Link Report for Games of Saturday, April 9th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu: Once again, the Brewers' day game allows for a dining audio feast Saturday night...

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change

 

Nashville: LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. New Orleans (Nationals), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Manny Parra at Carolina (Marlins), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime; We want a run! We want a run!

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at Daytona Beach (Cubs), 6:00 PM; same teams, new locale

 

Audio link (opponent's feed):

stream.netro.ca/wele

 

West Virginia: RHP Yo Gallardo at Hagerstown (Mets), 5:35 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's feed):

streaming0.ctinetworks.co...uns-wa.pls

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.news-journalonline.co...040905.htm

 

Hall, Slack return to Daytona

By SEAN KERNAN

Daytona News-Journal Staff Writer

 

As packed as Jackie Robinson Ballpark will be for tonight's Daytona Cubs home opener, not every local in attendance will be rooting for the Cubs. That's because former area high school standouts Bo Hall and Nick Slack are on the Brevard County Manatees, and both relief pitchers expect to have family and friends at The Jack.

 

For Hall, it will be the completion of an unusual trifecta. The former Seabreeze pitcher and shortstop played at the historic ballpark for the Sandcrabs, returned to the City Island park as a UCF Knights hurler and tonight makes an appearance as a professional pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers farm club.

 

"It's gonna be neat going back to Jackie Robinson. It's kind of cool," Hall said. "This is the first time I'll be playing in front of a lot of family and friends since I was with UCF. I've got to get at least 20 tickets."

 

Hopefully I can get some free tickets. (The Cubs) will make their money back in concessions."

 

Hall, 24, was a 19th-round draft selection by Milwaukee in 2002. His best pro season was two years ago when he went 8-4 with a 2.59 ERA for Beloit in the Midwest League as a reliever. The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander struggled last season mostly as a starter, going 5-9 with a 6.55 ERA for High Desert in the California League.

 

Slack, 22, also returns to the high-A level after going 2-6 with a 4.98 ERA and nine saves for High Desert.

 

Hall and Slack have more in common than being pitchers from Volusia County. Both want to be promoted as quickly as possible and earn spots on the Brewers' Double-A team in Huntsville, Ala.

 

"My hopes here are to get out of here as soon as possible," said Slack, who lives in Deltona. "I know I'm close to home. I'm excited about that, but I'm just trying to move up as soon as possible because I was at high-A last year."

 

Both players expect to see their parents often early in the season. John and Sandy Hall will make a lot of commutes down from their Ormond Beach home to Space Coast Stadium. Todd and Cindy Slack have a less direct route, but their Deltona home is closer to Viera.

 

"We play a lot between Daytona and here (Viera) so pretty much they'll be at every game in both places, and my brothers (Rob and Joe) will go to a lot, too," Slack said.

 

Both players expect to see former high school classmates and coaches.

 

"It will be fun playing in front of all the high school coaches who helped me out - Anthony Campanella and Norm Yelverton - all those guys," Hall said.

 

Slack, the first Pine Ridge product to play in the minors, also went to Deltona and Father Lopez before his senior year with the Panthers. He was a walk-on at Lake City Community College and led the Mid-Florida Conference in saves before getting drafted by Milwaukee in the 20th round in 2003.

 

(By the way, the broadcast last night indicated Slack's high leg kick and all-out thrust reminds folks of a Troy Percival delivery...Mass Haas)

[bjamesw22]

Looking forward to seeing how Parra and Gallardo will fare.

[DHonks]

I'll give some love to Housman and TBD

[squarepusher]

If no one else's doing it, i'll try and do a play-by-play of the WV game, at least up until the Nashville game starts. I'm stuck at work tonight, so i'll be around.

[squarepusher]

West Viriginia Power @ Hagerstown Suns

 

Power Lineup

 

1. SS - Escobar

2. 2B - Irribaren

3. RF - Parejo

4. 1B - Richardson

5. 3B - Murray

6. C - Corporan

7. LF - Lewis

8. DH - Blevins

9. CF - Tuttle

---

Top 1st

1. Escobar - GO

2. Iribarren - BB (4 pitches).. SB (2nd base).. had 3B stolen, but a foul ball.

3. Parejo - K

4. Richardson - GB

 

Bot 1st

1. Batista - FO (Gallardo comes back from 3-0 count)

2. Brinkley - K

3. Concepcion - GB

 

Gallardo - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

 

Top 2nd

1. Murray - 1B

2. Corporan - Sac Bunt, Murray to 2nd

3. Lewis - BB

4. Blevins - GIDP

 

Bot 2nd

1. Davidson - GB

2. Psomas - 2B (off the wall)

3. Coles - K

4. Watts - 2B, RBI (Psomas scores, 1-0 Hagerstown)

5. Coultas - GB

 

Gallardo - 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Top 3rd

1. Tuttle - GO

2. Escobar - FB

3. Iribarren - GB

 

Bot 3rd

1. Arroyo - Not sure, made an out (the away announcer is basically letting guests talk during every inning, so he's not being very accurate)

2. Batista - GB (bunted back to Gallardo)

3. Brinkley - 2B

4. Concepcion - 1B (Escobar bobbles, but is able to throw home to nail Brinkley... )

 

Gallardo - 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Top 4th

1. Parejo - K

2. Richardson - FO

3. Murray - K

 

Bot 4th

1. Davidson - FB (popup)

2. Psomas - 1B

3. Coles - GB (Psomas to 2B, running on the play)

4. Watts - K

 

Gallardo - 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

 

Top 5th

1. Corporan - GB

2. Lewis - GB

3. Blevins - K

 

Bot 5th

1. Coultas - GB

2. Arroyo - GB

3. Batista - GB

 

Gallardo - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (final line)

 

Top 6th

1. Tuttle - GB

2. Escobar - 2B (would have probably been a single, but Escobar is fast)

3. Iribarren - K

4. Parejo - K

 

Bot 6th (Derek DeCarlo on for Gallardo)

1. Brinkley - K

2. Concepcion - 1B (infield single, off Murray's glove, can't fling it to 1B in time)...SB

3. Davidson - GB

4. Psomas - 2B, RBI (Hagerstown up 2-0)

5. Coles - GB

 

DeCarlo - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

 

Top 7th

1. Richardson - K

2. Murray - GB

3. Corporan - K (everyone in the park gets a free burger)

 

Bot 7th

1. Watts - BB

2. Coultas - 1B (hit & run, Watts to 3B)

3. Arroyo - HBP

4. Batista - FO (not deep enough to tag up)

5. Brinkley - K

6. Concepcion - FB (popup, great job by DeCarlo getting out of a bases loaded no-out jam)

 

DeCarlo - 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (final line)

 

Top 8th

1. Lewis - FO (deep to the wall)

2. Blevins - FO (deep to the wall)

3. Tuttle - GB

 

Bot 8th (Simon Beresford in for Derek Decarlo)

1. Davidson - Line out

2. Psomas - K

3. Coles - BB

4. Watts - K

 

Beresford - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (final line)

 

Top 9th

1. Escobar - Line out

2. Iribarren - 1B (opposite field)

3. Parejo - FC (Iribarren to 2B, close call on Parejo at 1B, could have gone either way)

4. Richardson - 1B, RBI (Hagerstown 2-1, the Hurricane scores)

 

Guilder Rodriguez goes into pinch run for Richardson, and is picked off. What a horrible way to end the game.

 

Hagerstown Suns win, 2-1.

[jvrocksaz]

Thanks for the updates Square...

 

I really like the Baseball America running scoreboards also...

[jvrocksaz]

I see Manny set the side down in order for Huntsville in the first... It appears that he struck out the first two hitters also... Keep it up Manny!!!!

[Frisbee Slider]

A Rickie Weeks error gives New Orleans a 2-0 lead in the 3rd.

 

EDIT: They charged the above error to Durrington. 3-0 New Orleans, now.

[PeaveyFury]

I highly recommend the Huntsville game. Manny is dealing and Nelson Cruz just jacked one.

[DHonks]

the Nashville gamecast shows Scarborough just hit a 2 run game-tying jack. Roids?

[JoeHova]

who won the Huntsville game? It's gotta be over by now, right?

[ThePurpleStorm]

We lost 5-4.

[SenatorShriv]

Are box scores still going to be posted in the link report? or just on the scoreboard portion? I clicked on the scoreboard part of the main page, but it came up with nothing.

[Mass Haas]

Final: New Orleans (Nationals) 5, Nashville 4

 

Nashville Site Game Summary -- link, text, follows:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1498

 

Sounds Suffer First Loss, 5-4 To Zephyrs

The Nashville Sounds suffered their initial loss of the young 2005 season on Saturday evening in front of 9,204 fans at Greer Stadium, falling 5-4 to the New Orleans Zephyrs.

