Jim Goulart

FGCU alum Barnes off to solid start with new offspeed offerings By Andrew Sodergren, NaplesNews.com (FL) When former Florida Gulf Coast University hurler Jacob Barnes was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 14th round of last year’s draft, he admitted he was more of a thrower than a pitcher. He got by with throwing primarily fastballs, which was fine at the collegiate level, because he has a good one. In his first professional season pitching for the Helena Brewers in the advanced-rookie Pioneer League, Barnes was still mainly pumping the heat on his way to a fine 2.12 earned run average in 18 relief appearances. The Brewers wanted him to work on his offspeed pitches and refine his approach, as more advanced hitters can hit the fastball, even the quality 92-95 mph heater Barnes possesses. Now a member of the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Barnes has made the transition from thrower to pitcher. In 40 1/3 innings, he’s allowed just 27 hits, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.45 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .193 against him. “At this level, you have to show your offspeed pitches a lot more and throw them anywhere in the count,” Barnes said. “Last year, I had success by spotting my fastball and just flipping up a slider here and there to keep the hitters honest. Now, I’m throwing as much offspeed stuff as my fastball.” The change-up, in particular, has become a nice weapon. Barnes uses that pitch as much or more than the slider, the breaking pitch he’s always had. With three effective pitches, Barnes has been able to keep lineups off-balance. Although he has pitched primarily in relief (he had one spot start among his 13 appearances), Barnes has been paired up with another Wisconsin starter, which gives him set days to pitch, just like a starter. In a recent relief appearance against the Clinton LumberKings, Barnes worked five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with a career-high nine strikeouts, showing he certainly has the stuff to get a lineup out multiple times through the order. “(The Brewers) have talked about maybe having me start somewhere down the line, but for now I’m in the bullpen,” he said. “I’ve been stretched out for some longer outings, which has allowed me to get a better feel for all of my pitches. I’m just trying to pound the zone, not trying to be too fine or trying to hit every corner.”

The last time Jimmy Nelson's family came to see him pitch, Nelson dazzled for Brevard in a nine-inning effort but lost 2-1. His family surprised him with a visit in Huntsville tonight, and they must be wondering about his teammates' run support. Nelson tossed five scoreless tonight, but needed 90 pitches. Game remains scoreless in the bottom of the 6th.

RHP Chad Thompson is the latest interesting Q&A feature from the Post-Crescent staff

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. Huntsville's posting theirs more consistently. Rest your pointer under the "Roster" banner on the Stars' home page to see the link.

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

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Claudio Vargas at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 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 Josh Stinson at Birmingham (White Sox), 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 Clearwater (Phillies), 12:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... 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 Thompson at Quad Cities (Cardinals), 4:40 PM pre-game, 5:00 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 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too). ********** Helena: RHP Leonard Lorenzo at Great Falls (White Sox), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:00 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 Dodgers' complex at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix; 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

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Wisconsin Media Notes

Mystery hint from the Brewers unsigned 5th round draft pick

Nashville Media Notes *** More from the Rattlers game Friday night

Jimmy Nelson makes an interesting point about tonight's Huntsville contest.

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 Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Seth McClung at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 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 home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 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 makes his high-A debut at Tampa (Yankees), 5:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... 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 home vs. Peoria (Cubs), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too). ********** Helena: RHP Eric Semmelhack at Great Falls (White Sox), 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 home vs. the DSL Blue Jays, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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Sorry for doubling up, brewerfan17, didn't know you were going to be posting early AM as opposed to overnight. Thanks for your efforts as well on Maryvale coverage.

Final: Arizona Athletics 12, Arizona Brewers 6 Box Score The league-best A's kids deserve all A's as they move to 8-0 while dropping the A-Crew to a league-worst 1-7. After eight innings, the Maryvale men were hanging tough down just 7-6 before a five-run top of the 9th clinched it. Before going on, I must note that the Oakland pitchers used in this game had a great collection of names -- Kayvon Bahramzadeh, Cody Kurz, Ryan Dull, and Vincent Voiro. Back to the game -- after his third AB in the 5th, catcher Clint Coulter was lifted after watching A's batters go 7-for-7 on the basepaths (one double steal), along with two throwing errors (both throwing to 3rd base directly leading to runs). Coulter was also 0-for-3 with a K, so the first 22 pro AB's have been rough, but not nearly as rough as the defensive woes. (Reserve catcher Deivi Mejia came in and restored sanity, picking off one baserunner and throwing out 1-of-2.) Jose Pena hit an inside-the-park home run on a line drive to center field in the 4th, and added two doubles for good measure. After two miserable DSL seasons, Pena is loving Maryvale -- .324 / .343 / .735. Nine of eleven base knocks for extra bases! By the way, Khris Davis showed the kids how it's done -- step up to the plate twice, blast two HR's. Game Log

STARS HOLD ON TO BEAT BAYBEARS HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Taking a three-run lead into the ninth inning, the Huntsville Stars held on to defeat the Mobile BayBears by a score of 4-3 on Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. For the fourth straight game, the BayBears struck first blood. In the second inning, David Nick doubled to begin the inning. He advanced to third on a botched pickoff attempt by Stars starter Hiram Burgos and scored on a groundout by catcher Ed Easley to give Mobile a 1-0 lead. However, in the third inning, the Stars took the lead for good. Following back-to-back singles by Burgos and left fielder Lee Haydel to start the inning, three consecutive RBI singles by first baseman Hunter Morris, third baseman Hainley Statia and catcher Anderson De La Rosa put the Stars up 3-1. For their eventual game-winning run, the Stars got another RBI single by Statia in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. The score stayed that way until the ninth inning where the usually reliable Jesus Sanchez came on to close out the game for the Stars. After one-out singles by Easley and left fielder Vladimir Sutil, back-to-back RBI singles from left fielder Evan Frey and shortstop Chris Owings cut the Stars lead at one with runners on first and second. Fortunately for the Stars, the runners remained there. Sanchez buckled down and struck out third baseman Matt Davidson to notch his 11th save on the season. The save for Sanchez was also his fifth in his last five appearances. Once again, Burgos dazzled on the mound for the Stars. The 24-year-old righty improved to 3-1 on the season after giving up just one run (zero earned) on five hits while striking out five in seven innings of work. By the end of the night, Burgos’s earned run average dropped to a paltry 2.11. On offense, the Stars got three hits apiece from Statia and De La Rosa and a 2-for-4 night at the plate from second baseman Scooter Gennett. The rubber match of a five-game series will begin tomorrow as the Stars will send RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-0, 7.56 ERA) to the mound to square off against Mobile. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

To make room for SS Hector Gomez at Brevard, the Manatees place RHP Brandon Williamson on the DL with an undisclosed injury. Brevard's roster is full at 25 (12 pitchers, 13 position players).

You really couldn't go wrong with any of the four audio choices tonight. Late hang-ons at AAA / AA, and this Wisconsin and/or Helena late-inning audio is pretty compelling.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm calling dibs on this one -- Andy Moye is Mike Fiers. 15th round pick, 22nd round pick, both drafted much closer to 24 years old than 23. Moye moved to 7-0 between two levels tonight. Compare the two side by side, it's not a perfect match, but just keep those peripherals strong, and we'll see you contributing in Miller Park in two years, Andy.

Khris Davis rehab sighting in Maryvale...