Jim Goulart

This is big news back home in Venezuela for Rodriguez, whose first name is pronounced HWEEL-dair. Wow, did not know that, although should have noticed that in an old media guide. That news was from another feature, this one on Yahoo.

Guilder's Career Stats

MLB Trade Rumors: This weekend, the Rangers selected the contract of infielder Guilder Rodriguez, perhaps an unusual step for a 31-year-old who posted a .269/.347/.298 line in 349 plate appearances at Double-A Frisco this season. “This is a dream of every player,” says Rodriguez, via Dallas News’ Gerry Fraley. “Every single day when you wake up, you want this. I waited too many years, but I’m here now.” Rodriguez has unofficially mentored infield prospects like Rougned Odor and Luis Sardinas, and the Rangers hope he’ll keep helping youngsters after his playing career is over.

Wow, almost missed this -- Long and winding road finally ends: Rangers call up veteran Rodriguez Rodriguez (career stats) was first a Brewer in Year Two of the Link Report's history, 2002. He was a Brewer farmhand through 2008, and a Ranger farmhand ever since. Great story!

From Brad's daily Around the Horn write-up at Miller Park Prospects: A few days after announcing that pitcher Ariel Pena would not be participating in the Arizona Fall League, it was announced on Sunday that left-handed pitcher Michael Strong has been named to take his place with the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Monday's Daily Menu: Central Time Huntsville: LHP Brent Suter at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime; it's the deciding Game Five of a Best-of-Five Series Free Live Audio Link *** Follow Monday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Huntsville *** Weather Forecast

Final: Huntsville 4, @Chattanooga 0 Stars Force Game Five With Shutout Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Chattanooga, TN - The Huntsville Stars blanked the Chattanooga Lookouts 4-0 Sunday afternoon at AT&T Field in Chattanooga forcing a fifth and final game Monday to determine who will move on to the Southern League Championship series. Both of the Stars wins in the series have been shutouts as the series is tied two games apiece going into the finale Monday. Tyler Wagner (1-0) dazzled in his Double-A debut for the Stars. Wagner threw six shutout innings and scattered only two hits. He struck out four and walked one. The Stars and Lookouts were scoreless until Erik Komatsu changed that with an RBI double to center in the fifth inning against Matt Shelton (0-1). The Stars then put three runs on the scoreboard in the eighth against Lookouts reliever Blake Smith. Nick Ramirez doubled to deep center scoring Orlando Arcia making it 2-0 Stars. Robinzon Diaz singled into right field scoring Ramirez. Tyrone Taylor also added an RBI single to left giving the Stars a 4-0 advantage. David Goforth combined with Wagner on the shutout. Goforth, who earned his first save in the postseason, pitched three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. The Stars and Chattanooga will play gave five Monday night in Chattanooga to determine the winner of the series. The Stars will turn to LHP Brent Suter (10-10, 3.96). Chattanooga will send RHP Nick Struck (5-6, 5.47) to the hill. The game can be heard starting at 6:00 CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM WTKI and wtkiradio.com. *** Wagner, Stars refuse to go out in Game 4 Brewers right-hander tosses six scoreless innings in Double-A debut By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com Tyler Wagner wasn't there to help Double-A Huntsville capture the Southern League North Division first-half title, nor was he around to help the team in the second half. He was with Class A Advanced Brevard County, going 13-6 with a 1.86 ERA in 25 starts. But on Sunday, he was there to help the Stars when they needed it most. The Brewers' No. 14 prospect surrendered only two hits and a walk and struck out four over six innings in his Double-A debut to lead Huntsville to a 4-0 win over Chattanooga in Game 4 of the best-of-5 Southern League semifinals. The win forced a decisive Game 5 at Chattanooga's AT&T Field on Monday. "I didn't have any doubts that I could pitch at this level when I got promoted," Wagner said. "But at the same time, it's nice to see some results too. All I was thinking was that it's the same game here as it was down there. I just had to pitch the same way I had all year long." Known for his quick work on the mound, Wagner didn't waste much time settling into a groove. Thanks to a pair of double plays, the 23-year-old right-hander faced one above the minimum and needed only 63 pitches (41 strikes) to complete his six frames before reaching his innings limit. He credited his low-90s sinking fastball, which was graded at 60 by MLB.com, for his string of zeros. "A lot of it was working ahead with fastball," he said. "I was able to establish the fastball early and let everything kind of fall into place from there. The changeup and slider were in the zone too, but it all comes from establishing the fastball. When you're able to throw all three pitches in the same counts, it makes it tough for them to know what's coming." The Stars needed a strong start from Wagner against Chattanooga right-hander Matt Shelton, who retired the first 12 Huntsville batters he faced. The budding pitching duel didn't have much of an impact on how Wagner approached his Double-A bow. "I didn't even realize what he had going on until about the fourth or fifth," he said. "I don't pay much attention to what the other guy is doing, just because I am focused on what I can control. I don't think it affects me too much, to be honest." Huntsville got to Shelton in the fifth when Hector Gimenez singled to lead off the frame and Erik Komatsu smacked an RBI double two batters later. The Stars tacked on three insurance runs off reliever Blake Smith in the eighth on a run-scoring double by Nick Ramirez and RBI base hits by Robinzon Diaz and Tyrone Taylor. No. 16 Brewers prospect David Goforth allowed only one hit over the game's final three innings to earn his first save of the postseason. The victory preserved the existence of Huntsville Stars baseball for at least one more game, with the club set to move to Biloxi ahead of the 2015 season. That's not the focus of the players, though. This particular group of Brewers prospects is hoping to get one more win, so they can face either Mobile or Jacksonville with a ring on the line. "We've been positive every day, at least every day that I've been here," Wagner said. "Just take things day by day, that's the mentality we've had, even when we're down. And that's the same we'll look at tomorrow. Just win that game before any other stuff can happen." Huntsville Box Score Brewers looking very bright for the callups of Wagner, Arcia, and Taylor. David Goforth not being available for Monday complicates things a bit. Huntsville Game Log Chattanooga completely stifled by Wagner and Goforth - three singles, one walk, one LOB.

