Jim Goulart

Helena: TBD at Great Falls (White Sox), 4:45 PM Central pre-game; 5:00 gametime Live Audio Link *** Box Score / Game Log *** PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Great Falls 23 13 .639 - - 14-4 9-9 9-1 W5 Helena 22 15 .595 1.5 1 10-8 12-7 5-5 W1 Billings 17 19 .472 6.0 E 10-7 7-12 3-7 L1 Missoula 14 23 .378 9.5 E 9-10 5-13 3-7 L4

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

We acknowledge that injury played a large part, and even apparently the entire part, of the length of Scooter's absence. We can't completely retract our earlier comment that there was some level of frustration, regardless of the level of frustration and/or any disciplinay action, between management and Gennett. Obviously, in the big picture, it seems to have been on a more minor level than could have been inferred by our earlier comment, for which we apologize, but as I indicated here, can't completely retract. Scooter had a great season, and we're happy for him and the Brewer brass who identified and nurtured him along.

Dear H-Crew, OK, boys, that's enough messing around. Last-place Missoula is in town for a two-game set, Billings is home to first-place Great Falls the next two nights, and Great Falls will likely rest some players and set up thier rotation for the playoffs. In other words, don't count on backing in, and don't wait until the final day of the regular season Thursday. Signed, Link Report Nation *** (One Brewer win or Billings loss means playoff baseball for Helena.)

Monday's Daily Menu: Helena: RHP Stosh Wawrzasek at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM Central pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link *** Box Score / Game Log PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Great Falls 22 13 .629 - - 14-4 8-9 8-2 W4 Helena 21 15 .583 1.5 2 9-8 12-7 5-5 L2 Billings 17 18 .486 5.0 E 10-6 7-12 4-6 W2 Missoula 14 22 .389 8.5 E 9-10 5-12 3-7 L3

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # Memphis 82 62 .569 - - 48-26 34-36 7-3 W2 Iowa 82 62 .569 - E 39-33 43-29 6-4 L2 Omaha 81 63 .563 1.0 E 40-32 41-31 8-2 W3 Nashville 77 67 .535 5.0 E 39-31 38-36 6-4 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak *# Tennessee 86 53 .619 - 43-27 43-26 6-4 W3 West Tenn 73 66 .525 13.0 37-33 36-33 6-4 W5 Huntsville 67 73 .479 19.5 35-36 32-37 4-6 L3 Chattanooga 65 74 .468 21.0 32-36 33-38 3-7 L5 Carolina 58 79 .423 27.0 29-40 29-39 3-7 L3 FSL North Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak # Tampa 78 57 .578 - 40-28 38-29 5-5 L2 Daytona 75 64 .540 5.0 37-32 38-32 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 72 67 .518 8.0 33-36 39-31 6-4 W2 Lakeland 71 67 .514 8.5 37-31 34-36 6-4 L1 Clearwater 67 72 .482 13.0 37-34 30-38 5-5 L1 Brevard County 64 75 .460 16.0 33-38 31-37 3-7 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak # Quad Cities 83 55 .601 - 38-28 45-27 7-3 L1 * Cedar Rapids 82 56 .594 1.0 45-22 37-34 7-3 W6 Clinton 74 65 .532 9.5 42-30 32-35 3-7 L4 Beloit 71 65 .522 11.0 37-33 34-32 5-5 L3 Peoria 71 66 .518 11.5 41-27 30-39 4-6 W1 Kane County 71 67 .514 12.0 40-29 31-38 7-3 L1 Wisconsin 58 80 .420 25.0 30-40 28-40 3-7 W1 Burlington 46 90 .338 36.0 27-41 19-49 4-6 W3 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # AZL Brewers 34 22 .607 - - 13-12 12-10 3-6 W1 & AZL Reds 31 24 .564 2.5 E 12-8 14-9 8-2 W6 AZL Dodgers 30 25 .545 3.5 E 12-11 13-8 5-5 L1 AZL Indians 21 35 .375 13.0 E 8-14 10-13 2-8 L2 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # DSL Mariners 43 28 .606 - - 23-13 20-15 7-3 L1 DSL Cardinals 39 32 .549 4.0 E 24-11 15-21 5-5 L2 DSL Athletics 32 39 .451 11.0 E 17-19 15-20 6-4 W2 DSL Brewers 28 43 .394 15.0 E 17-18 11-25 3-7 W1

