Jim Goulart

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

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

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

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: LHP Brad Mills at New Orleans (Marlins), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 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 Jacob Barnes at Montgomery (Rays), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 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). Montgomery does place their games on MiLB.TV. ********** Brevard County: RHP's Damien Magnifico and Austin Ross in a doubleheader at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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. All home games and many road games are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed (or not at all), we'll let you know that. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Wisconsin: LHP Tyler Alexander at Beloit (Athletics), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:10 gametime; although Beloit is the home team for the game, the action takes place at Miller Park! 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. DVR Alert: The next Wisconsin game scheduled for local TV is Saturday evening, May 31st (MyNew32 TV).

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Good morning and Happy 23rd Birthday to Saturday's Game One Manatee starting pitcher Damien Magnifico, coming off his complete game stellar outing!

Brevard County -- AUDIO: RHP Kevin Shackelford joins Dave Walkovic of the Manatees Radio Network to talk about what Shackelford has been working on mechanically AUDIO: RHP Austin Ross joins Justin Rocke on the Manatees Pregame Show to discuss Ross' upcoming start against Tampa on Saturday AUDIO, Game Highlights: Palm Beach holds off a late Brevard County charge and wins, 4-2

From Thursday in Nashville -- First baseman Hunter Morris (2-for-4) leveled the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when he belted a one-out solo homer to right off Omaha reliever Justin Marks. The blast was the slugger's team-leading sixth of the year. VIDEO: Hunter Morris socks a home run in Nashville's 3-2 loss to Omaha Nice vs. a LHP! Two HR's in 69 AB's vs. LHP this year...

Robinzon Diaz (2-for-4) recorded the Sounds' first hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run home run to left field off of Zephyrs starting pitcher Elih Villanueva, to give Nashville a 2-1 advantage. Villanueva had retired his first 14 batters before a two-out fielding error by shortstop Juan Diaz allowed Taylor Green to get aboard and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. The homer was Diaz's second of the season. AUDIO: Robinzon Diaz Belts Go-Ahead Homer Tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Nashville first baseman Hunter Morris launched a solo home run over the right-field wall for the team's second one-run lead. AUDIO: Hunter Morris Goes Yard

Miller Park seen as big opportunity by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media Playing home games at Miller Park is the primary goal of every player on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ roster. Timber Rattlers players are about to get that coveted big-league experience. The Rattlers return to Miller Park tonight following a one-year absence and will face the Beloit Snappers in a 6:10 p.m. Midwest League game. “It’s a huge opportunity,” said Wisconsin catcher Clint Coulter. “Not everyone will get a chance to play in a big-league stadium like this again. So, we’re really going to soak it in and enjoy it. A lot of us hope to get there one day.” It will be the seventh time that the Rattlers — the low Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers — have played at Miller Park. The Rattlers’ first game at Miller was on Aug. 14, 2003, against a Snappers team that was then the Class A affiliate of the Brewers and featured future major leaguers like Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Manny Parra and Tony Gwynn Jr. The Snappers are now the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland A’s. “It’s a great day for our players,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “It’s no secret that most of the guys in our clubhouse aren’t going to get to the big leagues. But there’s going to be a few of them. We don’t exactly know who that’s going to be, but on this particular day, they’re going to get a big league experience on a major league field.” Current Brewers who have played in the game as Timber Rattlers include Scooter Gennett, Jim Henderson, Khris Davis and Wily Peralta. “The Brewers do a great job of setting up the day,” said Erickson. “We stay in the visiting clubhouse, which is top-notch, and it’s just a great experience. Last year, things just didn’t work out to have the game and I’m glad they brought it back. The Brewers and Miller Park are the pinnacle of our organization. Whenever you can give your young prospects a chance to taste that, it’s always a good thing.” It won’t be the first trip to Miller Park for Coulter — a first-round draft pick of the Brewers in 2012 — and it probably won’t be the last. Coulter worked out for the Brewers at Miller Park prior to being taken by Milwaukee with the 27th overall selection. “This is going to be a lot of fun,” said Coulter. “It’s a beautiful ballpark, one of the best I’ve ever seen.” Beloit will be designated as the home team for tonight’s game. Ticket prices are $10 for field diamond box seats and $5 for all other seat locations. Tickets can be purchased at the Miller Park box office, online at Brewers.com, or by calling the Brewers ticket office at 414-902-4000 or 1-800-933-7890. “We’re excited to be returning to Miller Park,” said Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav. “It has been a fan favorite and allows our fans in the Milwaukee area the opportunity to see some of the top prospects in the Brewers organization right in their own back yard. We also know it’s a day our players mark on their calenders. It gives them the chance to get a taste of what they are striving to achieve.”

