Jim Goulart

Unless the DSL kids come up with a pop-up box score win, it looks like an organizational wipeout tonight. And yes, the Maryvale kids were idle, but their odds of bucking tonight's trend would not have been good...

Brevard lefty Thomas Keeling the latest on Twitter (creative handle), he'll be added to the list, making it 98 farmhands (Jason Jaramillo dropped off today).

Wow, good for her, Harper Babin, one of the Journal-Sentinel's "Peanuts and Cracker Jack" spring training reporters 2011, is now an on-air host for the Rockies.

Saw Adam McCalvy's tweet that Josh Butler's Maryvale rehab is complete (elbow) and he's been transferred to AA Huntsville, filling the open roster spot there. Butler will be a minor league free agent at season's end.

Nashville OF Corey Patterson activated from the Temp Inactive list. Believe we read that like Mark Rogers, Corey is a first-time dad. If so, congrats.

Wisconsin Media Notes

Guess the recent feature article in the Tennessean we linked to recently wasn't enough to springboard Nashville catcher Jason Jaramillo. The Brewers released him today. Dayton Buller and Humberto Quintero remain as the AAA backstop tandem.

Jeff put the emphasis on the second syllable to begin the interview, that's correct?

Late in his 6th season in the organization, 2007 6th round LHP Dan Merklinger (career stats) has been released from the Huntsville roster after 579 innings (136 games, 94 starts). Merklinger was on the Brewers' 40 man roster in the offseason prior to the 2011 campaign. Here's wishing, Dan, 27 this coming November, well. The Stars' roster is at 24, one short of the active limit.

You'll find a few dozen photos from the Huntsville game Tuesday night from the AP here.

Well, I've been pronouncing "Hiram" in my head wrong all this time... *** Audio from Music City — “What (Hiram) Burgos Believes” Jeff Hem's note -- Tonight’s interview is with Sounds right-hander Hiram Burgos, who posted his second straight quality start on Tuesday night (7 IP, 2 ER) and third in his four outings since joining the Sounds in late July. As of today, Burgos is 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 24 games this season between High-A Brevard County, Double-A Huntsville and the Sounds. He discusses his season to this point, working with pitching coach Fred Dabney again (they were together at Brevard County in ’11), what adjustments he’s made the past couple of years, who’s had the biggest influence on him as a pitcher, and his amateur days at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and Bethune-Cookman College (Fla.).

22-year-old non-drafted free agent catcher Joe Andrade has been freed after 12 Maryvale AB's and catching plenty of Arizona bullpens. He flew to Grand Junction and is DH'ing for Helena this evening.

The Manatees are just absolutely excrutiating at times. You're right, not sure what more Drew can do to get that first FSL victory.

One thing about Joe Block, he's really making an effort to reach out to the farmhands for Brewers pre-game interviews, something Cory Provus rarely did -- Here's the Timber Rattlers' Cameron Garfield from today's broadcast

Eye-opening independent league realities

Nashville Media Notes *** AUDIO: Bob Brainerd talks a bit of Khris Davis and Timber Rattlers with WSSP

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 Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division *** 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 Wednesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Claudio Vargas at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Ariel Pena 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 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. MiLB.TV subsciption note: Huntsville road games in four locales (Mississippi, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Pensacola) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: RHP Drew Gagnon at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:30 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Tampa 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. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Shaun Marcum makes his 2nd rehab start at Beloit (Twins), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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: TBD (likely RHP Leonard Lorenzo) at Grand Junction (Rockies), 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): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Angels, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Ruben Ozuna replaces Michael Reed. Michael Reed called out on strikes. The injury departure in mid at-bat explains how Reed can still be charged with the K even after leaving the game.

Mailbag from the 2080milwaukee site

Brewers pre-game interview via Joe Block with reliever Mike McClendon

Hunter Morris enjoying historic season, should be shoo-in for Southern League MVP By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- We knew a year ago that Hunter Morris was making history. Who knew that, before he got through, he'd become downright historic. Morris, three years younger than the Huntsville franchise itself, is in the final stretch of the greatest season any Stars player has ever had. Though, much as ex-Star Jose Canseco's entire career has had an asterisk indelibly attached to it, let's hang an asterisk on that "greatest season" phrase for a few more paragraphs. If Morris is not named the Southern League's Most Valuable Player in a couple of weeks, there needs to be a Congressional investigation. He'll be the first MVP since Corey Hart in 2003, only the fifth in team history. "I've watched him all year, and he's got my vote," said Stars manager Darnell Coles. Keep this in mind. Time is running out to embrace this greatest season. The Stars are in their penultimate five-game home stand, which began Tuesday against Montgomery. They're back Aug. 24 for the final five home games. Morris, a 23-year-old first baseman, is a graduate of Grissom High. He was All-SEC at Auburn. On May 21, 2011, he made his historic Stars debut, becoming the first Huntsville native to play for the team. He went 2-for-4, with a triple and two runs scored; alas, it was but a temporary promotion from Class A. This year, let's credit the Milwaukee organization for the patience to keep him here this season, a blessing for the Huntsville franchise. He has become a much-needed face for this team. "Un-be-lievable value," Stars general manager Buck Rogers said. The buzz surrounding Morris helped spike attendance. The publicity he received began to splash over his teammates, and they accepted the attention, bringing more positive exposure for the Stars. He handled all this while being stretched cellophane-thin. Hunter and wife Maci have a young son, Tripp. He can't go anywhere in town without somebody knowing him. Every game, there are friends and family in the box seats. Seldom a night goes by without an interview and seldom was a request for a public appearance refused. When the Stars hosted a Boy Scout camp-out after a game, Morris hung around with the scouts, playing catch, eating pizza and signing autographs. When visiting children in the hospital, Morris and his father Jeff bought a menagerie of Beanie Babies to pass around. "He's unselfish," Rogers said. While doing all that, he's put together a season that dwarfs Hart's MVP performance in 2003 and is most comparable to that of Terry Steinbach (1986), the team's second Southern League MVP, and Mike Coolbaugh in 1997. Morris will join Coolbaugh as the only Huntsville player in the top 10 in homers, doubles, RBIs, total bases and slugging in a season. Going into this homestand, with 20 games remaining, he leads the Southern League in homers, doubles and total bases. He's second in average and in RBIs. He's also improved his fielding "in leaps and bounds," according to Coles. Now, let's go back to that asterisk. Take the 1985 MVP season of Canseco, in the Stars' debut year, out of the comparative equation. First, for his acknowledgment of using performance-enhancing drugs even then. Second, he was here only 58 games. Third, for those two months, he was the best prospect the Southern League has yet to see. Canseco, for far too long, remained synonymous with this franchise for long-time fans. It's time to elevate Hunter Morris in that position. "He's done everything he could do," Coles said, "on and off the field." The numbers make him MVP. The maturity, grace and unselfishness mixed with those numbers is what makes him the greatest Huntsville Star yet.