Jim Goulart

According to the Manatee media notes, Mark Rogers gets another rehab start Friday. *** Unrelated and non-Brewer, but check out this fan catch in Dayton, lucky he didn't take his head off.

A bit more from the tryout camp

Looking at the standings, we really have little drama here. Helena is already in the postseason, and the Pioneer League playoff procedures don't seem to throw a bone for also winning the second half (like having more home playoff games). All Pioneer League playoff series are best-of-three only. Both Huntsville and Brevard County could make a run, but each is really in need of an 8 or 9 out of 10 stretch. Wisconsin, as you'll know if you read Chris' game notes or blog, is also (surprisingly) within shooting range of a wild-card opportunity, but recent stumbles really have them in the same boat as the Stars and Manatees. When you look at the PCL standings, you realize that Nashville (despite their recent hot stretch) picked the wrong year to be abysmal. The division leader is only at .500, yet the Sounds are a non-factor. Maryvale is 4-7 in the 2nd half, and could make a run themselves, currently three games out but last in their four-team division. The league site doesn't make it clear how the split-season will work, looks like this is a new concept for the league this year. Don't ask about the DSL kids, they've already been mathematically eliminated.

Weather.com: Colorado Springs, CO Chattanooga, TN Viera, FL (Melbourne) Peoria, IL Helena, MT Phoenix, AZ Boca Chica, 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 Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale DSL Brewers New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP R.J. Seidel at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 7:15 PM pre-game, 7:35 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 Drew Gagnon at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 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 Jacob Barnes at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 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 Ryan Gibbard at Peoria (Cardinals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime; expect to see RHP Preston Gainey in a tandem role 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 home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 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): at the Athletics' complex in Phoenix, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Yankees #1 squad, 9:30 AM gametime, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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

A peek at a Brewers Open Camp in Canada Focuses on interesting advice given to a specific Dominican native now living north of the border, and other insights we usually don't read about.

Couple of injury updates direct from the players Twitter accounts -- Timber Rattler's infielder Jose Sermo last played May 30th when he suffered a serious leg injury, looks like he'll be back on a field (likely Maryvale) on Saturday (tweet). *** We knew Wisconsin RHP Austin Blaski had surgery last month, turns out it was related to his labrum (tweet).

Final: AZL Cubs 11, @AZL Brewers 4 AZL Brewers Box Score The Cubs only scored in two innings, but a four-run 3rd and seven-run 5th against Crew hurlers spelled doom in this one. It was 11-1 after five innings before Maryvale tallied a few late runs. 2013 25th round RHP Drew Ghelfi (University of Minnesota) could not get an out in that 3rd inning, and LHP Chris Matulis did what he could to limit the damage in a no out situation, but after a GIDP, a two-run single burned Matulis and capped the scoring in the frame. The 5th was even uglier, as Matulis, still in the game, similarly failed to record an out, and RHP Gian Rizzo, pitching on normal four days' rest, entered with two on and allowed both runners to score. Rizzo would settle down, and birthday boy RHP Sean Wardour closed things out with two scoreless, but the game was long settled by then. First baseman Alan Sharkey (Shark Week!) gets credit for his double, single, and walk. Outfielders Johnny Davis (double) and Yonki Hernandez each had two hits. Many Brewers saw action in the blowout loss, spreading the AB's, which unfortunately has happened too often. AZL Brewers Game Log You can seek out the Cub 3rd and 5th innings, if you dare...

Thanks to MiLB.TV, we've been able to link to nearly all of Hunter Morris' 22 home runs this season. Here's the video of his two-run HR in the Sounds' 3-0 victory from Tuesday.

Pitching, defense propel the Chiefs to 3-1 victory Peoria manages two hits with runners in scoring position, but wins 3-1 By Kevin Capie, Peoria Journal Star PEORIA — Who cares if the Peoria Chiefs hit just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position? As long as the pitching and defense were as good as they were in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, two hits were all the Chiefs needed. “That’s our club right there in a nutshell,” Chiefs manager Dann Bilardello said. “If you want to get picky we could do a better job with runners in scoring position, but I’ll take that in the long run over just five chances.” Both teams were adept at getting the leadoff runners aboard, 12 of the 17 batters to lead off an inning reached base. The difference is the Chiefs were able to do just enough to get those runners around, starting with a sacrifice fly in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Peoria added two runs off Chillicothe product Chris Razo with a fielder’s choice in the fifth and the second of the two hits with a runner in scoring position in the sixth. Razo (1-1) took the loss with the two runs allowed in his two innings of work. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out one. Peoria catcher Jonathan Keener did reach on the wild pitch. The Chiefs led 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the second by Bruce Caldwell to leave Peoria starter Chris Perry a thin margin to work with as the Timber Rattlers had base runners in each of his seven innings. But Perry worked around six leadoff singles. “We’ve been working on, and stressing, keeping the ball down,” said Perry, who allowed seven singles and struck out four. “I did a good job today to get ground balls.” The defense helped as Keener threw out two potential base stealers and held on when Wisconsin’s Chris McFarland tried to jar the ball loose in the fifth after Wisconsin already scored a run on his RBI triple. “We had a little talk early in the game about them running,” Bilardello said. “Keener threw the heck out of the ball tonight.” Juan Herrera led off the fifth with a single and stole second. The wild pitch moved him to third, and the newest Chief scored easily on Charlie Tilson’s fielder’s choice to short. “It’s always nice to score runs when you make outs,” Bilardello said. “We had some other chances so we need to bear down.” The Chiefs added a run when Breyvic Valera led off with a single, stole second and then stole on Jordan Walton’s single. The Chiefs DH scored the first run in the second. “It’s all about getting guys into scoring position and getting those opportunities,” Walton said. Wisconsin threatened in the seventh when Max Walla reached on an error to start the inning. A hard-hit lineout brought Bilardello out to talk with Perry and the infield. Tyler Roberts grounded through the box but was stopped by a diving Herrera. The shortstop flipped to Caldwell, who turned a perfect pivot to get the double play and end the inning. “Obviously, the end to turn the double play (was big),” Perry said. “But we played good defense all around.”

Pre-game article -- *** Home game for Rattlers’ Razo Wisconsin reliever one of five Illinois Valley Central products in pros: ‘Has to be something in the water in Chillicothe By Kevin Capie, Peoria Journal Star PEORIA — Chris Razo has pitched at Dozer Park many times before, but his next appearance there will be unlike the others. Razo, a 24th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in June, returned to central Illinois on Wednesday as a member of the Midwest League’s Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to begin a three-game series with the Peoria Chiefs. “It’s definitely kind of come full circle,” said Razo, who pitched at the Dozer Park in high school at IVC, junior college at Heartland and then against Bradley this year as a member of the Redbirds. “I kind of realize now how nice this really is and how great I did have it growing up in this area. Illinois is a great state and Peoria is a great area.” Razo began his professional career with Helena of the short-season Pioneer League with many of this year’s Brewers draft picks. Razo said that made the transition easier. It was also in Helena that Razo earned a pair of humorous nicknames, Vulture and Snake, after going 5-0 in seven relief appearances. “I’m not going to take all the credit for (the five wins),” Razo said. “I did my job and the ball went the right way and the offense would step up and score some runs.” Razo’s role in the Brewers organization, at least for this season, is different from what he was used to in college. At Illinois State, he earned Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year honors after going 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA over 89 1/3 innings pitched in 20 games, including 11 starts. First in Helena, and now with Wisconsin, the Brewers are monitoring Razo’s innings after that college workload and he is working exclusively out of the bullpen. Entering Wednesday, he had made just two appearances for the Timber Rattlers since being promoted from Helena on July 28. “It’s a whole new world out here with limiting innings because you want to get back out there,” Razo said. “If I don’t do well in one appearance I’m used to getting out there in a couple of days. Here you have to wait around to get that shot.” Razo is one of three former IVC players to begin their pro careers this summer. Brothers Jordan and Justin Parr are with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. They join Josh Parr, already in the Diamondbacks system, and Zach McAllister in the majors with the Cleveland Indians. “To think we were this level good is something you can’t think of,” Razo said. “You just hope for an opportunity to do that. It’s worked out so there has to be something in the water in Chillicothe.”

Alex has all the audio calls from last night's Stars win combined in one handy link.

Rattler Radio Blog's postgame entry includes video lowlights (because they're from the Peoria camera and production crew, and well, because Wisconsin lost)

http://realityfreaks.tv/uploads/imgs/pre_1332723742__barry_weiss2.jpg That's Barry Weiss of Storage Wars, love that guy! Listen in to learn more...

All photos by Dylan Brown / Helena Independent Record Helena Brewers' Angel Ortega gathers a bouncing ball Wednesday night, while playing against the Missoula Osprey at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/1d/01de5cd8-ffd4-11e2-a388-001a4bcf887a/5203055118bbd.preview-620.jpg Taylor Williams delivers the ball http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/73/073c3ccc-ffd4-11e2-917d-001a4bcf887a/5203055a86984.preview-620.jpg Missoula's Jake Miller attempts a double play, after forcing out Helena Brewers' Omar Garcia http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/1a/e1aed262-ffd3-11e2-b280-001a4bcf887a/5203051b14e3a.preview-620.jpg Garcia hits a ground ball http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/aa/eaa1abe2-ffd3-11e2-acfa-001a4bcf887a/5203052ae675e.preview-620.jpg

Big bats, clutch Poppe pitching help Brewers to win by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record In a game where Helena recorded a season-high 19 hits, it was a Brewers reliever who had arguably one of the biggest plays of the contest. With the bases loaded in the seventh and Missoula threatening to tie the game, Helena pitcher Tanner Poppe stared into the eyes of Jose Queliz. The Osprey catcher had been one of the hottest players in the lineup as of late, and Helena’s nemesis after hitting for the cycle against the Brewers last week. Add to that the fact that Queliz was batting .500 with runners in scoring position, and an astronomical .727 with runners in scoring position and two outs. With him at the plate, it looked as though the hosts were in trouble. Not so much. Poppe got Queliz to whiff on an 0-2 fastball to get out of the jam, and Helena tacked on four runs in the home half of the inning to beat Missoula 11-5 Wednesday in front of 1,517 fans at Kindrick Legion Field. “That takes a big load off your defense,” Brewers manager Tony Diggs said of Poppe’s big strikeout. “That was a great job for him. (Juan) Santiago struggled a bit tonight, which was unlike him, but Poppe was right there to pick him up.” Santiago entered in the seventh with Helena leading 7-2, but left with the ballgame looking very different after giving up a pair of doubles, a single, two walks and three runs. But a strong outing by Poppe – he would finish with four strikeouts in just 1 2/3 innings — and a perfect ninth by closer Tyler Alexander assured the Brewers their first win in the last four games. “He’s done a good job all season, even in a limited role,” Diggs said of Alexander. “Everything’s working for him.” Helena jumped on Osprey starter Carlos Hernandez (3-3) early, with five runs on six hits before the right-hander could record a second out. It was the shortest outing of the season for a Missoula starter. “Guys were aggressive, getting hitter’s counts early and jumping on the ball,” Diggs said. Brewers starting right-hander Taylor Williams took a perfect game into the third, but saw his no-hit bid erased with a double by Antonio Alvarez. It was the only hit Williams would allow. Barrett Astin came out of the bullpen and picked up his first professional win after giving up two hits in three innings, with the only damage done being a two-run home run by designated hitter Stryker Trahan. Left fielder Ruben Ozuna led Helena’s offensive outburst, going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in. Also finishing with three hits for the Brewers were DH Michael Ratterree and second baseman Renaldo Jenkins. Jenkins, who was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, came into the game batting just 3 for 23 against the Osprey this year. But don’t let that fool you, Diggs said. “Just because his numbers haven’t been good against them doesn’t mean he hasn’t hit the ball hard,” the skipper noted. “But he played well, and it was about time he got that monkey off his back.” Every player in the Brewers lineup recorded at least one hit, and Omar Garcia, Dionis Hinojosa, Dustin Houle and Taylor Brennan each had two. With his single in the seventh, Brennan extended his hit streak to seven games. After nearly letting a 6-0 lead slip away, Diggs was encouraged to see his team waste little time getting those runs back in the four-run seventh. “That was as big as it gets,” he said. The first-half North Division champion Brewers will look to make it two in a row against Missoula tonight, with Zach Quintana scheduled to take the mound for Helena against Osprey right-hander Adam Miller.

