Eye Black

Tough to come by in the AZL, there are some national guys that occasionally post observations from the AZL and AFL which will be our best bet until BA updates their prospect rankings. MTBrew passes along quite a bit of information from Helena as well, but we'll have to wait until next season for that. This tweet from his debut is the only reference I can remember seeing about his velocity since beginning in Maryvale.

Bob Nightengale tweet says Garza tweaked his left oblique.

Unless the Brewers offense can come up with something late, this is going to be one horribly disheartening way to leave St. Louis.

Final: Helena 10, Missoula 1 Big sixth pushes Brewers past Missoula By Bill Speltz / Missoulian MISSOULA — A brutal sixth inning smothered the Missoula Osprey on Saturday night, killing their promising win streak at four games. The Helena Brewers exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the fateful frame and cruised to a 10-1 win in front of 2,106 fans at Ogren-Allegiance Park. The only good news for Missoula was that Justin Williams extended his team-record hit streak to 28 games on an opposite-field single to left in the eighth inning. Williams was down to his last chance when he delivered on a 3-2 pitch. The left-handed hitter came up empty in his first three plate appearances. “It was staying on top of the ball, stay through it, and I didn’t come off,” said Williams, a second-year Osprey from Houma, Louisiana. “It was getting a good pitch to hit and don’t miss the fastball basically. “This is my greatest moment in pro ball for sure.” With the game knotted at 1, the Helena sixth started quietly enough when Edgardo Rivera grounded out to second. From there it went downhill in a hurry for Missoula starting pitcher Gabriel Moya. Consecutive singles by Sthervin Matos, Connor Narron, Mitch Meyer and Tucker Neuhaus scored two runs and chased Moya. Jency Solis came on in relief and didn’t fare much better. He surrendered four runs on four hits and retired just one batter before being lifted. Will Landsheft came on and struck out Connor Narron to end the inning. But the Osprey headed to the dugout saddled with a 9-1 deficit. “They just started getting hits, timely hits at that,” Williams said. “With runners in scoring position they put the ball in play, moved them over.” J.B. Kole (1-2) picked up his first pitching win of the season in eight appearances. He allowed just one run on five hits in the first five innings as Helena pulled even with Missoula in the second-half standings at 4-4. Missoula’s only run came on a towering home run to right field by Tyler Baker in the fifth inning. That evened the score after Helena plated the first run on a Mitch Meyer solo shot to right field in the top of the fourth. Helena out-hit the hosts 14-6. Tucker Neuhaus went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Sthervin Matos 3 for 5 with an RBI. Number 9 hitter Dionis Hinojosa, who was batting .186 heading into the game, was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. He also had a diving circus catch in the first frame, robbing Williams of a hit on a liner to left field. Leadoff hitter Sergio Alcantara led the Osprey attack, going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles. Dane McFarland had a triple in the second inning. Moya suffered the loss, dropping his record to 2-4. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings. The Brewers will take a travel day today — there are no Pioneer League games on the schedule, in fact — and play at Idaho Falls on Monday night. Helena Box Score The Brewers put up 14 hits, only 2 of which were extra base hits. They were clutch with runners in scoring position, hitting 6-for-10 in such instances tonight. Sthervin Matos went 3-for-5, but also committed his 7th error while playing 3B tonight. Mitch Meyer was 2-for-5 with a home run and 3 runs scored. Tucker Neuhaus continued his show signs of improving offensively by going 3-for-4 with a walk and stolen base. Helena Game Log With the game tied 1-1, Helena broke the game open in the 6th with 8 runs on 8 hits. Helena Top of the 6th Edgardo Rivera grounds out, second baseman Fernery Ozuna to first baseman Trevor Mitsui. Sthervin Matos singles on a line drive to right fielder Stewart Ijames. Connor Narron singles on a ground ball to first baseman Trevor Mitsui. Sthervin Matos to 3rd. Mitch Meyer singles on a line drive to right fielder Stewart Ijames. Sthervin Matos scores. Connor Narron to 3rd. Mitch Meyer to 2nd on the throw. Tucker Neuhaus singles on a fly ball to left fielder Justin Williams. Connor Narron scores. Mitch Meyer to 3rd. Pitching Change: Jency Solis replaces Gabriel Moya. With Luis Aviles batting, wild pitch by Jency Solis, Tucker Neuhaus to 2nd. Luis Aviles walks. Alan Sharkey singles on a line drive to center fielder Dane McFarland. Mitch Meyer scores. Tucker Neuhaus scores. Luis Aviles to 3rd. Alan Sharkey to 2nd on the throw. Dionis Hinojosa singles on a line drive to right fielder Stewart Ijames. Luis Aviles scores. Alan Sharkey scores. Dionis Hinojosa to 2nd on the throw. Francisco Castillo doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Dane McFarland. Dionis Hinojosa scores. Edgardo Rivera flies out to left fielder Justin Williams. Sthervin Matos singles on a line drive to center fielder Dane McFarland. Francisco Castillo scores. Pitching Change: Will Landsheft replaces Jency Solis. Connor Narron called out on strikes.

