TooLiveBrew

Man, the silence was unreal in that video.

Sounds Avoid Sweep With 5-3 Win Nashville's Kroenke Works Six Scoreless Frames For 4th Win Nashville Sounds http://i.imgur.com/2GjecEN.jpg Hainley Statia & Khris Davis greet Anderson De La Rosa after his three-run HR in the 5th (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) AUDIO: Khris Davis' RBI-Single AUDIO: Anderson De La Rosa's Three-Run HR AUDIO: Wooten Delivers Final Out NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds rode the arm of starting pitcher Zach Kroenke (4-8) Monday night at Greer Stadium to hold off the New Orleans Zephyrs in the series finale, avoiding the four-game series sweep with the 5-3 victory. Kroenke, in his first start since June 2, held the Zephyrs scoreless through six innings of work to pick up his fourth win and fourth quality start in his last five starts for Nashville. The lefty fired six strikeouts to New Orleans, allowing only three hits and one walk. He tossed 69 pitches, 47 for strikes. Offensively, the Sounds got on the board first in the third inning, when New Orleans starter Rett Varner (0-2) chucked a wild pitch to score Ozzie Chavez, who singled as the leadoff batter. Left fielder Khris Davis made it 2-0 with his single scoring Kroenke, who reached on an error. Catcher Anderson De La Rosa added to the Sounds lead with a two-out home run in the fifth inning. The blast, De La Rosa's second of the year, scored Hainley Statia and Davis, who both reached base on balls. Varner was charged with the loss, his second, making a spot start for the left-handed pitcher Brad Hand, who was scratched pregame. The Zephyrs prevented the shutout in the top of the eighth inning on Kevin Mattison's double to the right-field corner, scoring Koyie Hill. Nick Green followed up later in the inning with a two-out, two-run single to left field. The runs went as unearned to Jesus Sanchez, however, because of Stephen Parker's dropped pop out in foul territory, which extended Hill's at-bat before he doubled to start the frame. Right fielder Sean Halton failed to record a hit for the first time in his last 12 games, but did show off his arm in right field, netting an outfield assist in the fourth inning by gunning down a runner at home plate to keep the Zephyrs off the board. Michael Olmsted picked up 2/3 innings in the three run eighth. He allowed both of his inherited runners to score and picked up two strikeouts in the appearance. Closer Rob Wooten pitched the ninth inning to pick up his 13th save of the year. The Zephyrs outhit the Sounds 7-3, but issued seven walks to Sounds batters. The Sounds will begin an eight-day 10-game road trip Tuesday, as they head to Des Moines to face the Iowa Cubs (Cubs affiliate) in six games over four days before heading to New Orleans (Marlins affiliate) for a four-game set. Throwing for Nashville will be RHP Jimmy Nelson (0-1, 3.12) opposite Iowa's RHP Nick Struck (3-4, 6.46). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium Thursday, June 27. Nashville Box Statia: 0-1, 2 BB K. Davis: 1-2, RBI, BB De La Rosa: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI Hunter Morris: 0-3, BB Josh Prince: 0-2, 2 BB, CS Chavez: 1-3 Nashville PbP The scrappy two-run 3rd: Nashville Bottom of the 3rd -Ozzie Chavez singles on a line drive to right fielder Bryan Petersen. -Zach Kroenke hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Rett Varner. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd. Zach Kroenke to 1st. -Hainley Statia out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Koyie Hill to second baseman Matt Downs. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd. Zach Kroenke to 2nd. -With Khris Davis batting, wild pitch by Rett Varner, Ozzie Chavez scores. Zach Kroenke to 3rd. -Khris Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Zach Kroenke scores. -Anderson De La Rosa flies out to center fielder Kevin Mattison. -Sean Halton grounds into a force out, shortstop Gil Velazquez to second baseman Matt Downs. Khris Davis out at 2nd. Halton kept that 2-0 lead intact with this throw: New Orleans Top of the 4th -Gil Velazquez doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Josh Prince. -Bryan Petersen grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Hunter Morris. Gil Velazquez to 3rd. -Nick Green flies into a double play, right fielder Sean Halton to catcher Anderson De La Rosa. Gil Velazquez out at home. Nashville Gameday

Oh definitely. That's why I want to hear what Detroit might be willing to offer in addition to Castellanos.

Can we just simplify this by calling it the Top 25? I know I'd be in for a slightly more frequent ballot for something like that. Maybe four times per season preseason, post-draft, August 31st, & postseason?