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

Figured we'd adjust the thread title for the possibility of Amaury Rivas' activation. Like Rogers, he's in Milwaukee for all the special biomechanical testing. Unlike Rogers, he doesn't have avid friends and family posting on Brewerfan or a hometown paper to deliver the news. So if he's in town, we imagine the same activation is a possibility, although we know no more than that, thus the "maybe" in the thread title.

Link while active, text follows: Mark Rogers in The Show! Brewers call up Mt. Ararat righty to the big leagues By George Almasi, Times Record (Maine) Staff MILWAUKEE — Mark Rogers finally gets to see The Show, folks. A former Mt. Ararat High School pitching standout and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Rogers has been added to the Milwaukee Brewers’ major league roster, his mother Stephanie verified today. Rogers, who split time this year between the AA Huntsville Stars of the Southern League and the AAA Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League, is expected to be added to the team on Friday. The Brewers, fourth in the National League’s Central Division (64-74, 15 games behind the front-running Cincinnati Reds), have a day off Thursday before enjoying a three-day homestand with the Chicago Cubs. “It’s true,” said Stephanie. “We talked with him last night around 9:15. He’s been activated, but probably they won’t announce it until Friday.” “He’s been on the 40-man roster since last fall,” said his agent Jack Coffey. “He flew into Milwaukee yesterday I believe and he’ll be doing some mechanical work with the team.” A 6-foot-2, 205-pound starting pitcher, the righthander was 6-8 with a 3.71 earned run average for Huntsville. In 111.2 innings, he walked 69 and struck out 121. In his only start for Nashville, the Orr’s Island native hurled 4.1 innings, giving up one run for a 2.08 ERA. “He’ll be a starting pitcher for them,” said Stephanie. “We’ll be there when he does pitch ... I’m not going to miss that.” It’s been a long road for Rogers, who was drafted fifth overall in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft and signed a $2.6 million contract. The draft capped off a senior campaign in which he went 9-1 with 164 strikeouts in 67.1 innings and was named Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Later in 2004 he pitched for the Arizona Brewers in the Rookie League and from there toiled for the Class A West Virginia Power. The next year he split time between Arizona and the Brevard County (Fla.) Manatees. In 2007 he underwent surgery on his right shoulder, the first of several procedures — pitching mechanics were at the root of his arm woes — and he pretty much rehabbed over the next two years. Pitching for Brevard Country (A+) of the Florida League in 2009, he went 1-3 with a 1.67 ERA. He pitched in 23 games, starting 22 in going 64.2 innings, giving up 46 hits with 29 walks and 67 strikeouts. “It certainly is a nice thing. The bottom line is that he’s finally healthy and in his last start threw 101,” added Coffey. “He’s just so excited,” said Stephanie. “He’s worked so hard for this ... it’s been a longtime coming and we’re really happy for him.”

From the Tom H. JS blog: Rogers is in Milwaukee going through the motion analysis tests that have become a requisite for all pitchers in the organization, allowing the medical staff to see if their delivery raises any red flags. FWIW, RHP Amaury Rivas, also on the 40-man, is in Milwaukee for the same testing. No word on whether he'll be activated as well, although it would be nice.

The Brewers used their 2nd option with Mark after spring training this season when he was assigned to Huntsville. This September activity has no bearing on his remaining option. They will be able to assign him to the minors next season, and back and forth, as many times as they wish in 2011. He'll need to be with the big league club to stay in 2012, however, should he spend any minor league team in 2011, as he likely will, in AAA.

The Dodgers add Trent Oeltjen to their 40-man roster and bring him up to the majors, while designating Ronnie Belliard for assignment. Story, quote

Thank you for your work, Brad (link), and we look forward to seeing your off-season updates.

The long road for Mark Rogers reaches an apex this week in Milwaukee -- we hear a formal activation will come this week, likely Friday. Please discuss here.

Yes, apparently Mark Rogers will be officially activated on Friday. Congratulations! Jeffress, Kintzler, Rogers -- some serious heat has arrived as of late...

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # Memphis 82 62 .569 - - 48-26 34-36 7-3 W2 Iowa 82 62 .569 - E 39-33 43-29 6-4 L2 Omaha 81 63 .563 1.0 E 40-32 41-31 8-2 W3 Nashville 77 67 .535 5.0 E 39-31 38-36 6-4 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak *# Tennessee 86 53 .619 - 43-27 43-26 6-4 W3 West Tenn 73 66 .525 13.0 37-33 36-33 6-4 W5 Huntsville 67 73 .479 19.5 35-36 32-37 4-6 L3 Chattanooga 65 74 .468 21.0 32-36 33-38 3-7 L5 Carolina 58 79 .423 27.0 29-40 29-39 3-7 L3 FSL North Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak # Tampa 78 57 .578 - 40-28 38-29 5-5 L2 Daytona 75 64 .540 5.0 37-32 38-32 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 72 67 .518 8.0 33-36 39-31 6-4 W2 Lakeland 71 67 .514 8.5 37-31 34-36 6-4 L1 Clearwater 67 72 .482 13.0 37-34 30-38 5-5 L1 Brevard County 64 75 .460 16.0 33-38 31-37 3-7 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak # Quad Cities 83 55 .601 - 38-28 45-27 7-3 L1 * Cedar Rapids 82 56 .594 1.0 45-22 37-34 7-3 W6 Clinton 74 65 .532 9.5 42-30 32-35 3-7 L4 Beloit 71 65 .522 11.0 37-33 34-32 5-5 L3 Peoria 71 66 .518 11.5 41-27 30-39 4-6 W1 Kane County 71 67 .514 12.0 40-29 31-38 7-3 L1 Wisconsin 58 80 .420 25.0 30-40 28-40 3-7 W1 Burlington 46 90 .338 36.0 27-41 19-49 4-6 W3 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # AZL Brewers 34 22 .607 - - 13-12 12-10 3-6 W1 & AZL Reds 31 24 .564 2.5 E 12-8 14-9 8-2 W6 AZL Dodgers 30 25 .545 3.5 E 12-11 13-8 5-5 L1 AZL Indians 21 35 .375 13.0 E 8-14 10-13 2-8 L2 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # DSL Mariners 43 28 .606 - - 23-13 20-15 7-3 L1 DSL Cardinals 39 32 .549 4.0 E 24-11 15-21 5-5 L2 DSL Athletics 32 39 .451 11.0 E 17-19 15-20 6-4 W2 DSL Brewers 28 43 .394 15.0 E 17-18 11-25 3-7 W1

Finished the regular season Saturday (five innings, one run) -- stat line is included at this link, with final regular season numbers. Josh may see action in Tampa's postseason.

Monday's Daily Menu: Helena: TBD at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM Central pre-game; 8:00 gametime Live Audio Link *** Box Score / Game Log *** PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Great Falls 21 13 .618 - - 13-4 8-9 8-2 W3 Helena 21 14 .600 0.5 4 9-8 12-6 6-4 L1 Billings 16 18 .471 5.0 E 9-6 7-12 4-6 W1 Missoula 14 21 .400 7.5 E 9-10 5-11 3-7 L2

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

The Stars' staff wraps up a fine audio interview season with chats with RHP Michael Fiers and Athletic Trainer Aaron Hoback and Strength & Conditioning Coach Jake Marx Each worth your time...

