessary, folks may need to adjust for rotation mentions should situations change.

 

In particular, our team of Link Reporters will be covering Saturday's and Sunday's games in total, their efforts are much appreciated!

 

I will likely chime in with a miscellaneous post or video/audio link, but for the most part, I need to spoil Mrs. Haas from time to time so she'll continue to allow me Link Reporting duties throughout the season . She's an angel!

 

 

Enjoy. You deserve any break you take.

[Eye Black]

Final: St. Lucie 4, Brevard County 0

 

St. Lucie hurlers dominate Manatees at Vero Beach

Donald Rieber, Jr., Manatees Examiner

 

*****

 

Good game story linked above including why the game was closer than the score indicates.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

This weeks offensive struggles continue as the Manatees strikeout 16 times in the game, and their team batting average has now dropped to .204 on the season. The Manatees were held to four hits and they came off of the bats of two players, Johnny Davis (2-for-4, including a bunt for a base hit) and Angel Ortega (2-for-3, 2B).

 

Not a bad night for Eric Hanhold who went 5.2 innings and gave up six hits and two runs (one earned run) while striking out three. Relief pitcher Jon Olczak also made an appearance, pitching 2.1 innings allowing one hit and one run.

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

The Manatees only managed to have more than one player reach base in an inning once, the 6th.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 6th

Omar Garcia grounds out, second baseman Luis Guillorme to first baseman Michael Katz.

Johnny Davis singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Corey Oswalt.

Dustin Houle walks. Johnny Davis to 2nd.

Dustin DeMuth strikes out swinging.

Clint Coulter strikes out swinging.

[TheCrew07]

Chiefs sink Rattlers late

Perrin strikes out nine over seven innings for Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/5/0/172610050/cuts/4_15_PlayerOfTheGame_fwglj4tz_twjg29de.png

Jon Perrin allowed three runs - two earned - walked none, and struck out nine over seven innings for the Timber Rattlers on Friday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis 10, Colorado Springs 9

 

Redbirds Outlast Sox 10-9 In Seesaw Battle

Redbirds rally late to spoil Sky Sox home opener

By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

Reminder, our affiliate summaries are linked, not copied, this year, please click above for the most complete report...

 

***

 

VIDEO via KOAA: Early game action -- and shivers...

 

***

 

PHOTO GALLERY at the link --

 

On opening night, Sky Sox's departure fails to inspire mass sorrow

David Ramsey, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

The Sky Sox, at least the Triple-A version of the Sky Sox, will almost certainly depart Colorado Springs before the 2019 season. For the next three years, we will watch The Lame Ducks.

 

Guess what?

 

I don't expect much of a change at Security Service Field. Attendance will remain steady. Colorado Springs residents will flock to watch fireworks and drink beers and gobble hot dogs.

 

Devout baseball fans will focus intensely on the action on the field. Everyone else will focus intensely on the beers and hot dogs in their hands.

 

Miserable weather was predicted for Friday's home opener, but an announced crowd of 2,997 (that looked more like a crowd of 1,500) braved wind and sprinkles to watch the Sky Sox play the Memphis Redbirds.

 

No protest banners were raised to express anger about the Sky Sox's probable move. No banners were raised to beg Sky Sox leaders to forsake San Antonio and remain in the Pikes Peak Region. No banners were raised, period.

 

It was an opening night like any opening night. Notice, there's no decibel meter at Security Service Field. It's a soothing destination, not a loud, pulse-raising one.

 

Crowds will be small on cold nights in the spring, but once the warmth of summer arrives, the masses will return. Security Service Field is not a good place to look at the mountains. It is a good place to bring the family. The stadium is depressingly unambitious, but it's cozy, and there's plenty of parking.

 

For most fans, the connection with the Sky Sox is thin. For many, baseball is secondary to the weather and food.

 

I know there are pockets of sorrow. A few hundred Sky Sox fans are struggling with disappointment and bewilderment as they consider a future without Triple-A baseball. Their connection with Triple-A baseball is deep.

 

These devoted fans are the exception.

 

It's tough for Triple-A baseball to place deep hooks in the hearts of fans. The roster constantly changes, making it difficult to connect to players. The best players get called up to the big leagues at the worst possible times.

 

And then there's the dreaded "D" word. Yes, development. When a Triple-A team is losing, managers tend to stare off into the distance and talk about development. Development, not winning, is paramount in Triple-A.

 

The Sky Sox's departure failed to ignite an uproar. The move to San Antonio became a popular conversation topic. It did not inspire mass despair.

 

A backlash is not on the horizon at Security Service this summer.

 

***

 

Sky Sox fall in home opener that includes all the negatives of high-altitude baseball

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

This opening day should have come with a spoiler alert.

 

Playing their first home game of the season, the Sky Sox along with help from Memphis tipped their hand to everything that figures to be seen over the coming 71 gatherings at Security Service Field.

 

The 10-9 Colorado Springs loss included 24 hits, nine extra-base hits, three errors, a run that scored on a defensive interference and appearances from nine pitchers who issued 13 walks.

 

It took 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete, saw five lead changes and four half-innings with at least three runs crossing the plate. It featured miserably frigid, windy conditions and was seen, at the end, by a few dozen fans.

 

There were also three wild pitches and two passed balls. But then again, with pitchers uncorking a total of 380 deliveries, a few were bound to get away.

 

If anyone didn't know what baseball in Colorado Springs is often like, the big reveal came Friday night. And, of course, much of this is the reason that perhaps only two more opening days in this city will fall in this month as the team hopes to move to San Antonio in 2019 and bring in its place a short-season team that doesn't start each year until mid-June.

 

Yes, warts and all, this was baseball at 6,531 feet.

 

The Sky Sox built a 5-3 lead after five innings, stormed back from a 7-5 hole in the seventh, only to see the Redbirds tie it in the top of the eighth.

 

Memphis won it on a two-out single from Matt Williams in the ninth that scored Mike Ohlman.

 

One storyline Colorado Springs and the Milwaukee Brewers would like to see repeated was the performance of shortstop Orlando Arcia. The organization's top prospect went 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs. He hit a pair of line drive sacrifice flies and the only time he was retired in a traditional manner came on a roped smash to third base.

 

Arcia also started an unconventional 6-3-5 double play with his strong throw on the run came fast enough for first baseman Andy Wilkins to throw across the diamond for the second out.

 

No. 2 Brewers prospect Jorge Lopez picked up a no-decision in his first start at this altitude. He gave up three runs on five hits in 42/3 innings.

 

***

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

CF (yes, CF, as noted earlier) Michael Reed was 1-for-4 with a walk...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog includes postgame audio interviews

 

Tucker Neuhaus is the pregame interview.

 

From the earlier game summary you read --

 

Peoria (4-4) got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth inning against Wisconsin starting pitcher Jon Perrin. The Rattler right-hander retired the first nine batters he faced in the game, but gave up four straight hits to start the fourth. Eliezer Alvarez singled and stole second to lead-off the inning. Rattlers second baseman Tucker Neuhaus was covering second on the play. He went backhand the throw on the third base side of the bag and there appeared to be contact between the helmet of Alvarez and the throwing hand of Neuhaus. Neuhaus left the game with an injury to his right hand and Luis Aviles replaced him on the field.

 

No video of the injury here, but Manager Matt Erickson indicated it's a likely finger fracture, Neuhaus will be out for a while, darn --

 

[Mass Haas]

PHOTO GALLERY: Images from the Jackie Robinson baseball game at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, a few Manatee shots included

[Mass Haas]

Wet field conditions postpone Shuckers, BayBears again Friday

Clubs scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 5:05 pm

 

Series now shortened, read details at the link...

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: The MyNew32 TV Wisconsin game highlights

[Eye Black]

PHOTO GALLERY: Images from the Jackie Robinson baseball game at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, a few Manatee shots included

A couple of nice shots of Fidel Pena playing 1B (catcher is his primary position this season). The significance of Pena playing 1B is that over the past calendar year he has now played games at every defensive position outside of the mound. Here's the breakdown of games played by position over the past year: LF (31), CF (4), RF (1), 3B (20), SS (1), 2B (30), 1B (1), C (4)