 

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth, the home club didn?t go down without a fight. Trent Durrington led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout, but was gunned down at the plate on a bang-bang play on Steve Scarborough?s grounder to shortstop Jason Bowers to end the threat.

 

The Zephyrs scored the game-winning run off Justin Lehr in the top of the eighth. Short continued his big night with a leadoff double, was sacrificed to third, and scored on a Hector Ortiz RBI groundout.

 

New Orleans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs resulting from a fielding error by Durrington, the Sounds? third baseman, who threw wildly to first on a bunt single by Endy Chavez. Zephyrs starting pitcher Jon Rauch and leftfielder Tyrell Godwin both scored on the error after leading off the innings with consecutive singles.

 

Z?s second baseman Rick Short extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when he pulled a 3-1 Jeff Housman pitch down the left field line for a leadoff home run, his first roundtripper of the season.

 

The Sounds got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Rickie Weeks led off with a single, stole second, then scored on a two-out RBI single to center by Brad Nelson. Scarborough evened the game in the home half of the fifth when he belted his second homer of the young campaign, driving a one-out, 1-1 Rauch offering over the wall in left to make it 3-3. Catcher Julio Mosquera, who singled earlier in the inning, also scored on the tater.

 

Nashville grabbed a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Prince Fielder was hit by a pitch, moved up a base on a Roy Corcoran wild pitch, then scored an unearned run on a Short throwing error. New Orleans answered right back and re-tied the contest in the top of the seventh on Matt Cepicky?s mammoth RBI double off the top tier of the 24-foot wall in dead center, plating Godwin.

 

The Sounds missed an opportunity to retake the lead in the bottom of the seventh after Scarborough led off with an infield single and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error but was stranded.

 

The teams wrap up the four-game set with a Sunday afternoon matinee at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Rick Helling makes his Sounds debut and will face New Orleans right-hander Brian Powell.

 

Audio of Steve Scarborough's 2nd HR of the young season:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%204-9.mp3

 

Nashville Box Score (still no cut-and-paste version, still doesn't show innings pitched properly):

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log (this link will be obsolete once next game begins):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm

 

Steve Scarborough at the plate:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/scarborough.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Note to Nashville Front Office:

 

The audio links you're providing here aren't the Brewer archives, but are those from 2004 with the Pirates:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/l...rviews.asp

[Mass Haas]

Tennessean Game Story -- link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/sports/bas...D=68051521

 

Sounds get first loss as rally fails in ninth

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Fans at Greer Stadium finally got their full allotment of baseball last night, as the Nashville Sounds batted in the bottom of the ninth inning for the first time in three games.

 

That meant the Sounds weren't ahead, and after Trent Durrington was thrown out at the plate on an infield grounder with one out, they went on to drop a 5-4 decision to New Orleans for their first loss of the season.

 

''If the ball's not hit right at (shortstop Jason Bowers), he's probably going to get in,'' Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said. ''You take more risks when you're down in the ninth.''

 

The Zephyrs broke a 4-4 deadlock in the eighth inning on a Rick Short double to deep center field against reliever Justin Lehr, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout by Hector Ortiz.

 

For the third consecutive game, a Nashville starting pitcher failed to make it through the fifth inning. Jeff Housman threw 86 pitches in 4-2/3 innings and was in line to take the loss before Steve Scarborough's two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth tied the game at 3-3.

 

''It's not a concern this early,'' Kremblas said. ''You'd like to get them through five, but it's not that bad this early because everybody else needs to get innings, too.''

 

While the Sounds offense has been productive ? scoring 25 runs in three games ? there's still some work to be done in terms of situational hitting.

 

With the score tied at 4-4, Scarborough led off the seventh inning with a bunt single and went to third base on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Brendan Harris. But Scarborough was stranded there as pinch-hitter Ryan Knox grounded out to shortstop, Dave Krynzel bunted foul on a third strike and Rickie Weeks grounded out to third.

 

''That's what you're going to get with younger guys,'' Kremblas said. ''It's part of the learning process.''

 

Perfect pair: The only two pitchers to throw perfect games in a Sounds game are set to start in consecutive contests at Greer Stadium.

 

Rick Helling achieved the feat when pitching for the Oklahoma City 89ers against visiting Nashville on Aug. 13, 1986.

 

He will start for the Sounds in the series finale today against New Orleans.

 

John Wasdin has the only Sounds perfect game ? on April 7, 2003. He starts for the Oklahoma RedHawks in the first of a four-game series here tomorrow.

 

Back on track: Nashville pitcher Jose Capellan, who left Thursday night's game after 4-1/3 innings with a blister on the middle finger of his right (pitching) hand, is expected to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against visiting Oklahoma.

 

What they said: ''Any time your pitchers keep you in the game and give you a chance to win, you're fine. We made some errors and gave them some extra chances.'' ? Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas.

 

Maurice Patton covers the Nashville Sounds for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8018 or mopatton@tennessean.com.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 2, Huntsville 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary link, text follows:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=558

 

Eric Reed singled home the game-winning run in the seventh inning to lift the Carolina Mudcats to a 2-1 comeback win over the Stars Saturday night at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC. The Mudcats have taken the first three games of the season-opening four-game series and have started 3-0 for the second time in three years as a Florida Marlins affiliate.

 

The Stars missed an opportunity to score in the first inning after Kennard Bibbs led off the game with a double in his first at-bat of the season. Chris Barnwell tried to bunt Bibbs to third and his bunt popped up in the air, landed in front of the mound and was fielded by Carolina starter Nic Ungs, who threw Barnwell out at first. However, Bibbs did not advance and that would turn out to be costly as Ben Van Iderstine, the next hitter, flied out to center field on a ball that would have been deep enough to score the speedy Bibbs.

 

Nelson Cruz led off the fourth inning by slamming Ungs? first pitch for a monstrous home run to left field to give the Stars a 1-0 lead and end a 17 inning drought without a run. Cruz belted 26 home runs playing for Modesto, Midland and Sacramento last season in the Oakland Athletics organization.

 

Huntsville starting pitcher Manny Parra worked out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the visitors in the lead. He struck out James Shanks and retired Jason Hill on a fielder?s choice grounder with runners at the corners and one out in the fourth and induced pinch-hitter Chris Bass to bounce into a double play with runners at the corners in the fifth.

 

Reed opened the sixth with a single, stole second base and scored when Robert Andino followed with a double to right field to knot the game at one. Parra was lifted after fanning Jeremy Hermida and Matt DeWitt came on to retire the next two hitters to keep the game tied.

 

Chris Ashby opened the home seventh with a single and moved to second base one out later on a base hit by Rex Rundgren that chased DeWitt from the game. Matt Ford took over and walked pinch-hitter Todd Sears on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Reed followed with a sharp single to right field to deliver Ashby with the go-ahead run before Cruz cut down Rundgren at the plate trying to score an insurance run.

 

Chris Resop took over on the hill for Carolina in the ninth and gave up three hard hit balls but managed to escape any damage and earn his second save in as many chances. Drew Niles made a diving catch at third base on a line drive off the bat of Cruz before Tony Zuniga singled sharply to right field to collect his first hit of the season. Brandon Gemoll then smoked a ground ball to shortstop that Andino turned into a game-ending double play.

 

The Stars tallied six hits in the game, three for extra bases, after being held to five singles in the first two games, their lowest two-game output to start a season in franchise history. Bibbs finished with two hits in four tries and Vinny Rottino also picked up his first hit of the year.

 

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with right-hander Glenn Woolard taking the mound for Huntsville against right-hander Logan Kensing, rated as one of the Marlins? top 20 prospects by Baseball America. Coverage of the game gets underway at 12:45 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM, the home of Huntsville Stars baseball.

 

***

 

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com update:

 

Are we that bad?

 

The folks at minorleaguebaseball.com really need to get their act together if they're going to exclusively provide the box scores. No other web site, not Sports Network, USA Today, not Baseball America can give us any other version other than milb's. And still night after night, they exclude innings pitched from the individual pitching lines, exclude at-bat totals for the teams, indiscriminately decide some players deserve to have their first names in the boxes (I'd rather not see them at all to make scanning easier), and fail to archive boxes..... Tonight was just one more straw........ I listened to the game and Brett Pollock announced that Matt Ford had come in relief of Matt DeWitt, yet in milb's box, I see Alec Zumwalt instead.

 

The skies were clear for tonight's game, but still a cool 65° at Five County Stadium...... After coming up with only five singles in their first two games, the Stars had their first extra-base hit two pitches into the game. Kennard Bibbs, in his debut for the Stars, hit Nic Ungs' 0-1 pitch for a double off the wall in the 1st inning. Chris Barnwell tried to bunt him over, but popped it up in from of Ungs and Bibbs was unable to move over to third. Barnwell's failure to sacrifice, a general weakness of last year's team, possibly kept the Stars from a win....... Ben Van Iderstine, the next batter, hit a ball deep enough to Eric Reed in center that Bibbs would have easily scored on. Bibbs was able to get to third, but after Nelson Cruz walked on a 3-2 pitch, Tony Zuniga flied to center to end the inning.

 

Manny Parra had good command of his curve tonight and allowed only one hit through the first three innings -- a single by James Shanks, who was picked off while on an early count to the next batter, Jason Hill. That gave the Stars time to come up with a lead, courtesy of Nelson Cruz, who provided the Stars with their first home run of the season, a titanic shot to left field, ending a 16 1/3 inning scoring drought --- establishing an easy record for the start of a season........ Unfortunately, it was the only run the Stars had on the night...... Vinny Rottino singled two outs later and was stranded by Enrique Cruz and Bibbs singled with one out in the 5th and was caught stealing. That was it for the Stars.

 

After putting the leadoff hitter aboard in the 4th and 5th innings, the Mudcats finally made it pay off in the 6th........ Eric Reed singled up the middle and scored the tying run on Robert Andino's double off the 2nd tier of signs in center field and drove in the winning in the 7th, scoring Chris Ashby who led off the inning with a single....... Ashby moved to second on Rex Rundgren's single, chasing DeWitt from the game, setting up the game-winner for Reed.

 

For the Stars, it's their first 0-3 start since 1992 and only their third 0-3 start in their 21-year history. The 1987 Stars started off 0-5, but went on to the playoffs, so don't lose hope, Stars fans........ The Stars will try to prevent a sweep, Sunday, at 12:45 CDT with Glenn Woolard going for Huntsville against Logan Kensing, a right-hander, ranked 18th among the Marlins' top 30 prospects.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...294540.xml

 

Wacky uncle, stale stadium and optimism about Stars

Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com

Huntsville Times

 

All summer, we'll have questions. From players to owner, bat boys to fans, each Sunday we'll be presenting "Nine Questions'' concerning the Huntsville Stars. We'll even ask 'em for you, if you want to contact the e-mail address listed above.

 

For now, I'll do some mind-reading - and try to answer nine questions you might have.

 

1. What do you think of Don Money?

 

He's going to be great to work with. He's like your favorite wacky uncle. And he's Old-School Baseball. I like that.

 

2. How is the health of this franchise?

 

Frankly, it's the ninth-best franchise out of 10 in the Southern League.

 

The Stars drew only 238,848 last year, eighth in the league. Off-season transition has the club running behind. If former general manager Bryan Dingo hadn't been so unselfish with his time to make sure all the proverbial ducks were in a row before he departed for the sanity of 9-to-5, it'd be disastrous.

 

The Stars' front office staff is the smallest in the league. Owner Miles Prentice is in a Catch-22. He can't hire a big staff and promotional genius without better attendance. But without more staff, the overall stadium experience is lacking and attendance suffers.

 

With absentee ownership, with few familiar faces remaining and no link to the "good ol' days'' when Don Mincher and Co. owned and ran the team, I fear a lot of loyal fans will be more scarce.

 

3. How is the relationship with the Brewers?

 

The Brewers may not be a good major league club yet, but they have sent in boatloads of great prospects and the Stars have won more than they've lost in these six years. Funny how so many fans cling to the "I saw Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire play for the Stars'' business. They missed a chance to see a new generation - without steroids, mind you - of major league stars in Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Ben Sheets, et al.

 

4. How do I get an autograph?

 

Oh, just stop me one night at the stadium. But why?

 

5. Not your autograph, you fool. How do I get a player's signature?

 

Well, that makes sense. Three words: Timing, patience, politeness. Remember, they're working when they're on the field. But catch them after batting practice. A few guys will sign around 6:30 as they filter back to the dugout. Many will stop to sign right after a game - more likely after a win than a loss. And you can wait outside the clubhouse door, but that can be 20-30 minutes for them to shower and have a postgame meal.

 

6. What about a new stadium?

 

Hey, great idea. What about one!

 

Honestly, I don't see a new baseball stadium for Huntsville unless Prentice and his group build it, as Frank Burke did in Chattanooga and is doing in Greenville. But Burke is a hands-on owner who seldom misses a game (and comes from a family richer than a sultan).

