Jim Goulart

Here's a post from our draft forum that will tell you why Jalen Harris is a bit unique.

'Tees blank Jays 2-0 Three pitchers combine for shutout, despite eight walks By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. -- Adrian Rosario, Evan Anundsen and Mark Willinsky combined to allow just two hits as the Brevard County Manatees shut out the Dunedin Blue Jays 2-0 on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium, in front of 1,550 fans. The win snapped a three-game losing streak. Rosario started and worked six innings allowed just one hit, struck out five and allowed a season-high six walks. The Manatees (22-38) jumped out a 1-0 lead in the first as Scooter Gennett led the inning off with a single, then moved to third as Hunter Morris reached base on a fielding error by Dunedin second baseman Ryan Schimpf. Gennett would then score on a Khris Davis ground out. Dunedin (32-28) had chances in both the second and third against Rosario as he combined to walk four in those two innings, but the Blue Jays were unable to push anything across as they combine to strand five runners in those two frames. Brevard County added to its lead in the fifth as Shawn Zarraga took the first pitch he saw and sent it over the right field fence for his fourth homer of the year and gave the 'Tees a 2-0 lead. After the third inning, Dunedin had just two runners reach second base as Brevard County's pitching shut them down, as the Blue Jays stranded nine and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Anundsen earned his third hold of the season by pitching two scoreless innings and Willinsky shut the door in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year. Offensively, the Manatees collected just five hits, with two of those belonging to Gennett. After hitting just .212 in May, Gennett is hitting .294 (10-for-34) in June and has an eight-game hitting streak. Brevard County will close out its series with Dunedin on the road on Friday night and will then travel to Lakeland for a three-game set with the Flying Tigers. The Manatees will return home on Tuesday, June 14 against the Daytona Cubs. Adrian Rosario (L) threw six shutout innings and struck out five and All-Star Scooter Gennett had two hits, to extend his hitting streak to eight games. The Manatees snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/06/09/xv8Pf88v.jpg Brevard County Box Score Teams combined for only seven hits, but the Manatees did not draw a base on balls of their own; Adrian Rosario is only 21 (until September), so he'll be a candidate to return to Brevard next year to continue his development; Kentrail Davis (.685 OPS, yawn) stole his 14th base in 16 tries, but was also 0-for-4 and committed his 5th outfield error; surprisingly, Brock Kjeldgaard did not homer (0-for-3); 22-year-old Shawn Zarraga isn't much older than the Tyler Roberts and Cameron Garfields of the system, is he? Look forward to his AA season next year... Brevard County Play-by-Play Rosario came up big here -- Dunedin Top of the 2nd Jon Talley singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Kevin Ahrens walks. Jon Talley to 2nd. Sean Ochinko flies out to center fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Brian Van Kirk walks. Jon Talley to 3rd. Kevin Ahrens to 2nd. Ryan Schimpf strikes out swinging. Justin Jackson called out on strikes.

RHP Michael Bowman, a 2010 Southern League All-Star as well, is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 11 starts this season, opponents at a .276 average. He's now been added to the 2011 All-Star roster. *** Congratulations to Michael. We're not going to over-quibble the numbers vs. the honor.

Final: @Huntsville 6, Jackson 2 Peralta’s 10 Ks Shoot Stars Past Generals, 6-2 in Game One of Series HUNTSVILLE, AL – Wily Peralta (4-6) got the run support he needed, leading the Huntsville Stars to a 6-2 victory over the Jackson Generals in the series opener on Thursday. Peralta fanned a season-high ten Jackson batters in his six innings pitched, allowing just two runs on three hits. Daniel Meadows came in relief to pitch the final three innings, earning his first save of the season. Meadows allowed just one hit, a two-out single in the ninth. He added two strikeouts to the Stars’ total, bringing it to 12. The Stars’ offense came up big in the second inning, crossing five runs and batting around all with two outs. All-star Steffan Wilson started the rally with a double, being the first of five consecutive batters to score. Martin Maldonado scored two runs in the game, he came in to score in the seventh when Erik Komatsu singled. Komatsu joined Logan Schafer with two RBI in the game. On the hook for the loss was Generals’ starter Erasmo Ramirez (6-3) after being removed from the game after just two innings. It was a very different result from his last outing against Huntsville (8 IP, 1 ER). Ramirez gave up five runs on seven hits. A combination of relievers, Taylor Stanton, Edward Paredes, and Stephen Penney combined for six innings, allowing four hits. The Generals got both their runs in the third, loading the bases with two walks and a single. Friday, game two of the series will put RHP Michael Fiers (2-2, 4.40 ERA) against the pitcher slated to start the Southern League All-Star Game, RHP Jarrett Grube (4-1, 3.57 ERA). The game will begin at 6:43 PM CST. Huntsville Box Score OK, so Wily Peralta wants us to know he's earned his All-Star spot; Peralta did walk four, so with all the K's, he hit the 104 pitch mark after six frames; 6'6" 2008 49th round pick LHP Daniel Meadows just continues to shine, the 23-year-old is on a big league career arc -- he's limited right-handed bats to a .182 mark this season (LHB's .226, sweet, now he's truly earned his All-Star spot); five Stars reached base twice... Huntsville Game Log

Matt Erickson turns to crack researcher Chris Mehring, nice! We turn to Chris also, for his postgame thoughts.

Hopkins continues to clean up for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in win over Lake County Captains by Mike Woods, Appleton Post-Crescent GRAND CHUTE – A good baseball manager will turn over every stone in order to try and unlock the potential of his players. A short while back, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson sought out radio broadcaster Chris Mehring and quizzed him on where Greg Hopkins was most comfortable and most productive in the lineup last season. "It came back he hit fourth quite a bit," said Erickson. So despite an average that was an unspectacular .224, Erickson told Hopkins he would be the team's cleanup hitter. Period, paragraph, amen. And Hopkins has suddenly become Prince Fielder. He had his fourth straight multi-hit game Thursday, driving in one run and helping the Rattlers to a 5-4 victory over Lake County in Midwest League play on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The victory moved Wisconsin within one game of Quad Cities with 10 games to play for the wild card playoff spot. Hopkins' two hits Thursday gave him a nine-game hitting streak in which he has gone 15-for-35, a .429 average. "Matty obviously has shown some confidence in me," said Hopkins. "That helps a lot because I was struggling for a while and once he put me in that slot he definitely gave me some confidence. "He said 'I don't plan on taking you out of there,' so that made me feel pretty good about his confidence in me. And I just kind of took it from there, had some quality at-bats and that's all I'm trying to do now, string some good at-bats together. Baseball is a big confidence thing. The more confidence you have the better you're going to play." The same could be said for starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg, who entered the game with a 5-0 record and 1.48 ERA. Despite feeling under the weather the past couple of days that left him unsure of how he could perform once he finished his warm-up, he overcame a shaky start and just overpowered the Captains. Thornburg went seven innings on the night, gave up two runs on four hits — all in the second inning — walked one and struck out 10. He set down the final 16 batters he faced. "Actually, I've been sick the past couple of days and I was just trying to get a feel out there for the first few (batters)," said Thornburg. "And then from about the third, fourth inning on my body started getting going and I realized I was all right. I definitely felt the difference." Erickson said after the second inning Thornburg was relying too heavily on his fastball, so he sent out pitching coach Chris Hook to instruct him to use all of his repertoire, and from there Thornburg took over the game. "We took him out after the seventh, he was at 103 pitches, but he looked as strong in the seventh as he did any other inning tonight," said Erickson. "I think he finally figured out 'Hey I'm healthy enough to get after it.' And once he got touched up a little bit, his competitiveness took over and he did a nice job."

Nashville Audio Archive -- June 9 -- Chat with outfielder Brett Carroll

You can listen to the 2nd of "Mr." Caleb Gindl's home run calls via the audio link here. And yes, Stu Paul uses his "Mr.'s" judiciously. You won't here "Mr. Edwin Maysonet taps back to the pitcher" http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

34. Adam Weisenburger, C, Miami University A pair of outgoing RedHawks, catcher Adam Weisenburger and left-handed pitcher Tyler Melling, were selected in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, becoming the 68th and 69th players ever drafted in program history. Weisenburger was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 34th round (#1031 overall), while Melling went to the St. Louis Cardinals five rounds later (#1190 overall). This marks the 12th consecutive year that a RedHawk has been taken in the draft, and at least two have been taken each year during that streak. Weisenburger had a great senior season for the 'Hawks, batting .298 (53-for-178) while clubbing seven homers, tied for second-most on the team. Playing in 54 games, he drove in 26 RBIs and scored 39 runs, also good for second-most on the team. The two-time team captain was solid behind the plate too. As the RedHawks' primary catcher, he had a fielding percentage of .981 and threw out 32% of baserunners (12 of 38) this year. His career numbers include a .297 average (144-for-485), 16 home runs, 104 runs and 92 RBIs. He was the sixth of eight catchers that the Brewers drafted, meaning he will have some competition as he begins his climb up the minor league ladder. Of the other seven, four are coming directly out of high school and only one is older than Weisenburger.

Elon reliever ends up in good place as draftee Bob Sutton / Burlington (NC) Times-News Baseball’s amateur draft for Mitch Conner went just about how his time at Elon University unfolded. He wasn’t sure how it would go, but it all worked out pretty well. Conner, who emerged as the bullpen closer as a senior, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 36th round Wednesday. “It has been a new experience for me because I had never been drafted before,” Conner said. “Not knowing how things were going to go. It’s pretty much a waiting game.” Spending a second day watching the draft on the Internet, his computer froze briefly in the afternoon while watching from his father’s home in Lowell. During that time, the Brewers picked him with the 1,091st choice in this year’s draft. Conner, a 21-year-old right-hander, became the fourth Elon pitcher selected in this year’s draft. Ken Ferrer, Thomas Girdwood and John Brebbia were picked a day earlier. Conner was largely unproven on the Division I level entering the season. He spent two years at Guilford Tech and then underwent surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow in the summer of 2009. So his impact for Elon the following season was limited. That was far from the case this year. “(It helped) the way I progressed from last year to this year,” Conner said. “This year I felt good coming into the year. “I always had confidence in myself. I kept plugging away and kept working hard and kept listening to Coach (Mike) Kennedy. It’s a really cool feeling now.” Conner posted a 1-2 record with eight saves (of the team’s 15 total) and a 2.32 earned run average this year. He struck out 31 batters in 31 innings while walking 11. Opponents batted .190 off him. Kennedy said during the season that he liked how Conner stepped into the closer’s role and the consistency that he showed. He allowed a total of two runs across his last 12 outings. Conner, who grew up in Florida, said he wasn’t sure how much he was on scouts’ draft radars, though he had contact with some of them about a week ago. He said he experience at Elon allowed him to gain the exposure that’s making a professional career possible. Of course, he did his part when Elon’s closer position needed stability. An effective slider became one of his assets. “I guess whenever I pitched they liked how I handled certain situations when I came in,” he said. “They saw how I handled myself in big situations and how you have to be composed.” Six Elon pitchers have been drafted in the past two drafts and another is pitching professionally as a nondrafted free agent. “I’m happy for everyone who’s playing and who got drafted, but they’re not my teammates anymore and that’s the tough part,” Conner said.

Discussed here via audio, and in a few other spots on the forum this past week.

Not quite up yet as of 3:30 Central, but check Chris' blog as game time approaches -- Rattler Media Notes Yours truly out until post-midnight, enjoy your evening.

Southern League Northern Division All-Star Starting Lineup -- Order Name Position Team 1 Jake Shaffer Left Field, Jackson 2 Kyle Seager Second Base, Jackson 3 Matt Spencer Right Field, Tennessee 4 Scott Van Slyke First Base, Chattanooga 5 Rebel Ridling Designated Hitter, Tennessee 6 Steve Clevenger Catcher, Tennessee 7 Steffan Wilson Third Base, Huntsville 8 Erik Komatsu Center Field, Huntsville 9 Marwin Gonzalez Short Stop, Tennessee SP Jarrett Grube Pitcher, Jackson

Locals check your listings and set your DVR's, as Time warner Cable Sports 32 no longer updates its online TV schedule -- Chris' tweet http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/745004852/CharlieBrown_normal.jpg @CMehring Chris Mehring Just interviewed Chris Dennis, Mike Walker, & Greg Holle for the next edition of "Field Pass" on @sports32 Episode Premier 6/14

http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/745004852/CharlieBrown_normal.jpg @CMehring Chris Mehring Mike Walker let it drop that he will participate in the MWL Home Run Hitting Contest on Monday.

Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 33 26 .559 - - 17-11 16-15 6-4 W2 Memphis 28 30 .483 4.5 82 16-15 12-15 7-3 W4 Iowa 27 32 .458 6.0 80 13-14 14-18 5-5 L2 Nashville 26 32 .448 6.5 80 16-14 10-18 6-4 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tennessee 37 23 .617 - - 20-10 17-13 5-5 L1 Jackson 36 24 .600 1.0 10 17-11 19-13 7-3 W1 Huntsville 29 30 .492 7.5 4 15-9 14-21 3-7 L2 Chattanooga 28 32 .467 9.0 2 15-20 13-12 4-6 W2 Carolina 18 42 .300 19.0 E 11-19 7-23 3-7 L2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 42 17 .712 - - 22-8 20-9 5-5 L1 Clearwater 37 22 .627 5.0 7 20-12 17-10 6-4 L1 Dunedin 32 27 .542 10.0 2 11-15 21-12 6-4 W1 Lakeland 31 28 .525 11.0 1 17-13 14-15 6-4 W1 Tampa 30 29 .508 12.0 E 13-16 17-13 9-1 W4 Brevard County 21 38 .356 21.0 E 12-20 9-18 3-7 L3 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 41 19 .683 - - 20-5 21-14 5-5 W3 Quad Cities 33 26 .559 7.5 - 14-12 19-14 8-2 W2 Wisconsin 31 28 .525 9.5 10 18-13 13-15 5-5 W1 Peoria 30 29 .508 10.5 9 18-10 12-19 3-7 L3 Beloit 28 30 .483 12.0 8 11-15 17-15 6-4 L2 Cedar Rapids 28 31 .475 12.5 7 16-12 12-19 3-7 W1 Kane County 26 33 .441 14.5 4 13-15 13-18 4-6 L1 Clinton 20 40 .333 21.0 E 7-21 13-19 6-4 L1 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Brewers 7 1 .875 - - 3-1 4-0 7-1 L1 DSL Athletics 4 3 .571 2.5 63 2-1 2-2 4-3 W2 DSL Mariners 3 4 .429 3.5 62 1-2 2-2 3-4 W1 DSL Cardinals 0 6 .000 6.0 60 0-4 0-2 0-6 L6

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

Thursday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional broadcast -- look for the Jackson feed off the master MiLB.com audio list Brevard County: RHP Adrian Rosario at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- select the Dunedin feed from the main MiLB.com audio page *Sorry, we don't have word on Kyle Heckathorn's status -- he's not on the DL, we know that. Wisconsin: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Lake County (Indians), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link DSL Brewers: at the DSL Athletics in a doubleheader, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest; each contest slated for seven innings

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

You can read the details on the pitcher ejection in the Mobile newspaper game story. Mobile BayBears right fielder Marc Krauss (25) is tagged out by Huntsville Stars shortstop Angel Gonzalez after he was caught between third base and home plate during their game at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile Wednesday, June 8, 2011. (Press-Register, Bill Starling) http://media.al.com/sports_impact/photo/9680683-large.jpg

We'll be filling in many more hometown stories later on, but it's off to Link Report duty for now. As always, thanks for reading.

Glenwood's Keaton Aldridge picked by Brewers By Chris White, Columbus (GA) Ledger-Enquirer Glenwood catcher Keaton Aldridge was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 1,211 pick in the 40th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. In his two seasons at Glenwood, Aldridge led the Gators to two AISA AAA state championships and was the MVP in this year's title series. The catcher, who has already signed to play at Memphis in the fall, batted .552 this season with 80 hits, 57 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .635. Glenwood head coach Tim Fanning said following the selection that Aldridge will most likely still attend Memphis in the fall, but that the Brewers will be sending a national cross checker out to California — where Aldridge is playing summer baseball — for the next few weeks and then most likely make him an offer. From March 9th -- Memphis likes what it's getting in Aldridge Photo Credit: Vasha Hunt | Opelika-Auburn News http://www2.oanow.com/mgmedia/image/294/0/212042/glenwood-keaton-aldridge/

As Tom Haudricourt among others noted -- The Brewers also made a couple of picks with organizational ties. Shortstop Caleb Whalen (42nd round, a Washington State high school) is the son of northwest area scout Shawn Whalen, and second baseman David (better known as "Gant") Elmore (49th round, Yale) is the son of Helena Brewers owner D.G. Elmore. *** Whalen has also signed a letter of intent to play next year at the University of Portland.