With 30 games remaining in the Manatees season, Tyrone Taylor is approaching a historic season in terms of doubles production in the Florida State League. He is just 3 doubles shy of entering the top ten doubles leaders in the Florida State League since 2000. He would be one of just four players on the list that were in their age 20 season or younger. The other three are Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, and Logan Morrison. [pre]Florida State League Doubles Leaders Since 2000 Rank 2B Player (Year) Age Games T-1) 43 Miguel Cabrera (2002) 19 124 43 Darin Ruf (2011) 24 133 43 Jim Murphy (2012) 26 125 4) 42 Adam Lind (2005) 21 126 5) 41 Eric Nielsen (2007) 25 117 T-6) 40 Ron Davenport (2004) 22 113 40 Gaby Sanchez (2007) 23 132 T-8) 39 Kevin Mench (2000) 22 132 39 David Wright (2003) 20 133 T-10) 38 Cody Ehlers (2006) 24 134 38 Logan Morrison (2008) 20 130[/pre]

Would be great if Parra can work his way on-base and give Braun a chance for a big blast.

Final: Missoula 4, Helena 0 Brewers lose 6th straight on road, 4-0 By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers (3-4) were shut out by the Missoula Osprey (4-3) on Friday, 4-0 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field in Missoula. Both starters were lights out with Cy Sneed pitching five shutout innings for Helena. He would strike out three batters and allow five hits in his best outing of the year. Tyler Bolton (4-3) would up the ante, going seven innings, giving up just two hits and striking out two. All of Missoula's runs came off reliever Luis Ortega (3-5) who gave up two in the seventh and two in the eighth. Tyler Humphreys hit an RBI double to score Dane McFarland and Sergio Alcantara hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to score B.J. Lopez in the seventh. In the eighth, Justin Williams scored on a wild pitch and Trevor Mitsui came in on an RBI groundout from Stewart Ijames. Williams went 1-for-3 extending his hitting streak to 27 games. It was the third time this season that the Brewers have been shut out and their sixth consecutive loss on the road. The Brewers and Osprey will face off in the finale of their two-game set Saturday from Missoula. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Helena Box Score Not much to report offensively tonight as the Brewers scored 0 runs on 5 hits. There were no extra base hits and no multi-hit games for Helena. They finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Cy Sneed bounced back with a nice outing as detailed above. Five innings pitched equals Sneed's longest outing of the season. Helena Game Log

[sarcasm]Was Khris Davis just traded?[/sarcasm]

Nice to see Jake Gatewood return to the Maryvale lineup tonight after a couple of games off. Edit: Not quite as nice to see is Kodi Medeiros' very rough outing. Six hits, five runs, and couldn't get out of the 1st inning.

I could really go for a defensive replacement here.

I love that Gomez scored there. Nice to stick that one to Waino.

