Jim Goulart

Nashville Media Notes: JAMES REJOINS SOUNDS: Reliever Justin James has been added to the Nashville pitching staff today to fill the void created yesterday when Daniel Herrera was sent to the Mets as one of two players to be named later in the Francisco Rodriguez trade. James posted a 3.38 ERA (1 ER / 2.2 IP) in three relief outings for Double-A Huntsville after logging a brief rehab stint with the Brewers’ Arizona League affiliate in mid-August. He last pitched for the Sounds on July 10th before landing on the disabled list for the third time in 2011.

Look for the Nashville and Wisconsin media notes here and here later on, respectively. If Huntsville posts theirs (last did so on Tuesday 8/30), it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page.

Pacific Coast League American Northern Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 78 61 .561 - - 40-32 38-29 6-4 L1 Memphis 74 65 .532 4.0 1 42-25 32-40 6-4 W1 Nashville 70 70 .500 8.5 E 40-32 30-38 4-6 L1 Iowa 64 76 .457 14.5 E 38-30 26-46 4-6 W1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 39 27 .591 - - 18-13 21-14 5-5 W2 * Tennessee 38 28 .576 1.0 4 22-13 16-15 6-4 L1 Carolina 29 36 .446 9.5 E 15-16 14-20 4-6 L1 Jackson 28 38 .424 11.0 E 15-20 13-18 5-5 L3 Huntsville 27 38 .415 11.5 E 11-19 16-19 5-5 W3 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Dunedin 37 29 .561 - - 17-14 20-15 5-5 W1 Clearwater 35 30 .538 1.5 3 23-12 12-18 7-3 L1 Tampa 34 31 .523 2.5 2 16-19 18-12 4-6 L1 Brevard County 32 33 .492 4.5 E 12-17 20-16 7-3 W2 * Daytona 29 35 .453 7.0 E 14-16 15-19 4-6 L2 Lakeland 27 37 .422 9.0 E 13-18 14-19 4-6 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 39 26 .600 - - 21-12 18-14 8-2 W2 @ Clinton 37 28 .569 2.0 - 19-15 18-13 7-3 L3 @ Kane County 35 31 .530 4.5 3 14-18 21-13 3-7 L1 Beloit 30 35 .462 9.0 E 15-16 15-19 4-6 W3 * Burlington 29 36 .446 10.0 E 16-15 13-21 7-3 W3 Cedar Rapids 28 38 .424 11.5 E 16-18 12-20 4-6 W1 Wisconsin 28 38 .424 11.5 E 15-20 13-18 5-5 L4 Peoria 25 41 .379 14.5 E 12-20 13-21 3-7 L2 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Billings 20 11 .645 - - 10-4 10-7 8-2 W2 Great Falls 20 11 .645 - - 9-5 11-6 8-2 W4 * Missoula 14 17 .452 6.0 2 9-8 5-9 2-8 L5 Helena 9 22 .290 11.0 E 5-12 4-10 2-8 L2

Follow Friday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at Memphis (Cardinals), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional broadcast -- Mobile feed Brevard County: RHP Austin Ross at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Daytona feed Wisconsin: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Burlington (Athletics), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime Live Audio Link MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Helena: RHP Kevin Shackelford at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete; 17-39 record, worst in the 13-team league DSL Brewers: Season complete; 44-27 regular season, first-round playoff series loss

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

Baseball America notes that as a formality with the completion of the Arizona League season, two pitchers who did not see action in 2011 (2008 19th round RHP Blake Billings, now 21, and 2010 36th round RHP R.J. Johnson, 19 years old) have been removed from the DL. Billings has only tossed one inning over the past two seasons. Unless we have another Facebook / Twitter-type "find", we probably won't formally know more about the nature of their injuries until next spring's media guide comes out.

AUDIO: Edwin Maysonet Game-Tying Home Run *** Nashville Audio Archive -- September 1 - Chat with reliever Zack Segovia Looks like we're finishing up with auido with those who likely won't be back in 2012, but it's interesting listening to how Segovia discusses the winter ball process...

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts

Patrick Arlis was activated at Nashville to replace called-up Martin Maldonado. Arlis has quite the Brewerfan transaction archive history. *** RHP Seth Lintz has been activated from a brief DL stay at Wisconsin to take Adrian Rosario's (Mets PTBNL) roster spot.

Nashville Media Notes If Huntsville posts theirs, it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page. Wisconsin's here just before game time.

Pacific Coast League American Northern Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 78 60 .565 - - 40-31 38-29 6-4 W1 Memphis 73 65 .529 5.0 1 41-25 32-40 6-4 L2 Nashville 70 69 .504 8.5 E 40-32 30-37 5-5 W2 Iowa 63 76 .453 15.5 E 37-30 26-46 4-6 L2 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 38 27 .585 - - 17-13 21-14 4-6 W1 * Tennessee 38 27 .585 - - 22-13 16-14 6-4 W2 Carolina 29 35 .453 8.5 E 15-15 14-20 5-5 W2 Jackson 28 37 .431 10.0 E 15-20 13-17 5-5 L2 Huntsville 26 38 .406 11.5 E 10-19 16-19 4-6 W2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Dunedin 37 29 .561 - - 17-14 20-15 5-5 W1 Clearwater 35 30 .538 1.5 3 23-12 12-18 7-3 L1 Tampa 34 30 .531 2.0 3 16-18 18-12 5-5 W1 Brevard County 31 33 .484 5.0 E 12-17 19-16 6-4 W1 * Daytona 29 34 .460 6.5 E 14-15 15-19 4-6 L1 Lakeland 26 37 .413 9.5 E 13-18 13-19 3-7 L1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 38 26 .594 - - 20-12 18-14 8-2 W1 @ Clinton 37 27 .578 1.0 - 19-15 18-12 8-2 L2 @ Kane County 35 30 .538 3.5 4 14-18 21-12 3-7 W1 Beloit 29 35 .453 9.0 E 14-16 15-19 3-7 W2 * Burlington 28 36 .438 10.0 E 15-15 13-21 6-4 W2 Wisconsin 28 37 .431 10.5 E 15-20 13-17 5-5 L3 Cedar Rapids 27 38 .415 11.5 E 15-18 12-20 4-6 L1 Peoria 25 40 .385 13.5 E 12-20 13-20 3-7 L1 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Billings 19 11 .633 - - 10-4 9-7 7-3 W1 Great Falls 19 11 .633 - - 9-5 10-6 8-2 W3 * Missoula 14 16 .467 5.0 4 9-7 5-9 3-7 L4 Helena 9 21 .300 10.0 E 5-11 4-10 3-7 L1

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena

Thread closed, major league thread discussion commences here.

Absolutely, and I'm trying to see where I implied otherwise. I think you mistook my text copied from last year for a current analysis.

Thursday's Daily Menu: Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at Iowa (Cubs), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: TBD (perhaps LHP Chase Wright) at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional broadcast -- Mobile feed Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Daytona feed Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at Burlington (Athletics), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime Live Audio Link MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Helena: RHP Andy Moye at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete; 17-39 record, worst in the 13-team league DSL Brewers: Season complete; 44-27 regular season, first-round playoff series loss

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

Please be patient on discussing Rule 5 protection possibilities. That will involve a list of players still under Brewer control for 2011, so it will be a separate thread from this one, and the players listed above won't cross over to that list. We'll have that thread out for some time next week. *** Something to keep in mind is that the initial list here doesn't currently include players who may be dropped from the current 40-man roster this fall, and who would have enough service time to qualify for free agency.

Now, for each of the past two October's, the Brewers have taken a player from their potential free agent list and locked them up by adding them to their 40-man roster. In 2009, IF Adam Heether was added. That didn't work out so well, but we wrote this last year in the 2010 version of this thread: As for the other potential free agents, you'd have to think that catcher Martin Maldonado will be offered a deal to come back, but probably not a 40-man roster spot, so it will be Maldonado's call, and he could be in some demand in the open market. He only turned 24 last month. We don't know exactly how it went down, but Maldonado's agent wisely didn't just have Maldonado extend his minor league contract, if it was offered. So the Brewers slapped 40-man status on him, now looking like a wonderful decision. *** The only player on this year's list the Brewers might be tempted to remotely consider for a 40-man roster spot is 25-year-old Huntsville switch-hitting SS Hainley Statia (season and career stats), the former longtime Angel farmhand who Milwaukee signed just before he was about to begin an independent league season this past April. He'd be a nice little sign on another minor league contract, but beyond that, no, not a 40-man spot. *** I could see catcher Anderson De La Rosa agreeing to yet another minor league deal, and the Brewers offering it. After getting yanked down to Huntsville yet again this year, slider specialist Robert Hinton won't likely be so anxious to come back for year nine.

Once a player's original affiliated contract is terminated, should a player then subsequently be signed by the Brewers, the deal is normally signed to cover the remaining years left until minor league free agency is earned. So if a player spent four seasons with another organziation and was then released, the Brewers would sign that player to a contract worded in such a way that the Brewers would retain rights to the player over the next three seasons. For instance, Brevard County reliever Bradley Blanks made his affiliated debut last year in the Phillies' system but was subsequently released. The Brewers signed him out of independent ball this year and retain his rights over his final six "obligated" years (2011 - 2016). Blanks doesn't become a minor league free agent this October just because his initial affiliated contract was terminated.

Following is a list of players who are free to leave the organization in mid-October when minor league free agency begins. These players and the Brewers could agree to sign an additional one-year minor league deal to extend the relationship. Or the Brewers could add the player to the 40-man roster, thus extending the "ownership" of the player. A player who has exhausted all seven years of his original minor league affiliation to the organization that signed him is eligible. Here are the Brewers farmhands who have been with the organization for their full commitment (or even longer in the case of Anderson De la Rosa and Robert Hinton, who have been Brewers for eight seasons). We've been following these three guys their whole careers. C Anderson De La Rosa (RE-SIGNED FOR 2012) RHP Robert Hinton OF Brendan Katin Other potential (and likely) free agents: IF Erick Almonte C Patrick Arlis OF Brandon Boggs OF / 1B Jordan Brown C Dayton Buller RHP Darren Byrd IF Andy Gonzalez RHP Sean Green RHP Jim Henderson RHP Justin James IF Felipe Lopez INF Anderson Machado SS Edwin Maysonet (RE-SIGNED FOR 2012, SPRING TRAINING INVITE) RHP Roque Mercedes (RE-SIGNED FOR 2012) LHP Sam Narron C Shawn Riggans C Mike Rivera RHP Jesus Sanchez (RE-SIGNED FOR 2012) UT Juan Sanchez RHP Zack Segovia SS Hainley Statia (RE-SIGNED FOR 2012) LHP Chase Wright If you believe a player is listed in error or have an addition, let us know. We believe we're close, but don't claim to be 100% accurate.

Billings' Bryson Smith hits for the cycle against Brewers by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record Leading off the ninth inning, Bryson Smith took the first offering from Helena reliever Jacob Barnes and rocketed the ball down the third-base line. Billings’ red-headed center fielder stopped at first base, and the umpire went and collected the ball from the pitcher, taking the souvenir out of play. With the single, Smith completed the cycle on a cold Wednesday night at Kindrick Legion Field as the Mustangs beat the Brewers 14-9. Fellow teammate Ryan Wright finished the game just a base-hit shy of the same feat. “First and foremost, to God be the glory,” said Smith, who was 4 for 6 with five RBIs and a run scored. “Without him, I couldn’t do it.” It was the first time Smith has hit for the cycle in his life, at any level, and the sixth time a player has accomplished the task in the Pioneer League this season. Smith became the first Mustang to hit for the cycle in 2011. The 34th-round draft pick out of the University of Florida hit a two-run homer in the second inning, one of three Billings batters to go yard in that inning alone. The two teams combined for eight home runs in the slugfest. Smith’s RBI double came in the fourth, and he laced a two-run triple in the fifth. It wasn’t until that point that Smith realized he had a chance to make history. “Once I had the triple the third baseman said something to me, and from then on it was in the back of my head for sure,” he said. On his first attempt in the seventh, Smith grounded out to second baseman Gant Elmore. When he connected in the ninth, he drew applause from the few fans remaining. Did he pull up at first in order to get the cycle? “I’m not that kind of kid,” Smith said. “I thought he caught it and that’s why I was hustling down, I kind of had my head down.” The crowd of 524 was treated to a bevy of offensive fireworks in the contest. Billings recorded a season-high 20 hits, Helena hit a season-best four long balls and everyone on either lineup card reached base. Brewers first baseman Steve Felix had a pair of solo shots in the contest to give him three home runs in the last two days, and Kenny Allison and Yadiel Rivera also went yard. Billings pulled away in the second with a seven-run inning that featured back-to-back homers by Smith and Robert Maddox and a triple by Wright that nearly cleared the fence. Maddox’s bomb chased lefty Mike Strong, who had been solid for the Brewers all season. It was the second night in a row that a Helena starter failed to get through two innings. Smith said after the Mustangs had their six-game win streak snapped the previous night — the Brewers won that one 6-4 — they knew they had to put that behind them and come out swinging. “We were focused collectively as hitters, Ryan Wright also had a chance at the cycle so that shows how focused we were as a group,” he said. “Everyone’s seeing the ball pretty well right now, and when you lose one you can’t let it get to you.” Billings (19-11) has now won seven of its last eight and is locked in a tie for first with Great Falls in the North Division standings. Smith said the recipe for a second-half title is simple. “Same thing we did tonight,” he said with a smile. Billings shortstop Juan Perez also went 4 for 6 at the plate, as the Mustangs’ 1-3 hitters went a combined 11 for 18 with seven runs scored and nine batted in. Robbie Garvey and Rivera each had three hits and a pair of RBIs to lead the hosts. The Brewers loaded the bags in the eighth, but Elmore grounded into a 5-3 unassisted double play. Billings right-handed starter Cole Green earned the win despite allowing four runs on nine hits through five innings. Strong was tagged with the loss after being peppered for eight hits and eight earned runs — four of them homers — through an inning and 1/3. The series wraps up tonight, with first pitch slated for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). Helena’s ace Andy Moye (6-2, 4.54) comes to the mound, while southpaw Tony Cingrani (1-2, 1.56) is slated to start for the Mustangs. Cingrani is coming off a six-inning no-hitter. Photo by Dylan Brown, Independent Record – Brewers second baseman Gant Elmore delivers the ball to first base for a double play against Billings Wednesday night at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/07/a07116fc-d447-11e0-9c03-001cc4c002e0/4e5ef71c16dbf.image.jpg

Smith Cycle Leads Billings in Slugfest Helena Brewers The Brewers pounded out nine runs on 14 hits but it was not enough as they fell 14-9 to the Billings Mustangs Wednesday in Helena. Every Billings batter recorded at least one hit, centerfielder Bryson Smith hit for the cycle with five RBIs and Ryan Wright finished just a single short of the cycle in the win. Mike Strong (2-6) took the loss for the Brewers, allowing eight unearned runs in 1.1 innings. Billings scored one run in the top of the first inning and seven in the second, collecting eight hits and four home runs off the southpaw. Helena also homered four times, two by Steve Felix, giving him three homers and eight RBI in the series thus far. Felix's first homer was followed by Kenny Allison's second long ball of the season. Yadiel Rivera added his eighth homer of the season in the seventh inning. Robbie Garvey and Rivera each collected three hits and two RBI on the night.

BC splits twinbill with Clearwater 'Tees eliminated from playoff race, Morris ties record By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. -- The Brevard County Manatees split a doubleheader with the Clearwater Threshers on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium. Brevard County's 2-0 loss in game one officially eliminated the Manatees from postseason contention. However, in the 'Tees 4-2 win in game two, Hunter Morris tied Brevard County's single-season home run record with his 18th homer. GAME ONE - CLEARWATER 2, BREVARD COUNTY 0 Tyler Thornburg struck out six in five innings, but walked four and allowed two runs as the 'Tees dropped the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, 2-0 to the Threshers. The loss eliminated Brevard County from playoff contention. The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Cesar Hernandez drove in Brandon Tripp with a two-out single, to give Clearwater a 1-0 lead. Thornburg ran into more trouble in the fifth as he loaded the bases on two walks and a single. A bases-loaded walk to Jeremy Barnes made it a 2-0 game. Thornburg got out of the jam with no further damage, thanks to a double play. Brevard County was able to load the bases with two outs in the seventh, but a line out by Brent Dean to the pitcher ended the game. Bradley Blanks relieved Thornburg and threw two perfect innings. Chuck Caufield and Shawn Zarraga each had two hits in the loss. GAME TWO - BREVARD COUNTY 4, CLEARWATER 2 A solo homer by Dean in the fifth inning, broke a 2-2 tie and a record-tying homer by Morris in the sixth put the game out of reach as the Manatees won game two, 4-2. Newcomer Manuel Ruiz started on the hill for the 'Tees and went 3 2/3 innings and struck out six, but walked five and allowed two runs (one earned). Brevard County tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth, thanks to a lead-off homer by Scooter Gennett and a two-out single by Caufield that scored Shea Vucinich. Dean's solo homer in the fifth gave the 'Tees a 3-2 lead and then Morris hit a solo shot in the sixth to seal it. It was the 18th home run this season for Morris, which tied the Manatees single-season home run record, that was set by Jose Santos in 2001. Brock Kjeldgaard also tied the record earlier this season. Mitch Conner picked up the win in relief as he threw 2 1/3 shutout innings. Roque Mercedes shut the door and earned his ninth save of the season. UP NEXT: Brevard County will close out the 2011 season with a four-game series with the Daytona Cubs. The first two games on Thursday and Friday will be played in Daytona Beach. The series shifts back to Viera on Saturday and then the Manatees close out the year back at Daytona on Sunday. In Thursday's series opener, Hiram Burgos (5-8, 5.05) will take the mound for the 'Tees. Daytona will send Jeffry Antigua (2-1, 2.92) to the hill. Manatees starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg threw five innings in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Clearwater Threshers. Thornburg struck out six and allowed two runs, in a losing effort. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/08/31/IBWnXoXf.jpg

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts Yeah, Cody Hawn's numbers have probably snuck up on all of us, but the slugging still lacking, especially for a first baseman...