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It surprises me that no one has mentioned yet either here or in the Nashville thread that Dave Krynzel was the first of the Sounds to get the call to Milwaukee. (http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1603) Congratulations, Dave!

Where's Brad Nelson? According to Robert Portnoy, Nelson suffered a minor shoulder injury in a diving catch Saturday. Sunday Portnoy said Nelson had been given his first day off all season, and Monday the shoulder injury was mentioned and Nelson was described as "day to day". Hopefully it's not anything serious. Portnoy made it sound as if Brad was likely to be in the line-up tonight.

From the Huntsville Times: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 By BRUCE McLELLAN Times Sports Staff brucem@htimes.com Former homers early in Double-A game; latter wins HR derby CHATTANOOGA - Maybe the Huntsville Stars should copy the Chattanooga Lookouts and put a section of seats and a pavilion behind right field at Joe Davis Stadium. Stars outfielder Brad Nelson and first baseman Prince Fielder sure liked to hit home runs over that section at BellSouth Park on Tuesday. No, that didn't help Nelson and Fielder win the Southern League All-Star Game. The Eastern Division All-Stars used their own home runs to beat the Western Division 10-6. But at least Nelson and Fielder - both left-handed hitters - gave the West's fans some entertainment. First, Fielder hit a pair of batting practice home runs over the pavilion that looked like they might make it to the Tennessee River, which was just visible on the horizon. Then, Nelson won the league home run derby by hitting home runs on the first three of his five swings in the final round. Finally, Fielder gave the West their only lead in the top of the first inning with a 330-foot home run over East right fielder Papo Bolivar of the Smokies. "I saw Papo, and he didn't move," Fielder said. "So I figured either he's camping (under it) or it's going out." That home run came against East starting pitcher Brian Rose of Chattanooga with a runner on base, one out and a 3-0 count. "I was looking for a good pitch to hit, and I guess I got it," Fielder said of the outside fastball. "I put a good swing on it." The 2-0 lead Fielder earned didn't last long. Jesse Gutierrez of the Lookouts led off the bottom of the second with a solo homer off West starter Chris Rojas of Mobile, and the next five East batters got hits. "I just came out being aggressive trying to throw strikes, and they came out just as aggressive and were able to put good wood on the ball," Rojas said of his first career all-star appearance. "A lot of the pitches were up." Rojas, 6-3 with a 3.70 ERA, said he might not rely as much on his fastball if he could replay the second inning. "I probably would have mixed it up more," he said. "Maybe thrown more off-speed stuff." The final five West pitchers allowed only two more runs, and Greg Sain of Mobile hit a two-run homer to help close the gap. But the final five East pitchers gave up only three hits and a run while pitching an inning apiece. "After the second inning it was a pretty good ballgame," Kremblas said. "Unfortunately, those eight runs in one inning count." The East finished with 14 hits to the West's 10. Nelson, who has hit 13 homers for the Stars this season, couldn't duplicate his home run derby magic in the game and went 0-for-4. Fielder, who has 12 homers for the Stars, was 1-for-2 Tuesday, and Kremblas kept him in only four innings. Fielder played in the Futures All-Star Game in Houston Sunday, his return flight to Chattanooga didn't arrive until 4 p.m. Monday and he had to wake up early Tuesday. "I talked to him before the game," Kremblas said. "I said, 'How do you feel?' He said he was tired." But Fielder said he had fun on his all-star odyssey. "I'm just enjoying the fact that I could be mentioned with these other top players," he said. "It's a good feeling to be in the same game with these guys." Especially when you have seats in right field to aim for.

East won the game 10 - 6. Brad Nelson won his second home run derby (he won the Midwest League contest in 2002) tonight, receiving the award after the game from the league president.

Chris Saenz with the save. Stars go 1-2-3 in the 9th. Bikowski walks for the Barons; Juan Pinella put in as a pinch runner. Two big fly outs strand him, though--and the Stars win!!!!!!!

Bruso pitched through 7. In the 7th Alvarez had a base hit to right for the Barons. He advanced to 3rd on a double by Bikowski and scored on a pop out to left. Bruso got two more outs to end the inning. Nelson walked, but was stranded for Huntsville in the 8th. Jeff Hundley took over on the mound for Huntsville. Nicholson reached for the Barons. He advanced to third, but was stranded. THREE MORE OUTS!

After Huntsville's big 5th, 1-2-3 innings both ways in the bottom of the 5th, the entire 6th, and the top of the 7th.

Castillo took over on the mound for Birmingham. Krynzel got his second hit of the game with a line drive to center. He scored on an double by Hardy. Hardy advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Hart and scored on a Gemmol single to right. Noochie walked. As of posting, the Barons were bringing in a leftie to face Nelson.

Chris Barnwell got a 1-out single to right in the 3rd. Later that inning J.J. Hardy then reached on an error. Both were stranded when Durham had a great catch at the wall on a long fly ball by Corey Hart. In the Huntsville 4th Brandon Gemmol was out on one pitch on a checked swing grounder. Noochie Varner singled to right and Brad Nelson got a single that bounced over the first baseman's head. Both were standed when Johnson and Machado K'd. Bruso sat down 7 Barons before walking Alvarez. Bikowski singled, but both men were stranded in the 4th.

Dave Krynzel got his first hit of the post-season in the first inning. In the second, Brandon Gemmol walked, then advanced to second and third on grounders by Noochie Varner and Brad Nelson. Kade Johnson struck out to end the inning.

I really find that comment offensive, with its implication that everyone else on the team was not trying to win--even with your justification that "trying to win" has a lot of different aspects. Two men on the team got hits off a very tough pitcher and those who saw or listened to the game will know there were a number of good defensive plays besides the two Krynzel catches. Instead of making snide comments, we need to stress the positive. We need to remember that these are young men in their lower 20s, all of whom really are trying to do their best.