Jim Goulart

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.

It's always tough when a McMahan gets hurt just before Wrestlemania. Get well, Ben...

Tonight's starter -- Sounds pitcher maintains 2012 momentum with strong showing at WBC By Jerome Boettcher, Nashville City Paper Hiram Burgos hasn’t pitched in a Major League Baseball game. He has, however, already faced a big league lineup. Pitching for his native Puerto Rico, Burgos entered the second inning of the championship game of the World Baseball Classic last month. The 25-year-old glared at home plate and found a modern day murderers’ row staring back at him – Jose Reyes, Erick Aybar, Robinson Cano, Edwin Encarnacion, Hanley Ramirez, Nelson Cruz and Carlos Santana. “That was the biggest stage I have been through,” Burgos said. “Facing the Dominican Republic, I bet you that is a better lineup than any team right now in the big leagues. You can’t pitch around any guys. You got Robinson Cano, Encarnacion, Aybar, Nelson Cruz. You have to go at it and get people out. No matter how you do it, just get people out.” And for the most part, that’s exactly what Burgos did. A successful run in the WBC, coupled with a strong 2012 season has the right-hander feeling good about his future as the Nashville Sounds open their season on Thursday against New Orleans at Greer Stadium. Burgos is expected to start on Friday. He was named the top pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization last year and received the Robin Yount Performance Award. Spending time with three different affiliates, Burgos ranked third in the minor leagues with a 1.95 ERA in 28 games. The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder went 10-4 and fired 153 strikeouts in 171 innings. “He can command all his pitches in the strike zone and has the ability to work quick and put hitters away,” Sounds manager Mike Guerrero said. His confidence increased after three outings in the WBC. In relief appearances against Spain, Italy and the Dominican Republic, Burgos allowed just one run, scattered 12 hits and struck out 12 in 13 innings. The lone run came in 4.2 innings against the Dominican Republic, which won 3-0 to capture the championship. In addition to facing some of the best competition in the world, he learned from some of the biggest names. Behind the plate at catcher was five-time Gold Glove winner Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals. Burgos also heeded advice from Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Nelson Figueroa and former big-league starter Javier Vazquez. “When you are younger you see all the stars and playing for your country is always an honor,” Burgos said. “It was a great, great experience for me. It was an honor to pitch in the WBC. I think that prepared me a lot for this upcoming season.” Burgos enters his fifth season after being drafted by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2009 draft. He has gradually moved up the minor leagues but made huge leaps last year. He started last season in Advanced-A Brevard County, went 6-1 in 13 starts at Double-A Huntsville and spent the last eight games in Triple-A Nashville after moving up in late July. Though he says he lacks an over-powering fastball, Burgos relies on mix pitches, including a changeup Baseball America called the best in the Brewers’ system. “I was confident in it,” Burgos said. “I have thrown it more often and I use it on both sides of the plate. So the changeup has been very good and the same thing with other pitches. You have to command your fastball first so your changeup works better for you as a pitcher. If you get people out you’re going to stay in this game for a long time.” If a lengthy career is in Burgos’ future he hopes that includes a trip – and possibly an extended stay – in the big leagues. Now that he has gotten a taste for the talent level, Burgos is eager to fulfill another lifelong dream. “It is something as a player you kind of feel you can play on the big league level right now,” Burgos said. “I’m ready for it. I just need to get my opportunity and get my chance to make my debut in the big leagues. I feel very confident right now.”

Via Ron Johnson of the Peoria Star -- Chris McFarland http://i2.wp.com/blogs.pjstar.com/eye/files/2013/04/040413Chiefs_Rattlers1104.jpg?resize=900%2C646

'Versatile' Huntsville Stars open Southern League season at Chattanooga tonight Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Darnell Coles can't tell you the Huntsville Stars' regular starting lineup. Like Lady Gaga and the weather, it'll have a different look every day. Coles opens his second season as Stars' manager tonight as his team plays at Chattanooga (where Coles played in Double-A ball three decades ago) at 6:15 CDT. It's the first of a five-game series before the Stars return to Huntsville and open their home schedule April 10. "It's interchangeable," Coles said, noting that half of his everyday players are so versatile that "we have multiple things going on." To wit: T.J. Mittelstaedt can play first, second, third and the outfield. Shea Vucinich can play short, second or third. Mike Walker can play third and first. Jason Rogers can play first and left field. Nick Shaw plays second and short. Ozzie Chavez plays second and short. The versatility helps in building a balanced lineup that might otherwise lean a little too much to one side. Two of the three players officially listed as outfielders bat lefthanded, as does Walker, the best hitter at Class A Brevard County last year. They're also awaiting the arrival of Hector Gomez, who was ticketed to be the everyday shortstop but suffered a pulled oblique muscle and is rehabbing in extended spring training in Arizona. His presence might settle some of the shifting around. It's not a team blessed with great power, "but we've got some speed ... and guys who hit for average. We're going to put a little more emphasis on hitting and running," Coles said. However, "Pitching-wise, we should be strong," Coles said. The Stars will go with the rotation of Jimmy Nelson, Taylor Jungmann, Ariel Pena, Andy Moye and Arcenio Leon; Nelson, Pena and Leon have Class AA experience. Casey Medlen -- no relation to the Braves' Kris Medlen -- and Alan Williams are the strongest candidates for a closer role, though finding the night-in, night-out guy isn't a priority. "It'll be like last year when we had six different guys with five or more saves," said pitching coach Chris Hook. "The big key for us is developing multi-inning relievers so when they go to the big leagues they can do that." The Stars have had two busy days after their arrival from spring training, with a 4-1 exhibition win over Alabama A&M Tuesday (the Stars provided the pitching for both teams), then a media day session on Wednesday. That was followed by a series of several meetings typical to preseason, including one with a police officer, a banker who offered assistance in establishing local accounts and Coles reviewing various policies from Minor League Baseball and the Brewers on gambling, alcohol, social media and other team rules.

Tennessean Photo Gallery -- Looking good in their Thursday Throwbacks!

NEW FEATURE! Weather.com: Nashville Chattanooga Melbourne (Brevard County) Peoria

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. Once we're aware of the new online location for Huntsville's Media Notes this season, we'll let you know. New this season: Brevard County has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day (we'll post when available), we've asked for a consistent posted link like Nashville uses, we'll see...

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 Hiram Burgos at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page 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 Chattanooga (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:15 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 Drew Gagnon at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Brevard County feed from the MiLB main audio page 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 road games in Daytona and St. Lucie, are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed, we'll let you know that. NOTE: Dave indicates that he hopes to include a pre-game interview prior to each game; it's a 30-minute pre-game! We'll fill you in if Brevard masters archiving a la Nashville and/or Helena. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Damien Magnifico at Peoria (Cardinals), 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).

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

From Nick Cole of the Tennessean: Brewers prospect Hunter Morris arrived in Nashville with high expectations, and he was quick to deliver for the Sounds on opening night. The 2012 Southern League MVP drove in four runs in his Sounds debut as Nashville defeated New Orleans 5-4 in front of 1,901 fans on a rain-soaked Thursday night at Greer Stadium. “It was exciting to come out here, you know, Opening Day is just a feeling that you don’t really get throughout the year,” Morris said. “But this is the first Opening Day that I have had to endure the cold and the rain and all of that stuff.” If the weather bothered the Huntsville, Ala., native, he sure didn’t let it impact his production. Morris finished the night 2-for-4, highlighted by a two-run RBI double and a towering two-run home run to right to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth. “I felt good at the plate,” he said. “It really couldn’t have gone much better. I’m obviously glad that I could contribute and drive in some really important runs to help us win the ball game, (but) had it not been me getting it done it would have been someone else.” Sounds pitcher Tyler Thornburg started the season on a high note, striking out the first four batters he faced in the first inning after a wild pitch on a third strike to Zephyrs leadoff man Kevin Mattison caused him to require an extra out. On Thornburg’s start, Morris said: “When you talk about the way to start a season, you know, your first inning pitching in a real game and all that stuff — striking out four guys in one inning is… is…I want go back and see when the last time that happened was.” *** Video report including Hunter Morris post-game interview at the same link

Position players who didn't see action Opening Night: Nashville - IF Hainley Statia, C Anderson De La Rosa Brevard - OF Ben McMahan, C Rafael Neda, IF Adrian Williams Wisconsin - SS Alfredo Rodriguez, C Brent Dean Hopefully we don't see McMahan idle too often. Until Victor Roache arrives, it's the Taylor - Reed - Haniger show, they're the only outfielders on the roster.

Morris plates four in Triple-A debut Brewers top hitting prospect homers, doubles in Sounds win By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com Brewers prospects Hunter Morris and Tyler Thornburg spent two months together last year with Double-A Huntsville. Morris went on to lead the Southern League with 28 homers and 113 RBIs, while Thornburg went 8-1 in 13 starts before advancing to Triple-A and, ultimately, the Majors. Together again to start 2013, the duo is looking to wreak havoc on the Pacific Coast League. Morris homered, doubled and drove in four runs and Thornburg recorded seven strikeouts over five innings Thursday as the Nashville Sounds opened the PCL season by edging the New Orleans Zephyrs, 5-4. "To start the year out and be able to collect some big hits and drive in a couple runs and help the team get the win, it was good," Morris said. "I knew that if I didn't get it done, someone else would. "Tyler did a great job going out there and setting the tone. That first inning, it's so important. It gives everybody confidence in the dugout, it's such a big part of the game. To strike out four guys in the first inning, it sets the tone for the rest of the game." A 2010 fourth-round selection out of Auburn University, Morris ripped Tom Koehler's 2-0 cutter to right field to score Josh Prince and Scooter Gennett in the bottom of the first inning. Milwaukee's top hitting prospect -- ranked fifth overall in the system -- then turned on the first offering he saw from Dan Jennings in the sixth to drive a two-run homer out to right field. "I was just trying to lock in and not be too overly aggressive," said Morris, the reigning Southern League MVP. "It was an approach that just came together. I realized that it was a first-pitch fastball early enough to put a good swing on it, and it worked out for the best." Morris' offense proved enough to help Thornburg -- ranked second among Brewers prospects -- get the win. The 2010 third-round pick out of Charleston Southern allowed a run on three hits and a walk. "It went pretty well for the first start," said Thornburg, a midseason All-Star with Huntsville last summer. "I had my fastball control and my off-speed pitches were working well. I was getting ahead and putting guys away. I think everything was working. "I got three or four strikeouts with my fastball, a couple with my curve and one with the changeup. Throwing all of my pitches for strikes is one thing I pride myself on." The lone blemish for the 24-year-old right-hander came in the third. Matt Downs hit a leadoff double, Koehler sacrificed him to third and leadoff man Kevin Mattison drove him home with a softly hit single. "It was a tough at-bat with Mattison," Thornburg said. "He got a curveball a little bit up and a little bit off the plate and he flicked it over the shortstop's head. I had two strikes and I couldn't put him away. You can't be perfect every time." New Orleans rallied against the Sounds bullpen for a run in the eighth and another in the ninth, but the comeback fell short when closer Rob Wooten got shortstop Ed Lucas to fly out to end the game with the potential tying run on third base. "There are definitely going to be some adjustments to make," Morris said of moving up a level, "but I just have to stay consistent and refine my approach at the plate. The game will dictate what adjustments I need to make." Morris recorded four RBIs three times in 2012 with Huntsville and once with Class A Advanced Brevard County in 2011. His career high is five RBIs, achieved for Class A Wisconsin in a 10-7 triumph over Cedar Rapids on Aug. 15, 2010. Thornburg, who went 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 21 starts between Huntsville and Nashville last year, said it felt good to start the season on the right foot. "Usually two or three starts into the season, that's when you're still feeling fresh, that's when you normally start to get all of your pitches working" he said. "Anytime you're locating this well this early in the season, that's not a bad thing. Hopefully, I can keep going and keep throwing the ball down." In eight Major League appearances, including three starts, last year, Thornburg posted a 4.50 ERA and struck out 20 batters over 22 innings. Koehler allowing two runs -- one earned -- on a hit and two walks while striking out seven over five innings. He did not factor in the decision. Downs finished 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored, while Lucas doubled twice and scored a pair of runs for the Zephyrs.

Nashville Fox 17 brief video reports, includes Hunter Morris' double but not HR, we do tend to get the early-inning action from these types of links: Media Day Wednesday Game Report / Highlights

Rattler Radio Blog -- 2013 off to a good start includes this, but do click the link, too: Yes. It is possible to have a game saving catch for the first out of the sixth inning. Tyrone Taylor made a catch for the ages to take away at least a double from Michael Swinson. If there were video of that catch I would like the folks that do the Sports Science segment on ESPN to break it down for me in the following order: How much ground he covered. How fast he was going. How much force he hit the warning track with when he landed after the dive. It was one of the best catches I have seen in a long time.

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Interview - Manager Mike Guerrero

Two players released this offseason found work in the independent Frontier League today. Soon-to-be 25-year-old 2006 4th round RHP Evan Anundsen (career stats), who spent seven seasons in the organization, joins the Joliet (IL) Jackhammers. 2012 Helena catcher Emmanuel Quiles (career stats), the former Padre farmhand, joined the Lake Erie Crushers (Avon, OH), where he'll have quite a Brewer reunion with IF Kevin Berard, UT Juan Sanchez, and LHP Del Howell.

It looks like, at least below AA, there isn't an obvious link to the game log, just the box score. Here's the Brevard box score link from the beginning of the thread: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2013_04_04_breafa_dbcafa_1 By changing the word "box" to the word "log" in that address, you get the game log: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2013_04_04_breafa_dbcafa_1 Hopefully MiLB makes that minor adjustment soon.

Baseball America -- Minor League Opening Day Roster Analysis: Milwaukee Brewers

Interesting that Jose Sermo is starting at third base tonight for the Rattlers, we had read he was seeing some time at first base this spring. Last year in Maryvale he played 36 games at 2B, 6 at 3B, 3 at SS. Mike Garza, who played almost exclusively at 3B last season, gets the start at 1B.

From Alex Cohen of the Stars: Stars Regular Season Opener Postponed in Chattanooga Tonight's scheduled regular season opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts has been postponed due to inclement weather. This game as already been rescheduled for Sunday, as the Stars and Lookouts will play a doubleheader starting at 1:15 PM Central Time (2:15 local Eastern Time in Chattanooga). Friday's game between the two teams is set to go on as scheduled, starting at 6:15 Central Time from AT&T Field in Chattanooga. You can catch the game live starting at 5:50 CT on http://www.huntsvillestars.com. The Stars will return to "The Joe" on Wednesday, April 10 to open up their home slate against the Jacksonville Suns for a five-game series immediately followed by a five games against the Tennessee Smokies.

Link Report Bonus: The Silver Hawks Go Pink Fun.