Sunday's Daily Menu: Central Time Huntsville: RHP Tyler Wagner at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 1:00 PM pre-game, 1:15 gametime; it's Game Four of a Best-of-Five Series, Stars trail 2-1, finale Monday in Chattanooga if necessary (hopefully) Free Live Audio Link *** Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Huntsville *** Weather Forecast

Final: @Chattanooga 2, Huntsville 1 Late Hit Leads Lookouts To Win Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Chattanooga, TN - The Chattanooga Lookouts received a clutch pinch hit from Angel Sanchez late in the game lifting them over the Huntsville Stars 2-1 Saturday night at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With the win, Chattanooga now leads the Stars 2-1 in their best of five series in the Southern League North Divisional Series. The game was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. With runners at first and second base, Sanchez singled into left field scoring Corey Seager from second giving the Lookouts a 2-1 advantage. Nick Ramirez gave the Stars a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on his RBI single to right field. The Lookouts tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on Daniel Mayora's RBI single to left. Jacob Barnes (0-1) took the loss for the Stars as he gave up what turned out to be the game winning hit to Sanchez. Ralston Cash earned the win for the Lookouts out of their bullpen. Cash struck out all six batters that he faced. Daniel Coulombe, who earned the save came into the game in the eighth with two runners on base. Coulombe retired Shawn Zarraga and Josh Fellhauer on a groundout to first and a strikeout to end the threat. Coulombe then got a 1-2-3 ninth inning to preserve the save. The Stars and Chattanooga will continue their five game series in Chattanooga, TN at AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Sunday afternoon. The Stars will turn to RHP Tyler Wagner (0-0, 0.00). Chattanooga will send RHP Matt Shelton (0-0, 0.00) to the hill. The game can be heard starting at 1:00 CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM WTKI and wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score Wow, big spot for Tyler Wagner Sunday. Huntsville Game Log Great chance in first inning -- Huntsville Top of the 1st Nick Shaw singles on a ground ball to center fielder Noel Cuevas. Orlando Arcia singles on a fly ball to left fielder Bobby Coyle. Nick Shaw to 2nd. Hector Gimenez flies out to center fielder Noel Cuevas. Shawn Zarraga flies out to left fielder Bobby Coyle. Nick Shaw to 3rd. Orlando Arcia to 2nd. Josh Fellhauer strikes out swinging.

Saturday's Daily Menu: Central Time Huntsville: LHP Mike Strong at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime; it's Game Three of a Best-of-Five Series, tied at 1-1, rest of the series after tonight on the road Free Live Audio Link *** Follow Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Huntsville *** Weather Forecast

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Who is Erik Cordier and where did this 101 MPH fastball come from? His dad posted here as far back as 2004, and Patrick (colbyjack) had met the family pre-draft and had shared those experiences. Long path, but congrats.

Ross' gem pulls Stars even in semifinals Brewers prospect allows one hit, fans eight in seven shutout innings By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/7/4/93360674/cuts/ross640_qalwhw3l_lwefz2x2.jpg Austin Ross was 9-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games, including 16 starts, across two levels this season. (Huntsville Stars photo) Austin Ross sees the silver lining to losing a no-hit bid before it gets too serious, at least in the playoffs. "I didn't have that weighing on me. We got it out of the way early," the Brewers prospect said. "It was an important enough game that in the later innings it's OK that I didn't have that extra stress." Ross went seven innings in Huntsville's 9-0 whitewash of Chattanooga, limiting the Lookouts to a single and a walk while striking out eight. The win evened the best-of-5 Southern League semifinal series at 1-1. "That was huge. Anytime you lose the first game and then go 2-0, that's a huge amount of momentum for them," he said. "We didn't win last night, but we had a spark around the seventh or eighth inning and guys were really positive going into today. It wasn't, 'Oh, crap, we lost the game.'" Coming off Tommy John surgery, the 26-year-old right-hander was limited to 56 2/3 innings last season. This year, he was 9-8 with a 3.62 ERA with Class A Advanced Brevard County and the Stars. Friday's game marked his longest Southern League outing and his first scoreless start at the Double-A level. "I felt like I improved and learned stuff every time out, and it all came together tonight," he said. Ross retired his first seven batters and, after walking Jeremy Hazelbaker with one out in the third, had no more trouble until Daniel Mayora dropped a two-out single into shallow right field. "A lot of people on our side think I struck him out one pitch before the hit, but that's part of the game," Ross said. "I probably got some calls that weren't necessarily strikes, too. That's just how it goes. It was a fastball in that I jammed him with, but he flared it over the second baseman's head." Ross responded by setting down the next 10 Lookouts. "Pitching is extremely difficult, but the principle is simple," the LSU product said. "If you can control the fastball down and locate off-speed stuff on both sides of the plate, that's all pitching is. To be able to execute it is difficult, but I was doing that." Top Brewers prospect Tyrone Taylor entered as a defensive replacment and went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. Josh Fellhauer provided insurance with a sixth-inning grand slam and Nick Shaw walked twice, stole a base and scored three times. The series shifts to Chattanooga, with Game 3 set for Saturday.

Final: @Huntsville 9, Mississippi 0 Stars One Hit Lookouts To Even Series Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Huntsville, AL - Austin Ross (1-0) pitched seven dominant innings and the offense came alive to shutout the Chattanooga Lookouts Friday night 9-0 at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. With the Stars win, they have evened their best of five game series at 1-1 with the Lookouts. Ross, who struck out eight batters on the night, only allowed one hit. It was a two-out single to Daniel Mayora in the fourth inning. Other than that lone hit he allowed, he walked one batter on his time on the mound. Jed Bradley and Kevin Shackelford combined to pitch the final two scoreless innings and complete the one-hitter of the Lookouts. The Stars offense backed Ross early in the game against Chattanooga starter Steve Smith (0-1). Orlando Arcia tripled over centerfielder Darnell Sweeney's head in the bottom of the first giving the Stars a 1-0 lead. Hector Gimenez grounded out to first base scoring Arcia making it 2-0. Yadiel Rivera lined an RBI single into centerfield in the bottom of the second increasing the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Nick Shaw scored on a wild pitch from Smith adding to the Stars lead. The Stars blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth. Tyrone Taylor singled over the shortstop's head scoring Shaw giving the Stars a 5-0 cushion. Then with the bases loaded in the same inning, Josh Fellhauer blasted a grand slam to right center against Freddie Cabrera increasing their lead to 9-0. Arcia, Fellhauer and Josh Prince each had two hits apiece leading the Stars to victory. The Stars and Chattanooga will continue their five game series in Chattanooga, TN at AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday night. The Stars will turn to LHP Michael Strong (0-0, 0.00). Chattanooga will send RHP Jeremy Kehrt (2-0, 1.69) to the hill. The game can be heard starting at 6:00 CDT on the internet only at wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score Such vindication for the spring 2012 Tommy John surgery of RHP Austin Ross. OBP Machine Nathan Orf would of course walk in his AA debut - the only surprise is that it wasn't a pinch-hit HBP. Hopefully with the Brevard kids just added to the very veteran core here, the Stars are primed for a fun run in this series and the finals. One thing is for sure, 2015's Huntsvile/Biloxi hybrid squad is going to be a blast to follow. Huntsville Game Log

Via @BrewersPD: Taylor Jungmann and Jason Rogers were named Pitcher/Player of the Month for August. Jungmann was 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA. 42 SO in 35 IP. Batters hit just .181 vs him during the month. Rogers hit .356 with 8 HRs, 22 RBIs, and 19 runs scored. His OPS was 1.120. *** FYI - Matt Clark hit .336 with 12 HRs, 22 RBI, and 24 runs scored. His OPS was 1.103. They couldn't do co-players?

