Jim Goulart

Nashville Audio Archive -- June 7 -- Chat with infielder Zelous Wheeler

Brewers Prospect Gennett Has No Regrets Sarasota High grad Scooter Gennett has been named a league all-star in each of his first two seasons of professional baseball By Chad Brockhoff, Sarasota Patch BRADENTON - A recent four-game series at McKechnie Field only reaffirmed Scooter Gennett's conviction that he made the right decision for himself. Gennett had just completed a three-year run at Sarasota High, which included a 2007 Class 6A state championship, when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 16th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Whether to honor his national letter of intent with Florida State or join several of his national showcase and all-star game brethren in pursuit of the dream was a deadline decision that weighed on Gennett. "I had just to be honest with myself," Gennett said before the host Bradenton Marauders completed a four-game sweep of his Brevard County Manatees. "The biggest question is what if something was to happen. If you go to college and get injured, you just passed up the opportunity of a lifetime. I had to make sure that whatever decision I made I could still go to bed at night 20 years from now." Signing on the last day that draft picks could ink professional contracts, Gennett was unable to play at the Rookie or Short-Season Class A levels in 2009. He played with the Brewers' team in the Arizona Instructional League that fall and went to spring training as a 19-year-old in 2010. Gennett did well enough in spring training to earn a spot with the Brewers' Class-A affiliate in the Midwest League. He played in the league's all-star game and was named to the league's postseason all-star team after batting .309 with nine home runs, four triples, 39 doubles, 55 RBI and 87 runs scored in 118 games for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Someone in the Brewers organization had taken notice, and Gennett was among the minor league players to finish out Cactus League games for the parent organization last March. One game against the Oakland Athletics provided the 5-foot-9, 164-pound left-handed hitting second baseman with a story for his future grandchildren. "The one game I entered in the seventh," Gennett said. "In the ninth inning, we were down by a run with two outs and a runner at first base. For some reason, all the fans start chanting my name. I don't know why. I'm some minor-league guy wearing No. 90 on my back. I said, 'Okay, I can't let them down now.' I hit a line drive down the left field line. The next guy (Anderson de La Rosa) came up and hit a walk-off home run. It was a great experience." Starting the 2011 season with the Brewers' Class-A Advanced affiliate in the Florida State League, Gennett batted .318 in the month of April for the Manatees and strung together a league-best 16-game hitting streak. His average had dropped to .257 in the midst of his team's four-game series against the Marauders, but he has hit safely in each of his last five games entering Monday. "I think I've struck out three times in my last 60 at-bats," Gennett said. "I've been hitting the ball hard, but it's just been one of those times where you can't find holes. I would be much more concerned if I was striking out a lot more and not even putting the ball in play. I'm starting to drive the ball and feel a lot better. It's just sticking with what got me here." Playing a series in his own backyard for the first time in his professional career enabled Gennett to stay in his family's Sarasota home. On May 31, his parents surprised him with the news that he had been named to the Florida State League's Midseason All-Star team. "They came in and told me that I had made the All-Star Game," Gennett said. "I said, 'Wow, how did that happen with the way I've been hitting?' It's nice to get recognized and play in an event like that." Gennett estimates that between 25-30 of his friends and family members attended each of the Manatees' four games against the Marauders. An experience that may have been a two years away had he chosen the college route. "I know that if I would have went to Florida State for two or three years that I would have more to offer with that short right field fence (at the Seminoles' Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium)," Gennett said. "I may have been drafted higher and had more money offered to me, but the real money is in the big leagues. I just have to stay focused on that, and the decision won't matter." *** The artcicle link includes a photo gallery with six photos of Scooter worth your while, including this one -- http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/294ec44cabcfc0ca013306dabbe376d8

In this kick-butt photo gallery from the Mobile Press-Register, we get our first glimpse of INF Hainley Statia in a Stars' uniform, we see a couple of Steffan Wilson throwing grimaces, we see LHP Dan Merklinger's elbow skin reaching its limits, and OF Lee Haydel may never live down this eyes closed, rockin' the stache photo -- all photos by G.M. Andrews http://media.al.com/mobile-press-register/photo/9672357-standard.jpg

