Link Report for Games of Friday 6/18 -- Helena Opening Night

[MassBrew]

Time to loosen our belts because the Daily Menu is expanding!

 

Pioneer League action begins, but the news isn't all rosy. We'll hope for a big turnaround because we gave the Helena ownership a mulligan for their web site coverage last year. New local radio announcer Steve Wendt will be calling all 76 Brewer games, and hopefully will be able to provide timely game summaries on the Helena site.

 

I say "local" radio announcer because once again, there is no apparent web coverage of the Brewer broadcasts on KCAP-AM. This is disappointing, because we reminded Helena management this winter that the local pro hockey team, the Helena Bighorns, also are covered by KCAP-AM, but choose to have SportsJuice provide a web feed as well. I have no idea what SportsJuice charges teams to carry the games, but it's disappointing that Helena management didn't choose to go that route as long as the games are being covered -- heck, Doug Melvin, pitch in some coin from that revenue-sharing pool!

 

If I'm mistaken in these comments, sorry in advance (and don't get me going on Beloit coverage again.) I'm sure it's especially frustrating for friends and families of the new Brewers, but in most cases, there will be the opponent's audio web feed -- it's just not all it could be. That was a loss from the Ogden-to-Helena transition, as we're all interested to learn more about the new kids on the Brewer block. Anyway, on to today's action:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed...

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Paul Stewart at Durham (Devil Rays), 6:00 PM; Stew gets to pitch in front of his hometown fans, and against the organization that released him this spring...

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Bulls' feed):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...ame=dbulls

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Dennis Sarfate at Birmingham (White Sox), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Bo Hall at home vs. San Jose (Giants), 9:05 PM; will the Mavs' feed be active tonight? The Giants' next audio feed isn't until Saturday, so we'll hope so...

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Greg Moreira at Quad City (Twins), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link (Swing's feed):

www.swingbaseball.com/live/

 

HELENA: TBD at Billings (Reds), 8:00 PM

 

Audio link (Mustangs' feed):

www.billingsmustangs.com/

[brewfan]

Kloosterman starting tonight

[MassBrew]

Final: Durham (Devil Rays) 11, Indianapolis 6

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Paul Stewart hit hard; Tribe draws eight walks in addition to their nine base hits, but on a night when they finally score six, the pitching faltered...

 GAME DATE: 6/18/04 IND at DUR INDIANAPOLIS 6 AT DURHAM 11 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG DURHAM AB R H BI AVG P.Bergeron CF 4 1 1 0 .227 C.Gipson CF 5 1 2 2 .313 M.Erickson DH 4 1 1 3 .246 B.Upton SS 4 1 0 0 .308 C.Magruder LF 5 0 2 1 .264 M.Cummings LF 4 1 1 0 .316 C.Hart RF 4 0 1 0 .282 M.Diaz RF 5 2 2 5 .317 M.Johnson 1B 4 0 0 0 .257 J.Gomes DH 3 2 1 0 .263 C.Coste CAT 3 0 0 0 .286 J.Sandberg 1B 4 2 2 0 .232 L.Figueroa 2B 4 1 1 0 .262 P.LaForest CAT 3 1 0 0 .199 T.Durrington 3B 4 1 1 1 .091 J.Maxwell 3B 4 1 2 2 .257 S.Scarbrough SS 3 2 2 0 .233 L.Ordaz 2B 4 0 1 0 .237 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Ritchie PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Phelps PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 M.Carnes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Seay PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Fortunato PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 6 9 5 TOTALS 36 11 11 9 INDIANAPOLIS 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0- 6 9 3 DURHAM 4 0 5 0 0 0 2 0 X-11 11 1 E--C.Hart, T.Durrington, T.Phelps, M.Cummings. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 0, DURHAM 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 11, DURHAM 5. 2B--S.Scarbrough (13), J.Sandberg 2 (11), J.Maxwell (3). 3B--C.Magruder (4). HR--M.Erickson (2), T.Durrington (1), M.Diaz 2 (9). SB--S.Scarbrough (1). HBP--M.Cummings, J.Gomes. SH--T.Durrington. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS P.Stewart (L,0-2) 2.1 6 7 6 1 3 2 10.80 T.Phelps 3.2 3 2 0 1 1 0 5.53 D.Reichert 2.0 2 2 2 0 3 0 2.68 DURHAM T.Ritchie 4.0 7 5 4 4 3 2 8.25 M.Carnes 2.0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2.40 B.Seay (W,2-1) 2.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.21 B.Fortunato 1.0 0 0 0 3 1 0 2.52 HB--P.Stewart, D.Reichert. WP--T.Ritchie, B.Fortunato. SO--P.Bergeron, C.Magruder, C.Hart, T.Durrington, C.Gipson, B.Upton 2, M.Cummings, M.Diaz 2, L.Ordaz. BB--P.Bergeron, M.Erickson, C.Hart, M.Johnson, C.Coste 2, L.Figueroa, S.Scarbrough, B.Upton, P.LaForest. T--2:46. A--10005.

Indianapolis Game Log:

Must admit I didn't realize Todd Ritchie was still bouncing around; first four baserunners scored on a grand slam in the first against Stewart; Tribe defense also poor tonight...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14182

[MassBrew]

Final: Quad Cities (Twins) 7, Beloit 4

 

Beloit Box Score:

Adam Heether homers and walks; LHP Greg Kloosterman's return brief, planned that way, obviously...

