Jim Goulart

The rest of Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 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 Evan Anundsen at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 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. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Drew Gagnon at Clinton (Mariners), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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).

Rob Wooten keeps saving the day for the Huntsville Stars By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Rob Wooten was looming over a short putt on the last hole of an informal, intramural Huntsville Stars golf tournament. "Close it out," a teammate encouraged. Alas, Wooten sighed, "I missed the putt." It was one of the rare times this spring Wooten hasn't closed things up neatly. The 26-year-old Stars reliever has six saves, second in the Southern League, along with two wins and a 1.72 ERA, appearing in 13 of Huntsville's first 27 games. "The confidence level on a green is nowhere near what it is out there," Wooten said, nodding toward the pitcher's mound. Like most relievers, Wooten fell into the role by accident - or worse. In this case, it was the batters from George Mason - or maybe George Washington; he can't remember - who lit him up pretty good when he was starting a game his sophomore year at North Carolina. He was coming off shoulder surgery and not yet up to snuff in terms of velocity or confidence. Dispatched to the bullpen, he sharpened his relief skills that season and in summer ball, then returned as a junior only to lead the country in appearances and help the Tar Heels to the College World Series. In the NCAA playoffs, Wooten had a 1.56 ERA and a 3-0 record in 12 appearances, pitching in Carolina's first 11 tournament games. "For some reason, when the tournament started, I kicked it into another gear," Wooten said. "I love to pitch in games that matter, in pressure situations. That's when I knew that's what I wanted to do." "He has a calm presence about him in tough situations," Huntsville pitching coach Chris Hook said. "You know he's the right guy." Calm most of the time. Except when his beloved Tar Heels are playing basketball. He flat-out "bleeds Carolina blue." His wife Katie, a professor of dental hygiene at a North Carolina community college, knows "on games days, not to even talk to me." Though Tuesday turned out to be an off-night for him, he went through his typical routine: "The first four or five innings, I'm joking around with my teammates, watching hitters. From the fifth inning, the focus starts to zone in on the hitters. I may go inside (to the clubhouse) and stretch," he said. "From the seventh inning on, I'm not talking to anybody." Gee, just like when Carolina's playing hoops on TV. "The eighth inning, I'm zoned in on what I have to do." When he takes the mound, "the mindset is you have to throw strikes," Wooten continued. "Those hitters are a little more focused when the game is on the line. You've got to be able to outsmart them, out-think them and throw your best stuff. And throw a couple of different pitches where you keep them mixed up." Wooten is well-aware of a long-time baseball axiom. "I've always heard the last three outs are the toughest," he said. Sometimes they are. Sometimes, though, relievers make three outs look easier than three-foot putts. The Huntsville Times/Photo by Bob Gathany http://media.al.com/sports_impact/photo/10941139-large.jpg

From our Transaction Thread about a release earlier this spring: LHP Efrain Nieves -- Though only 22 now, Nieves already has five years in the system as the Crew's 7th round pick out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & School in 2007. He was used exclusively in relief at Brevard last season, but did make 36 starts earlier in his career. Here's another Post-Crescent profile. History -- Nieves reached #20 on the Power 50 in April '09. *** Nice to see that Nieves has been recently picked up by the Tigers' organization, he's yet to appear in a game, but maybe the Manatees will see him with Lakeland later this summer.

The middle of the Timber Rattlers' order would miss him, but the Brewers could swap out Jason Rogers for Cody Hawn. Rogers is actually older than Hawn, Brevard could use his presence obviously, and Hawn needs to recapture, well, something. Just a reminder to any non-regulars that any reference made to Tyler Thornburg as reliever material only, is a poke in the side of those in the scouting community who have flouted those views.