Could anyone give a quick run-down of what Kintzler throws? Here is our original post on Brandon Kintzler when he signed on July 22, 2009. This is why we always remind folks that the seemingly least transaction notice can turn out to be a future big leaguer (see John Axford, Joe Thatcher, and others). Below is the most recent detailed article on Kintzler, written when he pitched in his home town of Las Vegas last month. Link while active, text follows: Palo Verde product resurrects his career Nashville's Kintzler on verge of majors after 2006 release By TODD DEWEY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Buried on baseball's scrap heap with a bum shoulder after getting released by the San Diego Padres in 2006, Palo Verde High School graduate Brandon Kintzler has since made a remarkable comeback. A right-hander who throws in the mid-90s, Kintzler had two strikeouts for the Nashville Sounds on Monday in a scoreless inning against the 51s at Cashman Field and is on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues with the parent Milwaukee Brewers. "He's got to learn a little more about things, but stuff-wise, I don't have any doubt he would have a good chance to go up and get major league hitters out," Nashville pitching coach Rich Gale said Tuesday before the Sounds' 19-8 loss to Las Vegas. "He's been a wonderful, pleasant surprise." The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pounder started this season at Double-A Huntsville, where he was a dominant closer, and earned his first promotion to Triple A on June 7. He was placed on the disabled list July 14 with a strained oblique muscle but returned to action Friday, pitching a perfect inning against the Reno Aces. Kintzler is 2-0 overall this season with a 1.19 ERA, 13 saves, 37 strikeouts and three walks in 37 2/3 innings. "I'm just trying to challenge them," he said. "The main thing is throwing strikes and staying healthy." After playing a year apiece for Pasadena (Calif.) City College and Utah's Dixie State College, the Las Vegas native spurned a scholarship offer from UNLV to sign with the Padres, who drafted him in the 40th round in 2004 despite concerns about his shoulder. But Kintzler, who turned 26 on Aug. 1, was released after two seasons in the Padres organization. "I never had a healthy season," said Kintzler, who pitched with a frayed labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. "Finally they said they were going to let me go because they were getting impatient." Kintzler didn't play in 2006, when he had surgery on his shoulder. He signed with Winnipeg six months after surgery and toiled in virtual obscurity there in 2007 and 2008. At his request, he was traded to the St. Paul Saints last season and finally managed to attract the attention of some scouts. A day after he started the American Association All-Star Game and hit 94 mph on the radar gun, the Brewers offered him a contract and sent him to Double A, where he went 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA as a starter. Moved to the bullpen this season, Kintzler has thrived. "It's kind of amazing to see a kid with this kind of arm and this kind of stuff that was in independent ball last year that some organization hadn't picked up on him," Gale said. "He throws 94 to 96 (mph), which is a very (legitimate), live major league fastball." Kintzler, who worked at Wynn Las Vegas as a driver last offseason, can barely believe his good fortune. "It's still unreal," he said. "A little over a year ago I was taking 16-hour bus rides in independent ball making zero money. Now we're taking airplanes and playing in Vegas."

Brewers can't nail down playoff spot By The Helena Independent Record GREAT FALLS — The Helena Brewers will try again today to secure a berth in the Pioneer League playoffs for the first time since 2007. They’ll need either a better performance or better luck. Helena’s magic number remains at one after the Brewers were roughed up 12-3 by the Great Falls Voyageurs at Centene Stadium on Monday night. The Voyageurs, who won the North Division first-half title, took a ½ game lead over Helena in the second-half standings. The other piece of bad news came from Billings, where the Mustangs defeated Missoula to pull within three games of the Brewers in the composite standings. If Great Falls wins the second-half title, the second playoff team will be the team with the better overall record. Helena (40-33 overall, 21-14 second half) can secure that spot with a win or a loss by Billings. It became clear early on Monday that a win wasn’t to be. The Voyageurs jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Cody Hawn’s 13th home run of the season provided Helena all three of its runs in the fifth inning. Great Falls (44-28, 21-13 second half) managed 13 hits, with Ross Wilson leading the charge by going 3 for 4 with five RBIs. His two-run homer in the fourth inning against Seth Lintz extended Great Falls’ lead to 9-0. Helena pitcher Jose Oviedo (1-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings. Great Falls took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, then added six more in the third, sending 11 men to the plate in the process. Consecutive singles by Michael Earley, Ross Wilson and Andy Wilkins plated two runs before Michael Blanke’s double to left field scored two more to increase the lead to 5-0. Rafael Vera made it 6-0 with a sacrifice fly and Randall Thorpe’s single scored Blanke to finish the night for Oviedo. Voyageurs’ starter Paul Burnside (7-3) tied Helena’s Matt Miller for the league lead in wins with his seventh. He pitched five innings and struck out seven. DIAMOND NOTES: If the Brewers can secure a playoff spot, the best-of-three North Division Championship Series would open Friday night at Kindrick Legion Field. Games 2 and 3, if necessary, would be played in Great Falls.

