Link Report for Games of Thursday, June 30th

If you expected the Nashville Sounds to have already played their nearest Pacific Coast League rival, Memphis, by this juncture of the schedule, then you're probably not all that familiar with the PCL.

"It is odd, no doubt," said Dave Chase, president/general manager of the Memphis Redbirds. "But the PCL is odd in and of itself."

Odd, yet consistent. Three other sets of divisions rivals, each located less than three hours apart, went fairly deeply into June before meeting or still have yet to meet. Tacoma and Portland played for the first time on June 13, Omaha and Iowa on June 25. Sacramento and Fresno don't meet for the first time until July 8.

The 144-game PCL schedule finally brings Nashville and Memphis together for a four-game series beginning tonight at Greer Stadium. It is the 81st game for the Sounds, the 80th for the Redbirds.

While admitting the schedule is full of quirks, PCL President Branch Rickey III said it is so for a number of reasons.

"The July 4 break does have an impact," he said. "The College World Series (which forces Omaha into 16 consecutive road dates) has a big impact. Doing our in-division and out-of-division travel ... all those are packed into certain times of the year.

"Someday down the road, if the College World Series wasn't such a factor, we might have a greater ability to loosen up some dates as far as playing some of those closer rivals. There are so many factors that come to bear that it's very difficult to appreciate all of them that do come into play."

Although it may appear more feasible to spread out the series against close geographic rivals, Rickey, Chase and Sounds GM Glenn Yaeger all agree it may play to some teams' advantage to compress meetings into the later portion of the schedule.

"Ideally, I'd think you'd want ? in a real horse race ? to play your closest rivals late, so you can come down to a barnburner of a finish," Rickey said.

Following this weekend's four-game series, the Sounds play host to Memphis again after the all-star break. The two teams also play a pair of four-game sets in Memphis in August.

"It sets up great for the second half," said Yaeger, whose team comes into tonight with a 2½-game lead over Memphis in the American Conference's Northern Division race.

"It's great to be playing your in-state rival so much down the stretch and battling for first place."

Yaeger's view of the Memphis games contributing to a spirited second-half race, though, are the views of someone with a talent for making lemonade out of lemons.

"Memphis is one of the few geographic rivalries we can have, being in the PCL," he said.

"It always helps attendance and interest when we play them. I'd rather play them on a more consistent basis. I think our fans would prefer to see teams that have a geographic relevance to Nashville.

"If I made out the schedule, we'd be playing Memphis, Louisville, Indianapolis, Toledo, Columbus, Richmond and Iowa."

Of those teams, only two are members of the PCL. The remaining five are in the International League, which begs another question: Is it time for Nashville and Memphis to consider a move to the IL?

"I don't make that decision," Yaeger said.

"I think our fans would prefer that. We're all about pleasing our fans. Hopefully we're always looking to enhance our relationship with Major League Baseball and our fans, and hopefully that's something we'd seriously look at."

As for the matter at hand, Chase chooses not to get too caught up in when his Redbirds play whom.

"I try not to burn too many brain cells worrying about the schedule," he said.

"Maybe the fans notice it, but at the end of the day, I know we'll play them 16 times and we'll see what happens."

Maurice Patton covers the Nashville Sounds for The Tennessean. He can be reached at mopatton@tennessean.com.

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Heading into Thursday's activity:

 AM-NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]NASHVILLE SOUNDS (MILWAUKEE) 43 37 .538[/b] MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (ST.LOUIS) 40 39 .506 2.5 OMAHA ROYALS (KANSAS CITY) 38 42 .475 5.0 IOWA CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 37 43 .463 6.0

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 5 3 .625[/b] CAROLINA MUDCATS (FLORIDA) 4 3 .571 .5 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 4 4 .500 1.0 TENNESSEE SMOKIES (ARIZONA) 3 5 .375 2.0 CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS (CINCINNATI) 3 5 .375 2.0

 EAST DIVISION W L PCT GB ST. LUCIE METS (NEW YORK METS) 5 3 .625 [b]BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (MILWAUKEE) 5 3 .625[/b] VERO BEACH DODGERS (LOS ANGELES DODGERS) 4 3 .571 .5 PALM BEACH CARDINALS (ST.LOUIS) 4 4 .500 1.0 DAYTONA CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 3 5 .375 2.0 JUPITER HAMMERHEADS (FLORIDA) 2 5 .286 2.5

 NORTHERN DIVISION W L PCT GB LEXINGTON LEGENDS (HOUSTON) 4 2 .667 LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS (PHILADELPHIA) 4 2 .667 HICKORY CRAWDADS (PITTSBURGH) 4 2 .667 [b]WEST VIRGINIA POWER (MILWAUKEE) 3 3 .500 1.0[/b] GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS (FLORIDA) 3 3 .500 1.0 DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS (BALTIMORE) 3 3 .500 1.0 LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS (CLEVELAND) 2 4 .333 2.0 HAGERSTOWN SUNS (NEW YORK METS) 2 4 .333 2.0

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 7 1 .875[/b] BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 7 1 .875 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 1 7 .125 6.0 GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 1 7 .125 6.0

Accurate Arizona League standings unavailable.

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Nashville Media Notes for Thursday (PDF Format):

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

The Arizona Brewers are averaging one fan in attendance per game thus far through their three home dates -- a season ticket holder, no doubt http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif :

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

homer · June 30, 2005

Jeez, my softball team is averaging six!

Brian the Automator · June 30, 2005

Here's the lower grandstand:

http://www.catkin.org/chair2.jpg

pogokat · June 30, 2005

ty with 8 k's through 4...holy crap

homer · June 30, 2005

Now Ty's got 11 through 6.

Branyan's in the OF and Hart is at 1st in the Nashville game.

ja002h · June 30, 2005

Seriously, Ty and Villy need to go.

zape40 · June 30, 2005

He goes by the name of tauby watched him in high school and college. I believe he's signed thru this year only. need to lock him up

Diskono · June 30, 2005

Brad Nelson 2-2 with 2 doubles and a walk so far, Nelson Cruz 2-4 with a double and a dinger. So far, so good.

Brian the Automator · June 30, 2005

[ He goes by the name of tauby watched him in high school and college. I believe he's signed thru this year only. need to lock him up ]

Minor league players don't need to be locked up, as teams have exclusive rights to them for 3 years, then an additonal 3 years on the 40-man, then an additional 6 years before they can declare major league free agency. So, no worries there http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif .

ThePurpleStorm · June 30, 2005

Quote:
Brad Nelson 2-2 with 2 doubles and a walk so far, Nelson Cruz 2-4 with a double and a dinger. So far, so good.

Awesome to see Cruz picking up where he left off. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Brian the Automator · June 30, 2005

7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K for Taubenheim giving him a 2.61 ERA overall. 102 Innings is a pretty good sample size....

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Final: Arizona Royals 15, Arizona Brewers 7

Baby Brewers fall to 1-6...

Arizona Box Score:

Sloppy first inning behind and for just-turned 18-year-old Canadian RHP Alexandre Periard; only 94 degrees today...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1

Arizona Game Log:

Historians could tell us, but we don't remember the last winning record for the Brewers' Arizona Rookie squad -- not even for a half-season, it seems...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1

SheetsCyYoung04 · June 30, 2005

Branyan only got 2 AB's was it injury related? Did he enter or leave the game?

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 5, West Virginia 4

West Virginia Box Score:

Power outhit 13-7; Grant Richardson stays hot, HR # 6 and a walk; two assists in RF for Will Lewis -- and they weren't cutoff throw assists, either, but direct; tough night for starter Yo Gallardo...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

West Virginia Game Log:

Looks like Tony Festa made too wide a turn at first base in the 4th...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

Diskono · June 30, 2005

Maybe Branyan is on his way to Milwaukee.

Also, (Brad) Nelson just hit a dinger.

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Final: Brevard County 4, St. Lucie (Mets) 0

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

TY CRUISES, MANATEES STAY HOT

VIERA, FL ? Ty Taubenheim whiffed 12 Mets and allowed only three hits while the offense got him all the support he would need as the Manatees swam past the Mets 4-0 Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium taking over sole possession of first place in the FSL East.

Taubenheim, who was just named Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June, strolled through seven innings of work striking out the side in the fourth inning to pick up his tenth win of the year. Ty is now 10-2 with an ERA of just 2.61 in 15 starting appearances. Nic Slack would come in and pitch two innings to preserve the shutout and notch his third save of the year.

But the starting pitching, which has been strong all season, is not the only thing winning games for the Manatees. Brevard batsmen collected nine hits while scoring four runs in support of Taubenheim and Slack.

Ozzie Chavez started off the run support with a lead-off double in the sixth and would score on an Adam Heether's sac-fly after he was moved to third on a ground out. Heether was followed by a single by Lou Palmisano who is hitting .368 in his last five games. A wild pitch would move Lou to second and he was brought home on an RBI double by Jeff Eure putting the ?Tees up 2-0. It was all the offense they would need but they did look to add some cushion in the bottom of the eighth.

Heether ripped a one-out drive to center that he would leg into a double to put him in scoring position for Palmisano. Lou would answer with a line shot to the left field corner that would score Heether and put him on third with a triple. Eure followed him up with his second RBI of the game on a single to center that allowed Palmisano to score easily.

The Manatees look to stay hot against the St. Lucie Mets on Friday with the final game of their three game series starting at 7:00 (6:00 Central). Tim Dillard looks to continue his recent success as he takes the hill for Brevard. Dillard is 2-0 and has not allowed a run while striking out 11 in his last two outings.

Brevard County Box Score:

Five of nine Manatee hits for extra-bases; it would be nice if Lou Palmisano could maintain his recent hot streak for an extended period; Ty Taubenheim had struck out only 59 in 93 innings coming into this one, so tonight's performance was unusually dominant in that regard...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

Brevard County Game Log:

Nick Slack retired Jonathan Slack to end the game -- any relation?

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Haven't a had a chance to listen yet while tuning in to a tight, entertaining Helena game, but:

Nashville Pre-Game Audio with Manager Frank Kremblas:

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-30.mp3

FVBrewerFan · June 30, 2005

Who is this Hammond guy twirling for Helena? 9 Ks in 3 innings?!?! Holy schneikies is that a typo?

Mass Haas · June 30, 2005

Final: Nashville 6, Memphis (Cardinals) 3

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Nelson Cruz looking good in his Stars uniform, text follows --

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1663

Sounds 'Cruz' Past Redbirds, Win 6-3

NASHVILLE ? New Sounds outfielder Nelson Cruz belted an opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel Nashville to a 6-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

With the win, Nashville (44-37) increased its lead over the Redbirds to a season-high 3 ½ games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division. The victory was the Sounds? 12th this season in games that they trailed in the seventh inning or later.

Cruz, making his Nashville debut after being promoted from Double-A Huntsville on Wednesday, enjoyed a strong evening, going 2-for-4 with a pair of extra-base hits and three RBIs.

Memphis center fielder Skip Schumaker led off the game with his fifth home run of the season, a solo homer to left off Sounds starter Gary Glover. The Redbirds doubled the lead with an unearned run in the fourth when Scott Seabol scored on an RBI single from John Nelson.

Redbirds catcher Cody McKay slugged his first longball of the season in the top of the fifth off Glover to extend the visitors? lead to 3-0.

Nashville jumped on the board in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back doubles by rehabbing Russell Branyan and new Sound Cruz, whose RBI two-bagger off Memphis starter Bill Pulsipher was his first knock in a Nashville uniform and made it a 3-1 contest.

The Sounds exploded for three runs off Pulsipher in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 4-3 lead. Third baseman Chris Barnwell pulled Nashville within a run at 3-2 with an RBI double into the left field corner that scored Corey Hart, whose inning-opening single extended his hitting streak to nine games. Cruz followed with his first home run in a Sounds uniform, an opposite-field two-run shot to right-center that propelled the Sounds into the lead. The roundtripper was the outfielder?s 17th of the season, following a team-leading 16 with Double-A Huntsville.

Audio Link of Nelson Cruz's HR:

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-30.mp3

Hart, who finished 2-for-4 to record his team-leading 26th multi-hit game of the year, padded the Sounds? lead with a one-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth that made it 6-3.

Nashville reliever Clint Weibl (1-2) earned his first victory of the season and it came against the team with which he spent parts of six seasons from 1998-2003. The right-hander tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Pulsipher (2-3) took the loss after surrendering four runs over his seven frames of work.

Jose Capellan extended his scoreless innings streak as a reliever to 11 frames as he recorded his fourth save after closing the contest by recording the final four outs.

Sounds starter Glover, who allowed two earned runs in six innings, hurled his third consecutive quality start but took his third straight no-decision.

The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Friday evening at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (4-6, 4.17) takes the hill for Nashville to face Memphis right-hander Chris Gissell (6-5, 2.90). It will be Turn Back The Clock Day at Greer Stadium. Both teams will wear replica uniforms of those worn by baseball players from their respective cities during the late 1800s.

Nashville Box Score:

Corey Hart 14-for-20 in SB attempts; Jose Capellan's save was scoreless, but not clean...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Nashville Game Log:

Capellan drew a leadoff walk and scored an insurance run in the 8th...

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Link Report for Games of Thursday, June 30th

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