Former Milwaukee farmhand RHP Jesus Sanchez notched the save against Nashville, but he has struggled in his first year in the Marlins' system (stats).

Final: @Montgomery 6, Huntsville 1 Stars Fall In Montgomery Montgomery, AL - The Montgomery Biscuits hit a pair of home runs against Huntsville Stars lefty Brent Suter early on Friday night as they went on to defeat the Stars 6-1 Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium. Taylor Motter led off the first inning with a solo home run against Suter. It was Motter's third home run of the year. Later in the first inning, Luke Maile doubled off the right field wall scoring Jake Hager giving the Biscuits a 2-0 lead. In the fourth Maile launched a two-run home run scoring Richie Shaffer who hit a ground-rule double before him. It was Maile's second home run of the year and his third RBI of the game. The Biscuits made it 6-0 in the fifth. Cameron Seitzer reached on a fielder's choice scoring Willie Argo. Shaffer then reached on an infield RBI hit capping off the scoring for the Biscuits. Suter, who fell to 6-3, worked five innings giving up eight hits on a season high six runs. Jim Henderson, who is on a major league rehab assignment with the Milwaukee Brewers, pitched a scoreless sixth inning. He threw eleven pitches and struck out two. The Stars scored their lone run of the night in the ninth inning. Jason Rogers tripled and was brought home on a Shawn Zarraga groundout to second base. Dylan Floro (4-4) pitched eight shutout innings for the Biscuits. He held the Stars to six hits and struck out four. Montgomery improves to 26-21, while the Stars are now 31-17. The Biscuits lead the Stars 2-1 in their five game series. Game four will be Saturday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars will feature RHP Jacob Barnes (0-2, 7.59). Montgomery will have RHP Roberto Gomez (1-1, 3.60) on the hill. Saturday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:20 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score LHP Brent Suter was on normal rest, but one wonders exactly when he learned he'd be starting here. Nice job, Jim Henderson. This was his first appearance in a Stars uniform since 2011. Shawn Zarraga reached base twice and drove in the Stars' sole run, he did not play in the prior two games even though Montgomery is an American League affiliate, and there has been a DH. Huntsville Game Log

From our Sounds' thread -- so exciting to read about the change-up development, the velocity, the command, oh yeah, Jimmy Nelson.

