Jim Goulart

VIDEO from Friday -- Helena's Michael Ratterree slugs a solo homer as the Brewers beat Orem, 11-2 and from the same game: Taylor Brennan hits a three-run homer

Six little words helped rekindle Sounds ballpark talks Gail Kerr, The Tennessean A deal to build a new Nashville Sounds stadium, which had come to a screeching, chilly halt over a year ago, was reborn just off the pitcher’s mound. It was a cool April day, and Mayor Karl Dean had been asked to throw out the first ball of the first game of the season at Greer Stadium, the Sounds’ current home. As Dean walked off the mound, Sounds CEO and part owner Frank Ward was standing nearby. He turned to the mayor as they walked back to the dugout and said, quite simply, “Let’s build a stadium. And let’s do it in Sulphur Dell.” It was a complete turnaround from the gruff, abrupt man who had told the mayor and the public flat-out in December 2011 that it was downtown or no deal — and who wanted the city to put up most of the money. Dean showed the Sounds delegation the door and all but slammed it into their backsides. The deal was dead. But now a proposal to build an $80 million ballpark in North Nashville is very much alive, albeit far from signed, sealed let alone delivered. What happened? Partly it was Ward’s willingness to say six little words: “I am sorry,” and “I was wrong.” The mayor called his top team together early the next morning after the game and directed them to invite the Sounds back to the negotiating table. Numerous people involved in the negotiation said it was Chris Ward, the 40-something-year-old son of Frank, who helped change his father’s mind. Chris Ward had visited Nashville and seen the possibilities in North Nashville. Now, the senior Ward believes that area, near the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, will be the next Gulch, ripe with possibilities to build residential and retail. They believe upwards of 4,000 Sounds fans could be walk-up customers on game day. The next step is for the mayor to present the State Building Commission with a plan. The state owns 13 of the 15 acres needed. It’s land with a storied baseball history, having housed two teams, the last of which stopped playing ball in the 1960s. If the state gives Metro the land, it will in exchange get a built-in audience to use the mall, one of the state’s underused but most beautiful attractions. It also will get a parking garage for up to 750 state employees to use during the day, and for Sounds ticket holders to use at other times. Frank Ward had originally seen Sulphur Dell as a lot of empty parking lots with weeds in a “bad” part of town. Ward’s son saw something different. He saw land, lots of it, in a city that is the buzz of the country. He saw Germantown, hopping with restaurants and young residents who like to walk and bike to their destinations. He saw the potential to help the state build a new state museum, library and archives, cementing the area as a destination. Other sites unsuited Chris saw clearly, and he convinced his dad that the other sites mentioned are simply no longer viable. It would be too expensive to relocate a metals dealer from one site, and the other is small and the focus of other plans the mayor has for redeveloping the west side of the Cumberland River. And he knows that waiting and gambling that the next mayor might favor a Sounds ballpark would be too risky. The Sounds remain one of the best deals in the city for family fun. Most families can afford multiple nights at a Sounds game, unlike Predators and Titans games. You get to see quality AAA baseball. A new ballpark would also spark development of $30 million in residential development, something on which attorney Tom White is working with the Sounds. He is not involved in negotiations for a new stadium. “It’s a win-win for everybody,” White said. “There’s huge possibilities over there. It will make a real game changer in terms of the dynamics of the city.” All members around the negotiating table agree on a key point here: There is no deal yet. They are not even close. If the state won’t agree to put up the land, this thing is dead from the get-go. Right now, there is no lease agreement, no term sheet, no financing plan, no specifics about how much the Sounds would put in versus taxpayers. The administration has made it clear the Sounds better bring it large if this is going to happen. “We’ve got to have the state land,” said John Triggs, attorney for the Sounds. “The state contribution to this is critical. We aren’t there yet. But this is a great beginning. I’m way more optimistic than I’ve been in a long time.” It is a complete change in tone. Everybody is at the table, and they’re all playing fair. Play ball.