 BELOIT 4 AT QUAD CITY 7 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG QUAD CITY AB R H BI AVG T.Trofholz RF 5 0 1 0 .309 J.Taylor SS 3 1 0 0 .297 S.Moss CF 4 1 1 0 .200 J.Arneson CF 2 0 0 0 .252 D.Anderson LF 3 0 1 0 .272 B.Peterson DH 3 0 1 1 .256 L.Palmisano CAT 4 0 1 0 .305 O.Burgos 3B 3 1 0 0 .281 V.Rottino DH 3 1 1 1 .298 D.Gomon 1B 4 1 1 1 .199 A.Heether 3B 3 2 1 1 .266 M.Zamojc LF 3 2 0 0 .221 C.Corporan 1B 3 0 0 0 .261 S.Whitrock RF 4 2 3 3 .244 W.Lewis 2B 4 0 1 2 .425 J.Johnson CAT 4 0 0 0 .129 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 0 .188 P.Rutgers 2B 3 0 1 2 .225 G.Kloosterma PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Schutt PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Moreira PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Tautor PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 4 7 4 TOTALS 29 7 6 7 BELOIT 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0- 4 7 2 QUAD CITY 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 X- 7 6 0 E--G.Moreira 2. DP--BELOIT 1, QUAD CITY 0. LOB--BELOIT 6, QUAD CITY 4. 2B--S.Whitrock (7). 3B--P.Rutgers (1). HR--A.Heether (12), D.Gomon (6), S.Whitrock (8) . SB--T.Trofholz (22), W.Lewis (2). HBP--B.Peterson. SH--C.Corporan, O.Burgos. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT G.Kloosterma 1.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 8.87 G.Moreira (L,5-3) 6.1 5 6 3 2 8 2 4.21 QUAD CITY C.Schutt 7.0 6 4 4 3 4 1 3.93 P.Tautor (W,2-2) 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.67 HB--G.Moreira. WP--G.Kloosterma, C.Schutt 2. SO--T.Trofholz, S.Moss, D.Anderson, C.Corporan 2, J.Taylor, J.Arneson, O.Burgos 2, D.Gomon, M.Zamojc 2, S.Whitrock, P.Rutgers. BB--D.Anderson, V.Rottino, A.Heether, J.Taylor, J.Arneson 2, M.Zamojc. T--2:28. A--2603

Beloit Game Log:

RHP Greg Moreira's own error led to the tie-breaking HR that cost the Snappers dearly...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15013

[MassBrew]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 2, Huntsville 1

Gee, this isn't shaping up as a great night in the minors, is it? The man you want at the plate, two on, two out for Brad Nelson in the ninth, but not to be for the win...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Nice outing by Dennis Sarfate, despite his own costly error...

 HUNTSVILLE 1 AT BIRMINGHAM 2 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG A.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 0 .245 M.Spidale CF 4 0 1 0 .299 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .240 N.Martel LF 4 0 1 0 .304 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 0 0 .267 M.Morse SS 3 1 1 0 .287 B.Nelson RF 4 0 0 0 .283 B.Becker 1B 4 0 1 1 .444 R.Knox LF 3 1 1 0 .276 N.Murphy RF 4 0 0 0 .284 C.Barnwell 3B 3 0 1 0 .252 R.Sasser 3B 3 0 2 0 .232 J.Raburn DH 3 0 0 0 .257 C.Maldonado CAT 3 0 0 0 .251 O.Chavez SS 2 0 0 0 .202 T.Nicholson 2B 3 0 2 0 .362 J.Alvarado CAT 2 0 0 0 .143 C.Stewart DH 2 1 1 0 .241 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .133 E.Villacis PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 B.McNichol PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Bajenaru PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 1 3 0 TOTALS 30 2 9 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 3 1 BIRMINGHAM 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X- 2 9 1 E--D.Sarfate, E.Villacis. DP--HUNTSVILLE 2, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB-- HUNTSVILLE 3, BIRMINGHAM 6. CS--O.Chavez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE D.Sarfate (L,3-7) 7.0 9 2 1 2 4 0 4.71 F.Rijo 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.70 BIRMINGHAM E.Villacis 6.0 2 1 0 0 5 0 3.32 B.McNichol (W,3-1) 1.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.85 M.Smith 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.14 J.Bajenaru (S,10) 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1.01 BALKS--D.Sarfate. SO--A.Gwynn 2, R.Weeks 2, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, O.Chavez, J.Alvarado, B.Becker, N.Murphy 2, C.Maldonado 2, C.Stewart. BB--O.Chavez, J.Alvarado, M.Morse, C.Stewart. T--2:40. A--5487

Huntsville Game Log:

Prince Fielder had his chance in the ninth, too...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15652

[MassBrew]

In progress: Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 3, bottom of the sixth in Billings

Brewers parlay infield hits and walks to stage a tying rally in the 6th; listen in to Opening Night now that the big-league Brewers have put away Minnesota...

[MassBrew]

In progress: San Jose (Giants) 5, High Desert 0, after one inning

'Nuff said for now...

[MassBrew]

Final: Billings (Reds) 4, Helena 3

This was a heck of a minor league game, with both teams taking turns threatening and stranding runners; finally, a two-out error by SS Agustin Septimo in the bottom of the ninth allows the Mustangs to win; Alvaro Martinez started, Robbie Wooley was clutch in 3+ innings of relief, and Justin Wilson was the tough-luck loser; Grant Richardson was the offensive star, but was called out on a disputed called third strike in a clutch situation late...

[MassBrew]

Beloit Game Summary from the Quad Cities' Site:

 

Scott Whitrock blasted a three run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and Peter Tautor worked two scoreless innings as the Swing of the Quad Cities defeated the Beloit Snappers, 7-4, on Friday night at John O?Donnell Stadium. The win marked the Swing?s fourth in their last five games, and moved them to .500 (32-32) for the first time since May 16.

