Jim Goulart

Stars' manager Darnell Coles alongside Babe Ruth in history, now alongside others as bobblehead By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- At his Florida home, Darnell Coles has a shelf full of bobblehead dolls, a collection that includes friends, former teammates or players he's managed and coached. Joked Coles, "Every now and then I'll be in my room, watching TV and I'll have a conversation with the guys. Occasionally, if I need somebody to say yes to me, I'll just move it forward and it'll nod." On Saturday night, the Huntsville Stars manager will be officially immortalized as a bobblehead. It's part of a promotion for the Stars game against Tennessee at 6:43 p.m. It's also AUSA Military Appreciation Night and McDonalds Youth Night. AUSA has tickets at the One Stop Shop, Building 3443 on Redstone Arsenal for all Military ID and CAC Card Holders. Meanwhile, kids 12 and under wearing youth sports or scout uniforms are admitted free. The Nashville Predators of the NHL, who are hosting a hockey clinic Saturday at the Iceplex, will have a pregame youth street hockey clinic. Fans wearing Predators caps or shirts will be admitted to the game for free. Coles played in the majors for 14 seasons, primarily with Seattle and Detroit, and shares this bit of baseball history: Coles, Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire are three of only nine players to have hit three home runs in a single game in both the American and National Leagues. "This (bobblehead) is a first for me," Coles said. "It's both fun and flattering. I've got those bobbleheads at home but never in a million years did I think I'd have one for myself." The most fun aspect, he said, will be having the dolls for his grandkids. A doting grandfather of three, Coles could be seen often this summer escorting granddaughters Isabella and Victoria around the bases at Joe Davis Stadium following games. "Just giving it to them (will be special)," he said, " 'Oh, there's Papa, with his head bouncing around.'" Bobblehead of Stars manager Darnell Coles to be given away Saturday http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/dc-bobbleheadjpg-a5fdf44c261de296.jpg

Via the Brewers PD Twitter account: The Brewers have signed IF Eugenio Velez & assigned him to Nashville. IF Ozzie Chavez has been placed on the DL. *** The Blue Jays released Velez earlier this week. Velez hit .270/.372/.437 with seven homers and 21 steals in 69 games at Triple-A (2013 numbers). He last appeared in the Majors with the Dodgers in 2011 and went hitless in 37 at-bats. Career major league numbers for the 31-year-old switch-hitter Career minor league numbers Brewers are calling Velez an infielder, but scroll to the bottom of that link and you'll see that Velez has extensive time all over the diamond. *** All that being said, this isn't much more than a fill-out-the-AAA roster-for-five-weeks type of move. Velez will be a minor league free agent in October. This is Ozzie Chavez' 2nd recent DL stint for undisclosed injury reasons. (He's a 30-year-old switch-hitting utility infielder.)

RHP Leonard Lorenzo makes another trip to the 7-day DL at Wisconsin to make room.

Link Report Bonus: Fun double-ricochet from an indy league game

23-year-old 2013 24th round RHP Chris Razo (college bio, Helena stats) has been promoted from Helena to Wisconsin. Not sure if that will be formal for tonight or Saturday.

Weather.com: Omaha, NE Huntsville, AL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Grand Chute, WI (Appleton) Helena, MT Maryvale, AZ Boca Chica, DR

STANDINGS (YEE-HAH, Helena!): 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, and Wisconsin, 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 Friday'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 note, DVR Alert!: The next two Timber Rattlers games (tonight and Sat.) are on TV. Each game is on MyNew32 TV. "Showdown: Timber Rattlers Pre-Game", airs at 6:30 PM. Of course, if watching live, synch it up with Chris Mehring's audio .

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson 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 $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 home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 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: LHP Brent Suter at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 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 Tyler Wagner at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Barrett Astin at home vs. Billings (Reds), 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 home vs. the not-so-artful Dodgers, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Nationals, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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

Look for LHP Alan Williams (career stats), a promising LH relief arm who was suspended in mid-May for a second offense on a drug of abuse, to appear in a Maryvale game soon, as he was just added to that roster.

Adam McCalvy reviews most everything about the newly-released MLB.com Brewers Top 20

Via the Brewers' Player Development Twitter account: The Brewers announce these roster moves- (Nashville) OF Cole Garner has been released, LHP Brent Leach moved to Nashville. RHP Mark Williams to Huntsville *** That would free up a roster spot at High-A Brevard for Nicky Delmonico once formally added.

Via the Brewers' Player Development Twitter account: The Brewers announce these roster moves- (Nashville) OF Cole Garner has been released, LHP Brent Leach moved to Nashville. RHP Mark Williams to Huntsville *** That would free up a roster spot at High-A Brevard for Nicky Delmonico once formally added.

Really can't compliment Bob Brainerd enough for his Timber Rattlers profiles. You can tell each individual interview is in-depth and all the quotes carry each feature article really well. The latest is on RH starting pitcher Tyler Wagner's path.

Presented without comment (he knows we're fans) -- Rattlers' Mehring an icon of Midwest Wisconsin radio man reflects on career, talks classic '70s TV By Benjamin Hill / MiLB.com Just couldn't bury that in some random Link Report...

Halton down, Wooten up Congratulations, Rob. Wooten is the 6th player from his draft round (13th, 2008) to make the big leagues. Halton was the 3rd player to reach the majors from his draft round (13th, 2009). Unfortunately, the player taken eight picks before Halton plays for a fierce Brewers rival and will garner some MVP consideration this year.

2nd year Dominican RH starting pitcher Miguel Diaz (stats) is having a nice little season, we point it out here because he's doing it as an 18-year-old, could be a nice one to follow in Maryvale in 2014.

Brewers Can't Rally, Clinch 1st Half Title Billings wins, Helena reaches playoffs for first time since '10 Helena Site Game Story Needing one win to clinch a playoff spot the Helena Brewers came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth trailing 12-11. After two quick outs, Helena's hopes came down to the bat Michael Ratterree, Helena's hottest hitter this season. Ratterree would hit a popup a mile high in the infield and it looked like the game was over. But the Brewers had new life when Billings third baseman Avain Rachal dropped the ball and just like that the tying run was in scoring position. With Adam Giacalone batting, Ratterree stole third to bring the tying run just 90 feet away. The scene was set for Giacalone, who just returned to Helena for his second stint with the team, to either tie the game with a base hit or win it with a homer. Instead Joe Mantoni got Giacalone to strike out to end the game and hand the Mustangs a 12-11 win. But little did the Brewers know, just minutes before they stepped to the plate in the ninth inning, they had already clinched the playoff spot that seemed to elude them in the ninth. Thanks to Missoula's 9-6 win over Great Falls, the Brewers were officially the first half champions of the Pioneer League North. In September Helena will be in the Pioneer League Playoffs for the first time since the championship season of 2010. "I know the guys will be happy to hear [that we clinched]. It's always good to be able to take a little bit of lift off and know that you are going to be in the playoffs but it doesn't end there, it has to be something where you continue to play hard and not worry about being there you just have to be prepared when you get there," said Helena skipper Tony Diggs. It was a wild game in which the Brewers looked like they had no shot of even being in. Helena trailed 5-0 before they came to the plate and were down 12-5 in the sixth inning. But Helena battled back and tried to earn the clinching victory. Down by seven in the seventh inning, the Brewers rallied for four runs. With two outs, Jesse Weiss was hit with a pitch and Taylor Brennan hit a single to start the rally. Renaldo Jenkins then hit an RBI double off the wall in left and Omar Garcia would then reach on an infield single as Brennan scored. Jenkins would later come home on an error by the first baseman on a pickoff attempt. Nathan Orf would make it a three run game when he hit an RBI triple to gap in left center to score Garcia and just like that Helena was back in the ballgame. In the bottom of the eighth the hits kept coming for the Brewers as Giacalone and Dustin Houle hit back-to-back singles to start the frame. Jose Pena would then pull an RBI single into left to drive home Giacalone and when the throw went all the way home, Pena advanced to third. After Weiss struck out, Austin Muehring uncorked a wild pitch and Houle came home to make it a one run game. With the tying run at third, Brennan struck out and Billings brought Mantoni into the game. He would retire Jenkins on a liner to centerfield to end the threat. Tyler Alexander would toss a 1-2-3 ninth inning to keep the game in reach but Helena couldn't pick up a comeback win in the bottom of the ninth. "The biggest thing that we can get away from this game is that you look at it we had the tying run on third base. We were one swing away on a couple of occasions from being able to take the lead and it just didn't fall for us. But in a ballgame in which we fell behind 5-0 early it ended up being a 12-11 ballgame, they showed me pretty solid character," said Diggs. The Brewers would tie a season-high with 17 hits in the contest including two by Ratterree who extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Orf, Giacalone, and Pena had three hits apiece in the loss. Helena starter Eduard Reyes was handed the loss after he struggled for the first time this season. Reyes allowed eight runs on 11 hits and surrendered three homers including two of the bat of Phillip Ervin who was 4 for 4.

Pre-game audio: Helena Brewers infielder Nathan Orf talks about his knack for getting on base and the different positions he has played

Click on that link, it's an auction, less than two days remain. *** Florida State League Team Batting -- rough year for this 'Tees group, as was anticipated on Opening Day

Stars Spurned By Smokies Comeback By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars Leading at one point by four runs, the Huntsville Stars squandered an early advantage by losing 10-5 to the Tennessee Smokies in game three of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium on Thursday night. The Stars got off to their early lead in the first inning against Smokies starter Austin Kirk. With the bases loaded and one out, an RBI single from outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard put the Stars on the board. One batters later, a bases-loaded walk drawn by third baseman Joey Paciorek made the score 2-0. Two innings later, an RBI single from Paciorek and a successful suicide squeeze from shortstop Hector Gomez doubled up the Stars lead and upped it to four runs. Unfortunately for the Stars, the rest of the game was dominated by the Smokies. After four scoreless innings from Stars starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann, the Tennessee bats began their offensive surge in the top of the fifth. Following a one-out error from Gomez and walk issued by Jungmann, a three-run homer from Smokies shortstop Javier Baez cut the Stars lead to one. With Jungmann out of the game after five innings, Smokies outfielder Rubi Silva welcomed Stars reliever Frankie De La Cruz (L, 1-2) to action with a solo homer that tied up the game in the sixth inning. One inning later, the 4-4 tie was broken up by a solo homer from first baseman Justin Bour off De La Cruz. Later in the frame, a two-out, bases-clearing double from infielder Airesmendy Alcantara put the Smokies up by four and gave the Tennessee pitching staff all the run support they needed. Five Smokies releivers combined to hold the Stars to just one run over the last six innings of the game. Righty Marcos Mateo improved to 1-0 on the season, earning the victory with 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Tennessee scored their final two runs of the game on a solo homer from Baez in the seventh inning and a bases-loaded walk from outfielder John Andreoli in the eighth inning. For Baez, the two homers on the night give him four roundtrippers over the first three games of the series. The top prospect in the Cubs organization now has five homers in seven games played against the Stars. Overall, the Smokies scored nine unanswered runs at one point of the game to complete their comeback. For Huntsville, they scored their only other run of the game on a solo homer from outfielder Rene Tosoni in the bottom of the ninth (audio). On offense, outfielder Chadwin Stang paced the bats with a 3-for-4 night at the plate. He now hit safely in his last nine games, tying him for the longest hitting streak on the season for the Stars with Tosoni, who reached the mark in early May. Tosoni also had two hits on Thursday. The Stars will play game four of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium against the Tennessee Smokies on Friday. Huntsville will send RHP Ariel Pena (5-7, 3.56 ERA) to the bump while Tennessee will counter with RHP A.J Morris (3-1, 3.61 ERA). First pitch is 6:43 PM.