Jim Goulart

Here's the Des Moines Register article on last night's Sounds loss, with a focus on Cubs' starting pitcher prospect Nick Struck -- regardless of organization, great to see a 39th round pick find quick success. TheCrew07 does such a nice job focusing on divisional prospects, so we link here as well.

Sounds Notebook via the Tennessean Written by Mack Burke After seven years in the Brewers’ minor league system, Sounds outfielder Caleb Gindl finally will get a chance to show his talent in the major leagues. Gindl was called up to the Brewers on Saturday after All-Star slugger Ryan Braun was sent to the 15-day disabled list — his first ever stint on the DL — with a right thumb injury. “I’ve been waiting a long time for (the call-up),” Gindl said. “I’m actually speechless, and I have no words for it at all. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m just going to grind every day and play hard every day.” Gindl, the Brewers’ 2007 fifth-round pick, is a small (5-foot-9) but powerful outfielder with a high motor. Before his call-up, he was in the middle of his third straight season with the Sounds. In seven years in the Brewers’ organization, Gindl hit 79 home runs and 402 RBIs. “I think maturity is the biggest thing,” Gindl said. “You don’t stress out over going 0-for-20, and once you’ve been through it so many times it’s so much easier to get out of a slump.” The 24-year-old saw his first big-league action at the plate Saturday when he pinch-hit for Yovani Gallardo and struck out against Reds starter Homer Bailey. He had not appeared in a game since then going into Tuesday’s game at Houston. The Sounds replaced Gindl on the roster by activating catcher Dayton Buller from the disabled list. *** Birthday bust: Sounds starting pitcher Mike Fiers seemed to be having a nice birthday Saturday when he entered his fifth start of the season. But after 6 1⁄3 innings that saw him give up only one run, Fiers gave up a grand slam to Zephyrs infielder Donovan Solano. One out later, a line drive hit Fiers on the right forearm, breaking it. Fiers was placed on the disabled list and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. He was replaced by pitcher Frankie De La Cruz, who was called up from Double-A Huntsville. Fiers was 1-2 with a 2.20 ERA in his five starts for the Sounds this season. He was 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in 11 appearances and three starts for the Brewers. *** Long road ahead: After Monday’s game, the Sounds started an eight-day, 10-game road trip that will include two doubleheaders, both against the Iowa Cubs. With so many games in so few days, the Sounds will need to shuffle their pitching staff. “With Fiers being out, obviously, with his broken arm, we’re going to have to jostle things just a tad,” Sounds pitching coach Fred Dabney said about the plan for the pitchers on the long trip. The Sounds have nine pitchers who have started a game this season, and they might need to turn to the bullpen for a spot start during the trip. “Obviously Johnnie Lowe has had some opportunities to start here, so he’s a candidate to help out when we need it,” Dabney said. “(Kyle) Heckathorn is a guy, also, that has started in the past, so if it came down to needing a guy to fill in a spot start, he’s a candidate also. “And, having to fill Fiers’ role, now, will be something that the organization has to discuss.” *** Hats off to Halton: Sounds outfielder Sean Halton had his season-high 12-game hitting streak end Monday with a 0-for-4 performance. Over the 10 games dating to his birthday on June 7, Halton was hitting .514 with three home runs and eight RBIs to go with a .595 on-base percentage and an .886 slugging percentage. “It’s just how the tide goes sometimes,” Halton said. “Sometimes it’s going your way, sometimes it isn’t, and when it’s going your way, you just like to ride it out, which is kind of what I’m trying to do.” Entering Monday’s game, Halton, last year’s Sounds MVP, was second among active Sounds in batting average (.286), slugging percentage (.490), runs scored (30), hits (59), home runs (eight), RBIs (29) and total bases (101), and he leads the team in doubles (16) and OPS (.831). “It’s a constant game of adjustments,” Halton said. “Sometimes you’re working on things and they click for you, and sometimes you have to search a little bit longer. “Luckily (coach) Bob Skube has been a really great help for me and has done a good job of keeping me locked in.”

