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.

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 Monday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Wisconsin Helena Maryvale DSL Brewers

You'd think the DSL Brewers and Braves would make up last week's rainout at the Braves' complex when they next meet there on the 18th. But if you notice today's game goes only seven innings, it means we'll then look for a nightcap in which the Cerveceritos would be the road team in the nightcap.

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Salt Lake (Angels), 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: Idle ********** Brevard County: Idle ********** Wisconsin: RHP Eric Semmelhack at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 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, plus one July Helena series (11th-13th). ********** Helena: TBD (likely LHP Taylor Wall) 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): at home vs. the mini-Royals; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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

My own note: maybe there's some self-editing done by the occasional local hometown sports editor, but I'm continually impressed by the quotes from the farmhands -- they all say the right things, very well-schooled. Surely some must be upset about thier affiliate placement, or their usage pattern, but it never seems to sneak out publicly. *** West learns from first full pro season Former Chiles pitcher recovering from hernia surgery by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat assistant sports editor Will West's (MiLB.com Player Page) first full professional baseball season was nearly everything he envisioned. The former Chiles High pitcher believes he learned from his success and struggles in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He embraced the camaraderie of teammates and the travel, despite the long bus rides in the Midwest and Pioneer leagues. Not even the 14 cats housed by one of his host families derailed his enthusiasm. "It's a grind but I really do love it and I don't regret anything, that's for sure," West said. "I had a lot of fun, a lot of great memories and it's a year I want to build on." West, who turned 20 last month, can't wait to get back on the mound in the Brewers' Instructional League next month. Yet, he realizes he needs to be patient, too, following hernia surgery on Friday. West is scheduled to return home to Tallahassee today from Arizona. After a quick two-week reprieve, West will return to the Brewers' spring training complex in Phoenix to continue his rehabilitation from surgery. West was diagnosed with a hernia following a start in late July. "The physicians felt it was better to go ahead and do the surgery now and hopefully I will be back in four to six weeks," said West, who made eight starts and threw 62 2/3 innings between appearances with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Class A Midwest League and the Helena Brewers in the Rookie Pioneer League. West, who signed with the Brewers last June as an undrafted free agent, felt he made progress and learned from each outing. While he allowed 93 hits overall, just three were home runs and he boasted a sparkling 0.46 ERA with the bases empty in nearly 20 innings. West also had 35 strikeouts in his final 41 innings. "Overall, it wasn't the year I wanted numbers-wise and it definitely could have been better in that regard, but there were a lot of positives, too, and it was just a great experience," said West, who signed with Tallahassee Community College following a semester at Georgia Tech. However, West opted for professional baseball prior to the start of TCC's fall semester. West's season was also hampered by a pulled back muscle suffered in the final few days of spring training. Once he was assigned to the Midwest League, where he was one of the youngest players, West quickly learned that professional hitters are not easily fooled. West concentrated on making the most of each pitch, developing a four-seam fastball and improving his change-up. He was also determined to stay out of hitters’ counts. West may have to take it easy for a few months during his recovery, but he also understands the importance of preparation. "You are playing every day and the lifestyle's definitely not the greatest, but it's a great opportunity and you just have to keep working and grinding it out," West said.

From the Brewers: INF Jeff Bianchi has been recalled from Triple-A @nashvillesounds to take the roster spot of RHP Mark Rogers (paternity list). Rogers and his wife, Kerrie, expecting first child. Still slated to start Wed. in Colorado.

Nice article from the UW-Milwaukee website on Chad Pierce and Eric Semmelhack

Alec with his Yadiel Rivera Complete Scouting Report

Reliever Sean Albury (stats), who we dubbed "the Mad Bahamian" during his outstanding Helena rookie season, tweeted on Sunday a #thankgod, as he had no pain throwing. The 23-year-old out of the same school Mike Fiers attended (Nova Southeastern) underwent rotator cuff surgery in December.

FYI -- Cubs signed Seth McClung to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Class AAA Iowa

Rattler Radio Blog: Highlights and comments from Sunday's game

According to MiLB.com, Nashville LHP Mitch Stetter was placed on the 7-day DL on Saturday (no word on his injury status at this time).

Audio from Nashville — “Quotations from (Humberto) Quintero” Jeff Hem's note -- Tonight’s interview is with one of the newest Sounds, catcher Humberto Quintero. The 33-year-old veteran backstop joined the Sounds a couple of weeks ago and has been with four different organizations since March — Astros (MLB), Royals (MLB), Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans) and Brewers (Triple-A Nashville). Quintero discusses what his season has been like, how he felt Wily Peralta threw the ball on Saturday night (7 IP, 1 ER) in the Sounds’ come-from-behind win, what he looks for in a club that may sign him as a free agent and which catchers had the greatest influence on him when he first got to the big leagues.

Class remains in session for Timber Rattlers by Dick Knapinski, For The Post-Crescent GRAND CHUTE — With just over 20 games left in the regular schedule, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson isn’t worried about the coming playoffs. “To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Erickson said Sunday after the Timber Rattlers managed only six hits in a 9-4 Midwest League loss to Clinton at Time Warner Field at Fox Cities Stadium. “You want to go into the postseason as healthy as possible. When we get to about a week or 10 days, we’ll look at all that. Right now, we’re trying to get better every day. We’re too busy taking care of the teaching moments on this team right now.” Ah, yes, teaching moments. In Class A professional baseball, those are more numerous than political robocalls in Wisconsin this year. Every game and every situation presents another chance to fill a young mind with baseball knowledge. For instance, Rattlers starter David Goforth (8-7) struggled with control on Sunday, but still muscled through five innings. Erickson really didn’t have a choice but to stay with Goforth, who allowed eight hits and walked five. “We used a bunch of pitchers out of the bullpen yesterday (in a 13-inning win), so he knew he was going to have to eat up some innings out there, at least five,” Erickson said. “Then Michael White was the most rested guy we had in the bullpen, so if he could stay competitive we were going to give him the work.” White had made just one appearance since being called up to Wisconsin, getting hit hard in two innings and holding an 18.00 earned run average. He allowed four runs in his first inning Sunday but then calmed to get nine outs in the next 11 batters he faced. “He’s a young guy and he was shaking his head a little bit out there after that first inning,” Erickson said. “We had to tell him that he had to have better body language and better tempo, and have the mindset that the score is 0-0. Be sure that we’re learning and competing with each pitch.” Even for the players who have spent the entire season with the Rattlers, including through their first-half division title, there are lessons to be learned. Infielder Greg Hopkins was a Midwest League all-star in June, but had by his own admission “been missing pitches” while hitting just .152 over the last nine games before Sunday, dropping his average to .266 from a pre-all-star game mark of .313. That’s why a two-for-four day, including a two-run homer in the second inning that temporarily cut the LumberKings’ lead to 4-2, was so important. It was Hopkins’ ninth homer of the year but his first since June 9. “It’s been a while,” he said. “It was a straight fastball on 3-1, so it was a good hitter’s count. It felt nice to finally be aggressive and square one up.” The ups and downs of a baseball season is demanding enough, but add in call-ups and new arrivals, and a team at the end of a season can look nothing like the roster on opening day or even the halfway mark. “Minor-league ball is constantly evolving,” Hopkins said. “In college, you have your core group of guys that go through as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. But here, guys can be here one day and gone the next.” It’s just one more lesson for Erickson to provide for his team. “That is the big challenge over the course of the season,” he said. “We try to keep the clubhouse all going the same direction. The nature of the business is that these guys move on as individuals, but you have to stay consistent with your message. Guys who come in have to jump on board with that. There are no individuals in the clubhouse.”

Post-Crescent Timber Rattlers Photo Gallery

Final: DSL Tigers 15, DSL Brewers 10 DSL Brewers Box Score via the dominicansummerleague.com website Let's see, the teams combined for 25 runs but only 14 RBI. The Brewers scored ten runs on only five hits. The game featured 17 walks, 12 drawn by the Cerveceritos. Brewer batters were also plunked three times, for 15 free passes to the basepaths. Eight of the runs the Brewers allowed were unearned. Intrigued by this game yet? No Brewer had more than one hit, but CF Yunior Santana walked four times. SS Carlos Belonis left the game very early, it's been tough to follow his injury / playing time exploits as of late. 18-year-old RHP Milton Gomez started, and while his ERA won't suffer too much (7 R, 2 ER), it was obviously a rough outing. DSL Brewers Game Log via the dominicansummerleague.com website You're a better man than I if you traverse this one...

STARS SHUTOUT IN SECOND STRAIGHT GAME Huntsville Stars KODAK, Tenn. – In the rubber match of a five-game series, the Huntsville Stars were blanked by the Tennessee Smokies by a score of 4-0 on Sunday night at Smokies park. A night after losing by a score of 2-0, the Stars were shutout again on Sunday by a combination of four Smokies pitchers. Leading that barrage was starter Yoanner Negrin, who gave up just one hit against the Stars through five innings in his Double-A debut. The start for Negrin was also his first in affiliated baseball during the 2012 season. Aside from Negrin, relievers Zack Rosscup and Casey Weathers blanked the Stars for the next 3.2 innings until closer Frank Batista entered the game with two outs in the eighth. The Southern League All-Star recorded the final four outs for his 21st save of the season. Leading the way on offense for the Smokies was first baseman Justin Bour, who delivered an RBI single in the first inning and a RBI groundout in the third inning that gave the Smokies a 2-0 lead. Other than Bour, a pair of RBI doubles from Negrin and shortstop Junior Lake gave Tennessee all the run support they needed. On the pitching side for Huntsville, RHP Jimmy Nelson fell to 1-3 on the year with the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits in four innings while striking out six and walking five batters. To close out the game, the Stars got four innings of combined scoreless relief from LHP Brian Garman, RHP R.J Seidel and RHP Darren Byrd. Offensively, left fielder Lee Haydel got on base three of his four plate appearances, drawing a walk all three times. Shortstop Hainley Statia went 1-4 and hit the team’s only extra-base hit of the night, a double. The Stars bats combined for just five hits and stranded eight baserunners For the Stars, the loss snapped their streak of four consecutive series victories. The defeat also dropped them to 3-10 in series-deciding contests in 2012. After an off-day on Monday, the Stars will resume play on Wednesday at Joe Davis Stadium as they open up a five-game series at home against the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

VIDEO from last week: Jeff Bianchi with a home run for a second consecutive game in Sacramento and from Huntsville's series in Tennessee thus far: Hunter Morris hits three-run homer Scooter Gennett collects third hit Brock Kjeldgaard HR puts Stars ahead Pitcher Evan Anundsen doubles

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 Friday and Saturday). Rest your pointer under the "Roster" banner on the Stars' home page to see the link. Have a nice summer Sunday, everyone!

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

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Brian Baker at home vs. Salt Lake (Angels), 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). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Tennessee (Cubs), 3:45 PM pre-game, 4:00 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 Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 4:05 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 David Goforth at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 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 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, plus one July Helena series (11th-13th). ********** Helena: Idle ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Dodgers' complex in Glendale; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Tigers, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest