Jim Goulart

Just a tremendous (and enormous), meticulously captioned photo gallery from Brad -- May 16 Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros) @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers)

At Brevard, RHP Tyler Cravy has been activated from the disabled list after a brief stay. To make room, RHP Seth Harvey, the club's closer (10-for-10 in save situations), has been placed on the 7-day DL. The Brewers have seemingly been rotating Manatee pitchers on and off the 7-day DL in recent days. Perhaps they are simply creatively getting the arms a mini-break during the long grind of the season. Until we hear otherwise, we would expect to see Harvey back soon (he was placed retroactive to 5/16).

Here's the video of Jason Rogers' moonshot two-run 9th inning HR Thursday that proved to be the gamewinner for the Stars -- a dejected Mississippi broadcast call...

Jimmy Nelson and the Stars aiming for a 7:15 start (rain delay).

Biloxi baseball doesn't mean Stars' days numbered, but change is needed By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Slim crowds have become a common sight for Huntsville Stars games at Joe Davis Stadium. (Huntsville Times Photo) http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/breaking/photo/10378840-mmmain.jpg HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Once again, the hint of a new stadium elsewhere and the rush to write the obituary for the Huntsville Stars begins. This time, it is Biloxi, Miss., with the jump-start. The Biloxi City Council this week approved a proposal that could lead to a bond issue to borrow $20 million to construct a baseball stadium. It's still a long journey to a groundbreaking. However, it's a landmark step in a baseball-coming-to-Biloxi movement that's rustled in the weeds for years. Biloxi would seek a Class AA team and Councilman Bill Stallworth told The Biloxi Sun-Herald there was a "fairly good assurance that that would take place." It doesn't take Nancy Drew to deduct the franchise currently operating in Huntsville is a possibility. Ditto Jackson, Tenn. They've been the two most frequently mentioned as those to be uprooted should another city build a ballpark, having run neck-and-neck in the worst attendance race in the Southern League the past half-dozen years. The Stars, going into Friday's night's opener of a five-game home stand, had averaged only 1,718 fans per game, to 1,617 for Jackson. Stars owner Miles Prentice (prior conversation with), who has yet to add his own presence to the Huntsville attendance figure, was unavailable for comment on Friday. I can safely guess what he'd say, based on previous interviews. He'd say that "I get calls all the time from people interested in a team" and that "I don't negotiate in the newspaper." My constant wish is that Prentice would sell the team, either to local people or to someone who'd be a better caretaker of the franchise here. I've always been puzzled that he'd let the Stars' operation deteriorate so badly that it devalued his investment. There isn't the time or space here to go deep into the stadium debate. Invest heavily to update Joe Davis or build a new one downtown? There is merit to both. Joe Davis Stadium is too big and too old and too outdated. I know I have a different perspective, having seen nearly every stadium in this league the last 30 years, but it's far and away the worst. Compare it with, say, the new stadium in Pensacola is like holding my prom picture next to a shot of George Clooney on the cover of Esquire. Perhaps as more people from here see Birmingham's new stadium -- even though $64 million seems a bit obsene for a price tag for a community often in financial despair -- it can be Huntsville's best friend, causing a little envy. Now, this will get the usual emails and posts from the spoil-sports. They are sad folks who, if they don't enjoy something, don't want others to have the chance to enjoy it. They will cry that Huntsville isn't a baseball town. Maybe not. But it does appreciate a diversity of entertainment options. There is a big population and geographical base from which to draw, especially if the team were better marketed. Minor league baseball has obvious merit and interest for other cities comparable to Huntsville. It has drawn well here in the past. There is no reason it can't do so again, with the proper circumstances. It needs a fresh start (September 2011 thoughts). It needs a caring owner and a better approach in doing business. Prentice has done this community a disservice. He's doing a greater one if he's dealing with Biloxi officials while ignoring responsibilities and contractural obligations here. If an obit to the Stars is to be eventually written, apathy -- Prentice's and that of a community that hasn't been effectively encouraged to re-embrace baseball and provided a good environment in which to watch it -- can be noted as the cause of death.