Huntsville Media Relations: Marietta, GA – Three Huntsville Stars players have been named to the 2011 Southern League All-Star roster. Infielder Steffan Wilson, outfielder Erik Komatsu and RHP Daniel Meadows have all been placed on the mid-summer classic roster. Wilson has been named to the All-Star roster as a third baseman. He’s split time at first base, third base and the outfield in 54 games for Huntsville this season. He is batting .277 (54-195) with three home runs, 10 doubles and 32 RBI. When playing third base, Wilson is 34-for-119 (.286) with 24 RBI. Komatsu started the season on the Helena Brewers’ roster, before joining the team on May 13. He has played 50 games, splitting time between center and right field. He’s gone 53-for-170 (.312) with an on-base plus slugging percentage of .818. He’s walked 25 times and only struck out 18. Meadows has been added to the All-Star roster as a relief pitcher. He started the season with the Stars and in 18 appearances has a record of 5-2 with a 1.85 ERA (34.0 IP / 7 ER). Opposing batters are hitting just .208 against Meadows. He’s surrendered one home run and eight walks while striking out 29. Of the 14 runners he’s inherited, he’s allowed just one to score.

Eric Farris at SS, Taylor Green at 2B this afternoon...

The 2011 Southern League All-Stars have been named. OF Erik Komatsu, 3B/LF Steffan Wilson and LH reliever Daniel Meadows make the squad. Team individual stats page Wonderful reward for the unheralded 49th round pick, Meadows. Totally deserving. A nice honor for Wilson, his 32 RBI outdistancing a somewhat pedestrian .718 OPS. Sean Halton perhaps made a better case for a slot. No one else really has an argument.

Nashville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 32 26 .552 - - 17-11 15-15 5-5 W1 Memphis 27 30 .474 4.5 83 16-15 11-15 7-3 W3 Iowa 27 31 .466 5.0 82 13-13 14-18 6-4 L1 Nashville 26 31 .456 5.5 82 16-14 10-17 7-3 W5 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tennessee 36 22 .621 - - 19-9 17-13 5-5 L1 Jackson 35 23 .603 1.0 12 17-11 18-12 8-2 W1 Huntsville 29 28 .509 6.5 7 15-9 14-19 5-5 W1 Chattanooga 26 32 .448 10.0 3 13-20 13-12 2-8 L1 Carolina 18 40 .310 18.0 E 11-19 7-21 5-5 W1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 42 16 .724 - - 22-7 20-9 6-4 W2 Clearwater 37 21 .638 5.0 8 20-11 17-10 7-3 W1 Dunedin 31 27 .534 11.0 2 11-15 20-12 5-5 L1 Lakeland 30 28 .517 12.0 1 17-13 13-15 6-4 L3 Tampa 29 29 .500 13.0 E 13-16 16-13 8-2 W3 Brevard County 21 37 .362 21.0 E 12-19 9-18 4-6 L2 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 39 19 .672 - - 18-5 21-14 5-5 W1 Quad Cities 31 26 .544 7.5 - 12-12 19-14 6-4 L1 Peoria 30 27 .526 8.5 13 18-8 12-19 3-7 L1 Wisconsin 30 27 .526 8.5 13 17-12 13-15 4-6 W2 Beloit 28 29 .491 10.5 11 11-14 17-15 7-3 L1 Cedar Rapids 27 30 .474 11.5 10 15-11 12-19 4-6 L4 Kane County 25 32 .439 13.5 7 12-14 13-18 5-5 L1 Clinton 19 39 .328 20.0 1 6-20 13-19 6-4 W2 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Brewers 6 0 1.000 - - 3-0 3-0 6-0 W6 DSL Athletics 3 3 .500 3.0 64 1-1 2-2 3-3 W1 DSL Mariners 2 3 .400 3.5 64 1-2 1-1 2-3 L2 DSL Cardinals 0 5 .000 5.5 62 0-3 0-2 0-5 L5

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

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Josh Butler at New Orleans (Marlins), 11:15 AM pre-game, 11:30 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 7:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- it's the BayBears feed Brevard County: Idle Wisconsin: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Lake County (Indians), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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

http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1193549465/close_up_normal.jpg @JohnAxford John Axford I am officially a proud father of a wonderful baby boy. John Brian Axford is 7lbs 9oz. He's perfect. So proud of my wife! I love them both! http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1193549465/close_up_normal.jpg @JohnAxford John Axford He was born at 1:52am. I just made it in time. #babystaching has officially begun. Thank you all for thoughts and prayers.

You certainly won't see the Wisconsin roster tampered with until after the first-half playoff chase.

Office dwellers, remember to listen in to the red-hot Sounds at 11:15 AM Tuesday. New Link Report out shortly before.

Reliever Rob Bryson (Sabathia deal), who we have been discussing in this thread, will likely face the Rattlers this week. He is rehabbing with the Lake County Captains and pitched an inning Sunday striking out two of the three batters he faced. he should be back at AA soon. Thanks to an old friend of Brewerfan (and still reader) from the West Virginia Power days for the heads-up.

Sounds' Almonte plates seven in rout Journeyman looking to get one last shot at the big leagues By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com Veteran utilityman Erick Almonte knows he may not get another chance to play at the Major League level, but he's making the most of every opportunity he gets just in case. The 33-year-old, outrighted from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on May 28, proved Monday night that he can still rake with the best of them. Almonte went 5-for-6 with a franchise record-tying seven RBIs and four runs scored in Nashville's 19-1 rout of the New Orleans Zephyrs. The Sounds fell one run shy of the team's single-game record, while the 18-run win was the club's largest margin of victory in the 13-year history of the Pacific Coast League. "I've had a few games like this in my career, but this is the first time I've had seven RBIs," Almonte said. "I don't really know if I've ever had that many at any level. When the team is playing good, you come up to that level and today was one of those days." Almonte doesn't expect to play every day in Nashville, but after just 12 at-bats in his previous six games -- which included three consecutive appearances off the bench, he was grateful to get the chance to start. "I'm just going to pinch-hit and play once or twice a week, so I want to contribute in any way I can," Almonte added. "They sent me down here, but they also gave me a chance in Spring Training and I made the team, so I will always be thankful for that. "Maybe another chance will open up for me, but right now, I just have to do whatever the manager needs me to do. I'll work with the younger guys and be supportive, but I have to keep doing what I know how." On Monday, Almonte -- primarily used as a right fielder when he does play -- made a rare start at first base. He pulled a two-run single to left field in the first inning, flew out to right field in the third and singled the other way in the fifth. Almonte then blasted a three-run homer down the third-base line in the sixth, singled to right in the eighth and doubled home two more runs on a shot to center field in the ninth. "I'm a guy that always tries to look the other way, but I got a couple hits to left field. The home run was to left field," he said. "Teams try to work me away a lot, but in the at-bat before [the homer], he pitched me inside and jammed me a little. When I came up in the sixth, I thought they might try it again and I was looking for a pitch inside and I got my first-pitch fastball." Almonte, signed by the New York Yankees as a free agent in 1996, has had three brief stints in the Majors. He appeared in eight games as a 23-year-old in 2001 and he batted .260 with a homer and 11 RBIs in 31 games in '03. After an unsuccessful season in the Colorado Rockies' Minor League system and less than a month on the Cleveland Indians' payroll in the 2004 offseason, Almonte's contract was purchased by the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League. Almonte came back to North America in '07 and spent a year with the Detroit Tigers before moving on the Chicago Cubs. He joined the Brewers in '09 and appeared in 215 Pacific Coast League games with Nashville before being invited to Spring Training earlier this year. Almonte made the Opening Day roster as a right-handed bat off the bench, but he recorded just three hits in 29 at-bats over 16 games with Milwaukee. He went on the seven-day DL with a concussion April 26 after being hit in the head with a ball during a workout, and he was later placed on the 15-day DL after a slow recovery. Almonte was 2-for-10 during his rehab with Nashville and he has remained on the team since. "The Brewers are playing well at the big club and all I worry about is what happens here," he said. He is 8-for-18 (.444) with 11 RBIs after starting 3-for-12 (.250) with four RBIs. Erick Almonte hit .320 over 110 Triple-A games last year. (Dave Nelson/MiLB.com)http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/06/07/ulqWnkQU.jpg

Wow, this must be a first for a Brewers farmhand -- back-to-back! Florida State League Player of the WeekBrock Kjeldgaard, Brevard County .348/.375/.913, 6 G, 8-for-23, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 5 RS, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 SB, 1 CS Brock is back, as Kjeldgaard claims this honor for the second straight week. The Milwaukee prospect went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a pair of stolen bases Wednesday, and he singled and scored the next day, but it wasn't until the weekend that he broke out the heavy hitting. On Saturday at the Daytona Cubs, Kjeldgaard ripped two solo home runs. The two teams moved to Brevard County to start a new series on Sunday, but Kjeldgaard liked doing things the old way: he once more socked two solo homers in the opener.

D-Cubs win slugfest with 3-run eighth By SEAN KERNAN, Daytona News-Journal Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH -- While the 2,082 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark were enjoying Monday's night's all-you-can-eat promotion, the Daytona Cubs and Brevard County Manatees had a smorgasbord of their own. Hitters from both clubs feasted on pitching, combining for 19 runs and 22 hits. By the time the 3-hour, 14-minute marathon concluded, Daytona had beaten Brevard County 10-9. "It was like a Pacific Coast League game out there with all the runs and the hits, and it's never over until it's over," Daytona manager Buddy Bailey said. "That was a bizarre game." Jae-Hoon Ha's two-run homer over left field in the eighth inning provided the winning margin for the Cubs, who overcame 4-0 and 9-7 deficits. "That's kind of been our MO (modus operandi) all year -- if we're down late, we still believe," said Daytona catcher Mike Brenly, who had two hits and an RBI. Logan Watkins, who had struck out in his first three at-bats, ignited the game-winning rally with a leadoff double. Watkins tagged up to third base on Evan Crawford's flyout to right field and scored on a wild pitch by Corey Frerichs. Matt Cerda battled off several tough pitches by Frerichs to earn a walk ahead of Ha's heroic at-bat. "How about Matt Cerda's great at-bat in the eighth inning? That does not go unnoticed in this locker room," Brenly said. "That was huge for (Cerda) to get on in front of Ha. We knew something special was going to happen there." Bailey agreed. "I'm sure if you ask their pitcher (Frerichs), he threw it exactly where he wanted, and those pitches would have been called strike three had Cerda not fought them off," Bailey said. "Then Ha got into a hitter's count (2-0) and knocked it into the batting cage." The Manatees had taken a 9-7 lead in the eighth inning on Shawn Zarraga's two-out, three-run homer to center field. Zarraga launched a 2-0 pitch from Daytona closer Frank Batista, who had walked two of the first three batters he faced. The first inning was a harbinger of what was to come. The Manatees jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning with a rally highlighted by Shea Vucinich's two-run homer. The Cubs came back with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cerda delivered a run-scoring double, and Jake Opitz had a two-run double. Justin Bour gave the Cubs their first lead of the game with a two-run bomb to center field to spark a four-run rally in the third inning. It was Bour's 15th homer of the season, tying him for the league lead with Dunedin's Brad Glenn. The rally continued with singles by Michael Burgess, Brenly and Rubi Silva, and another double by Opitz. Daytona (42-16) maintained its five-game lead over Clearwater in the Florida State League North Division. Daytona’s Logan Watkins tags Brevard’s Juan Sanchez at second base and throws to first for a double play Monday at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. (N-J | David Massey) http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/images/2011/06/07/cubs10607.jpg

Nashville Audio Archive -- June 6 -- Chat with reliever Mike McClendon

Audio of Erick Almonte's three-run blast available at the Nashville game summary link

Final: @Daytona 10, Brevard County 9 Brevard County Box Score Sigh, where to begin. Manatees are up 4-0 before the dreaded Cubbies even come to bat. Cubs crush ahead after three innings, 7-4. Brevard closes the gap to one in the 7th, and rallies again for three in the 8th to take a 9-7 lead. Then disaster as Daytona comes right back with three of their own in the very next half-inning. Basically, this was the type of game that teams with 42-16 records win, and teams with 21-37 records lose. The good -- Switch-hitter Shawn Zarraga, batting left-handed, clubbed a two-out, three-run blast to give the Sea Cows the exciting (at the time) 9-7 8th inning lead. Brock Kjeldgaard was only 0-for-1, but walked twice, was HBP, and stole his 11th base in 13 tries. 3B Shea Vucinich, who skipped Wisconsin, hit a two-run HR, his 3rd, as part of the four-run Brevard first inning. He also walked and scored another run. Scooter Gennett tripled and walked, and Hunter Morris sneaks into this category on a 1-for-5 night only because triples are cool. Jon Pokorny, Efrain Nieves, and Mark Willinsky provided quality relief work. The bad -- The Manatees are off Tuesday, so it looks like all the starters will have as much as six days rest betwen starts duing this next turn. RHP Evan Anundsen got the nod here, and unfortunately, he gave us the April Evan and not the May Evan (see splits here). 2.1 IP, 10 H (four for extra bases), 7 R. Corey Frerichs was the only reliever to perform poorly, retiring only one of the five men he faced to take the loss. CF D'Vontrey Richardson went 0-for-4 with two K's. Brevard County Play-by-Play The ugly -- Anundsen's two rough innings along with Frerichs'. Now to be fair, the Manatees did have three productive innings on offense you can check out in the game log. Daytona Bottom of the 1st Evan Crawford singles on a ground ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Matthew Cerda doubles (12) on a fly ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Evan Crawford scores. Jae-Hoon Ha grounds out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Hunter Morris. Matthew Cerda to 3rd. Justin Bour strikes out swinging. Michael Burgess walks. Jake Opitz doubles (13) on a fly ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Matthew Cerda scores. Michael Burgess scores. Michael Brenly grounds out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Hunter Morris. Daytona Bottom of the 3rd Matthew Cerda grounds out to first baseman Hunter Morris. Jae-Hoon Ha singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Justin Bour homers (15) on a fly ball to center field. Jae-Hoon Ha scores. Michael Burgess singles on a ground ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Jake Opitz doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Michael Burgess to 3rd. Michael Brenly singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Michael Burgess scores. Rubi Silva singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Jake Opitz to 3rd. Michael Brenly to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Jonathan Pokorny replaces Evan Anundsen. Logan Watkins strikes out swinging. Evan Crawford walks. Jake Opitz scores. Michael Brenly to 3rd. Rubi Silva to 2nd. Matthew Cerda called out on strikes. Daytona Bottom of the 8th Pitcher Change: Corey Frerichs replaces Efrain Nieves. Logan Watkins doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Evan Crawford flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Logan Watkins to 3rd. Matthew Cerda walks. With Jae-Hoon Ha batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Logan Watkins scores. Matthew Cerda to 2nd. Jae-Hoon Ha homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Matthew Cerda scores. Justin Bour walks. Pitcher Change: Mark Willinsky replaces Corey Frerichs. Michael Burgess strikes out swinging. Jake Opitz strikes out swinging.

Here is the link to the transaction thread from the opening of the regular season until Day One of the draft. This kicks off the new thread. The next transaction will be the first for the post-draft portion of the regular season.

To make room for Robert Hinton at Huntsville, RH reliever Darren Byrd has been placed on the Stars' DL, retroactive to 6/5. As often the case, no word on the nature or severity of any injury. This will close our transaction thread, as we'll use the draft timeline to kick off a new one, a little more manageable in length.

Nashville Media Notes

To make room for Mike McClendon on the Nashville roster, reliever Robert Hinton was yo-yo'd back down to Huntsville. That AA assignment will become official tomorrow, so the Stars will need to make a corresponding roster move then. Speaking of Huntsville, two of their catchers have swapped places, with Anderson De La Rosa coming off the disabled list, and Dayton Buller going on. At this point, there's no real way of telling if legitimate injuries are at play here, or whether it's more creative roster placeholding and juggling.