The more I see this kind of chatter, the more open I think I'd be to moving Yo. Maybe the Tigers wouldn't want to move Castellanos for Axford, but I wonder what they'd be willing to add to Castellanos for Gallardo plus Axford. I'd attempt to sell high on anyone in the current bullpen, and definitely Figaro if there was interest. In fact, I'm not sure there's one player overall I wouldn't entertain the idea of moving. For any of Gomez/Segura/Braun, it'd take a really strong offer. But on anybody else, I'm all ears (including MiLB players). I think I'd keep the aforementioned trio, along with minor leaguers like Coulter, Taylor, & Arcia. But if adding someone like Hellweg (for example) into a deal meant a better return, I might be interested.

We don't unless you want to trade Braun for him. I respect why you say this, but you really never know definitively. Who knows what the Tigers might think? I could certainly see a scenario in which they view 1B & 3B as blocked by Cabrera & Fielder. I realize it'd probably be in their best interest to slide Prince to DH, Cabrera to 1B, & slot Castellanos in at 3B... but Melvin managed to score Segura+ for half a season of Greinke. If the Tigers felt they could work with Axford's mechanics & rediscover the brilliant form of '10 and '11, they'd have him through two more seasons after this one. I get that SP>RP, but if a team believe they can fix Ax, that's a lot of potential value for a team clearly in 'win now' mode.

To be painfully blunt, it's because our top pitching prospects aren't top prospects on the larger scale.

DHonks, are you possibly thinking of Yonki Hernandez?

Not sure if it was clear, but my post was a reference to Fiers getting his arm broken by a comeback line drive in his last start...

I wonder if it still would be too much to give up for Blanks? Are you saying the Padres might give the Brewers... a break?

My point was the statement "[Player X] needs to play a full season at [level X]" isn't inherently true. I used Segura as a real-world example & did not imply that Morris would have that level of success. Prospects all across MLB don't play full seasons at [Level X], get called up & do just fine every season... go ahead & pick any other example case & the point I was trying to make still stands. It's possible that Morris isn't ready & it's also possible he is.

If you haven't been to Fox Cities Stadium yet this season, you're in for a treat there as well with the new-this-year renovations. I recommend trying the Club Level at least once this year -- it's definitely worth the price.

"Thankful to have started the season in Appleton, thanks to all the fans who made it home, I can't wait to be back! On to Helena, Montana!" I couldn't help but be reminded of just how opposite-ly Lawrie conducted himself over similar issues when with the Brewers. Sure don't miss that dope. It's great to see Clint have such a well-adjusted attitude to the lumps you take as a young ballplayer. I'm sure you'll be back to Wisconsin soon enough, Clint!

There's not inherently any truth to this statement. Segura didn't "need" to play at AAA at all, and at the time of his acquisition wasn't really considered a better bat than Morris.

Happy for it from Scooter? Yes. Happy for it from our starting second baseman? No. (at least not with Gennett's defense)

Is this "T-Bone"/John's kid?

Sounds Drop Series In 8-5 Loss Nashville's Sean Halton Finishes Triple Shy of Cycle Nashville Sounds http://i.imgur.com/ucd1jKP.jpg Blake Lalli celebrates Sean Halton's 1st inning two-run homer (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) AUDIO: Sean Halton's 3-Run Home Run AUDIO: Stephen Parker's RBI Single NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Despite twice rallying to tie the game Sunday at Greer Stadium, the Nashville Sounds were unable to keep up with the New Orleans Zephyrs, who defeated the home team by the score of 8-5. The Nashville loss gives New Orleans the series win with still one game to go. Knotted up at four runs apiece in the seventh inning, the Zephyrs worked a run off reliever Johnnie Lowe (0-1), who was in to pitch his fourth inning and final inning, as Kyle Skipworth connected for a two-out, RBI-double that gave New Orleans a lead they never relinquished. Lowe was charged with the loss, despite limiting the Z's to one run on three hits across four innings. Travis Webb entered in the eighth to face three batters, who he allowed to reach base via two hits and one walk. Rob Wooten came in with the bases loaded and allowed all three inherited runners to score. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a ground out to score Kevin Mattison; then with two outs, a fourth-ball wild pitch plated Donovan Solano. After fielding the pitch that caromed up the backstop netting, catcher Blake Lalli through errantly to Wooten, who was covering home, to give the Zephyrs their final run of the game. The Z's started out with three runs in the first inning off starter R.J. Seidel, but the Sounds quickly responded as outfielder Sean Halton continued his impressive hitting display by cranking a home run off the guitar scoreboard in left field. The homer scored three runs to tie the game and extended Halton's hit streak to 12 games, which ties a career-best from the slugger. He finished the day a triple shy of the cycle. The Zephyrs retook the lead in the fourth inning as Mattison opened the frame with a triple to right field before scoring on Solano's single. The RBI-knock ended Seidel's afternoon, finishing with four runs on four hits over three innings of work. The right-handed pitcher fanned two and walked a career-high seven batters. Seidel loaded the bases before recording an out to begin his troublesome first inning, and let in the first run by beaning Kouzmanoff. A fielder's choice ground out scored the Z's second run, which was followed by Gil Velazquez's RBI-single to make it 3-0. The Sounds leveled the game for a second time in the home half of the sixth inning, using Khris Davis and Stephen Parker singles to move around Hunter Morris, who reached base on balls. Only pitching 2/3 innings, New Orleans' James Leverton (1-1) picked up the win for New Orleans, while Jonathan Albaladejo recorded his third save. The Sounds will wrap their homestand Monday night at Greer Stadium looking to avoid the series sweep to the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA-Marlins). LHP Zach Kroenke (3-8, 4.53) gets the nod for Nashville opposite the Z's LHP Brad Hand (2-3, 3.19). Nashville Box Nashville PbP Nashville Gameday