Clutch-hitting Manatees vying for first-half crown Brevard players 'expect to win,' manager says by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY The Brevard County Manatees are last in the Florida State League in hitting and only five teams have a higher ERA, yet they are vying for the first-half title with one game remaining. How is that possible? This Manatees team finds ways to win. Like Monday night, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning with an infield single, a flare to center and an infield single and error scoring both runs. “They expect to win,” Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault said after Monday’s win. “They are just a bunch of clutch hitters that really expect to win.” Monday night’s walkoff victory was the team’s sixth in their 34 wins this season. The team is hitting just .233 this season and has been outscored by 46 runs in the 64 games this season. Yet they are 36-30 and a half game out of first place in the Florida State League North standings. The recipe has been simple. The starting pitching keeps it close, the bullpen has been one of the best in the league and the team can get the big hit. “A boatload of two-out RBIs in this lineup,” Ayrault said. “They just come through in the clutch. “There is a bunch of different players that you want at the plate with the game on the line and they seem to find a way to get it done.” It is led by T.J. Mittelstaedt, who has provided three of the six walk-off hits. Mittelstaedt is the team’s leadoff hitter and while hitting .211 overall, he is hitting .286 with runners in scoring position. But it is not just Mittelstaedt, catcher Cameron Garfield has 29 RBI this season, 11 of them have come with runners in scoring position and two out. Shortstop Yadiel Rivera is hitting .233 on the season, but with runners on base he is hitting .301. You can go right on down the lineup. Almost every hitter is hitting better with runners on base. It has led to a team that is fighting for a title. “We have had plenty of games like that, for sure,” Manatees slugger Nick Ramirez said. “We just find a way to win.” And late in the game. Of the 34 wins, 15 times they have come from behind in the game. They were down 2-0 Monday night before turning things around late in the game. They are 18-6 in one-run games and the bullpen is 23-1 when the Manatees are leading after six innings. “The team chemistry those guys have, they expect to win,” Ayrault said. “Just a bunch of clutch hitters that know how to win.” And that comes from the core group, who has found success as a team throughout the minor leagues. “These guys, some championship-caliber players out there, a lot of them have won two rings already in the minors and I know last year they came up with some big Ws,” Ayrault said. “They find a way to win.”

Draft picks opening up in Maryvale, confirmed by the Brewers on the Arizona League transactions page 2nd round: Devin Williams - RHP, Hazelwood West HS (Hazelwood. MO) 2nd round (supplemental) - Tucker Neuhaus - SS, Wharton HS (Wharton, FL) 5th round - Josh Uhen - RHP, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 8th round - Brandon Diaz - CF, American Heritage HS (Plantation, FL) 13th round - Tanner Norton - C, Bishop Brossart HS (Alexandria, KY) 18th round - Clint Terry - LHP, Lee University (Cleveland, TN) 23rd round - Eric Williams - CF, Sachse HS (Sachse, TX) 25th round - Drew Ghelfi - RHP, Univ. of Minnesota 28th round - Alex Moore - RHP, Lee University (Cleveland, TN) 31st round - Tanner Poppe - RHP, Univ. of Kansas (Lawrence, KS) 34th round - Dylan Brock - RHP, Glendale Com. Col. (Glendale, AZ)

Big news on the draft front tonight - follow the links to the 515 foot HR

Love it

Looks like the 15th round power man has been signed!

Nashville Local TV with video highlights from Monday's victory, including a nice sliding catch by Sean Halton in right field *** More video from that game: Anderson De La Rosa's three-run HR

Nice All-Star Photo Keepsake

Bob Brainerd's latest is on RHP Preston Gainey, formerly of the Naval Academy

Jeff Hem, Voice of the Sounds, with more -- Footnote to Haudricourt article today: Hellweg scheduled to start Sat. in New Orleans. Nelson goes tonight at Iowa then being skipped a turn.

Chris Mehring wrote this feature for MiLB.com on Matt Erickson at the All-Star Game. Excellent work as always... *** Erickson ready to lead the West in 2013 All-Star Game Approach stays the same for Timber Rattlers manager no matter the game Matt Erickson is ready to manage the West Division in the 2013 All-Star Game. Consider this a job that was fifteen years in the making. The last time the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager had a chance to be in the Midwest League All-Star Game was 1998. He was in his first full season as the third baseman for the Kane County Cougars. Erickson, who would finish third in the league in hitting that season and be named to the MWL Post-Season All-Star team, was left off the West Division squad for the league's Mid-summer classic. "I was snubbed!" Erickson kiddingly exclaimed. "I didn't have a very good first month of the season offensively and then things clicked in that second month and I got on a nice little streak and I think I was leading the league in hitting at the All-Star Break. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go be a part of it. But, I was able to get away from the game for a little bit and came back rejuvenated and came back ready to go for the second half." Erickson is the manager of the Western Division for the 2013 All-Star Game because he guided the Timber Rattlers to the 2012 Championship. It sounds like his philosophy for this game isn't much different from his first two-and-a-half years as the manager of the Timber Rattlers. "I just got done telling our guys in the clubhouse, 'Hey, priority number one is to stay healthy. But, they're playing here in a great atmosphere and it's the best talent in the Midwest League. So, I know that I'm excited." "Priority number two is to have fun," he continued. "Make sure you're smiling and don't take things to seriously. The third thing that I'd like to see with this talented group is once the game starts to have their competitiveness take over because what makes these guys great [is that] not only do they have some ability, they also love to compete and hopefully that shines through with their effort tonight." The starting lineup that Erickson has for this game is impressive. The fact that Dario Pizzano, an outfielder for the Clinton LumberKings who has tormented Timber Rattlers this season, is batting ninth is a testament to the depth of the batting order. "Especially the [guys from the] Cedar Rapids ballclub," Erickson noted. "They have four players in our starting lineup today and I think all four of the guys are in the top five in RBI in the league. Obviously we have some offensive production from the whole Western Division when you look at the numbers they put up. Hopefully we can do that in this game." Lance McCullers (3-4, 2.08 ERA) of the Quad Cities River Bandits was a bit of a surprise as the starting pitcher for the West in this game. Raul Alcantara of Beloit went 7-1 with "He's a guy that's got electric stuff (NOTE: 68 strikeouts in 60-1/3 innings pitched) and he's limited to twenty pitches today, explained Erickson. "I know he's got a unique pregame routine and we decided to go with him and get that out of the way and his teammates will back him up in the first inning if needed." As for how he plans to use the three Timber Rattlers pitchers in this game, Erickson noted that he would probably only use Damien Magnifico. Austin Blaski is a scratch and Ryan Gibbard may only be used in an emergency. "Magnifico is going to come out and pitch the fifth inning," said Erickson. "Blaski was going to back him up in the fifth. Unfortunately, we just got some news that Blaski's is scratched. There's some tenderness in his shoulder and we're going to get that checked out. Obviously we don't want to hurt him in this game. So we're going to keep him out." "Gibbard will be a late inning guy just depending on how the game flows," noted Erickson. "He could use some time off, too. If we blow up a little bit on the backside with the pitching you'll see Gibbard. If not, hopefully we can give him this time off." Erickson is the fourth Timber Rattlers manager to be at the head of a squad at the Midwest League All-Star Game. Mike Goff (1996), Gary Varsho (1997), and Scott Steinman (2005) were the others and all were on the losing side. Erickson will try to turn that piece of history around tonight as he gets on the field for a Midwest League All-Star Game after that disappointment of not making the 1998 team. When asked if he remembers who beat him out for the starting nod for the Western Division in the 1998 All-Star Game at Clinton, Erickson responded, "I have no idea." Matt Erickson pitches batting practice to the West Division All-Stars before Tuesday's All-Star Game in Dayton, Ohio. http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/8/51015478/cuts/June_18_2013_MattErickson_c5w8sqzj_uw5s30e8.jpg

Wow, we were darn close. The only ones we didn't have after all that were 17th round RHP Brandon Moore and 27th round LHP Tyler Alexander, both we knew had signed, and 36th round infielder Jesse Weiss, which is a draft signing update for us. Not bad! 33 players on the roster.

If you click on the photo in this tweet from the Helena Brewers, you'll see their tentative roster.

The Brewers confirm they have assigned 11th round RHP Andy Hillis out of Lee University to the Helena roster as well. We indicated in our transaction thread today that nondrafted free agent OF Nathan Orf out of Baylor is in Helena as well.

It's Helena.

As per the Brewers' Player Development Dept., two more non-drafted free agents have been signed: OF Nathan Orf, 5'9", RH bat, 23 years old, senior out of Baylor. Baylor Site Player Profile Page Orf signed on Wednesday. He's on Twitter, and enjoyed his Brewers-arranged flight (unsure if it was to Maryvale or Helena). Orf started all 55 of Baylor’s games and finished with team highs in batting average (.377), hits (81), doubles (15) and on-base percentage (.470). *** Also announced as an undrafted signee was Scott Harkin of Sonoma State University, previously with Loyola Marymount, a 6'2" senior, turns 22 on August 6th ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA -- Sonoma State University senior Scott Harkin will have an opportunity to extend his baseball-playing career as the Walnut Creek native has signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Harkin becomes the second student-athlete off this year's team to head to the minor leagues, following Harmen Sidhu, who was selected by Tampa Bay in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft last weekend. Harkin is the 85th SSU baseball student-athlete to sign a professional contract since 1986. Primarily a shortstop for the Seawolves in his only season at SSU, Harkin will enter the professional ranks as a right-handed pitcher. He made eight appearances on the mound in 2013, all in relief, and went 2-0 with a save, compiling a 2.25 ERA in a total of eight innings of work. He allowed seven hits, two runs and four walks while striking out 13 of the 35 batters he faced. Offensively, Harkin batted .244 with nine doubles, a triple, three home runs, 22 RBI and 31 runs scored in 56 starts, all at shortstop. On Mar. 9 in a 5-4 win over UC San Diego, Harkin belted a two-run home run in the second inning, then earned the victory on the mound in relief several innings later. Scott Harkin is the second player in school history to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers; former SSU standout Kevin Wong signed a free agent contract with Milwaukee in 1991. Over the last 27 years, players have been signed out of Sonoma State by 21 of the 30 major league franchises. Player Page at Sonoma State *** Kevin Wong did play in the Pioneer League in '91, but not for an affiliated team, apparently.

Hellweg's fine -- Tom Haudricourt asked Gord Ash per our request and here's what he learned

Via Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times: The continuing saga for Huntsville baseball is not so much how the team will be in the second half as it is where the franchise will be next year. Huntsville and Jackson, Tenn., are the cities being reported as most likely to lose a team as Biloxi builds a new stadium and plans to be in the Southern League next season. Tuesday (today, June 18th) was the deadline for groups to file a petition with 1,500 signatures to prevent the Biloxi bond issue from going forward and a number of special interest groups have raised their voices in protest. Stars owner Miles Prentice refused comment on the matter in a recent interview, citing a Southern League gag rule, while Jackson owners have stated their intent to remain there and are seeking to build a hotel and convention center adjacent to their ballpark.

Struggling Huntsville Stars seeking fresh start in Southern League's second half by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times It's just as if he had an Etch-a-Sketch. Darnell Coles entered his office late Monday night and could shake away the ugly facts of the first half and an uninspiring evening. "We're oh-and-oh, starting over," said Coles, the Huntsville Stars' manager, tucking things away in a locker cubicle. Such is the luxury of baseball at this level, where seasons are divided in half and the official arrival of summer provides the promise of a fresh spring. The Stars, who open the second half Wednesday night in Jacksonville, limped home 29-39 in the first half, 14 games behind Birmingham, only a few percentage points higher than Pensacola, with the worst record in the league. The Stars could hide behind the "we're young, we're inexperienced in Double-A" excuse for the first months. "We can't say that any more," Coles said. "We've been here now." Because of the inexperience and the simple lack of the sheer talent some clubs possess, the margin for error has been needle-thin for Huntsville. Coles bemoaned some defensive lapses "that give other teams four or five outs an inning and you can't do that" and mental mistakes. That's what must change in the second half, for the Stars as a team and as individuals. "It's an extremely talented league," Coles said. "Everybody sends their best prospects here. This is the league that shows the promise of future stars. A lot of guys went to the (prospect-heavy Arizona) Fall League. At least three or four have ended up in the big leagues, including guys from our team last year. "It's about player development. When they leave here, they have to have the distinct advantage of how to play from Triple-A and on." The first half had some notable performers with gaudy stats: -- Jimmy Nelson, now at Class AAA Nashville, was 5-4 but had a 2.74 ERA, 13th best among starters. -- Taylor Jungmann won seven games in a span of eight starts. -- Ariel Pena has a 2.26 ERA. -- Kentrail Davis batted .286, sixth-best in a league that had only two regulars finish the half above .300. -- Brock Kjeldgaard has 12 homers, second best in the league, though leads the league with 80 strikeouts. -- Jason Rogers leads the league with 48 RBIs. While some individual numbers have been sparkling, the team numbers are bleak. The Stars are batting .217 as a team in June, in which they've gone 5-10. They are batting .228 with runners on base, .215 with runners in scoring position, .184 with runners in scoring position with two outs. They are hitting 30 points lower on the road than at home. "You've got to execute pitches in certain situations, you've got to catch balls and you've got to move guys over," Coles said, drumming a finger on his desk in emphasis. "There are some good things that have gone on. We've got some guys that are in the top five in a number of categories," he continued. "It's just a matter of putting it all together. It's not from lack of effort. Sometimes it's execution-type things. You keep preaching on it and you work on it. Then you preach on it again and work on it some more." *** Huntsville Stars manager Darnell Coles looks for better second half http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/12009322-mmmain.jpg

The Sounds are playing six games in four days in Iowa starting tonight, and Hellweg isn't scheduled to start any of them (Jimmy Nelson tonight): Wednesday, June 19 at Iowa 5:00 PM LHP Chris Narveson (0-2, 8.31) vs LHP Brooks Raley (5-4, 5.22) at Iowa Game 2 RHP Tyler Thornburg (0-8, 6.29) vs RHP Barrett Loux (4-2, 5.66) Thursday, June 20 at Iowa 7:05 PM RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-6, 7.77)vs RHP Yoanner Negrin (1-2, 3.67) Friday, June 21 at Iowa 5:00 PM RHP R.J. Seidel (1-3, 5.45) vs RHP Guillermo Moscoso (2-5, 4.88) at Iowa Game 2 RHP Johnnie Lowe (0-1, 3.72) vs TBA *** But Hellweg's not on the DL, and in the minors, it's only a 7-day DL. Very odd.

Nice write-up on the Rattlers via "Ron Roenicke Stole My Baseball", from Kane County.

Post-Crescent: Rattlers well represented at All-Star Game By the way, the Post-Crescent has cut way, way back on its original Timber Rattlers coverage in 2013, at least online.

Here's a link to the Tampa - Dunedin box score. Root for Daytona to bump off Clearwater (box), just to be safe in case both Brevard County and Dunedin stumble in these final two games of the first half schedule. But more importantly, go Tampa Yankees! That series with Dunedin shifts to the Tampa complex tonight, so at least there's that. Here's an interesting note. When Tampa visits Dunedin Wednesday, it's an early matinee. The Manatees don't play until evening, so everyone will know what the stakes are (or aren't) heading into Wednesday night's game. Of course, it'd really be big if Hiram Burgos and Brevard take tonight's game...

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division - FINAL 1ST HALF High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division - FINAL 1ST HALF DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris