Jim Goulart

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 36 30 .545 - - 20-15 16-15 5-5 L2 Memphis 33 32 .508 2.5 77 19-15 14-17 8-2 W3 Iowa 30 36 .455 6.0 73 14-17 16-19 4-6 W2 Nashville 29 36 .446 6.5 73 18-15 11-21 5-5 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tennessee 41 24 .631 - - 20-10 21-14 6-4 W1 Jackson 37 29 .561 4.5 1 17-12 20-17 3-7 L2 Huntsville 35 31 .530 6.5 E 21-10 14-21 7-3 W3 Chattanooga 32 33 .492 9.0 E 15-20 17-13 7-3 L1 Carolina 20 46 .303 21.5 E 12-23 8-23 3-7 W1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Daytona 46 20 .697 - - 25-10 21-10 6-4 L1 Clearwater 39 27 .591 7.0 E 20-12 19-15 3-7 L1 Dunedin 36 30 .545 10.0 E 15-17 21-13 6-4 W1 Lakeland 34 32 .515 12.0 E 19-16 15-16 4-6 L2 Tampa 34 32 .515 12.0 E 15-17 19-15 7-3 W2 Brevard County 25 41 .379 21.0 E 13-21 12-20 4-6 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Burlington 43 23 .652 - - 22-9 21-14 5-5 W2 Quad Cities 37 28 .569 5.5 - 16-14 21-14 7-3 W3 Wisconsin 36 30 .545 7.0 4 20-15 16-15 7-3 W4 Beloit 35 31 .530 8.0 3 18-16 17-15 7-3 W2 Peoria 33 33 .500 10.0 1 21-14 12-19 3-7 L3 Cedar Rapids 30 36 .455 13.0 E 17-15 13-21 3-7 L2 Kane County 27 38 .415 15.5 E 14-18 13-20 3-7 L2 Clinton 21 45 .318 22.0 E 8-26 13-19 4-6 L5 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Brewers 11 5 .688 - - 4-3 7-2 5-5 W1 DSL Mariners 10 5 .667 0.5 57 5-3 5-2 8-2 W6 DSL Athletics 5 10 .333 5.5 52 2-4 3-6 3-7 L1 DSL Cardinals 3 11 .214 7.0 51 2-7 1-4 3-7 L3

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

Thursday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional broadcast -- Birmingham feed Brevard County: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Cubs' feed Wisconsin: RHP Brooks Hall at Peoria (Cubs), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Mariners, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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Eddy was working with current players only.

Re: Thatcher, Matt's response -- I see what you mean with Joe Thatcher, but technically he had signed a professional contract prior to signing with Milwaukee. That's a separate list—players who sign indy ball contracts at the outset and then sign on in affiliated ball and work their way up. Daniel Nava, Thatcher, etc. I'm sure J.J. Cooper could rattle them all off.

Matt Eddy of Baseball America is my hero with pieces like this one. Check out the starting rotation candidates for his "team" after Jonathan Sanchez. Actually, there are several Brewer connections, either directly or indirectly, on the list. So when we root really hard for a Daniel Meadows or a Michael Fiers, it's the underdog syndrome within us. This piece may be a bit sobering for all the recent late-round signees or those still in the system. I'll email Matt, think he missed the Brewers, then Padres, Joe Thatcher.

Just two days ago, Daniel Ray Herrera was interviewed in Nashville, with the audio archived here. Ironically, just last night, the latest Nashville audio was with the gentleman who will be among those critical in working with Zach while in Nashville (Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrew Emmick). Look for that audio just two posts below the audio link above.

Nashville Audio Archive -- June 15 - Chat with Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrew Emmick While Zach Braddock is not discussed specifically, you'll learn that Andrew will be critical in working with Zach.

As of early Thursday AM, the mayor is seeking a Saturday parade for the NHL champion Bruins, while other factors may lead to a Friday parade. Plenty of company for all of you either way...

Here's a link to the feature article in the George Kottaras thread on the Major League Forum that discusses George's time in Nashville.

Kottaras returns to majors with Brewers by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean Catcher George Kottaras, called up from the Nashville Sounds to rejoin the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, knows what it’s like to be the new guy. He is now in his second season with Brewers after two seasons with the Red Sox, where the 28-year-old said he was constantly soaking up knowledge from big league veterans. In his 29-game stint in Nashville, though, he was the veteran. And while it was his hot hitting that helped earn his call-up, his experience and willingness to work with young pitchers also helped. “Everyone’s been there so you kind of feel for the younger guys,” Kottaras said. “You try and be as much of a mentor as you can.” But the way a catcher guides pitchers in the high minors, he said, depends on the pitcher. “Some guys need motivation. Some guys need calming down. Once you learn what they need, it makes it a whole lot easier.” Kottaras grew up near Toronto and played organized softball before he started playing baseball when he was 15. “I had to start from scratch and learn the game,” Kottaras said. “It was a crazy road, but here I am.” While he struggled offensively at times in his career, he left Nashville on a torrid streak and was hitting .343 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Kottaras started this season in Milwaukee but was quickly sent down when Jonathan Lucroy was activated from the disabled list. Now he will replace Wil Nieves as the Brewers’ back-up catcher. Nieves has been struggling at the plate. He has the most at-bats (50) in the majors this season without an RBI and was out-righted to the Sounds’ roster. “He’s been in the big leagues a couple years,” Sounds Manager Don Money said of Kottaras. “You get sent down and it’s depressing, of course, but at some point you have to forget about that and earn your way back to the big leagues. How you do that is call good games, do a good job and hit.” Nashville’s pitchers said they enjoyed having a veteran backstop. “As far as mechanics and stuff, he may come out there and say, ‘You’ve got to finish,’” lefty Chase Wright said. “That can be important in a big situation with runners on base. He comes out and tells you that and then…Bam. Groundball double play and you’re out of the inning. “It makes it that much easier when you know you can believe in a catcher and trust what (sign) he puts down. That helps a lot.” Nashville Sounds catcher George Kottaras was called up to the majors by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. (SAMUEL M. SIMPKINS/THE TENNESSEAN) http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20110616&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=306160055&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0

Chris' postgame Timber Rattler thoughts -- and a Brewerfan reference if you follow his links.

Must be a smoke-theme here -- Chiefs wiped out of the wild card Wisconsin wins two in Peoria; Quad Cities beats Clinton by Kevin Capie, Peoria (IL) Journal-Star The smoke that hung over O’Brien Field for much of the second game of the Peoria Chiefs’ doubleheader with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday very well could have held the home club’s playoff hopes. Wisconsin’s sweep of the twinbill — winning 2-1 and 6-2 — coupled with a Quad Cities win at Clinton, eliminated Peoria from contention for the Midwest League’s Western Division wild card. “(We have to approach the end of the half the) same way we have,” Chiefs manager Casey Kopitzke said. “We’ll just keep playing hard, fighting and clawing for everything.” The Chiefs had few answers for either Wisconsin starter, Tyler Thornburg or Dan Britt. Thornburg held the Chiefs to just two hits while striking out nine in working the complete seven-inning game. Britt went six innings in a spot start in Game 2 and gave up two runs and four hits. In the first three games of the four-game series the Chiefs have fanned 32 times, almost eight percent of the Chiefs’ strikeouts this season. “We’re struggling a little bit to put the ball in play,” Chiefs center fielder Matt Szczur, the only Chief with a hit in both games, said. “Everybody goes through those ruts and we just have to come out tomorrow ready to play.” Thornburg, a Midwest League all-star, kept the Chiefs off balance with his change-up and 67 of his 104 pitches were for strikes. “That’s what he does,” Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson said. “He’s become a steady believer in that change-up and it makes his fastball even better.” Wisconsin won the opener in the sixth with a single by T.J. Mittelstaedt, a balk by Brett Ebinger and an RBI single by Tyler Roberts. Ebinger made his Chiefs debut after joining the team from high-A Daytona on Tuesday. He worked five innings in relief of Angel Guzman, who allowed a run on two hits in two innings. “Ebinger came in and we didn’t know what to expect,” Kopitzke said. “But he gave us five good innings and we can’t ask for anything else, especially with (the bullpen) situation we were in. He picked us up big time.” The Chiefs never were in Game 2 after Wisconsin scored five runs in the first inning, with only two hits, off Peoria starter Cam Greathouse. The lefty struggled again walking two of the first three batters of the game, and hitting the other. Mike Walker then singled in two runs and Chris Dennis homered. Greathouse walked four in four innings and allowed three hits. In three of his last four starts Greathouse has allowed more walks than hits. “We faced him before, so we had an idea of what he’s about,” Erickson said. “Our philosophy is to try and be as patient as possible and shrink the zone, especially the first time through, and make sure he has some command.”

The outfield kill was Romero's seventh and the team's 27th. *** Congrats to Franklin Romero on his continued fine defensive efforts, but he's passed another milestone (over 150 AB's -- 157, to be exact) without drawing a walk. Unfortunately, while he was hitting earlier in the seaon to some extent, he's 3-for-37 in his last ten games and now has a stat line of .217 / .215 / .306. We'll check in again at the 200 at-bat mark, although Franklin can end all our notations by just taking that one free pass.

Manatees to express thanks to Melbourne Bravesby Mark DeCotis, Florida Today If there was one common emotion among the Brevard County Manatees' black players when it came to the Melbourne Braves, it was "thank you." And that's what they plan to express when surviving members of the Braves, who played baseball in the Negro Leagues in the 1950s, visit with the Manatees before their game tonight against the Daytona Cubs. The Braves will participate in the throwing of the first pitch and also take the field for the National Anthem. They will be welcomed. "It's just nice to give thanks to those guys who paid the price for players like me and Kentrail (Davis)," said outfielder and Florida State League All-Star Khris Davis. "I can't thank them enough and I'll make sure I shake their hand and look them in the eye and say, 'thank you.' " In honor of the Braves, the Manatees will wear replica jerseys that will be auctioned after the game. That resonates with the Manatees hitting coach Dwayne Hosey, who also is black. "I have all the collections of all of them, I have baseball cards of them," Hosey said of the black players who paved the way for the modern-day athletes. "It means a lot to me. All the stuff they went through, I think that this is a good thing for them, the platform. I think they should be recognized." For outfielder D'Vontrey Richardson, the night has a special meaning. "It means a lot," he said. "A lot of players over there were good enough to play (in the big leagues) but they couldn't. I'm glad to be supporting them and wearing their jerseys. I can't wait to meet them. "They went through a lot and I thank them for what they did. They had to battle on the field and off the field. I'm going to thank them for the opportunity they opened for us." Kentrail Davis, also an outfielder, summed it up best. "It's exciting and it's a big honor to meet those guys," he said. "Without them I don't think we'd be here today as African-American players. I think it's exciting and it should be fun. "(I'll tell them) thank you for everything they've done and for showing us the way and pretty much making baseball possible for us to play." Khris Davis photo by Tim Shortt, Florida Todayhttp://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20110616&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=106160311&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0

By the way, also from the Cubs' broadcast, catcher Michael Brenly and his .527 OPS (well, they glossed over that stat) was added to the Florida State League All-Star team. The Cubs' AA club in Tennessee, which is a solid team, had 12 (12!) All-Stars named to the Southern League squad. So as we've discussed in the various team threads, when it comes to these mid-season All-Star games, particularly in the ten-team Southern League and 12-team Florida State League, there are deserving spots, and there are "hey, we need to field a full roster" spots.

Not quite rain -- this was actually discussed last evening during the Cubs' broadcast of the Brewers' game -- Bob Brenly's son plays for Daytona -- Cubs lose smoke-shortened game By Buddy Shacklette, Daytona Beach News-Journal Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH -- Five innings and one hour and 30 minutes in, umpires called Wednesday's Florida State League game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark between the Brevard County Manatees and Daytona Cubs because of smoke from the area wildfires. "I think the umpires used good judgment," Daytona Cubs manager Buddy Bailey said. "I think they made the right decision because some of the guys were getting a little light-headed and weren't getting enough oxygen. The players' safety is the most important thing." The game started on time and with a smoky haze over the field, but visibility diminished as nightfall fell on the crowd of 1,622. Two errors were made but neither of the two were fly balls or condition-induced. "It's been smoky all day and I feel like it was getting to guys because some guys have got asthma and some guys don't take in the smoke very well," Cubs designated hitter Mike Burgess said. "It was a pretty crazy night." At 8:35 PM the game was called and declared official -- because five innings had been completed -- with Brevard (25-41) coming away with a 5-1 victory over the first-half division champions. Daytona (46-20) only had three hits to show for its efforts, but Bailey said he was more concerned with those outside in the conditions. "We had some people getting kind of nauseated earlier today. They were having problems from inhaling smoke," Bailey said. "It's one thing sitting there and sitting still breathing it, but you run down a double or go hard and start gasping for air hard and it's another dimension sucking this stuff in. It's really dangerous." Brevard was first to get on the board in the opening inning. Hunter Morris hit into a double play that scored Scooter Gennett, who led off with a double, from third base for an early 1-0 Manatee lead. Daytona tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Rubi Silva singled in Burgess, who doubled off the left-field wall earlier in the inning. Brevard County broke the game open in the third thanks to a four-run, four-hit inning, including a three-run homer to center field by Morris. RBIs by Morris and Kentrail Davis left the visitors with a 5-1 lead. Brevard made some plays but the story of the night was the smoke. "I've had delays with fog or smoke but actually having to stop it, probably not. There's no chance that it's going to improve that much right now with the weather the way it is," Bailey said. "It's actually worse now than what it was at game time. The wind died. We had a breeze earlier but then the wind died and the humidity just forced it straight down."

