Link Report for Games of Wednesday, August 10th

[Mass Haas]

Charleston Gazette:

 

Power returns home for key series vs. Legends

 

The season?s final weeks hold promise for the West Virginia Power.

 

After taking three of four games at Greensboro and winning 18 of its last 29, the Power has positioned itself to pursue a second-half title in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division.

 

The Power, which is tied for third place with the Lexington Legends, returns to Appalachian Power Park tonight to begin a four-game series with the Legends. Both teams are 24-20 in the second half and trail first-place Delmarva by 5 1/2 games. Tonight?s game begins at 7:05 (6:05 Central).

 

In the four games at Greensboro, third baseman Ryan Braun went 10-for-17, hit two two-run homers and collected eight RBIs. First baseman Grant Richardson extended his on-base streak to 28 games.

 

The Power?s current 18-11 stretch began with a 4-3 victory at Hagerstown July 8 and coincided with the arrival of Braun, who was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the June draft.

 

Braun, who was drafted out of the University of Miami, picked up two hits in his South Atlantic League debut at Hagerstown and, in 29 games with the Power, is hitting .358 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs. He?s committed 10 errors, however.

 

Another key to the surge is Charlie Fermaint, a 19-year-old outfielder from Puerto Rico. Since his promotion from Helena on July 30, Fermaint is hitting .354 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 10 games.

 

The Power announced Wednesday that pitching coach John Curtis will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fractured skull Saturday in Greensboro.

 

While standing in the outfield during batting practice, Curtis was hit in the head by a fly ball and was taken to a Greensboro hospital. He was expected to make a full recovery.

 

Taking his place is Jim Rooney, the Brewers? minor-league pitching instructor.

 

The Power also announced that utility player Josh Brady has been promoted to Brevard County of the Class A Florida State League. In 80 games with the Power, he batted .272 with six home runs and 48 RBIs.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 7, Casper (Rockies) 3

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...105_03.txt

 

Brewers remain unbeaten

By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor

 

It was a very close to a perfect 10 for the Helena Brewers Wednesday.

 

The Pioneer League ball club won its 10th straight contest Wednesday night, downing Casper 7-3 at Kindrick Legion Field. Helena was good in all facets of the game, getting solid pitching, good hitting and steady defense en route to the victory.

 

The win maintained Helena's lead in the second-half North Division standings at six games over Great Falls. Casper sits atop the Southern Division with a 7-4 mark.

 

"It's unbelievable," said Brewers third baseman Mat Gamel about the winning streak.

 

Gamel had a big hand in the victory, registering a 3-for-4 night at the plate and blasting a 430-foot solo home run in the fifth that cleared the scoreboard. Gamel was looking for a fastball from Rockies pitcher Robinson Fabian and the right-hander obliged.

 

The homer was Gamel's fifth of the season, two behind teammate Kenny Holmberg who hit one the fourth inning. The two have a running contest to see who have the most round trippers this season.

 

"He hit one the inning before and I saw him standing on the top step of the dugout and I gave him a big grin," Gamel said.

 

The Brewers should all be smiling after Wednesday's performance where they outhit the Rockies 14-4.

 

"We put the bat on the ball," said Helena manager Ed Sedar. "We struck out 10 times, but we got some good at bats."

 

Gamel's home run capped a three run fifth inning which broke open a 2-2 ball game. Ryan Crew smacked a home run in the inning and Michael Bell registered a triple. Bell later came home on a sacrifice fly by Holmberg.

 

The potent Brewers' offense was combined with good pitching as three pitchers combined to strike out eight Rockies.

 

Mathew Kretzschmar was particularly dominant, striking out five in just 2 2/3 innings of work. He lowered his ERA this season to 2.70.

 

Kretzschmar was able to wriggle out of a jam in the seventh. Casper threatened to get back in the game in the frame and put runners on second and third. However Kretzschmar relied on an overpowering fastball and struck out Armando Polanco and Dexter Fowler to get out of the inning.

 

Dane Renkert picked up his first save of the season going 1 2/3 innings and he struck out two over that span.

 

The duo finished off a game started by Rafael Lluberes, who got the win pitching five innings, striking out two and walking two. Fabian got the loss and saw his ERA balloon to 14.44 this season. He gave up four earned runs in one inning of work.

 

Thursday night's game continued the trend of outstanding pitching for the Brewers who have allowed nine runs in the last five games. They have a Pioneer League best team ERA of 4.08.

 

"For the most part the staff has been making headway, getting quicker outs and not taking the count too deep," said Helena pitching coach Mark Littell.

 

The two teams will meet again tonight to continue a three-game set at 7:05 p.m. (8:05 Central). David Welch is set to start for Helena and Chaz Roe will get the nod for Casper.

 

Helena Box Score:

Freddy Parejo 18-for-35 since joining Helena from West Virginia, 16 of the hits singles...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Jon Ebelt, Independent Record Staff Photographer - A close play at the plate does not go in favor of Helena's Mat Gamel, left, who is tagged out by Casper pitcher Xavier Cedeno in an exchange that ended the first inning Wednesday at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/08/11/sports_top/b01081105_03.jpg

[Mass Haas]

No updates on the Arizona Brewers' last two games...

[bjamesw22]

Actually, considering how solid of a contact hitter he seems to be, he might project pretty well as a #2 hitter.

 

It's all coming clear to me now:

 1. Weeks 2b 2. Hart cf 3. Jenkins rf 4. Lee lf 5. Fielder 1b 6. Branyan 3b 7. Hardy ss 8. Miller c 

Clark, Overbay, and JDLR netting us a #2 pitcher.

[Diskono]

I have a feeling that Hart would have had a few more chances to play CF this year if it weren't for the fact that he's been on the same roster as Dave Krynzel. He's fast enough, and seems to be becoming a better outfielder with experience.

[rotoherb]

Dave Winfield played over 200 games in CF and he's 6 foot 6 inches. Obviously, he was an incredible athlete, but there is someone who's played it at Corey's height.

[filthyfrog]

Hart in CF? On a regular basis? I think our internet/fantasy baseball world is encouraging us to forget about defense and just concentrate on OPS. I'd love to get Hart's bat in the lineup, but if he plays CF, I worry that he'd allow more runs than he'd produce (compared to, say, Clark). The Brewers are already pretty bad in the outfield with all three guys playing on the warning track. Replacing Clark with Hart would result in balls dropping in all over the place.

 

I'm not saying that he can't do it, but you know he would be below average at least for a while. I think that would hurt a lot more than most posters here are imagining.

 

p.s. Anyone else notice that Prince's hot streaks tend to coincide with trips to the Western hitters' paradise parks? I'm not sure what that means.

[molitor fan]

p.s. Anyone else notice that Prince's hot streaks tend to coincide with trips to the Western hitters' paradise parks? I'm not sure what that means.

 

filthy, love your posts, but I personally see a .920 OPS with 80+ Rbi's as one big hot streak.....especially for a guy his age I think it is quite a remarkable season.

[bjamesw22]

Hart in CF? On a regular basis? I think our internet/fantasy baseball world is encouraging us to forget about defense and just concentrate on OPS. I'd love to get Hart's bat in the lineup, but if he plays CF, I worry that he'd allow more runs than he'd produce (compared to, say, Clark). The Brewers are already pretty bad in the outfield with all three guys playing on the warning track. Replacing Clark with Hart would result in balls dropping in all over the place.

 

I think you're WAY overvaluing Clark's defense. Hart is faster than Clark and would be able to cover much more ground and his arm is better than Clarks.. I don't know how Hart in center would result in more balls dropping in all over the place than there already is. I hope they are trying him there to find out though.

[ja002h]

Good points bjames. Clark's far from amazing, and even if Corey isn't that great, he couldn't be that much worse (and probably better. Not that I like moving people around at will.. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[LouisEly]

Hart may have speed, but the toughest part about learning CF is judging balls off the bat. I've played every position on the diamond (I was a Vinny Rotino back in my day - not in a single game, but over the course of a season several times), and the position I hated playing the most was CF. It takes a lot of experience in CF to learn how to consistently accurately judge the ball when it comes off the bat.

[nikip43]

I remember reading a first hand report from Nashville earlier this summer when Corey Hart filled in at first base (maybe it was during the time when Fielder was up with the big league club) and his defense there was labled as something very very good.

 

A good defensive first baseman with some speed and the ability to hit/steal bases sounds a lot like the Florida Marlin's version of Derek Lee.

 

With all the talk about how West Virginia players might be struggling with errors due to the first baseman down there not being exceptional (Richardson). Could having a standout first bagger like Hart help keep Weeks bat at second and a future Bruan or current Hall at third by keeping their throwing error totals down?

 

I know that would mean trading both Overbay and Prince, just a thought.

[bjamesw22]

Hart may have speed, but the toughest part about learning CF is judging balls off the bat. I've played every position on the diamond (I was a Vinny Rotino back in my day - not in a single game, but over the course of a season several times), and the position I hated playing the most was CF. It takes a lot of experience in CF to learn how to consistently accurately judge the ball when it comes off the bat.

 

I played OF for 3 years and I thought that the hardest OF position was RF. The way that ball comes off a right handed hitters bat was the hardest to judge IMO. Plus the throws are longer from right. But this doesn't mean it's the same for everyone.

[huntsvillefan]

This is the second time this RF / CF thing has come up and I'm very curious.

Could someone explain to me why the Brewers put guys who have struggled defensively like Hart into RF and guys who are supposed to be defensively excellent like Gwynn & Krynzel into CF.

If RF really is the most difficult spot to play, why don't they put the Gwynn's and Krynzel's straight into that position? Or do I presume that Ben Van Iderstine is really the best OF defender on the Huntsville Stars?

[bjamesw22]

Usually your fastest outfielder is in center. They have to cover the most ground. Another thing I think people either don't know or forget is that the centerfielder is supposted to be the captain of the outfield just like the shortstop is the captain of the infield. If the SS calls you off in the infield on a fly ball everyone clears out and lets him get it. If the CF calls you off in the outfield same thing.

 

I think that Mr. Hart was put into RF because he has a good enough arm and they wanted to see his OF potential. Putting someone in LF doesn't measure how good of an outfielder a guy is and Krynzel is in center.

[huntsvillefan]

I honestly think that what you just said adds up to the established position, that CF is a more difficult position than RF.

I really don't see much doubt in the matter and I'm pushed to think of many MLB teams who have their best defensive outfielder at RF, and that would be the case if it really was more difficult to play.

[H0FFY]

Good job management. I think they are telling these three guys 'two of you will be the 4th and 5th outfielders next year.'

 

And Nashville has a nice lead right now.

And one of the guys will be back at AAA next year with Gwynn and Nelson I think as their partners.

 

This is a good situation. The worst case is we get two new young guys with upside and are not expensive and are better than our current reserves.

 

Good job management.

 

Good luck outfielders.

[Diskono]

It's really hard to say. I can see how RF would be harder due to judging flyballs and making longer throws, but CF definitely requires more range. Since the CF needs to cover more ground, he has to make more plays, so you want your best outfielder there.

 

Or, maybe your best fielder doesn't have the speed to cover CF. Something like that. Now I'm just confusing myself.

 

edit: RF may be tougher (i don't know, i always was a middle infielder in my vast little league experience), but CF is more important. yeah, that's the ticket.

[pogokat]

I played Cf my first two years of JV (8th and 9th) and Rf/Dh for the varsity team...

 

CF was much harder...in fact, my suckiness in CF is what led to me be made the right fielder (my suckiness in RF led to the dh part...)

 

I was the fastes sprinter at my school...but cf eluded me...

[huntsvillefan]

maybe your best fielder doesn't have the speed to cover CF

 

I basically agree with you Diskono, but speed is one of the (many) attributes of being a good OF

Saying someone is our best out fielder, but he's too slow to play CF, is like saying Vandy is our best defensive catcher but he doesn't have very good reflexes.

[bjamesw22]

CF was much harder...in fact, my suckiness in CF is what led to me be made the right fielder (my suckiness in RF led to the dh part...)

 

Well, in high school RF, pretty much just like little league, is the place you hide your worst fielder (no offense) because there are few lefties, and most high school hitters are extreme pull hitters. So it's hard to compare a high school outfield with a major league one.

 

Saying someone is our best out fielder, but he's too slow to play CF, is like saying Vandy is our best defensive catcher but he doesn't have very good reflexes.

 

Geoff Jenkins is our best outfielder, but he's too slow to play CF.

[filthyfrog]

bjames, I didn't mean to overvalue Brady's defense in CF. I think he's an average CF, but I also think that Corey would be below average. Maybe I'm putting too much into the adventures I saw in Spring Training, but Corey looked raw, raw, raw in the OF. The fact that the Brewers are at least experimenting with him in CF must mean they see something good in him though, so I'll take that as a sign that he's improved. I'll admit that I'm excited about the possibility of him in CF, but I see it as a temporary or backup solution rather than a longterm one.

[Diskono]

Quote:

---

I basically agree with you Diskono, but speed is one of the (many) attributes of being a good OF

Saying someone is our best out fielder, but he's too slow to play CF, is like saying Vandy is our best defensive catcher but he doesn't have very good reflexes.

---

Yeah, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I do think it's possible for an outfielder to be good and not fast. Jenkins comes to mind, though his good-ness may be debatable.

[pogokat]

So it's hard to compare a high school outfield with a major league one.

 

Yup...i'm well aware of that...and basically, everyone here is only talking with high school experience...so maybe we should throw personal experience out the window???

[huntsvillefan]

Geoff Jenkins is our best outfielder, but he's too slow to play CF.

 

If Jenkins is your best OF, why has he played LF for years , rather than the more difficult RF spot?

Clark played the more difficult RF on his starts last year.

I tend to think If he is too slow then he simply isn't your best. He may be your most polished looking, but not IMO your best.

 

No offense intended, but I've watched a fair bit of college ball and mostly the D isn't that great. So its hard to compare a college OF with a major league one http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

What I have noticed watching it, is that it is a lot easier to avoid having to make a difficult play in CF, than it is in either corner spot. College corner OF often look like a deer in the headlights as the ball homes in on them (and past them), whereas the CF is in so much space that it doesn't look nearly so bad when he has to turn and chase one.