Yeah, posting this twice - TO MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN! Classic! *** Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Albuquerque — Tim Dillard & Friends "Entering Saturday night’s game in Albuqueurque, the Sounds have lost six consecutive games, including a heart-breaker on Friday night. So, I made an executive decision to take a break from the standard pregame interview and created a Sounds baseball panel: Tim Dillard, Donovan Hand, Sean Halton and Fred Dabney. In reality, it’s impersonator extraordinaire Dillard “joined by” the other three. If you haven’t laughed yet (or enough) today, enjoy…"

Moye, Stars Hurlers Shutout M-Braves By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars One night after being shut out for the second time in three nights, the Huntsville Stars returned the favor and blanked the Mississippi Braves by a score of 2-0 on Saturday night at Trustmark Park. Starting pitcher Andy Moye began the shutout for the Stars hurlers, tossing five scoreless innings while giving up just four hits to improve to 6-14 on the year. Dating back to his last three starts, Moye has just given up 2 ER in 17 IP, dropping his ERA to 4.00 on the season. The victory for Moye and the shutout was secured by an inning of scoreless relief from righty Arcenio Leon, two perfect innings from Mississippi-native David Goforth and a scoreless ninth from righty Kevin Shackelford. For Shackelford, the save was his fifth on the year. In 17 appearances this season with the Stars, the former college catcher has given up just three earned runs in 25.1 innings pitched. On offense, the Stars got all the run support they needed with one swing of the bat in the top of the fifth inning. After Moye helped out his own cause with a leadoff double against M-Braves starter Ian Thomas, first baseman Jason Rogers launched a two-run homer over the left-field foul pole to give Huntsville a 2-0 lead. AUDIO: Jason Rogers drives in the game's only runs with one swing The homer for Rogers gives him 21 roundtrippers on the season, tying him for the Southern League lead with Chattanooga Lookouts outfielder Joc Pederson. In addition to being tied for the league home run lead, his 84 runs batted in also leads the Southern League. Aside from Rogers, the Stars were led offensively by two hits apiece from shortstop Hector Gomez and second baseman Nick Shaw. On the series, the Stars are outhitting the M-Braves by an 18-to-12 margin. In regards to shutouts, this was the Stars' ninth time they've held an opponent scoreless in a game this season and the second time in the last week. Four of the last nine games overall for the Stars have involved either a shutout victory or a shutout loss. On Sunday, the Stars will play game three of a five-game set against the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park. Huntsville will send RHP Taylor Jungmann (9-9, 4.14 ERA) while Mississippi will counter with RHP Aaron Northcraft (7-8, 3.54 ERA). Jungmann is the second ranked prospect in the Brewers organization while Northcraft is the tenth ranked prospect in the Braves organization. First pitch is at 5:00 PM.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS: The Manatees blow out the Dunedin Blue Jays, 8-1 *** Brevard County Pre-Game AUDIO: Manatees relief pitcher Dan Meadows talks about his new delivery, inducing more ground balls with his new delivery, and the bullpen

Rattler Radio Blog - Chris' postgame thoughts and video highlights *** VIDEO: Additional highlights from the MyNew32 TV broadcast crew

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Albuquerque — Tim Dillard & Friends "Entering Saturday night’s game in Albuqueurque, the Sounds have lost six consecutive games, including a heart-breaker on Friday night. So, I made an executive decision to take a break from the standard pregame interview and created a Sounds baseball panel: Tim Dillard, Donovan Hand, Sean Halton and Fred Dabney. In reality, it’s impersonator extraordinaire Dillard “joined by” the other three. If you haven’t laughed yet (or enough) today, enjoy…"

As per Chris Mehring via the Wisconsin media notes, 19-year-old catcher Dustin Houle (pronounced "hool", by the way) has been promoted from Helena to Wisconsin to replace catcher Tyler Roberts (7-day disabled list, undisclosed injury). Houle will share duties with Parker Berberet, while Clint Coulter and Mike Turay handle Helena's staff. It wouldn't surprise to see a 3rd catcher up from Maryvale for the H-Crew in time for the playoffs.

Jason Arndt spoke with Clint Coulter this week

Between Brad and myself, we'll try to highlight the exploits of the 2013 Dominican Summer League Brewers over the next couple of days, but to be honest, it won't take long. It's been a pretty underwhelming year. But then again, we don't remember a lot of anticipation to see 2B Francisco Castillo and RF Elvis Rubio in Maryvale this summer, yet both players look to have value, in particular Rubio (he might begin 2014 in Wisconsin next April as a 19-year-old, that'd be something). The DSL Brewers are 24-46, here's how they did against their three division opponents with Saturday's game against the Braves pending. Braves 4-11 Blue Jays 6-9 Tigers 3-13

Weather.com: Albuquerque, NM Pearl, MS Viera, FL (Melbourne) Grand Chute, WI (Appleton) Grand Junction, CO San Pedro De Macoris, DR

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern 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 DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division *** NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and Maryvale, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. New this season: Brevard County has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here. Also new this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" 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 Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Programming notes -- In addition to the Sounds (always), both Huntsville and Helena are available via MiLB.TV for their current series. Speaking of MiLB.TV, it's a rare four-pack of games as Wisconsin (all home games covered) returns to Appleton. *** DVR Alert! As we mentioned yesterday, tonight's 6:35 PM Timber Rattlers game will be televised on MyNew32 TV out of Green Bay. "Showdown: Timber Rattlers Pre-Game" airs at 6:00. MyNew32 TV is still in a dispute with Time Warner Cable.

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: LHP Aaron Laffey at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 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 $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Andy Moye at Mississippi (Braves), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule. ********** Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers in another rehab start at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the link based on listed schedule Manatees audio, hooray! Dave Walkovic is the first play-by-play voice of the 'Tees since 2007, he's joined by Andy Towne; 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, we'll let you know that. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at home vs. Kane County (Cubs), 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 $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. NOTE: Many of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and WACY-TV My NEW32 will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and will try to provide day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check with us. ********** Helena: RHP Zach Quintana at Grand Junction (Rockies), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers. MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM gametime, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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

Not sure if he is hurt, but "Amaury" has been idle all year. My all-time favorite Rivas factoid was that his middle name was "Keith". Don't see that much in La Mata de Santa Cruz, DR.

Been meaning to see if I can properly state this for a while -- Watching Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett lead the Brewers to an exciting win last night (at least as exciting as a 56-72 record will allow, darn you May 2013), makes all of us here realize just how much more enjoyment and appreciation we get at the big league level when we have an understanding of what happened with each player at the minor league level along the way. Click on those two links above, your memory will get jogged and I'm not saying that you should have those stat lines embedded in your brain, but if you're a regular Link Report visitor, you'll definitely have the background and say "oh yeah, I enjoyed watching that Khris Davis trajectory (how about that 44-game 2012 Huntsville stretch!)" or you'll remember that Scooter Gennett was a 16th round pick enticed from Florida State who jumped over rookie ball to make his pro debut in Wisconsin the following year. I'm not disparaging the Brewer big league fans who love the major league team only. But I'd try to explain to those diehard big league fans that somehow you do feel like the proud parent (or proud big or little sibling for you younger folks) when you truly understand the career path, ups and downs, of those new big league Brewers, whether it's for an eventual cup-of-coffee, or future big league All-Star. It adds such a huge layer of enjoyment to the big league experience, and that's what our Link Report staff tries to provide here.

AUDIO LINKS embedded in game story -- (once again, I'm not able to play, starting to think it may be me, let me know...) Final: @Albuquerque 9, Nashville 7 Sounds Five-Run Rally Not Enough Nashville's Robinzon Diaz and Kentrail Davis Homer In 9-7 Loss Nashville Sounds ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Despite stringing together a five-run seventh-inning rally to go ahead of the Albuquerque Isotopes Friday night at Isotopes Park, the Nashville Sounds were unable to hold off the 'Topes final charge, losing 9-7 for the team's sixth consecutive loss. Sounds reliever Brent Leach (0-2) entered the game in the eighth inning with Nashville leading 6-5. The left-handed pitcher allowed a single to his first batter before recording two outs. A single from former Sound Tony Gwynn Jr. put runners on the corners for the 'Topes and ended Leach's night. Dustin Molleken stepped to the hill for Nashville to record the final out of the inning, but not before Chili Buss hit the two-run game-winning double off of a sliding Sean Halton in right field. Alex Castellanos added a pair of insurance runs in the frame with a single to shallow left field. The Sounds put together a similar rally just one inning before, trailing 4-1 in the seventh. Nashville started out with two hits and a walk to set the table for pinch hitter Hunter Morris, who lined a double to the right-field corner to make it a 4-3 ballgame (audio). Kentrail Davis followed Morris with a three-run homer to dead center field to give Nashville its first lead of the night (audio). Davis recorded his first Triple-A home run on Thursday night and his effort over the two days marks the 12th time a Sound has homers on back-to-back nights this season. Albuquerque picked up two runs in the first inning off of Sounds starter Alfredo Figaro. With the bases loaded, Buss hit a sacrifice fly to the wall in deep center field, where Kentrail Davis made the out while falling backwards up the hill. Two runners scored on the play, before Davis threw out Scott Van Slyke at third base for the double play. Figaro pitched four innings in his second start for Nashville, allowing Albuquerque four runs, two earned, on five hits. He walked three and fanned two before R.J. Seidel took over in the fifth inning to log two scoreless frames for Nashville. With two outs in the home half of the fourth inning, Figaro committed an error attempting to throw out the speedy Dee Gordon at first base. The ball sailed over Blake Lalli to put two runners in scoring position. On the next play, catcher Robinzon Diaz threw attempted a put out at first, but through the ball past Lalli into foul territory, which scored both runners. Diaz put the Sounds on the board in the fourth inning with a towering home run to center field. The solo shot was Diaz's fourth of the season (audio). Nashville plated their final run in the ninth via Eugenio Velez's triple to center field (audio). The knock extends Velez's season-best hit streak to 12 games. The Isotopes picked up a run in the seventh inning to pull within one run of Nashville when Van Slyke singled home Gwynn Jr., who tripled to lead off the inning. A single through the infield followed to put runners on the corners with no outs, but Sounds reliever Kyle Heckathorn escaped the inning without allowing the tying run to score. Leach was charged with the loss, his second, while Albuquerque's Sean White (4-6) picked up the win with two innings of relief work. The Sounds play game four on Saturday night at Isotopes Park and send LHP Aaron Laffey (6-7, 6.36) to the hill opposite Albuquerque's RHP Stephen Fife (1-4, 6.11). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Friday, August 30, for the team's final homestand of the season. Robinzon Diaz file photo by Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/7/4/58122874/cuts/823_diaz_tc3yqw5d_2xhnw3vm.jpg Nashville Box Score 34-year-old former Brewer farmhand catcher Eliezer Alfonzo still around... Nashville Game Log

Via the Tennessean: Sounds Q&A - Pitcher Travis Webb

Rattler Radio Blog -- Postgame entry kicks off with Steve Winwood lyric, nice

Helena Pre-Game Audio: Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers talks about how the closer role has changed and his time with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland A's

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Albuquerque — Shortstop Blake Davis Tonight’s interview is with Sounds shortstop Blake Davis, who discusses his game last night coming back from a hamstring injury; his first professional season away from the Orioles organization, which drafted him in the 4th round in ’06 and for which he made his major league debut in ’11 under former Sound Buck Showalter; what he thinks of the travel and ballparks in the Pacific Coast League compared to the International League (which holds Baltimore’s Triple-A Norfolk club); and his two different colored eyes, a condition called heterochromia iridum.