Link Report for Thur. 4/6 - Updated: More from West Virginia

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

It's that time, kids -- here we go!

 

If you're new to the Link Reports, please check out the Archived Link Report Forum to get a sense of what they're all about.

 

Gee, do you think Huntsville play-by-play man Brett Pollock might have his biggest audience yet tonight? No big league game, but a certain big league pitcher on the mound for the Stars...

 

MiLB.com provides their extended "Gameday" Feature for all AAA games this year, so a nice plus with Nashville coverage.

 

Only one disclaimer here, folks. While posts with significant updates and news are welcome, please refrain from turning the Link Report threads into In-Game Commentary Threads. We invite you to the Brewerfan Chat Room, where up to 25 can discuss tonight's four-pack of audio games. Thanks!

 

Thursday's Daily Menu: The big boys are off, no reason you can't sample from four dishes this evening!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at Omaha (Royals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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_omaaaa_1

 

Huntsville: RHP Ben Sheets, followed by RHP Carlos Villanueva at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.wele1380.com/

 

West Virginia: RHP Kevin Roberts at home vs. Delmarva (Orioles), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

[Mass Haas]

Source: Nashville Sounds via the Tennessean

 

The projected starting lineup for tonight's Nashville Sounds Pacific Coast League season opener at Omaha (7:05 p.m., WNSR-AM 560), with last year's statistics (Sounds unless otherwise noted):

 

?CF ? Tony Gwynn Jr. (.271, 1 HR, 41 RBI; Double-A Huntsville)

?LF ? Dave Krynzel (.256, 11 HR, 51 RBI)

?3B ? Vinny Rottino (.345, 1 HR, 2 RBI)

?RF ? Nelson Cruz (.269, 11 HR, 27 RBI)

?1B ? Brad Nelson (.253, 7 HR, 39 RBI)

?C ? Mike Rivera (.285, 16 HR, 43 RBI)

?DH ? Brent Abernathy (.326, 6 HR, 25 RBI; Triple-A Rochester/Twins)

?2B ? Zach Sorenson (.303, 2 HR, 41 RBI, Triple-A Salt Lake/Angels)

?SS ? Enrique Cruz (.300, 14 HR, 60 RBI, Double-A Huntsville)

 

Nashville's starting rotation to open the season:

 

?Tonight, 7:05 p.m. at Omaha ? RHP Ben Hendrickson (6-12, 4.97 ERA)

?Tomorrow, 7:05 p.m., at Omaha ? LHP Zach Jackson (4-4, 5.13 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse/Blue Jays)

?Saturday, 6:05 p.m., at Omaha ? LHP Dana Eveland (10-4, 2.72 ERA at Double-A Huntsville)

?Sunday, 1:35 p.m., at Omaha ? RHP Dennis Sarfate (9-9, 3.88 ERA at Double-A Huntsville)

?Monday, 7:05 p.m., at Iowa ? LHP Justin Thompson (2-2, 4.70 ERA at Triple-A Oklahoma/Rangers)

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=48965

 

Bar is set high for Sounds in '06

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

By every standard imaginable, 2005 was a benchmark year for the Nashville Sounds.

 

The team paraded some of the game's top prospects onto the field, registered its best attendance mark in over a decade and then capped it all off with a Pacific Coast League championship.

 

It's a tough act to follow, but this still figures to be an interesting season for Sounds fans.

 

With the season opener slated for tonight in Omaha, here are five things to watch for from the Sounds in 2006.

 

1. Repeat?

 

When the Sounds entered the stretch run of their pennant race last summer, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart had already been promoted to Milwaukee. But veteran players picked up the slack and brought home the championship, Nashville's first at the Triple-A level.

 

Sounds infielder Chris Barnwell conceded the marquee names aren't in place, but said that's no reason to count this year's team out.

 

?There were certain points last year where you would have thought there was no way we could win anything, especially at the end of the season,? Barnwell said. ?All you can do is go out and play.?

 

2. Promotions

 

The Milwaukee Brewers, not the Sounds, decide which players will wear Nashville uniforms this year. Since the Sounds don't control the talent on the field, the team's front office stays hard at work on aspects it can control - like its game day promotions.

 

?Our philosophy is if we win, after the game we want people to say, 'That was a great win.' If we lose, I want them to say, 'That was a great time,'? Sounds Director of Marketing and Promotions Brandon Vonderharr said.

 

The Sounds will go about the business of ensuring their fans have a memorable experience by returning several popular promotions. Vonderharr said the traditional Family Fireworks nights and Thirsty Thursday [$1 draft beer and soft drinks] will return this season.

 

Also back will be Faith Night promotions, which feature a concert by a Christian artist, Bible give-a-ways and Bible bobbleheads.

 

The most popular group to take part in the Faith Night promotions will be Jars of Clay, who will perform prior to the game on June 27.

 

The team will also capitalize on its championship season with replica ring and replica championship trophy give-a-ways sponsored by First Tennessee.

 

3. Speed in outfield

 

This year's Sounds team features plenty of speed and versatility. Dave Krynzel, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Nelson Cruz will rotate at all three outfield spots. All three players can run and Gwynn, in particular, plays excellent defense.

 

?We've got a lot of speed, which is a very big plus,? Krynzel said. ?[Gwynn] is very strong [defensively]. He's got all it takes out there.?

 

4. The Four Horsemen

 

Nashville's four talented young starting pitchers have adorned themselves with the nickname, 'The Four Horsemen.?

 

Now Ben Hendrickson, Dana Eveland, Dennis Sarfate and Zach Jackson will go about the business of living up to that nickname. Pitching Coach Stan Kyles said the team's starting pitching talent is improved from a season ago.

 

?It's cool to be a part of it,? Hendrickson said. ?I don't know how long we'll all be here. But it's nice just going out and knowing every game we'll have a chance to win.?

 

5. First base skinny

 

Sounds fans might not have recognized the guy playing first base in the team's exhibition opener against Belmont on Tuesday, even though he spent a good amount of time in Nashville last year. It was none other than Brad Nelson, who has shed 25 pounds and returns to his natural position of first base after moving to outfield last year to accommodate Prince Fielder.

 

Nelson figures to be a cog in the Sounds lineup this season.

 

?I don't know what part of my game it will help, but I feel better and healthier,? Nelson said.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006040546

 

Power opens second season tonight

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

The inaugural season at Appalachian Power Park last year worked out wonderfully ? not only at the gate but in the home dugout.

 

It?s not often that a manager and pitching coach can divert their focus from the field to the grandstand, but in the noisy and festive atmosphere of APP?s first year, it sometimes happened for manager Ramon Aviles and pitching coach John Curtis.

 

Curtis, who spent 15 seasons as a big-league pitcher, says he?s delighted to be back in the same capacity. Memories of 2005, he said, are good ones.

 

?Ramon and I had a few laughs in that dugout last year with the Toastman, and the interaction with fans and the umpires and opposing players,?? Curtis said Tuesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. ?It was just a ball being here. We never heard a boo. The fans were so supportive. And that was not lost on me or Ramon or any of the other people who were here. It?s just a great place to play. I?m thrilled to be back.??

 

He predicted the Power players, most of whom did not play here last year, will soon feel the same way, especially if the club approximates last year?s attendance of more than 3,500 a game.

 

?I know it?s not going to be long before the kids we have will be saying, ?Man, this is great,? ? he said.

 

It will help, of course, if the players begin the season more favorably than last year?s Power. That team lost its first seven and 20 of its first 25 but rallied to play slightly better than .500 baseball the rest of the way and finished at 60-78.

 

The Power, Milwaukee?s affiliate in the Class A South Atlantic League, opens its second season at Appalachian Power Park against the Delmarva Shorebirds at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) and, unlike last year, the team brings a brief tradition of success.

 

Pitcher Kevin Roberts, a former University of Houston pitcher who will start tonight?s opener, remembers that success last year at Helena (Mont.) of the Pioneer League. Roberts especially remembers the run support.

 

?The hitters are pretty much all from Helena,?? he said, ?and they can all absolutely swing it from one to nine. In Helena, we scored 10 runs a game, it seemed like. And in spring training, we really put it on other teams. I saw a 12 spot, a 13, a 15. These guys are relentless.??

 

Twenty of the 25 current Power players spent at least part of 2005 in Helena, which led the eight-team Pioneer League with a 46-30 record and dominated the offensive categories. Helena averaged a league-leading 7.0 runs a game and led in batting average (.309) and home runs (83). By comparison, the league?s No. 2 teams in batting and homers totaled .286 and 74, respectively.

 

The Helena hitters, Roberts added, did more than just post big numbers; they did the little things.

 

?This team is not selfish with their stats,?? he said. ?If there?s a man on second and nobody out and all they need is a ground ball to the right side to move him over, they?ll do that. They don?t care if they get an out. They?ll sacrifice an out for the team.??

 

Curtis, who worked with the team in spring training, noticed the same things.

 

?This was kind of good fortune for us,?? he said. ?Some talent came together in Helena last year, and they?re all here. What I?ve seen is that these guys have won together. They played championship ball in Helena. What I?ve seen this spring is that this team has a combination of power and speed.??

 

Last year?s team, said Curtis, entered the season with confidence but struggled badly for most of April and May.

 

?Psychologically, we couldn?t have felt any better about ourselves,?? said Curtis, referring to the start of the season. ?This was one of those shocking things to the organization and to us coaches, to the skipper and to the players. We came home 0-7. We underestimated how young we were as a team. We had 19- and 20-year-olds out there last year. Looking back, they played as if they were a little more intimidated than we would have expected them to be. At times, I thought we were kind of a high school team playing college guys for a while. It took us awhile to get some steadiness about us, but after that they made a run for it the second half.??

 

Power points

 

The Power and Shorebirds will play single games Friday and Saturday night and close out the series with an afternoon game Sunday. The Power will open a four-game series at Greensboro Monday and return to APP for a three-game series with Lexington beginning April 14. ...

 

Last year?s home opener drew a crowd of 5,354. ... Aviles is managing the Brewers? high-Class A team in Brevard County of the Florida State League this season. His first choice in the offseason was to manage in Charleston again, said Curtis. ?He wanted to come back here,?? he said. ?He was looking forward to coming back, but [the Brewers] needed him in Brevard.?? ...

 

Center fielder Darren Ford may be the franchise?s fastest runner since Fernando Ramsey. Ford has been timed at 3.6 seconds from home to first, and a scouting report rates his speed at 70 on a scale in which 70 is the maximum. Ramsey, who played for the Charleston Wheelers and briefly with the Chicago Cubs, competed on the Panamanian Olympic team and once ran the 100 meters in 10.18 seconds.

[deeswan]

For those who can't listen, there are play-by-play updates on the milb.com scoreboards, so you will be able to get a feel for how the games play out. There has also, in the past, been some games done in a Gameday format like on mlb.com. Not sure if that will be available or not, check the scoreboards to see.

 

The big news is that some games will be available on video, with this feature being free in April and $19.95 for the remainder of the season. There are 2 games available today, unfortunately no Brewer affiliates. Check www.milb.com for details.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/200604061/

 

Power must worry more about the way it starts

Jack Bogaczyk

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

The 69th season of pro baseball in Charleston since 1910 opens tonight, and there are more than a million reasons why the West Virginia Power should want to play impressively.

 

It's the second season for the Milwaukee Brewer farm team in the capital city. Most among last season's Power have moved up to advanced Class A Brevard County in the Milwaukee system.

 

Hernan and Alcides, we hardly knew ye.

 

Yet, down on the farm four steps from Miller Park in an organization that's made big strides with player development in the last three years, West Virginia presents an opportunity for a club that's pegged as older, with more speed and long-ball potential, and deeper in talent than the 2005 Power.

 

OK, but what most of the crowd of 4,000 plus that will fill Appalachian Power Park near capacity wants to know is will these guys hit and pitch any better than the club that finished 60-78 in the Power debut.

 

We've seen a superb Ryan Braun, but not for long. What is needed now is more brawn.

 

It would behoove new Manager Mike Guerrero's club to start strong, but it's not going to be easy, with the Power facing 14-of-20 on the road after the opening four-game series with Delmarva.

 

The earlier reference to more than a million should appeal to the Power players and why they should bust more than bats to move up.

 

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that on Major League rosters on Opening Day, 409 players had salaries of $1 million or more. Sixty-one broke $10 million.

 

The minimum big league salary is $327,000. That would buy a lot of bratwurst and beer in Milwaukee, you know? Now, the Power boys just need to climb through Melbourne, Fla., Huntsville, Ala., and Nashville.

 

There's another reason the Power needs to provide some thrills. It's the second season of the Brewers' two-year Player Development Contract with West Virginia Baseball LLC ownership.

 

You would think Milwaukee wants to keep its low Class A prospects playing in a nice yard. A competitive club will become more meaningful to West Virginia ownership as the years wear on, and the newness of Power Park wears off.

 

Last season, the shiny 4,600-seat ballpark was enjoyed by a Charleston-record 234,160, breaking the previous Watt Powell Park best (in 1991) by 48,800.

 

They showed because of the ballpark, not the team or the affiliation, which provided no regional ties.

 

In fact, the Power ownership, wanting to change the franchise face as much as possible, dumped Toronto after a stellar 84-56 season and South Atlantic League playoff appearance, and got a 3-17 start from the Brewer kids.

 

Milwaukee made things better in a 35-33 second-half SAL season, and West Virginia did win eight games in its final at-bat at home, five of those on walk-off homers.

 

With the new ballpark and management that has a clue, Charleston has become a desirable low-A farm location in the 16-team SAL. When the 2006 season ends, Milwaukee figures to have significant competition for the affiliation here.

 

That's why the Brewers will spend the summer not only trying to win, but trying to get an early PDC extension to keep playing Power ball.

 

A lot may depend on how West Virginia gets out of the gate, more so than how the club does at the gate.

 

There's a sports mindset vacancy in Charleston in the months between the end of basketball and the sweat of August football workouts. The Power can plug into that void.

 

Two summers ago, although the Alley Cats were closing a decrepit ballpark, their 17-3 start juiced pro baseball here. Watt Powell Park saw 30,000 more spectators than the season before.

 

That 2004 first-half title (41-29) is the only winning spring for Charleston baseball in the past eight seasons. Even including that success, the Alley Cats and Power are a combined 117 games under .500 in first halves since 1997.

 

The Brewers cannot afford to add to that.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes (pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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_omaaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Now known -- LHP Steve Hammond starts for Brevard County tonight.

[DHonks]

Interesting to see Josh Murray at 1st base. I know he had a power surge last year, but hopefully he gets it going, because most of us have been weary of him for a while

 

also, it's interesting to note that White is starting against Sheets tonight.

 

and before I head to the chatroom, gotta say that it's pretty sweet to see the first run of the year in the minors scored on a double steal.

[brettac1]

Fermaint is a maniac so far, tonight. A walk, a single, a RBI, and two steals.

 

EDIT: Maybe I'll just chill in the chat room for the Sheets start.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville game delayed by lightning; Huntsville game delayed by overly long Opening Night ceremonies...

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Mississippi (Braves) 2, Huntsville 1, Braves still batting in the bottom of the 3rd in Pearl

Ben Sheets throwing all his pitches, getting hit a bit, but as he indicated in the pre-game, his priority needs to be getting his work in, not necessarily the game results, five K's for Ben -- he's reached his pitch count...

 

In progress: Brevard County 6, Daytona (Cubs) 4, top of the 7th in Daytona

Ryan Braun and Hernan Iribarren three hits apiece thus far...

 

In progress: West Virginia 4, Delmarva (Orioles) 1, rain delay after six innings at Appalachian Power Park

Lorenzo Cain's first two Power AB's result in doubles; strong five innings for RHP Kevin Roberts...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville at Omaha (Royals), postponed, rain

Scheduling details later...

[brettac1]

I have the three innings of Sheets' rehab start recorded and archived at: www.putfile.com/brettac1

 

Just in case you missed it.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 4, Delmarva (Orioles) 1, game completed early, six innings, rain

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Power batters didn't walk and K'd seven times, but did enough right to kick off the season at home successfully...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Top of the order raked, that was the case all last season in Helena if you remember...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Two-run HR for the all-or-nothing man of the Brewers farm system, Jeff Eure.

 

Huntsville goes up, 4-2 in the 5th.

 

Carlos Villanueva has retired all seven men he's faced thus far.

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER WIN RAIN SHORTENED CONTEST

 

The West Virginia Power and Delmarva Shorebirds completed six innings of Thursday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park before the rain came and ended the ballgame, which resulted in a 4-1 Power victory.

 

The Power scored twice in the bottom of the first inning on RBI doubles from Lorenzo Cain and Angel Salome. Delmarva cut the lead in half on Quincy Ascencion?s sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 2-1 game. The Power took advantage of two Delmarva errors in the fifth inning and plated two more runs. Mat Gamel reached on a Stuart Musslewhite error which allowed Darren Ford to score and Cain scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. The game was delayed for 45 minutes before it was called.

 

Kevin Roberts (1-0) allowed only one hit through five innings and earned the victory. Ronny Malave (1) pitched a scoreless sixth inning to earn the save and David Hernandez (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power improve to 1-0 with the win and the Shorebirds drop to 0-1 with the loss.

 

The Power will continue the series with the Shorebirds on Friday night at Appalachian Power Park. Lefty Derek Miller will start for the Power and Delmarva will counter with right-hander Reid Hamblet. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[bork]

Two-run HR for the all-or-nothing man of the Brewers farm system, Jeff Eure.

 

The new 3TO? Or is he 2TO?

[Mass Haas]

Jeff Eure's Brewerfan Index Page:

His career OBP indicates he's more of a 2TO (two true outcomes, for the uninitiated...)

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=103

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 9, Daytona (Cubs) 4

Always nice to beat any kind of Cubbie...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Manatee batters with 17 base hits, four walks, four K's -- nice; Brendan Katin just a double shy of a cycle, with a walk; Charlie Fermaint on base four times and 3-for-3 in SB's; 22-year-old catcher Carlos Corporan was a fairly high pick (12th round, '03) -- it'd be nice to see him break out offensively this year; six Manatees with multiple hits, three others with 0-for's; LHP Jeremy Lewis got a raw deal repeating high-A to start this year -- last year's Manatee closer finishes the game with three scoreless innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 4, Mississippi (Braves) 2

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Forget Ben Sheets, Carlos Villanueva with 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five; Stars batters patiently worked seven bases on balls; RHP Alec Zumwalt was the closer choice this evening. Undefeated night for the kids on the farm tonight! That almost never happened last season!

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Ozzie Chavez was doubled up in the 6th thinking there was only one out in the inning...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site:

 

OMAHA ? Thursday evening?s scheduled season opener between the Nashville Sounds and Omaha Royals, scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium, was postponed due to inclement weather.

 

The game will be made up as part of a 4:05 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. The teams will play two seven-inning games that night.

 

The Sounds and Royals will try to kick off the 2006 season again on Friday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium. Nashville right-hander Ben Hendrickson will start the 7:05 p.m. CT contest and face Omaha right-hander Kyle Snyder.

[colbyjack]

Welcome back Jim, and thanks as always for the Link Report. The Brewers 3-0 start still seemed somewhat empty without the affilaites to follow around these parts. Happy as heck to have you back.

 

And I'm happy as heck to follow a very exciting night in the minors. Some pretty exciting lines from some pretty exciting names.