Video highlight plays from Thursday's Nashville game: Scooter Gennett lines an RBI triple in the third inning of the Sounds' 7-2 win over Salt Lake (creative video title) Khris Davis hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning (POWER!)

Weather.com: Salt Lake City Huntsville Dunedin Burlington, IA

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.

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.

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

Follow Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at Salt Lake (Angels), 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 Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page 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 Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:00 PM pre-game, 5:30 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 Burlington (Angels), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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: 32 of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel has seventeen games scheduled and WACY-TV My NEW32 plans to show fifteen games. We'll let you know when, but won't be providing day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check for proper channel and time planning (scroll to the bottom of this link).

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St. Lucie Top of the 6th Dustin Lawley grounds out, third baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Aderlin Rodriguez singles on a line drive to pitcher Brooks Hall. Travis Taijeron singles on a line drive to left fielder Ben McMahan. Aderlin Rodriguez to 2nd. Cam Maron walks. Aderlin Rodriguez to 3rd. Travis Taijeron to 2nd. Rylan Sandoval singles on a line drive to center fielder Chadwin Stang. Aderlin Rodriguez scores. Travis Taijeron scores. Cam Maron to 2nd. Pitching Change: Stephen Peterson replaces Brooks Hall. Charley Thurber pops out to shortstop Yadiel Rivera on the infield fly rule. Gilbert Gomez pops out to first baseman Nick Ramirez in foul territory. (Strands two) I know Peterson's 25, was an undrafted signee, but that'll happen when you have Tommy John and lose a year on a Division I transfer. But he's always been effective, he's probably being under-utilized; he's a potential LOOGY (or more), and could be snuck into the sleeper thread, as admittedly he's way under the radar with most. Doesn't hurt he's a Massachusetts guy

Tennessean: Getting to know Stephen Parker

Looking for a playoff-caliber atmosphere in the Brewers chain this time of year? Big, big series at Dunedin starts tonight. Florida State League Standings Go you Sea Cows!

Mittelstaedt delivers walk-off winner for Manatees Syndergaard hits 97 mph for Mets by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY VIERA — T.J. Mittelstaedt got to fulfill every Little League player’s dream Thursday night. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, score tied 2-2, Mittelstaedt took a 3-1 pitch from reliever T.J. Chism and drilled it over the right fielder’s head, scoring Yadiel Rivera and sending the Manatees to a 3-2 walk-off win against the St. Lucie Mets. “It was a huge at-bat for him,” Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said after the victory that gave the Manatees the series. “Coming down from AA he has some things he is working on. For him to get that kind of hit is huge. It is huge for a hitter to get back on the right track and get hot. I am sure this will get him going.” Overall it was a rough night for hitters as the Manatees’ Brooks Hall and the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard traded zeroes for the first five innings. But Aderlin Rodriguez changed the game in an instant in the sixth when he hit a pitch right back at Hall, striking him in his left shin. “He took a shot but, thankfully, it was a broken bat,” Ayrault said. “He wanted to be out there, said it didn’t affect him at all throwing.” But he was not the same after that, even though he had induced 10 groundball outs. And St. Lucie took advantage of it. He gave up a single to Travis Taijeron, walked Cam Maron and the bases were loaded with one out. Rylan Sandoval made him pay, driving in two with a single and that was the end of Hall’s night. Stephen Peterson came in and shut the door. Syndergaard, who was part of the R.A. Dickey deal in the offseason, was nearly unhittable, striking out 10 Manatees in 6 2⁄3 innings, reaching 97 mph on his fastball. But they found a way to rally after seeing their starter leave. Mittelstaedt hit an infield single to start the sixth. Greg Hopkins followed with a single and after Syndergaard got an out, Cameron Garfield ripped a triple down the left field line to tie it. “We had a few opportunities early and he really dialed up his pitches,” Ayrault said. “He (Garfield) has been clutch for us this year and it was huge to come up in that situation and come through.” The Manatees visit the first-place Blue Jays beginning tonight.

"Hellweg did a good job," Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson said. "He got himself behind in the count sometimes, but he made pitches when he had to. He had his good fastball working for him when he needed it, going down in the zone."

Rogers Homer Leads Stars to Win, Series Victory By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars Trailing by one and down to their final two outs in the ninth inning, a two-run homer from first baseman Jason Rogers led the Huntsville Stars to a 5-4 win over the Mississippi Braves on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. After the M-Braves and Stars each traded runs in the first inning, the Stars took back the lead in the fifth inning off of Mississippi starter Aaron Northcraft. With the bases loaded and one out, an RBI infield single from Brock Kjeldgaard put the Stars back up by one. The next at-bat, Northcraft threw a wild pitch that allowed Stars shortstop Ozzie Chavez to score from third to make the score 3-1. Following a strong outing from Stars starting pitcher Arcenio Leon where he gave up just one run over five innings, the Stars bullpen kept the lead intact up to the seventh inning. With reliever Alan Williams in the ballgame, M-Braves outfielder Mycal Jones began the frame with a leadoff walk. One batter later, outfielder Jose Martinez crushed a two-run homer well over the left-field wall to tie up the game at three. Mississippi continued that momentum into the eighth inning. Against Huntsville reliever Greg Holle, third baseman Edward Salcedo hit a leadoff single. Then, after stealing second and third on consecutive pitches, Salcedo scored on a wild pitch from Holle to give the M-Braves their first lead of the game. Fortunately for the Stars, their bats would provide some rare heroics on this evening. After Chavez drew a one-out walk against M-Braves closer Pat Egan, Rogers hit his sixth homer of the year just over the outstretched arms of Mississippi left fielder Kyle Russell to put the Stars back up 5-4. In the bottom half of the frame, Huntsville righty Casey Medlen stranded a runner on first to shut the door and give the Stars their first series victory since their opening five-game set of the 2013 season against the Chattanooga Lookouts. For Medlen, the save was his sixth of the season and third converted save opportunity in a row. Holle improved to 2-1 on the season with the victory in relief. Aside from Rogers, the Stars were led on offense by catcher Shawn Zarraga with three hits. The Stars will look to continue their winning momentum on Friday as they welcome the Montgomery Biscuits to Joe Davis Stadium for a five-game series. Huntsville will send RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-2, 2.36 ERA) to the bump. He will face off against Mongtomery RHP Jacob Thompson (1-2, 6.41 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

Audio-fest: Brevard County -- Game highlights Pre-game interview with 1B Nick Ramirez *** Huntsville -- Rene Tosoni sacrifice fly for an early lead Jason Rogers go-ahead 9th inning two-run HR Pre-game interview with Stars Pitching Coach Chris Hook (VIDEO) Andy Moye slider for the strikeout (Wednesday's game) *** Nashville -- The Sounds game story has been updated to include five audio highlights.

Bay Bears safely entrenched in Mobile as Biloxi explores potential Southern League suitor for new baseball stadium by John Sharp, al.com MOBILE, Alabama – An existing Southern League team will likely move into Biloxi's new minor league baseball stadium, though the Bay Bears are safe in Mobile. The Bay Bears have an existing lease with Hank Aaron Stadium that runs until 2022. According to team and city officials, there are no interests in relocating the franchise. "Mobile is our home," Bill Shanahan, president/COO of the Bay Bears said. "The Bay Bears are in Hank Aaron Stadium for many years to come." But Biloxi City Councilman Bill Stallworth, in whose ward the new Biloxi stadium will sit, said the city has been informed that "there is a team somewhere in the league willing to relocate." The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday approved with a 5-2 vote, a resolution to purchase $21 million of general obligation bonds to help build a $35 million, 7,000-seat ball park near the Beau Rivage Casino & Resort. "If we are getting the stadium built, they will do it," Stallworth said, declining to name the franchise. "We don't know who. We try not to find out. It's a very touchy issue with the league." Lori Webb, president of the 10-team Southern League headquartered in Marietta, Ga., said no teams have applied for relocation at this time. She declined further comment. Steve Densa, spokesman with Minor League Baseball, also declined comment, but admitted that the league's offices were aware of issue in Biloxi through news accounts. "Any relocation would have to be approved by that club's league office before it made it to our offices," Densa said. Two of the more likely franchises for relocation include those playing in the league's oldest ball parks, aside from Mobile – Hunstville and Jackson, Tenn. Babs Rogers, assistant general manager with the Stars, said "we haven't heard anything" and referred all further questions to the Southern League's offices. The Huntsville Stars play their home games at the 28-year-old Joe W. Davis Stadium, the oldest in the Southern League. In Jackson, the team plays in The Ballpark at Jackson, which opened in 1998. Hank Aaron Stadium opened in 1997. The Jackson franchise was almost sold in 2006 under a deal brokered at the time by Tim Bennett, owner of the Mississippi-based Overtime Sports. The proposed sale fell through in November 2006, after specific deadlines needed for approval were not met. Bennett is part of the team working on the Biloxi stadium project. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. In Huntsville, no known plans are in the works for a new stadium despite newer offerings built in Montgomery and Birmingham. Scott Martens, Player Development and Minor League Operations Manager with the Milwaukee Brewers, said he's not familiar with the situation in Biloxi. The Brewers, the parent club of the Double A Stars, have a player development contract in place with the Huntsville club through the end of the 2014 season. "If a Minor League club were to relocate under that development contract, the Major League team would have to give that approval," Martens said. "However ... there is a lot of stuff that would have to happen before it gets to the Major League club. If there is something that is going on, I am not aware of it." Concerns about the future of baseball in Huntsville were heightened in 2011, when Pat O'Conner, president of Minor League Baseball, said he has "real concerns" about the long-term future of baseball in Huntsville. Martens said a concern continues to be the age of Joe Davis Stadium. "It's a stadium that should have been replaced 10 years ago," he said. "Over time, it's falling apart."

Full article -- If there's not enough opposition, the bond could be issued anytime without an election for up to two years. Stallworth also said that while no team has been named to play in the stadium, the city is confident a Double A team in the same league as Mobile and Pensacola can be brought in. The city has "fairly good assurance that that would take place," he said. *** Hmmmm.....

