Jim Goulart

Sounds get a makeover for infield Brewers injuries suddenly bring players up to majors by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean It’s only May, but because of some costly injuries in Milwaukee, the Sounds’ infield already has a new look. Jeff Bianchi, Andy Gonzalez and Jordan Brown joined the Nashville roster this month after three Sounds infielders were called up to the major leagues to plug roster spots. Nashville’s game with Reno was rained out Sunday. The teams will play a doubleheader starting at 5:05 p.m. today. The homestand finale is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Tuesday Brewers first baseman Mat Gamel and shortstop Alex Gonzalez suffered possibly season-ending ACL injuries and outfielder Carlos Gomez is on the 15-day disabled list. That resulted in third baseman Taylor Green, shortstop Edwin Maysonet and utility player Brooks Conrad being promoted from Nashville. Bianchi was hitting .351 in Double-A Huntsville at the time of his call-up and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in his Triple-A debut last weekend at Albuquerque. He added another game-winning RBI last Wednesday against Colorado Springs and is hitting .350 in seven games. “It definitely feels good to get off to a good start and that’s what I’ve done this year so far,” said Bianchi, 25, who is from Pennsylvania. “My role here is to come in and just fill that spot, go out and do the best I can every day. “I wasn’t here the first month. I’ve heard we lost a lot of close games. But we’ve got a good group of guys; we’ve just got to put it all together.” Brown is a former Triple-A International League batting champion who played with the Sounds part of last season. He was released by the Astros on the final day of this year’s spring training and had been playing in Mexico when the Brewers called him to return to his former team. “When I came here last year (midseason) we weren’t hitting,” said Brown, who hit .317 with eight home runs in 353 at-bats with the Sounds last year as a first baseman and corner outfielder. “We were not exactly a solid offensive team, but then a few guys got it going and by the end of the year we had some really good numbers going for us. I’m hoping the same thing happens now. “You don’t ever expect it to happen, move after move after move. But it doesn’t surprise you when it does. A lot of guys get hurt. That’s why you have depth.” Brown has struggled so far, hitting .200 in nine games. Gonzalez is hitting .235 for the Sounds, who are 12-23. Hainley Statia, Gonzalez and Erick Almonte have split time at third base, replacing Green. “You never know what can happen,” said Statia, who is hitting .318. “Someday you might be here. Someday you’re in the big leagues. Some guys start spring training in Double-A, now they’re in Triple-A. You can’t predict anything, you know? You’ve got to take it day by day.” Statia said he doesn’t expect the new-look infielders will take very long to develop a good chemistry. “Some players want the ball to be thrown to them at the back of the bag or the front of the bag (on double-play balls). You just ask them,” Statia said. “Everybody’s got a different way of doing it so you just ask them and you work on it between batting practices. We’ve all practiced together in spring training, so we kind of know each other already. We’ll be OK.” Maysonet has already made an impact for the Brewers, hitting a grand slam in Saturday’s win over the Cubs. Green has been splitting time at first base with Travis Ishikawa and is hitting .267. Conrad has no hits in 11 at-bats with the Brewers. Jordan Brown / Photo by MIKE STRASINGER http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20120514&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=305140037&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Sounds-get-makeover-infield

The season hasn't even started yet! Weather concerns in Maryvale, just brutal, dry heat or not...

Wisconsin Press Release: Andy Moye is MWL Pitcher of the Week

Nashville Doubleheader Media Notes

Ryan over at Disciples of Uecker with their weekly look at Prospect of the Week, "Three Up, Three Down", etc. If you're on our Minor League forum regularly, you're doing yourself a dis-service if you're not following the Disciples Guys as well. Either bookmark their site or follow them via Twitter @DisciplesUecker.

