Jim Goulart

From Tampa: Brevard County Top of the 5th Rafael Neda singles on a ground ball to shortstop Carmen Angelini. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Shawn Zarraga replaces Rafael Neda. With Mike Brownstein batting, Shawn Zarraga steals (1) 2nd base. Brevard County Manatees catcher Rafael Neda left the game due to an injured head. Odd circumstance. Was there an attempted swipe tag across Neda's head? A pickoff attempt?

Nashville Audio Archive -- April 12 - Chat with Brewers Special Assistant To The GM Dan O'Brien

LHP Chris Cody signed with the York (PA) Revolution of the independent Atlantic League (link).

Chris with his Rattler Radio Blog thoughts from Monday's 3-1 win

Nashville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Nashville 3 1 .750 - - 3-1 0-0 3-1 L1 Iowa 3 2 .600 0.5 140 0-0 3-2 3-2 L1 Memphis 3 2 .600 0.5 140 3-2 0-0 3-2 L1 Omaha 2 3 .400 1.5 139 0-0 2-3 2-3 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Huntsville 3 2 .600 - - 0-0 3-2 3-2 W1 Jackson 3 2 .600 - - 0-0 3-2 3-2 W2 Tennessee 3 2 .600 - - 0-0 3-2 3-2 L1 Chattanooga 2 3 .400 1.0 65 2-3 0-0 2-3 W1 Carolina 1 4 .200 2.0 64 1-4 0-0 1-4 W1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 5 0 1.000 - - 3-0 2-0 5-0 W5 Clearwater 4 1 .800 1.0 65 2-0 2-1 4-1 L1 Lakeland 3 2 .600 2.0 64 1-1 2-1 3-2 W2 Tampa 3 2 .600 2.0 64 2-1 1-1 3-2 W1 Brevard County 0 5 .000 5.0 61 0-2 0-3 0-5 L5 Dunedin 0 5 .000 5.0 61 0-3 0-2 0-5 L5 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 4 1 .800 - - 1-0 3-1 4-1 W3 Beloit 3 2 .600 1.0 - 1-0 2-2 3-2 W3 Quad Cities 3 2 .600 1.0 - 2-2 1-0 3-2 W1 Wisconsin 3 2 .600 1.0 - 2-2 1-0 3-2 W1 Cedar Rapids 2 3 .400 2.0 65 0-1 2-2 2-3 L2 Kane County 2 3 .400 2.0 65 0-1 2-2 2-3 L1 Peoria 2 3 .400 2.0 65 2-2 0-1 2-3 L1 Clinton 1 4 .200 3.0 64 1-3 0-1 1-4 L3

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

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Sam Narron and RHP Amaury Rivas in a doubleheader at home vs. Oklahoma City (Astros), 5:20 PM pre-game; 5:35 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Huntsville: Idle Brevard County: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio available for this contest... Wisconsin: RHP Austin Ross at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link

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Improved facility awaits Huntsville Stars as 2011 home opener arrives By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There's a new time, new field and new menu at the old ballpark. The Huntsville Stars open their 2011 home schedule Wednesday at Joe Davis Stadium, hosting the Carolina Mudcats in the first of a five-game series. The game will start at 6:43 p.m., as will all night games this season. That's the management's response to families who had bemoaned how late games tended to end, and it's a spinoff from the 6-4-3 double play in a scorebook. The more important management response was to react to Minor League Baseball's mandate for stadium improvement. The infield has been lowered and resodded and, according to general manager Buck Rogers, the drainage problems that beset the team a year ago and forced numerous postponements have been solved. The infield looks as attractive as it has in several years. The outfield lighting, aimed for use for high school football, has been re-directed and Rogers said there will be a noticable difference. Last September, Pat O'Conner, president of Minor League Baseball, visited Joe W. Davis Stadium and told The Times the park "is not conducive to the long-term health of baseball in Huntsville." He warned Stars management that he would "enforce the rules" to see the park met at least minimum standards for a Double-A facility. Construction should be complete soon on a new batting tunnel for pre-game work, as per a request from the parent Milwaukee Brewers. "The big issue (in the off-season) facing us was to get it to where Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and the Brewers need us to be," Rogers said. Stars fans will notice a broader menu for Thursday, Friday and Saturday games, with some ballpark delicacies like barbecue nachos, pretzel buns and brisket sandwiches. They should also continue to appreciate the affordability. Adult tickets remain $8 and childrens tickets $5; put a zero on the end of those and you'll get a sense what it costs to watch a major league game. As Rogers pointed out, with the myriad promotions and corporate partnerships, "you'd be hard-pressed to have to pay full-price if you'll shop around." The season schedule and promotional calendar are available at huntsvillestars.com The Stars, 3-2 on the season, will be hoping to rebound from a 67-73 record from last season and a one-year absence from postseason play. At the turnstiles, they'll be hoping to climb from the bottom in Southern League attendance. There is one small change in the Southern League. The West Tenn DiamondJaxx have changed their name to the Jackson Generals. Next season there will be dramatic change. The Carolina Mudcats' franchise will be moving to Pensacola, Fla., with a Class A team moving into the Mudcats' park. The Stars' future remains secure, according to management. Huntsville and Milwaukee will be in the first year of a two-year player development contract that was renewed at the end of last season and this will be the second on a five-year stadium lease that management extended last April with the city of Huntsville, which owns Joe Davis Stadium.

Looks like the Cedar Rapids' newspaper site updates at mid-morning, so reports will thusly be posted this week -- actually this story is strictly from a Cedar Rapids perspective, but it does include a photo gallery -- the only Rattler shot that of Robbie Garvey (and his backside at that). Kernels drop home opener to Wisconsin by Jeff Johnson, Cedar Rapids Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Kernels are telling fans to “Party at the Park” this baseball season. They used the motto a few times over the public-address system last night. Someone apparently neglected to inform the team about doing its part to further that whole thing along. The Kernels were blanked after the first inning and held hitless the final five in a 3-1 loss to Wisconsin before 1,753 folks on opening night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Not much to party about here. “I don’t know. We were doing well for awhile there, but I think maybe our energy dropped a little bit,” said Travis Witherspoon. It looks like it’s going to be fun to watch Witherspoon roam center field this summer. He homered to dead center in the top of the first inning, singled and stole a base in the third and walked and stole two bases in the eighth. He was a 10-homer, 20 stolen-base guy last season in Rookie ball. But Cedar Rapids managed only two other singles, stranding the bases loaded in the eighth to drop to 2-3 this young Midwest League season. The club split four games last weekend in Peoria. “I think we’ve played pretty well so far,” said returning catcher Carlos Ramirez. “Just our timely hitting needs to come along a little better. That’s the biggest thing. Our pitching is holding up well, our relievers are doing well. Coming from Arizona to up here, it’s hot and cold. But I think we’re adjusting pretty well.” Starting pitcher Brian Diemer overcame control issues to keep his team in it, thanks in part to a unique umpiring decision in the third. Diemer walked the bases loaded with one out, then plunked cleanup hitter Jason Rogers in the arm. But plate umpire Nate White ruled Rogers failed to attempt getting out of the way of the pitch and sent him back to the box to hit. He popped out, and Diemer escaped without allowing any runs. Miscommunication on a flyball to left-center that dropped for an errors in the fifth actually gave Wisconsin (3-2) what turned out to be the winning run. Again, not exactly an auspicious home debut for the Kernels. But, again, it’s way early. The teams play the second game of their four-game series tonight at 6:35. “So far, I’ve seen a team with a lot of talent and a lot of potential that’s going to win a lot of games this season,” Witherspoon said. “It’s early in the year, and we’re still trying to figure each other out and get that chemistry going. But I definitely see a team that’s got a chance to win a lot of games this year and make the playoffs.” *** Got to love "Mr. Shucks". Kernels, get it? http://thegazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/kernels_2.jpg

FYI -- Kudos, Chuckie Caufield Players are charitable with their time more than we know, but when something like this is highlighted, we'll point it out.

Brewers' Parra visits Greer tonight by Greg Sullivan, the Tennessean When Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Manny Parra returns to Greer Stadium tonight for his scheduled rehab assignment with the Sounds, fans will not be alone watching the major leaguer's progress. Brewers executive Dan O'Brien, who oversees the parent club's baseball operations, is in town evaluating Parra and others. "The bottom line is that Manny is a very gifted individual," O'Brien said Monday, before the Sounds' scheduled game against Oklahoma City was rained out. "As a left-handed pitcher, he filled a very important role in our bullpen last year because he not only gave us some length out of our bullpen, but also if you needed him to give you a spot start, he can do that." While Parra is expected to throw in the doubleheader, O'Brien said when the pitcher actually sees time on the mound will depend on what happens in the game. "We'll get him his opportunities," O'Brien said. "But you can't script them during the course of the game. But (today) would be the expectation." It was the former Sound's extensive minor league starter experience, O'Brien said, that prepared him for his current long reliever role with Milwaukee. Parra, recovering from a back injury, had a perfect game on June 25, 2007, at Round Rock when he was a Nashville starter. "What (fans) are going to see (this week) is an outstanding arm," O'Brien said, "and someone who has an opportunity on any given day to overpower hitters." Parra pitched Saturday for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and O'Brien said the progress has been promising so far. "The last time out he was showing good velocity, so we're well on our way," O'Brien said. "In these sorts of things you obviously have to be guided by how the player feels. And right now everything's a thumb's up. We want him to be healthy and to continue to build his arm strength." O'Brien would not elaborate on potential Nashville rehab assignments for former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and Corey Hart. "There's a whole host of those types of factors that come into play when you make a decision about how we're going to script this out. Right now we can't get ahead of ourselves because they're just in the infancy stages of this." Today's pitchers: Sounds left-hander Sam Narron will face right-hander Henry Villar in the first game. Sounds right-hander Amaury Rivas (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will take on right-hander Jordan Lyles (0-0, 6.75) in the second game. Sent down ... maybe: The Brewers solved one dilemma Monday: which backup catcher to keep upon the return of Jonathan Lucroy. They'll keep both for now. In activating Lucroy from the 15-day disabled list, the Brewers opted to designate outfielder Jeremy Reed for assignment rather than part with either of the two catchers already on the roster. Because Reed had been sent outright to the minors previously, he has the right to become a free agent instead of reporting to Nashville. Melvin said Reed has until Wednesday to notify the club of his plans. Contributing: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nashville audio archive page: April 11 - Chat with third baseman Zelous Wheeler Stu and Zelous acknowledge Wheeler's current DL stint, but don't discuss the nature of his injury, so hopefully it's nothing major. This might be the first time we've heard fom Zelous on air.

Timber Rattler Lineup and game notes, plus other tidbits

Yes, quite a bit written about him lately, but it started here.

Thanks for Brad's blog link -- let's not forget that at the bottom of each post he includes a link to his wonderful photos -- the Rattlers stylin' in their mid-70's Brewer-themed uni's.

Nashville Media Notes

What a ridiculously frustrating game for Huntsville thus far -- the Stars put the leadoff man on in four of the first five innings, including Matt Cline's triple in the 5th, and have yet to score. Michael Bowman has been lights out, one run, one hit, and no walks, yet trails, 1-0, in the bottom of the 6th.

Chris with a nice Tyler Thornburg treat here.

Huntsville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 3 1 .750 - - 0-0 3-1 3-1 W1 Memphis 3 1 .750 - - 3-1 0-0 3-1 W3 Nashville 3 1 .750 - - 3-1 0-0 3-1 L1 Omaha 2 2 .500 1.0 140 0-0 2-2 2-2 W2 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tennessee 3 1 .750 - - 0-0 3-1 3-1 W1 Huntsville 2 2 .500 1.0 66 0-0 2-2 2-2 L1 Jackson 2 2 .500 1.0 66 0-0 2-2 2-2 W1 Chattanooga 1 3 .250 2.0 65 1-3 0-0 1-3 L1 Carolina 0 4 .000 3.0 64 0-4 0-0 0-4 L4 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Clearwater 4 0 1.000 - - 2-0 2-0 4-0 W4 Daytona 4 0 1.000 - - 2-0 2-0 4-0 W4 Lakeland 2 2 .500 2.0 65 1-1 1-1 2-2 W1 Tampa 2 2 .500 2.0 65 1-1 1-1 2-2 L1 Brevard County 0 4 .000 4.0 63 0-2 0-2 0-4 L4 Dunedin 0 4 .000 4.0 63 0-2 0-2 0-4 L4 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 3 1 .750 - - 0-0 3-1 3-1 W2 Beloit 2 2 .500 1.0 - 0-0 2-2 2-2 W2 Cedar Rapids 2 2 .500 1.0 - 0-0 2-2 2-2 L1 Kane County 2 2 .500 1.0 - 0-0 2-2 2-2 W1 Peoria 2 2 .500 1.0 - 2-2 0-0 2-2 W1 Quad Cities 2 2 .500 1.0 - 2-2 0-0 2-2 L2 Wisconsin 2 2 .500 1.0 - 2-2 0-0 2-2 L1 Clinton 1 3 .250 2.0 66 1-3 0-0 1-3 L2

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

Monday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at Jacksonville (Marlins), 12:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Jacksonville feed) Brevard County: TBD (likely RHP Maverick Lasker) at Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio available for this contest... Wisconsin: RHP Tyler Thornburg at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime; RHP Dan Britt is expected to piggy-back Live Audio Link

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