Jim Goulart

Follow Saturday'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

Programming notes: Brevard County audio only available via the Charlotte feed until the next homestand begins Wednesday August 7th. *** DVR Alert! Today's Timber Rattlers game will be broadcast on MyNewTV 32 at 6:30 PM. The "Showdown" pre-game show airs at 6:00. Here's the page giving you related info on the Time Warner Cable dispute with the station.

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: LHP Aaron Laffey at home vs. Tucson (Padres), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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 Andy Moye at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 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 Tyler Cravy at Charlotte (Rays), 5:30 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the opponent coverage with the Jupiter link ********** Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at home vs. Beloit (Athletics), 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 Great Falls (White Sox), 7:40 PM pre-game, 8:00 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 home vs. the mighty-morphin' power Rangers, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cubs #1 squad, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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Speaking of LHP's that got away, went the indy route, and made for great stories with the Twins, Caleb Thielbar continues to put up insane numbers - WHIP of 0.66.

How'd the Brewers let a Canadian kid get away? LH starting pitcher Andrew Albers, drafted in the 12th round out of a Saskatchewan high school by the Brewers in 2004, will make his big league debut with the Twins. Minnesota signed him prior to the 2011 season after Albers had to go the indy league route in 2010 after Tommy John surgery and his release by the Padres, his initial pro organization. Albers is proof that if a player can play, a scout will find him. In 2004, Albers was drafted in the 12th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Instead of signing, he went to the University of Kentucky. “For me, it was a matter of maturity. I don’t think I was mature enough coming out of high school to go into professional baseball. I knew I had a good situation if I chose to go to the University of Kentucky. I was going to have great coaching and was going to have the opportunity to play in one of the nation’s top baseball conferences. I also knew that I had to get a lot stronger and had never lived on my own, so I thought college would be a better fit for me. It would also allow me to work on getting my degree in case baseball did not end up working out for me. I have never regretted my decision to go to school.” If you have the time, this is a very worthwhile story if you want to lean more about Albers.

Final: @AZL Rangers 9, AZL Brewers 5 AZL Brewers Box Score The trumpets have not been blaring for RHP Gian Rizzo, who was tagged for six runs in just 2.2 innings (RHP Eric Arnett allowed two of three inherited Rizzo runners to score, but that's still not a pretty line). Two of the five Brewer runs scored were not earned, as the A-Crew won the defensive battle, four errors to none, but that was your only real team positive. Clint Coulter doubled, singled, walked, drove in two and scored a run as the DH, you'd think he'd return to Helena at some point soon. AZL Brewers Game Log Rizzo's 2nd and 3rd innings -- AZL Rangers Bottom of the 2nd Jose Gonzalez grounds out, second baseman Francisco Castillo to first baseman Alan Sharkey. Isiah Kiner-Falefa singles on a ground ball to shortstop Tucker Neuhaus. Smerling Lantigua singles on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Isiah Kiner-Falefa to 2nd. Saquan Johnson doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Isiah Kiner-Falefa scores. Smerling Lantigua to 3rd. Carlos Garay singles on a fly ball to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Smerling Lantigua scores. Saquan Johnson scores. Royce Bolinger called out on strikes. Joey Gallo strikes out swinging. AZL Rangers Bottom of the 3rd Travis Demeritte pops out to third baseman Steven Halcomb in foul territory. Fernando Vivili hit by pitch. Jose Gonzalez flies out to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Isiah Kiner-Falefa singles on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Fernando Vivili to 3rd. Smerling Lantigua singles on a fly ball to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Fernando Vivili scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa to 3rd. Saquan Johnson walks. Smerling Lantigua to 2nd. Pitching Change: Eric Arnett replaces Gian Rizzo. Carlos Garay singles on a ground ball to center fielder Edgardo Rivera. Isiah Kiner-Falefa scores. Smerling Lantigua scores. Saquan Johnson to 3rd. Royce Bolinger flies out to center fielder Edgardo Rivera. *** Wow, look at the power and strikeout numbers for 19-year-old Rangers farmhand Joey Gallo, on rehab assignment for this one, in which he was 0-for-5 with four K's. A truly intriguing but polarizing player in terms of prospect discussion nationally.