Some more Michael Hunt 'magic' in that Reds lineup... If I screwed up at my job as much as that joker does, I'd be looking for a new job.

Aoki in last night's game: http://i.minus.com/ibv6kQe59JhzG5.gif Source

One decent year for Morris? One historically good year (relative to Southern League history) is a more accurate way to describe it. And you seem to be dismissing nearly a 100-point difference in OPS (Morris is in his age-24 season, fwiw, not 25) as not too big a deal... not to mention that Yuni played with the Tacoma Rainiers & played more of his games in the hitter's paradise that is the group of west-coast PCL parks. Hunter Morris is a significantly more talented hitter at this point than Betancourt, who is routinely one of the worst offensive players in MLB.

Sounds Outslugged By Z's, 6-3 Nashville's Sean Halton Goes Yard Twice In Loss Nashville Sounds http://i.imgur.com/XvbOVwc.jpg Sean Halton (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) AUDIO: Sean Halton's First Blast AUDIO: Halton's 2nd Homer NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Despite an impressive showing from the Pacific Coast League's hottest hitter Sean Halton, the Nashville Sounds were outslugged by the New Orleans Zephyrs 6-3 Saturday night in front of 10,011 fans at Greer Stadium. Halton entered the game riding a season-best 10-game hitting streak and quickly extended the streak to 11 games with his home run in the second inning off New Orleans' starter Jared Rogers (2-1). The shot was driven hard over the left field wall and put the Sounds on top 1-0. The slugger struck again in his next at-bat in the fourth inning, driving his second home run off the wall in left field. The shot scored two runs for the Sounds to make it 3-1. The outing marks the eighth time a Sound has gone deep twice in one game, and is Halton's sixth two-homer game of his career. But the Z's answered the Sounds' homers with two of their own. Kevin Kouzmanoff tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning with a solo shot, but it was Donovan Solano's grand slam home run in the seventh that proved to be the decisive blow. Sounds starting pitcher Mike Fiers was charged his second loss with Nashville, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. The right-handed pitcher delivered nine strikeouts to only two walks before leaving the game when a comebacker hit [h]is throwing arm. Kyle Heckathorn entered the game for Fiers to close out the inning and stayed in for the eighth to deliver two walks and allow New Orleans their final run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Jesus Sanchez also saw work from the mound, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Rogers picked up the win for New Orleans, limiting the Sounds to three runs on four hits over six innings of work. Chris Hatcher pitched the ninth inning for the Z's to record his league-leading 22nd save. Offensively, Halton and catcher Blake Lalli both finished two-for-four, while [stephen] Parker's double in the seventh was the team's only other extra-base hit. The Sounds will look to get their first win of the four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA-Marlins) Sunday at Greer Stadium 2:05 p.m. for Father's Day, presented by Sport Clips. Throwing for Nashville will be RHP R.J. Seidel (1-3, 4.86) opposite the Z's RHP Doug Mathis (2-5, 3.50). The Sounds will be wearing military jerseys as a part of Piedmont Natural Gas Military Sunday, where families and friends of service men and women can receive admissions for $5 with a valid Military ID. Nashville Box Hainley Statia: 1-4, CS Lalli: 2-4, E (catcher interference) Halton: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI Hunter Morris: 1-4 Khris Davis: 1-4 Parker: 1-3, 2B, BB Nashville PbP Fiers was cruising along with 1 ER through 6 IP, and then came the 7th inning... New Orleans Top of the 7th -Jake Smolinski singles on a ground ball to third baseman Stephen Parker. -Kyle Skipworth strikes out swinging. -Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Gorkys Hernandez replaces Jared Rogers. -Gorkys Hernandez singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Khris Davis. Jake Smolinski to 2nd. -Kevin Mattison reaches on catcher interference by Blake Lalli. Jake Smolinski to 3rd. Gorkys Hernandez to 2nd. Kevin Mattison to 1st. -Donovan Solano hits a grand slam (1) to left center field. Jake Smolinski scores. Gorkys Hernandez scores. Kevin Mattison scores. -Bryan Petersen strikes out swinging. -Kevin Kouzmanoff singles on a line drive to pitcher Mike Fiers. -Pitching Change: Kyle Heckathorn replaces Mike Fiers, batting 9th. -Nick Green flies out to center fielder Josh Prince. Here's hoping Mike is ok after taking that liner to his pitching arm. Nashville Gameday