Nashville Media Notes Wisconsin Media Notes

Nashville Media Notes: KOTTARAS CALLED UP BY BREWERS; ARLIS ACTIVATED: Catcher George Kottaras had his contract purchased by the Brewers this morning and will join the club in Chicago today. He fills the roster spot of Wil Nieves, who was outrighted by Milwaukee. Kottaras was red-hot at the dish for the Sounds, hitting safely in 19 of his final 23 PCL games at a .395 clip (34-for-86). To fill Kottaras’ spot, catcher Patrick Arlis was activated from the Sounds’ disabled list. He has made only one appearance for Nashville this season. *** The at-the-ready Arlis will give the Sounds a needed backup catcher until (and if) Wil Nieves arrives.

VIDEO: Eric Farris' walk-off single for Nashville

Michael Fiers gets the start tonight for Huntsville in Game Two on birthday # 26 -- one of the least-relevant age analyses we can do, since the somewhat intriguing arm was drafted just before his 24th birthday. Seth McClung (stats) faces the Sounds.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 36 29 .554 - - 20-14 16-15 5-5 L1 Memphis 32 32 .500 3.5 77 18-15 14-17 8-2 W2 Nashville 29 35 .453 6.5 74 18-14 11-21 6-4 W2 Iowa 29 36 .446 7.0 73 14-17 15-19 4-6 W1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tennessee 41 24 .631 - - 20-10 21-14 6-4 W1 Jackson 37 28 .569 4.0 2 17-11 20-17 4-6 L1 Huntsville 33 31 .516 7.5 E 19-10 14-21 5-5 W1 Chattanooga 32 33 .492 9.0 E 15-20 17-13 7-3 L1 Carolina 19 46 .292 22.0 E 12-23 7-23 3-7 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Daytona 46 19 .708 - - 25-9 21-10 6-4 W4 Clearwater 39 26 .600 7.0 E 20-12 19-14 4-6 W1 Dunedin 35 30 .538 11.0 E 14-17 21-13 5-5 L1 Lakeland 34 31 .523 12.0 E 19-16 15-15 4-6 L1 Tampa 33 32 .508 13.0 E 14-17 19-15 7-3 W1 Brevard County 24 41 .369 22.0 E 13-21 11-20 4-6 L2 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Burlington 42 23 .646 - - 21-9 21-14 5-5 W1 Quad Cities 36 28 .563 5.5 - 16-14 20-14 6-4 W2 Wisconsin 34 30 .531 7.5 5 20-15 14-15 6-4 W2 Beloit 34 31 .523 8.0 4 17-16 17-15 7-3 W1 Peoria 33 31 .516 8.5 4 21-12 12-19 4-6 L1 Cedar Rapids 30 35 .462 12.0 E 17-15 13-20 3-7 L1 Kane County 27 37 .422 14.5 E 14-18 13-19 3-7 L1 Clinton 21 44 .323 21.0 E 8-25 13-19 4-6 L4 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Brewers 10 5 .667 - - 4-3 6-2 5-5 L1 DSL Mariners 9 5 .643 0.5 58 5-3 4-2 7-3 W5 DSL Athletics 5 9 .357 4.5 54 2-3 3-6 3-7 W1 DSL Cardinals 3 10 .231 6.0 53 2-6 1-4 3-7 L2

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville Game One (Gameday also available) Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Game One Wisconsin Game Two DSL Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: RHP's Wily Peralta and Michael Fiers in a doubleheader at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 4:43 PM gametime; each contest is slated for seven innings Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional broadcast -- Birmingham feed Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Cubs' feed Wisconsin: RHP's Tyler Thornburg and Dan Britt in a doubleheader at Peoria (Cubs), 4:40 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime; each contest is slated for seven innings Live Audio Link DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM