Link Report for Games of Sunday, July 17th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Gary Glover at home vs. Albuquerque (Marlins), 5:40 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Nashville Site Gamecast Feed:

www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm

 

Huntsville: RHP David Bradley at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 12:00 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's, scroll to bottom of linked page):

www.miracle-baseball.com/

 

West Virginia: TBD at Hagerstown (Mets), 4:35 PM

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: TBD at home vs. Orem (Angels), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's, scroll to bottom of linked page):

www.oremowlz.com/

 

Arizona: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Sunday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 52 42 .553 - 26-21 26-21 L2[/b] Memphis 48 46 .511 4.0 25-22 23-24 L2 Iowa 43 48 .473 7.5 28-23 15-25 L1 Omaha 42 52 .447 10.0 16-23 26-29 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 12 9 .571 - 6-4 6-5 W2 Carolina 11 9 .550 0.5 8-7 3-2 W1 [b]Huntsville 12 10 .545 0.5 4-6 8-4 L1[/b] Tennessee 11 10 .524 1.0 5-6 6-4 W3 Chattanooga 9 13 .409 3.5 4-6 5-7 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 15 7 .682 - 4-2 11-5 W1[/b] St. Lucie 13 9 .591 2.0 4-5 9-4 L1 Palm Beach 13 10 .565 2.5 6-5 7-5 L1 Vero Beach 12 10 .545 3.0 7-6 5-4 W1 Jupiter 10 11 .476 4.5 9-4 1-7 L1 Daytona 6 15 .286 8.5 4-9 2-6 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 16 6 .727 - 11-1 5-5 W3 Hickory 13 8 .619 2.5 6-4 7-4 W2 Lexington 11 11 .500 5.0 8-4 3-7 L3 [b]West Virginia 11 11 .500 5.0 5-2 6-9 W3[/b] Lake County 10 12 .455 6.0 6-7 4-5 L1 Lakewood 10 12 .455 6.0 7-6 3-6 W1 Hagerstown 8 14 .364 8.0 3-6 5-8 L2 Greensboro 7 14 .333 8.5 1-6 6-8 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 18 6 .750 - 9-3 9-3 W2[/b] Billings 14 10 .583 4.0 6-5 8-5 W2 Great Falls 9 15 .375 9.0 6-6 3-9 L2 Missoula 6 18 .250 12.0 3-12 3-6 L1

Arizona League Standings:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121

 

Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com):

 

www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

[H0FFY]

I am so happy that daily I can see almost all the squads in first place. C'mon Huntsville. I am especially happy to see WV get to .500.

 

And these squads are hanging in there despite losing guys to Milwaukee and up the chain. And there are not a zillion old guys filling out each team.

 

Good job, Brewer management.

 

(seems like I post the same sentences a lot, but what the heck)

[BillScottCanRake]

I wanted to echo what Hoffy posted. While winning isn't as important as player development, to see all these teams winning during the second half with prospects, it's very encouraging for the future.

 

I know the Brewers lost last night, but with the young guys in Milwaukee and more on the way, it's time to start getting really excited about the Brewers and their immediate future.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes for Sunday (PDF format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars notebook (through Friday)

By Paul Gattis, Huntsville Times

 

Covering the bases

 

The good news for the Stars is that they expect to get two pitchers back from the disabled list later this week.

 

The bad news is that it will require some shuffling of the roster.

 

Righty Dennis Sarfate (blister) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday in Mobile against the BayBears. He will take the roster spot vacated by Dana Eveland, who was promoted last week to Milwaukee -- the first Star to make the big leagues this season.

 

Stars manager Don Money also said that reliever Alec Zumwalt, acquired from Atlanta as part of the trade that sent Brewers closer Dan Kolb to the Braves, will likely be activated in the next few days as he recovers from a broken non-throwing hand.

 

"When that happens, then we've got to do something (on the roster)," Money said. "And don't ask me, because I don't have the faintest clue. It all depends on what Reid Nichols (who oversees the Brewers farm system) wants to do -- if he wants to send a guy down or release somebody."

 

... Sarfate will assume the role of the ace in the rotation with Eveland's promotion. He is 7-5 with a 3.62 ERA and has gone at least six innings in 11 of his 17 starts.

 

... Money said reliever Jerome Gamble might have been ticketed for a promotion soon to Triple-A Nashville before blowing what would have been his fifth save in allowing two runs in the ninth to Carolina.

 

After battling an elbow injury, Gamble hadn't allowed a base runner in his first two appearances since coming off the disabled list. But his pitches were high in the strike zone Friday and he allowed three hits and two runs in an inning.

 

... Catcher John Vanden Berg showed signs Friday of snapping out of a slump in going 2-for-4 and driving in three runs. The RBIs were his first since June 15th and he came into the game just 12 for his last 63 (.190). Vanden Berg splits time with Jeff Winchester at catcher.

 

"As long as they handle the pitchers and throw out guys once in a while, that's their job," Money said.

 

.... Money has been spending some of his time away from the ballpark recently trying to get his life back in order after his wallet was stolen out of the clubhouse during a game last month at Mobile's Hank Aaron Stadium. It's enough to make Money wonder why at several Southern League stadiums, including in Mobile, the clubhouses are beyond the outfield wall and perhaps less secure.

 

At least the tiny clubhouses at Joe Davis Stadium are tucked safely underneath the stands and accessed by tunnels from the dugouts.

 

Around the league

 

Delmon Young, perhaps the league's top prospect, is a prospect no longer.

 

The Montgomery outfielder and younger brother of Detroit's Dmitri Young was called up to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last week. Delmon Young led the league in both homers (20) and RBIs (71) and was fourth in hitting (.336) when he was called up.

 

... The league, in fact, has done its job well this year - evidenced by the recent rash of promotions. In the last week, Carolina sent pitcher Jason Vargas to the Florida Marlins and Mississippi has sent former major leaguer Jay Powell to the Atlanta Braves along with Eveland's promotion to Milwaukee.

 

Just before the all-star break, Mississippi sent Jeff Francoeur to Atlanta and Birmingham sent Bobby Jenks to parent club Chicago White Sox.

 

... Mississippi also sent infielder Scott Thorman (second in league with 65 RBIs) to Triple-A Richmond along with infielder Jonathan Schuerholz (the son of Braves GM John Schuerholz).

 

... With all the promotions around the league, the Tennessee Smokies now boast the remaining league RBI leaders with Jesus Cota (63) and Dan Uggla (59). Of course, with a parent club like the St. Louis Cardinals, there's no rush to send prospects up the ladder.

 

Brewings

 

Triple-A Nashville (52-41, first place in Pacific Coast League's American North): Recently promoted Star Nelson Cruz is 14-for-29 (.483) with three home runs.

 

Single-A Brevard County (14-6, first place in Florida State League's East): P Tim Dillard is 7-7 with a 2.49 ERA.

 

Single-A West Virginia (9-11, tied for fourth place in South Atlantic League's Northern): P Robert Hinton has seven saves and a 2.81 ERA.

 

On deck

 

After today's 6:05 p.m. game against Carolina, the Stars head to Mobile for four games, then to Birmingham for three. They return home July 26 against West Tenn.

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Fort Myers (Twins) 2, Brevard County 0, after seven innings

RHP Luis Pena outstanding, but not outstanding enough, with a seven-inning stint thus far...

[shelmark]

Nice article from Huntsville Times but I'm not sure they are correct on the promotion of Delmon Young. It was my understanding he was moved to AAA, not Tampa.

[Kraft4a3]

No Prince for Nashville? Is everything ok? Just a day off?

[shelmark]

Fielder was not in the lineup yesterday either. Hopefully something minor. Is something wrong with Krynzel or is he catching a plane to St. Louis?

[brettac1]

Nice article from Huntsville Times but I'm not sure they are correct on the promotion of Delmon Young. It was my understanding he was moved to AAA, not Tampa.

 

He's in Durham.

[SheetsCyYoung04]

Five Walks for Rogers, A stolen base in the first off Salome..... yawnhttp://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tired.gif

[H0FFY]

Am I allowed to be grumpy at Rogers. His team spots him a 3 run lead and he starts walking guys. Mind you, the three runs he gave up were unearned. But you cannot walk more guys than you strike out.

 

I wonder why he is so wild. I know the competition is different to Maine, but the plate must be the same size, the mound about the same height, and the distance somewhere between 50 and 70 feet.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Fort Myers (Twins) 2, Brevard County 0

 

Game Summary from the Miracle's Site:

 

Harben Dazzles in Complete Game Shutout

VIERA, FL ? Adam Harben?s last outing was in the sweltering afternoon heat in Southwest Florida and he lasted just four innings due to fatigue. That start must have prepared him for the heat at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday afternoon as he went the distance hurling a five-hit, complete game shutout as the Fort Myers Miracle blanked the Brevard County Manatees 2-0.

 

Harben, who nearly no-hit the Manatees on May 29 at Hammond Stadium, going 7.1 innings before giving up a single to Travis Ezi, lost the no-hit bid early on. He gave up a two-out double to Drew Anderson in the first. Adam Heether followed with an infield single, but Anderson took too wide of a turn around third and was tagged out in a run down.

 

Harben allowed a one-out single to Steve Sollman in the third and didn?t allow another hit until the eighth. He gave up a lead off bunt single to Wandel Campana in the eighth, followed by a single to center by C.J. Medlin that put runners at first and second. Sollman sacrificed the runners over, but Harben got Ezi to ground out to first and Ozzie Chavez to ground out to second to end the inning without any damage. Harben walked just one Manatee hitter while striking out six for the second Miracle nine-inning, complete game shutout of the season. Glen Perkins pitched the other one on June 16 vs. Clearwater.

 

The Miracle offense gave Harben all the support he needed in the third. Angelo Fermin led off with a walk. He moved to second on a sac bunt by Matt Tolbert and went to third on a ground out by Ron Perodin. Fermin then scored on a wild pitch.

 

The Miracle got an insurance run in the sixth when Perodin collected one of his four hits on the day with an infield single to third. He advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman Heether. Trent Oeltjen then singled home Perodin. Perodin was 4-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Brock Peterson also collected a hit to extend his hitting streak to 13, tying the Miracle season high with Denard Span.

 

The same two teams meet Monday night at Space Coast Stadium at 7:00 p.m. (6:00 Central). The Miracle send RHP Jay Rainville, making his first start with the Miracle since being called up from Beloit, to the hill against Manatees RHP Ben Diggins (0-0, 2.08).

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Sometimes you just tip your cap, huh?

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Albuquerque (Marlins) 5, Nashville 2

 

Nashville Box Score:

Absolutely terrible defense behind Gary Glover here -- details from the Sounds' site soon...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[iifan]

Anyone else listening to the Huntsville game, and hear the interview with Doug Melvin?

I can summarize it, but it will take a few minutes.

[Mass Haas]

It's 8:40 Central, they've been playing for four hours in Hagerstown -- check it out if you're around:

 

In progress: West Virginia 5, Hagerstown (Mets) 5, after 11 innings

Justin Barnes excellent in relief; Hasan Rasheed had to leave the game in the 5th after being hit by a pitch...

[Mass Haas]

Anyone else listening to the Huntsville game, and hear the interview with Doug Melvin?

 

Go for it, iifan -- I've got the Power game on...

[iifan]

This is a summary -- Brent Pollock interviewed Doug Melvin for about 3 innings, and they talked about a variety of topics, though not much about specific players.

 

Interleague play-- He likes it, especially how it has increased attendance at games, and particularly with rival teams. He thinks that keeping count of American League vs. National League wins will further increase interest in the games and the rivalries, and maybe this count could be used as a basis for determining home field advantage in the World Series. He cited the Yankees' series in Milwaukee as being a particularly exciting series, and pointed out that the Brewers won two of those three games, proving that the size of the payroll isn't everything.

 

Washington series -- The Brewers also won 3 out of 4 from Washington, showing that the Brewers are competitive with teams that most people consider to be "better". He says our hitting is coming around, and that we have players with "good talent" who are "hard workers".

 

Pitching -- The team feels that all of the starters have a chance to win every game, and they have confidence in all 5 of the starters. The deal to get Okha was a good deal. Quality pitching is absolutely necessary if a team wants to play "small ball" -- the White Sox are an example of a team who is doing a good job with this. Mike Maddux is doing a great job with the pitchers, both starters and relievers, working on mechanics, etc..

 

Defense -- The Brewers are putting a lot of emphasis on defense. They have been using an "exaggerated defense", meaning that they are positioning players on the field more aggressively (? I didn't entirely understand what he meant by this?). He cited stats saying that the Brewers have made 8% more plays, meaning that they get to the ball 8% more times, to attempt to make a play on it rather than the ball just going for a hit. This does mean that they are making more errors than other teams too, but he still is pleased with how the fielders are getting to the ball more often because of how they are positioned on the field. The Brewers have a team of interns who chart other teams' games off the tv every day, making note of how other teams' hitters are hitting off pitchers who are similar to Brewers' pitchers, and this information has also helped the Brewers' defense.

 

Player Development-- Signing bonuses have been around for 30+ years, and they don't directly affect how the management treats the individual players. However, they do spend a lot of money on player development, so they do like to actually see several of their players be able to advance to the major league team. In the lower minors, the emphasis is placed on teaching, work habits, practice habits, media relations. In AA and AAA, the emphasis is more on how and when to make adjustments in hitting and pitching.

 

Draft -- He feels that it is best to draft the best players available, whether they are in college or high school. He doesn't use the Moneyball approach, but says that it is just a different philosophy, which is not for everyone, anymore than other philosophies of the game are not for everyone -- the example he cited being the "sacrifice bunt" vs "never ever sacrifice an out" philosophies.

 

Pitch counts -- Yes, pitch counts are getting more emphasis now than they used to, and this is good if it helps to prevent injuries. But it has to be individualized, depending particularly on a pitcher's mechanics. Those with better mechanics could be allowed to have higher pitch counts.

 

Relief pitchers -- He doesn't like the trend towards using a lot of relief pitchers in games. He feels that using more pitchers will increase the chance that you will call in a pitcher who is having an off day that day. The piggy-back system that is used (by other teams too) in the low minors gives young pitchers the experience of pitching in the 8th or 9th innings espcially in tight games. Some young pitchers (he cited Dana Eveland as an example) have had very little experience pitching in those late innings, so if they get to the majors and are asked to come in as a reliever, they haven't had the experience of being in that kind of a tight situation. That being said, he did specifically say that he thought Eveland would remain a starter. He feels that designating one reliever as the "closer" is better than the "committee" approach, particularly as it shows that the team has confidence in that one designated pitcher.

 

Parra -- he was having a good year, and they want to be cautious with his shoulder.

 

***

That's what I heard him say. Anyone else? Did I miss anything? Or mis-hear anything? Please add or correct as necessary.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Fielder Homers But Sounds Drop 3rd Straight

NASHVILLE ? The Albuquerque Isotopes handed the Sounds their third straight loss on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium, registering a 5-2 victory against Nashville in the finale of a four-game series.

 

With the victory, Albuquerque (52-43) earned a split of the 16-game season series between the clubs and posted a three-games-to-one win of the weekend series at Greer. Nashville (52-43), which has lost three straight games for the first time since early June, now holds a three-game lead over second-place Memphis in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Nashville committed a season-high four errors in the contest, all behind starter Gary Glover. Ten of the 16 runs allowed by the right-hander this season have been unearned.

 

Derek Wathan put the visitors on the board in the top of the second inning with a two-run homer to right off Nashville starter Gary Glover, his second longball in as many at-bats against Sounds pitching. The Albuquerque second baseman mashed a game-winning three-run homer in the eighth inning on Saturday evening. Sunday?s homer was Wathan?s fifth of the season. Both runs in the inning were unearned following a throwing error by Sounds third baseman Chris Barnwell earlier in the frame.

 

The Isotopes increased the lead to 3-0 in the third on Joe Dillon?s two-out RBI triple to center and added a pair of runs in the sixth to up the advantage to 5-0.

 

Sounds first baseman Prince Fielder broke up the Isotopes? shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out, two-run homer to right off reliever Matt Perisho. The roundtripper was his team-leading 17th of the season.

 

Audio link to Prince Fielder's home run:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-17.mp3

 

Albuquerque starter Jeff Fulchino (7-6) earned the victory after allowing six hits and striking out six over 5 2/3 scoreless innings of work. Glover (2-1) took the loss after surrendering five runs (three earned) and fanning seven batters in his six frames.

 

The Sounds continue their homestand on Monday evening by welcoming the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds to Greer Stadium for the 7 p.m. opener of a four-game series. Left-hander Jeff Housman (3-7, 5.28) takes the hill for Nashville to face Redbirds right-hander Chris Gissell (7-5, 2.62).

[H0FFY]

super 'ii', thanks. I like especially

 

He thinks that keeping count of American League vs. National League wins will further increase interest in the games and the rivalries, and maybe this count could be used as a basis for determining home field advantage in the World Series

 

The Brewers are putting a lot of emphasis on defense. They have been using an "exaggerated defense", meaning that they are positioning players on the field more aggressively

 

He feels that using more pitchers will increase the chance that you will call in a pitcher who is having an off day that day.

 

He feels that designating one reliever as the "closer" is better than the "committee" approach, particularly as it shows that the team has confidence in that one designated pitcher.

 

 

I dont say I agree with all, but I am interested Doug is so clear on his views.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Audio Plays of the Week:

The Marvin the Martian version...

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-17.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 8, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Johnson Pitches Mudcats Past Stars

Josh Johnson worked seven strong innings and got home run support from Michael Tucker and Reggie Abercrombie in Carolina?s 8-2 win over Huntsville Sunday night in the final game of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats took two out of three to improve to 12-9 and move back into first place in the North Division, one half game in front of West Tenn and a full game ahead of the 12-11 Stars. The Mudcats won nine of the 14 games between the two teams this year and won the season series for a fourth straight year and for the ninth time in their 15-year history.

 

Tucker?s two-run home run in the second staked the visitors to the early lead and marked the third straight night that Carolina scored first on a long ball. Abercrombie belted a solo home run in the third inning and Frank Moore, who collected three hits for a second night in a row, singled home Chris Bass with two outs in the frame to make it 4-0.

 

Jeremy Hermida scored on a passed ball and Bass drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend the Carolina advantage to 6-0. Josh Habel was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits over four innings in his first start with the Stars. The southpaw had appeared in 10 games in relief before being sent to high class-A Brevard County to work as a starter. He went 5-4 with a 2.56 earned run average in 11 starts with the Manatees before rejoining the Huntsville club on Friday.

 

Johnson blanked the Stars on two hits before allowing a run in the seventh on a bases loaded single by Callix Crabbe that plated Vinny Rottino, who had walked. The right-hander worked out of further trouble by inducing John Vanden Berg to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Johnson lasted seven innings for a fifth time on the season and earned his eighth win of the season and second against the Stars.

 

Carolina finished the game with 13 hits, totaled 34 in the three-game set and reached double figures in hits in each game after going 19 straight games without back-to-back games with at least 10 hits. The Mudcats scored 19 runs in the series, nine of which came on home runs.

 

The Stars begin a seven-game road trip Monday in Mobile with right-hander David Bradley taking the hill for the Stars in the opener of the four-game series against BayBears right-hander Brian Whitaker. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Brad Nelson with two more base hits, both singles, continuing his amazing Huntsville run (.436, 24-for-55, ten walks)

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1