 

With the game tied, 4-4, enteriring the bottom of the eighth, Brock Peterson was hit by a pitch. Omar Burgos followed with a bunt, and a throwing error allowed him to reach base. With one out, Mark Zamojc bounced back to pitcher Greg Moreira, who elected to get the out at third rather than trying to start a double play. The decision proved to be a bad one as, on a 1-2 pitch, Whitrock ripped a curve onto the berm in left field for a 7-4 Swing lead.

 

Tautor worked a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win. The righty allowed only one hit in his two scoreless frames, and improves to 2-2 on the year.

 

The Swing jumped out to the early lead, taking advantage of wildness from Beloit starter Greg Kloosterman. JR Taylor and Justin Arneson walked to open the inning and, after a wild pitch, Brock Peterson?s groundball scored the first run of the game.

 

But the Snappers came on to take the lead in the next half-inning, as Vinny Rottino and Adam Heether each walked to open the inning. After a sacrifice bunt, William Lewis singled into left to score both runners.

 

Beloit added a run in the third frame, when Steve Moss opened with an infield single, and came home on a flare single from Rottino.

 

The Swing rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Down in the count 0-1, Dusty Gomon pulled a low-and-away fastball to the berm in left, a solo homer to slice the deficit to 3-2.

 

Mark Zamojc followed by reaching on a walk, and Scott Whitrock dropped down a bunt single. With two outs, Paul Rutgers hit a sinking line drive into right. Beloit?s Terry Trofholz made a diving effort, but the ball skipped under his glove and all the way to the wall, a two-run triple to put the Swing on top, 4-3.

 

But the Snappers tied it up in the top of the sixth, when Heether took a 2-0 pitch deep to left, his 12th homer of the season.

 

Chris Schutt worked seven strong innings for the Swing, allowing four runs on six hits to get no decision. The Swing righty has worked seven innings in each of his last three outings for Quad Cities.

 

NEXT HOME GAME: The Swing and Snappers continue the series on Saturday, as Adam Harben (2-4, 3.45) starts against Carlos Villanueva (5-5, 4.87). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and pregame coverage on Great Country 105 will begin at 6:45.

[MassBrew]

Final: San Jose (Giants) 8, High Desert 4

Affiliates go 0-for-Friday...

[MassBrew]

Helena Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/18/04 HEL at BIL HELENA 3 AT BILLINGS 4 YTD YTD HELENA AB R H BI AVG BILLINGS AB R H BI AVG H.Rasheed CF 3 1 2 0 .667 P.Gentry LF 5 0 0 0 .000 S.Sollmann 2B 2 0 0 0 .000 J.Mejia 2B 5 1 1 0 .200 A.Festa 3B 2 0 0 0 .000 B.Key 3B 3 2 1 0 .333 C.De La Cruz PH 1 0 0 0 .000 B.Roberts DH 3 0 1 0 .333 C.De La Cruz 3B 1 0 0 0 .000 R.Mosby 1B 4 0 2 2 .500 G.Richardson 1B 3 1 2 2 .667 W.Strait RF 5 1 2 0 .400 N.Corredor CAT 3 0 0 1 .000 C.Ziemendorf CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 A.Mannon RF 4 0 1 0 .250 T.Campos CF 3 0 2 1 .667 C.Lozada DH 4 0 0 0 .000 P.Janish SS 2 0 0 0 .000 D.Bates LF 4 0 1 0 .250 R.Ramirez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Escobar SS 2 1 0 0 .000 J.Meque PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Segura Cor PH 1 0 0 0 .000 A.Lingenfelt PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Septimo SS 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Martinez S PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Wooley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 3 6 3 TOTALS 33 4 9 3 HELENA 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0- 3 6 1 BILLINGS 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1- 4 9 0 E--A.Septimo. DP--HELENA 1, BILLINGS 0. LOB--HELENA 6, BILLINGS 13. 2B--A.Mannon (1), J.Mejia (1), T.Campos (1). HR--G.Richardson (1). SB--W.Strait (1). CS--H.Rasheed. HBP--C.Ziemendorf. SF--R.Mosby. SH--S.Sollmann, T.Campos. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HELENA A.Martinez S 3.2 3 2 2 3 7 0 4.91 R.Wooley 3.1 5 1 1 1 2 0 2.70 J.Wilson (L,0-1) 1.2 1 1 0 3 3 0 0.00 BILLINGS R.Ramirez 5.0 1 1 1 2 4 1 1.80 J.Meque 2.0 2 2 2 3 3 0 9.00 A.Lingenfelt (W,1-0) 2.0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 HB--R.Wooley. SO--S.Sollmann, C.De La Cruz, G.Richardson, A.Mannon, C.Lozada, D.Bates 3, A.Escobar, P.Gentry, J.Mejia, B.Roberts 2, R.Mosby 2, W.Strait 2, C.Ziemendorf 2, T.Campos, P.Janish. BB-- H.Rasheed, S.Sollmann, G.Richardson, N.Corredor, A.Escobar, B.Key 2, B.Roberts 2, C.Ziemendorf, P.Janish 2. T--2:50. A--3229

Helena Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=16519

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

 

Matt Diaz smashed two homers Friday night, driving in five runs, as the Durham Bulls smashed the Indianapolis Indians, 11-6.

 

Matt Erickson, the Tribe designated hitter, initiated the scoring in the first inning with a two-run homer, but Diaz hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the first off Tribe starter Paul Stewart to ignite the Bulls offense.

 

Durham jumped out to a 9-3 lead after three innings, but Indianapolis cut the margin to 9-6 after six, before the Bulls tallied the final two runs of the contest in the seventh.

 

Stewart (0-2) picked up the loss and Bobby Seay (2-1) earned the win.

 

Indianapolis falls to 33-33, while Durham improves to 36-30. The Tribe, now 3-5 on the road trip, travels to Buffalo Saturday to play the Bisons.

 

QUOTES:

 

Matt Diaz, Durham right fielder on home runs:

 

?When things are going right for you, you can feel comfortable to be aggressive at the plate,? said Diaz. ?I?ve been seeing the ball really well lately. In the first inning, I just wanted to get the ball up in the air. Fortunately, he got the pitch up and I hit it out. I felt like I was in the driver?s seat during my second home run. I was looking for a fastball and it was great to see it go. Tonight was a lot of fun and our crowds have really supported us during the series.?

 

NOTES:

 

Trent Durrington hit his first home run for the Tribe, since joining the team from Milwaukee, though he continues to struggle at the plate (.091 batting average).

 

The Tribe committed three errors in the game.

 

Ben Ford, on Major League rehab assignment from Milwaukee, is expected to pitch two innings on Saturday at Buffalo.

 

Erickson has hit in eight straight games and has a .419 batting average in his last 10 starts.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Box Score:

Giants' starter Merkin Valdez is one of the very top prospects in all of baseball, and he showed the Mavericks why in this one...

 GAME DATE: 6/18/04 SJ at HD SAN JOSE 8 AT HIGH DESERT 4 YTD YTD SAN JOSE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG F.Lewis CF 4 1 0 0 .313 C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 1 0 .297 A.LaBarbera 2B 5 1 3 2 .265 S.Candelaria 3B 4 1 1 1 .249 B.Vericker 1B 5 1 1 0 .291 D.Boyd LF 3 1 0 0 .297 D.Trumble LF 3 1 1 2 .290 T.Hinton 1B 4 1 1 0 .310 C.Sosa RF 5 1 1 0 .286 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 1 2 .310 B.Buscher DH 4 0 0 0 .226 J.Frost RF 3 1 1 0 .261 N.Schierholt 3B 3 2 2 1 .250 M.Mendez CF 4 0 1 1 .222 S.Holm CAT 2 1 1 1 .232 E.Henderson DH 4 0 0 0 .143 A.Hornostaj SS 4 0 1 2 .236 E.Cruz SS 4 0 0 0 .186 M.Valdez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Pannone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Breslow PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Garcia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 8 10 8 TOTALS 34 4 6 4 SAN JOSE 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1- 8 10 0 HIGH DESERT 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0- 4 6 0 DP--SAN JOSE 0, HIGH DESERT 0. LOB--SAN JOSE 6, HIGH DESERT 5. 2B--N.Schierholt (2), S.Holm (4), C.Crabbe (12), J.Vanden ber (11), J.Frost (8). 3B--N.Schierholt (1). HR--D.Trumble (16), S.Candelaria (3). SB--F.Lewis (17), A.LaBarbera (3), J.Frost (5), M.Mendez 2 (3). CS--N.Schierholt. HBP--F.Lewis. SF--D.Trumble. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SAN JOSE M.Valdez (W,3-0) 6.0 1 0 0 1 5 0 1.27 A.Pannone 1.2 5 4 4 1 3 1 5.08 J.Garcia (S,1) 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.16 HIGH DESERT B.Hall (L,3-5) 6.0 9 7 7 2 6 0 6.00 C.Breslow 2.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 8.00 N.Slack 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 5.90 HB--B.Hall. WP--M.Valdez. SO--F.Lewis, B.Vericker 3, D.Trumble 2, S.Holm, A.Hornostaj, C.Crabbe 2, D.Boyd, T.Hinton, J.Vanden ber, J.Frost, M.Mendez 2, E.Henderson. BB--D.Trumble, N.Schierholt, S.Holm 2, D.Boyd, J.Frost. T--2:33. A--2142

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17915

[950opsLHcatcher]

Why is the heck is Eric Henderson still DHing?

 

Reid, you @$%*!

[batman]

I think ezBoard just ate my post... I don't feel like re-typing, but basically it came down to...

 

Toby: Why is the heck is Eric Henderson still DHing?

 

Me: ***? Hello, Reid?

 

That about covers it.

 

~Bill

[950opsLHcatcher]

Even with my bad grammar (caught in the heat of the moment and whatnot)...

 

You have Henderson, who is NOT a potential conversion propspect hitting DH for the Mavs tonight, and you have Huntsville pitchers repeatedly having to hit longer than necessary, and at times PHing. Not to mention Fielder having to STAY IN THE GAME AFTER BEING INJURED. Caps lock time. You know that when I bring the caps lock noise, it is serious.

 

REID! REID! WAKE UP!

 

REID!

 

REID!

 

I KNOW SOMEONE IN THE BREWERS' HEIRARCHY IS READING THIS. SOMEONE GO TELL REID.

 

I DON'T CARE IF THIS COMES DOWN TO A LACK OF ROSTER SPOTS OR IMPENDING RETURNS OF CURRENT PLAYERS. THE FACT THAT MULTIPLE AFFILATES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR PLAYERS, ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE BREWERS ORGANIZATION CAN NOT FIND ENOUGH PLAYERS TO FILL SPOTS IS @#%$ RIDICULOUS.

 

THERE IS NO GOOD REASON, NO GOOD REASON AT ALL, FOR ERIC HENDERSON TO BE DHING. THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR JEFF HOUSMAN TO BE PHING.

