Link Report for Wednesday 4/20

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Junior Guerra and LHP Brent Suter in a doubleheader at home vs. Nashville (Athletics), 11:30 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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.

 

**********

 

Biloxi: RHP Drew Gagnon at home vs. Pensacola (Reds), 10:20 AM pre-game, 10:40 gametime

 

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.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Eric Hanhold at Lakeland (Tigers), 5:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry folks, there is no audio available for this series.

 

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.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Jon Perrin at home vs. Quad Cities (Astros), 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]

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

 

Colorado Springs Game One

 

Colorado Springs Game Two

 

Biloxi

 

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

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Lakeland, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

[WV Brew]

Garrett Cooper in RF today. That's an interesting development.

 

But Tyrone Taylor in center better be prepared to run today between Roache and Cooper.

[MrTPlush]

Victor has been on fire the past two days...6/8 at the plate.

[Mass Haas]

More later, including the video --

 

Down 4-2 entering the final frame in Game One:

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Angel Castro replaces Tucker Healy.

Eric Young Jr. singles on a ground ball to shortstop Chad Pinder.

Keon Broxton doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Olson. Eric Young Jr. to 3rd.

Orlando Arcia homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Eric Young Jr. scores. Keon Broxton scores.

[shanedog19]

Don't look now but Victor Roache is on an absolute tear.

[FVBrewerFan]

Another guy on fire nobody is talking about... Garin Cecchini. Not much power yet, but like Roache maybe that comes next.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Biloxi 5, Pensacola 2

 

Sellout crowd of 6,098 sees Shuckers win third-straight

Victor Roache continues hot streak as Shuckers win third-straight series

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/7/2/173449272/cuts/2Q5A0220_oc5v3l2g_48dl28vs.JPG

 

Victor Roache is 6-for-8 over his last two games and leads the league with six doubles. (Photo by Michael Krebs)

 

***

 

Biloxi holds off Pensacola 5-2 before season's largest crowd

Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

BILOXI - Closer Jaye Chapman is still unhittable and the Shuckers' pitching staff again showed its depth on Wednesday.

 

Hobbs Johnson and Chapman quelled Pensacola's attempt at a ninth-inning rally as Biloxi earned a 5-2 win before a large crowd of local students at MGM Park.

 

Chapman picked up his sixth save of the season by striking out the only batter he faced, Alex Blandino, with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth.

 

Chapman has retired all 19 batters he has faced this season.

 

"That's why he's the stopper," Shuckers manager Mike Guerrero said. "We have confidence in his ability to throw strikes. He's commanding his secondary pitches and he's attacking the strike zone. You've got to tip your hat to him for what he's been doing. He's been pretty solid for our bullpen."

 

The Shuckers (10-3) have won three straight games to take first place in the Southern League South, holding a 1 ½-game lead on second-place Pensacola (9-5).

 

Drew Gagnon, who made his first start of the season, was solid in a scoreless 4 1/3-inning outing. He allowed one hit, three walks and struck out five.

 

Gagnon, who threw 72 pitches, has yet to allow a run in 10 1/3 innings this season.

 

"He threw the ball outstanding," Guerrero said. "We planned a spot start for him. Our bullpen has been pretty good. We've used them a lot the last five days. They've done a pretty good job."

 

Steve Peterson (3-0), Gagnon's replacement with two out in the fifth, picked up his third win of the season out of the bullpen. He threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit, walking none and striking out two.

 

Peterson has also yet to allow a run this season in 7 2/3 innings.

 

The Shuckers announced a sell-out crowd of 6,098 on Education Day as busloads of kids from area schools made their way to MGM Park for the 10:40 a.m. first pitch. The crowd was the second largest in the stadium's two-year history.

 

Biloxi outfielder Victor Roache continues to warm up at the plate with a 3-for-4 day on Wednesday. He had a pair of doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.

 

The former Georgia Southern star has six hits in his last eight at-bats with three runs scored, increasing his batting average to .333 after a slow start to the season.

 

"It's just me and (hitting coach Sandy Guerrero) working everyday," Roache said. "I've just been working on putting myself in the best position to put the bat on the ball. I'm starting to feel comfortable up there and hopefully I can just keep rolling."

 

The Shuckers took a 2-0 lead in the second when Chris McFarland's infield RBI single scored Brandon Macias, who started things off with a one-out single, and Rene Garcia pushed across Roache, who reached on a one-out double, on a groundout.

 

Nick Shaw added an RBI double in the fifth inning to make it 3-0.

 

In the eighth inning, Roache came up with an RBI double and Garcia knocked in his second run of the game on a single.

 

Shuckers reliever Martin Viramontes loaded the bases with none out in the top of the ninth, but Johnson and Chapman combined to hold the Wahoos to a pair of runs.

 

The Shuckers will go with left-hander Wei-Chung Wang (1-0, 2.45) as the starting pitcher in Thursday's 6:40 p.m. game at MGM Park. Pensacola will counter with right-hander Rookie Davis (2-0, 0.82).

 

***

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Between the formal game summary from the team and the newspaper write-up with its quotes, nearly all you need to know.

 

I was bemoaning on Twitter today that Baseball Reference doesn't track "inherited runners / scored" information on the minor league level; it's one of the first lines in a box score I gravitate to.

 

My fellow Massachusetts resident Stephen Peterson (he became "Steve" upon the Biloxi assignment?) has been money with his 0.00 ERA, although unlike this game, he did allow a couple of inherited runners to score last time out. The non-drafted LHP deserves a reward just for toiling for three consecutive full seasons at Brevard. And it speaks to his character that the Brewers continue to stick with him, it'd be a great story if there's a big league connection awaiting the 28-year-old.

 

Nate Orf (he was always Nathan until reaching Biloxi last year, they're mighty friendly down there) reached base twice in three plate appearances (nothing new there), and has now been HBP 47 times in 306 pro games.

 

Biloxi Game Log

[WV Brew]

Welcome to Colorado Springs Brooks Hall! 10 HR last year, gave up 3 in an inning and 1/3 today.

[Mass Haas]

Sneaking in one more Biloxi highlight from Tuesday's game --

 

[Mass Haas]

More later, including the video --

 

Down 4-2 entering the final frame in Game One:

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Angel Castro replaces Tucker Healy.

Eric Young Jr. singles on a ground ball to shortstop Chad Pinder.

Keon Broxton doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Olson. Eric Young Jr. to 3rd.

Orlando Arcia homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Eric Young Jr. scores. Keon Broxton scores.

 

As promised --

 

[trwi7]

That pitcher for Nashville makes Bartolo Colon look thin and athletic.

[Jenkins5]

As we all know Roache very well could be a Khris Davis, Nelson Cruz type bat. Before his serious wrist injury, most thought he was a Top 5, lock in Top 10 talent. Some guys take a little longer to fully click but his bat has a lot to offer if he can keep improving. In today's baseball, his power is something that is in demand.

[brewmann04]

Young I think Roache can be another big bat as his wrist continues to get full motion.

[brewmann04]

Another guy on fire nobody is talking about... Garin Cecchini. Not much power yet, but like Roache maybe that comes next.

well if Hill continues to struggle like he is not sure it not a bad idea bringing Cecchini up it not like Hill is putting up power numbers. One question is how is Cecchini defense

[Mass Haas]

[ctmyers]

Is there something going on with Barnes? Looks like Hall got hung out to dry.

[brewmann04]

Another guy on fire nobody is talking about... Garin Cecchini. Not much power yet, but like Roache maybe that comes next.

well if Hill continues to struggle like he is not sure it not a bad idea bringing Cecchini up it not like Hill is putting up power numbers. One question is how is Cecchini defense

guess hill read my post

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers Drop Late Decision to River Bandits

Quad Cities scores three runs in eighth for a 5-2 win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Rattler Radio Postgame - Includes pre-game audio interview with Manager Matt Erickson

 

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Chris pointed out during the broadcast that Max McDowell has thrown out 50% of baserunners so far this year, including 2 tonight.

 

This game was quite a bit of fun until the 8th, David Lucroy joins Conor Harber in alternating good and bad outings.

 

Luis Aviles has quietly had a nice start to the season through his first 8 games, batting .308 after tonight's (2-3) effort.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

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.

 

Link also includes brief video interview with Chris --

 

Announcer Chris Harris knows what most people don't about Biloxi Shuckers

Mary Perez, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/4k0tak/picture72995322/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/0421_bisp_chris%20harris%2001.jpg

 

Biloxi Shuckers announcer Chris Harris called his 1,001st game Wednesday. Photo by Tim Isbell, Sun-Herald

 

Oh, the facts and trivia Chris Harris tossed out with every pitch as he announced his 1,001st game Wednesday on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network.

 

"The top two teams in the Southern League are duking it out here," he told fans. The Shuckers won 4-3 Tuesday night to take a half-game lead on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the teams were back Wednesday morning playing, Harris said, "before 4,000 school kids from more than 30 schools."

 

MGM Park was filled to capacity. Kids' cheers could be heard through an open window as he gave a play-by-play account from the press box directly behind home plate.

 

During breaks between innings, Harris returns to his everyday voice.

 

As a kid, he turned down the TV when he watched baseball games on so he could announce over them. Now he alters his diction on air to speak more clearly and protect the voice that has to carry him through 140 games.

 

He played baseball in high school and college, but when he realized he wouldn't make it to the bigs, "I figured out a way to stay in the game."

 

He was hired in 2015 as the voice of the Shuckers but wears lots of other hats, handling public relations, media relations, the team website and writing a preview and recap of every game. The time on air, "that's my easiest three hours of the day."

 

"The thing I'm most proud of is I never missed a game," he said. He started in Jackson, Tenn., in 2009 and didn't keep count until someone in the Shuckers office asked him for a tally.

 

"You do 140 games every year, you don't even think about it," he said.

 

He is an encyclopedia of Shuckers knowledge and does all his own research, keeping track of batting averages, the weather, and trivia even the most ardent Shuckers fan wouldn't know.

 

The 10:40 a.m. game start Wednesday was the earliest ever for the Shuckers.

 

"Every team in the league is doing a school day today," he said. "This is a Minor League Baseball tradition."

 

About 90 Gautier Elementary second-graders were in the stands. Few of them have seen the Shuckers play, said their teacher, Kelsey Hardy. "Most of them have never been to a baseball game in general," she said.

 

The field trip teaches students respect, game fundamentals and teamwork, she said during her first game of the day. "My husband and I will be back tonight."

 

Tim Bennett, Shuckers co-owner, said it's good to see MGM Park hosting school kids in the morning and college at night.

 

More group promotions are on the way, he said, to let Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, communities and other groups see a game.

 

On Thursday, the first 1,000 people in the gate will get a Shuckers cap courtesy of Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency. It's also the first Double Play Thursday, with $2 hot dogs and soft drinks and $2 off select draft beer and reserved tickets.

 

Those who can't make it to the game can be there as Harris calls his 1,002nd game on 1240 AM, 100.9 FM and other radio stations.

[Mass Haas]

Milwaukee's big-league struggles strengthen Triple-A roster in Colorado Springs

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Free agency in baseball is most often associated with mega-contracts, but there's another benefit to players owning the right to choose their destinations.

 

And that's what's led so many still-young veterans to the Sky Sox.

 

Will Middlebrooks, Alex Presley and Eric Young Jr. each signed with Milwaukee as free agents this past offseason, knowing their chances to earn big league time - and the chance to revamp their reputations - would be particularly strong with the struggling Brewers.

 

They entered Wednesday in last place in the NL Central and with a minus-31 run differential that is tied with Philadelphia for the worst in baseball. When a team like this gives up on a struggling player, loses someone to injury or sells parts to contenders, its reinforcements come from Triple-A and are often players like Middlebrooks, Presley and Young.

 

"I was just looking for opportunity and the best fit," said Young, who first reached the majors by way of Colorado Springs when he debuted with the Rockies in 2009. "Right now the big club is kind of in flux, kind of moving people in and out."

 

Young, 30, played parts of the past seven years in the major leagues, leading the NL in stolen bases in 2013, and logged 557 big-league games. But now he's trying to earn his way back.

 

That Middlebrooks, 27, finds himself in this position is the most surprising of the three. He hit 15 home runs in 75 games in his rookie season in 2012, then started the first eight games for Boston in the 2013 postseason as it captured the World Series title.

 

But he's hit .213 over the past three seasons, was traded to San Diego after the 2014 season and signed with Milwaukee as a free agent in December. He started the current homestand on the disabled list after going 2 for 13 on a season-opening road trip.

 

Presley, 30, has bounced between Triple-A and the major leagues each season since 2010 before signing with Milwaukee in December.

 

"I obviously signed with all intentions of making the team, but I knew this was a possibility," he said. "I'll play it out and see what happens."

 

Supporting a struggling major-league team isn't new for Colorado Springs.

 

Over the past five years the Sky Sox's parent clubs are a combined 120 games under .500 and finished an average of 26 games behind the division champion.

 

The last time Colorado Springs supported a playoff team came in 2009, and the Sky Sox roster reflected that. Veterans like Adam Eaton, Mike Timlin, Juan Rincon and Jason Giambi entered the fray as free agents midway through that summer, with each but Timlin making their way to Denver to help the Rockies to a postseason berth as a wild card.

 

So, Triple-A affiliates of contenders add veteran free agents as the season progresses, while those supporting bottom-tier teams open the year with those players.

 

The biggest reported salary of Young's career was $1.85 million in 2014, which is only a fraction of what players earn on the top end of the scale. For someone like him, perhaps the greatest value to free agency is the freedom to find the best place to stay in the game and accrue more big-league service time. If Young's attempt to make that happen with Milwaukee doesn't work out, he has an opt-out in his clause after a certain date to again test free agency this year.

 

"Right now," Young said, "the best thing for me is to go out there, have fun and do what I'm capable of doing."

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Colorado Springs 5, Nashville 4

Final, Game Two: Nashville 8, Colorado Springs 1

 

Sky Sox Split Twin Bill With Sounds

Arcia hits walk-off homer in game one, but Nashville bats awaken in game two to earn split

By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/0/6/173489406/cuts/Arcia_walkoff14_u6beulaq_1x9db23j.jpg

 

Orlando Arcia's walk off home run gave the Sky Sox a victory in game one of their doubleheader against Nashville on Wednesday. (Paat Kelly photo)

 

***

 

Colorado Springs Game One Box Score

 

83 pitches, 49 strikes for RHP Junior Guerra; Garin Cecchini singled twice and walked, reaching in each of his Game One appearances...

 

Colorado Springs Game One Game Log

 

***

 

Colorado Springs Game Two Box Score

 

Last year at this time, RHP Brooks Hall was enjoying a stellar first month with Biloxi; Ariel Pena likely indicated he'd accept his outright assignment if he was placed in a starting role, fine initial outing here...

 

Colorado Springs Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakeland 5, Brevard County 2

 

Lakeland hits two homers in 5-2 win over Manatees

Donald Rieber, Jr., Manatees Examiner

 

***

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Manatee pitchers walked only one while fanning nine; Clint Coulter's OPS is .519, sigh; the Sea Cows' team OPS of .593 is last in the league...

 

Brevard County Game Log