Two more Helena pre-game interviews for your morning office-dwelling listening pleasure -- AUDIO - Brewers pitcher Zach Quintana talks about his season so far and his routine on days when he does not pitch AUDIO - Brewers infielder Jesse Weiss talks about his first pro season and his time at Keynon College in Ohio

Pitching is Clutch, Bats Shine in Win Poppe gets out of jam, Brewers slug season-high 19 hits By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers In a game in which the Brewers had a season-high 19 hits, it was an inning of clutch pitching that made the difference for Helena in an 11-5 victory over Missoula on Wednesday night. With three runs already home for the Osprey in the top of the seventh and the Brewers clinging to a 7-5 lead, Tanner Poppe was summoned from the bullpen with men on first and second. Poppe would strikeout the first batter he faced and walked the second to load the bases. With two outs and the go-ahead run on first, Brewer-killer Jose Queliz stepped to the plate. Queliz entered the game with a .552 batting average against Helena and last week hit for the cycle against the Brewers. But instead of feasting on Helena yet again, Poppe struck out Queliz on a high fastball to end the threat and swing momentum to the Helena side. The Brewers would take that momentum and run with it, scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away as Poppe and Tyler Alexander closed the door on the Osprey in the final two frames. "To be able to tack on insurance runs like that, that takes a load off and now Poppe doesn't have to be as fine, he can trust his defense and Alexander comes in and finishes the game 1-2-3, that's all you can ask for," said Helena skipper Tony Diggs. Helena slugged 19 hits on the evening, two more than the previous high of 17, as every batter in the lineup had a hit. Renaldo Jenkins, Ruben Ozuna, and Michael Ratterree all had three base knocks while Omar Garcia, Dionis Hinojosa, Dustin Houle, and Taylor Brennan had two hits apiece. Diggs attributed the success with the bats to the aggressiveness of his hitters. "[Today they] got in a hitter's count early and jumped on the ball," he said. Seven of the Brewers' hits came in the first inning as the Brewers scored five times highlighted by a two-run single by Adam Giacalone, an RBI single by Houle, and a single by Ozuna that plated a pair as Missoula starter Carlos Hernandez didn't make it out of the first inning. "When you have seven hits in the first inning on the way to 19, that's always a good thing to score five runs and get a big lead like that," said Diggs. Helena starter Taylor Williams (above) was outstanding allowing just one hit in three innings while striking out three. His replacement, Barrett Astin, picked up the win with just one blemish in three innings, a two-run homer by Stryker Trahan in the fifth inning. The Brewers led for the duration of the game but things got interesting in the later innings. After Missoula manger Robby Hammock got ejected in the top of the sixth, the Osprey rallied in the top of the seventh as Trahan pulled a double into left-center and scored on a single by Jake Miller. After Juan Santiago walked Antonio Alvarez, Justin Bianco hit an opposite field double to right-center to make it a two-run game. Santiago would then walk Colin Bray and that would be the day for him as Poppe came into the game. "Santiago struggled a little bit, that's unlike him, but Poppe was right there to pick him up," said Diggs. Once Poppe got out of the jam, the Brewers scored four times in the seventh highlighted by RBI singles by Jenkins and Ozuna. With the season series now tied at six, Helena and Missoula will be back at it on Thursday night at Kindrick Legion Field. First pitch is at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). Taylor Williams photo via the Helena site / Seth Eikomstead http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/9/8/56291798/cuts/25_Taylor_Williams_P_2_klok1ov3_7ubpty9g.jpg

Happy 22nd Birthday to RHP Sean Wardour in Maryvale!

Weather.com: Huntsville, AL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Peoria, IL Helena, MT Maryvale, AZ San Pedro De Macoris, DR