Brewers top pitching prospect Nelson dominating in Nashville by Greg Pogue, Fox Sports Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jimmy Nelson doesn't mind the label of top pitching prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers, but he does get some grief about it from his Nashville Sounds teammates. "It's just stuff you try not to concentrate on," said Nelson, the Brewers' 2010 second-round draft pick. "Of course, you get worn out a little bit about it from the (teammates) in here, but it's all in good fun. It's just something for the fans to see from the outside looking in and see what kind of stuff we have in our system and what to look forward to." What Nelson is looking forward to most these days is making the Brewers' starting rotation and staying there. He got a taste of "The Show" last year when he was called up for the first time as major league rosters expanded in September. After three relief appearances for the Brewers, he made his starting debut against the New York Mets, going five strong innings and allowing only one hit and one earned run in the no-decision. In all, he pitched 10 innings with a 0.90 ERA with eight strikeouts. Back at Triple-A Nashville this year, Nelson is currently riding a string of nine straight quality starts in racing out to a 5-1 record and a 1.71 ERA, the second-best mark in the Pacific Coast League. "Right now, it's the command of his pitches," Sounds pitching coach Fred Dabney said. "A couple of things that are helping him out is that he is able to throw his sinker to both sides of the plate. Then, he's mixing in the changeup a little bit more consistently, using it more and trusting it more." When he was drafted out of the University of Alabama, the 6-foot-6, 245-pound right-hander was considered a power pitcher. But as he climbed through the minor leagues, Nelson complemented his fastball that can steadily reach 96 miles per hour with a nasty slider that tops out in the low-90s. But what makes him major-league worthy is development of a deceptive changeup that he can now throw as an out pitch. "He has confidence in it, which is a good thing because it started off as his third-best pitch," Dabney said. "But he's using it more effectively. It's closer to his slider than it was further away from it. It's now more of a major-league pitch for him." But don't kid yourself. It's Nelson's fastball that has Brewers fans frothing. In last Sunday's no-decision (a walk-off loss to Iowa), Nelson threw six scoreless innings and matched a season high of nine strikeouts. One radar gun had him topping at 99 miles per hour on several pitches. "I've got a couple different fastballs -- a four-seam and the sinker -- and I use both of them to lefties and righties," Nelson said. "It helps having two different fastballs with two different looks, even though they are generally in the same speed range. I try to throw the slider hard to have it kind of look like the fastball out of the hand. It has been a good pitch for me my whole career." Nelson's emergence for the Brewers helped ease the loss of not being able to sign pitcher Dylan Covey, the team's 2010 first-round draft pick who instead signed collegiately at San Diego State. He was drafted three years later in the fourth round by the A's and is pitching this season for the club's Single-A team in the Midwest League. Then again, pitching depth is a strong suit throughout the Brewers' organization, including the current rotation of veterans Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza and Marco Estrada. The fifth starter is promising Wily Peralta, an undrafted signee in his second season who emerged from franchise's top pitching prospect label, the one now held by Nelson. Brewers middle reliever Tyler Thornburg, the team's third-round draft pick in 2010, is expected to eventually emerge as a starter as well. This season, he has pitched in 22 games and is 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA, plus 23 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings. And there's more on the way, considering the Sounds' pitching staff is the best in the PCL, leading in team ERA (3.86) and strikeouts (389 in 393 1/3 innings). They've also allowed the fewest runs (181), earned runs (161) and home runs (31). Battling with Nelson to be Sounds' ace -- and potentially be first in line for a call-up -- is right-handed starter Mike Fiers, who is 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA, fifth-best in the PCL. He went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA as part of the Milwaukee rotation two years ago. "Our system here with the Brewers has been underrated for years," Nelson said. "We've got a lot of guys that are very under the radar. We all work hard and get our work done. I'm happy to be able to be in this group of guys. There are a lot of good guys in this system."

In the "Team Photo" of today's Baseball America Hot Sheet -- Barrett Astin, rhp, Brewers. The 2013 third-round pick from Arkansas has adapted to low Class A Wisconsin after a middling start at Rookie-level Helena a year ago. This past week the 22-year-old hurled seven, two-hit innings with no walks and seven strikeouts in a no-decision against Kane County and did it with just 72 pitches. Overall, Astin has gone 4-2, 3.65, but has an outstanding 7.0 SO/BB ratio. He keeps the ball in the park and doesn’t walk anyone and could move quickly through the system, thanks to command and a heavy fastball that flashes 94-95 mph.

Weather.com: New Orleans, LA Montgomery, AL Jupiter, FL Beloit, WI

Sortable individual stat pages: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin

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

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

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

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at New Orleans (Marlins), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 Taylor Jungmann at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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). Montgomery does place their games on MiLB.TV. ********** Brevard County: RHP Tyler Wagner at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 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. All home games and many road games are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed (or not at all), we'll let you know that. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at Beloit (Athletics), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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. DVR Alert: The next Wisconsin game scheduled for local TV is Saturday evening, May 31st (MyNew32 TV).

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Rattler Radio blog - Postgame entry Criminal case included...