Wisconsin Media Notes

Former Manatees pitcher Burgos elevates among the Stars Thrilled at Huntsville move by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY The Brevard County Manatees lost their most successful pitcher on Saturday afternoon, and that was a good thing. Starter Hiram Burgos got the call every player on the Manatees hopes to get one day. He was moving up to Double A. “I was really excited,” Burgos said while getting ready for a doubleheader with the Huntsville Stars on Sunday. “I have been working hard and am excited for the chance. I am just going to do the same thing that I have been doing.” If he does that, he may be in Triple A by the end of the summer. Burgos started six games with the Manatees, putting together a 2-1 record with an ERA of 0.87. In 41 1/3 innings, he allowed just four earned runs and struck out 41 while walking just six. That was not always the case for the right-hander, who spent most of last season with the Manatees. As a starter and reliever, he posted a 4.89 ERA with a 6-8 record. “The biggest thing was mental toughness,” Burgos said of his start to this season. “I just concentrate on making good pitches and throwing my pitches in any count. Becoming a pitcher and not a thrower.” The results show that he is now a pitcher. And while he is not sure what his role will be for Huntsville yet, he is ready. “I just have to keep it the same. Now I just need to keep going up and up,” the former Bethune-Cookman University player said. Huntsville will not be entirely new to him as most of his teammates from last season are in Huntsville this season. And he will be dressing for a pretty good team. The Stars entered Sunday just ½-game out of first place in the Southern League. “I am just coming here to help the team win more games,” Burgos said. “The team is playing good, (a) really exciting time to be called up.” But Burgos is keeping his eye on the prize and realizes this is just the first stop of many he would like to take in his journey to, hopefully, Milwaukee. But that starts now in Double A Huntsville and he seems ready for the challenge. “Baseball is the same no matter where you go, the game is the same, Burgos said. “You don’t want to change anything just because you move up. Just keep things the same and get hitters out.” Just like he did in Brevard County this season. Hiram Burgos, formerly of the Manatees, has been promoted to Double A. / Brevard County Manatees http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20120514&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=305140010&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Former-Manatees-pitcher-Burgos-elevates-among-Stars

Brad Krause's TRatsBaseball.com Week In Review I should have guessed Tyler Cravy never actually left the team during his demotion to "Helena".

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

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP's Mike Fiers and Seth McClung in a doubleheader at home vs. Reno (Diamondbacks), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:05 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 Tyler Thornburg and Evan Anundsen in a doubleheader at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 4:28 PM pre-game, 4:43 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: LHP Jed Bradley at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:35 PM gametime 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 Chad Thompson at Kane County (Royals), 11:40 AM pre-game, 12:00 PM 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).

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Random thought -- Hey, he's Canadian, too! Yes, he's 29 and never been in the big leagues, but fireballing Jim Henderson and his 0.00 ERA is rested and available for the Mets' series, unlike Vinnie Chulk, has actual potential to remain effective, and would bring a much-needed power arm to the Brewers' middle relief corps. A quick DFA of Chulk, an easy flight to NYC from Nashville for Henderson, and there you go, Brewers, a move that makes real sense. I'm also guessing Henderson would be the last-ever Montreal Expos draft pick to make his big league debut.

Huntsville update: Today’s doubleheader between the Huntsville Stars and Mississippi Braves has been postponed due to inclement weather in the area. The two teams will play a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games Monday at 4:43 p.m. The second game will be made up when the M-Braves return to Huntsville on Sunday, June 3 with a 2:03 p.m. doubleheader.

Sounds, Aces Postponed On Sunday Afternoon Doubleheader Scheduled For Monday Evening NASHVILLE, Tenn. - This afternoon's scheduled contest at Greer Stadium between the Nashville Sounds and Reno Aces has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a 5:05 p.m. doubleheader on Monday evening, when the two teams will play a pair of seven-inning games. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Right-hander Mike Fiers (0-2, 4.21) will start for the Sounds in the opener against Aces righty Charles Brewer (1-2, 6.75). Right-hander Seth McClung (0-3, 6.00) will toe the rubber in the nightcap against Reno southpaw Zach Kroenke (3-1, 5.23).

Look for Media Notes as game time approaches from Nashville and Wisconsin at the respective links. Here's Saturday's Huntsville media notes, which won't change much prior to today's twinbill. *** Enjoy your Mother's Day, everyone!

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 Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Game One Huntsville Game Two Wisconsin

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at home vs. Reno (Diamondbacks), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 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 Tyler Thornburg and Evan Anundsen in a doubleheader at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 1:48 PM pre-game, 2:03 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: Idle *** Wisconsin: RHP Drew Gagnon at Kane County (Royals), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:00 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).

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Latest Post-Crescent Player Profile is of local legend Chad Pierce

Craig Counsell on Nashville Sports Radio

Wisconsin OF Ben McMahan (stats) OPS in 50 April B's: .515 OPS in 42 May AB's: 1.146