Jim Goulart

Update from the Stars: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Huntsville Stars and Milwaukee Brewers have announced a pair of roster moves prior to tonight’s series opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts (Los Angeles Dodgers). RHP Roque Mercedes (career stats) has been released from the organization. RHP Brandon Kintzler was activated off the Brewers’ 15-day disabled list and optioned to Huntsville. Kintzler, who just finished a rehab stint with the Brevard County Manatees (High-A), spent parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Stars. He went 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA in nine appearances in ’09. In 2010, he went 1-0 with a 0.40 ERA with 10 saves in 20 games. He held opponents to a .141 batting average while being named a Southern League All-Star that year. He made the Brewers opening day roster last year and made nine relief appearances before being injured. He pitched for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League following surgery this past July. Mercedes was 1-1 with a 13.50 ERA in nine games this season. He gave up a total of 14 runs in his last three outings (5.1 IP). He started last season with the Stars before being sent down to Brevard County. *** Mercedes was dealt to Arizona, along with Cole Gillespie, the first time the Brewers acquired Felipe Lopez. The D-Backs eventually added Mercedes to their 40-man roster, and when he was later exposed to waivers, the Brewers claimed him back before eventually outrighting him themselves.

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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

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at Tucson (Padres), 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 Josh Stinson at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page I-Phone friendly audio link 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: A total of 24 Stars' games (in Jacksonville and Tennessee) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 5:35 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Fort Myers 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 home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 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).

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Even though we've already seen features on RHP Drew Gagnon this season, you'll still learn more when you read Bob Brainerd's Sports32 profile.

Andy Moye pitched pretty darn well again, his final line was 6IP, 3H 1ER, 1HR, 0BB, and 6SO while throwing only 65 pitches but 45 for strikes. I don't have a good explanation for his continuously low pitch counts, it's been happening all season. He's extremely efficient with his pitches but I'm unsure why they wouldn't stretch him out to 85 pitches unless he's destined for a relief role? He could easily pitch a complete game or very close to if allowed to go the full 85 like the rest of the staff. Looks like Moye will start on three days' rest on Sunday, which helps address TheCrew07's thoughts above.

As discussed in Wed.'s Link Report, RHP Andy Moye moves from Wisconsin to Brevard. Retroactive to 5/15, LHP Jed Bradley placed on the disabled list with a groin injury. Moye's first start for the Manatees will be on Sunday against Fort Myers, according to Brevard staff.

Carlos Gomez video interview with Carlos Gomez Quotes from Matt Erickson in the article, too

Nine after Nine from Chris -- be sure to watch those highlights! You'll learn about Andy Moye's promotion to Brevard, lots of love from his teammates via the minor league player's Twitter feed. Moye will be 25 in September, so he needs to follow a Michael Fiers-type path, and he's off to a good start. *** The Brewers will almost certainly keep Jason Rogers and Ben McMahan with Wisconsin through the first half playoff chase. After that, you'd have to think their bats will be of benefit at Brevard.

For those keeping score at home, Brandon Kintzler (acivated from the Brewers DL and optioned to Huntsville), Kintzler has one option remaining for 2013 or beyond. The Stars will need to make a corresponding roster move.

Congrats to Sergio Miranda, the former handy farmhand's stint in indy ball was brief. The Atlanta Braves have come calling, and he'll be assigned to an affiliated squad again this week.

If this Chattanooga series preview is accurate, then LHP Dan Merklinger is the starter who lost his rotation spot to RHP Hiram Burgos' promotion. *** SECOND GAME OF WEDNESDAY'S MANATEES/CUBS DOUBLEHEADER POSTPONED VIERA, Fla. - The second game of the scheduled doubleheader on Wednesday, May 16 between the Brevard County Manatees and the Daytona Cubs has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of single-admission doubleheader when the Cubs return to Space Coast Stadium on Tuesday, May 29 at 5:05 PM (4:05 Central). Brevard County and Daytona will play two seven-inning games that day. *** The Manatees lost Game One in extra innings tonight. Details from our Link Report crew later this evening.

Stars baseball: Gibbons still has big-league dream By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Jay Gibbons spent nine years in the major leagues. For some players, that would be enough. Not for Gibbons. The 35-year-old Gibbons spent seven years with the Baltimore Orioles and two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being released last season. "I'm just like any other veteran ballplayer that had a good taste of the big leagues and still hungry to get back," said Gibbons, who is playing left field for the Huntsville Stars in hopes of working his way back to the majors. "I didn't like the way my season ended last year, so I thought I would give it another try. Milwaukee gave me a call and here I am." Gibbons entered last season as the Dodgers' starting left fielder, but struggled mightily. He had had eye surgery during the offseason and things didn't go well. Gibbons batted just .255 with one home run and five RBI in 24 games. "I dealt with that all year long and I had another eye surgery and it left a bad taste in my mouth," he said. Gibbons was actually released by the Brewers in spring training, but was resigned to a minor-league deal on April 25. "My goal is not to be in Huntsville, but I'm just trying to make the best of it while I'm here," he said. "I still feel like I can do it. That's why I'm here." The 6-0, 195-pounder is hitting .333 through 15 games with the Stars. He has five doubles and seven RBI. "It's a grind every day as far as your swing and all that," said Gibbons, who sat out Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Mississippi Braves. "I'm just trying to be as consistent as possible and hit the ball hard every at bat and hopefully somebody up there takes notice." Stars manager Darnell Coles has certainly taken notice. Coles said Gibbons has been terrific for his young squad. "He's a true professional," he said. "He's a big leaguer just waiting for an opportunity. His major league stats speak for themselves. He was a great player. Now, it's just getting that opportunity again. "I think he's in a perfect place because we've had some injuries up top that are going to allow him at some point to move up quickly through the system and into the big leagues. He's been a model citizen here. He understands how things work." Gibbons should. This is his 15th professional season. He had his best season in 2003 with the Orioles when he hit .277 with 23 home runs and 100 RBI. Gibbons is a career .260 hitter with 127 homers and 427 RBI. "I've been going at it a long time," he said. "I still feel pretty good physically. It's the mental grind ... trying to prepare for every game and staying up when there's not 40,000 people in the stands. I've been trying to trick myself into getting motivated that way." Gibbons said the atmosphere that Coles has built has been good for him. "D.C. has been incredible," he said. "He's taking care of an old guy like me. Hanging around with the young guys makes me feel a little younger and I'm trying to teach them a little bit of what I've learned. It's been fun." Gibbons refused to say how long he planned on chasing his dream of getting back to the majors, but he knows there will come a time to call it quits. "I'm going to play as hard as possible here, but there will come a time when I'm going to say that's it and I'll be happy with my decision," he said. Coles believes Gibbons will get a call pretty soon. "Jay is doing everything he possibly can to get a shot," he said. "He's having quality at bats. He's swinging the bat well. He's hitting in the middle of the lineup. He understands how he's being pitched. "He's been great for us, but he won't be here the whole year. Now, it's just a matter of getting that opportunity up top and I think he'll get that in the near future."

If they're able to get both games in tonight (more weather concerns), it looks like it'll actually be a "committee" game for the nightcap. Brooks Hall is starting game one.

Wisconsin Media Notes

That's a "pretty sure" on the Hall / Williamson combo in Brevard tonight .

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

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Brevard County Game One Brevard County Game Two Wisconsin

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: Idle ********** Huntsville: Idle ********** Brevard County: RHP's Brooks Hall and TBD in a doubleheader at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 4:05 PM gametime; each game is slated for seven innings Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Daytona 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 Andy Moye at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 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).

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Brewers Sign Claudio Vargas To Minor League Deal, Bringing Him Back For Third Time

Rattler Radio Blog: Nine After Nine You know the deal -- it's a must.