Jim Goulart

brewerfan17 and SessileFielder, Northeast sunshine has me up early, I'll knock out the Maryvale box here shortly...

Timber Rattlers 5, Captains 3: All-Star shortstops from Puerto Rico have formed quick bond By David S. Glasier, News-Herald.com Two up-and-coming shortstops from Caguas, Puerto Rico, shared center stage Thursday at Classic Park as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers posted a 5-3 victory over the Captains. Francisco Lindor of the Captains was the Indians' first-round choice in the June 2011 draft. Many baseball people rate the 18-year-old switch hitter as the top prospect in the Cleveland farm system. Batting .262 with four home runs, 26 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 26 attempts, Lindor was the Eastern Division's starting shortstop in the Midwest League All-Star game. He also was invited to play for the International team in last Sunday's Futures game, a component of the Major League Baseball All-Star event. Yadiel Rivera of the Timber Rattlers was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth round of the June 2010 draft. Rivera isn't considered an elite prospect, but the 20-year-old middle infielder's combination of size (6-foot-3, 185 pounds), power (10 home runs) and run production (36 RBI, 42 runs) is turning heads inside and outside the Milwaukee organization. Despite his .236 average, Rivera was selected to the Western Division all-star squad. Rivera was the hitting star for the Timber Rattlers in Wednesday's 11-8 victory over the Captains. He went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, double and two singles. Although he managed only a walk in three official at-bats in Thursday's matinee affair, Rivera made his presence felt on defense. He was in on four double plays, two of them unassisted. "Yadi has really nice hands, great footwork and seems able to control the game in his mind," Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson said. What turned out to be a critical play at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning brought together Lindor and Rivera in tight quarters. With the Timber Rattlers having just scored three runs in the top of the frame to take a 5-3 lead, Lindor led off in the bottom half of the sixth with a sharp single to left field off Wisconsin reliever Jacob Barnes. Lindor advanced to second base when Jordan legged out a ground ball hit to Rivera deep in the hole. Up to the plate came Captains first baseman Jerrud Sabourin and his team-high 38 RBI. Sabourin hit a shoetop-level line drive to Rivera, who seemed to have the liner in leather until the ball fell to the ground in front of him. When base umpire James Rackley made no signal, Rivera tagged Lindor for one out and stepped on second to force Smith and complete the twin killing. The strictest interpretation of baseball rules forbids a player from intentionally dropping a ball to initiate a tagout-forceout double play. Rivera admitted after the game that he intentionally dropped the ball. Erickson said the same. Captains manager Dave Wallace said he and his coaches understood what was happening. "It's a play that's not inside the rules, but it's a play you want to try to make if you can," Wallace said. "In the big leagues, the umpires wouldn't have let it stand. That play (Rivera) made was beyond the capabilities of these umpires to make the call. "Frankie (Lindor) made the same play earlier this season," Wallace added. Rivera and Lindor said no words were exchanged between them after the play unfolded at second base. Although both hail from Caguas, a city of 140,000 in east-central Puerto Rico, Rivera and Lindor had never met until they crossed paths at the All-Star game in Illinois. They went out to dinner at a Mentor restaurant after Wednesday's game. "He's a good guy, a humble guy who works really hard and knows the game," Lindor said of Rivera. Rivera had similar praise for Lindor, whom he described as a "new friend, a great guy and a very talented player." Both said they'd love to get to the big leagues at about the same time and represent Caguas. Lindor and his family moved from Puerto Rico to Florida when he was 12. The Captains took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Smith's three-run home run. He now has five home runs and 36 RBI. Wisconsin starter Chad Thompson (4-2, 4.84 ERA) and Barnes blanked the Captains the rest of the way as the Timber Rattlers improved to 11-9 in the second half. Right-handed reliever Enosil Tejada (0-1, 13.50), making his first appearance for the Captains after being called up from Mahoning Valley, gave up three runs on four hits in two inning to take the loss. The Captains slipped to 9-11 with their second straight setback.

Sounds roster gets All-Star shakeup by Greg Sullivan, the Tennessean The Nashville Sounds’ roster will have a new look when the club resumes play tonight with a 7:05 home game against Albuquerque following the All-Star break and a rainout on Thursday. Hot-hitting shortstop Jeff Bianchi and right-handed pitching prospect Tyler Thornburg were called up by the Brewers on Wednesday. It’s 25-year-old Bianchi’s first stint in the major leagues. Third baseman Taylor Green, who started the season with the Sounds before an extended stay with the Brewers, was sent back to Nashville. Longtime former Sound Tim Dillard was reassigned on Wednesday after spending the entire first part of the season with Milwaukee. The reliever has until Saturday to decide whether to accept an assignment with Nashville or become a free agent. Dillard was not among those in the Sounds’ clubhouse Thursday prior to players leaving Greer Stadium once the rainout was announced. “You know that things are going to happen and things change day-to-day at this level,” Sounds Manager Mike Guerrero said. “Hopefully we can help our major league club to turn things around with (Bianchi and Thornburg) going up there. Whatever we can do to do that, we’ve got to do it.” Bianchi was leading the Sounds in hitting (.305) after starting the season at Double-A Huntsville. Thornburg got a win in his one start as a Sound. Retirement: Sounds’ outfielder and former big-league slugger Jay Gibbons retired from baseball over the break. Gibbons, 35, hit 127 home runs in parts of nine seasons in the majors with the Orioles and Dodgers, but he was hitting .204 with the Sounds. “Jay said he wanted to spend more time with his family. He’s got young kids,” said Patterson, who has spent parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues and said he has been around plenty of players contemplating retirement. “It’s tough on a lot of guys. Not all of us get to go out on our own terms and ride off into the sunset on a horse. I’d hope I’ve got a few years left in me, but it can sting. From talking with him, I think this is what he was ready to do.” Staying home: Tonight’s game is the first of eight straight at home for Nashville, and the Sounds play 16 of their next 20 games at Greer Stadium. Nashville and Albuquerque play a doubleheader on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. due to Thursday’s rainout. The Sounds were 21-19 at home prior to the All-Star break compared to 19-32 on the road. “At least this month we can sleep at home,” Sounds Manager Mike Guerrero said. “Hopefully we can have a good homestand and have a good start to the second half.” Winning combination: When Detroit’s Prince Fielder won Monday’s Home Run Derby with former Sounds hitting coach Sandy Guerrero, Mike Guerrero’s brother, it was the second time the pair had teamed up to win the event. Fielder won the event three years ago with Sandy Guerrero pitching, as well, when he was with the Brewers. “It was a really nice gesture that even though we’re in different organizations, he asked for permission for me to pitch,” Sandy Guerrero said. “We made history this year. He’s the only guy to win in both leagues.”

From early in the DSL game -- DSL Brewers Bottom of the 1st Francisco Castillo grounds out, third baseman Juruengelo Tielman to first baseman Eugenio Diaz. Raphachel Colatosti grounds out, shortstop Johan Camargo to first baseman Eugenio Diaz. Carlos Belonis grounds out, pitcher Francisco Gonzalez to first baseman Eugenio Diaz. DSL Braves Top of the 2nd Defensive switch from second base to shortstop for Raphachel Colatosti. Defensive Substitution: Elvis Rubio replaces shortstop Carlos Belonis, batting 3rd, playing first base. Hopefully just a tweak coming out of the box and miss a single game kind of thing...

It's going to look nasty in the box score, but there was exactly one hard-hit ball vs. LHP David Otterman during the unfortunate game-breaking four-run 7th in the Helena game tonight (bad hop ball, bad defensive mistake, well placed Chukar dribblers). [Gym Locker Room] KRAMER: Wide open, I was wide open underneath! I had three inches on that guy. You two were hogging the ball. GEORGE: Me? It wasn't me I never even saw the ball. All you do is dribble. JERRY: I have to dribble, if I give it to you, you just shoot. You're a chucker. GEORGE: Oh I'm a chucker. JERRY: That's right, everytime you get the ball you shoot. GEORGE: I can't believe you called me a chucker. No way I'm a chucker, I do not chuck, never chucked, never have chucked, never will chuck, no chuck! JERRY: You chuck. GEROGE: Kramer am I a chucker? KRAMER: You're a chucker. GEORGE: All these years I've been chuckin' and you've never told me? JERRY: Well it's not an easy thing to bring up.

Rattler Radio Blog: Nine After 9 Close injury call for Nick Ramirez, and Chris waxes poetic on the beauty of four double plays Gee, you think?

