Jim Goulart

Sinking feeling helps Manatees' Nelson By Sam Dykstra / Special to MLB.com The first three games of the season have not always been kind to Jimmy Nelson. In the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2010, the No. 8 Brewers prospect had an 11.37 ERA in his first three outings. The mark slimmed to 4.97 after three starts in the Midwest League, but was still not spectacular. But the third season was the charm as the right-hander allowed just two hits and struck out seven hitters in seven shutout innings in Class A Advanced Brevard County's 3-0 win at home over Lakeland on Monday. Nelson improved to 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA after his first two Florida State League starts. "I've been trusting my stuff a lot more to start the year," he said. "I'm trying to aim for the heart of the plate and picking at the corners like I used to. I throw a sinker and when you throw a fastball that moves a lot, it's tough to try to paint the corners. You've just got to let the hitters get ground balls and let the guys behind you take care of it. I'm doing a better job at that thus far. Nelson forced groundouts from nine of the first 12 batters he faced, while 11 of his 21 total outs came in the infield. The Florida native gave his teammates as much credit for his success as his new-found command. "With my sinker working, I was trusting my [defense] to back me up," he said. "They made me look good. They helped set the tempo of the game at the plate too. With them scoring in the first two innings, the [Lakeland] hitters were aggressive from the beginning. That played in my hand a little bit." Following his seven-strikeout performance, Nelson has struck out at least six batters in each of his first three starts for a total of 21 punchouts, equaling his career-high strikeout total over a three-game period. His two earned runs allowed in his first three starts also have been a personal low. Nelson seems confident he can continue his career-best stretch into the deeper depths of the 2012 schedule. "I think it's very realistic," Nelson said. "Since the end of instructional league last fall, I was feeling pretty good. Then I feel like I hit another gear in Spring Training. Hopefully, I keep clicking a few more gears here and make this continue all year." Brevard County designated hitter Miguel Velazquez hit his first homer of the year, a solo shot, in the second and reliever Casey Medlen earned his fourth save by pitching a perfect ninth. MLB.com's No. 50 prospect Nick Castellanos went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts for the Detroit affiliate. Tigers' No. 12 prospect Alex Burgos (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in five innings.

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 Florida State League North Division Midwest League Western Division

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

DVR ALERT! A full day's notice -- Wednesday evening's Timber Rattlers game is on Time Warner Cable Sports 32 (6:35 first pitch).

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Oklahoma City (Astros), 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. Tennessee (Cubs), 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. ********** Brevard County: LHP Jed Bradley at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 5:35 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's Matt Miller and Drew Gagnon in a doubleheader at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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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Jimmy having fun with Tyler -- sweet

Jinx be damned, you need to be listening to Huntsville tonight

Hopefully better now, Lucroy's assumes he'll be a Super Two. Please bring any glaring errors to our attention.

With Mark Rogers' paper placement on Huntsville's roster over, there is now an open spot at AA. It appears any of Kentrail Davis (hamstring), Santo Manzanillo (minor shoulder tightness), Cody Scarpetta (ailing elbow), or Dan Merklinger (unknown injury) could be activated on Wed. this week, but obviously we'll have to see. The Stars have basically been playing with a 24-man (not 25) roster most of the season.

Nashville Tweet: INF Eric Farris & P Mark Rogers join Sounds roster today. Rogers to start Tuesday vs. OKC. P Jim Henderson and C Dayton Buller placed on DL *** Could Henderson have injured himself on his game-winning hit Sunday? Buller's stint MAY be as a placeholder as 3rd catcher in rotation, a la Patrick Arlis in the past.

Via Jeff Hem -- here is this week’s “Mondays with Mike” interview with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero

Eric Farris optioned to AAA, will likely get corresponding AAA move by mid-day tomorrow

The "Brewer Nation" blog's audio interview with 1B Nick Ramirez

Inclement weather forces postponement of Monday's Timber Rattlers game; Teams will play two 7-inning games on Tuesday

Nashville Media Notes

Eric Farris pre-game interview from this past weekend via Joe Block

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 Florida State League North Division Midwest League Western Division

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

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Michael Fiers at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 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 Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 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. ********** Brevard County: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 5:35 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 Matt Miller at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime UPDATE: Rained out; details below... 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).

Yeah, Jeff Hem liked the AAA game-winner Sunday...

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Brad Krause Rattlers Notebook Brad's first-person account and photos from Sunday