Follow Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Huntsville Scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, of course... C'mon Stars, give those diehard Huntsville fans who are watching a lame-duck, but no, wait, it's not really a lame-duck, it's like "half-a-duck because we'll be back next spring only to really abandon you when our new stadium is ready" team. And of course, to the players and Brewers staff who have no control of that aspect of things, Go Stars!

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! Central Time Huntsville: RHP Austin Ross at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; it's Game Two of a Best-of-Five Series, Stars trail 1-0, rest of the series after tonight on the road Free Live Audio Link Steve Jarnicki is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars - welcome aboard! Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveJarnicki. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast.

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

Darn, I just attempted to post a Huntsville update and botched that, so I'll just note that there was no additional media or print updates on the Stars' game Friday AM, so Steve's game story I linked to during the overnight covers it all. As for the rather non-descript box score, while Orlando Arcia did double in his lone at-bat, history will not mark this as his true AA debut, which will have to wait until next season. We'll file away this postseason and know better, despite what Baseball Reference and such note years from now.

Cougars’ Olt provides jolt, talking point by Kevin Druley, Kane County Chronicle GENEVA – Erstwhile Cougars infielder Mike Olt and New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud share the National League rookie lead with 12 home runs this season. On his way to attempting to seize sole possession of that honor, Olt homered in his first two Class-A games. "Well, there you go," Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson grinned. "That's why he's here. He wants to get a taste of the Midwest League." In reality, the parent Cubs sent Olt on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a strained hamstring, a move that simultaneously generated plenty of buzz as he joined the heart of the Cougars' order to start their first-round playoff series against the Timber Rattlers. The Cougars won't have Olt for the remainder of their postseason run as he rejoins the Cubs, but he already did his part. His two-run shot tied Thursday's Game 2 in the eighth inning, helping the Cougars to an eventual series-cllinching, 4-3 victory in 13. On Wednesday, his three-run home run turned the tide in a series-opening road victory and began starting a dialogue among opposing fans. "It's not like the Cubs purposely sent me down here [to win]," Olt said. "It's just somewhere. It's close to Chicago, and I was able to get here pretty conveniently. I mean, yeah, it's a playoff spot. You know, it could come back and hurt them. But I don't think the players are [resentful]. More the fans." Olt's No. 20 locker nameplate was removed by the time the Cougars commenced their clubhouse celebration. The Cougars will begin the Western Division finals on the road Saturday, facing either Cedar Rapids or Burlington. Erickson supported Olt's contention before the game, saying he didn't have a problem with the stint before the Timber Rattlers (72-68) tried to even the series against the 92-49 Cougars, who still own the best record in the minor leagues. Whether in their clubhouse after Wednesday's game or during Thursday's bus ride from Appleton, Wis., the Timber Rattlers hardly groveled about facing a player with 72 big league games under his belt in 2014. "For our pitchers, the challenge to our pitchers, is, 'Hey, do you want to play in the big leagues? Well, you're going to have to get quality hitters out.' " Erickson said. "And Mike's a quality hitter, so they have a number of tough outs in their lineup." A prized prospect the Cubs acquired from the Texas Rangers in July 2013, Olt sensed mutual respect from the Timber Rattlers, who welcomed rehabbing Aramis Ramirez of the parent Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season. Olt was hitting .302 in 28 games with Triple-A Iowa before his injury last month. The only other Cubs farm team in the postseason is Advanced-A Daytona (Fla.). One dissenting argument to Olt's presence after Iowa's season ended this week hinged on this being the postseason. Olt's response? It's competitive sports, no matter the setting. Of course, that's an easier position for someone who bypassed Class-A in the Rangers' system and faced C.J. Wilson in one of his first live batting practices as a major leaguer. "You get that edge going, and you really want to compete," Olt said. "So it's not like they're going to back down from me. It's their going to come at me with their best stuff, and that's what I like." Wisconsin right-hander Preston Gainey kept the Cougars – and Olt – in check to open the game, spacing four hits, three walks and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Timber Rattlers led, 3-1, entering the bottom of the eighth, but Olt tied the game with a two-run blast on a 1-2 pitch with no outs. With Olt having reached his requiste four plate appearances, Cougars manager Mark Johnson pinch-hit for Olt with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth. Danny Lockhart was unable to put down a suicide squeeze, which erased Trey Martin between third base and home plate. Lockhart lined out to shortstop to end the inning. In the 13th, Jeimer Candelario smacked a Brandon Moore changeup with the bases loaded to end the series and the game. "If you just compete, you know, something happens," Candelario said. "If you compete, something always will." The bullpen relay of lefty Michael Heesch and righties James Pugliese, Jasvir Rakkar and Francisco Carrillo combined for 9 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, spacing four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. "The bullpen's got the right mentality, I think, just going out there each inning and just trying to keep the score where it's at and put up zeroes one after the other," Heesch said. "And I think we're doing a really good job of that." The Cougars said they treated Olt's arrival like most any other. His acquisition marked the 94th roster move of the season. The clubhouse remained mellow before the game, per the norm. "We had a successful season, and we know we're a good team, and we don't want to change anything," righty Zak Hermans said. "If it's not broke, don't fix it. So just trying to approach it the same way. Keep going, keep winning like we have been."

Read the Huntsville recap here, full details in the AM.

Some Huntsville Notes from Steve -- The Stars finished the regular season losing back to back series. They finished tied with Birmingham for last place in the second half of the Southern League North with a 31-39 record, 5 games behind the 2nd half champs Chattanooga. The Stars dropped seven of their final ten games. They scored just 30 runs during these ten games against Mobile and Mississippi who are ranked one and two in lowest team ERA’s in the Southern League. The Stars now face a Chattanooga team who had the 2nd best pitching staff in August(2.80). The Stars received a quality start from Brent Suter, his 11th of the year. The Stars lost for only the 13th time this year and are now 39-13 when they receive a quality start from their starter…OF Erik Komatsu went 0-3 but in his final six games went 7-18 (.389, 1 hr, 7 rbi’s). C/INF/OF Hector Gimenez went 2-3 to extend his hitting streak to five straight. He did not homer, but still homered in 6 out of his final 13 games. Since August 1st, he has hit 7 home runs, which are third most in the Southern League in that span. Chattanooga’s Scott Schebler has the most homers in this time period with 10….In his last 20 games, Gimenez has seven home runs and 24 rbi’s. Since the Stars clinched the 1st half championship on June 2nd, they’ve gone 38-44.

In order to make room for SS Orlando Arcia, 2B/UT Nathan Orf, and RHP Tyler Wagner on the Stars' postseason roster, three players were transferred to the Maryvale roster in a paper move -- INF Shea Vucinich, C/UT Joey Paciorek, and RHP Tommy Toledo.

In order to make room for SS Orlando Arcia, 2B/UT Nathan Orf, and RHP Tyler Wagner on the Stars' postseason roster, three players were transferred to the Maryvale roster in a paper move -- INF Shea Vucinich, C/UT Joey Paciorek, and RHP Tommy Toledo.

MiLB conveniently ignores the Stars in their Series Preview -- Via MiLB.com: Huntsville Stars (77-63, North Division first-half champion) vs. Chattanooga Lookouts (61-77, North Division second-half champion) Huntsville won the season series, 14-6 Game 1 at Huntsville, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET Game 2 at Huntsville, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET Game 3 at Chattanooga, Sept. 6 at 7:15 p.m. ET Game 4 at Chattanooga (if necessary), Sept. 7 at 2:15 p.m. ET Game 5 at Chattanooga (if necessary), Sept. 8 at 7:15 p.m. ET Chattanooga finished last in the first half in the North Division with a 26-44 record and was 14-24 in the second half heading into August before making a complete turnaround. "We went from finding ways to lose games to finding ways to win games," said outfielder Scott Schebler, who led the league with 28 homers and 14 triples while hitting .280. The Lookouts had an 11-game winning streak and edged out Tennessee for the second-half title after taking four of five games in a closing series at Chattanooga. Even with the turnaround, Chattanooga was just 35-33 in the second half, but that was good enough to make the postseason. "I knew we had a good team -- it just took us a while to show it," said Schebler, the Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 9 prospect. "This is like last year." Most of the Chattanooga players spent last season with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, which made the California League Playoffs after a rough first half. Chattanooga got a boost when shortstop Corey Seager, the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, joined the team in late July and hit .345 in 38 games. The Lookouts, though, mostly benefited from a relatively stable roster. Third baseman Daniel Mayora hit .302 with 75 RBIs and Darnell Sweeney, who played second base, shortstop and center field, led the league with 88 runs scored while batting .288. Pitching was an issue in the first half but stabilized in the second. Although right-hander Andres Santiago was just 6-8 with a 4.48 ERA, he was at his best when it mattered most -- no-hitting Tennessee in a 1-0 victory to the open the final series.

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