Jim Goulart

Through the season's first 11 games, Brevard County shortstop Yadiel Rivera had a clean error-free defensive sheet for the season and had recorded the most assists of any Major or Minor League player. In the 12 games since, Rivera has committed ten errors.

Link includes a video interview w/Haniger Healthy Mitch Haniger starting to show off his tools for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Rattlers outfielder has three hits in defeat by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media GRAND CHUTE — When he relaunched his promising professional baseball career last fall following a season-ending knee injury, Mitch Haniger had a tough time playing the game without thinking of the knee. That’s no longer a problem and a healthy Haniger is heating up like Wisconsin’s spring temperatures. Haniger went three-for-four at the plate Sunday in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ 6-3 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks and has collected five hits in his last eight at-bats to raise his season batting average to .309. The prized, multiple-tool outfield prospect leads the Timber Rattlers with 12 RBI and is tied for the team lead in home runs (2) and second in slugging percentage (.466). The 22-year-old Haniger can run and has three stolen bases, while showing defensive skills and a strong arm in right field. “He’s a solid ballplayer and kind of a three-dimensional guy because he can do more than just hit,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He made a diving catch the other day and he’s made some decent plays in the outfield. He also scored from first on a single and an error Saturday, so he’s shown some speed, too.” Ultimately, though, Haniger’s bat is what may get him to Miller Park. He was the last of three first-round picks (No. 38 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 draft behind current teammates Clint Coulter (No. 27) and Victor Roache (No. 28). The Brewers started Haniger with the Timber Rattlers last summer, but he played just 14 games before suffering a partial tear of his posterior cruciate ligament on a slide to home plate. The Milwaukee organization shut him down the rest of the minor league season before Haniger reported back to work in the fall for instructional league play in Arizona. “During instructional league play, yeah, I’d think about the knee,” admitted Haniger. “But once I started to train in the offseason and began lifting weights to get stronger, I stopped thinking about it. It doesn’t even enter my mind anymore. I’m just trying to focus on the next day and not worry about what happened in the past. I knew I’d get back to full strength. It was just a matter of time and I felt ready to go this year.” The right-handed-hitting Haniger can drive the ball out of the park, but makes good contact at the plate and has struck out just seven times in his first 68 at-bats. During his recent hot streak, he has been content finding holes with singles. “I’m just trying to keep it simple,” said Haniger. “The power numbers will come. Right now, I’m just trying to square the ball up and hit the ball hard.” Haniger is part of a talented group of highly rated Milwaukee draft picks on the Timber Rattlers roster. Roache is rated by Baseball America as the Brewers’ seventh-best prospect, while Coulter (No. 8), Haniger (No. 10), outfielder Tyrone Taylor (No. 15) and shortstop Orlando Arcia (No. 17) are also ranked among Milwaukee’s top 20 prospects. And fans are stopping by Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium to check out these prospects. The Timber Rattlers had strong attendance numbers of 3,644 and 4,934 in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday “I think it brings out a lot of fans,” said Haniger. “It’s fun playing with a couple other guys that were in your draft class. This team is going to be really good.” Taylor, a second-round selection in the 2012 draft, and Coulter also made offensive contributions Sunday. Taylor smacked a leadoff home run in the opening inning, while Coulter delivered a game-tying single in the bottom of the eighth. It was Taylor’s second homer of the season. “He’s an interesting player,” said Erickson. “Hitting home runs isn’t really his game. He’s going to try and work counts and get on base and hit the ball to all fields. But every once in awhile, he’ll jump a first pitch and show power to the pull side.”

We have since been informed that the "elbow" indication, still on the MiLB page as of this morning, is inaccurate. That's a good thing.

Nice mini-chat with Daniel (career stats, 25-year-old 49th round pick in 2008, nice productive five years in the system thus far), he was kind enough to let me share with you folks. He's not hurt. With about a week remaining in camp, the Brewers moved him to full time sidearm. They need him to be a specialty guy, and he's working on things down in extended spring training. Meadows, who received a big league camp spring training invite in 2012, is viewing it as a positive switch (as should we), and a good/quick way to get to the big leagues. Current big-league LOOGY's who were Brewers farmhands but never pitched for the big league club include Craig Breslow (released), Joe Thatcher (Linebrink deal), and Lucas Luetge (Rule 5 loss). Also on a 40-man roster is the Twins' Caleb Thielbar, unceremoniously released after just two seasons in the system. Outside of Mitch Stetter, it's been a dry spell of producing and keeping the organization's own lefty specialists. Here's wishing Daniel well. Latest: Meadows with a positive tweet -- "Excited to start this new chapter in my career. Headed to Florida #Brevard #sidearm #heatersandhammers" The Manatees will need to make a corresponding move to free up a spot when Meadows is activated.

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — “Scooter (Gennett) Speaks” Today’s interview is with Sounds second baseman Scooter Gennett, who discusses the Sounds’ “balk-off” win on Friday, his hot start to the season, batting lead-off or second compared to third (where he was last year at Huntsville), what he’s most proud of so far in his pro career and his expectations for Triple-A going in to the season.

Via the Stars: Today's game has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions. We will kick off a double header tomorrow at 4:43.

DVR Alert -- One Day's Notice... Monday evening's Timber Rattlers game (Ryan Gibbard on the mound) will be on My New TV 32 (Green bay / Appleton) with a 30-minute pre-game show beginning at 6:00 PM.

Weather.com: Nashville Huntsville Bradenton Grand Chute (Appleton)

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

NOTES: Will try and update you if we hear otherwise, this Manatee road trip beginning today appears to be the first stretch without the Manatees' broadcast team. Notice the prior post indicates you can listen in via the Bradenton feed for this upcoming series. The Manatees have posted their tentative broadcast schedule here. *** After 16 solid pro relief appearances, 22-year-old 2012 21st round RHP Austin Blaski (stats) makes his first pro start (tweet) on Sunday. There's always inspiration to be found. Just look at the Brewers mound opponent yesterday, RHP Matt Magill was a 31st round pick in 2008. Magill, however, was a high school pick. Darn, that's impressive, you normally don't see many high school signees in rounds that late, never mind ones that go on to success. For instance, the Brewers still have 20-year-old RHP Michael Schaub, another California high schooler, in the system (38th round, 2010).

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers and LHP Zach Kroenke in a doubleheader at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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), 3:48 PM pre-game, 4:03 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: RHP David Goforth at Bradenton (Pirates), 4:00 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton feed from the MiLB main audio page ********** Wisconsin: RHP Austin Blaski at home vs. South Bend (Diamondbacks), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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: 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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Cody Scarpetta continues long road back with Milwaukee Brewers By Matt Trowbridge, Rockford Register Star His two fellow 2007 high school baseball stars are off to slow starts, but at least outfielder Jake Smolinski (Boylan) and Seth Blair (Rock Falls) are playing in Class AA for the Marlins and Cardinals. Cody Scarpetta is just trying to get healthy again. The former Guilford right-hander made it to the majors for a day with the Milwaukee Brewers two years ago. But he missed all of last year after having Tommy John surgery on his right arm last May and is now recuperating at extended spring training in Arizona. “I’m getting closer to being healthy,” Scarpetta said in a phone interview. “I’m up to two innings right now. I’m supposed to do three innings pretty soon. I’m trying to progress, but it’s a long — a very long — process.” Especially when he was asked to start all over right when he was so close to the finish line. Smolinski (a second-round draft pick who led Boylan to the state tournament as a junior) and Blair (a first-team All-American at Arizona State) were bigger high school stars. So was his dad; Dan Scarpetta had the most dominant pitching season in NIC-10 history as a senior at Auburn and made it as high as Class AAA. But Cody Scarpetta was making the best run of the four toward the Majors. The big right-hander with the big curveball was ranked as high as the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect. Now he’s no longer in the top 20. “It’s frustrating,” Scarpetta said. “The immediate reaction is, ‘I was really close.’ But once it sets in it’s, ‘If I want to have that chance again, this is what it’s going to take.’ I have accepted that fact. I’m ready to do it.” Scarpetta, who had been on the Brewers’ 40-man roster, was dropped from the 40-man last fall after not pitching all year. He remains in the Brewers minor league system. “I have to work even harder, especially after being taken off the roster, to climb the ladder once again,” he said. “It’s about what you do now. I haven’t pitched in a game in awhile. It’s going to take some proving to show I can get back to where I was. But if I do get back to where I was, I will be right where I left off. Scarpetta doesn’t know when — or where — he will return to the minors. It depends on how much he can throw and how well. He said he has to prove he can throw 45 pitches before he’s activated. “After you get to that, it increases to 60 or 65 pitches, and that will take you to the end of the season. Then shut it down,” he said. He started throwing again in October. “Luckily, I’ve had no setbacks,” Scarpetta said. “From what I understand, it’s going pretty good. As long as I keep progressing, that’s all I can ask for. “My velocity is down a bit, but I’m comortable where it is. Trainers, coaches, everyone is pretty happy. Now I just have to keep throwing and let the arm get used to what’s happening.” One of Rockford’s most promising baseball careers has been interrupted. But not ended. “My focus,” Scarpetta said, “is trying to get back to normal.” *** NOTE: At this point, Scarpetta is a rare phantom major leaguer, in a big league bullpen for a day, but never in a game, so he's not in the Baseball Encyclopedia, among other notations. The same thing happened to former Brewers indy league signee Tim Bausher, although his Moonlight Graham moment came with Boston later on. At least Cody has a chance to become official down the road. - MH

Stars Shutout By M-Braves, Lose 14-0 By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars En route to being shut out for their third time this season, the Huntsville Stars took their worst defeat in 2013 with a 14-0 loss at the hands of the Mississippi Braves on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. After a scoreless first inning, Stars starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann ran into his initial trouble in the top half of the second inning. Jungmann allowed the first seven batters of the frame to reach base in some capacity, ultimately giving up six runs in the inning. The scoring was headlined by a three-run homer from first basemen Barrett Kleinknecht, a two-run double from center fielder Mycal Jones and an RBI groundout from fellow pitcher Alex Wood. Two more runs given up in the third inning wound up chasing Jungmann from the game. The Brewers 2nd ranked prospect only lasted 2.2 innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on five hits while striking out four batters to fall to 1-4 on the season. The loss for Jungmann was his fourth in as many starts. On the other side of the spectrum, Wood lived up to the hype as the 7th ranked prospect in the Braves organization on the hill against the Stars. The 22-year-old southpaw shut out the Stars through five innings, giving up just five hits while striking out six batters to earn his first Double-A win. The former Georgia product improved his SL-leading ERA to 0.67 while increasing his scoreless innings streak to 17.1. Once Wood excited the game after the fifth inning, M-Braves relievers Erik Hamren (3.0 IP, 1 H,1 K, 1 BB) and Chasen Shreve (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 BB) blanked the Stars for the final four innings of the game to finish off the shutout. The M-Braves churned out the rest of their 14 runs against Stars relievers Mark Williams and Santo Manzanillo. For Mississippi, third baseman Edward Salcedo and right fielder Christian Marrero each added solo homers. The M-Braves also got two hits apiece from shortstop Jaime Pedroza and catcher Shawn McGill. On the bright side, the Stars got 1.1 innings of scoreless relief from lefty Brian Garman. For Huntsville, the loss was their second straight. Overall on the series, the Stars pitching staff has now given up 30 runs over the first three games against the M-Braves. The Stars and M-Braves will play game four of their five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium on Sunday. Huntsville will send RHP Andy Moye (1-1, 4.34 ERA) to the bump to square off against Mississippi RHP Gus Schlosser (1-1, 6.06 ERA). First pitch is at 4:03 PM.

From Bluebird Banter -- a detailed analysis of Ricky Romero's night; appears as Manatees will get another crack at him in Dunedin next week.

MiLB.com has released video of the Nashville Friday night "balk-off". I don't see it, that needs to be blatant in that situation. And poor Jeff Hem, a real pro's pro, that's a tough spot for any announcer to give the proper call, we went to post-game commercial still not knowing quite what had happened.

You'll need to make sure "mms" files are associated with a program to play them in. Perhaps this link will help, although you may have to google search your own specific situation.

Sounds rained out, Fiers and Kroenke go in a doubleheader Sunday starting at 2:05.

Actually, here is what is posted on MiLB.com's FSL transactions page: Brevard County Manatees placed RHP Jacob Barnes on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 24, 2013. elbow injury That's a bit disconcerting...

Weather.com: Nashville Huntsville Viera (Melbourne) Grand Chute (Appleton) Could be soggy for the Sounds and Stars...

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.