Apparently LHP Andrew Miller was a target for the Brewers from Rosenthal's Article earlier today: I would be curious to know what the Brewers offered for Miller. Interesting to see that they were a "finalist".

Thanks for not putting that in blue, we need to keep reminding posters of this fact. Currently 6th in MLB per fangraphs. Compared to other teams we make less mistakes and take more extra bases. Yeah, I didn't put it in blue, but it was totally sarcasm. I love Fangraphs, but the whole "the Brewers are aggressive and a good baserunning team....." Sorry. I'm not buying it. They are actually ranked 5th, but I have to admit I am skeptical about UBR as well. Also a little strange, the 4 teams ahead of us all have losing records.

Big out there on AJ, kept the no-hitter intact.

Really need Wily to find some command soon.

I expect .500 ball in August, so I guess 13.5-13.5.

I haven't seen this Fangraghs article by Jeff Sullivan posted yet, and it is certainly worth the read... Brewers Bet on a Different Sort of Regression ...and if reading isn't your thing, then click on it anyway to be mesmerized by this GIF... http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Parra2.gif

Aquino, Mustangs power past Brewers By Curt Synness / Helena Independent Record http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/da/cdafa8c8-193f-11e4-8260-001a4bcf887a/53db2aea6813d.preview-620.jpg Thom Bridge / Independent Record - Helena’s Francisco Castillo catches the relay just as Billings’ Taylor Sparks slides into second on a steal Thursday at Kindrick Legion Field. The Billings Mustangs blasted three home runs in the first five at-bats to open the game against the Helena Brewers on Thursday, pushing the visitors to a 7-3 victory at Kindrick Legion Field. With one out in the top of the first inning, Billings’ Taylor Sparks and Aristides Aquino belted back-to-back solo homers. Then, with Brian O’Grady aboard on a walk, Garrett Boulware lofted a two-run shot over the left-field fence and the visitors had a 4-0 lead before starting pitcher Jorge Ortega could even get the second out of the game. But then Ortega settled down and held the Mustangs scoreless over the next 3 2/3 innings before being relieved by Brandon Moore in the fifth. Ortega overcame adversity twice during the night — the three-homer opening stanza, and a hard comebacker in the third frame. With Mustang runners on first and second and none down, O’Grady lined a shot that bounced off the Brewer hurler’s left kneecap. Ortega retrieved the ball and got his man at first — with both runners advancing — but then fell to the ground face first for several moments. After regaining his feet and taking a few warm-up pitches, he proceeded to work his way out of the jam with a pop fly to shortstop and a strikeout. Despite the shocking start, Helena answered right back in the bottom of the first with two runs on a double by Francisco Castillo and singles by Brandon Diaz and Mitch Meyer. Billings, though, added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to extend its advantage to 7-2. The hosts made it 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Diaz reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and came home on Meyer’s groundout RBI. Other than the big hole the Brewers found themselves in to start things out, the game was a well-pitched, well-played contest. The Mustangs used three pitchers on the night: Luke Moran, Jordan Remer and Brian Hunter. Moran went the first six frames, giving up five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts and no walks to earn the win. Hunter closed out the final two stanzas of hitless ball to cement the victory. Ryan Deeter relieved the last two innings for Helena, allowing no hits and fanning three. Ortega took the loss. The Magic City crew outhit the Brewers 10-6, led by Sparks who went 3 for 5 with a double, a homer and two runs scored. Aquino (home run, two RBIs) and Argenis Aldazaro had two hits apiece. It was Aquino’s 12th home run and 40th and 41st RBIs of the year. The 20-year old right fielder from Santo Domingo leads the Pioneer League in both categories. Both teams committed just one error each. The loss concluded the four-game, home-and-home set with Billings. Helena, now 3-3 in the second half of the season, will travel to Missoula today for the start of a long road trip. After a pair of games against the Osprey, the Brewers get one day off before a four-game series at Idaho Falls and a three-game stretch at Ogden. After another one-day break, they will finally play in front of the home crowd again on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Great call Nate, I am impressed by both the fact that you nailed this one dead-on, as well as that you didn't bother to boast your apparent genius. Well done, sir.

Final: Billings 7, Helena 3 Mustangs alone in 1st with 7-3 win By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers (3-3) fell to the Billings Mustangs (4-2) on Thursday 7-3 in a battle for first place. The Mustangs took to scoring early and never trailed in the game. Taylor Sparks, Aristedes Aquino and Garrett Boulware homered in the first off Jorge Ortega (2-2) to give the Mustangs an early 4-0 lead. Ortega would go four innings, giving up four runs on five hits and striking out two. The Brewers responded in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own. Francisco Castillo led off with a double and scored on the RBI single of Mitch Meyer. Meyer accounted for both of the Brewers' RBI in the game. Castillo was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Mustangs pitching was dominant throughout. Luke Moran (2-4) threw six innings of three-run baseball, striking out seven, and Brian Hunter threw two perfect innings of relief to close the game. The Brewers now head to Missoula to take on the Osprey in a two-game series. First pitch tomorrow from Allegiance Field is set for 7:05 p.m. Helena Box Score Brandon Diaz was 1-for-4 on the night with stole two bases and two runs scored. Tucker Neuhaus was 2-for-4 and has now crept ever so closely to the Mendoza line as he raises his BA to .197 on the season. Helena Game Log

After a curveball in travel plans, baseball player gets a lift from Horizon By Cole Cosgrove / Alaska Air When a recently promoted minor-league baseball player mistakenly got off the airplane in the wrong city, a Horizon Air employee stepped up to the plate to deliver him to his final destination 90 miles away. Customer service agent Andrew Joshu drove from Great Falls, Montana, to Helena to help Sthervin Matos make it to the ballpark just in time for the first pitch. Moments later, in his first game with his new team, Matos hit a home run. “I just want to say thank you for everything they did for me,” Matos said this week through an interpreter. “That’s something not a lot of people would do. They gave me good treatment and they were really nice. One day, if I get called up (to the Major League team), I am still going to remember what they did for me.” Lost in translation The third-base prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization started his day July 5 in Phoenix, where he was promoted from the team’s training facility in Arizona to the Helena Brewers. The organization bought his plane ticket that morning and sent him to Seattle, then to Montana. When his Alaska Airlines flight operated by Horizon made a scheduled stopover in Great Falls, the eager 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic stepped off the plane, ready to impress his new team and take the next step up in his fledging professional baseball career. The only problem: he should have stayed onboard until the flight reached Helena. The brief stopover was lost in translation for Matos. By the time Matos realized his mistake, the plane had continued on without him. “I was feeling good because I had been called up,” Matos said later. “But at that time, I was feeling a little bit down.” Matos approached the customer service agents at the gate. “The coach said I have to be in the game tonight,” he told them. Door-to-door service The next flight to Helena wasn’t until 11:30 p.m. – too late to make it to the game. The only bus between the cities had already left for the day and a taxi would have been expensive. Matos doesn’t have a driver’s license, so he couldn’t rent a car. “Luckily, it’s pretty rare that someone mistakenly gets off,” said Miranda Holmstrom, a Horizon customer service agent who tried to find alternate transportation for Matos. “But Saturday was one of those days.” Instead of a three-mile hop to the ballpark from the Helena Airport, Matos faced a 90-mile drive from Great Falls, which takes more than an hour. It looked as if Matos would miss his Pioneer League debut. “He was definitely worried about it – he was adamant that the coach told him to be in the game that night,” Joshu said. “That’s when I thought, let’s just take him. I was getting off work and it’s a beautiful drive, so I figured, why not? It worked out.” Joshu stopped at a grocery store to buy Matos a red Powerade sports drink and they were on their way. “He’d never been to Montana,” Joshu said. “He said we have a very beautiful state, which we do,” Going the extra mile Joshu, who has worked for Horizon in Great Falls for almost 10 years, has made the drive to Helena or even Bozeman for customers who were confused or don’t speak English. For him it’s what it means to say “I am Alaska,” where he quite literally goes the extra mile in the name of customer service. Joshu dropped off Matos at the front gates of Kindrick Legion Field in Helena with a mere 15 minutes to spare, but with just enough time to take a picture. “I’ve been following his stats, and he’s been tearing it up ever since he got to Helena,” Joshu said. “I got a picture with him and an autograph. Maybe someday he’ll be a Major Leaguer and I can tell my kids that story.” In the fourth inning, Matos, batting cleanup, crushed his first home run for the team. The ball sailed about 415 feet and appeared to hit the side of the house across the street from the stadium, according to The Independent Record newspaper. “That’s a testament to him, showing pretty good fortitude,” Helena Brewers manager Tony Diggs told the Record. “He traveled all day and he comes in and makes an impact. Was he a little tired? Maybe. But I think adrenaline takes over.” Adrenaline, and a lift from Horizon. http://alaskaairblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/baseball-player-sthervin-matos-with-andrew-joshu.jpg?w=999&h=600&crop=1

Really surprised the D-Backs gave up Prado for such a light return. I think he is under contract for two more years. I have to think Arizona could have done much better this off-season.

Brewers rally past Mustangs By Amber Kuehn / Helena Independent Record http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/c3/bc354b70-1877-11e4-862a-0019bb2963f4/53d9db4e0989a.preview-620.jpg Helena Brewers third baseman Tucker Neuhaus fires a throw to Sthervin Matos at first for an out Wednesday in a home game against the Billings Mustangs at Kindrick Legion Field. The Brewers won 8-6, snapping Billings’ three-game winning streak. After Brewers reliever Tyler Linehan walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning then threw a wild pitch, manager Tony Diggs came in to calm his left-hander down. Helena was clinging to two-run lead over Billings and the tying run was at the plate. “I told him, ‘Come on, let’s go, you’ve got this. This is what you get paid to do,’” Diggs said. “It’s tough for a reliever to come into a situation like that.” But Tyler Linehan settled in and threw back-to-back strikes, then proceeded to strike out the side for the save. With a full count to Jose Duarte and the 1,011 fans in attendance stomping their feet and clapping their hands, the big lefty blocked it all out to help Helena win 8-6 and move into a tie for first place. “You’ve gotta make sure not to have too much adrenaline,” said Linehan, who effectively worked the fastball and curveball in his lone inning of relief. “You’ve just gotta make sure you stay relaxed and not put too much pressure on.” It looked as though the game belonged to Billings early on, as the Mustangs led 5-1 heading into the sixth. But the Brewers, who have been victims of big innings all season long, finally put together one of their own. Mustangs pitcher Mike Saunders relieved Soid Marquez to start the sixth, and Helena took advantage of the change. Sthervin Matos led off with a single, Connor Narron walked and Mitch Meyer laced an RBI double to start the comeback. Saunders then walked his second batter of the inning, Luis Aviles hit an RBI base hit, and the Brewers took advantage of a pair of throwing errors by the catcher Duarte to tie the game. The go-ahead run scored on Francisco Castillo's infield single, and Helena never trailed again despite numerous chances by Billings to regain the lead. The Mustangs stranded four runners in scoring position in the final three innings. “That was the biggest difference in the game,” Diggs said of the five-run sixth. “They threw the ball around and made a few errors, and it turned into a big inning for us. That was huge.” Kevin Franklin was 3 for 5 for Billings and finished a triple shy of the cycle. The first baseman hit a home run in the fourth frame to give the Mustangs their first lead, 2-1. Devin Williams (3-5) came on in relief of Brandon Woodruff and earned the win. The second-round pick of the 2013 draft struck out five in three innings, allowing just one run on four hits. “Devin did a good job in that tandem role,” Diggs said. “(Pitching coach) Rollando Valles has been doing a good job with him in preparation.” The Helena pitchers have had to get used to a new catcher the past two games with Connor Narron at the backstop. He was promoted from the Arizona League after Greg McCall had season-ending knee surgery, and already seems to be on the same page with Brewers pitchers. “They’re getting used to him, but it will take time to get acclimated,” Diggs said. Narron joins catchers Jack Cleary and Natanael Mejia on the Helena roster. Wednesday was his home debut after going 2 for 3 in his Pioneer League debut the previous night in the Magic City. Helena and Billings meet again tonight at Kindrick Legion Field for the finale of the two-game set. First pitch is slated for 7:05.

Final: Helena 8, Billings 6 Brewers come back to win 8-6 By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers (3-2) pulled back into a tie for first place in the Pioneer League North Division with an 8-6 comeback win against the Billings Mustangs (3-2) on Wednesday night. Helena took the first lead, scoring one run in the bottom of the second. Mitch Meyer would lead off the inning with a single and score later on a wild pitch from Soid Marquez. Marquez left the game with a 5-1 advantage, in position for the win, but would not pick up a decision. Billings scored five runs over the fourth and fifth to take a short-lived lead. Kevin Franklin hit a solo home run in the fourth, his second of the season, off Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff went four and two-thirds, giving up five runs on six hits and striking out three. The Brewers then rallied to overcome their largest deficit in a win this season. Five runs crossed the plate on five hits in the fifth including RBI base hits from Meyer, Luis Aviles and Francisco Castillo. Armed with an 8-6 lead going to the top of the ninth, Tyler Linehan picked up his first save of the year. He walked Taylor Sparks to lead off the inning, but would then strike out the next three batters to finish off the game. The Brewers and Mustangs will face off in the finale of their two-game series Thursday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Helena Box Score Helena had 13 hits from eight Brewers starters including three extra base hits (all doubles) in the comeback win. A night after his 15-game hit streak came to an end, Sthervin Matos went 3-for-5 with a double. Matos has now hit safely in 18 of his 20 Pioneer League games. Other multi-hit games included Mitch Meyer (2-for-5, double), Francisco Castillo (2-for-5), and Edgardo Rivera (2-for-3, double). Tucker Neuhaus was 1-for-3. Devin Williams had another decent outing, finishing with 3.0 innings pitched, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits while walking 1, hitting a batter, and striking out 5. Helena Game Log Down 5-1 entering the 6th, Helena rallies for 5 runs in the inning. Helena Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Mike Saunders replaces Soid Marquez. Sthervin Matos singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Greer. With Connor Narron batting, wild pitch by Mike Saunders, Sthervin Matos to 2nd. Connor Narron walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Mike Saunders. Sthervin Matos scores. Connor Narron to 2nd. Throwing error by catcher Jose Duarte. Mitch Meyer doubles (7) on a ground ball to right fielder Aristides Aquino. Connor Narron scores. Eric Williams walks. Tucker Neuhaus out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Mike Saunders to first baseman Kevin Franklin. Mitch Meyer to 3rd. Eric Williams to 2nd. Luis Aviles singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alex Greer. Mitch Meyer scores. Eric Williams scores. Luis Aviles to 2nd. Throwing error by catcher Jose Duarte. Pitching Change: Fabian Roman replaces Mike Saunders. Edgardo Rivera strikes out swinging. Francisco Castillo singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ty Washington. Luis Aviles scores. Brandon Diaz singles on a line drive to left fielder Argenis Aldazoro. Francisco Castillo to 2nd. Sthervin Matos flies out to center fielder Alex Greer.

I'm not so sure about that. They have very different skill sets. Taylor appears to have more physical tools/talent and a higher ceiling. Ramsey has a higher floor no doubt, but he is also more than 4 years older than Taylor. Ramsey is 24 years old repeating AA. Taylor is 20 playing in A+ at a fairly high level. I would take a Taylor-type prospect over Ramsey every time.