 

As neat as it would be for players, staff and reporters to go to work at a nicer place, the waning fan interest doesn't merit a huge investment from the city.

 

So what is spent should go to improving the facilities for players, staff offices and skyboxes so the Stars can increase revenue there. And, please Santa Claus, windows in the press box that can open.

 

7. Who are your favorite Stars?

 

The ones who are most quotable, naturally. Or those with whom you can actually discuss more than baseball. A quick top lineup - not counting current players - would include Derek Lee, Bucky Jacobsen, Jared Mathis, Brian Moon, Paul Stewart, Jose Ortiz, Allen "Meat'' Leverault, Jeff Pickler and Ryan Knox, and I'm sure I'm leaving out several others.

 

8. Are there any rules in the press box?

 

First of all, it's The John Pruett Press Box, honoring my esteemed colleague. Which leads to rule one: Make sure, when John visits, there are peanuts.

 

Other rules: If it's the sixth inning and the game is only 1 1/2 hours old, don't say, "This is moving along quickly.'' That assures it will go extra innings. Also, no cheering. But complaining about umpiring or loudly second-guessing managers is OK. Most importantly, if you want to eat, show up by 6:25, before the TV people swarm over the buffet like locusts.

 

9. After seeing them in spring training, how good will the Stars be?

 

A little above average. Much better defensively than last year -but they'd have to be. The 2004 Stars were the worst defensive team I had seen in 20 years.

 

There are young pitchers who will make mistakes. There are enough hitters experienced at this level to be reasonably productive, but some will struggle.

 

They need to fall into a cycle when the hitters are cold, the pitchers are producing. And vice versa. Over the course of a long season, that's the determining factor for success at every level.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Daytona Beach (Cubs) 2, Brevard County 0

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.news-journalonline.co...041005.htm

 

Cubs enforce Manatee zone

By SEAN KERNAN

Daytona Breach News-Journal Staff Writer

 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Long before a fireworks display concluded the home opener at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday night, Daytona Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol and catcher Jake Fox put on their own brand of pyrotechnics that left the Brevard County Manatees seeing stars.

 

Marmol hurled six innings of no-hit ball, and when a Manatees baserunner tried to break up Daytona's shutout bid he got the losing end of a collision with Fox at the plate. Those home opening night heroics from the Cubs battery helped Daytona take a 2-0 win in front of a sellout crowd at refurbished Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

A crowd of 4,869 gave Marmol (1-0) a standing ovation when he was pulled following a leadoff walk in the seventh. The crowd had every reason to stand and cheer because Marmol didn't allow a hit before reaching his 70-pitch limit. Manager Richie Zisk didn't hesitate to pull the right-hander, and there even was one shout of "good job, skip" from the crowd.

 

"In player development there are certain rules you have to adhere to and we're not going to injure anybody by going over his pitch count," Zisk said. "I think back to '97 when Kerry Wood was here and he got pulled twice from no-hitters. Marmol was limited to 70 pitches and he was outstanding."

 

Cubs reliever Jordan Gerk gave up the first hit to Brevard County (0-2). Adam Heether, the second batter Gerk faced in the seventh, doubled. Lou Palmisano's two-out single to center set up the most dramatic moment of the game, as Heether raced for home only to be beaten by center fielder Chris Walker's throw. Heether tried to bowl over Fox, but the catcher held onto the ball and delivered a blow to the baserunner that put him out at the plate and to the clubhouse with an injury. Some Cubs heard that Heether sustained a broken nose.

 

"That was a tough one right there," Fox said. "Nothing you can practice will ever prepare you for something like that. It's more of a mentality than it is anything. Some guys are afraid to take a hit. Some guys are ready to dish one out. I'm a guy who played football. I love that kind of stuff."

 

"Anytime I can take a collision, I'll take it. Those guys come in expecting to put a lick on you. First and foremost you just have to make sure you get the out, but then from there you try to put a hurtin' on them."

 

The Cubs scored both of their runs on groundouts by shortstop Carlos Rojas.

 

Daytona (2-0) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Walker got an infield hit and went to second on a throwing error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home Rojas' bouncer to third.

 

The game's only other run came in the eighth after Issmael Salas drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a free pass to Walker, stole third and scored on Rojas' grounder to short.

 

Ormond Beach resident Bo Hall made his return to The Jack a successful one as the Manatees reliever struck out four of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless innings.

 

OF NOTE: The Cubs' No. 1 fan, "Front Row Joe" Rowe, had a seizure on the field during pregame ceremonies. Daytona trainer Steve Melendez and Brevard County trainer Masa Koyanagi attended to Rowe until emergency medical personnel arrived. Rowe was treated at the scene, taken to Halifax Medical Center for evaluation and released in satisfactory condition. Saturday night's game was to be Rowe's 650th consecutively attended home game. Cubs owner Andy Rayburn assured Rowe that he would get credit. "Anyone who has a seizure on the field before the game is going to get credit for being here," Rayburn said.

 

Brevard County Box Score:

RHP Tim Dillard your starter last night...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_dbcafx_1

 

Daytona Cubs catcher Jake Fox takes a hit at home plate from Brevard's Adam Heether during the top of the seventh inning Saturday at Jackie Robinson Field. Heether was called out.

Photo by the News-Journal's Craig Litten

 

http://www.news-journalonline.com/downloads/0410cub.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 2, West Virginia 1

 

Suns' Site Game Summary:

 

After three games of the 2005 season, the Hagerstown Suns are undefeated. For the 2nd straight night the Suns eeked out a win over the West Virginia Power by one run, 2-1.

 

The Suns starting pitching has been the key to every game so far. This time it was RHP Jeff Landing shutting down the Power (0-3) over five scoreless innings, earing his first victory of the year. Landing, like Friday's winner Blake Eager, gave up only one hit during his start. The Suns starters have pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings so far this year, earing them two wins and a no-decision.

 

RHP Chuck Smith went three scoreless in relief, and RHP Carlos Muniz earned his first save by pitching a one run ninth. The Suns have given up only 12 hits and four runs through the first three games of the season.

 

The hero at the plate once again was 3B Grant Psomas who went 3-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. As well as playing a sparkling third base so far through three games, Psomas is 6 for 11 with two homers, two doubles, and four RBI's so far this year. Ambiorix Concepcion added two hits and scored a run in the seventh to give the Suns a 2-0 lead at the time.

 

The Suns go for the sweep on Sunday @ 1:35 Pm (12:35 Central) at Municipal Stadium, and send RHP Jose Sanchez to the hill against West Viginia's RHP Forrest Martin.

 

Charleston Gazette:

 

Power still winless

 

HAGERSTOWN, Md. ? The West Virginia Power is still seeking its first victory on the season after losing 2-1 to the Hagerstown Suns Saturday despite five gallant innings from starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

 

Gallardo, a Fort Worth, Texas, native and a second-round draft pick in 2004, gave up four hits and just one run, yet received the loss. He yielded an RBI double to Derran Watts in the second inning.

 

The Suns (3-0) took a 2-0 lead off in the seventh when Grant Psomas hit an RBI single.

 

The Power was on the verge of being shut out, then on the verge of a rally in the ninth inning.

 

With two outs, Grant Richardson smacked an RBI single, scoring Hernan Iribarren to make it 2-1. But Guilder Rodriguez, pinch running for Richardson, was picked off at first base to end the game.

 

The Power (0-3) tries to avert a sweep by the Suns today. After that, West Virginia travels to Lexington, Ky., for a three-game series before coming home Thursday for the grand opening at Appalachian Power Park, also against Hagerstown.

 

West Virginia Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

[Mass Haas]

What a pathetic, woeful offensive performance by the Stars, Manatees, and Power in their combined 0-8 start thus far!

 

Stars: one run, three games (a Nelson Cruz HR) -- (11-for-76, .145 average, .211 slugging)

 

Manatees: one run, two games (a Jeff Heether HR) -- (8-for-59, .136 average, .271 slugging)

 

Power: four runs, three games -- (12-for-90, .133 average, .211 slugging)

 

It just can't continue, can't even come close to continuing, can it? Yikes!

[squarepusher]

[ Are box scores still going to be posted in the link report? or just on the scoreboard portion? I clicked on the scoreboard part of the main page, but it came up with nothing. ]

 

I'm going to (or perhaps another member of the site if they can do so before I get to it) be posting box scores in the scoreboard link on the home page. Often, the sportsticker box scores aren't ready until morning or mid-morning, so that's why Mass Haas posts the links to the other box scores. I'm not sure what Jim's plans are for the link report, but those are my plans for the scoreboard page.

[hscoach]

Pretty good outing for the kid, did he keep the ball down and how was his off speed pitches working?