Jim Goulart

The Nashville / Colorado Springs thread was merged into this one.

Colorado Springs and Brewers it is (by default).

LINK - Brevard infielder Mike Garza profiled by his college (Georgetown University).

At AAA, it's down to just Fresno and Colorado Springs for the Brewers and Astros to bargain over, as the Rockies apparently are moving on to Albuquerque.

Four year agreement with Biloxi rather than two a very nice reward for the Brewers patience with the Huntsville situation all these years. Tweet from Brewers Player Development

Brevard County is official - two years through 2016. By far the best broadcast coverage in the Florida State League, so that's good for us here.

Peterson reflects on fourth pro baseball season By Matt Williams, Salem (MA) News Staff writer After six months in the grinding schedule that is minor league professional, left-hander Stephen Peterson was happy to get a short break. A few weeks off is plenty for the big southpaw out of St. John’s Prep, who is headed right back to work at Milwaukee’s spring training complex in Arizona to throw in their advanced instructional program. Peterson signed with the Brewers organization out of the University of Rhode Island in 2011 and just finished his fourth season as a pro with Brevard County (Florida) in Single-A. “I got home for Labor Day,” said Peterson, who originally hails from Danvers and now resides in Wilmington. “It was great to be able to relax and see everybody. Now, it’s about getting the wheels turning and getting after it again.” A utility pitcher of sorts, Peterson served in a variety of roles for the Manatees in the summer of 2014. He was a long reliever at times, a spot arm and also closed on occasion. He turns 27 in November, and as one of the older players for the Manatees took on a leadership role among the pitching staff. “In any baseball season you run into situations when guys are down, or the bullpen is taxed, and you need somebody to cover innings or step into a role. I like being pegged as that guy who can do anything,” said Peterson. “Having said that, being in a 3-2 game and getting that call to finish it — I love that, too. “For me, it’s always about what’s best for the team.” Strong finish to season A 6-foot-3, 210-pound power pitcher, Peterson has had consistent velocity since his time at URI. Over the last 18 months he’s moved from a curve to a change as his primary offspeed pitch, and has been more than happy with the results. “It was my biggest leap. I remember clear as day we had a game against Tampa, and my curve was all over the place,” Peterson remembered. “The pitching coach suggested we go to the change, and I started throwing it. I was throwing it for a strike and getting some ugly swings.” While Peterson, who once fired two no-hitters as a senior at St. John’s Prep, may have found the change almost by accident, the results have been anything but. After that first outing, he spent time developing the pitch and learning its intricacies from the Manatees’ coaches. “It’s consistency,” said Peterson. “What I’ve found is that the change-up has been something I can throw for a strike in any count.” This past season, Peterson went 5-4 with a career-best 2.98 earned run average. His batting average against was .235, also an improvement from 2013. He threw 60 innings and had a career-high four saves with seven save opportunities. “The best thing about this year was the way I was able to finish,” said Peterson. “In the second half I said to myself that it was time to step it up some, time to get in a little groove. I wanted to be versatile and take advantage of what I had, and I felt like I ended up pitching like I wanted to and knew I could.” Ready for what the future brings Brevard County is known as the Space Coast, influenced by the nearby John F. Kennedy Space Center. The summer of 2014 marked Peterson’s second season in advanced Class-A, and he shared a house near Coco Beach with a few teammates. The Manatees enjoyed a strong season, finished 37-32 overall and in third in the Florida State League’s North Division. “We were in a playoff run, playing great baseball all the way to the last day of the season. There was no quit in our team and that made it great to go to the park,” said Peterson. “You play 140 games and all you think about is baseball, and then you get home and you miss things like riding home with the guys.” Heading back to Arizona, Peterson is looking to further hone his offspeed stuff while spending time with both instructors and scouts. The Brewers prospects hook up with some from the Mariners in the structure of the instructional league, with players ranging from Single-to-Triple A involved. “It’s an opportunity to work on things,” Peterson explained. “You have 20-or-so games where you’re in front of roving instructors and higher-ups.” With his fifth professional season on the horizon, Peterson is looking back on an enjoyable season with the Manatees while also looking forward to the future. “I know it’s an important year for me coming up, and having a good offseason and good training will hopefully help me get a chance to start next year in Double A,” said Peterson. “I love being part of the Brewers organization, and obviously from Day 1 they’ve supported me from signing me and all the feedback I’ve had. I’ve excited to see what happens ... and I’ll do whatever I can to be ready.”

Miller Park Prospects: Brad's alphabetical player-by-player review of the Maryvale squad, everyone's included.

Instructional schedules via Brad / Miller Park Prospects

Ballparkdigest (and Baseball America) reporting Brewers have re-upped with Huntsville/Biloxi & Brevard County, just not announced yet. LINK

Via @BrewersPD: Players attending advanced IL are: Clint Coulter, Parker Berberet, Cameron Garfield, Orlando Arcia, Taylor Brennan, Chris McFarland, Nathan Orf, Johnny Davis, and Victor Roache. Pitchers attending advanced IL: RHP's Jacob Barnes, Tyler Cravy, Josh Uhen, Martin Viramontes, and Taylor Williams, LHP's Hobbs Johnson, Stephen Peterson, and Trevor Seidenberger.

Baseball Prospectus with a few Orlando Arcia thoughts

2014 Instructional League Roster (You should be able to increase your internet browser's zoom capacity to increase the reading size there.) Soon-to-be 20-year-old LHP Joan De La Cruz the only pitcher brought in from the Dominican Summer League. Catchers Johel Atencio and Kevin Martinez, SS Franly Mallen, and OF's Nicolas Pierre and Joantgel Segovia brought in from the Dominican, along with prized signing Gilbert Lara. Down from Wisconsin, it's 1B David Denson, SS Angel Ortega, and RHP Victor Diaz. Otherwise, of course, it's a mix of Helena and Maryvale youngsters. *** Of course, other players are in camp, here's a tweet from 26-year-old LH Brevard reliever Stephen Peterson. And we know Clint Coulter will be in Maryvale too, of course. It would be very cool to be a Maryvale local and a Brewer minor league diehard and just cruise from field to field there during this time.

Detailed player-by-player DSL review by Brad at his Miller Park Prospects site.

2014 Minor League Classification All-Stars RHP Taylor Williams gets some love from Baseball America, in addition to Nelson and Coulter.

Really surprised the Cubs aren't renewing their Midwest League Kane County affiliation and even more surprised they're not renewing with Daytona in the Florida State League (link to reasons on both via Ballpark Digest). The "Daytona Cubs" probably won't be able to re-brand quickly enough to create their own identity for next spring, maybe a generic "Daytona Brewers" in 2015? It's been awfully quiet on the Brevard / Milwaukee front. Makes me wonder if the Brewers are looking to escape the madness that is FSL rainouts. Three Carolina League affiliations are in play: Carolina (Zebulon, NC, was Cleveland), Lynchburg, VA (Braves looking elsewhere), and Myrtle Beach, SC (looking to move on from Rangers affiliation). Here's your timeline update: Sept. 11: Teams must notify MiLB between end of the season and this date if they intend to terminate a player-development contract. Sept. 12-15: Teams are notified about open affiliations. Sept. 16-Oct. 7: Teams can negotiate for new player development contacts. Oct. 7: MLB and MiLB will pair any unaffiliated teams. And here's the updated complete "Affiliate Dance" breakdown via Ballpark Digest.

Thank you TheCrew07, bkrause2, and Eye Black at Night (Seth, Brad and Daron), somehow we made it through. You guys were awesome. While each team and even the big leaguers get days off, the Link Report took only the night of the MLB All-Star Game off, although, no wait, the DSL'ers played that day, so not even. Thank you to Jeff, Steve, Dave and the Brevard Bunch, Chris, and Dustin in the minor league booths -- in honor of you, we link to this about one of Steve's fellow Southern Leaguers: So You Wanna Be a Sports Broadcaster? Thank you, readers. See you in April (from a Link Report perspective), and stick around our Minor League Forum until then.

Via MinorLeagueBall -- Tyrone Taylor and Tyler Wagner highlighted

Here's Brad on Shackelford/Astin.

The Brewers announce -- RHP Kevin Shackelford and RHP Barrett Astin have been sent to Cincinnati to complete the 8/31 trade for RHP Jonathan Broxton. *** Astin turns 23 this October, so despite his 3rd round status, coming off his subpar 2014 Wisconsin season, this trade seems right, especially with all the money the Brewers took off the Reds' hands.

August honor from Baseball America for Coulter

Nice article via John Sickels and Lone Star Ball

Via Adam McCalvy tweet -- Gord Ash says a position switch is likely in store for #Brewers MiLB player of the year Clint Coulter. 1B, 3B, LF are options.

Brewers announce 2014 Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year Awards Congratulations, Jimmy and Clint.

Final: @Chattanooga 7, Huntsville 6 Lookouts Win Nailbiter To End Stars' Season Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Chattanooga, TN - The Chattanooga Lookouts held off a ferocious late rally by the Huntsville Stars and advanced to the Southern League Championship Series with a 7-6 win over the Stars Monday night at AT&T Field. The Stars built a 2-0 lead early but then trailed 7-2 midway through the game. The Stars began their comeback in the top of the seventh inning. The Stars loaded the bases against relief pitcher Jose Dominguez. Ralston Cash was then summoned in out of the bullpen. Cash walked Josh Fellhauer forcing in Erik Komatsu making it 7-3. Orlando Arcia, two batters later, smoked a two-run single to left making it 7-5. After Dominguez and Cash could only retire one batter collectively, Daniel Coulombe was brought in as the third Lookouts reliever in the inning. Coulombe struck out Nick Ramirez and got Hector Gimenez to fly out to leave the tying runners on base. In the top of the ninth, Yadiel Rivera began the inning with a single off Coulombe. With one out and two batters later, Nick Shaw ripped a double to right center. With Rivera at third and Shaw at second, Coulombe struck out Arica for the second out. With pinch hitter Shawn Zarraga at the dish and the game on the line, Coulombe delivered a wild pitch allowing Rivera to score from third. With Shaw standing at third base with two outs, Zarraga struck out to end the game. The Lookouts were trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the fourth. Chris O’Brien tied the game against LHP Brent Suter on an RBI single to left. Later in the fourth, pinch hitter Angel Sanchez gave the Lookouts a 3-2 lead on his RBI single off Stars reliever Eric Marzec (0-1). Chattanooga padded their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Corey Seager singled off Gimenez’s glove to make it 4-2. While Kevin Shackelford was on the mound in the fifth, O’Koyeah Dickson hit a three run home run giving the Lookouts a 7-2 lead. The Lookouts advance to the Southern League Championship series as they host the Jacksonville Suns in game one on Wednesday. The Stars season came to an end with the loss. The Stars finished with a 77-63 record during the regular season. Huntsville Box Score Huntsville Game Log