Jim Goulart

What to make of the Nashville rotation after the Brad Mills trade - Jimmy Nelson, Michael Blazek, Taylor Jungmann, Ariel Pena and...maybe Kyle Heckathorn? That'd be two converted middle relievers making recent moves to the rotation. It's quite possible Mike Fiers could return when the big league club goes back to a 7-man bullpen at some point.

I have no inside information on the subject, and to be honest, have respectfully stepped back from pestering anyone in the Nashville or Milwaukee front office, but the Brewers desperately want to field a winning club in Nashville this season, if nothing else, to have hampy campers in the Music City and just to prove they can do so (it's been a while - 2010, 77-67). Te Brewers really want to be in the Sounds' new 2015 ballpark (no kidding), and the trade of LHP Brad Mills today and the imminent (it seems) callup of Jimmy Nelson will be huge hits to the Nashville rotation as it hopes to win their division and qualify for the postseason. Then again, for all I (we) know, the two sides have already come to an all-but-official agreement for the next two years without formally finalizing it, similar to the Brewers and Huntsville/Biloxi ownership. We'll see...

Weather.com: Las Vegas, NV Chattanooga, TN Viera, FL (Melbourne) Comstock Park, MI Helena, MT Santo Domingo, DR

Sortable individual stat pages: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Dominican Summer League Brewers

STANDINGS: 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 DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

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.

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.

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Southern League All-Star Game Brevard County Midwest League All-Star Game Helena DSL Brewers MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Alec Dopp reminds us of this Devin Williams video link from last July.

NOTE: Hopefully the Helena audio link provided above is working this evening. If not, and someone finds the Helena feed elsewhere, please let us know. Just in case, here's the less-desirable but handy Missoula feed link.

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Michael Blazek at Las Vegas (Mets), 8:45 PM pre-game, 9:05 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: RHP Tyler Cravy (getting the starting nod), along with RHP's Drew Gagnon and David Goforth, LHP Brent Suter, catcher Shawn Zarraga, 1B Nick Ramirez, 3B Jason Rogers, and UT Josh Prince, represent the Stars in the Southern League All-Star Game in Chattanooga, 6:15 gametime; RHP's Taylor Jungmann and Arcenio Leon were also elected but have since been promoted to AAA Free Live Audio Link ********** Brevard County: LHP Hobbs Johnson at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 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: C/DH Clint Coulter (in the starting lineup), along with 3B Taylor Brennan and RHP's Barrett Astin, Taylor Williams and Preston Gainey, represent the Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League All-Star Game in Comstock Park, MI, 6:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link MiLB.TV: This game is available to MiLB.TV subscribers. ********** Helena: RHP Devin Williams at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 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. MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction, Orem, and Idaho Falls (one series each), those games will be available to watch online. ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day We're going to lock in the link to Brad Krause's fantastic Miller Park Prospects - Dominican Summer League primer right here, at least for the first couple of months of the DSL campaign, for your easy review. Brad will also be adding DSL Link Report duties to his Brevard coverage for us here. Thanks, Brad!

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

Unless the Brewers add Shawn Zarraga to their 40-man roster this fall (at which point they would control his rights in the minor leagues for another three years, for a total of ten without any promise of big league time), Shawn can elect to become a minor league free agent.

It's Taylor Brennan week - and in several ways, deservedly so. Here's Bob Brainerd's latest, which includes photos from Brad Krause.

Via BrewCrewBall, Q&A with 3rd round RHP Cy Sneed

Via Jon Heyman -- Brewers RHP draftee Turner Larkins, 28th rounder due to belief he was college bound, turned down $1M. Will go to Texas A&M. *** That'll be a name to watch and compare in three years...

