Jim Goulart

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.

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. Huntsville is posting theirs more consistently (and did so for their most recent game). Rest your pointer under the "Roster" banner on the Stars' home page shortly before game time to see the link.

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division (FINAL) A - Midwest League Western Division Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League (FINAL) DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division (FINAL) *** NOTE: AAA Nashville, Rookie Maryvale and the DSL do not play a split schedule. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and/or Helena, you'll then be able to choose 1st half and/or overall standings in addition to the 2nd half standings.

Follow Monday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Wisconsin Game One Wisconsin Game Two Helena

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 11:50 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the new 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 Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast ********** Brevard County: Season complete; final stats here ********** Wisconsin: RHP's Chad Thompson and Eric Semmelhack in a doubleheader at Burlington (Athletics), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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 only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and Stars' road games from four Southern League locales. ********** Helena: LHP Taylor Wall at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page We're lucky to have Steve Wendt back on board for another H-Crew season. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete; final stats here ********** DSL Brewers: Season complete; final stats and analysis here

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Rattlers looking forward to playing playoff baseball by Mike Woods, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — Usually guys going through a 140-game season — many for the first time — can’t wait until the end is in sight. They look forward to going home, seeing family and resting. Then there are the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time, basically since high school,” said Rattlers center fielder Chadwin Stang. “The team is just incredible, how we click, how we mesh. “Every guy that has ever come in here and has left, whether it’s big leaguers to guys just coming through here, they absolutely love this clubhouse and how we are together.” The end of the season is inevitable, but the Rattlers have the opportunity to make the fun last a little longer when they open the Midwest League playoffs Wednesday on the road in a best-of-three series. It will be Wisconsin’s first appearance in the Midwest League playoffs since 2005. The Rattlers’ opponent won’t be determined until after today’s final regular-season games. Wisconsin will host a playoff game on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and again on Friday if a third game is necessary. This was a team without a lot of prospects or expectations when the season began back in April. But over the course of the season – and especially in the first half when they easily won the Western Division – the Rattlers have developed into a consistent winner, to the surprise of many. “That might be the reason,” said infielder Brandon Macias of the team’s unexpected success. “People might have chalked us up as an underdog team that was going to have to scrap, and that’s exactly what we did. We played as a team, and when we play as a team we do pretty well.” Playing team ball, especially in the minors where each individual is looking to stand out, can be a tricky proposition. But the Rattlers have bought into the team concept set forth by manager Matt Erickson and his coaching staff. “Everyone is playing for the team and not themselves, especially at important times in the game,” said Stang. “That makes it that much more fun to play.” The Rattlers have struggled some in the second half, as 10 players have been promoted due in large part to their first-half success. But that’s minor league baseball. “It’s definitely a different team,” said starting pitcher Mark Williams. “But I think we’re all excited because not a lot of guys get a chance to play in the playoffs. Who knows if any of us will make it to the big leagues? But this opportunity comes along once in a lifetime, so I think we’re all excited about that.” Erickson said in a short series, talent can only take you so far. “Basically in a three-game series it comes down to fundamentals and execution and pitch-to-pitch,” he said. “But I don’t know if this team has played their best baseball yet. We’re still looking to play our best baseball and if that can happen in the next week and we get on a little bit of a roll, we’re the kind of team that can beat anybody in this league. “And we can lose to anybody in this league. So we have to do the little things right that win games. That’s what we’re stressing.” Undoubtedly this will be the last hurrah for some of the Timber Rattlers, so going out on top would provide a lasting memory. “This group as a whole is looking forward to the postseason,” said Erickson. “To be very honest, I played for 12 years and played in three postseasons. Some of these guys will never get another opportunity to play for a championship. Some of them will be out of the game. So that’s another obvious motivational deal you can hang your hat on.” Chadwin Stang of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers belts a home run against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in a game last month. / Ron Page - The Post-Crescent http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20120903&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=309030142&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Rattlers-looking-forward-playing-playoff-baseball

INF Adrian Williams was transferred from Wisconsin to Helena and played for the rookie H-Crew Sunday. That leaves an open roster spot for the Rattlers to fill either in time for Monday's doubleheader or Wednesday's playoff day. Will it be an activation from the DL or a surprise transfer? We'll see... *** Symbolic move or last active pro game? Veteran Erick Almonte has been activated from the Nashville DL in time for Monday's finale.

Chris Mehring wrote: The Timber Rattlers and Bees will play a doubleheader against the Bees on Monday to make up for the game that was rained out on Saturday night. The first seven inning game will start at 2:00pm. Wisconsin will send Chad Thompson (4-2, 4.48) to hill as their starting pitcher. Burlington has Blake Hassebrock (2-1, 3.27) as their scheduled starter. Neither team has announced a game two starter. Burlington could clinch a playoff spot on Sunday if Kane County loses to Peoria on Sunday night. But, the doubleheader will still be needed to decide if the Rattlers or the Beloit Snappers would have home field advantage in a potential second round playoff matchup between the two Wisconsin-based Midwest League teams. Wisconsin currently has a one game lead on the Snappers (76-63) for the best overall record in the Western Division. If Wisconsin wins one of the two games in the doubleheader, they will finish with a better overall record than Beloit. The Rattlers would host games two and three in the Western Division Finals against Beloit, if both teams make it through the first round of the playoffs. *** Kane County walked off with an extra-inning win to keep their playoff hopes alive. If Wisconsin sweeps the doubleheader Monday, and Kane County wins again, then the Rattlers' Monday opponent, Burlington, will be out of luck. So Wisconsin will have plenty to say about who their first round playoff opponent will be (Burlington or Kane County). Beloit lost at home, 2-1, on Sunday, to Quad Cities. So all the Rattlers need only to take one game in the doubleheader or hope for a Beloit loss to clinch the 2nd round home field advantage discussed above. All that being said, surely Matt Erickson and gang would have loved to avoid the last day twinbill with the playoffs beginning Wednesday. If either seven-inning game goes extras, that would really be a problem...

Montgomery Advertiser: Biscuits reliever Scott Shuman, after taking the field Sunday to the Auburn fight song, took down a college teammate. Huntsville Stars slugger Hunter Morris, who tied a season high with four RBIs and hit his 28th home run in an 8-2 win over Montgomery, struck out vs. Shuman in the seventh inning. “He made some great pitches,” Morris said. “It was a well executed by him.” Morris and Shuman played together for two seasons at Auburn and now have faced each other twice this year. Morris has struck out both times. On Sunday, Shuman fell behind in the count and recognizing Morris’ league MVP-worthy numbers, made a strategic decision. “I wasn’t going to throw him anything without some kind of break,” Shuman said. “It was all breaking balls. I would rather walk him than give up a bomb, especially as well as he’s hitting the ball right now.” *** NUMBERS GAME 113: RBIs this season for Morris after he tied a season high with four in Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Biscuits. 1999: The last year the Southern League featured a 100-RBI guy. This year, the league has two: Morris and Tennessee’s Justin Bour. Bour has 110.

Helena Pre-Game Interviews: RHP Jonathan "Jono" Armold Catcher turned third baseman-by-necessity Michael Turay

Voyagers Drain Brewers Great Falls Voyagers GREAT FALLS - The Great Falls Voyagers (37-33, 14-20) used the similar formula of pitching and defense to take down the Helena Brewers (23-49, 10-24) Sunday afternoon at Centene Stadium. The win finished the series to the Voyagers 3 games of 4 and gives the Voyagers a dozen wins in fourteen games against Helena this season. Chris Beck (4-3) started for the Voyagers and was almost totally untouchable. Allowing only a wind-pushed triple and sacrifice fly in the fourth, Beck finished five innings on only 58 pitches while striking out four. Beck also had perfect 1-2-3 innings in four of his five innings. Beck received good support from the Voyagers' offense as they scored first for the first time in the series with a trio of third inning runs helped by triples by Michael Johnson and Brent Tanner. Ryan Bollinger relieved Beck in the sixth and allowed four hits in two innings but also racked up six strikeouts to keep Helena off the board. After a scoreless eighth for Brandon Hardin, the Voyagers grabbed three more runs for a 7-1 lead to the ninth. The Brewers got three in the ninth after Hardin left the game after being struck by a comebacker, but the Voyagers still held on for a 7-4 win.

Baez's 2 bombs let Cubs end with bang By Sean Kernan, Daytona News-Journal Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH -- Taylor Davis and the Daytona Cubs walked off Jackie Robinson Ballpark's field a winner in the final game of the 2012 Florida State League season. Davis drove a walk-off single off the left-field fence to plate pinch runner Anthony Giansanti from third base with the winning run Sunday in a 3-2 triumph over the Brevard County Manatees. "That was pretty cool," Davis, a 49th-round draft pick three years ago, said after he was congratulated by teammates. "It's a great way to end the season." With the win, the Cubs get to keep the I-95 Trophy that goes to the season-series winner between Daytona and Brevard County. The Cubs won the series 11-9. Neither the Manatees (34-33 second half, 63-72 overall) nor the Cubs (29-36, 59-74) qualified for the FSL playoffs. Cubs manager Brian Harper spoke to the team briefly after the game. "As a manager, you ask them to play hard, and they played hard all year," said Harper, who will next serve as hitting coach for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. "These are good kids, good young men." Javier Baez, the youngest of those men, showed why the Chicago Cubs drafted him with their first-round pick last year. The 19-year-old shortstop belted two long home runs to supply the first two runs for Daytona. Though he entered the game with a .169 batting average in his 23-game Daytona stint, Baez practically golfed the first homer out of the park. He crushed a down-and-away curveball over the batting cage beyond left field in the fifth inning. Two innings later, Baez redirected a fastball over the center-field fence -- an estimated 420 feet. "That was the farthest one I hit this year," said a smiling Baez, who hit 15 home runs in 290 at-bats between low Class-A Peoria and Daytona. The Cubs' winning run was set up by Nelson Perez's one-out triple to left-center field. Harper called for Giansanti to run for Perez, and the Manatees intentionally walked Baez before Davis became a season-ending hero. Eduardo Figueroa (4-5), the last of three Cubs relievers who combined for three no-hit innings, got the win. OF NOTE: Baez will be the Cubs' lone Class A player assigned to the Arizona Fall League. He will be joined by three others who played for Daytona this year but finished the season with Double-A Tennessee: outfielders Rubi Silva and Matt Szczur and relief pitcher Tony Zych. The AFL is an offseason league owned by Major League Baseball. Many teams send their top prospects to this developmental league.

'Tees lose 2012 finale on walk-off Brevard falls 3-2 to Cubs, finishes season 63-72 By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees' 2012 season came to a close in dramatic fashion but on the losing end as they fell 3-2 to the Daytona Cubs on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The Manatees were the first to get on the scoreboard and took a 2-0 lead after the fourth inning thanks to RBI singles from Franklin Romero Jr. and Cody Hawn in the third and fourth innings respectfully. Brevard mustered just four hits and struck out eight times on the evening. Brevard starting pitcher Nick Bucci was cruising until Javier Baez hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth and cut the 'Tees lead to 2-1. Baez would get to Bucci again in the seventh with another solo homer to tie the game. Bucci would go eight innings and scattered six hits, fanned six and walked just one. Alan Williams relieved Bucci in the ninth and allowed the winning run to reach base as Nelson Perez hit a one-out triple to center. Williams then intentionally walked Baez to get to Taylor Davis. While Brevard wouldn't let Baez beat them; it was Davis that would end the game on a single to the left field wall to plate the winning run. With the loss, the Manatees end the season with a three-game losing streak and finish 9-11 against the rival Cubs. However, Brevard County's .467 overall winning percentage was the team's best mark since the 2009 season when the 'Tees finished with a .622 winning percentage.

Jeff Hem, Voice of the Sounds, tweeted that the very "unofficial" word is that Khris Davis once again aggravated his calf injury and that Caleb Gindl left with a minor back issue.

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.

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. Huntsville is posting theirs more consistently (and did so for their most recent game). Rest your pointer under the "Roster" banner on the Stars' home page shortly before game time to see the link.

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 Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League (FINAL) DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division (FINAL) *** NOTE: AAA Nashville, Rookie Maryvale and the DSL do not play a split schedule. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and/or Helena, you'll then be able to choose 1st half and/or overall standings in addition to the current 2nd half standings.

Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena

RHP Chad Pierce was set to start for the Rattlers Saturday before the rainout. RHP David Goforth would follow Pierce in the rotation normally. Placed TBD on Sunday AM's menu as we'll have to see if the Rattlers are juggling to set up their playoff rotation. Surely Wisconsin would like to avoid playing two Labor Day games instead of one (due to Burlington's playoff quest status). Ironically, the best way to assure that would be to lose today's game, which isn't ideal, is it?

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the new 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 Evan Anundsen at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast ********** Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at Daytona (Cubs), 4:35 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Daytona feed from the MiLB main audio page Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective ********** Wisconsin: TBD at Burlington (Athletics), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 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 only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and Stars' road games from four Southern League locales. ********** Helena: RHP Preston Gainey at Great Falls (White Sox), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page We're lucky to have Steve Wendt back on board for another H-Crew season. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete; final stats here ********** DSL Brewers: Season complete; final stats and analysis here

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Chris Mehring will be providing further details, but it appears that Burlington, the Rattlers' opponent this weekend, still has a magic number of one to clinch a wild card spot of one over Kane County. If that is still pending after Game One on Labor Day, Saturday's game will need to be played. Also, the Rattlers have only a percentage point lead now over Beloit in the race for overall season record, which determines home field advantage in the second round of the playoffs. The way are Rattlers are limping home, that may not be an issue regardless, but we'll see.

Huntsville watched as Montgomery celebrated with champagne after knocking them off. It's been a pretty dry association with the Stars in recent years -- as much as the Brewers organization may have disdain for Joe Davis Stadium, Stars' followers haven't exactly been rewarded with playoff glory via their Milwaukee connection (nor has Nashville, Brevard County or Helena -- and us! -- for that matter.)

Road game summary from the Independent Record -- Three different Great Falls Voyagers recorded three hits apiece, and catcher Angel Rosario finished with five RBIs in their 11-3 win over the Helena Brewers on Saturday night at Centene Stadium. Rosario had two doubles in his 3-for-5 performance. The Voyagers’ electric offense — Great Falls finished with 13 hits — helped reliever Andrew Virgili earn his third win of the season. Helena had nine hits and was 4 for 9 with runners in scoring position, but stranded eight men on base. Two errors also proved costly for the Brewers, who have defeated the Voyagers just twice in 2012. Jose Pena was 2 for 4 and Paul Eshleman 2 for 3 for the Brewers. Helena starter Tyler Wagner was tagged with the loss, after giving up seven runs — six earned — on 10 hits through 4 2/3 innings. The Voyagers broke the game open in the sixth, pushing four runs across. Despite the dominating final score, Great Falls finished 6 for 18 with runners in scoring position.