Jim Goulart

As per the Manatees media notes, the Brevard rotation to start the season is: RHP Tyler Wagner RHP Damien Magnifico LHP Jed Bradley RHP Jorge Lopez LHP Hobbs Johnson Nothing personal, other affiliates, but the Brevard squad just gets more intriguing by the minute...

The guys at Miller Park Prospects, including my Link Report "co-worker" Brad, with a fun Opening Night post on their predictions for Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, Breakout Prospect, Bounceback Player, and Most Exciting 2014 Affiliate.

We are waiting on confirmation as to the status of the players mentioned below before posting anything in our Transaction thread, as we knew the affiliates were going to have to narrow down rosters prior to tonight's openers. Nashville has to trim by three players today (DL or otherwise) - they are carrying 15 position players and 13 pitchers. Huntsville also had to reduce by three. One move that is official is that infielder Shea Vucinich has been placed on the 7-day DL with an undisclosed injury. RHP's Johnny Lowe and Greg Holle did not make the final 25-man roster, but we wait for word as to their status. Hopefully the Brewers are able to creatively stash them away. Brevard County needed to reduce their roster by one. RHP Chad Pierce was dropped from the preliminary roster, and like Lowe and Holle, hopefully a new temporary home within the system can be found. Wisconsin needs to make two moves prior to Thursday's game. They are at 13 position players and 14 pitchers as of this AM.

Twitter updates: Looks like Tyler Alexander may be the front end of tonight's Rattlers' tandem, and Omaha weather is foreboding.

Yes, we have two threads on this forum with current features/articles on the topic, our Coaching thread and today's Link Report (the Froberg article).

Nashville Sports Talk Radio 1025 The Game - Full audio interview archive with new Manager Rick Sweet Lots of Jimmy Nelson love...

Omaha.com text -- Veteran Falu makes return to Omaha with Nashville Sounds Fan favorite Irving Falu, third in Omaha franchise history in games (578), at-bats (2,232) and runs (309), second in hits (631) and triples (29), and fourth in stolen bases (89), can't get away from Werner Park. He's scheduled to open the 2014 season as a member of the Nashville Sounds, Milwaukee's Class AAA affiliate. It will the first time in his 12-year pro career he's worn the uniform of anything other than a Kansas City Royals affiliate in a regular-season game. Falu, who played briefly for Omaha in 2004 and then again every year from 2009 through 2013, hit .361 in spring training for the Brewers.

Bradley battling to earn his keep John Torres, Florida Today Don't blame Jed Bradley if he's seen enough of Brevard County. The 2011 first round draft pick for the Milwaukee Brewers starts his third season with the Brevard County Manatees and is hoping a healthy, consistent campaign will earn him a plane ticket to Huntsville, Alabama — home to the club's Double-A affiliate and Bradley's hometown. Formerly listed as a top 10 prospect for Milwaukee by various media outlets, Bradley's run of bad luck and injuries force him to prove this season that he still has what it takes to pitch in the big leagues. "Obviously, you don't choose to go back to High-A three years in a row," Bradley said this week in between signing autographs for fans at the annual Manatee FanFest. "I wouldn't have chosen to come back, but the organization thinks it's best for me to get started and to get ready to pitch in the big leagues. I trust them. I'll make the most of it and keep working hard." From groin pulls to a parasite that caused dramatic weight loss, Bradley has endured his share of maladies. Last year, his season ended on July 25 when he was put on the disabled list with a left shoulder issue. "It's a long list now. You can sort of check off the boxes," he laughed. "But I feel like I've addressed the issues that needed to be addressed and I'm working hard every day and I'm going to keep working hard every day and stay positive. Hopefully I will move forward and move on up." Bradley — whose full name is Jedediah Custer Bradley (Yes, his family is related to Gen. George Armstrong Custer) — is still held in high regard, according to Milwaukee's Director of Player Development, Reid Nichols. "He's throwing better this spring than I've seen him throw," Nichols said Wednesday. "I watched him during spring training. We're hoping to get him going and maybe do something halfway through the season." Bradley was lights-out when he first arrived in Viera for the 2012 season. He went 19 innings over three starts without allowing a run. But the tall lefty struggled after that. Nichols said Bradley is still considered a top prospect within the organization and is looking forward to seeing what he can do this year. Manatees manager Joe Ayrault enters his third season as Bradley's manager. He's excited to see what a healthy Bradley can do. "He finished last year with some health issues," Ayrault said. "So far he's looked really, really good this spring. Hopefully he has a few good starts, does his thing, and then moves on up the ladder." Bradley gets his first start Saturday when the Manatees face the Daytona Cubs. His plan? Stay aggressive, trust his stuff and pound the bottom half of the strike zone. The 23-year-old admitted to finding some comfort to starting the season in familiar surroundings, but he's ready for a change of scenery. "I think they (Brewers) want me to be more consistent and prove that I can take the ball every fifth day and be healthy and compete and get guys out," he said. "That's what I'm here to do and that's what I'm gonna do." Jed Bradley of the Manatees visits with fans at Space Coast Stadium. (Photo: John A. Torres/Florida Today) http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/1c37c409874c24fa48e371404c811cefa97ee36a/c=216-0-3672-2592&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/Brevard/2014/04/03/img2095.jpg

Nashville Sounds geared up for road opener *** Tough task facing Stars' batters-- Four of the Suns’ starting pitchers are ranked among the top seven prospects in the Miami Marlins' organization, according to Baseball America. Included in that group are Andrew Heaney (1st), Justin Nicolino (4th), Anthony DeSclafani (5th) and Jose Urena (7th). The fifth starter, Angel Sanchez was named the Marlins’ No. 16 prospect by MLB.com. All of the players’ rankings are as of the start of the season. *** Jed Bradley battling to earn his keep This is the type of story we post in our "Your 2014 _____" team threads, be sure to follow those threads here in our Minor League forum, not just within the Link Report. *** Tim Froberg of the Appleton Post-Crescent has an Opening Day article that includes a video interview with Manager Matt Erickson, quotes from starting RHP Taylor Williams, and more.

Watch lag-free* live games on MLB.TV with this one weird trick!

Weather.com: Omaha, NE Jacksonville, FL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

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 "Stats and Scores" banner here. We'll learn soon about Huntsville's availability.

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

DVR Alert! For you locals, Thursday's Wisconsin game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable Sports 32 at 7:00 PM.

Thursday's Daily Menu: How convenient, the big boys are idle, en route to Boston! 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 Brooks Hall 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 Tyler Wagner at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 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 Taylor Williams (with LHP Tyler Alexander 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.

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

Good luck to T.J., he found work with the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association.

I will be taking Huntsville starting with Opening Night (I don't mind). The Crew07 will be taking double duty for now with Nashville/Wisconsin (thanks!), but he's mentioned to me that there's another friend of the Link Report who will be jumping on board eventually, he just has a very busy April. bkrause2 has Brevard, as noted earlier. Hopefully by June I can slide over to Maryvale only, although I'll enjoy the Stars and new broadcaster Steve Jarnicki (when I can) in the meantime.

Chris Mehring tweet: The @TimberRattlers rotation features 4 tandems & 1 solo starter: T. Williams/Alexander Astin/Archer Banda/Diaz Gainey Quintana/Linehan

Via the Brewers Player Development Staff -- As noted in our offseason transaction thread, RHP Matt Miller (5th round, 2010 out of the University of Michigan) was going to be noted as "retired". However, because he has not filed final paperwork, the Brewers have placed him on the restricted list to maintain his rights. In a bit of a surprise, RHP Alex Moore, the 2013 28th round 23-year-old RHP out of Lee University who was unexpectedly bumped all the way from Maryvale to Brevard County in his rookie season, has formally retired. Moore was interviewed by the Brevard broadcast team last July.

VIDEO: Carlos Gomez on Intentional Talk Awesome...

Turns out Denson's birthday is was born 1/17/95, so an extra "1" was pushed out to make it look like November 1995 instead. 2014 will be Denson's age 19 season, which is still fantastic for a full-season test.

VIDEO: Brief comments from new Sounds manager Rick Sweet