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 Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. Brevard County also has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time within the "Multimedia" banner here.

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: Enjoy your Fenway afternoon, freeing up your night to join us here! TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Johnny Hellweg at Omaha (Royals), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Drew Gagnon at Jacksonville (Marlins), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 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). Jacksonville does host MiLB.TV broadcasts - I'll be among those hoping Steve's audio link synchs up nicely with my MiLB.TV investment. ********** Brevard County: RHP Damien Magnifico at Daytona (Cubs), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 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 Barrett Astin (with RHP Tristan Archer in tandem) at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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. MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of four Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV. So 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: Next TV game is Monday 4/14 (My NEW32).

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We laugh out loud every episode. You don't have to be a child of the 80's, like me, to enjoy. If you decide to do an "On Demand" thing, don't give up after the first episode, which was only "OK". So glad we stuck with it from Episode Two and beyond.

Wow -- eleven video/audio reports for you on Opening Night, my how the report has evolved over 14 years - thank you, internet.

VIDEO: Fans brave cold for Timber Rattlers opening day *** VIDEO INTERVIEW via Tim Froberg of the Post-Crescent - Wisconsin pitcher Taylor Williams talks about his outstanding performance on the mound in the Timber Rattlers' season opener Thursday night *** A Chilly Reception Williams a bright spot in Rattlers' opening day loss by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media GRAND CHUTE — There was a definite chill factor Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. There was a wow factor, too, courtesy of Taylor Williams. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started the 2014 Midwest League season on a disappointing note with an 8-4 loss to Peoria, but they couldn’t have received a much sharper outing from an opening-day pitcher. Williams, a fourth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2013 first-year player draft, was outstanding in his first Timber Rattlers start. The 22-year-old right-hander from Kent State University allowed just an infield hit in five scoreless innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. “He was dominant,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “That’s exactly how you want someone to come out and start the game and the season. He was pounding the zone early and putting people away. He gave us a great chance to win the game.” Williams showed a live arm, topping out at 94 mph on the radar gun. He also mixed and located his pitches well, throwing strikes on 44 of 63 pitches. “It’s your first start, your first outing, and you want to give your team a chance to win,” said Williams. “I just tried to command my fastball, command the zone and let my defense make plays behind me. With the cold weather we had, it’s tough for them to be out there standing around a lot, so you try and throw strikes.” This is Williams’ first full season in professional baseball. In 12 games and six starts for Helena last season, Williams posted a 3-1 record with a 4.25 earned run average. He is rated by Baseball America as the 19th best prospect in the Brewers’ farm system. “In my opinion, the cold weather makes it tough on hitters,” said Williams, who grew up in Vancouver, Wash., and doesn’t mind pitching in the cold. “I don’t know if I tried to overpower anyone. The game plan was to throw strikes. That way I could get ahead of hitters and mix my off-speed stuff in there. For the most part, my location was pretty good.” Erickson uses pitcher tandems early in the season, which is why Williams exited after five innings with a 1-0 lead. The wheels quickly came off following his departure. Wisconsin relievers Tyler Alexander and Chris Razo were rocked for seven runs in the next two innings, six coming in the top of the seventh when the Chiefs seized control of a 1-1 game. Centerfielder C.J. McElroy got the Chiefs rolling in their big six-run seventh with a two-run, bases-loaded single off Razo to give Peoria a 3-2 lead. Mason Katz followed with a two-run double and Ronald Castillo and Kenny Peoples-Walls added RBI singles. “We have four tandems scheduled and tandems can be great,” said Erickson. “But obviously you have to have people do their job. We walked eight people today and it seemed like a lot of them scored. If you can’t be competitive in the zone, they’re going to come back and hurt you every time. There will be better days for Tyler Alexander. He threw a lot of pitches.” Playing before a hearty home crowd of 3,194 on a teeth-chattering 32-degree evening, Wisconsin collected seven hits off a trio of Peoria pitchers, including a long solo homer in the ninth by designated hitter Clint Coulter. Coulter also homered in the Timber Rattlers’ 2013 home opener. “It was my last at bat, so I had time to get the first-game jitters out,” said Coulter. “It was a fastball inside and it was good to hit the ball, find the barrel and get it up in the air. I got a little underneath it, but the wind wasn’t blowing in too hard.” Omar Garcia was the only Rattler to collect two hits. The 20-year-old center fielder also made the defensive play of the game in the third inning when he ran down a fly ball in the left-center gap and made a diving catch to rob Peoria’s Juan Herrera of an extra-base hit. “Unbelievable catch,” said Erickson. “He got a good jump on it, but I didn’t think there was any chance he was going to get it. Just a great catch, the catch of the season so far.” *** Thirty-five photos in William Glasheen's Post-Crescent Photo Gallery

