Link Report for Sunday 4/9

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 2:00 PM pre-game, 2:30 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him again 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 Luis Ortiz at Montgomery (Rays), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 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. Erik Bremer (@Erik_Bremer) 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. Only games in Chattanooga and Mobile won't be available.

 

**********

 

Carolina: RHP Cody Ponce at Frederick (Orioles), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We look forward to Mudcats audio with Greg Young (@gregyoungjr), especially after going without gameday audio for much of the Brewers' stay in Brevard County.

 

MiLB.TV - Yes, Carolina home games will be on MiLB.TV, sweet. It appears three other Carolina League teams (Salem, Myrtle Beach, and Winston-Salem) broadcast as well.

 

No TV for this opening series in Frederick .

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: LHP Cam Roegner at home vs. Quad Cities (Astros), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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. We'll let you know when a road TV feed is available.

 

In 2017, fifteen games will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports in Wisconsin, available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332. We'll keep you posted with our "DVR Alerts" days in advance.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

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

 

Carolina Media Notes - Linked on the Mudcats official 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 - Carolina League Southern Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Montgomery, AL

 

Frederick, MD

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattler DVR Alert --

 

MON. 4/10 vs. Burlington, 7:00 PM

 

Spectrum Sports are available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332 in Eastern Wisconsin

[Eye Black]

A Link Report Sunday afternoon with both Luis Ortiz and Cody Ponce on the mound... so happy to have baseball back!

[homer]

After 2 games and 2 innings, Gatewood already has roughly 28% of his walk total from all of 2016.

Edit:

After 2 games and 5 innings, Gatewood already has roughly 33% of his walk total from all of 2016.

[Jenkins5]

Seeing box scores with Gatewood every day may be my favorite thing! Also when do we start taking Aviles serious as a prospect? He is really do his best to force us to.

[And That]

I would give it much more than three games before seriously reconsidering anyone's prospect status. That said, it's nice to see a great performance over a three game period from guy who was overshadowed by most of the rest of the lineup going into the season.

[FVBrewerFan]

Seeing box scores with Gatewood every day may be my favorite thing! Also when do we start taking Aviles serious as a prospect? He is really do his best to force us to.

 

.661 last year, and wasn't young for low A ball. He has a shot, but doesn't dream prospect to me.

[Jenkins5]

Seeing box scores with Gatewood every day may be my favorite thing! Also when do we start taking Aviles serious as a prospect? He is really do his best to force us to.

 

.661 last year, and wasn't young for low A ball. He has a shot, but doesn't dream prospect to me.

 

? Since when is 20 not young for MWL? He has has moments in Helena & last year were he has been fantastic. His number one issue has always been contact & lack of walks. Approach & long swing have been an issue. He has all the potential. He has been considered very boom or bust since drafted due to how raw he is. A lot of guys like him take little longer to develop. If this spring & start is really due to changes he's made to approach & swing & he can sustain walks and making contact.... he could bounce back as a prospect. He will be 21 all season in A+.... that's not bad at all prospect status.

[reillymcshane]

Sky Sox Drop Series Finale

Cooper grabs team lead in RBIs in 8-3 defeat.

By Robby Veronesi / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

With two RBIs in Sunday's loss to Omaha, first baseman Garrett Cooper took the team lead with 6 runs batted in. (Photo: Paat Kelly)

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

The Sky Sox lost their first game of the season, falling to Omaha 8-3 in the series finale. Colorado Springs is now 3-1.

 

Sunday’s game was a struggle offensively and defensively as players battled high winds all afternoon.

 

Hiram Burgos - who took the lose - was knocked around for eight hits and four runs in only 3.1 innings. Burgos and reliever Stephen Kolsheen each surrendered a home run. Wei-Chung Wang and Rob Scahill produced a scoreless 8th and 9th inning, respectively.

 

The Sky Sox bats managed only five hits. Kyle Wren (1-2, 2BB), Nate Orf (1-3, BB) and Garrett Cooper (1-4, 2B, 2RBI) were the top hitters. Cooper already has three doubles in the first four games of the year.

 

Former Sky Sox farmhand Garin Cecchini faced his old club as a member of the Storm Chasers. He went 1-9 in the series.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[WV Brew]

Ponce dominates Keys as Mudcats take series

The Mudcats clinched a season opening series victory on Sunday

 

 

Beautiful day in Frederick today with a beautiful result. Just about a perfect game from the Mudcats to take the opening series 2-1 in Frederick. Cody Ponce (4 H, 0 BB, 5 K) went 7 innings and was in command pretty much the whole way. The Mudcats were quite good defensively this whole series capped by a spectacular Arcia-like double play stared by Isan Diaz that pleased even the Keys fans. Hopefully, a replay of that play will exist somewhere in the bowels of the internet or you will have to take my word for it.

 

Wendell Rijo got the start at second base (1-3, BB, 1 R, 1 RBI) and got the scoring started with a 2 out RBI single. Trent Clark was 1-5 with a HR and put the ball at the fence at the 400 foot sign in his next at bat. He must have got some ribbing from the bench because he said "That's all I got" when he came back in the dugout. Luis Aviles (2-4, 2B, BB, RBI) was the DH today and had another strong game. Isan Diaz (3-4, BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB) with a strong game after struggling at the plate on Saturday. Jake Gatewood was 2-3 with 2 walks. Really the Keys were trying to work around him all series. Troy Stokes with 2 singles and a stolen base. The rest of the box score:

 

Carolina Box Score

 

Carolina Game Log

 

General comments since I attended all 3 games:

 

Jake Gatewood was really the best player on the field in this series. He made every defensive play and saved an error or two with his glove. Ever since he worked on his strike two hitting last year he has been a changed hitter. He seems to be more confident in letting pitches go early in the count knowing he can stay alive if the count goes to strike two. Every at bat you expected him to hammer the ball if it was over the plate.

 

Lucas Erceg was very good in the field making a few good stops. I think his swing was slightly off but I'm not too worried about it. He will come around.

 

Isan Diaz made several good plays in the field as well.

 

I'm not sure having 3 of the first 4 hitters left handed works that well. It seemed like the Keys were always going to bring in a LOOGY late in the game when that part of the order came up with the game on the line. When Ray gets back, it will be even worse.

 

The bullpen is somewhat of a question mark. I guess we'll see.

[And That]

River Bandits Outslug Wisconsin

Teams combine for eight home runs out of 31 hits

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

(Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

0-3.

 

1-0.

 

3-2.

 

11-18.

 

The fourth game was a different animal than the first three of the Rattlers' season. After a combined nine runs for Wisconsin and their opponents through the first 27 innings, 9 runs had been scored in this affair before there were two outs in the top of the fourth inning. The River Bandits jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the top of the 5th, but the Rattlers came all the way back and tied it at 10-10 after seven. However, the Wisconsin offense was just not able to keep up to the Quad Cities' withering offense and the team ultimately suffered a pythagorean-ruinous 11-18 loss.

 

The offense raised their team batting average by .039 points, a not-insignificant jump even four games into the season. Tucker Neuhaus was the best of the best, slugging two doubles and two home runs in five plate appearances, and pumping his OPS to an unsustainable but awesome 1.471 through 17 PAs. Demi Orimoloye (2-6, HR), Monte Harrison (2-5, HR), and Ryan Aguilar (2-5) each had multi hit games as well, and Ronnie Gideon, Gilbert Lara, Nate Rodriguez, and Jose Cuas all had a double. Yesterday's hero Mario Feliciano was the lone hitless Rattler, though he did get on base via walk and threw out the lone base stealing attempter.

 

Speaking of defense, the Rattlers fielders committed four errors after going two straight games without one. The guilty parties were Aguilar, Neuhaus, Lara, and Rodriguez. This was Lara's second error in four games, though I have been relatively impressed/surprised by his defense at short.

 

The pitching was a dumpster fire that was inflamed by the errors. 13 of the 18 runs were earned. If there was a silver lining, it was that 2017 3rd rounder Braden Webb made his long-awaited pro debut. If you want to look at the pitching lines of Webb, Cam Roegner, Dalton Brown, or Luke Barker... knock yourself out. I will treat this as a "if you don't have anything kind to say..." moment.

 

Wisconsin Log

 

The Rattlers came all the way back to tie it at 10, and then:

 

Quad Cities Top of the 8th

Randy Cesar singles on a line drive to left fielder Demi Orimoloye.

Anibal Sierra singles on a line drive to center fielder Monte Harrison. Randy Cesar to 2nd.

Carmen Benedetti singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Braden Webb. Randy Cesar to 3rd. Anibal Sierra to 2nd.

Daz Cameron called out on strikes.

Alexander De Goti singles on a ground ball to first baseman Ronnie Gideon, deflected by pitcher Braden Webb. Randy Cesar scores. Anibal Sierra to 3rd. Carmen Benedetti to 2nd.

Ronnie Dawson reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Anibal Sierra scores. Carmen Benedetti scores. Alexander De Goti to 3rd.

Chuckie Robinson reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Gilbert Lara. Alexander De Goti scores. Ronnie Dawson to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Luke Barker replaces Braden Webb.

With Stephen Wrenn batting, throwing error by Nathan Rodriguez on the pickoff attempt, Ronnie Dawson scores. Chuckie Robinson to 3rd.

Stephen Wrenn homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Chuckie Robinson scores.

Spencer Johnson singles on a line drive to left fielder Demi Orimoloye.

Randy Cesar strikes out swinging.

Anibal Sierra grounds out, third baseman Jose Cuas to first baseman Ronnie Gideon.

[LouisEly]

Noticed Daz Cameron leading off for Quad Cities. I remember how the Astros were praised for the pool juggling they did to sign him, but so far it hasn't been a great investment. Obviously still very young, but career .652 OPS.

 

Tucker Neuhaus and Cody Ponce with great games. Would be great to see those guys take a couple of steps forward this year.

[Eye Black]

Final: Montgomery 6, Biloxi 1

 

Biscuits hand Shuckers their first loss of 2017 on Sunday

Angel Ortega homered and collected a pair of hits in the loss

 

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Centerfielder Johnny Davis wasted no time in extending his hit streak as he bunted the first pitch of the game for an infield single.

 

It what was a fairly dismal effort for the Shuckers both offensively and defensively, but Angel Ortega stood out as a bright spot. He went 2-for-3 including a solo home run in what would prove to be the only offense for Biloxi. He also made a very nice defensive play at third base on what looked like it was going to be a sure bunt single for the Biscuits’ Andrew Velazquez in the first inning.

 

Although the results don’t look pretty on paper, I promise that Luis Ortiz outing wasn’t quite as bad as the stat line indicates. He finished being tagged with 7 hits and 5 runs through 4.0 innings. He was getting squared up at times as evidenced by allowing two home runs including one to a Montgomery player (Braxton Lee) who had never hit a home run as a professional in his previous 966 career at bats. Still, Ortiz's outing was also impacted by some atrocious defense behind him. Clint Coulter had a couple of tough luck plays including an easy fly ball to the warning track that Coulter lost in the sun and watched fall 10 feet to his right (scored a triple) as well as a ball that looked possibly playable, but fell in between Coulter and Davis in right-center. The 5th innings started with Ortiz’s outfield again letting him down as LF Michael Reed dove on a ball hit in front of him allowing what at worst should have been a single turn into a double and the next batter bunted for a single on a ball that Ortiz fielded, but lost the handle and had to double clutch. That proved to be the final pitch of the day for Ortiz. On a more positive note Ortiz did record 6 strikeouts and walked none.

 

The final two runs credited to Ortiz were hit off of Bubba Derby who was making his AA debut. Overall Derby had a relatively successful outing. After allowing the two inherited runners to score on a Justin Williams double Derby did not allow another hit over his 3.0 innings pitched.

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

Mauricio Dubon was removed from the game after batting in the top of the 6th. I did not hear an explanation given, but Ortega moved over to SS and replacement George Iskenderian did manage a base hit.

 

Biloxi Top of the 6th

Mauricio Dubon flies out to right fielder Justin Williams.

Michael Reed flies out to left fielder Granden Goetzman.

Victor Roache grounds out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to first baseman Joe McCarthy.

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 6th

Defensive Substitution: George Iskenderian replaces shortstop Mauricio Dubon, batting 2nd, playing third base.

Defensive switch from third base to shortstop for Angel Ortega.

[FVBrewerFan]

Seeing box scores with Gatewood every day may be my favorite thing! Also when do we start taking Aviles serious as a prospect? He is really do his best to force us to.

 

.661 last year, and wasn't young for low A ball. He has a shot, but doesn't dream prospect to me.

 

? Since when is 20 not young for MWL? He has has moments in Helena & last year were he has been fantastic. His number one issue has always been contact & lack of walks. Approach & long swing have been an issue. He has all the potential. He has been considered very boom or bust since drafted due to how raw he is. A lot of guys like him take little longer to develop. If this spring & start is really due to changes he's made to approach & swing & he can sustain walks and making contact.... he could bounce back as a prospect. He will be 21 all season in A+.... that's not bad at all prospect status.

 

Agreed, it's not like he's old for his level last yr, or this year. He's about right at avg. My point being, it's not like he was 18 in low A ball, which would have been a legit reason for hitting .661. At 20, not real encouraging. Yea, he has tools, they all do. There were games I saw where he was the best player on the field that day. It's just usually the Aviles, Reed, Allemond, etc. types usually never quite make it. But none of these guys are locked to make it or not, that's what makes it fun and interesting.

[Jenkins5]

22 is the mean age for Midwest League and 20 for entire season is still considered young. 23 for Carolina League. His OPS is killed by his inability to walk. It took him until July to reach 6 walks.... he has 5 in 3 games now. He simply had a terrible approach with two strikes. I remember watching him last year. I even told my six year old daughter every time he had two strikes, watch breaking ball outside...he'll chase and strike out. It was terrible.

 

Ahead in count .291 .374 .513 .887

Behind in count 183 .185 .303 .488

 

If he is fixing that as he appeared to be doing in spring and now, he can start to make big strides. At one time he was considered a lock top 10 pick. That potential is there still. Not to mention he is an outstanding defensive 1b. Like you said, this is what makes it fun. We all pick our favorites and he was my favorite boom or bust pick that year. He has been frustrating but I'm an optimist lol

[WV Brew]

opening day highlights from Hagerstown TV

 

Go to about the halfway mark for highlights to start. Nice catch by Troy Stokes and a hit by Luis Aviles included in this package.

[FVBrewerFan]

Lost in the shuffle, looks like Wang has been moved to a reliever's role?

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Blog Sun. 4/9: "Kyle Lobner has interviews with Matt Erickson, Tucker Neuhaus, Nathan Rodriguez, and Demi Orimoloye.

 

***

 

Latest posted AUDIO via the Sky Sox pre-game show: Brett Phillips

[Mass Haas]

[gregmag]

Neuhaus needs a nickname after a game like that. I propose "Casanova."

[homer]

Neuhaus needs a nickname after a game like that. I propose "Casanova."

 

 

I see what you did there.

[Mass Haas]