Jim Goulart

Saturday's game -- VIDEO: Nashville's Sean Halton hits his second double in the fifth inning of a 6-2 win over Fresno

Clint Coulter's audio interview from the blog (prior post) is in video form here -- Coulter finishing the season strong Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media GRAND CHUTE – Clint Coulter is just a couple of blasts away from tying the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' team home-run record. Coulter, though, is more interested in base hits than bombs, and can't be accused of swinging for the fences in pursuit of a record. The 21-year-old catcher went 3-for-4 at the plate Sunday night in a 4-2 loss to Beloit to continue a hot streak, which is allowing him to finish a strong 2014 season with the type of numbers teams expect from a No. 1 draft pick. Coulter has put together six multiple-hit games in his last seven contests and is hitting .467 in his last 30 at bats. Overall, Coulter is hitting .282, second on the team behind second baseman Chris McFarland (.290). Coulter leads the Rattlers with 20 home runs — two behind the club record of 22 shared by current Milwaukee Brewer Khris Davis and Victor Roache — and is second in the Midwest League with 84 RBI. "I've kind of gotten to a place with my hands, where I feel really comfortable and I'm seeing the ball really well," said Coulter, taken by Milwaukee with the 27th overall pick in the 2012 first-year player draft. "It's a couple things and hopefully I'll keep rolling." Coulter has displayed good power all season and his run production has been excellent, but hit a slump in July which saw his batting average dip into the .250s. He didn't panic or change his approach at the plate, and has been rewarded with the big finish. "There's been ups and downs, but I definitely feel like I've been more consistent than in the past," said Coulter, ranked by Baseball America as the 11th best prospect in the Milwaukee farm system. "I've been able to limit my downs and ride out my highs. Hopefully, I can finish strong." Coulter has alternated between catcher and designated hitter, and the Milwaukee brass has to be pleased with progress at the plate following an injury-plagued 2013 season in which he hit just .207 in 33 games with the Rattlers and .211 in 20 games at Helena. Coulter entered Sunday's game ranked first in the Midwest League in on-base percentage (.403) and second in slugging percentage (.509). "He came out on fire this season and he's been very consistent with his approach," said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. "He hit a little spell in the middle of the season where things weren't going very well, but he's back at it and he's hot and this is a good time for him to stay hot and feel good about himself at the plate." With Coulter leading the way, the Rattlers had plenty of base hits Sunday, but failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. In a rather odd game, Wisconsin outhit Beloit 13-3, but stranded an alarming 13 baserunners. McFarland, shortstop Angel Ortega, third baseman Sthervin Matos and center fielder Johnny Davis added two hits apiece, and Ortega socked his fourth home run of the year. But it wasn't enough for the Rattlers. "It was a game of missed opportunities for us," said Erickson. "For most of the game, it felt like we were in total control. We were swinging the bats well and kept putting guys on base, but couldn't get the big one." The Rattlers wasted a fine pitching performance by starter Preston Gainey, who allowed all three Beloit hits in seven innings of work. But two of those hits traveled a long way. The Snappers' Michael Soto slammed a solo homer in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 1-1, while Ryan Matthews slugged a two-run shot off Gainey in the bottom of the seventh to give Beloit a 4-1 lead. "Gainey was throwing as well as he has in a long time," said Erickson. "The ball was coming out of his hand really good. It was live and he hit 96 on the (radar) gun a couple times." Davis delivered the defensive play of the game in the top of the ninth when he leaped against the wall in center and took a home run away from Matthews. "I'm a defensive-minded player and I live for that kind of play," said Davis. "I like offense, but put me on defense for nine innings and I love that." The loss wasn't very damaging for the Rattlers in terms of the playoffs, because Peoria also lost. Wisconsin remained two games ahead of Peoria and Quad Cities for the second-half wild-card in the Western Division with eight games remaining. The Rattlers also hold the tiebreaker over both teams. "I feel we have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs," said Davis. "We just have to keep playing hard. And once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen."

Rattler Radio blog - Postgame entry Back to the home game routine of multiple audio interviews, photos, and game highlights via video. Interesting insights from Matt Erickson on Sthervin Matos, also on team leaders on the squad...

Speaking of Mitch Haniger in the above post-- By the way, here's Anthony Banda's fifth start with the D'Backs Midwest League South Bend club (Sunday). Six more innings without an earned run. That's 28 K's and just five walks over 30 innings in those five starts since the trade. Combined with his Timber Rattlers work prior, Banda has allowed just five earned runs in his last 45 innings (1.00 ERA). The southpaw turned 21 recently.

Final: @Mobile 5, Huntsville 4, 11 innings Former Star Haniger Wins With Walk-Off For Mobile Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Mobile, AL - The Mobile BayBears defeated the Huntsville Stars Sunday night thanks to a former Stars outfielder delivering the game winning hit. Mitch Haniger gave the BayBears a 5-4 win in eleven innings on his game winning single. With the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the 11th, Haniger singled into left center scoring Aregenis Diaz from second base. It was a bang-bang play at home as Stars catcher Robinson Diaz was called for blocking home plate, giving the BayBears the win. Haniger had a big day against his former club. Haniger went 3-4 with 3 RBI and two doubles. Haniger gave Mobile a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly. Then in the bottom of the third he added an RBI double down the left field line making it 3-0. Hector Gimenez launched a two-run homer off the right center field scoreboard in the top of the fourth putting the Stars on the scoreboard. The lead was cut to 3-2. Josh Prince came through with a clutch hit for the Stars in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Prince lined a two-run single to left center giving the Stars a 4-3 lead. Mobile tied the game in the eighth. Ryan Court led off with a solo home run against Manny Barreda. Court's home run just stayed fair down the right field line. The Stars had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with nobody out, but couldn't score. Tommy Toledo (4-3) took the loss for the Stars out of the bullpen. Kaleb Fleck (7-3) earned the win out of the bullpen for the BayBears. The Stars (29-34,75-58) trail the BayBears (35-26,77-53) 2-1 in their series. The series resumes Monday. Huntsville will have RHP Austin Ross (1-2, 3,68) on the mound. Mobile will send RHP A.J. Schugel (5-3, 3.52) to the hill. The game can be heard starting at 6:50 CDT on the internet only at wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score Stars pitchers walked eight, although RHP Jacob Barnes pitched two strong innings behind LHP Jed Bradley, who, as noted earlier in the thread, didn't have it here. OF Erik Komatsu has pretty much been a non-factor in his Brewers' arrival, but he reached in all five trips in this one (double, two singles, two walks). Huntsville Game Log This just can't happen -- Huntsville Top of the 9th Kentrail Davis walks. With Erik Komatsu batting, wild pitch by Seth Simmons, Kentrail Davis to 2nd. Erik Komatsu walks. With Shea Vucinich batting, Kentrail Davis steals (13) 3rd base. Erik Komatsu steals (4) 2nd base. Shea Vucinich walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Nick Shaw replaces Manny Barreda. Defensive Substitution: Nate Samson replaces pitcher Seth Simmons, batting 5th, playing second base. Pitching Change: Cody Wheeler replaces Seth Simmons, batting 9th. Nick Shaw grounds into a force out, second baseman Nate Samson to catcher Mark Thomas. Kentrail Davis out at home. Erik Komatsu to 3rd. Shea Vucinich to 2nd. Nick Shaw to 1st. Josh Prince grounds into a double play, shortstop Argenis Diaz to second baseman Nate Samson to first baseman Ryan Court. Nick Shaw out at 2nd.

Well hello, Johnny Davis!

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog -- "Tonight’s interview is with Sounds reliever Tim Dillard, who came up from Double-A Huntsville last night and has now pitched for the Sounds in eight consecutive seasons. As it turned out, the always-hilarious Dillard wasn’t the only one who appeared in the interview." Classic.

Originally posted on June 23rd after very short samples -- Well, guess I nailed that one, you post enough and you hit the mark occasionally. Munoz is up to .320 midway through tonight's game (8/24), improving each month, and just raking through August. Never second-guess anyone on the DSL to Helena shuttle after just one season. Kudos, Brewers and Gregory.

By the way, here's last year's thread, in which we documented what happened with each player during the offseason.

Feel free to post your predictions here, and yes, it will certainly be interesting to monitor the Matt Clark situation (less than two years older than Hunter Morris). Don't the Brewers have to re-add SS Hector Gomez? He'll turn prime 27 in March, and while yes, his 2013 at Huntsville was criminally bad (.494 OPS), his healthy (until just last week) 2014 at Nashville was super impressive, with 46 extra-base hits leading to an .807 OPS. One issue, however -- Gomez is out of options, so he'd be a spring training luxury hedge against any Jean Segura emergencies, but he has some (limited) experience at third base, even less so at second, and could be a utility guy. Do you see anyone else worthy of keeping from minor league free agency?

Please be patient on discussing Rule 5 protection possibilities. That will involve a list of players still under Brewer control for 2015, so it will be a separate thread from this one, and the players listed above won't cross over to that list. We'll have that thread out some time in the next week. *** Something to keep in mind is that the initial list here doesn't currently include players who may be dropped from the current 40-man roster immediately after the season ends, and who would have enough service time to qualify for minor league free agency. Nor obviously does it include players who will be free agents on the big league level.