Our early holiday note: The links below should be updated with game notes just prior to the starts of the respective games -- PDF documents: Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes (may not post) *** Rattler Radio Blog

Standings for completed seasons reflect full-season standings, such as Brevard County's today.

Wow, on Sunday in Iowa, Memphis, in a must-win situation, defeated the Cubs 8-7 in 15 innings. They will meet again today with the victor capturing the division crown and heading to the postseason (Memphis wins the tiebreaker). As you can see, Omaha and Nashville weren't far behind. Pretty unfair to call the Sounds a last-place team in 2010. Cardinals vs. Cubs for the division title? Spare us... PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 82 61 .573 - - 39-32 43-29 7-3 L1 Memphis 81 62 .566 1.0 1 48-26 33-36 7-3 W1 Omaha 80 63 .559 2.0 E 40-32 40-31 7-3 W2 Nashville 77 66 .538 5.0 E 39-31 38-35 7-3 W1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak *# Tennessee 43 26 .623 - - 25-10 18-16 6-4 W2 Huntsville 34 35 .493 9.0 E 20-15 14-20 4-6 L2 West Tenn 33 36 .478 10.0 E 20-14 13-22 5-5 W4 Chattanooga 32 37 .464 11.0 E 16-19 16-18 4-6 L4 Carolina 28 39 .418 14.0 E 13-20 15-19 4-6 L2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 78 57 .578 - 40-28 38-29 5-5 L2 Daytona 75 64 .540 5.0 37-32 38-32 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 72 67 .518 8.0 33-36 39-31 6-4 W2 Lakeland 71 67 .514 8.5 37-31 34-36 6-4 L1 Clearwater 67 72 .482 13.0 37-34 30-38 5-5 L1 Brevard County 64 75 .460 16.0 33-38 31-37 3-7 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # Quad Cities 43 25 .632 - - 15-16 28-9 7-3 W1 Kane County 39 29 .574 4.0 - 22-12 17-17 8-2 W5 * Cedar Rapids 38 31 .551 5.5 1 20-14 18-17 6-4 W5 Clinton 37 32 .536 6.5 E 21-15 16-17 3-7 L3 Beloit 34 32 .515 8.0 E 18-16 16-16 5-5 L2 Peoria 32 35 .478 10.5 E 18-16 14-19 4-6 L1 Wisconsin 31 38 .449 12.5 E 17-18 14-20 3-7 L5 Burlington 23 43 .348 19.0 E 16-17 7-26 3-7 W2 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 21 13 .618 - - 9-8 12-5 7-3 W1 * Great Falls 20 13 .606 0.5 4 12-4 8-9 8-2 W2 Billings 15 18 .455 5.5 E 8-6 7-12 4-6 L3 Missoula 14 20 .412 7.0 E 9-10 5-10 3-7 L1 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # AZL Brewers 34 22 .607 - - 13-12 12-10 3-6 W1 & AZL Reds 31 24 .564 2.5 E 12-8 14-9 8-2 W6 AZL Dodgers 30 25 .545 3.5 E 12-11 13-8 5-5 L1 AZL Indians 21 35 .375 13.0 E 8-14 10-13 2-8 L2 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak # DSL Mariners 43 28 .606 - - 23-13 20-15 7-3 L1 DSL Cardinals 39 32 .549 4.0 E 24-11 15-21 5-5 L2 DSL Athletics 32 39 .451 11.0 E 17-19 15-20 6-4 W2 DSL Brewers 28 43 .394 15.0 E 17-18 11-25 3-7 W1