Jim Goulart

Sounds turn page after worst start in franchise's 35-year history By Jerome Boettcher, Nashville City Paper The losing streak perplexed everyone in the clubhouse. From first-year manager Mike Guerrero to minor league veteran Jim Henderson to peppy infielder Eric Farris — it didn’t make sense. Less than a month into the season, the Nashville Sounds were mired in a 10-game skid. The team’s longest losing streak since joining the Pacific Coast League in 1998 was unthinkable considering the immense optimism at the beginning of the season. When they opened in April, the 25-man roster featured 16 returning players from 2011, three of the organization’s top 10 prospects — according to Baseball America — and nine members of the 40-man roster of their parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers. Beneath the surface that last number said more — and may have had an impact on the first month of the season. The 40-man roster consists of players who signed a major league contract and can be called up to the majors at any time. Of the nine Sounds on the 40-man roster, seven played with the Brewers at some point in 2011. In fact, 18 of the Sounds’ opening 25 were at big league spring training in Phoenix. All arrived there believing they deserved to open 2012 in Milwaukee. Instead, they ended up in Triple-A Nashville and contributed to a 4-17 record — the worst start in the franchise’s 35-year history. “I think it was a bit of a hangover from spring training,” said Henderson, the team’s closer and lone All-Star. “Some guys hoping they made the [brewers] and then they are kind of disappointed, and they didn’t come out with the same intensity that maybe we should have. “I think we’re all picking it up quite a bit, and guys are starting to make the pushes they need to.” Last week the Sounds turned the page and began the second half of 2012 with newfound enthusiasm. They went into the All-Star break having won nine of 12 for a 40-51 record and sole possession of second place in the American Northern Division. Prior to last Thursday, they remained 16 games behind the Omaha Stormchasers (Kansas City Royals). Thus, barring a miraculous second-half or nightmarish end for the Stormchasers, making the postseason for the first time since 2007 is highly unlikely (only the four divisional champions make the playoffs). Still, 11 games below .500 is a vast improvement from when the club hit rock bottom on April 26. “It took this team a little longer to come together and figure out our identity,” Farris said. “We’re feeding off each other now. There are more people hot. Before, we were a little inconsistent. We’ve been in ballgames all year. That’s never been the problem. We were just waiting for something to click. “We’re not quite there yet, but we’re definitely about to turn that corner.” Whether anyone in Nashville will take notice is unclear. While the Sounds continue to wait on a new stadium, they attempt to sell seats at the aging Greer Stadium, the 34-year-old ballpark that sits in an awkward location south of downtown, outside I-40 and I-65, tucked behind Fort Negley Park. After 37 home games, the Sounds ranked 12th out of 16 teams in attendance with an average of 5,133. The Round Rock (Texas) Express, the top affiliate of the Texas Rangers, tops the PCL with an 8,389 average. The difference between a full house and one that is half-empty — or half-full — usually hinges on promotion. Usually, that is. Evidently, dollar hot dogs weren’t enough to entice fans to come out April 16, when a season-low crowd of 1,699 witnessed the Sounds’ 11-5 loss to New Orleans, beginning the 10-game losing streak. On May 9, busloads of local students ditched the classroom for some late-morning baseball as part of the Sounds’ Education Day promotion. That contributed to a then-season-high crowd of 9,180. Just three weeks later, on June 2, that number was exceeded, thanks to the triple whammy of postgame fireworks, free Sounds hats to the first 2,000 fans and Trevecca Nazarene Faith Night. A season high of 10,044 filled Greer, which has a capacity of 10,300, to watch the Sounds end a six-game losing streak. This summer 10 Sounds have been called up to the Brewers, including right-hander Wily Peralta, who made his Major League debut on April 22 against the Colorado Rockies. The undrafted 23-year-old lasted just one game before returning to the Sounds. But Peralta has improved since a 3-8 start, winning his last two starts, and prior to last week, he hadn’t allowed an earned run in his last 18 2/3 innings. The development of the Brewers’ top minor league prospect is just one instance of the reversal of fortune for the Sounds. Though they’re tied with Memphis for the worst batting average (.258) and the fewest home runs (70), the improvements at the plate are apparent. In April, they batted .235 and scored just 68 runs. May proved to be much better as they hit .270, and as the weather warmed up in June, so did the bats, hitting 31 home runs and scoring 124 runs. Guerrero sees the headway as a promising sign. The 44-year-old from the Dominican Republic is in his 17th season as a minor league manager but his first with the Sounds. He spent the last two years at Double-A Huntsville, where he was 131-146. Guerrero believes his nearly two decades as coach and instructor with the Brewers’ organization aids him in juggling the long seasons and enormous travel demands while he manages fragile egos of players on the cusp of the big leagues. “There is so much I can do, but the players have to go out there and perform,” Guerrero said. “That is part of the game. You’ve got to learn from mistakes you make, mistakes the players’ make and make adjustments here and there. You learn from it, you let it define you, and you got to go on, because we’re playing tomorrow. It is a long season, and no matter what happened yesterday, we’ve got to play today.”

DVR ALERT! As we like to do, here's some notice for you. This Thursday the 19th, Time Warner Cable Sports 32 TV will broadcast the Rattlers game (7:05 PM). The Brewers are off, so a nice TV bonus for locals.

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

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Brian Baker at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 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 Hiram Burgos and LHP Dan Meadows in a doubleheader at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 4:28 PM pre-game, 4:43 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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 and TBD (perhaps RHP Taylor Jungmann) in a doubleheader at St. Lucie (Mets), 4:00 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Free Live Audio Link -- Select the St. Lucie 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: Idle ********** Helena: RHP's Ryan Gibbard and Eric Semmelhack in a doubleheader at Ogden (Dodgers), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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 the Diamondbacks' complex in Scottsdale; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Blue Jays, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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Third rainout tonight, doubleheader in Ogden, Utah Tuesday at 6:30 Central.

Rain delay in Montana, too -- so while you multi-task with Cardinals/Brewers, here's Helena Brewers broadcaster Steve Wendt's audio with Minor League infield coordinator Bob Miscik

No Tyrone Taylor in the Helena starting lineup. Night just became much less interesting. *** Every DSL game is either 3-1 or 12-10. There's no in-between, ever.

As I was told would happen two weeks ago (but didn't mention here, was waiting to see), Brewers 32nd round RHP Nick Anderson has signed with the independent Frontier League's Rockford (IL) Rivercats. Kind of an odd situation, the Brewers can monitor Anderson's work, and always offer him an affiliated deal, although we don't believe they retain his exclusive MiLB rights.

Stars' doubleheader at 4:43 Tuesday. Enjoy the lighter volume tonight, Link Reporters. Meg-night Tuesday.

Via the 'Tees: Brevard County and St. Lucie will play a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 5:00 PM (4:00 Central). Both games will be seven innings.

AUDIO: Here is this week's installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero via Jeff Hem

Boy, injuries, promotions and ineffectiveness have ravaged that Huntsville rotation. It's at the point that LHP Daniel Meadows gets his chance to start on Tuesday (listed as probable starter).

One reason Jeff Bianchi's callup to the big leagues at this particular time was so important to his family is made evident in this article from his hometown. Jeff's high school alma mater held this fundraiser in April. Here's hoping that the very best is happening for Sarah.

Nashville Media Notes GINDL GOING OFF: Outfielder Caleb Gindl is batting .389 (21-for-54) in his last 15 games, hitting safely in 14 of those contests.

Here's Chris' Nine After 9 from Sunday's Timber Rattlers' game and Monday's Media Notes

Go to the 26:30 minute mark of the WSSP pre-game show from Sunday to hear Jeff Bianchi interviewed.

Here's a nice article about longtime Brewer farmhand LHP Sam Narron, in his new role as a pitching coach in the Nationals' system. It won't matter to anyone but me, but the manager alongside Narron is Gary Cathcart - we would have been high school classmates (same home town, I'm four days older), except that he attended a local Catholic high school. He topped out at AAA in the Yankees' system.

DVR ALERT! As we like to do, here's some notice for you. This Thursday the 19th, Time Warner Cable Sports 32 TV will broadcast the Rattlers game (7:05 PM). The Brewers are off, so a nice TV bonus for locals.

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

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 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 Hiram Burgos at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 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 St. Lucie (Mets), 5:30 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the St. Lucie 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 Mark Williams at Fort Wayne (Padres), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 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 makes his first pro start (fifth appearance) at Ogden (Dodgers), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:00 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): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Angels, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest