Link Report for Games of Sunday, April 23rd

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Ben Hendrickson at Oklahoma (Rangers), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Nashville Game Day Feature from MILB.com:

Please note that GameDay links will not become active until approximately 1-2 hours before game time

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville, Game One: RHP Tim Dillard at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime

 

Huntsville, Game Two: RHP Corey Thurman at home vs. Mobile (Padres), game to start shortly after the finish of game one

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 3:00 PM; sorry, no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at Lexington (Astros), 1:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Activate the Nashville Gameday. For the other links, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. It's sweet!

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[colbyjack]

Please bear with me in Mass Haas' absence. He has this down to a science...

 

I couldn't find the links to the individual games to follow them as they happen today, notably to add the second Huntsville game making up for the postponed game due to rain on Friday. This link will take you to minor league baseball's Southern League scoreboard page for the day:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=111

 

No updated standings either. If you're following the minor league standings in mid to late April, you have too much time on your hands http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

Anyway, some nice pitching matchups to follow today. One of the more under-appreciated minor leaguers IMO is Derek Miller, who may prompt me to break out a "free Derek Miller" tag-line, which would be my first. I hope I didn't jinx him.

[DHonks]

thanks Colby.

 

I'm looking forward to Rogers, Hendrickson, and Miller today. Rogers had a better line last outing. I'd like to see him go 3 innings, 0-2 runs, 1-2 BB, and 4-6 K's. It's about progress, and an outing like that would show progression.

 

As for Hendrickson, I'm enjoying following him, but I'd like fewer walks. It's my major critique of Davis and Capuano, too. If these three pitchers could manage to knock 20-30% of their walks off their 2005 totals, then they'll all be much more successful.

[bork]

Well, Capuano has dropped from 3.8 to 2.8 BB/9In so far. That's a 26% decrease from last year.

[DHonks]

yeah bork, I've been noticing. I'm trying not to get too excited so far, as it's just been a few starts. But if he were to keep it up, he'd definitely be a #3 starter, not a 1 year wonder as some thought.

[homer]

I guess Rogers decided striking people out was more fun than walking them. He has 4 K's and no walks so far.

[DHonks]

Li'l Ben, Rogers, and Nelson Cruz all with good days so far

[Athens Badger]

What is up with Mark Rogers getting hit so hard. I can take walks at times from a young pitcher who is making adjustments and has wicked stuff. But you'd think with the nasty stuff he is supposed to have combined with his erratic control would make him very tough to hit. Doesn't seem to be the case.

[colbyjack]

Final: Nashville 5, Oklahoma 6

 

Nashville Box Score:

The Sounds looked pretty good until the 7th, when Wilton Chavez gave up three runs. Nashville was able to touch the Rangers #1 prospect Edison Volquez a little bit, as Nelson Cruz hit a solo shot and Gwynn rapped a double off of him. Overall Cruz was 3-4 with two solo blasts while Gwynn stayed hot going 2-5. Ben Hendrickson pitched pretty well, with 5 Ks and 0 BBs in his 6 innings of work.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[colbyjack]

Final, Game One: Mobile 1, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Box Score, Game One:

I'm not used to Tim Dillard only going 5 innings in a start, but he pitched one of his better games of the year. The bullpen pitches two scoreless frames. Ozzie Chavez is the only player hitting on this team right now, as he goes 2-2 today, one of those hits being a triple, with a run, an RBI and a walk.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log, Game One:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Final, Game Two: Mobile 1, Huntsville 6

 

Huntsville Box Score, Game Two:

Don't rub your eyes, you're seeing that correctly, the Stars scored six runs in game two, thanks to a four-run fourth, most of those runs coming courtesy of a Jeff Eure 3-run blast. Greg Sain adds a solo shot in the 2nd, while both Drew Anderson and Steve Moss go 2-3. Corey Thurman with another strong outing, going 5.2 without giving up an earned run, while the bullpen once again holds on.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_2

 

Huntsville Game Log, Game Two:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_2

[Mass Haas]

Thanks, colbyjack, for playing substitute teacher.

 

Final: Lexington (Astros) 7, West Virginia 4

But no thanks, colbyjack, for jinxing my New Englander Derek Miller...

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Festa reaches four times in Power loss

 

Tony Festa reached base four times in Sunday afternoon?s game at Applebee?s Park in Lexington, Kentucky, but it was not enough for the Power as they fell to the Legends by the final of 7-4.

 

Darren Ford began the third inning with a double and he scored later in the inning on Angel Salome?s sacrifice fly to give the Power their only lead of the game. Eli Iorg belted a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning and Ryan Reed followed with an RBI single to give the Legends the lead 3-1. The Power scored their second run in the top of the fifth inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Lorenzo Cain got caught in a run down between first and second base. The Legends tagged Cain out but Darren Ford scored in the process.

 

The Legends answered again in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single from J.R. Towles and Tommy Manzella drove in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning Tony Festa delivered with his second base hit of the game, a two-run single that brought the Power within a run. Lexington added two more in the bottom of the inning. Mitch Einertson drove in the first run with an RBI double and Einertson scored later in the inning on Ryan Crew?s throwing error.

 

Levi Romero (3-0) earned the victory, Sam Gervacio (1) earned the save and Derek Miller (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power are 7-9 after the loss and the Legends improved to 11-6 with the win.

 

The Power will conclude the three game series against the Legends on Monday night. Right hander Will Inman (2-0, 1.64) will start for the Power and the Legends will counter with left hander Douglas Arguello (0-1, 5.25). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Angel Salome picked a man off second base...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Roger Clemens' son Koby forced to leave the game after a HBP in the 2nd...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

[huntsvillefan]

Watching Dillard and Villanueva, much more pleasurable than it was last week. A simply wonderful weekend of baseball in Huntsville. Even last night's loss had the plus of wonderful weather and an insight into what Carlos really has to offer. Some amazing outfield D today from Moss & Bibbs. I'm almost afraid to jinx it , but this team could be a lot of fun to watch.

Interesting piece of info on the radio, is that the organizational philosophy of patience at the plate seems to have reached Huntsville, who, despite a woeful OPS are second in the league in walks.

[colbyjack]

Final: St. Lucie 7, Brevard County 3

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Mark Rogers seemed to be doing fine untl the third inning rolled around. Then he gave up 1 one, then 2 more in the fourth, and three more in the fifth. The silver lining for Rogers' outing is his 7 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio over his 4.1 innings of work. This is his second consecutive outing walking only one batter, so hopefully now he can figure out how not to get hit so hard. Speaking of hard hitting, Ryan Braun is heating up big-time. After hitting his first home run of the year, he adds 3 hits today. His Miami alum teammate Brendan Katin does the same, whle Dave Johnson and Ben Stancyzk do a pretty good job to stop the bleeding after Rogers departed.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[colbyjack]

Thanks, colbyjack, for playing substitute teacher.

 

My pleasure Mass. I'll gladly step aside and let you work your magic.

 

But no thanks, colbyjack, for jinxing my New Englander Derek Miller...

 

Sorry http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . Hope you had a good time on the Cape.

[And That]

Corey Thurman really doesn't belong in AA... he has an ERA+ of 95 in the bigs in parts of two years with Toronto as a 23-24 year old. I understand he's been injured, but he's going to keep dominating AA until the Brewers promote him.

 

Darren Ford with a couple hits today, but he's only walked 1 time in 64 ABs. He's arguably the fastest guy in the system, but what's that old adage about not being able to steal first?

 

Nelson Cruz with two more bombs today... and what point will his 900+ OPS translate into playing time in Milwaukee (or elsewhere)?

 

Finally, Ozzie Chavez has been impressive enough early to get back on the prospect radar. He languished badly at the plate the last few years in A-ball, and frankly I thought he was turning into toast rather quickly. He's been around forever it seems, but he'll be only 23 at the end of July, so he still has a chance.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1

 

Stars notebook

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

Covering the bases

 

Everyone has been preaching patience while Minor League Baseball employs the replacement umpires. The Stars were lectured about it in spring training, then reminded once the season began.

 

However, last Tuesday, Stars manager Don Money had his patience go down the drain.

 

A Greg Sain homer was called foul. Money argued. And argued some more. Possibly the regular umps may have blown the call, too.

 

"Some are better than others," Money said of the replacements. "The guys we've had here have done a good job."

 

What he hopes for is consistency, and then his players can adjust if, say, the home plate ump is more generous with high pitches. "If they expand their strike zone, you've got to expand yours."

 

It's apparently going to be a problem to contend with for still some time, and it hasn't always been so smooth. The Colorado Spring Gazette reported a strong quote from Tucson pitcher Kevin Jarvis that's now on the umps' Web site: "The integrity of the game is being compromised, all so minor league baseball can squeeze some nickels and dimes out of the umpires. Minor league baseball ought to be ashamed at the product they're putting on the field." ...

 

One fear Money had about the new five-game series format would be catching another team that gets momentum behind it, as happened at times last year. However, it hasn't happened yet, the Stars going 3-2, 2-3 and 3-2 in their series. ... The Stars' 24-man roster will be trimmed to 23 on May 6, as dictated by league rules. Typically that decision takes care of itself, with players going on the disabled list. ... Brewers roving pitching instructor Jim Rooney is with the club until Wednesday. Hitting instructor Jim Skaalen was with them last week. ...

 

Former Star Corey Hart was getting cobwebs on the Brewers' bench, especially with the emergence of ex-Auburn QB Gabe Gross as a pinch-hitter and sub outfielder, so Milwaukee sent Hart back to Triple-A last week. ... The Midland Rockhounds, also owned by Stars owner Miles Prentice, are averaging 3,554 per game in six dates compared to 2,165 for the Stars through five dates. Could it be that Midland has twice the staff as Huntsville to market the team?

 

Around the league

 

Yes, that's Fernando Valenzuela's son playing now for Mobile. All those feeling old right now, hold up your hand. ... Along with good pitching, West Tenn has gotten good production from veterans Richard Hoffpauir (five homers) and 2004 league MVP Richard Lewis, neither of whom is thrilled to be back in the SL. "Sometimes," West Tenn manager Pat Listach told The Jackson Sun, "guys play better when they're ticked off.'' ... Jacksonville drew 10,621 Friday night, the fifth-largest crowd in stadium history. ... The Suns bullpen has a 1.73 ERA. ... Tennessee catcher Miguel Montero and West Tenn pitcher Carlos Marmol are the most recent BC Powder Southern League players of the week.

 

Brewings (through Friday's games):

 

Triple-A Nashville Sounds (10-6, first place in Pacific Coast League American Division): Nine wins in last 11 games; OF Tony Gwynn Jr. on eight-game hitting streak going into Saturday night.

 

Single-A Brevard County Manatees (12-3, first in Florida State East Division): P Mike Jones 0-0, 2.35 ERA in three starts in comeback from surgery.

 

Single-A West Virginia Power (6-8, fifth in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): 2B Kenny Holmberg .341, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs.

 

On deck

 

The Stars host Mobile in a 1:05 doubleheader today, then a 10:05 a.m. game Monday and 7:05 night game Tuesday. The Tennessee Smokies, with ex-Madison Academy and UAH pitcher Adam Bass (2-1, 3.43 ERA, 22 Ks in 21 innings), arrive for a five-game series starting Thursday.

 

Watch for

 

Tennessee catcher Miguel Montero, the No. 6 prospect in the Diamondbacks' system and fifth in the SL in batting.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Doubleheader Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=796

 

Stars Sweep Sunday Twin Bill

 

Jeff Eure?s three-run home run capped a four-run fourth inning that carried Huntsville to a 6-1 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars tallied twice in the sixth inning to snap a tie en route to a 3-1 win in the opener. Huntsville improved to 10-8 overall and 4-4 at home, while the BayBears dropped to 7-11 overall and 3-5 away from home.

 

Greg Sain?s leadoff long ball in the second inning got the second game tied at one. It was his fifth of the season, all coming in the last 12 games. Drew Anderson and Steve Moss opened the fourth inning with singles and Ron Acuna?s single with one out delivered Anderson with the go-ahead run. Eure followed by belting the next pitch from Bubba Nelson over the wall in left field for his third home run of the season and third game with three runs batted in. Moss doubled home a run in the fifth inning to complete the scoring.

 

Corey Thurman went 5 2/3 innings in the nightcap, giving up one unearned run on six hits and walk. He struck out four to earn his first win of the season and was given twice the run support he had received in his first three starts combined. The veteran right-hander has allowed one earned run in 21 2/3 frames so far this season.

 

Tim Dillard worked five innings in the opener, giving up one run on four hits and a pair of walks. He fanned a season-high five and left with the game tied at one. Andy Pratt tossed a scoreless sixth inning and picked up his first win of the year after the home team scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Ozzie Chavez led off with a triple and scored the tie-breaking run when Adam Heether singled to right field on the next pitch. Sain and Anderson walked to load the bases and Lou Palmisano delivered a sacrifice fly to chase home an insurance run.

 

Pratt retired the first hitter of the seventh and was replaced by Joe Winkelsas, who yielded back-to-back two-out singles before retiring Drew Macias on a ground ball to end the game and earn his third save of the season.

 

The series continues on Monday morning, as the BayBears will send right-hander Jose Oyervidez to the mound against Stars left-hander Jeff Housman. Coverage of the game begins at 9:50 a.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas (Friday):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-21.wma

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Infielder Jermaine Clark (Saturday):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-22.wma

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Dennis Sarfate:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-23.wma

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Broadcaster Chuck Valenches with his own blog -- drop him a line with any question you may have on the Sounds:

 

nashvillesounds.blogspot.com/

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1916

 

Sounds Win Streak Ends At Four With 6-5 Loss

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Nashville Sounds had their four-game winning streak come to a close with a 6-5 loss to the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

 

Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 and belted a pair of home runs to pace the Nashville offense in the losing effort. The outfielder scored three runs, picked up two RBIs, and now has a Pacific Coast League-leading 13 extra-base hits on the year.

 

The loss was the first in six contests against Oklahoma for Nashville (11-7), which fell to 1-4 in one-run games on the year but retained a one-game lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Oklahoma grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Jason Botts? two-out RBI single off Nashville starter Ben Hendrickson, which scored Jace Brewer.

 

The Sounds knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when Brent Abernathy (2-for-3) plated Nelson Cruz with a two-out RBI knock of his own before the RedHawks reclaimed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame on a Brewer sacrifice fly.

 

Nashville jumped ahead by a 3-2 margin in the fifth. Tony Gwynn (2-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI double, plating Chris Barnwell to tie the contest, then scored the go-ahead run later in the frame on a Corey Hart sacrifice fly.

 

AUDIO: Tony Gwynn RBI Double --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-23.wma

 

Gwynn?s 10-game streak matches Barnwell for the longest by a Sound in 2006. Barnwell went 0-for-3 with a walk in his four trips to the plate to stop his active streak at 10.

 

The RedHawks tied the score once again in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Jamie Burke, who led all Oklahoma batters with a 3-for-4 afternoon.

 

Nelson Cruz led off the sixth inning with his first homer of the contest, a solo shot to left-center off Oklahoma starter Edinson Volquez. The blast was his team-leading fifth of the year and gave Nashville a 4-3 advantage.

 

Oklahoma struck back against the Sounds? bullpen in the seventh. Wilton Chavez allowed four consecutive singles to open the inning, resulting in three runs and a 6-4 RedHawks lead. Joaquin Arias and Botts opened the frame with back-to-back knocks then both players scored when Laynce Nix followed with an RBI single to left that was coupled with a fielding error by Corey Hart, giving Oklahoma the lead. Burke recorded the final run-scoring single of the inning, plating Nix.

 

Nelson Cruz struck again for the Sounds in the eighth when he belted a leadoff solo homer to left off RedHawks reliever Erasmo Ramirez to pull the visitors within a run at 6-5. The outfielder?s sixth homer of the campaign gave him Nashville?s first multiple-homer effort of the year.

 

Ramirez (1-0) picked up the victory as the beneficiary of the Oklahoma comeback. Chavez (1-1) took the loss after suffering a blown save and giving up three runs in his two innings of work. Scott Feldman worked a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

 

The blown save was the fifth of the season in nine save opportunities for Nashville.

 

Hendrickson, who departed with Nashville holding a 4-3 lead, drew a no-decision after allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in his six frames.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting on Monday evening. Left-hander Dana Eveland (1-0, 1.06) mans the bump for the Sounds. Oklahoma will counter with southpaw and longtime Brewer farmhand Derek Lee (0-0, 0.93).

[shelmark]

Athens,

 

You took the words right out of my mouth with regard to Rogers. I think this is going to be a big swing and a miss. I know, I know, he is young. But the problem is that he is both wild and hittable. Colt Griffin redux. Thanks goodness for Yovani.

[LV Brewer Fan]

Rogers has done absolutely nothing to justify a first round draft choice in his 1.5 years of minor league service. I don't care how hard he throws, he gets hit and walks far to many batters. While everyone is anxious to give the kid the benefit of the doubt because he is young, he has done nothing but throw the ball hard to deserve that break.