Manatees open 2014 with a shutout win Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY Tyrone Taylor introduced himself to the 3,576 Brevard County Manatees fans Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium. The No. 2 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization had two of the team’s four hits and drove in the lone run of a 1-0 Manatee victory over the Daytona Cubs. The center fielder got the Manatees on the board in the third inning with a drive down the left-field line that scored third baseman Brandon Macias from first base. It was Taylor’s first of two doubles on the evening. “Our approach is to get a good pitch to hit. If you are going to be swinging early in the count, it has to be your pitch,” Brevard County Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said. The run was all Manatee starter Tyler Wagner needed as he tossed five strong innings, allowing three hits and striking out three. “He filled the zone, very aggressive. He was confident on the mound,” Ayrault said. “It is what he did all spring and he carried it over into this first start.” The bullpen came in and held the Daytona Cubs, who finished with just five hits. “The pitchers did a great job tonight,” Ayrault said. Tommy Toledo missed on seven straight pitches in the ninth, but regained his composure to lock up his first save of the 2014 season. The former Florida Gator had 20 saves for the Manatees last season. But Ayrault was never worried about his closer, saying he is confident with the way he mixes his pitches. Daytona starter Felix Pena pitched well, giving up one run on three hits in six innings. Highly-touted prospect Arodys Vizcaino made his first appearance since 2011 for the Cubs, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. The Manatees will be in Daytona tonight for the Cubs home opener and Damien Magnifico will take the mound. Then they will return to Space Coast Stadium Saturday night with Jed Bradley starting. And Ayrault is looking for big things from this team. “Just high expectations, always, no matter what team it is, but especially with these guys. They are a hard working bunch,” Ayrault said.

AUDIO - Winning starting pitcher Tyler Wagner joins Justin Rocke after the Manatees 1-0 victory on Opening Night

AUDIO - 'Tees manager Joe Ayrault joins Andrew Luftglass on the Manatees Pregame Show

AUDIO - The Voice of the Timber Rattlers, Chris Mehring, was a guest on the Bill Michaels' Show on WSSP today

Final: @Jacksonville 3, Huntsville 1 Really enjoyed Steve Jarnicki's maiden Huntsville call, got to listen to most of the game (brief break in the middle innings). HUNTSVILLE STARS FALL IN SEASON OPENER Jacksonville, FL - The Huntsville Stars, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers fell 3-1 in the season opener to the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Stars were held to just three hits as 7,545 showed up at Bragan Field in Jacksonville on Thursday. The Stars never led as the Suns pushed across two runs in the first inning against Huntsville starter RHP Brooks Hall (0-1). Alfredo Silverio had an RBI single and Ryan Rieger tripled over centerfielder D’Vontrey Richardson’s head to extend the Suns lead to 2-0. Richardson provided the Stars their only run on the night as he singled into centerfield in the third inning. Richardson finished 1-4 with an RBI in his Double-A debut. Kentrail Davis led the Stars offense going 2-4. Hall, who suffered the loss for the Stars pitched four innings giving up six hits on two runs. He struck out three while throwing sixty eight pitches, thirty eight for strikes. Tyler Cravy pitched two scoreless innings in his Stars debut out of the bullpen. The Stars and Suns will continue their series Friday night. RHP Drew Gagnon (0-0,0.00) will start for the Stars. LHP Andrew Heaney (0-0, 0-0) will go to the mound for the Suns. The game can be heard starting at 5:50 Central with Steve Jarnicki on 92.9 FM and 1450 AM WTKI and online at http://www.wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score The Stars were outhit, 10-3. Huntsville did draw four walks, but went a painful 1-for-9 with RISP as we'll detail below. They also fanned nine times. RHP Brooks Hall allowed eight baserunners in his four innings, but only allowed two runs. After RHP Tyler Cravy tossed two scoreless, RHP Arcenio Leon allowed a 9th inning insurance run and tossed three wild pitches during his two inning stint. Leon, 28 years old, the former 40-man roster waiver claim via the Astros, is in his 10th pro season. Is it worthwhile that Leon is blocking some deserving 2013 Brevard County arms from moving up? The Brewers must think so. No designated hitter in this matchup of NL teams, so Brock Kjeldgaard was on the bench, as were the two backup catchers, Joey Paciorek and Shawn Zarraga. Going to be tough to parse the playing time between them behind starter Adam Weisenburger. Despite one error, it sounded as though Jacksonville played stellar defense throughout this one. Huntsville Game Log Mr. OBP, SS Nick Shaw, can still draw a walk, and it helped net the Stars' only run -- Huntsville Top of the 3rd Nick Shaw walks. Brooks Hall out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Anthony DeSclafani to first baseman Brady Shoemaker. Nick Shaw to 2nd. D' Vontrey Richardson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Isaac Galloway. Nick Shaw scores. Josh Prince walks. D' Vontrey Richardson to 2nd. Nick Ramirez flies out to left fielder Alfredo Silverio. D' Vontrey Richardson to 3rd. Jason Rogers grounds into a force out, third baseman Ryan Fisher to second baseman Danny Black. Josh Prince out at 2nd. Steve gushed about Shaw and Josh Prince on this twin-killing -- Jacksonville Bottom of the 3rd Alfredo Silverio singles on a line drive to right fielder Mitch Haniger. Brady Shoemaker grounds into a double play, shortstop Nick Shaw to second baseman Josh Prince to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Alfredo Silverio out at 2nd. Shaw failed here, however, hate the man on 3rd, less than one out no-go -- Huntsville Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Grant Dayton replaces Anthony DeSclafani, batting 9th. Kentrail Davis singles on a ground ball to second baseman Danny Black. Kentrail Davis advances to 2nd, on a fielding error by second baseman Danny Black. Adam Weisenburger out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Ryan Fisher to second baseman Danny Black. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Nick Shaw strikes out swinging. Hainley Statia pops out to third baseman Ryan Fisher. Don't blame Nick Ramirez here in a similar situation, though, he absolutely smoked this ball -- Huntsville Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Collin Cargill replaces Grant Dayton, batting 9th, replacing Alex Burg. D' Vontrey Richardson walks. Greg Hopkins out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Ryan Fisher to second baseman Danny Black. D' Vontrey Richardson to 2nd. Pitching Change: Nick Wittgren replaces Collin Cargill, batting 9th. With Nick Ramirez batting, wild pitch by Nick Wittgren, D' Vontrey Richardson to 3rd. Nick Ramirez lines out sharply to first baseman Brady Shoemaker. Jason Rogers grounds out, shortstop Austin Nola to first baseman Brady Shoemaker.

Yeah, this just happened in Jacksonville: Anthony DeSclafani grounds out, right fielder Mitch Haniger to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Haniger and his gun throws out the opposing pitcher at first base, score it 9-3. *** So to open his Brevard career, Nathan Orf was HBP. He's the all-time Baylor leader in that category, and was hit ten times in 175 plate appearances at Helena last season.

AUDIO: Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem interviewed by Nashville Sports Talk Radio 1025 the Game

Missed this March 29th tweet earlier: Dustin Houle, the 20-year-old Canadian catcher many of us expected to see in Wisconsin this spring (he appeared in seven games there late last year), let's us know that he's sidelined: Two fractured bones in my hand #badluck Bummer...Steve Wendt of Helena had done nothing but rave about Houle's arm and defensive skills, best he saw during his ten-year stint as the voice of the Helena Brewers.

If you're able to view Instagram photos, here's an inspiring statement posted by heralded third base prospect Nicky Delmonico (K-Rod trade w/Orioles) on his twitter account. Delmonico is currently idle, as per Gord Ash, for personal reasons. "Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't."

Via Jeff Hem, Voice of the Sounds -- Before PPD, Sounds lineup tonight was going to be: Falu 5 Herrera 4 Diaz 2 Morris 3 Halton DH Gindl 9 Velez 7 Gomez 6 Mattison 8 Hellweg 1 *** A bit intrigued and gladdened that Hector Gomez may be close to an everyday shortstop, perhaps, despite last year's miserable Huntsville campaign.

7-day Disabled List stints announced thus far (no injury details, real or phantom, released) Huntsville: IF Shea Vucinich Wisconsin: C Paul Eshleman, RHP Rodolfo Fernandez

The Rattlers final roster shows that RHP Rodolfo Fernandez and C Paul Eshleman are the two players now in roster limbo. We'll see if the Brewers Player Development Staff provides any info over the next couple of days and on them and the AAA, AA, and High-A players in similar situations listed earlier in today's Link Report.

Via the Sounds -- The Sounds 2014 season will have to wait one more day to begin. Tonight's game in Omaha has been postponed due to inclement weather. The season will now begin on Friday, April 4 at 7:05 p.m. in Omaha with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday at 2:05 p.m.

Timber Rattlers Lineup & Game Notes for April 3, 2014 As always, via the Rattler Radio blog...

Manatees Opening Night Lineup as per @BCManateesRadio tweet

The three players not listed within the Nashville media notes are RHP Kyle Heckathorn, C Lucas May, and 3B Stephen Parker. We'll await word on their status before jumping to any conclusions -- injury (real or phantom), or otherwise.