Jim Goulart

PO: Aldazoro, A (1st base by Banda), Reynoso (1st base by Banda), Peterson (1st base by Banda). Maryvale LHP Anthony Banda won't even turn 19 until later this week, but he's got his southpaw pickoff move down -- sweet.

After making three starts (stats), RHP Nick Anderson lands on the Rockford DL with a sore back.

By the way, Justin does a great job and I can't recommend that interview enough. Surprisingly, no time is spent breaking down individual players, yet you'll still learn a bunch about the organization overall.

AUDIO: Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson joined Justin Hull on AM 1570 in Appleton

From the Manatees: INF Hector Gomez (Brewers 40-man roster) placed on the disabled list. RHP Nick Bucci activated from the disabled list at Huntsville and transferred to Brevard County. Bucci is scheduled to start on Sunday against Tampa.

Media Notes: Nashville Wisconsin

FYI, believe this is the biggest birthday "eve" of the season among farmhands -- Saturday's birthdays: Orlando Arcia - 08/04/1994 Hiram Burgos - 08/04/1987 Joel Dicent - 08/04/1991 Mike Francisco - 08/04/1988 Casey Medlen - 08/04/1989

HUNTER MORRIS NAMED TOPPS SOUTHERN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR JULY First Baseman Earns Consecutive Monthly Honors Huntsville Stars Media Relations HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – What’s the best way to follow up a Player of the Month award? Win another one! Huntsville Stars first baseman Hunter Morris has won his second consecutive Topps Southern League Player of the Month Award. Morris’ hot streak continues with greater numbers than the month before. He averaged .340 in 28 games in July with 36 hits. Twenty of those were extra-base hits with eight doubles and 10 home runs. Morris also had 25 RBIs to round out a huge month for the hometown hero. His 20 extra-base hits and 10 homers were tied for third most in Minor League Baseball for the month. These numbers boosted “The Mayor” to lead the Southern League in four categories: extra base hits (60), total bases (229), slugging percentage (.563) and doubles (36). He is also ranked fifth in hits with 125 and second in RBIs with 83. Morris is hitting a combined .307 on the season, the second-best average in the league. His 36 doubles are tied for fourth most in MiLB and his 20 home runs are good for fourth best at the Double-A level. He also ranks third in total RBIs amongst all Double-A players. The former Auburn standout also boasts the fourth best at-bat to home run ratio in the league with one long ball per 20.35 at-bats. This award comes to Morris after a season full of accolades. He was named the Southern League Player of the Week in July and represented the Stars as a Southern League All-Star. This is his second Topps Southern League Player of the Month honor for this season alone (June). He was also named the Brewers Minor League Hitter of the Month for April and June.

This and that: AUDIO: Quite a bit of Huntsville / minor league system talk today on the D-List with Tom Haudricourt *** I've often said I don't "get" the whole world of autograph seekers (I respect those of you who do it responsibly), but certainly this passionate seeker is a big Greg Hopkins fan. *** Huge series for post-season hopefuls Huntsville and Brevard County. Really hoping to see them join the Rattlers with September playoffs. By the way, the Tampa Yankees now have online audio, I thought they'd be the very last holdout considering the Rays are right in town. With all due respect to our Manatees' front office friends, a reminder they really need to reach out to the local universities and look into basically "free" potential coverage for home games minimally, for 2013 and beyond. So many communications departments / students would welcome the opportunity.

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 does not play a split schedule. The other leagues, including the rookie leagues, do. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County or Wisconsin, you'll then be able to choose 1st half and/or overall standings in addition to the current 2nd half standings.

Follow Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale Game One Maryvale Game Two DSL Brewers

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Hiram Burgos at Fresno (Giants), 8:50 PM pre-game, 9:05 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 Johnnie Lowe at home vs. Pensacola (Reds), 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: LHP Jed Bradley at Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 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 Jacob Barnes at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 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: RHP Ryan Gibbard 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): It's a doubleheader (makeup of July 15th rainout) at the Reds' complex in Goodyear, each contest slated for seven innings; 7:00 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

VIDEO: Helena Highlights

VIDEO: Post-Game Interview with Combined No-Hitter Pitchers

Nice touch having catcher Anderson de la Rosa hold the scorecard...

Via waaytv.com http://www.waaytv.com/media/lib/158/0/7/0/07076ad4-2a78-4ed3-98ae-d0e5b50d31c9/Original.jpg

Jimmy Nelson tweet

This is Huntsville's first no-hitter since David Welch beat the Lookouts June 2, 2008 in a seven-inning game at Chattanooga. The Stars' last combined no-hitter was in the 2007 playoffs, with Corey Thurman, Dave Johnson and Luis Pena pulling the trick. To the archives! (Always fun to re-read, not just the no-hit game, but the others...) Link Report for Mon. 6/2/08 -- Birthday Boy David Welch a Huntsville No-Hitter! Link Report Fri 9/7/07 - No-Hitter for Huntsville! Dramatic Stay-Alive for Nashville

Brewers' trades shake up Sounds by Nick Cole, the Tennessean The Milwaukee Brewers were active leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline, creating a trickle-down effect on the Nashville Sounds roster. Within the past week, the Sounds have made roster transactions that have impacted 16 players. “When you get close to the trade deadline, all the Triple-A teams expect a lot of movement,” Sounds manager Mike Guerrero said. “It just happens that we’ve had a lot more movement than others (this year).” Outfielder Khris Davis, hitting .383 at Double-A Huntsville, is one of the newcomers who could have an impact bat for Nashville down the stretch. “I’m seeing the ball well,” said Davis, who homered twice in his first three games with Nashville. “I’m just looking to bring some positive energy to the field and trying to help others get better.” The Sounds have added some players with major league experience. Reliever Fautino De Los Santos, acquired from Oakland, has spent portions of the last two seasons in the A’s bullpen. Catcher Humberto Quintero, a 10-year major-league veteran who played 43 games with Kansas City this season, signed a minor-league contract and reported to Nashville this week. Pitchers Jim Henderson, Mark Rogers and Mike McClendon were called up by Milwaukee. Burgos sailing: Starting pitcher Hiram Burgos, 24, joined the Sounds last Sunday, marking his third stop in the Brewers system this season. A sixth-round draft choice of the Brewers in 2009, Burgos had a 4.89 ERA with Class-A Advanced Brevard County last season. But this season, Burgos leads the minor leagues with a 1.65 ERA through 20 starts, according to the Sounds. “All my pitches are working great and I’m throwing with a lot of confidence,” Burgos said. “I have changed a lot of things both on and off the field this season, and I feel like I’m where I need to be mentally.” The Puerto Rico native is settling in with Nashville and taking some advice from his new teammates. “I started the season in High-A and now I’m in Triple-A,” Burgos said. “The guys told me that this is the same game no matter what level you’re at, you’ve just got keep doing what you do and not change anything.” Shakes for everyone: When Sounds outfielder Caleb Gindl made a smoothie for third baseman Taylor Green last season, he had no idea it was the start of a budding shake-making career. “He started serving them up and I started getting hits,” Green said. “It just kind of carried on from there.” Witnessing Green’s hot hitting, many of Gindl’s teammates started requesting one of his special hit-producing shakes. It has become so popular that Gindl now serves all of his teammates a smoothie before each game, sometimes making as many as 30. “It’s a lot of work,” Gindl said of the ritual. “It really takes up a lot of my time.” “They’ve been really good right from the start,” Green said. “He’s been perfecting the texture of it. He’s rivaling Smoothie King.” As for the ingredients, Gindl will never tell. “I can’t tell you, (it’s a) secret recipe,” Gindl said. “No vitamins (in them), just hits.”

Rattler Radio blog - Video Highlights

Marlins' Stanton homers in first rehab Rehabbing Miami slugger hits three-run shot, plates four runs By Danny Wild / MLB.com *** And this from Florida Today (full article) But there was no clowning around Thursday as Stanton was making his first rehab start at Space Coast Stadium for the visiting Jupiter Hammerheads. “First rehab game tonight, let’s get it,” he tweeted shortly before the game. Stanton hit cleanup and was the designated hitter Thursday night. His first appearance came leading off the second inning. He saw nine pitches, letting the bat slip dangerously from his hands into the stands before popping out to shallow left field. But he looked like the player he was prior to his July 8 knee surgery when he came to bat in the top of the third inning with two on and two out. He belted the second pitch deep over the right field fence — the same exact spot he was parking them during batting practice. He stroked an RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth, making it 8-0 after striking out swinging on a high fastball to end the fourth with two on and two out. His final at bat, in the top of the eighth, saw him take a 1-0 fastball to the deepest part of right center field, about 400 feet where it was hauled in by centerfielder Reggie Keen. “I got that one pretty good,” he said. “I put a good swing on it.”

Nelson, Huntsville no-hit Chattanooga Five Stars pitchers combine on 11 free passes, one run in feat By Sam Dykstra / Special to MLB.com Double-A Huntsville threw a one-hitter Wednesday. One day later, the staff arguably wasn't as good, but did eliminate that pesky word "one." Brewers' No. 9 prospect Jimmy Nelson combined with relievers Dan Merklinger, R.J. Seidel, Darren Byrd and Brandon Kintzler on a no-hitter Thursday in the Stars' 3-1 win over Chattanooga. It marks the second no-hitter in the Southern League this season -- Pensacola's Daniel Corcino and Wilkin De La Rosa combined on one June 16 -- and the 13th in Minor League Baseball. It was the Stars' first no-no since June 2, 2008 when David Welch achieved the feat over seven innings. The back-to-back pitching performances had the team's starter in awe after the latest accomplishment. "That was pretty impressive," Nelson said. "That's definitely two of the better games I've ever seen as far as not allowing solid contact." Thursday's no-hitter, which included the allowed run and 11 walks, required five pitchers because Nelson was returning from a month-long trip to the disabled list due to shoulder fatigue. The 6-foot-6 starter was only allotted 65 pitches for his outing and exited after 64 in the fourth inning. Nelson struck out four and walked four, and he took note of the opposing measures of his outing. "I mean, you know the [no-hitter] is there when you leave," he said. "But I was more focused on getting better command of all my pitches. I was OK tonight, but I have to make sure that I don't shoot myself in the foot with bad command next time." Accuracy woes continued to plague Stars hurlers one inning later. Merklinger issued a walk to Matt Wallach to open the fifth before retiring the next two batters consecutively. However, the 26-year-old southpaw issued three straight two-out walks to bring in Wallach for the Lookouts' only run of the evening. Seidel entered and forced C.J. Retherford to line out to escape the bases-loaded jam. But the righty gave up two additional walks in the sixth. Although the night ended on a happy note, that stretch still irked Huntsville pitching coach Chris Hook. "I was disappointed about it," he said. "We had some lefties and some [switch-hitters] coming up for their side, so we went with Merklinger to try to get them out. He had some issues throwing strikes, which you never like to see. R.J. was able to get the huge out in the fifth, but he fell into the same pattern too. On my end, I'm not real happy about that, but we were fortunate to get the outs when we needed them." Byrd allowed one walk in the seventh, but pitched a perfect eighth to preserve the no-hitter. Finally, Kintzler, who has 16 games of Major League experience but was designated for assignment by the Brewers last month due to arm injuries and middling performance, set down the side in order in the ninth. Those last three innings helped settle Hook's feelings about the night as a whole. "You could see they took it upon themselves as a challenge," he said. "You could see the intensity on their faces. Obviously, they want to get those nine outs and finish up the win, but there was a little something extra too. "Kintzler got a little pumped. You could see the big leagues in him. Sometimes, those guys don't care when they're at the lower levels, but he had a little bit extra emotion." The most walks allowed in a Major League no-hitter was also 11 -- Blue Moon Odom (nine) and Francisco Barrios (two) combined for the White Sox on July 28, 1976. The most by an individual was Jim Maloney's 10 in a 10-inning no-hitter for the Reds on Aug. 19, 1965. But does Hook think the high walk count dampens his team's feat? "To me, it does," he said. "The most gratifying thing really is beating a good Chattanooga team and taking the series. But that being said, sometimes you have these things happen in an ugly way, and this one had a capital 'U'." Still, the Stars pitching staff has allowed only one hit in the past 18 innings -- something that Hook credits to the Brewers trade of Zack Greinke that brought Jean Segura, Ariel Pena and Wednesday's starter Johnny Hellweg to the Brewers and the Stars. "Sometimes, you get a lift when you get new players, and these guys have been a big help," Hook said. Either way, with just over a month left on the Southern League schedule and the Stars only four games back in the North Division, this run couldn't have come at a better time. "It shows we have the ability and the pitches in our repertoire to handle anything right now," Nelson said. "We can shut down a lot of teams. There are always going to be times when things are going well or when you're struggling. But it's great when everything's coming together this late." Jimmy Nelson is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts for Double-A Huntsville. (Jason Clark photo) http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/03/5yljVwL9.jpg

Five Stars combine for no-hitter against Chattanooga By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Five Stars pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Chattanooga Lookouts Thursday night, giving Huntsville a 3-1 victory. Jimmy Nelson (four innings), Dan Merklinger (2/3s of an inning), R.J. Seidel (1 1/3), Darren Byrd (two) and Brandon Kintzler (one inning) teamed up for the accomplishment -- though they also combined to walk 11 Chattanooga batters. It is the most pitchers to combine for a no-hitter in Southern League history. There is no record listed in the Southern League media guide for walks in a no-hitter; however, the major league record for most walks in a combined no-hitter is also 11, set by the White Sox' Blue Moon Odom (nine) and Francisco Barrios (two) in 1976. The Stars got their runs on a three-run homer by Brock Kjeldgaard, who has just returned from High-A Brevard County. Lee Haydel had three hits for Huntsville, giving him nine hits in 13 at-bats in the past four games. This is Huntsville's first no-hitter since David Welch beat the Lookouts June 2, 2008 in a seven-inning game at Chattanooga. The Stars' last combined no-hitter was in the 2007 playoffs, with Corey Thurman, Dave Johnson and Luis Pena pulling the trick. The Lookouts managed only one hit in the past two games against Huntsville, with Johnny Hellweg, Daniel Meadows and Kyle Heckathorn combining for that one-hitter on Wednesday. It enables the Stars to win the series three games to two and close to within four games of the division-leading Lookouts in the Southern League North. The Stars open a five-game series with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday at 6:43 p.m. The Wahoos sport infielder Billy Hamilton, who, between the California League and a brief tenure in the Southern League, has 119 stolen bases in 103 games this year and is considered the fastest man in baseball. He's on pace to break Vince Coleman's record for most thefts in a season of 145, set in 1983. The unsung hero of the no-hitter was catcher Anderson de la Rosa, who made a sparkling defensive play after a Matt Wallach smash up the middle on which Nelson made a move akin to a hockey goalie's kick-save. De la Rosa pounced on the ball and threw the runner out. Manager Darnell Coles gave de la Rosa, who turned 28 on Wednesday, credit on how "he took control of the game, went out there (to the mound) and settled them down when they needed it." It was a different sort of no-hitter to sit through, considering all the walks. "First and foremost, you're trying to find a way to win the game," Coles said. "The no-hitter ended up being a by-product of that. The reality is, the no-hitter is the last thing you're thinking about. "I can't say the pitchers were effectively wild, because we were always pitching in and out of trouble. There were some stressful innings, for sure." The Lookouts had at least one runner on base in every inning but the first, eighth and ninth. Their biggest threat was in the fifth when Merklinger relieved Nelson and walked four men, three of them with two out, the last one bringing home Chattanooga's only run. "(The walks) were scattered," Coles said. "Still, 11 walks is 11 walks. I don't know how you get around that portion of it."