Brief Huntsville TV report lowlights

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS embedded in the game story from Alex -- *** Stars Downed By M-Braves in Series Opener By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars To open up a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars lost to the Mississippi Braves by a score of 13-2 on Friday night. In each of the first five innings, the M-Braves scored at least one run against the Stars pitching staff including eight runs in the first three innings against starting pitcher Drew Gagnon. Against the 23-year-old righty, Mississippi got a solo homer from second baseman Tommy LaStella in the first inning, a two-run blast from first baseman Christian Marrero in the second inning and a pair of two-run hits from shortstop Jaime Pedroza and outfielder Dan Brewer in the third inning. Gagnon ultimately gave up eight runs (seven earned) in three innings of work in falling to 4-6 on the season, snapping his three-start winning streak. Following Gagnon's departure, the big night for Mississippi and Pedroza continued. After left fielder Robby Heffinger came through with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, an RBI single from Pedroza off Stars righty Mark Williams made the score 9-1. Then, in the eighth inning, Pedroza cleared the bases with a three-run double against reliever Casey Medlen to give the M-Braves their final runs of the game. In the end, the M-Braves shortstop went 3-for-5 with a season-high six runs batted in on the ballgame. Mississippi scored their only other run of the ballgame on an RBI single from outfielder Mycal Jones in the fifth inning. That run support was plenty for M-Braves starting pitcher Aaron Northcraft. The 10th ranked prospect in the Braves notched his third straight win and improved to 6-8 on the year after giving up one runs on four hits in five innings of work. On offense, the Stars got a three-hit night from outfielder Rene Tosoni, who also drove in the Stars first run of the game in the third inning (audio). The only other run of the game for the Stars came on a solo blast from first baseman Jason Rogers in the eighth inning against former Huntsville reliever Thomas Keeling (audio). For Rogers, it was his fifth homer in the last six games and league-leading 19th roundtripper of the season. The homer also increased Rogers's hitting streak to 14 games. On Saturday, the Stars will play game two of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium against Mississippi. Huntsville will send RHP Andy Moye (5-11, 4.25 ERA) to the bump to try to snap their four-game losing skid while the M-Braves will counter with RHP Gus Schlosser (6-3, 2.35 ERA). First pitch is 6:43 ET.

O's, Brewers split the decision By AJ Mazzolini, The Missoulian Missoula Osprey pitcher Carlos Hernandez lost his magic on the mound with an inning to go during the first game of a doubleheader. Turns out Helena's Barrett Astin found it for Game 2. The respective starters put the opposition’s half innings in a cage as Missoula and Helena split a Pioneer League twin bill Friday, a pair of slick one-sided wins with one in each direction. Hernandez and the O’s silenced Helena 5-1 in the early game before Astin got the Brewers going in an eventual 12-1 stomping. Friday’s pair was born from a rainout in Missoula on Thursday. The squads squeezed in two seven-inning games at Ogren-Allegiance Park the day after the wash. Game 1 belonged to Hernandez. The only thing that could get to the Missoula pitcher turned out to be his Osprey batters. Hernandez set a season-high with nine strikeouts and shut down the Brewer bats through six innings. But a half hour’s worth of Osprey offense in the bottom of that frame knocked the righty out of his groove for the final frame. “I just felt a little cold and it was hard to find my release point again,” Hernandez said. “But overall I felt good. My fastball command, huge factor, and my outside pitches were there against righties.” He couldn’t finish the seven-inning game — though the bullpen did for him — as Missoula held on in the first game of the doubleheader. The pitcher allowed three hits through the first six innings and was just two batters over the minimum. He walked the seventh inning’s leadoff man on four pitches, the eventual lone Helena run, before more trouble kept Hernandez from a complete game. Silvino Bracho came on to get the final two outs, back-to-back strikeouts. The Osprey (18-23, 2-1 second half) started giving Hernandez run support in the third inning. Yorman Garcia led off with a double before Colin Bray and Chuck Taylor followed with base hits. The lead was Missoula’s at 1-0 on Taylor’s double. A game after batting for the cycle against Helena on Wednesday, Jose Queliz finished 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and an RBI groundout in that third inning. Then came the Osprey carousel in the sixth. Missoula batted around in the inning and scored three times, one on Stryker Trahan’s fourth home run of the season. The Brewers (24-17, 1-2) went to their bullpen twice during the rally, leaving Hernandez (3-2) to sit a little longer still. His 6 1-3 innings pitched were also a season high and the only time he’s seen the seventh inning in eight starts. “Of course it’s different,” Hernandez said about heading out for the seventh inning Friday versus any normal seventh. “I just knew with a seven-inning (game), I was prepared to throw all seven innings. “But,” the 19-year-old Dominican born ballplayer started, before releasing a heavy sigh. “I just lost the command.” For Game 2, Astin started just as hot. He allowed three hits over four innings, but left the game too early to mark his first win. A bullpen-starter hopper, Astin was on a shorter leash and reached 41 pitches before getting the hook. Osprey starter Bobby Hillier couldn’t get that deep despite nearly twice as many pitches. Helena knocked around the right-hander in his 3 2-3 innings, tagging Hillier for eight earned runs and eight hits in his first start this season. The Beer Makers scored in bunches off the Missoula spot starter to even Friday’s play at one apiece. (Hey, Beer Makers, I kind of like that...) - MH “It’s always great to have the chance to come out and get another win,” Taylor Brennan said of the doubleheader setup Friday. “It’s sure better than going 0 and 2.” Two Helena runs rounded the bases on one swing in the first — a Michael Ratterree home run — then another three scored on Brennan’s three-run bomb two innings later before Brennan cleared the bases with a triple in the fourth. “It felt good because I’ve been in a slump a little bit too,” Brennan said of his big game, which gave him eight home runs and 30 RBIs on the season. “It all felt really good coming off my bat and I felt like I was seeing the ball a lot longer tonight.” Ratterree added another homer in yet another three-run inning in the sixth in response to Missoula’s only push back. Bray singled in a run in the fifth after Astin left the game, but the home team left two runners in scoring position. No Osprey reached second base or beyond in any other inning. Missoula won the three-game series despite Friday’s split after beating Helena 7-3 Wednesday to open the second half of the season. Here's a shot of Michael Ratterree's back, courtesy of the Missoulian http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/missoulian.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/54/95435b60-fbea-11e2-b3e9-001a4bcf887a/51fc7534e2d23.preview-620.jpg

Nashville site game story has been updated with audio highlights

Osprey beat Brewers in Game 1 of doubleheader By AJ Mazzolini, the Missoullian The game belonged to Carlos Hernandez. The only thing that could get to the Missoula pitcher turned out to be his Osprey batters. Hernandez set a season-high with nine strikeouts and shut down the Helena Brewer bats through six innings. But a half hour of Osprey offense in the bottom of that inning knocked the righty out of this groove for the seventh. He couldn’t finish the seven-inning game — though the bullpen did for him — as Missoula held on in the first game of a doubleheader, a 5-1 victory. The pitcher allowed only three hits through the first six innings and was just two batters over the minimum. He walked the 7th inning’s leadoff batter on four pitches before a double put two men in scoring position. After enticing the next Brewer into a groundout, which scored Helena’s only run, Silvino Bracho came on to get the final two outs. Bracho kept Helena at bay with back-to-back strikeouts. The Osprey (18-22, 2-0 second half) started giving Hernandez some run support in the third inning. Yorman Garcia led off with a double before Colin Bray and Chuck Taylor followed that with base hits. The lead was Missoula’s at 1-0 on Taylor’s double. Taylor had sneaked to third before Queliz grounded out to make it 2-0. A game after batting for the cycle against Helena on Wednesday, Queliz finished 2 for 3 with a double and a walk, but had no shot at a second cycle because of the shortened game. Then came the Osprey carousel in the sixth. Missoula batted around in the inning and scored three times, including one on Stryker Trahan’s fourth home run of the season, a solo liner to right-center field. The Brewers (23-17, 0-2) went to their bullpen twice during the rally, leaving Hernandez (3-2) to sit a little longer still. His 6 1-3 innings pitcher were also a season high and the only time he’s seen the seventh inning in eight starts.

The Maryvale kids just got to face Rangers' rehabbing Neftali Feliz making his first appearance of 2013 tonight: AZL Brewers Top of the 1st Edgardo Rivera reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Travis Demeritte. With Brandon Diaz batting, Edgardo Rivera caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Fernando Vivili to second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Brandon Diaz walks. With Tucker Neuhaus batting, Brandon Diaz steals (11) 2nd base. Tucker Neuhaus strikes out swinging. Clint Coulter strikes out swinging, catcher Fernando Vivili to first baseman Smerling Lantigua. *** RHP Gian Rizzo gets the start for Maryvale, struck out the side in the 1st.

LHP Thomas Keeling (Juan Francisco trade) in for Mississippi, must be nice for him to visit with old Brewer-system friends this weekend.

Thanks Brad, I'll get Saturday's DSL game.

AUDIO: Johnny Hellweg's appearance on Nashville Sports Radio today (hat tip Jeff Hem)

Shoulder surgery a real possibility for Jed Bradley

Huntsville native Jed Bradley has 'homecoming' with Stars delayed by injury by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Homecomings shouldn't happen this way. They should come with parades and parties, not with pain. Jed Bradley was born in Huntsville and pitched his senior season for Huntsville High. When the Milwaukee Brewers made him a first-round draft pick in 2011, it seemed ordained he'd become the second native of the city to play for the hometown Stars. When that happens, barring something miraculous, it'll be in 2014. Bradley, a 6-foot-4 lefthander, has returned to Huntsville from Class A Brevard County and was in the Stars' clubhouse on Friday afternoon. He'll be around the team this homestand against Mississippi. However, he'll be under the care of the Stars' medical staff, his season likely ended by a shoulder injury that could well necessitate surgery. "I was looking forward to coming home," he said. "It means advancement in my career, getting to live in my hometown and live with my family. But I didn't sit around and dream about it." Bradley was 4-4 with a 4.14 ERA at Brevard County in 16 starts this summer. As for the injury, "It's part of the trade," Bradley said. "It's unfortunate. It's always a hassle, but that's the way things go. It's something you'll have to deal with in your career so move forward with it and get back on the field as quick as possible." On May 21, 2011, 16 days before Bradley would be drafted, Grissom High product Hunter Morris came to bat for the Stars against Montgomery to make history as the Stars' first Huntsville native. It was a brief cameo promotion for Morris, who returned as a full-timer in 2012 and proceeded to win the Southern League MVP award. Bradley and Morris had brief conversations in spring training about playing at home. "He obviously had an incredible year," Bradley said, "kinda being the mayor." Bradley was born in Huntsville, but the family moved several times, including to Michigan, before returning here in time for Jed's senior year at Huntsville; he then missed much of the season following an appendectomy, making only six starts. The whole Bradley gang is here now, though, father Will, mom Lori and sisters Hallie and Sarah, as well as grandparents and uncles. Bradley wound up at Georgia Tech after attending a baseball camp there his senior season "by chance" and performing well enough to be offered a scholarship. He pitched the Yellow Jackets into the NCAA regionals as a junior, going 7-3 with a 3.49 ERA and earning second-team All-ACC honors. He was the 15th player chosen in the draft - three spots behind current Stars pitcher Taylor Jungmann; the Brewers had two first-round choices - and made his Brevard debut last season, going 5-10 before being shut down late. He had what Brewers officials called "a tired arm," and Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said last year Bradley is "a hard worker, almost to the point where he works too hard." Now, more work is beginning. "You stay day-to-day," Bradley said. "You form a plan about how to get better, and stay positive as much as you can. A lot of times, your mind tends to get negative and you start to wear yourself down when things aren't going the way you want them to. That's where your plan comes into play. You stay with it and stay positive and move forward." Jed Bradley, during an appearance earlier this year at Brevard County (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/bradley-at-brevardjpg-674b2f855d6a8c64.jpg

Now at MiLB.com: Rodrigo Benoit out of Santiago, Dominican Republic - 19 year old RHP listed at 6'2", 170. That was his pro debut (noted because the Brewers have picked up a few players released by other clubs).

Brewers Player Development -- Congrats to Johnny Hellweg and Jason Rogers, the Brewers minor league pitcher and player of the month for July

Keith Law chat -- Jason (Milwaukee): Thoughts on the brewers draft picks so far? Klaw: Not good. The one pick I really liked, Devin Williams, hasn't pitched well (not a big deal) and I've heard some negative stuff about his makeup as well. *** Bob (WI): Victor Roache seems to have salvaged his year from a performance perspective with a hot July. Is it a matter of finally getting healthy? Have any positive reports? Klaw: Tiny sample involved - and he's still striking out a ton and is still too old for the level. *** Well, Law would have had to hear the Williams stuff after the fact since he was silent in that regard immediately after the draft. Pretty unfair he tosses that out so generically. Boo!

Via the Brewers: Roster moves: OF Michael Reed off the DL & OF Tyrone Taylor to the DL at Wisconsin, SS Ozzie Chavez active in Nashville *** We have no details on any of the injuries/absences.

Happy 29th Birthday to Nashville LHP Travis Webb *** Happy 23rd Birthday to Timber Rattlers' RHP Austin Blaski

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Port Charlotte, FL Eastlake, OH Missoula, MT Surprise, AZ Santo Domingo, 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.