Jim Goulart

I want to thank the Appleton Post-Crescent and the Helena Independent Record for enforcing new tight limitations on page views. Sigh... What is this, free enterprise? We'll get around it, but just something you should be aware of in terms of links to photo galleries and such...

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

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP's Claudio Vargas and Donovan Hand in a doubleheader at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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 Evan Anundsen 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: Doubleheader at Bradenton (Pirates), 4:00 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings; unclear who will take the mound -- it will "likely" be LHP Jed Bradley and RHP Brooks Hall Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton 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 Chad Pierce 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: LHP Will West 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): at the Rangers' complex in Surprise; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: Idle for the All-Star break; the Dominican Summer League All-Star Game is Sunday (American League vs. National League); no word on which Brewers might take part, we'll probably learn when we see the box score

Helena Independent Record summary of road contest -- Idaho Falls’ Adrian Martinez scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Chukars won their second straight Pioneer League game over the Helena Brewers 4-3 on Friday night. Idaho Falls starter Sam Selman followed teammate Ali Williams’ 11-strikeout start on Thursday with a seven-strikeout outing of his own on Friday, but lasted just 5.1 innings after allowing Helena to pull within 3-2 on Yonki Hernandez’s bunt single that plated Michael Reed in the fifth. Selman allowed five hits and just one walk before being pulled. David Middendorf relieved him and was hit with a blown save after allowing Adam Giacalone to score on Raul Mondesi Jr.’s single to center field in the sixth that knotted the score. Middendorf rebounded to allow no more runs and four hits total in his two innings of work, though, and picked up the win on Martinez’s sprint to the plate. Reliever Martin Viramontes (1-2) took the loss for the Brewers. Martinez and Carlos Garcia both went 2 for 3 to lead the Idaho Falls offense. Helena’s Tyrone Taylor had his second straight strong day at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a run scored as the only Brewers batter with multiple hits on the day. Idaho Falls won the series 2-1.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outfielder Haniger to aim for next season after injury by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent staff writer Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans had the opportunity to get a glimpse of top prospect Mitch Haniger, but it wasn’t a long look. Haniger, a supplemental first-round draft pick and the 38th overall selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, has a partial tear to the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He’s not expected to need surgery but will likely miss the rest of his first professional season. Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson confirmed the injury and doesn’t anticipate that Haniger, who played center field with the Rattlers, will return to the team this season. Haniger is visiting team doctors in Arizona and will start a rehab program there. He is expected to be available for the Brewers instructional camp in Arizona in the fall. “I’d assume he’s done for the season and that they’re going to want him at full strength and ready to go for the instructional league, and then come in fresh next year for spring training,” Erickson said. “It was a pleasure to get a brief look at him. You can see why he was selected as a sandwich pick.” Haniger injured his knee while sliding into home plate. He was placed on the Timber Rattlers’ disabled list July 6. “It was an awkward slide where he ended up banging the knee,” Erickson said. “He’s taking it well. Being a competitor, he’s obviously disappointed, but he’s an intelligent, mature kid and knows what he has to do.” In 14 games and 49 at-bats with the Rattlers, Haniger hit .286 with a home run, four doubles and eight RBI. “He can do a lot of things on the field,” Erickson said. “He’s got a great arm and he made some quick adjustments at the plate on a steady basis. He was very solid in all facets of the game.” The Brewers selected Haniger with the high draft pick they received as compensation for the free agent loss of slugger Prince Fielder. Haniger played college baseball at Cal Poly, where he was the Big West’s Conference’s leader in home runs (13), RBI (64), slugging percentage (.626) and total bases (132). After the Brewers selected him, Bruce Seid, Milwaukee’s amateur scouting director, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “I don’t want to put emphasis by saying this is going to be a 40-home run guy, but I will say Mitch Haniger is a pretty damn good baseball player. He can hit. He has power. He has a chance to play center field. He’s a smart, heady baseball player.” The Timber Rattlers have been battling injuries during the second half of the season. Infielder Greg Hopkins, one of the club’s top hitters, has been sidelined the past 11 days with a concussion after being hit on the head with a pitch. Erickson said that Hopkins is progressing well and expects him to return to the lineup in the near future. “Unfortunately, the whole Brewers organization has had to deal with injuries at different levels, starting at the major leagues,” Erickson said. “We really didn’t have many injuries the first half, but we’ve been battling them the last couple weeks. But we’re starting to get some of those guys back.”

First, today we acknowledge the 1981 release of Saturday the 14th, ( ) an admittedly weak comedy-horror spoof (because those always work), which hoped to piggyback somehow off the Friday the 13th movie craze of the day. The movie did give us Kari Michaelsen, who went on play oldest sister Katie for four years on Gimme a Break!, for which my late teenage years were very grateful. Anyway, a rare Link Report off-topic digression in honor of today's point on the calendar. http://cdn101.iofferphoto.com/img/item/124/116/157/saturday-the-14th-dvd-comedy-8fcc8.jpg

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Captains 7, Timber Rattlers 6: Sprint ends marathon for Lake County By David S. Glasier, News-Herald.com You know it's a long night at the ol' ballpark when the crowd sings along with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for the second time. That was the case Friday at Classic Park as the Captains and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers worked overtime, 15 innings and 4 1/2 hours, before the Captains pulled out a 7-6 victory. Captains right fielder Jordan Smith accounted for the game-winning run. With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 15th, Smith sent a fly ball to straightaway left field off Wisconsin reliever Stephen Peterson. Lake County speedster Jose Ramirez, stationed on third base after doubling to open the frame and moving up on an intentional walk to Francisco Lindor, never hesitated on the decisive play. Ramirez broke home after the catch by Wisconsin right fielder Ben McMahan. The throw was strong but high and slightly up the line, allowing Rodriguez to slide around the attempted tag by Wisconsin catcher Cameron Garfield. Smith and Ramirez immediately were mobbed by joyous teammates. "With bases loaded, I'd rather have hit it over the fence, but it went out there just far enough for Mini-Me (Ramirez) to score," Smith said. "We had so many chances to win this. It's really big when a game like this breaks your way." Left-handed reliever Kyle Petter (1-0, 0.96), the sixth pitcher used by Captains manager Dave Wallace, worked a scoreless top of the 15th to earn the victory. The pressure was on Petter. He was only going to be permitted to go the one inning after working two scoreless innings in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Wisconsin. Wallace had designated hitter Patric Tolentino, a catcher by trade, warming up in the bullpen. "Petter stepped up. He gave us a clean inning and a chance to win the game. If we'd gone to the 16th (inning), Tolentino was going to be on the mound," Wallace said. Petter had has left arm encased in ice after the Captains prevailed in the marathon affair. "Just a great effort by both ballclubs," Petter said. "We couldn't get it done in nine innings, but we stepped up when it mattered most." The Captains improved to 10-11 in the second half with the victory in the series finale. Wisconsin slipped to 11-10 with the loss. It was the longest game of the season at Classic Park and the longest for both teams this season in terms of innings and game time. "This will make sleeping a lot easier tonight," Wallace said. Smith went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Captains. Tolentino had a double, home run and two RBI. The Captains took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Luigi Rodriguez raced home off Jordan Smith's two-out RBI single to right field. Wisconsin pulled even in the top of the fifth inning when Lake County starter Mason Radeke yielded a one-out, solo home run to Tyler Roberts. In the bottom of the fifth, the Captains answered with two runs to take a 3-1 lead. The first tally came on Tolentino's tape-measure solo home run to left field. Francisco Lindor doubled home Hankins with the second run. Hankins had reached base on an error by Wisconsin shortstop Yadier Rivera. Lake County extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI doubles by Tolentino and Todd Hankins. The Timber Rattlers tallied single runs in the top of the seventh and eight innings to draw closer, then scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Wisconsin's Max Walla slammed a solo home run in the top of the 12th inning. Smith's RBI single in the bottom of the 12th prolonged the drama. Photo by Jeff Forman/News-Herald.com Captains designated hitter Patric Tolentino beats the tag from Rattlers second baseman Adrian Williams for an RBI double in the sixth inning, giving the Captains a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning Friday at Classic Park. http://news-herald.com/content/articles/2012/07/14/sports/nh5725560.jpg

Awesome headline from the Isotopes site after the win over Nashville -- Nieve Allows Nyet 7-0 Isotopes Win

Adam McCalvy with Bruce Seid's update

27-year-old LHP Victor Garate (ugly numbers this year) released from Nashville to make room for Tim Dillard, who accepted his outright assignment.

Media Notes: Huntsville Wisconsin (1B Nick Ramirez a late scratch)

Newest addition to the Brewers Minor League interwebs -- Milwaukee2080.com Good luck, guys. (For today, scroll to bottom of that link, read bottom to top, as they've added several first-day updates.)

Nashville Media Notes

Helena Audio -- with shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, 2012 17th round pick out of the University of Maryland

Fangraphs: Q&A: Terry Ryan, Twins general manager Just a ridiculously good read for those of us who like to learn about developmental philosophies at the minor league level...

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.

Last game in the Pioneer League regular season where you can watch the Helena team online via MiLB.TV. If you're a friend or family member of a Helena player, it's probably worth the $9.99 it will cost you to purchase a one-month subscription, which gets you Wednesday and Thursday's archive and Friday's live/archived action.

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 Game One Huntsville Game Two Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Seth McClung at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 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's Josh Stinson and Evan Anundsen in a doubleheader at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 4:20 PM pre-game, 4:35 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 Brooks Hall at Bradenton (Pirates), 5:30 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton 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 Matt Miller at Lake County (Indians), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 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, plus one July Helena series (11th-13th). ********** Helena: RHP Tyler Wagner at Idaho Falls (Royals), 8:00 PM pre-game, 8:15 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 little Padres'; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: Idle

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Final: Arizona Mariners 7, Arizona Brewers 6 Arizona Game Log We'll start with the game log because this loss must have been so frustrating for the single-digit Brewer fans in the stands. A-Crew trailed 7-1 heading to the bottom of the 8th, but the rotating catcher-designated hitter combo of Clint Coulter and Dustin Houle helped close the gap in that frame, although as you'll see, the inning could have been more fruitful: AZL Brewers Bottom of the 8th Dionis Hinojosa doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Rashynol Michel. Jose Sermo grounds out, shortstop Keith Werman to first baseman Christian Carmichael. Clint Coulter singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Leal. Dionis Hinojosa scores. Dustin Houle singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Leal. Clint Coulter scores. Dustin Houle to 2nd. Fielding error by right fielder Jose Leal. Jose Pena singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Leal. Dustin Houle to 3rd. Jalen Harris grounds into double play, second baseman Timothy Lopes to shortstop Keith Werman to first baseman Christian Carmichael. Jose Pena out at 2nd. So Carlos Sosa then strikes out two batters in a 1-2-3 top of the 9th, and we head to the final frame. Unfortunately, the Coulter-Houle duo could not duplicate their 8th inning work in what was an exceedingly excrutiating to read come-up-one-run-short rally. This included a baserunning faux-pas, with Dionis Hinojosa getting thrown out at 3rd base for the first out: AZL Brewers Bottom of the 9th Pitcher Change: Alex Roy replaces Jose Flores. Alan Sharkey hit by pitch. Angel Ortega singles on a fly ball to left fielder Rashynol Michel. Alan Sharkey to 2nd. Edgardo Rivera walks. Alan Sharkey to 3rd. Angel Ortega to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Cody Weiss replaces Alex Roy. Dionis Hinojosa singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Leal. Alan Sharkey scores. Angel Ortega scores. Edgardo Rivera to 2nd. Jose Sermo singles on a fly ball to left fielder Rashynol Michel. Edgardo Rivera scores. Dionis Hinojosa out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Rashynol Michel to third baseman Joseph DeCarlo. Jose Sermo to 2nd on the throw. With Clint Coulter batting, wild pitch by Cody Weiss, Jose Sermo to 3rd. Clint Coulter pops out to third baseman Joseph DeCarlo in foul territory. Dustin Houle pops out to second baseman Timothy Lopes. Sigh... Arizona Box Score The Austin's (Hill and Blaski) did not allow an earned Mariner run over the first five innings. Each hurler was a college pick, and surely they're waiting for opportunities in Montana. A triple, walk, and single translated into three 3rd inning runs against Austin Hill due to two errors and a passed ball. Didn't we expect 2011 2nd round RHP Jorge Lopez to be making a Gallardo-like impression on us in Helena this year? He's young, but not ultra-young (nearly 19 1/2). He got his feet wet with four limited starts in Maryvale last summer. Yet four of his five outings this year have been really weak. What did the Brewers see in extended spring training to keep him from Helena? Apparently what they are seeing here. Color me concerned, as I place negative value and read into repeat assignments. Clint Coulter added three more passed balls to his resume (nine on the season), but he did throw out a baserunner attempting a steal of second base. Leadoff 2B Jose Sermo was on base three times and drove in two, but it was his error that ruined the 3rd inning. Hinojosa also reached three times, but we mentioned his blunder, so it's hard to find someone who had a solid all-around game (we did, see next paragraph). SS Angel Ortega committed three throwing errors, doubling his season total, so you can't blame the Maryvale grounds crew on those. RF Jose Pena walked and singled, so his OPS increased to a glistening 1.087. He also gunned down a runner at the plate -- we are loving this 2012 version of the 2010 bonus baby, as stateside comfort must agree with him. CF Edgardo Rivera had a nice pro debut, single, walk, two runs scored.