 

THESE ARE PITCHING PROSPECTS. REPEAT AFTER ME: PITCHING PROSPECTS. THERE IS NO MASTER PLAN TO TEACH ALL OF THESE GUYS HOW TO HIT .300 BY PINCH HITTING THEM. I KNOW THIS. WE ALL KNOW THIS

 

THERE IS NO REASON ON THIS EARTH FOR FIELDER TO BE PLAYING AFTER FOULING A BALL HARD OFF OF HIS FOOT.

 

SIGN SOME DAMN PLAYERS.

 

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BREWERS MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM ARE BEING LOST ON ME DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF THE MINOR LEAGUE SIDE OF THINGS. SOME OF THE MOVES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ARE INEXCUSABLE. MANY NONMOVES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MADE ARE EVEN MORE INEXCUSABLE.

 

I ALMOST HOPE MATT PARKER COMES BACK AND BITES THIS TEAM SO THAT THE BREWERS LEARN THEIR LESSON.

 

REMEMBER SHORTCHANGING JIM RUSHFORD AND FORGETTING ABOUT PAUL STEWART?

 

THE PLAYERS IN THE MINORS LEAGUES ARE STILL THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE, WHETHER YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEM OR NOT, REID. THERE IS NO REASON ON THIS EARTH WHY INDIANAPOLIS AND HUNTSVILLE SHOULD HAVE THE WIN-LOSS RECORDS THAT THEY DO. EVEN A NOMINAL AMOUNT OF TALENT AROUND THE EXISTING TALENT SHOULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFUL SEASONS THUS FAR. INSTEAD, THOSE TEAMS AND THEIR PLAYERS ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING BECAUSE OF THE BREWERS' APPARENT INABILITY TO HELP THE TEAMS AND THEIR PLAYERS SUCCEED WITH SUPPORTING TALENT. HAVING THESE TEAMS IN THEIR CURRENT STATE OF SHAMBLES IS BOTH HEARTBREAKING FOR THE PLAYERS AND THEIR FANS, AND DISRESPECTFUL IN THE SPIRIT OF THE BREWERS ORGANIZATION.

 

I ASK THAT, FOR THE LOVE OF THE BREWERS AND THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE, AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE BREWERS MINOR LEAGUERS AND MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS, REID, EITHER GET OFF YOUR ASS AND MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN SO THAT ROSTERS ARE FILLED APPROPRIATELY, OR TELL US, THE FANS, WHY YOU WON'T DO THAT. AND IF YOU TELL US, YOU BETTER HAVE A DAMNED GOOD REASON WHY.

[batman]

Amen, brother. Preach on.

 

~Bill

[950opsLHcatcher]

I apologize for any language in my last post that offended anyone. I will edit it out, or leave it up to Brian to edit it out if he sees fit due the the potentially offensive nature of it.

 

There are times for deep analytical comment and reasoning, but I believe that it has gone beyond that now, and something short and to the point needs to be said. There have been things that have gone on recently that have irked me more than anything that has happened over the past seasons that I have experienced as a devout fan of the Brewers minor leagues. This organization is better than this. I have trusted the braintrust of the Brewers to step up to the plate and deliver some results. I do not think that complimenting in-house talent is that difficult of a task.

 

However, it has recently become apparent that a lack of attention, whether it be through a lack of commitment or through a lack of planning, that this organization has somewhat failed in its due dilligence to its affiliates and to its players. I have praised its efforts in scouting as much as anyone else, but the process does not end there. Holes must be filled when holes occur. Having nine position players on ANY roster in wholly and completely unacceptable, and does not show any respect for the remaining players on those rosters, and does not show any respect to the affiliates. Furthermore, it disrespects the organization as a whole. In preaching a winning attitude, which I have heard is an attitude and a trait that the organization wants to preach, the team must not set up the players up to fail, which is inevitable when rosters are shortchanged and attention to detail is sorely lacking. This is unacceptable and someone must be held to account.

 

That is all for now.

 

Look forward to a jaded Power 50 tomorrow afternoon.

[MassBrew]

Hmmm, tough act to follow.

 

With no affiliate contending for a first half title, the lack of movement of players between affiliates is even more irksome. It's not like you need to keep a roster together for a playoff push.

 

Anyway, on with the "Report"...

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Again, super effort by Sarfate, and it's brutal that his only two walks were the baserunners that scored...

 

With both starting pitchers putting up zeros, the Stars and Barons played a taut, tense game typical of the Southern League?s most heated rivalry. On Friday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Birmingham (34-33) edged Huntsville, 2-1, to send the Stars (31-37) to their eighth loss in nine games.

 

The game turned on three miscues, the last helping the Barons score the winning run. Birmingham jumped in front in the first after a two-out walk to Michael Morse. Dennis Sarfate?s balk put Morse in scoring position, and Brian Becker grounded a single up the middle to plate Morse for a 1-0 Barons lead.

 

In the second, a Birmingham hiccup tied the game. Following consecutive one-out singles by Ryan Knox and Chris Barnwell, Eduardo Villacis? pick-off throw to first sailed up the rightfield line, scoring Knox and sending Barnwell to third. Johnny Raburn popped to short and Ozzie Chavez flied deep to right to strand Barnwell at third.

 

Villacis seized control of the game from there, retiring the final 14 batters he faced. He permitted only two singles, walked none and fanned five while throwing 87 pitches over six innings. Villacis left with the score tied, 1-1.

 

Sarfate matched Villacis and carried the Stars into the seventh, regularly reaching 92-93 miles per hour with his fastball, but his own error handed Birmingham the go-ahead run. With one out in the frame, Sarfate walked Chris Stewart to start a Barons rally. Michael Spidale then hit a sharp ground ball that caromed off Sarfate?s foot, bouncing back toward the plate. Sarfate pounced on the ball, but his throw sailed into the runner, glancing off Spidale and bouncing down the line into the Barons? bullpen. Stewart scored all the way from first to put Birmingham up, 2-1.

 

The combination of relievers Brian McNichol, Matt Smith and Jeff Bajenaru slammed the door on the Stars. McNichol (3-1) secured his third win, fanning one and walking one over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Smith recorded the final out of the eighth, and Bajenaru stumbled in the ninth but survived. He surrendered Joel Alvarado?s leadoff walk and Tony Gwynn Jr.?s one-out single before retiring Prince Fielder and Brad Nelson with the tying run at second to notch his 10th save. Sarfate (3-7) suffered a tough loss, scattering nine hits and allowing only two runs, one earned, with two walks and four strikeouts while throwing 111 pitches over seven innings.

 

Huntsville lefty Matt Ford (1-1, 3.96) meets Barons left-hander Ryan Meaux (2-5, 5.13) in game three of the series Saturday night at the Met. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The FPH Financial Services Pre-game Show starts at 6:45 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[MassBrew]

Helena Game Story from the Billings' Gazette:

 

Ponies trip up Brewers

By MIKE SCHERTING - of the Billings Gazette - 06/19/04

 

The Billings Mustangs won their Pioneer League opener in dramatic fashion Friday night with a walk-off .... error?

 

Sure, it wasn't glamorous, but when Helena Brewers' shortstop Agustin Septimo bobbled Chad Ziemendorf's grounder, it allowed Bradley Key to score the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 Mustangs' victory.

 

Ziemendorf, the Mustangs' catcher, was digging for first for all he was worth and didn't see the ball pop out of Septimo's glove. The next thing Ziemendorf knew after he ran through the bag, teammates were patting him on the helmet.

 

"I'm not sure I can take credit for (the win), but it worked out for the best, that's for sure," Ziemendorf said. "I'm just glad we won it. That was the biggest thing in my mind, I wanted to win our home opener, you know?"

 

The crowd was small by home-opener standards ? 3,229 attended despite the cold temperature ? and they saw a Mustangs team that looks to be pretty solid on defense.

 

Third baseman Bradley Key made two fine plays while Ziemendorf snuffed Hasan Rasheed at second base in the first inning on Helena's only stolen base attempt. Shortstop Paul Janish made a fully extended dive on a line drive by Rasheed in the eighth inning, but the ball glanced off Janish's glove for a single.

 

The play of the night, though, belonged to left fielder Phil Gentry.

 

Gentry, who played with the Mustangs last season, tracked Nestor Corredor's deep drive leading off the ninth all the way to the wall. Gentry crashed into the fence and held on to the ball, a play which probably saved a run given the fact Adam Mannon doubled and Dallas Bates singled later in the inning.

 

"You remember the field after you've played on it all year," Gentry said, explaining that his familiarity with Cobb Field from last year helped him make the catch. "It makes it a lot easier."

 

Bobby Mosby, another returning Mustang, was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Tiago Campos also had two hits.

 

Mustangs starter Ramon Ramirez allowed just one hit ? a solo home run by Grant Richardson ? through five innings of work.

 

Adam Lingenfelter (1-0) collected the win with two shutout innings after Jacobo Meque allowed two runs in the sixth to allow the Brewers to tie the game at 3-3.

 

The Mustangs outhit Helena 8-4, but they left 13 runners on base and struck out nine times.

 

"We had a lot of chances to score runs but we couldn't do it," said Luis Aguayo, who picked up his first win as the Mustangs' manager. "We'll get better. We've got the right people here to help these kids get better, and they will."

 

Not only were the Mustangs' aided by Septimo's error, but they were the beneficaries of a bad-hop single just before the final play.

 

Cody Strait hit what looked like a routine grounder toward Septimo until it hit the lip between the infield grass and the dirt, sending the ball bounding well over Septimo's head. Key, who had walked to start the ninth, advanced to third on the play. He then scored on Septimo's miscue.

 

Notes: Septimo had entered the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement after starting shortstop Alcides Escobar was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth. ... Richardson was 2-for-3 for Helena, and drove in two runs. ... LHP Tyler Pelland, who was obtained from the Boston Red Sox last season when the Reds traded Scott Williamson, is scheduled to start tonight for the Mustangs. Helena will counter with left-hander Josh Wahpepah.

 

Photo Courtesey of the Billings Gazette - Billings Mustang Paul Janish tags out Helena's Hasan Rasheed, 40 as Rasheed tried to steal second Friday in Billings.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2004/06/19/sports_top/b01061904_01.jpg

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 35 31 .530 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 36 33 .522 .5 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 33 33 .500 2.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 32 36 .471 4.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 38 29 .567 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 36 31 .537 2.0 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 34 33 .507 4.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 31 37 .456 7.5[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 28 39 .418 10.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 43 24 .642 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 38 30 .559 5.5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 33 35 .485 10.5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 32 36 .471 11.5 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 23 45 .338 20.5[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 41 26 .612 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 40 27 .597 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 38 29 .567 3.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 37 31 .544 4.5[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 34 32 .515 6.5 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 32 32 .500 7.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 30 37 .448 11.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 22 46 .324 19.5

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 1 0 1.000 GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 1 0 1.000 [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 0 1 .000 1.0[/b] MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 0 1 .000 1.0

[MassBrew]

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update:

 

BELCHER-CHILDERS DEAL COMPLETED

Dennis Sarfate hit the gas, gas, gas, but he was no Jumpin' Jack Flash tonight at Hoover Met, where the Stars and Barons rejoined the 21st century. A walk and a balk put a man in scoring position in the 1st inning and his own error in the 7th put the Stars and Sarfate back in the losing column.

 

The first error belonged to manager Frank Kremblas. He brought out a lineup card with Tony Gwynn, Jr. at 2nd base and Rickie Weeks in center field...... That's the way the lineup remained, and when the Stars took the field in the bottom of the 1st, he had the two players revert to their familiar positions, but it was the first time since May 6 that Gwynn had led off....... None of it mattered much in the end.

 

Sarfate pounded Joel Alvarado's glove all night, consistently hurling his fastballs in the 91-95 mph range. He definitely packed his hard stuff tonight, determined to shake the displeasure over his last few efforts and the decisions Milwaukee made this year over his role in the starting rotation, first having to share it with Tim Bausher coming out of spring training, then back to piggy-backing after Matt Ford and Mike Jones returned......... He's given up 11 earned runs in 16 innings over four starts this month for a 6.19 ERA, not the sort of thing that happened last year at Beloit when he finished the year 12-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

 

Off to a good start, he got Michael (don't call me Mike) Spidale and Normand (call me Norm) Martel on fly outs, then walked Michael Morse, 5th among Southern League slugging leaders, on four pitches.......... Trying to pick him off, he double-pumped a throw and balked him to second........ He threw a fifth ball low and away to Brian Becker. Becker rocketed hit his next pitch up the middle. Gwynn was playing him in right-center and had to chase it down. Morse turned on the juice and scored.

 

The Stars reciprocated quickly off Eduardo Villacis in the 2nd....... Even though Villacis was with the club when these two teams met at the Joe, June 8-11, the Stars never got a look at him....... After Brad Nelson's ground out, Ryan Knox hit a bullet off the glove of Rob Sasser, dribbling into left for a single....... Chris Barnwell, in his first game back from a team-imposed suspension, singled on a 1-0 pitch past the diving Tommy Nicholson, Knox stopping at second........ Villacis went to 2-and-1 on Johnny Raburn, then attempted to pick off Barnwell, but wound up throwing a hard sinker past Becker that bounced all the way down the right field line for a two-base error. Knox scored to tie the game and Barney went to third....... Raburn went to 3-and 1, but eventually popped out....... Ozzie Chavez, returning to the scene of his thrilling debut with the Stars where he hit a 13th inning game-winning home run on May 21, nearly repeated the feat, lining a 0-1 pitch down the right field line, but this time, right fielder Nate Murphy caught up to it for the third out........ The Stars would not get another hit until Tony Gwynn, Jr.'s one-out single off Jeff Bajenaru in the 9th.

 

Speaking of Gwynn, Tony Sr. was present for this game (as well as the Rickwood Classic yesterday), and says he will make a visit to Huntsville some time this season...... He took some time to talk to Robert Portnoy during the radiocast.

 

Things were quiet until the bottom of the 7th inning, Sarfate's last. By this time, he had thrown well over 90 pitches and had reached 100 with his one-out walk to Chris Stewart ........ Spidale followed with an 0-1 comebacker to Sarfate. It kicked off Sarfate's foot and he was able to pick the ball up, but he fired it up the right field line, clipping Spidale as he was going. The ball bounced into the bullpen and Stewart was waved home......... Spidale, who got credit for the hit, was cut down by Alvarado, trying to take third on the overthrow, but the Barons had the 2-1 lead they would be able to keep, thanks to Birmingham's bullpen......... The Barons pen now has an ERA of 1.90 this year against the Stars, with three wins and two saves....... After not getting past one full inning in his last start, Sarfate finished the game throwing 70 of his 110 pitches (63.6%) for strikes.

 

Saturday night, Matt Ford (1-1, 3.98) will meet Barons lefty Ryan Meaux (2-5, 5.13)..... Ford should be at a limit of about 60 pitches or so, as he has made four starts since coming back from the disabled list........ Meaux's last appearance was four innings in relief of Arnie Munoz on June 8, in which he gave up one run on five hits in the Stars' 4-3 victory over Birmingham before plunging into a seven-game losing streak.......... The Barons lost Munoz, the Southern League's winningest pitcher, to the Chicago White Sox, but will get back from Charlotte Enemencio Pacheco, who beat the Stars in Game One of the Western Division Playoffs last year, and generally was a thorn all season....... Charlotte also sent down to Birmingham another familiar name --- Richard Paz, the Stars on-base leader (.406) last year, until his promotion to Indianapolis on July 22....... Paz was signed as a free agent by the White Sox last December 22nd. He's in his 11th year in professional baseball.

 

RHP Saul Rivera will report to the Stars tomorrow as the player-to-be-named in the Jason Belcher-Jason Childers to Montreal deal for Peter Bergeron........ Rivera started out the season nursing an injured leg, and that following arm surgery that cost him the 2003 season...... He leaves Class AA - Harrisburg (Eastern) with an 0-2 record and a 7.71 ERA with three saves over 18 appearances....... The Twins drafted him in the 9th round in 1998. As a closer for Class A - Quad City (Midwest) in 1999, he saved 23 games and had a 1.42 ERA. After a 12-6 season as a set-up man and a climb to Double-A, Baseball America ranked him 27th among the Twins best prospects in 2001....... Hasn't done much since an arm injury. He was claimed on waivers by the Mets after the 2001 season. From there, he went to the Expos in a seven-player trade that involved Scott Strickland and Bruce Chen......... I'm totally underwhelmed.

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

 

Mavs' rally falls short against Giants

By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer

 

ADELANTO ? The last thing the High Desert Mavericks wanted to do with the San Francisco Giants' top prospect on the mound was get behind early.

 

Even before the handful of scouts in attendance could train their radar guns on San Jose's highly touted Merkin Valdez (3-0), the Mavericks had spotted the Giants a sizable lead, thanks to San Jose's five-run first inning against High Desert starter Bo Hall (3-5).

 

Though the Mavs' right-hander settled down and pitched through the sixth, the damage had been done as the Giants claimed an 8-4 victory Friday at Mavericks Stadium.

 

In four starts this season Valdez, a 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has posted a 1.27 ERA. In 21 1-3 innings, the strong-armed right-hander has struck out 24 and walked just two.

 

"He's got a very good arm," said High Desert manager Mel Queen. "You throw 94, 95 (mph) and you're around the plate and you've got some breaking stuff, it makes it tough."

 

For the players, it was more that they hurt themselves rather than being hurt by Valdez.

 

"I think we got ourselves out," Scott Candelaria said. "I mean, sure, he was throwing hard. From the night I had, I was swinging at stupid pitches. ... He was good, but he wasn't dominating."

 

The Mavericks rallied against the Giants' bullpen, scoring three times with two outs in the eighth. Candelaria launched his third home run of the year to left-center field. Following a walk to Dan Boyd and a single by Travis Hinton, Mavs catcher John Vanden Berg blasted a double to left that appeared to be misplayed by San Jose's Dan Trumble. Hinton and Boyd came around to score on the play.

 

It wasn't the first time that the San Jose fielders had difficulty judging fly balls. In the seventh, Mario Mendez popped up to shallow left and watched as three Giants converged. The ball dropped and Jeremy Frost, who had doubled earlier in the inning, scored to give High Desert its first run of the night.

 

But it couldn't erase the early deficit.

 

After suffering an emotional, one-run extra-inning loss Thursday to Rancho Cucamonga, the Mavericks struggled early against the Giants and fought an uphill battle from the outset.

 

The Giants sent ten batters to the plate in the first inning. After Hall hit Fred Lewis to start the game, San Jose pieced together four singles and a double to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Hall retired 12 of the next 14 batters before surrendering a leadoff triple to Nate Schierholtz in the sixth inning. Schierholtz scored on a double by Steve Holm, and second baseman Anthony LaBarbera drove in Holm to extend the Giants' lead.

 

Hall, in his six innings of work, allowed seven runs on nine hits. He struck out six and walked two.

 

"You could tell it wasn't Bo Hall (in the first inning)," Queen said. "Whatever it was, we hope we don't see it again. But after the first, he was just as good as (Valdez)."

 

The Mavericks' Craig Breslow allowed a pair of walks in two innings, while Nick Slack gave up a solo home run to Trumble in the ninth.

 

NOTES: Outfielder Kennard Bibbs was out of the High Desert lineup for the third straight game with a strained hamstring. ... Lancaster's Justin Wechsler, Dan Richar and Jarred Ball replaced the three JetHawks who had been named to the California-Carolina League all-star team and who subsequently have been promoted to Double-A El Paso.

[colbyjack]

Well stated Toby. I think it's fine time for an emotional plea to the organization. I do hope that the people that count are reading, and I can only hope something is done about it.

 

I wouldn't blame just Reid either. Doug Melvin is the man that actually has to go out & acquire the players necessary to bolster some of the weaknesses at different levels. While I know Melvin doesn't micro-manage all that much, he has to recognize some of these situations.

 

The frustration with the minor leagues are pretty evident. It certainly doesn't help that guys like Weeks aren't hitting like they're capable of, plus losing others like Krynzel & Hardy to long-term injuries & guys like Ford, Jones & de la Rosa to short-term ones doesn't help. While I don't have as big of a problem with the Belcher/Childers trade, just because I don't think either has nearly as much value as most seemed to place on them, taking Belcher's bat away from Huntsville has hurt that team. How easy is it to acquire a bat for High Desert & Huntsville off of the scrap heap? Someone like Peter Zoccolillo would definitely help at this point in time, and we may see someone like that acquired at the trading deadline, but by then it may be too late.

 

Another thing I'm not pleased with is baseball tactics by the individual coaches. As madbad has stated a few times, Don Money likes to bunt way too much, and the AA team should be scoring more than a couple of runs a game. Are all of our affiliates playing small ball too much?

 

With no affiliate contending for a first half title, the lack of movement of players between affiliates is even more irksome. It's not like you need to keep a roster together for a playoff push.

 

I'm not really bothered by the lack of promotions because I'm not sure who should be promoted. Are there any obvious ones that I'm missing? I know several people have suggested bumping Palmisano up, but first of all, is he really ready? While he has been consistently hitting & getting on base all year, he isn't exactly lighting up the Midwest League. And with that, you're not really going to be improving the catcher spot at High Desert since Vanden Berg has been hitting so well there. Of course bumping him up to Huntsville would give them another bat, possibly the bat they need, since Kade Johnson hasn't really showed that he should go anywhere higher than AA at this point in time.

 

***To answer my own question, Vinnie Rottino probably would be worthy of a bump up to High Desert, and that certainly would or at least should stop them from using pitchers as DH's.

 

I am happy to see Helena playing, with Arizona due to start next week. We have more & more players at Arizona this year that will be fun to follow. In past years that just seemed to be filled with a bunch of no-name Latin American players sprinkled in with a few marginal low-level prospects.

 

And If Hasan Rasheed picks up close to where he left off at Lake City CC, he is going to have a monster year in the Pioneer League.