Catching up on Nashville video highlights from their pre-All Star Game break series in Memphis: Logan Schafer doubles vs. Redbirds Caleb Gindl homers Gindl hits RBI double off Shelby Miller Mark Rogers picks up his seventh strikeout over seven shutout innings

In Maryvale tonight -- 2012 8th round CF Edgardo Rivera, the 18-year-old Puerto Rico high schooler, makes his professional debut, batting 8th. 23-year-old Brigham Young RHP Austin Hall (33rd round) makes his first pro start (5th appearance). That mission work for BYU students always delays their age-entry into the workforce.

From Wednesday night -- Audio Interview: Helena Brewers broadcaster Steve Wendt talks with former Major Leaguer and father of Brewers outfielder Raul Mondesi Jr., Raul Mondesi

From Wednesday night: VIDEO: Helena's Tyrone Taylor singles home the go-ahead run as the Brewers rally past Idaho Falls, 8-7

This was from June 27th -- And for the first time since, Berard is in Helena's lineup tonight (as the DH). Good to see... It was an ankle sprain, by the way.

Via our Draft Forum: Where the Brewers stand Deadline to Sign This Year's Draft Picks -- Friday 7/13 4:00 PM Central

Below is the list of the 12 unsigned Brewers draft picks as of Thursday the 12th. Under the new CBA, the deadline to sign these players is Friday July 13th at 4:00 PM Central. For several of these players (Adkins, McCoy, Duffie, Burns), we had previously linked on our forums to stories indicating that the players were unlikely, or even definitely, not signing with Milwaukee. It doesn't appear there is enough over-slot money left in the Brewers' pool to entice Buck Farmer away from another year with the Yellow Jackets, and a potentially much higher draft position in 2013. One name to watch is 32nd round pick RHP Nick Anderson out of Mayville (North Dakota) State. In earlier linked stories (here and here), it seemed like Anderson's signing was a slam dunk, particularly because he's out of college eligibility (the only player on this list in that situation). Anderson's college pitching coach indicated to me a couple of weeks back that Nick was in Milwaukee for his physical, and I'm not aware of any issues coming out of that. The coach indicated when I followed up that he was surprised about the attention I was giving a 32nd round pick, but hey, Mike Fiers was a 22nd round pick, right? Another Anderson, Drew, the former Brewer who scouted Nick Anderson, was very cordial in an email to me (which I appreciated), but indicated that he really couldn't add to the discussion but that negotiations were ongoing. Since that would normally be an approximate $1,000-$5,000 "hey, where do I sign" bonus, not sure what the mystery is, but we'll respect all the parties involved and see what happens. 15. Buck Farmer, RHP, Georgia Tech 18. Hunter Adkins, RHP, Middle Tennessee State 19. Carlos Garmendia, 3B, Monsignor Edward Pace (FL) High School 26. Mark McCoy, LHP, Barnegat (NJ) High School 27. Tyler Duffie, RHP, TCU 29. Bryan Saucedo, 1B, Malvern Collegiate Institute (ON) 32. Nick Anderson, RHP, Mayville (N.D.) State University 34. Tommy Burns, RHP, Don Bosco Prep (NJ) High School 36. Alex Mangano, C, Southwest Miami (FL) High School 38. Chris Shaw, C, Holy Trinity Academy (AB) 39. Derek Jones, CF, St. Marguerite d'Youville (ON) Secondary School 40. Chucky Vazquez, C, American Senior (FL) High School

The formal DSL box score / game log finally is available -- sadly, the Cerveceritos were still shut out on a one-hitter.

Sounds, Isotopes Postponed On Thursday Night NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tonight's scheduled homestand opener at Greer Stadium between the Nashville Sounds and Albuquerque Isotopes has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions resulting from heavy rains throughout Middle Tennessee this week. The game will be made up as part of a 6:05 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday evening, when the two teams will play a pair of seven-inning games. Right-hander Seth McClung (2-10, 5.17) will toe the rubber for the Sounds in Friday's 7:05 p.m. series opener against Albuquerque righty Fernando Nieve (4-6, 6.62).

What is it with Mobile and rain? GAME POSTPONED Stars and BayBears to Play Two Tomorrow at 4:35 p.m. MOBILE, Ala. - Tonight’s game between the Huntsville Stars and Mobile BayBears has been postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Friday, July 13 at 3:45 p.m.

The Sounds roster is now full at 25 with Brian Baker's addition. If Tim Dillard accepts his assignment to Nashville and continues his 10th season in the Brewers' organization (Nashville is also where Dillard calls home), then the Sounds will need to make another move.

From Huntsville: RHP Baker to Nashville; LHP Garman to Huntsville MOBILE, Ala. – The Milwaukee Brewers and Huntsville Stars have made a pair of roster moves prior to tonight’s game at Mobile. RHP Brian Baker has been transferred to Triple-A Nashville. To fill the empty roster spot, LHP Brian Garman has been transferred to Huntsville from High-A Brevard County. Garman will be active for tonight’s game at Mobile. Baker threw a gem in last night’s 3-2 loss to Mobile. He pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, giving up two unearned runs while striking out five. That was just his second appearance for the Stars, after being transferred from Nashville on July 3. The 23-year-old Garman is making his first trip to the Double-A level. He went 3-3 with a 1.88 ERA in 22 appearances (one start) for the Brevard County Manatees. In 38.1 innings, he struck out 46 batters and only allowed 12 walks. The Ohio native was drafted by the Brewers in the 17 th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. With these moves, the Stars active roster is at 25, the Southern League limit.

To fill the Wisconsin roster spot left by RHP Tommy Toledo's promotion to Brevard County, catcher Tyler Roberts has been activated from the Rattlers DL. The 25-man roster has 12 pitchers and 13 position players now (including three catchers).

Stars Fall in Extra Innings to BayBears MOBILE, Ala. – Despite having seven more hits than their opposition, the Huntsville Stars fell to the Mobile BayBears by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. In the first inning, the Stars offense started off hot against Mobile starting pitcher Michael Bolsinger. With a leadoff double from center fielder Josh Prince and third baseman Hainley Statia reaching on an error, Huntsville had runners at first and third and nobody out. The next at-bat, second baseman Scooter Gennett grounded out, allowing Prince to score to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. The BayBears came back in the third inning and tied up the ballgame. Catcher Rossmel Perez was hit by a pitch by to begin the inning and Bolsinger hit a sacrifice bunt to adavance him. Perez stole third to set up center fielder Evan Frey with one out. A throwing error down to third by catcher Anderson De La Rosa scored Perez to tie up the game. With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, the Stars then got a surge from an unlikely source. In his first game started since a month-long stint on the disabled list, left fielder Khris Davis crushed a solo home run off of reliever Gaby Hernandez to help the Stars regain the lead. However, in the sixth inning, the resilient BayBears tied up the game once again. With a runner on second and two outs, a RBI single from third baseman Matt Davidson knotted up the game at two apiece. That single by Davidson was also the first hit given up by Stars starting pitcher Brian Baker all game, snapping his no-hit bid after 5.2 innings. With the game tied in the bottom half of the tenth inning and Stars reliever Darren Byrd in the game, the BayBears clinched their sixth home win in a row versus the Stars. After a leadoff single by second baseman David Nick, a sacrifice bunt by Perez and a walk by pinch-hitter Wladimir Sutil, Byrd was taken out of the game in favor of RHP Brandon Kintzler. To begin his outing, Kintzler intentionally walked center fielder Frey to load the bases and got Chris Owings to pop out. Unfortunately, with two outs, right fielder Marc Krauss sent a long drive off the wall in right field to end the ballgame. For the Stars, the loss wasted a tremendous outing from Baker. The 29-year-old righty earned a no-decision while giving up just two runs on one hit in seven innings of work. With the loss, Byrd fell to 2-4 on the season. On offense, while out-hitting Mobile by an 11-4 margin, Huntsville left 12 runners on base, including six in scoring position. Prince, Statia, and first baseman Hunter Morris paced the Stars bats with two hits apiece. The Stars will continue a three-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium on Thursday night. First pitch is at 7:05 PM.

Wisconsin Media Notes

Brandon Macias on the 9-to-5 feel of today All highway signs guided Tommy Toldeo from Cleveland to the plane taking him to Brevard

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.

Really bunched-up standings for Brevard and Wisconsin right now (Rattlers repeat sweep would be sweet!). Stars need to stay close, in danger of losing sight here early on... *** These are now only two remaining games in the Pioneer League 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's archive (exciting win) and Thursday 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.