Jim Goulart

There is a discussion thread pertinent to this move re: the catchers on the big league roster here.

Huntsville plays a 12:05 PM matinee Monday afternoon, with audio from the Jacksonville feed available. Monday's Link Report will thus be available by late morning.

Timber Rattlers walking too many batters Wisconsin pitchers allowed 18 passes in team's losses by Jesse Osborne, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are just four games into their Midwest League season, so it's a bit early for lofty predictions or major pronouncements. But first-year manager Matt Erickson likes what he has seen from his team — aside from one pesky issue — during its first series of the year. "We're 2-2. We did some good things," Erickson said following Sunday's 9-5 loss to Kane County at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. "I thought we ran the bases really well. We swung the bats really good the first night. And in our two losses, we've walked 18 people. "If you're going to put people on base like that, you're going to put your defense in a bad situation. You give them more baserunners, they get more opportunities to score. Our pitchers have got to pitch more to contact, and really, to me, that's one of the strengths of our team. … I think we're going to be good defensively, so there should be no reason why we're pitching out of the (strike) zone. "We did a lot of good things in the four games. But we have to clean up some of the stuff as far as the free passes are concerned. If we can do that, I think day in and day out we'll put ourselves in a good situation." As was the case in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Cougars, Timber Rattlers pitchers put themselves in sticky situations due to walks Sunday. Wisconsin pitchers issued 10 in all, including six by starter Del Howell in four-plus innings, and three by reliever Thomas Keeling over two-plus innings. "It's been addressed," said Erickson, whose team opens a four-game series at Cedar Rapids today. "We need to pitch to contact. If you can't get people out in the strike zone, or you don't have fastball command, it's tough to move you (up). It's important that we stress that to our pitchers and that they understand that to move to the next level you've got to have fastball command." Outside of that, though, Erickson said he feels good about his team's chances over the long haul. So does catcher Tyler Roberts. "We're a great team. We play great together, have good chemistry," Roberts said. "We're going to lose games. ... But we're going to be good overall. We're going to be there in playoff contention at the end of the year." That team chemistry is one of the things that has opened Erickson's eyes in the early going. "They're a pretty close knit group. There's all kinds of personalities, but they all seem to get along. The work has been good, the preparation before the games. You don't have to pull people out of the clubhouse. They seem eager to go out and compete," Erickson said. "They're upbeat, they're excited to be there." And Erickson, an Appleton native who spent the past two seasons as the team's hitting coach before taking over the managerial duties this season, is enjoying his new role. "These four games seem like they flew by because you're always constantly trying to think of what to do next," Erickson said. "As a hitting coach you're kind of in the moment. You're looking at the hitter that's at the plate, trying to see what he's doing. "Now, in this role, it's organization and delegation, making sure everybody's prepared before the game. And then during the game you're just always trying to think of the next inning or the next half inning, or what we are going to do if this happens or that happens. That's probably the biggest adjustment. … But I'm having a blast."

Post-Crescent Timber Rattler Photo Gallery includes this almost-painful-to-see shot shot of Thomas Keeling -- http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=U0&Date=20110410&Category=APC0206&ArtNo=104100818&Ref=PH&Item=10&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

Rattlers report: Kane County 9, Wisconsin 5 by Jesse Osborne, Appleton Post-Crescent The Timber Rattlers got off to a good start in the series finale against the Cougars, striking for two runs in the bottom of the second inning via three straight hits. Greg Hopkins started things off with a double, and Robbie Garvey drove him in with a single back through the middle one hitter later. Tyler Roberts followed with a double to score Garvey, and just like that, the Rattlers held a 2-0 lead. But it turned out to be short-lived. The Cougars quickly tied the game in the top of the third on a two-run homer to left field by center fielder Alex Llanos off Wisconsin starter Del Howell, who was making his first start of the season. "It was good to get out there and throw again in a real game," said Howell, who walked six and allowed four hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. "Fastball command wasn't that great, but I thought I made some good pitches throughout the game. Left a few balls up. Definitely walked too many." Kane County tallied lone runs in both the fourth and fifth innings before plating four in the top of the eighth, with the big blow a three-run homer from No. 9 hitter Ryan Stovall. Aside from its second- inning flurry, the Rattlers offense didn't have an answer against Cougars starter Keaton Hayenga. Hayenga retired the Rattlers in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings before exiting the game. "He was getting ahead of people. He was mixing pitches," Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said of Hayenga, who allowed three hits, while striking out four. "If you can do that in this league, or in any other league, you're going to have some success and keep hitters off balance." Wisconsin scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by designated hitter Mike Walker and a two-run double by Roberts.

The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) coverage (Steffan Wilson photo at that first link) naturally features little from a Stars' perspective, and their photo gallery is mostly devoid of Stars, although there are lots of shots of Jonathan Lucroy behind the plate.

Sounds wait a long time for first lossby Greg Sullivan, the Tennessean The Sounds played their longest game in nearly two years Sunday as they lost to New Orleans 4-3 in 14 innings for their first loss of the season. Reliever Zack Segovia walked Brad Davis with the bases loaded to send in the go-ahead run for the Zephyrs in the top of the 14th inning of the final of the four-game series. The Sounds had plenty of chances to win the game earlier, including in the 12th inning when they had the bases loaded with one out. The game was the longest for Nashville since an 8-3 win over Albuquerque in 15 innings on June 24, 2009. Sunday's game lasted four hours. Sounds Manager Don Money said there were many missed opportunities for his club. "We had many chances (offensively), and guys were swinging at bad pitches," Money said. "And then (our) third baseman (Taylor Green) lets the bunt go (in the last inning) for some unknown reason and I don't know why … He could have thrown the guy out and they don't score." Green, who arrived in Nashville on Sunday, struggled in his Triple-A debut. He went 0-for-4 and let Ruben Gotay's bunt roll and stay fair down the third-base line in the 12th inning. It was the second infield hit of the inning, and Segovia later intentionally walked Aaron Mathews before giving up the go-ahead walk. Parra to pitch here Tuesday: Milwaukee Brewers lefty Manny Parra told mlb.com he expects to pitch in the Sounds' game Tuesday against Oklahoma City. "I'm definitely not dialed in," Parra told the website after a Saturday rehab appearance for the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. "But I do feel good, I feel healthy. Now the next step is to polish." Parra, recovering from a back injury, threw a perfect game for the Sounds on June 25, 2007, at Round Rock in just his second Triple-A start. Transactions: Sounds third baseman Zelous Wheeler was placed on the disabled list Sunday, retroactive to Saturday. He was replaced by Green. The 24-year-old British Columbia native hit safely in his first three games this year with Double-A Huntsville. Green was the Brewers' 2007 Minor League Player of the Year.

Nashville audio archive page: April 10 - Chat with reliever Mike McClendon

Cubs hand Manatees their fourth consecutive loss by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today A low team batting average -- .208 – and a high team earned run average -- 4.68 -- spelled three consecutive defeats for the Brevard County Manatees heading into Sunday's game with the Daytona Beach Cubs. The Manatees wasted little time in attempting to rectify that, banging out five hits and taking advantage of two Cubs errors to score five times in the first inning. But the Cubs continued to abuse Manatees pitchers, banging out 17 hits -- for a total of 39 in four games -- en route to an 11-7 victory before 875 at Space Coast Stadium. The Cubs also roughed up the Manatees for 28 runs in the four-game series that opened the Advanced Class A Florida State League season. The Manatees did collect 10 hits but fell to 0-4. They hit the road today, traveling to Tampa for a three-game series with the two-time defending league champion Yankees. They return to Space Coast Stadium on Thursday night to begin a six-game homestand with three games against Clearwater and three against Tampa. Sunday's loss frustrated Manatees Manager Jeff Isom. "With these young pitchers, we've got to establish the inside of the plate, command their secondary pitches and command their fastball," Isom said. "It's a combination of pitch selection and command of the strike zone. We didn't do that. To their credit, we made mistakes and they hit us. I thought things got off to a great start for us, and we couldn't hold them down after that. And that's the frustrating part. With the way our pitchers are right now, we've got to play solid defense, and we haven't done that. That's the frustrating thing for me right now." The Manatees committed two errors including a costly three-base miscue by center fielder Kentrail Davis that allowed two runs to score, breaking a 6-6 tie in the sixth inning. There were bright spots but the Cubs offensive outburst negated them. "I was encouraged by the way we swung the bats today and ran the bases," Isom said. "Just a frustrating one. Not the way we wanted to start the season, obviously." Brevard County Manatees second baseman Ryan Gennett tags out Junior Lake of the Daytona Cubs on an attempted steal during Sunday's game at Space Coast Stadium. / Dennis Greenblatt, for FLORIDA TODAY http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20110411&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=104110317&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0

In Wheeler's last active game (Friday), he was thrown out at the plate in the 4th inning, but finished the game and walked in each of two subsequent plate appearances. Perhaps a delayed reaction / result from a collision? We'll learn more.

Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes Wisconsin Lineup and Media Notes

MiLB.com confirms that LHP Daniel Meadows went from Huntsville's roster to Brevard's on the 9th, and Brevard's back to Huntsville's on the 10th. Hopefully there was a round trip bus ticket purchased for that Jacksonville to Melbourne round trip.

If you are not one to listen to all the linked audio / video in our archive thread (and why not, shame on you), then you should at least dip your ear in water of the audio pool -- some candid assessments of Mark Rogers here.

No word at this time as to the nature of Zelous Wheeler's injury.

Nashville Media Notes: WHEELER PLACED ON D.L., GREEN JOINS SOUNDS: Third baseman Zelous Wheeler was placed on the disabled list today, retroactive to yesterday. To fill his spot on the active roster, infielder Taylor Green joins the Sounds from Double-A Huntsville, where he opened the season by hitting safely in his first three games at a .364 clip (4-for-11). The 24-year-old native of British Columbia, Canada will make his career Triple-A debut upon his first Sounds appearance. Entering 2011, he carries a .280 career batting average in 493 minor league contests and was the Brewers’ 2007 Minor League Player of the Year. *** Also, Caleb Gindl was indeed placed on the DL as of 4/9, and catcher Patrick Arlis was transferred to the Nashville active roster.

INF Taylor Green moves up from Huntsville to Nashville, the Stars' roster is at the league limit of 24. We imagine Caleb Gindl has formally hit the DL, which would get the Sounds to their own 24-man limit.

Adam McCalvy discusses oblique injuries here. Good news that Erik Komatsu may be back within a week. One would think that Huntsville's Brandon Jones would be the obvious choice to replace Caleb Gindl at AAA, but Huntsville, and the whole organization for that matter, isn't swimming in outfielders right now. Perhaps time to scour for an independent league veteran to backfill?

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Nashville 3 0 1.000 - - 3-0 0-0 3-0 W3 Iowa 2 1 .667 1.0 141 0-0 2-1 2-1 L1 Memphis 2 1 .667 1.0 141 2-1 0-0 2-1 W2 Omaha 1 2 .333 2.0 140 0-0 1-2 1-2 W1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Huntsville 2 1 .667 - - 0-0 2-1 2-1 W1 Tennessee 2 1 .667 - - 0-0 2-1 2-1 L1 Chattanooga 1 2 .333 1.0 67 1-2 0-0 1-2 W1 Jackson 1 2 .333 1.0 67 0-0 1-2 1-2 L1 Carolina 0 3 .000 2.0 66 0-3 0-0 0-3 L3 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Clearwater 3 0 1.000 - - 1-0 2-0 3-0 W3 Daytona 3 0 1.000 - - 2-0 1-0 3-0 W3 Tampa 2 1 .667 1.0 67 1-0 1-1 2-1 W2 Lakeland 1 2 .333 2.0 66 1-1 0-1 1-2 L2 Brevard County 0 3 .000 3.0 65 0-1 0-2 0-3 L3 Dunedin 0 3 .000 3.0 65 0-2 0-1 0-3 L3 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 2 1 .667 - - 0-0 2-1 2-1 W1 Cedar Rapids 2 1 .667 - - 0-0 2-1 2-1 W1 Quad Cities 2 1 .667 - - 2-1 0-0 2-1 L1 Wisconsin 2 1 .667 - - 2-1 0-0 2-1 W1 Beloit 1 2 .333 1.0 67 0-0 1-2 1-2 W1 Clinton 1 2 .333 1.0 67 1-2 0-0 1-2 L1 Kane County 1 2 .333 1.0 67 0-0 1-2 1-2 L1 Peoria 1 2 .333 1.0 67 1-2 0-0 1-2 L1

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

Sunday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Huntsville: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Jacksonville (Marlins), 2:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Jacksonville feed) If that feed is unavailable tonight, click the Jacksonville feed link from the MiLB.com audio page here Brevard County: RHP Adrian Rosario at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 4:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Daytona feed) Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at home vs. Kane County (Royals), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime Live Audio Link

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

By the way, how fan-tabulous have the new combo of audio / video highlights from Chris Mehring coming from Time Warner Cable Field been?! Chris' random comments associated with the highlights shown above -- Jason Rogers is deceptively fast Tyler Roberts was a bit off target on one of his throws to second, but it got there with enough time to still get the runner Thank you, Manny Parra. Good luck when you get to Milwaukee

We've asked the folks at MiLB.com to find out when their Beat the Streak standings and home page will be functional, but it appears you can still make your selections, and they are tracked.

Two more from the Link Report, this time on Manny Parra Back-to-back posts here

Manny Parra makes strides in road back to Brewers by pitching two shutout innings for Timber Rattlers by Jim Oskola, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE – Manny Parra is an established major league pitcher. But coming off offseason hip surgery and a back injury, the Milwaukee Brewers southpaw said that he was nervous before taking the mound as part of his rehabilitation during the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers game against the Kane County Cougars on Saturday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. "I think it eased the guys' minds a little bit," Parra said of his temporary Timber Rattlers teammates. "A couple of guys asked me and I said that anytime I compete, I get anxious or however you want to put it. There was a little bit of excitement and I haven't faced but one hitter in a game situation so I was excited." As part of what he hopes is a quick rehab, Parra pitched two innings in the Timber Rattlers' 4-3 win over Kane County. Parra, who was on a pitch count of 25 pitches, used just 22 pitches (16 strikes) to set down the Cougars 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth innings. His fastball clocked on the radar gun anywhere from 90 to 94 mph. "As far as pitching goes, I feel 100 percent health- wise," Parra said. "It was a good test out there. That weather can be tough to get warm in, but it (his back) responded well." Parra, who struck out four and had only one of the six batters reach a full count against him, said he wasn't sure what the next step in the rehab process would be. "I don't know for sure if we're going to go back to Milwaukee and let them dictate what's next," said Parra, regarding the timetable for a return to the majors. "It's however long it takes for me to feel sharp. "We're a team that should be competing this year and going to the playoffs and possibly the World Series with the team that we have. It wouldn't be fair to the team for me to show up and get in the games before I'm ready. I'm going to take as much time as I need to get sharp because I basically didn't have a spring training. This is my spring training right now." Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said Parra looked good on the mound. "He looked relaxed," Erickson said. "He looked clean. The ball came out of his hand nice. It was good to see him back on the mound." While it would not be a good sign for the Milwaukee this season if they are continually sending their major league players to Fox Cities Stadium for rehab assignments this season, Erickson said that his players can learn plenty from watching the veterans who do rehab with the Timber Rattlers. "Guys that have gone through the levels, have gone through the system, are in the big leagues usually have a tremendous work ethic," Erickson said. "They act in a professional manner. Our pitching coach Chris Hook made sure that he addressed the guys to make sure they watched how he (Parra) prepares himself from getting to the park to going to the training room to coming out and stretch, how he works in the bullpen and, hopefully, it carries on to the field. "He just addressed the team. Something he doesn't have to do. He stuck around for the whole game and it's good to have good people like that in the organization." Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Manny Parra pitched two scoreless innings during a rehab assignment with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday in Grand Chute. / Post-Crescent photo by Ron Page http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20110410&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=104100601&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0