Sounds Drop Series Opener Against New Orleans, 6-3 Halton Goes 3-for-4 To Extend Season-Best Hit Streak To 10 Games Nashville Sounds http://i.imgur.com/w6q2jXn.jpg Sean Halton (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) AUDIO: Cole Garner Go-Ahead RBI Single AUDIO: Ozzie Chavez Safety Squeeze Bunt AUDIO: Hainley Statia Pinch-Hit RBI Single NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The New Orleans Zephyrs doubled up the Nashville Sounds, 6-3, on Friday evening in front of 6,921 fans at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. Nashville out-hit New Orleans, 13-5, in the contest, getting knocks from every starter except Stephen Parker (0-for-3). Outfielder Sean Halton went 3-for-4 to extend his longest hitting streak of the year to 10 games for Nashville. He is batting .500 (16-for-32) over the 10-game stretch, the Sounds' fourth double-digit streak of the season. Cole Garner (3-for-4) and Anderson De La Rosa (2-for-4, two doubles) also added multiple-hit efforts in the losing affair. The Sounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning against Z's starter Matt Neil. Halton got things started with a one-out single and moved to third on a De La Rosa double before scoring the night's first run on Garner's Baltimore chop RBI single to the left side of the infield. Ozzie Chavez followed with a well-executed safety squeeze bunt to plate De La Rosa with the inning's second score. After starter Chris Narveson retired the first six New Orleans batters in order to start the contest, the Zephyrs sent all nine hitter in their lineup to the plate against the southpaw in the third inning to grab a 4-2 lead, capitalizing on a pair of Nashville fielding errors in the frame. Donovan Solano (2-for-5)and Kevin Kouzmanoff recorded RBI singles during the inning. Kouzmanoff drove in his second run of the night in the fifth when his sacrifice fly to right plated Gorkys Hernandez to up the visitors' lead to 5-2. Narveson (0-2) suffered the loss in his fourth rehab outing with the Sounds, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits while walking five batters and striking out four in his 4 2/3 innings of work. New Orleans left fielder Jake Smolinski made it a 6-2 contest in the sixth when he drilled a leadoff solo homer to left off Michael Olmsted for his fourth roundtripper of the year. The Sounds missed out on an opportunity to cut into the deficit in the sixth. After loading the bases with one out against Neil, Z's reliever Zach Phillips took over on the hill and induced an inning-ending double-play groundout from Chavez to squelch the threat. Neil (2-2) earned a win for New Orleans after holding the Sounds to two runs over his 5 2/3 frames of action, striking out seven batters. Nashville mounted a rally in the ninth against Zephyrs reliever Jonathan Albaladejo. After De La Rosa led off with a double but was thrown out trying to extend the play to a triple, Garner doubled off the batter's eye and scored on pinch-hitter Hainley Statia's ensuing RBI single to right to cut the lead to 6-3. Albaladejo fanned Khris Davis for the second out and Z's closer Chris Hatcher was summoned to fan Blake Davis for the final out to nail down his league-leading 21st save of the year. The teams continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. contest on Saturday. Right-hander Mike Fiers (1-1, 1.23) will make the start for Nashville on his 28th birthday and face New Orleans right-hander Jared Rogers (1-1, 4.91). Nashville Box Nashville PbP Nashville Gameday

I'd be surprised if it wasn't Caleb, given that

I watched because you said "cockles of my heart" What a great feature piece.

It would be, due to his history, but the Mets' front office has been quoted about wanting to build an outfield and even if he's traded in the off season he's still under contract for three years. Plus the Mets do like to spend, and maybe Alderson would want an early crack at extending Carlos.