Stars' Brock Kjeldgaard welcoming a healthy season after 'freak' injuries of 2012 by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- He's in one piece still. In that, there is something of a moral victory. You'd have forgiven Brock Kjeldgaard if he felt the urge to spend the off-season swaddled in bubblewrap. The Huntsville Stars' outfielder is not only healthy, he is, alas, one of the few healthy pieces of the offense, leading the team in homers and standing second in RBIs. Consider it making up for lost time. Alas, much of Stars' offense isn't following that lead. The Stars, who open a five-game home stand Friday night with the Montgomery Biscuits, continue to lag in the Southern League West; at 5-15 at Joe Davis Stadium, they have the worst home record in the league. Before the Thursday night game at Mississippi, Kjeldgaard, a 6-foot-5, 27-year-old from Canada, is leading the team with six homers, tied for second with 17 RBIs and batting .257; alas, that's the fourth-best average among every-day players. "He has hit some balls hard in gale-force winds here when the wind was blowing in 200 miles an hour," manager Darnell Coles said, leaning only slightly on hyperbole. "He's got a chance to be a force in the middle of a lineup, in ours or moving forward. It's just a matter of making adjustments as to how you're being pitched from bat-to-bat or from series-to-series. He's doing that slowly but surely. His numbers aren't reflective of the adjustments he's made that have made him a better hitter." Kjeldgaard spent two months on the disabled list last season with a broken thumb, injured when he was sliding to break up a double play. He went to the Arizona Fall League, which showcases and develops some top prospects, and after hitting four homers in seven games, he broke his left foot when it was hit by a foul tip. Coles noted the parallel in the career of Josh Prince, the Stars' centerfielder last year. He had troublesome injuries that spoiled his 2011 season. Prince was one of the Brewers' first promotions from the minors to the majors this season. "Last year," Kjeldgaard said, "was a freak thing. First the finger, then the foot. They're things I can't really do anything about. I've been lucky in my career. Those are the two injuries I've had. Unfortunately they happened in the same year." The injuries were a speed bump in his evolution as a hitter. He was drafted as a pitcher by Milwaukee in 2005, out of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. He once described his two years as a pro pitcher as "mediocre" and was initially disappointed when the Brewers asked him to convert to a position player, originally as a first baseman, then outfielder. Kjeldgaard grew up playing hockey and baseball, and even quit baseball briefly in high school, only to return "because I got pretty bored after school." He and Stars outfielder Rene Tosoni have been following the Stanley Cup playoffs as closely as a financial advisor follows Wall Street. It wasn't just boredom that got Kjeldgaard pumped up about baseball. He was swept up in the excitement of the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series title in 1993 with the famed Joe Carter walk-off homer. It was a milestone for the sport in Canada, perhaps the greatest catalyst for the growing baseball culture in which Kjeldgaard blossomed and continues to thrive. Canada is producing a number of pro baseball players, including some stars like Justin Morneau and Joey Votto; there are currently 16 Canadians in the majors, the fourth-most from any country. He spent his off-season working -- and working out -- at Centrefield Sports in London, Ontario, an indoor facility run by former Star Adam Stern. He gave lessons to youngsters, ranging from four years up through college. "The biggest difference for the kids now, with the indoor facility, you can play baseball all year. You can have full infield practice in our facility. It's pretty cool to see," Kjeldgaard said. "When I grew up, we didn't do anything until January and then you'd just go in the high school gym and throw the ball for an hour and you leave." Which, come to think of it, wasn't much more than Kjeldgaard was able to do this past January after the foot surgery. He was able to throw and take his hacks in a batting cage, though he couldn't run or do extensive weight training with his legs. "You just roll with it," he said. "It's part of the game. The most frustrating thing was not being able to play when everybody else is playing. You start to appreciate it more when you're healthy." Huntsville Times Photo / Eric Schultz http://media.al.com/sports_impact/photo/9779451-large.jpg

Another Southern city expresses a serious interest in a new ballpark. Pensacola sure was successful in their efforts. Have to wonder if Stars owner Miles Prentice is keeping an eye on this. Much respect for our Huntsville friends who work so hard with what they have, but how long can Joe Davis Stadium hang on? Of course, this doesn't mean the Stars will be Biloxi-bound, and even if they were, would they still be a Brewers affiliate if so? *** Biloxi intends to borrow $21 million for new baseball stadium By April M. Havens, GulfLive.com BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Biloxi City Council voted 5-2 today to announce its intent to borrow $21 million to be used toward building a baseball stadium. "We haven't spent a dime with what we voted for today," Councilman Clark Griffith said. "There's a process that you have to go through, and you have to first show the intent to borrow the money." Griffith said the resolution was passed to set an obtainable timeline in motion. "We need to build it in a timely manner to make it profitable, so we needed to go on and do this," he said. "You don't decide to build a football stadium and then have it set to open in January." The next step, Griffith said, is to hold a series of public meetings to get input on the idea. Ball teams "have been a tremendous success in some cities, but not in every city," he said. "I don't have all the questions answered, but I know enough that I'm convinced there's 4 or 5 things that are very favorable for us to do this," Griffith added. "The least of which is that the state is on board and the economic engines of the city are on board." Griffith said the stadium could bring in tourists from all over. "Then, from there, they walk into our restaurants and casinos," he said. The city has not officially announced specific details on the sports venue, but individual councilmen have said it will be a minor league baseball stadium that will be built downtown.

Rattler Radio Blog: RHP Taylor Mangum (family matter in Utah) has been placed on the temporarily inactive list at Wisconsin. RHP Martin Viramontes has been reinstated from the DL at Wisconsin and will be active for the Timber Rattlers today.