LINK: MLB.com's scouting guru Bernie Pleskoff profiles Huntsville closer David Goforth, almost a sure-thing 40-man addition this fall.

No pressure, WV Brew, but you'll definitely be invited to Link Report contribute in 2015 . Thanks for your insights/comments.

Following is a list of players who are free to leave the organization five days after the World Series when minor league free agency begins. These players and the Brewers could agree to sign an additional one-year minor league deal to extend the relationship. Or the Brewers could add the player to the 40-man roster, thus extending the "ownership" of the player. A player who has exhausted all seven years of his original minor league affiliation to the organization that signed him is eligible. Here are the Brewers farmhands who have been with the organization for their full seven-year affiliated commitment (or even longer in the case of Tim Dillard, Caleb Gindl, Taylor Green, Donovan Hand and Joey Paciorek). We've been following these guys their whole affiliated pro careers. RHP Tim Dillard - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 11/03 OF Caleb Gindl -- Signed with Toronto 12/12, received an invite to spring training IF Taylor Green - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 10/30 RHP Donovan Hand - Signed with Reds 01/15 IF/OF/C Joey Paciorek C Shawn Zarraga - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 9/18 Other potential (and likely) free agents: RHP Manny Barreda - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 10/16 INF Jeff Bianchi - Signed with Boston 01/05 RHP Billy Buckner RHP Jose De La Torre - Signed with Cincinnati 12/02 C/3B/LF Robinzon Diaz - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 10/16 IF Irving Falu - Signed with Cincinnati 12/02 C/LF Hector Gimenez OF Jeremy Hermida - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract with a big league spring camp invite on 11/06 RHP Jon Huizinga RHP Jay Jackson - Signed with Padres 01/26 OF Erik Komatsu LHP Brent Leach - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract with a big league spring camp invite on 12/01 RHP Arcenio Leon - Signed with White Sox 12/02 RHP Johnnie Lowe C Lucas May RHP Dustin Molleken -- Signed with Cleveland 11/18, received an invite to spring training IF Pete Orr - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract with a big league spring camp invite on 11/06 C Matt Pagnozzi -- Signed with Arizona 11/6 IF/OF Hainley Statia - Signed to a 2015 minor league contract on 12/04 IF/OF Eugenio Velez - Signed with Tampa Bay 12/12, received an invite to spring training If you believe a player is listed in error or have an addition, let us know. We believe we're close, but don't claim to be 100% accurate.

AUDIO: Steve's Huntsville call of RHP Eric Marzec's home run Saturday

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter. *** Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Nashville Media Notes - it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Roster" banner on the Sounds' site. Brevard County Media Notes - again, it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' site. Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog *** STANDINGS: (For split-season leagues, 2nd half standings are shown as the default, although overall standings are also available at the link.) AAA - Pacific Coast League American Southern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League Central Division DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris *** Sortable individual stat pages: Nashville Huntsville Wisconsin Helena Maryvale Dominican Summer League Brewers *** Weather.com: Nashville, TN Mobile, AL Clearwater, FL Grand Chute, WI (Appleton) Helena, MT

Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

DVR ALERT! Monday's Timber Rattlers game will be broadcast on MyNew32 TV, airtime 7:00 PM.

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Michael Blazek at home vs. Sacramento (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: LHP Jed Bradley at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime 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. MiLB.TV - It appears seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games (not the Stars). ********** Brevard County: LHP Hobbs Johnson at Clearwater (Phillies), 11:30 AM pre-game, 12:00 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the proper link based on listed schedule Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio, as all games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2014. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at home vs. Beloit (Athletics), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM WNAM Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. For the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from seven Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (30) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule so you can coordinate your DVR activity. ********** Helena: RHP Brandon Woodruff at home vs. Billings (Reds), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link There's a new Voice of the Helena Brewers in 2014, as Dustin Daniel (@dustin__daniel on Twitter) takes over for legendary Steve Wendt. We look forward to Dustin building his own legacy moving forward. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: Season complete - summary post here

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

One more note on the DSL'ers -- you'd hope the kids will benefit long-term from whatever English Language instruction they received over time at the academy. Unlike high school draft picks, we really don't know what, if any, secondary education guarantees are made for these fringe-level signings by major league organizations.

Well, that didn't take long -- @BrewersPD: The Brewers have released Raphachel Colatosti, Juan De Los Santos and Franmy Pena from the DSL team. We wish them well. *** Raphachel Colatosti, a 21-year-old Venezuelan 4th-year DSL'er, split his time among all the infield positions, with a dabble of outfield play mixed in, particularly this season. In 703 plate appearances over four seasons (597 AB's), he posted a .236/.336/.266 line, only 14 of 141 hits going for extra bases despite being listed at 6'1" (173). A 20-year-old four-year pro, also from Venezuela, Juan De Los Santos spent his first two seasons in the Nationals' organization. As you'll see at the link, the Brewers focused on defensive versatility with De Los Santos as well (third base proved to be an issue, as it often does at any rookie level). De Los Santos finishes with an on-base friendly .246/.371/.329 line, so it's a bit surprising he won't see Maryvale at all. Back on May 31st, we detailed Franmy Pena's signing, please re-read this post about the player with stateside experience. In his 2014 small sample of 36 official AB's, Pena had six hits, two of them triples, he walked eight times, fanned on eleven occasions. SIDENOTE: Colatosti and Pena are the only "Raphachel" and "Franmy" ever to play professional baseball.

Timber Rattlers win in 11: 'More than baseball, it was battle' By Dave Eminian of the Peoria Journal Star PEORIA -- The Peoria Chiefs and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers exhausted all weapons, traded their best shots and ended up in a glorious duel that looked like one of those hand-to-hand closing combat scenes in an action movie. "That was more than baseball, it was battle," Chiefs catcher Carson Kelly said late Saturday, when it was finally over. "There was so much heart out there, so much guts on display." It was great theater, as the Chiefs played the underdog role, coming in with only 23 players, a lineup forced to start three reserves, no extra players to pinch-run, and a pitching staff that had no left-handed reliever on the team. They rallied from five-run and two-run deficits and forced extra innings before they couldn't go any further, finally surrendering four runs in the 11th inning for an 11-7 loss before 6,171 at Dozer Park. Had the Chiefs won, they would have tied Wisconsin, clinched the playoff tiebreaker, and moved into the wildcard spot. Instead, they dropped two games back and surrendered the tiebreaker to the Rattlers with nine games left. "So frustrating, it really hurts," said Kelly, while the celebration in the Wisconsin clubhouse echoed down the tunnel beneath the grandstand. "We were right there on the brink of winning it. "I'm proud of these guys. It's hard, and it's frustrating, but we move on and play these next games and see what happens. "That game tonight ... was ... incredible." It had everything. Both managers were ejected. Peoria right fielder Rowan Wick made a highlight diving catch. There were 30 hits. Chillicothe native Chris Razo came on with one out in the seventh, blew a save when his wild pitch allowed Peoria to plate the tying run, then went on to earn a win by shutting down the Chiefs for 3 2/3 innings in which he allowed 2 hits and no runs. The Chiefs rallied against starter Zach Quintana in the fourth inning with six straight hits -- the most consecutive hits in an inning by Peoria this season -- to break up a no-hitter and tie the game with a five-spot. Wisconsin's Sthervin Matos put a drive off the left field foul pole in the fifth that was ruled a three-run homer, then overturned into a two-run double, then overturned again into a foul ball. Exit Rattlers manager Matt Erickson, ejected. Video replays showed the ball hit the foul pole below the yellow line that marks a home run, meaning it should have been ruled a double. Down 7-5 in the eighth, the Chiefs rallied again when Justin Ringo and Wick singled to set up runners in the corners, and Ronald Castillo just missed a home run, lining a bullet off the screen next to the foul pole and above the fence in the left field corner. That plated Ringo to cut the deficit to 7-6, and Razo's wild pitch followed and the game was tied. Kelly was parked on second with two outs in the 10th when Castillo -- who had a three-hit game -- ripped a line drive toward the right-center gap. But the ball, heading into the wind on a humid night, hung for just a moment. Instead of a walk-off win, it was the third out. Wisconsin put together four straight hits, a sacrifice fly, and a fifth hit off righty Robert Stock in the 11th, and it was over. Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel made an emotional exit in that inning, when Wisconsin's Chris McFarland was ruled safe on a close play at the plate for a 10-7 lead. Kruzel fired his cap to the turf, was ejected, then raged on, kicking dirt onto the plate, moving up the baseline to kick dirt on plate umpire Ryan Doherty, then returning to the plate to bury it some more before finally exiting. "We really battled to get back in that game," Kruzel said. "We had some chances. You have to tip your cap to our kids. They could have tanked, but instead they battled. "We had a chance, and we came up just short. What a game it was."

VIDEO: Wisconsin game highlights from Peoria, some Rattler highlights included, even if from Peoria perspective, including Taylor Brennan's home run and the game-ending twin killing

Brevard County -- AUDIO: LHP Mike Strong joins Justin Rocke on the Manatees Pregame Show to talk about joining the starting rotation. AUDIO, Game Highlights: Clearwater wins, 6-2.