Catching up on Nashville video: Brooks Conrad hits a three-run homer in Tuesday's Sounds' 8-5 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers

Billings: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=542935 Roberts: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543702 Allison: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=595109 Franco: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=607534 Moscatel: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=527044 Elmore: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=607520 Dhanani: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=572813 Caufield: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=450566 Dennis: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=502038

Brevard County: LHP Jed Bradley at Tampa (Yankees), 10:00 AM 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. *** Entertain yourself with the Brevard box score / game log: Brevard County *** Florida State League North Division Standings *** Look for the remainder of the Link Report, setting up the evening action, this afternoon.

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Brevard falls in 11 innings to Tampa By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees TAMPA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees dropped their third game in a row as they were edged in 11 innings by the Tampa Yankees, 3-2 on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. 'Tees starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (2-1, 1.73) went just 5 2/3 innings but struck out eight Tampa hitters. He allowed one earned run on seven hits, while walking three. Nelson has recorded 39 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings of work so far in 2012. Brevard County (11-15) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Miguel Velazquez singled home T.J. Mittelstaedt. The Yanks tied it in the bottom of the inning thanks to a RBI single by Kelvin Castro. In the top of the third, the Manatees took a 2-1 lead as Shawn Zarraga's two-out triple drove in Cody Hawn. Brevard County held on to that 2-1 lead until the bottom of the seventh as Tampa (13-13) tied the game thanks to a throwing error on a pickoff attempt with two outs by Zarraga. The Manatees had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth as they had the bases loaded with two outs, but Hawn flied out to center to end the threat and leave the bases juiced. The game remained tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 11th as back-to-back one-out singles by Castro and Ramon Flores gave the Yankees runners on first and second. A ground out by Rob Segedin advanced both runners 90 feet and Jose Toussen would single to center off of Thomas Keeling to drive in the winning run. Alan Williams was charged with his third blown save of the season as he allowed one unearned run, from the Zarraga error, in two innings of work. Brooks Hall threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Offensively, the Manatees scattered seven hits with Mittelstaedt going 2-for-4 with two doubles. He currently leads Brevard County with a .271 batting average. Brevard County left 11 runners on base and went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. So far in 2012, the 'Tees are hitting just .192 with runners in scoring position. The Manatees will look to snap their three-game losing streak and salvage the series in Thursday's finale at 11:00 AM (10:00 Central). 2011 first round draft pick Jed Bradley (2-2, 2.79) will look to end Brevard's skid, while Tampa will counter with Shane Greene (0-1, 3.60).

SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN FOR STARS HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- The Huntsville Stars (16-11) increased their winning streak to six games with a 5-2 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts (11-16) on Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars were in control from the get-go, as an RBI double by shortstop Jeff Bianchi and a run-scoring groundout by third baseman Andy Gonzalez gave Huntsville a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Then, in the third inning, a two-run double by first baseman Hunter Morris increased the lead to 4-0. For Morris, the double was his Southern League-leading 13th of the season. The early lead proved to be plenty of run support for Stars starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg, who had yet another dynamite performance on the mound. The highly touted righty gave up just one run and five hits in seven innings while striking out seven to improve to 3-0 on the season. For Chattanooga, their only runs came on an RBI double by outfielder Kyle Russell off of Thornburg in the seventh inning and a solo-home run from catcher Griff Erickson off of Stars LHP Mitch Stetter in the eighth inning. Aside from Thornburg, Stars RHP Darren Byrd notched his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. On offense, the Stars got two hits apiece from Bianchi, Gonzalez and pinch-hitter Lee Haydel. Haydel stayed in the game for left fielder Jay Gibbons in the eighth inning. For Bianchi, it was his second multi-hit game in as many games since being activated from the disabled list. For the Stars, the season-high six game winning streak is the longest stretch they’ve amassed since they won six straight games in 2011 from April 11-17th. The Stars will try to make it seven wins in a row on Thursday as they will send RHP Evan Anundsen (1-1, 2.05 ERA) to the mound to face off against Lookouts' RHP Allen Webster (1-4, 5.68 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 p.m.

Notice that the Tyler Thornburg superstition story that Sessile linked to earlier has video also in the sidebar. Click "Stars vs. Lookouts" on the left to see game highlights.

Per Baseball America, Brewers release four farmhands -- RHP Blake Billings, C Mike Roberts, and OF's Kenny Allison and Matt Franco. Will post more on these young men by some time Thursday, if nothing else, than to acknowledge their efforts and wish them well.

Video report on the Rattlers' starting pitchers, all seven of them

Jason Jaramillo's fine, back in there catching Tyler Thornburg with Huntsville.

RHP Chad Thompson has been promoted from extended spring training to Wisconsin. Thompson just turned 21 last February. This year’s media guide lists Thompson at 6’7”, 207. http://www.dailypilot.com/media/photo/2011-05/205166200-07194446.jpg Thompson made nine appearances with Maryvale last summer, two starts (stats). He committed to Arizona State out of high school, when he was ranked as the 23rd best high school player in the country by Baseball America (thanks, Brewers media guide). He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2009, missing nearly two full years of action, but was still drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round in ’09 and the Phillies in the 24th round in 2010. Arizona State instead turned into Orange Coast College in California, a two-year community college. Almost exactly one year ago today, this poignant story was written in the college’s local paper. And now Thompson is rewarded with today's promotion. Good for him. Have to figure there’s still significant talent in that arm. From Thompson's 2008 Perfect Game scouting report (pre-Tommy John): Chad Thompson is a RHP with a 6'8'', 215 lb. frame from Trabuco Canyon, CA who attends El Toro. Chad has an extra tall, great frame and showed outstanding coordination on the mound for a pitcher his size. He threw downhill and repeated his delivery well with his fastball sitting 90-94 at the Metrodome. He maintained his velo throughout the outing including from the stretch and his fastball showed good armside run. Thompson showed solid offspeed pitches to go with his explosive fastball. Good action and feel on his splitter. Chad really impressed at the National Showcase as one of the top pitchers in the 2009 class. Highest level pitching prospect. *** Heading back to extended spring training is RHP Seth Lintz (stats), the 53rd overall pick in 2008, who has just failed to gain any traction at all in his Brewer career, now beginning year five. Lintz is actually one full year older than Thompson, and just not sure how more instruction is going to salvage Lintz' career at this point.

Wisconsin Media Notes

Good news -- Nick Ramirez (hamate bone) lets us know he'll be back on the field Thursday (in Maryvale, but the next stop -- likely Wisconsin -- won't be far behind.

Wonder if Brian Baker's rough start for the Sounds today was affected by this Saturday tweet.

We'd prefer to keep the bulk of the transaction thread to actual moves and place the discussion elsewhere (don't worry), but since you asked, they'd probably designate RHP Josh Stinson, recently claimed from the Mets, although they obviously like him. I never felt the Brock Kjeldgaard addition was ever necessary (was he really going to stick on someone's 25-man roster in 2012?), so there's always that possibility. Of course, you'd be more apt to lose him now than back in Rule 5, even coming off dreadful AB's in spring training and before he got hurt. We'll split this into a separate thread if the discussion continues if we don't get our answer in a day or two.

As per Matt Eddy of Baseball America: The Brewers do love familiarity -- in the manner of Corey Patterson and Jay Gibbons, the Brewers have brought back OF Jordan Brown (stats), the LH bat who spent much of last year with Nashville. It's unclear if Brown will report directly to the Sounds at this time, or might he go to AA Huntsville to allow for Jay Gibbons to bump up a level. Regardless, it must be a pre-cursor to some sort of additional move, as we await word on the Mat Gamel / Brooks Conrad (or others) situations. And remember, if Conrad is added to the 40-man, someone would need to be dropped off. Taylor Green, who's hit. 378 in his last ten games, probably never wished he was right-handed more than right now, should the Brewers go the Conrad route.

Baseball America -- Best Individual Starts By Pitchers At Each Classification In April Brewers represented at three levels by four pitchers...

Jeff Hem Blog -- Audio Update — “Gabbing with Gord” (Part 2 of 2)

Nashville Media Notes

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STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division Florida State League North Division Midwest League Western Division