Link Report for Tuesday 6/21

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

 

Southern League All-Star Game

 

Midwest League All-Star Game

[Mass Haas]

With Maryvale going live Monday, I'd like to place a callout to any past or never-before Link Reporters to assist here. It does not have to be every night, even occasionally will help.

 

The DSL kids (normally available in the early evening), Colorado Springs (even if you take just their Central Time Zone road games), and Helena are all up for grabs.

 

Thanks to any and all willing to jump in.

 

You can post your interest in this thread, send me a private note via the forum's messaging system here, or email me at jgoulart "at" brewerfan.net.

 

Huge thanks to Seth and Daron for all their current efforts.

 

-- Jim

 

Glad I was able to catch up for the most part at lunch today, but this is always a concern when all seven affiliates begin play.

 

Pretty much, I can't wake up each morning and hope to knock out AAA, the two rookie clubs, and the DSL each AM before heading out the door to work.

 

I'm pretty sure we have enough folks out there that could do a fine job -- for instance, the Sky Sox post a detailed write-up each night, which makes posting on them a breeze. And the DSL boxes are posting earlier than ever now, often by suppertime, so if someone wants to take a crack with them -- hey, you'll always have their Sundays off .

 

Reporting on the two stateside rookie clubs can be challenging based on timing and familiarity, I can continue with those two.

 

Keep me posted, thanks.

[WV Brew]

The DSL Brewers were rained out today.

[Mass Haas]

Shuckers begin search for 2nd half title

by Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

PHOTOS of SS Gabriel Noriega and LHP Stephen Peterson at the link

 

Biloxi will have to replace of ace Josh Hader

Hader, Jaye Chapman both at Triple-A Colorado Springs

Jacob Nottingham, others should have best hitting ahead of them

 

The first half of the season came to a close Sunday with no Southern League South title for the Biloxi Shuckers, but the first 69 games of the season proved to be a nice run.

 

Pensacola (41-29) edged the Shuckers (39-30) by 1 ½ games for the first half title in the South, putting Biloxi in a position where it will either need to win the second half title or finish second to Pensacola in the second half standings to reach the playoffs.

 

Biloxi won the first-half title a year ago despite spending the first 54 games of the season on the road, taking the pressure off for the final 70 games of the season. This time, the Shuckers will have to earn a spot in the postseason without their best starting pitcher and closer from the first half of the season.

 

Left-handed ace Josh Hader and right-handed reliever Jaye Chapman are both at Triple-A Colorado Springs after dominating the Southern League in the first half of the season. The numbers were stunning for the two men at the Double-A level this season when you consider they combined to allow just six earned runs in 68.1 innings.

 

Chapman didn't allow a single run in 12 appears for Biloxi this season, going 1-0 with 0.00 ERA. He has been at Colorado Springs since May 4, but his 10 saves are still good enough to rank third in the Southern League. The only pitchers with more saves than Chapman in the Southern League are Pensacola's Alejandro Chasin and Chattanooga's Trevor Hildenberger, who both have 11 saves.

 

Chapman hasn't had nearly as much luck this season at Triple-A, going 4-1 with a 6.41 ERA in 17 appearances for the Sky Sox.

 

Hader proved to be the hardest starting pitcher to hit in the Southern League in the first half of the season, allowing just 38 hits in 57 innings. He struck out 73 batters and walked 19. He had a hard time factoring into decisions, but finished 2-1 with a sparkling ERA of 0.95.

 

The lefty has two starts so far at Triple-A and is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 15 and walking seven.

 

There's no clear replacement for Hader as the Shuckers' starting ace, but the bullpen appears to be just fine without Chapman. Right-hander Daniel Tillman had an impressive close to the first half and is 3-0 with a 0.46 ERA and six saves. Stephen Kohlscheen also proved adequate in the closer role with six saves and a 2.70 ERA in 22 appearances.

 

The good news for the Shuckers is that some of their hitters' better days are likely still ahead of them this season.

 

Catcher Jacob Nottingham went from .159 through the first 18 games to .255 with seven homers and 21 RBIs at the end of the first half.

 

Nick Ramirez (.212), Brandon Macias (.198), Chris McFarland (.188), Javier Betancourt (.215) and Tyrone Taylor (.217) are almost sure to improve on their numbers at the plate in the second half of the season.

 

Hader will be missed, but the Shuckers likely have enough to contend in the second half.

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in our Helena / Maryvale thread for archiving purposes --

 

From PDX to Pioneer

College teammates, friends reunite in Brewers organization

Story and photo by Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record

[Mass Haas]

Via the Sky Sox Blog --

 

Garcia Filling In Well Behind Plate

By Aaron Cheris

 

 

Rene Garcia has performed well in his first week in Colorado Springs. (Paat Kelly photo)

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Report on new Helena Brewers' broadcaster Craig Durham

[Mass Haas]

Att: 2,007.

 

That was Helena's attendance for Monday's game wow, impressive.

 

Plenty of Opening Night photos at the link to this story, as early crowds have been impressive --

 

Helena Brewers break game attendance record

[Mass Haas]

DSL PHOTOS!:

 

Not captioned, and no uniform numbers we can go by (turn around guys!), looks like the Rockies have the white pants and the Brewers gray, so of the home-and-home series, these shots look to be from Thursday's game, a 10-5 Rockies win should you wish to try and identify a few.

 

Smiles & Dreams --

 

http://www.dominicansummerleague.com/www/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/MILWAUKEE%20BREWERS%20vs%20COLORADO%20ROCKIES/ILC_6170.JPG

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Sky Sox Saturday pre-game with LHP Josh Hader

 

Highly recommended, both the interview and Hader, of course...

 

Laid-back left-hander Josh Hader on the fast track for Colorado Springs Sky Sox

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Josh Hader looks more like a surfer than baseball player, and that appearance is only exaggerated when he starts talking in a slow, laid-back cadence.

 

It's that personality that helps shield Hader from the pressures of the game and has the new Sky Sox lefty riding a wave that could soon land him in the major leagues.

 

"I don't think anything fazes him," Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet said. "He's got that carefree attitude. He's a good competitor, but he has that carefree attitude where pressure is not really part of his game."

 

Hader, 22, earned a promotion to Triple-A early this month after dominating in Double-A with a 0.95 ERA through 11 starts. He struck out 88 in 69 innings.

 

In two starts with the Sky Sox he has given up four runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts.

 

MLB.com lists Hader as the No. 4 prospect in Milwaukee's organization and No. 61 in all of baseball, but those rankings were established before this season and before Hader made adjustments that have helped him turn a corner.

 

Hader said his laid-back attitude helps him focus, and he turned that focus this year toward refining his change-up and slider to better complement a mid-90s fastball that, when delivered from his lanky 6-foot-3 frame has drawn comparisons to Chris Sale.

 

"It was good to see the numbers, you can see your hard work is paying off," said Hader, who rocks back and forth on the mound before firing pitches from a three-quarters arm angle. "But it's one of those things that you've just got to keep going with that flow."

 

If Hader were the type to be easily rattled, there has been plenty in his career that could have already gotten to him. The Maryland native was drafted by the nearby Orioles out of high school, but has since been traded twice in deals to Houston for Bud Norris and to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez. He's played for 11 teams in a professional career that has not yet spanned five full seasons.

 

Now comes the chance to pitch in the highest professional park in the nation, which has a reputation for its cruelty to pitchers' numbers and for testing everybody's lung capacity.

 

"It got me my first two innings. It was something to get used to. My first two innings I was gassed. You've got to really focus on your breathing," Hader said. "But as far as the altitude, if it just happens that a fly ball goes out, you can't really control it. I'm not going to worry about it.

 

"You can't put too much pressure on yourself. You've already got to worry about executing the pitch, so if you just put too much pressure on you that's when you're going to worry about things you can't control and you're going to make mistakes. That's the thing for me, I mean, it's a kids' game."

[Mass Haas]

No Tuesday farmhand birthdays, but in yesterday's mad dash, we missed Monday birthdays for:

 

Biloxi RHP Jorge Ortega, 23

 

Rehabbing OF Rymer Liriano turned 25

[Mass Haas]

Love the indy-ball-back-to-affiliated ball stories for former Milwaukee farmhands --

 

RED SOX PICK UP RAILCATS INF JOSE SERMO

 

Baseball Reference

[Mass Haas]

Like so many others, little surprise here from Biloxi --

 

VIDEO via WLOX: The figures are in: MGM Park's financial impact on Biloxi

[Mass Haas]

As posted in our David Denson thread tonight, this from the All-Star Game locale

[Mass Haas]

Speaking of alumni, how about RHP Dustin Molleken?

 

13 long years rewarded...

[Mass Haas]

On the other side of the alumni news, Cutter Dykstra was released after a long run in the Nationals' system.

[And That]

Carlos Herrera, he of the Lind trade, is making is Brewers organizational debut as the Baby Brewers' starting pitcher.

 

He's being caught by Payton Henry, the Brewers' 6th round pick making his pro debut.

 

37th round pick and Puerto Rican native Jomar Cortes also making his pro debut in Arizona, manning short (all 6'3 of him - and he's 17).

 

Also of note, Ignacio Otano DH'd yesterday and is playing left field today. He played shortstop in the DSL last year, but had quite a few fielding issues there.

[markedman5]

18-year old Carlos Herrera, who was acquired in the Adam Lind trade, got the start for the #AZLBrewers tonight:

 

4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

[TheCrew07]

Midwest League All-Star Game: East 11, West (Brewers) 10.

 

Most of the Rattlers contributed offensively except for David Denson (0-2) and Mitch Ghelfi (0-2). Unfortunately Isan Diaz (0-2,BB) and Jake Gatewood (1-3) also contributed errors that directly led to runs. Most of those contributions came early as the West built a 8-1 lead which wouldn't hold up. Max McDowell (1-2,BB) was superb once again at the plate but went 0-3 against would be base stealers working with unfamiliar pitchers.

 

Freddy Peralta pitched a clean 8th:

 

MID East All-Stars Top of the 8th

• Pitching Change: Freddy Peralta replaces Boomer Biegalski II.
  Willi Castro grounds out, second baseman Eliezer Alvarez to first baseman Mitch Ghelfi.
  Michael Russell strikes out swinging.
  Kevin Padlo grounds out, third baseman Logan Taylor to first baseman Mitch Ghelfi

.

 

Marcus Diplan started slow in the 9th, the inning which ultimately undid the West:

 

MID East All-Stars Top of the 9th

• Pitching Change: Marcos Diplan replaces Freddy Peralta.
  David Gonzalez singles on a fly ball to center fielder Magneuris Sierra.
  Donnie Dewees singles on a line drive to center fielder Magneuris Sierra. David Gonzalez to 2nd.
  Brett Sullivan grounds out to first baseman Mitch Ghelfi. David Gonzalez to 3rd. Donnie Dewees to 2nd.
  Pitching Change: Darin Gillies replaces Marcos Diplan.
  Eloy Jimenez homers (1) on a fly ball to center field. David Gonzalez scores. Donnie Dewees scores.
  Austin Allen flies out to right fielder Jared Foster.
  Andrew Guillotte singles on a line drive to right fielder Jared Foster.
  With Willi Castro batting, wild pitch by Darin Gillies, Andrew Guillotte to 2nd.
  Willi Castro singles on a line drive to right fielder Jared Foster. Andrew Guillotte scores.
  Michael Russell flies out to center fielder Magneuris Sierra.

 

West All-Star Boxscore

 

West All-Star Recap

[TheCrew07]

Southern League All-Star Game: South (Brewers) 5, North 1

 

Brett Phillips (1-3) batted lead off and had a nice game scoring a run, Garrett Cooper (1-4) singled in his first AB but came up empty after, and Jacob Nottingham (0-2) went hitless in a limited opportunity.

 

Former Brewer prospect Anthony Banda was the South starter in the game and pitched well, as did Barrett Astin who actually picked up the win.

 

Stephen Peterson pitched a clean 7th:

 

SOU North All-Stars Top of the 7th

• Pitching Change: Stephen Peterson replaces Jimmie Sherfy.
  Kean Wong flies out to left fielder Austin Dean.
  Travis Harrison flies out to right fielder Phillip Ervin.
  Jake Peter flies out to right fielder Phillip Ervin.

 

South All-Star Boxscore

 

South All-Star Recap

[Mass Haas]

Darn, it says something that they held back Peralta and Diplan for the final two innings. Bummer for Diplan and the squad. What a game.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball Prospectus report on Timber Rattler RHP Miguel Diaz

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Monday's Sky Sox pregame: RH reliever David Goforth

[Eye Black]

Final: Dunedin 6, Brevard County 0

 

Dunedin hurlers overpower Manatees in 6-0 win

By Donald Rieber, Jr., Manatees Examiner

 

***

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Returning to the mound for the first time since June 10th it was a forgettable 4.0 inning start for Eric Hanhold as he gave up 11 hits and 5 runs. Zach Hirsch and Kaleb Earls did combine to allow just 2 hits and 1 run over the final 4.0 innings while also recording 6 strikeouts.

 

The day after a 4 hit effort the BC bats mustered just 3 hits. The only extra base hit was a double from catcher Dustin Houle.

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Manatees look to turn things around tomorrow morning with Kodi Medeiros on the hill.