Jim Goulart

My sincere thanks to TheCrew07 and Tedaldtada for their awesome help Friday evening. Regardless of who jumps in all season long (just wait until doubleheaders in July have us with eight or nine-game Link Reports!), thank you. I can't stress enough how much your community effort will mean to these threads this year. Just a note -- while not a necessity, if our game posters note that the team site has posted their formal game summary online when you do your own write-up, please link to that as well, thanks again.

Post-Crescent blog: Odds and ends from Fox Cities Stadium

Catching up from Thursday's Opening Day in Appleton, Brad Krause shares his very worthwhile observations and as always, numerous and wonderfully catalogued photo images. Thursday MiLB.TV video highlight: Wisconsin's Brandon Macias belts an RBI double in the Timber Rattlers' 7-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels

Sessile linked to this Post-Crescent article earlier in this thread, and it now includes a post-game video interview with Drew Gagnon (nice touch, Post-Crescent!)

Kernels score late to edge Rattlers By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers April 6, 2012 GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scratched out three runs - including one in the ninth inning - to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-2 Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. A sacrifice fly by Kevin Mosequit in the top of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Kernels their second straight win in the series against the Rattlers. However, it was Wisconsin (0-2) who struck first. Jason Rogers blasted a home run to left field with two outs in the bottom of the first inning to give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead. Wisconsin starting pitcher Drew Gagnon struck out the side in order in the top of the second. Gagnon struck out the first three Kernels hitters in the third inning, but Mosequit, the third batter of the frame, reached when strike three got by catcher Parker Berberet. Then, Gagnon walked Ryan Jones on a 3-2 pitch after Mosequit stole second to bring Kaleb Cowart to the plate. Cowart soft line drive was fielded on one hop by Rattlers second baseman Carlos George in short center with a backhanded stop after a long run to get to the ball. But, Cowart beat the throw to first for an infield single. Mosequit, who was off on contact, never broke stride as he raced for the plate and scored the tying with a slide around the tag to tie the game. Gagnon worked four innings and struck out six with one walk and a couple of wild pitches in his first Midwest League start. The game remained tied until the top of the sixth inning. Gary Mitchell doubled to start the frame against Rattlers reliever Mark Williams. A grounder to the right side moved Mitchell to third. An RBI grounder by Abel Baker drove in Mitchell for a 2-1 Cedar Rapids lead. Kernels starting pitcher Mike Clevinger worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning and turned the game over to the Kernels bullpen in the seventh. Clevinger allowed a run on four hits with three strikeouts, but was not involved in the decision because Brandon Macias and Adrian Williams rallied the Rattlers to a tie against the Cedar Rapids relievers. Macias drew a leadoff walk and stole second against Jacob Negrete. Williams blooped a double inside the right field line to score Macias and make the score 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh. But, Wisconsin could not get Williams home to take the lead and the scored stayed 2-2 through the eighth. Abel Baker started the Kernels ninth inning with a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second base. Pinch runner Andy Workman took over for Baker, but would not attempt to score on a sharp single to left by Wendelll Soto. Mosequit worked the count to 3-2 against Williams and lined a pitch deep enough to left to score Workman from third base. The Rattlers went down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning. Wisconsin concludes its season opening homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Kernels. Brandon Williamson is scheduled as the starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has Ryan Crowley as their scheduled starter. Game time is 1:05 PM. If you can't make it out to Time Warner Cable Field on Saturday afternoon, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM at 12:45 PM. The game is also available on MiLB.tv.

Timber Rattlers' pre-game media notes

Windy in the South Friday -- from the Daytona News-Journal: A sellout crowd of 4,872 came out to greet the Cubs on a night when 20-mph winds made the Jack feel a little like Wrigley Field. Brevard's T. J. Mittelstaedt, scores at home after crashing into Daytona catcher, Chad Noble, in the top of the fifth inning during the home opener at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach on Friday. (NJ | Nigel Cook) http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/images/2012/04/07/SPT%20CUBS.JPG

Two errors doom BC in loss to Cubs By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Despite starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson's six strikeout performance in his Brevard County debut, the Manatees fell 6-2 to the Daytona Cubs on the road at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday night. The 'Tees took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but Daytona scored an unearned run in that inning and in the seventh to take a 3-2 advantage and never looked back. Daytona's Greg Rohan led off the sixth by reaching on a T.J. Mittelstaedt throwing error and would score with two outs on an Arismendy Alcantara RBI single. Then in the seventh with a runner on second and one out, Daytona's Rubi Silva laid down a bunt and a throwing error by catcher Shawn Zarraga led to Matthew Szczur scoring and giving the Cubs the lead. Alcantara hit a two-out, three-run homer off of Connor Whalen in the bottom of the eighth to give Daytona a few insurance runs. Nick Shaw led the game off for the Manatees with a double and scored two batters later as Cody Hawn drove him in with a sacrifice fly. The only run that Nelson would give up was in the third as Rubi Silva's two-out double drove in Alcantara. Brevard County's other run came in the fifth as Hawn drove in Mittelstaedt with a RBI single. For Nelson, he went five innings and allowed just one run on three hits, while walking three and striking out six. Shea Vucinich was 2-for-4 in the loss while Hawn drove in the only two Brevard County runs. The rubber game of the opening series will be on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. (5:35 Central) at Space Coast Stadium. Lefty Jed Bradley, Milwaukee's second first round pick in 2011 (Taylor Jungmann the first), will take the mound against Daytona's Hayden Simpson who was a first round pick of the Cubs in 2010.

From Thursday's 2-0 Stars' loss, watch Dan Merklinger on the mound and a great throw by Kentrail Davis. Also, Jesus Sanchez surrenders a base hit for the Suns' insurance run.

Stars Ninth Inning Rally Downs the Suns Jacksonville Suns JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Suns took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning on Friday but couldn't hold on, as the Huntsville Stars scored two runs for a 5-4 win at the Baseball Grounds. Jacksonville starting pitcher Jose Alvarez went five innings and allowed two hits and two runs. Huntsville started the scoring in the third. With runners on first and second, the Stars took a 2-0 lead when Brock Kjeldgaard doubled to left-center and drove in his first two runs of the season. It was Kjeldgaard's third hit of the series and his second double. The Suns cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth when Ryan Patterson hit Jacksonville's first home run of the season over the left field wall. During the 2011 season the Suns hit 103 home runs, with Luke Montz hitting 22 of them. Bryan Evans took over for Alvarez to start the sixth inning and retired the first batter he faced. He then walked Khris Davis, who eventually scored on an RBI single by Andy Gonzalez to make it 3-1 in favor of Huntsville. Evans pitched two innings allowing two hits and one run. Trailing by two, the Suns took the lead in the home half of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Curt Smith singled and Donnie Webb reached base on an error by Stars left fielder Khris Davis. With two on and no one out, Jaime Ortiz blasted a three-run homer into the right field stands to give the Suns a 4-3 lead. Wade Korpi and Josh Schmidt combined to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Closer Evan Reed entered the game in the ninth looking for his second save in as many nights, but started the inning off by walking Matt Kline. Pinch-hitter Domnit Bolivar would deliver the tying run with a stand-up triple into deep center field and the game was tied 4-4. Bolivar would then score the go-ahead run on a Kentrail Davis sacrifice fly to left. The Suns threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Jaime Ortiz and Kyle Jensen both took advantage of some control issues by reliever Santo Manzanillo, who failed to throw a strike with his first nine pitches. But after walking the first two batters and getting called for a bulk to move Ortiz and Jensen to second and third, Manzanillo settled down. Kyle Skipworth stuck out and Ryan Patterson and Jeff Dominguez each flew out to left to end the game. The losing pitcher was Evan Reed. He allowed two hits and two runs in the ninth. Last season the Suns were 55-5 when leading after the eighth inning. The winning pitcher was Josh Stinson, who was just claimed off waivers from the New York Mets. Manzanillo earns his first save of the season. Jacksonville went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. Huntsville stranded seven. Game three of the series is Saturday April 7th with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM (5:05 Central). Matt Montgomery takes the mound for the Suns against Evan Anundsen for the Stars. *** The Jacksonville.com story included this note: The gusty wind, which played havoc with fly balls, was clocked at 23 mph as temperatures dropped into the low 60s.

Keep in mind MiLB.TV video highlights will always be one Link Report "behind": From Thursday's 6-2 Sounds loss, Sean Halton has his first AAA home run on tape Here's the crushing Zephyrs' grand slam off of Vinnie Chulk, it will give you a sense of MiLB.TV video quality (at least from New Orleans), also an excited New Orleans PBP man... Thursday Nashville game highlight video -- watch mainly for the somewhat disturbing (but fun) opening dance sequence

Maybe if I had the internet at age sixteen 33 years ago, I would have been Curt Hogg, interviewing Tyler Thornburg for us Reviewing the Brew

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Interview with first baseman Sean Halton Several topics covered in a nice near-full five minute chat...

Bob Fortus of the Times-Picayune tells us that the final play was set up by the Sounds' five-man infield Also, this from his game story: The Zephyrs made two sharp defensive plays to open the 10th and help reliever Rob Delaney keep the score tied. First baseman Lasater knocked down a smash hit by Logan Schafer and beat him to the bag. Third baseman Dominguez reached to his left and made a nice stop of a hard grounder by Farris and threw him out. Caleb Gindl then doubled on a drive into the left field corner. After Taylor Green was walked intentionally, Delaney retired Halton on a ground ball to Solano.

Sounds Drop Extra-Inning Affair In New Orleans, 2-1 -- audio highlights at link Nashville Sounds METAIRIE, La. - The Nashville Sounds lost 2-1 to the New Orleans Zephyrs in a wild extra-inning affair on Friday night at Zephyr Field. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the twelfth inning, New Orleans first baseman Ben Lasater scored the controversial game-winning run on a throwing error by Sounds catcher Martin Maldonado. The Zephyrs previously loaded the bases with one out on reliever Jim Henderson. Third baseman Matt Dominguez would then hit a grounder to second baseman Eric Farris, who threw home to get the force and begin the double play. After Maldonado stepped on the plate, the backstop airmailed a throw past first baseman Sean Halton down the right field line to end the game. Maldonado and manager Mike Guerrero both argued for runner interference on Dominguez for being too far inside the line, but the umpires would not change the call. The Sounds were held to six hits in the contest, with three coming from outfielder Caleb Gindl, including a double for the second straight night. Sounds pitcher Mike Fiers allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven in six innings of work for a quality start and no-decision. Fiers, who did not allow an earned run during the first three innings in any of his 10 PCL starts (30.0 IP) last season, gave up his only run in the first frame as the the Zephyrs quickly took a 1-0 advantage. Leadoff hitter Kevin Mattison singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and then came home on two consecutive infield groundouts. The 26-year-old settled down to retire 13 of the next 14 batters, including a stretch of 11 straight Zephyrs sat down. Nashville's only run came in the top of the fifth inning thanks to two consecutive throwing errors by the Zephyrs. With two outs in the inning, center fielder Logan Schafer reached base and moved to scoring position after second baseman Gil Velazquez committed the first throwing error of the frame. Farris then hit an infield dribbler, but shortstop Donovan Solano made another throwing error that allowed Schafer to score. (Listen to both the final controversial ending and the Sounds' lone scoring play via the audio available at the link leading off this post.) In a new relief role, Amaury Rivas struck out one over one scoreless inning. Dan Meadows stranded his only inherited runner in a shutout frame. Mike McClendon followed with two hitless innings. In his Sounds debut, Henderson (0-1) was charged with the loss after striking out the side in the eleventh frame. Zephyrs starter Brad Hand also took a no-decision, allowing one unearned run on five hits and seven strikeouts in five innings of work. Elih Villanueva (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning. The Sounds and Zephyrs continue their series with the third game of a four-game set at 6:00 pm CT on Saturday night at Zephyr Field. Right-hander Josh Butler will make his season debut on the mound and face New Orleans southpaw Wade LeBlanc.

Nashville Media Notes

Brooks Conrad has been placed on the 7-day DL with an undisclosed injury on infielder-stuffed AAA Nashville's roster, though I took a guess as to what the malady might be here. Veteran minor league RHP Jim Henderson joins Nashville from Huntsville. That ostensibly will make room for the arrival of fellow RH reliever Josh Stinson with the Stars. Catcher Dayton Buller has been formally activated at Nashville, although he was on the originally stated roster list for the Sounds earlier as well. So the Sounds are carrying as many catchers (Martin Maldonado, Paul Phillips, and Buller) as true outfielders (Corey Patterson, Logan Schafer, Caleb Gindl).

Rattler Radio: Highlights…and still removing the bugs

Nashville Manager Mike Guerrero pre-game audio and photos from PBP man Jeff Hem

If the Link Report is to continue, we will need additional community involvement. Thank you to those who chipped in last night. More is needed. Now, in living up to the "Link" reference in the Link Report, we catch up thusly, with each of these links very much worth your while: New Orleans 6, Nashville 2 Detailed game summary from the Sounds *** Jacksonville site game summary from the Stars' 2-0 loss A couple of Huntsville video highlights via WNHT Jacksonville.com Photo Gallery *** Brevard County 11, Daytona 4 Detailed game summary from the Manatees As is customary, the Melbourne press provided no coverage, but the Daytona newspaper sent their own and spoke with Taylor Jungmann -- "The first three innings, I just didn't get into a good rhythm," the 6-foot-6 Jungmann said. "In the last two innings, I got into a rhythm. But the line looks a lot better than I pitched. The defense picked me up with a couple of nice plays. My stuff could have been a lot better." That full story from the Daytona News-Journal can be found here. *** Detailed Wisconsin game summary from the Rattlers' Chris Mehring Post-Crescent game story (Matt Erickson, Matt Miller, Jason Rogers quotes) and photo gallery -- Rattlers struggle at the plate and on the mound in 7-2 loss

To get 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 Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links (until we see otherwise, we are assuming MiLB has Gameday in place for the AAA and AA levels only) -- Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Michael Fiers at New Orleans (Marlins), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- 102.5 The Game 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 Jacksonville (Marlins), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 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; we'll link to blog updates at Star Power. 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 Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- It's the Daytona feed 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 Drew Gagnon at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:20 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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