Photo(s) by Eliza Wiley, Independent Record - Greg McCall knocks one out of the park late Monday night as the rain begins to pick up speed Monday night in the Brewers season opener against Missoula. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/5c/55c63fd0-f5da-11e3-806e-001a4bcf887a/539fc82124bb3.preview-620.jpg More photos at the game story link -- Osprey top Brewers in opener shortened by rain By Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record Just three pitches into the top of the ninth inning on Opening Day, the steady rainfall that had defined much of the evening gave way to a heavy downpour. With the Helena Brewers trailing the Missoula Osprey 8-5 Monday at Kindrick Legion Field in the season opener, the tarp was pulled over the infield at 10:10 p.m. After a 30-minute weather delay – after the contest’s scheduled start time had already been pushed back 10 minutes due to showers earlier in the afternoon – the game was called. Players and fans had about an hour reprieve from the rain before another system moved in, but the game went on. Puddles formed in front of both dugouts, but the grounds crew kept the infield playable as long as possible. The die-hard fans still braving the weather cheered from beneath umbrellas, coming to life as Helena designated hitter Greg McCall sent a two-run blast sailing over the right-center field wall in the seventh, his first hit as a pro. But Mother Nature couldn’t rain on the Osprey’s parade. Missoula pounded out 10 hits and held on for a rain-shortened Pioneer League North Division victory. “You’re going to have times when everything’s not going the way you want it to go, but at the same time you need to continue to plug away and our guys did that tonight,” said Brewers skipper Tony Diggs, the league’s reigning Manager of the Year. “It was 5-1 after two and it could have continued to blow up.” Justin Williams led the Osprey at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and a stolen base. He followed teammate Fernery Ozuna’s two-run homer in the first inning with an opposite-field solo shot of his own in the very next at-bat, as Missoula got to Brewers starter Chad Thompson early. “When he hit the home run, that just made me focus even more,” Williams said. “He’s bringing it first at-bat so I need to bring it too.” Thompson, making his first appearance since 2012 after having shoulder surgery last year, showed some rust early on. The right-hander struggled to find his command, and Missoula took a 5-1 lead after just two innings. But Thompson began to settle in by the third frame. After giving up a leadoff single to Jacob Mayers, he posted his first shutout inning and wouldn’t give up another hit. Thompson finished with six strikeouts and three walks, giving up five runs on five hits through four innings of work. He was tagged with the loss, while Missoula starter Gabriel Moya earned the win. Moya, a southpaw, gave up just four hits and a pair of earned runs while fanning seven through five frames. Osprey manager Audo Vicente gave the players credit for staying focused, despite less-than-ideal conditions. “The weather was not an excuse to stop playing,” he said. Despite the loss, Helena’s pitching staff struck out a dozen Osprey batters, including whiffing DH Maik Ehmcke four times. The Brewers also saw some early star power, as right fielder Elvis Rubio went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base, and shortstop Luis Aviles finished with a pair of singles and showcased some speed. The three-game set continues tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central), with right-hander Brad Keller taking the mound for Missoula. Helena righty Devin Williams, Milwaukee’s second-round draft selection a year ago, is scheduled to start for the Brewers. Rain is once again in the forecast. “It’s weather. You can’t predict it, you can only survive it and deal with it,” Diggs said.

Rattlers represent West squad: Coulter, Brennan Midwest League all-star starters by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20140616&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=306160407&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Rattlers-represent-West-squad-Coulter-Brennan-Midwest-League-all-star-starters Clint Coulter of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is one of the Western Division starters for today's Midwest League All-Star Game in Comstock Park, Mich. / Dan Powers photo/Post-Crescent Media Clint Coulter and Taylor Brennan were selected 36 rounds apart by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 first-year player draft. All-stars, though, are determined by production and not draft position. That’s why the two Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will be on the same field tonight representing the best of the Western Division in the 50th annual Midwest League All-Star Game. Coulter (designated hitter) and Brennan (third base) will be among the Western Division starters in the 6 p.m. contest at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Mich., the home of the West Michigan Whitecaps. Wisconsin pitchers Barrett Astin, Preston Gainey and Taylor Williams are also members of the Western Division all-stars. Coulter, a first-round draft pick, has emerged as one of the premier sluggers in the Midwest League. He is tied for second in the league in home runs (11) and is third in RBI (47), while hitting .282. He also leads Wisconsin hitters with a slugging percentage of .468. “It’s something I’m really looking forward to,” said the 20-year-old Coulter. “What makes it even better is that I have four of my teammates going with me. We’re going to have a good time.” Brennan, a mere 37th-round draft selection, is hitting .239, but is second on the team in both slugging percentage (.407) and on-base percentage (.377), and third in homers (seven). He has collected 33 RBI, been solid defensively and has been a clutch hitter with a team-leading three walk-off hits. “It means quite a bit to me,” Brennan said. “It’s an accomplishment, a blessing and an honor.” Astin, Gainey and Williams are right-handers and have been starting pitchers for the Rattlers. Astin — a third-round pick out of the University of Arkansas in the 2013 draft — has a 5-3 record and a 4.52 earned run average with 47 strikeouts in 67 2⁄3 innings. “He’s an even-keel guy that doesn’t get too high or too low,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “Fastball command is a priority here at low A ball and he’s been pretty good in that area. Once you can control the fastball, you have a chance to work on some other pitches and he has a number of ways he can get hitters out.” Williams has a 4-1 record and a 3.18 ERA with 55 Ks in 62 1⁄3 innings. He was a fourth-round pick by the Brewers in the 2013 draft. “He’s probably our best arm,” said Erickson. “He’s a little guy, strong and compact. He has great competitiveness. He’s probably got the most grit of anyone on our team. He’s got the live fastball, but there’s been days when his stuff hasn’t been great, but he’s found ways to pitch through that and get better as the game goes on. “To me, that’s a little more about mental toughness than overall stuff. Each time he goes out he gives us a great chance to win.” Gainey — an 11th-round draft pick in 2012 — is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA and 42 Ks in 55 innings. “He was a guy, who to be very honest with you, had to come into spring training and excite some people,” said Erickson. “Otherwise, he may have been jobless. And he did a tremendous job in the offseason of taking care of himself. He came into spring training in great shape and there was a little more velo (velocity) to his fastball. He’s a guy we’ve counted on since the beginning of the year to eat up some innings, and he’s done an OK job of that.”

Brevard County -- AUDIO: Andrew Luftglass is joined by FSL All-Stars Cameron Garfield and Tyler Wagner on the Manatees Pregame Show AUDIO, Game Highlights: Jorge Lopez throws seven shutout innings in a 1-0 Brevard County victory Yes, audio includes this: The defensive gem of the game came one play later as Gustavo Pierre ripped a line drive into right field. Michael Reed sprinted in and dove to make a gorgeous head-first grab to rob Pierre of a base-hit. Reed then staggered to his feet and made a strong throw on to shortstop Yadiel Rivera, who stepped on the second base bag to retire Baligod and end the threat.

Saw Williams in the original box score starting lineup as well, although it was an early typo of sorts as the lone true first baseman on the roster, Alan Sharkey, did indeed get the start.

Via Amber Keuhn of the Helena Independent Record -- Elvis Rubio now 2-for-2 after single to left. Manager Tony Diggs says he's a player to watch Had a blast covering Rubio last summer in Maryvale, as his numbers will remind you. Still a teenager for two more weeks. The Dominican native finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base tonight.

Four HR's in his first four games of the season for unsigned 19th round 2010 draft pick, Canadian catcher Rowan Wick, now a Cardinals farmhand (ugh). This will be the age 21 season for the left-handed bat. Story

Nice showing, Nick! Right-handed hitters had an advantage. There was a light wind to left and a shorter fence was just in front of the wall running toward left-center. The top left-handed batter was Huntsville first baseman Nick Ramirez, who blasted eight homers, including four in a row in the first round, to just miss advancing to the finals. Take one guess as to who won the derby. What a monster. The Astros taking RHP Mark Appel over this guy will prove to be an epic blunder.

Nashville DL RHP swap - Johnnie Lowe off, Kyle Heckathorn on No word on the nature or severity of Heckathorn's injury...Tuesday (6/17) is Kyle's 26th birthday.

If anybody has a viable link for Helena (still on KCAP?), please share it here, thanks.