Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: BREWIN' WITH KUEHN: Hopkins has right outlook after record night at plate By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record Aug. 12 was just the day Greg Hopkins needed after struggling since returning from a concussion that sidelined him for seven games. The Helena Brewers infielder tied a Pioneer League record when he went 6 for 6 against Missoula that day. It was Hopkins’ second five-hit game of the season, the only player in the league to accomplish that feat twice this year. But Hopkins, a 24th-round draft pick out of St. John’s University, isn’t naive to think that’s the type of offensive outing he’s going to have every night. “You can’t get too high or too low on yourself, but it definitely helps drive the confidence,” said Hopkins, who batted over .500 against the Osprey but was hitless through Wednesday in the Casper series. “Hopefully it will keep me up there the rest of the season. “I’m not trying to do that every night. I know 6 for 6 is not something that happens a lot. My dad always tells me Derek Jeter once started the season hitting 0 for 50 and he still ended up hitting .300 that season. That just shows you how you have your struggles and your successes, but I think it’s all about staying even keel and being consistent with your at-bats.” Helena manager Joe Ayrault believes that was the first time he’d ever witnessed a player get six hits in a contest. “I’ve seen a guy hit four home runs in a game before in the past but to see a guy with six hits, that’s a feat,” the Brewers skipper said. “I was fired up for Greg to have that game; it was a fun game for us.” Hopkins said the experience was surreal. “I just started off with a couple good at-bats at first and that just led to another good at-bat,” said Hopkins, who is the only Brewer to play first, second and third base this season. “I just felt really locked-in.” Hopkins was just a double shy of the cycle in that 17-6 win over Missoula. Nobody in the Pioneer League has hit for the cycle this year, but a few have come close. While that’s an accomplishment Hopkins is still trying for, he’s no stranger to the record books when it comes to multi-hit games. Hopkins set a Big East Tournament record for hits in a game in 2009, when he went 5 for 6 against Cincinnati. BREWERS BOOKWORM Anytime you see Helena pitcher Matt Miller without a baseball in his hand, it’s likely that he’s replaced it with a book. Miller, who leads the league with six wins this season and was fourth in ERA entering Thursday’s game, has read as many novels as he has victories since arriving in Helena in June. Prior to Wednesday’s interview, Miller had his nose in “Echo Burning” by Lee Child, the fifth novel in the Jack Reacher series. Miller said it’s a thriller, his favorite genre, and that it’s the seventh book he’s read this summer. “It keeps my mind busy, especially since we have so much down time,” said Miller, who finds himself pitching every five days or so as a member of the Brewers’ starting rotation. “Guys get caught up in their thoughts; you have one bad game and you’re rehashing the bad parts postgame. So I use music, movies, books, whatever to try to get away from it.” Miller has had more successful outings than bad ones this season, but was more than eager to escape into a book after a rough start Tuesday night, when the Ghosts had seven hits and seven runs — six earned — off the right-hander in just two innings. “It’s one of those games where you reach back and there’s nothing there,” said the fifth-round pick out of the University of Michigan. “I was searching for feel for two innings, and it was a little bit of a hit parade. I’m trying my best to put that behind me.” Miller said he got into reading while playing in the Northwoods League, a summer league featuring the top college players from across the nation. While most players would put on their iPods for the long bus trips, Miller said books gave him something to do to keep his mind busy. “It’s enjoyable, and it helps me keep my mind off baseball as much as possible,” he said. WALKER’S WALKS With so much focus on who is batting what, who leads in RBIs and who has the most home runs, there’s one statistic that tends to get lost in the shuffle. Helena infielder Mike Walker leads the league in base on balls, with 44 walks through Wednesday’s game. The next closest player was 11 behind that, and Ayrault said the stat can be attributed to Walker’s disciplined eye at the plate. “The on-base percentage, the walks, that’s a big part of today’s games,” Ayrault said. “To be at this level and to be that disciplined is incredible. “That’s one of the hardest things to teach a guy, to be a disciplined hitter, so hopefully a lot of these other guys are learning from him.” Walker is 11th in the Pioneer League in on-base percentage, reaching base over 39 percent of the time. The 14th-round draft pick, who bats left-handed, was hitting .249 through 53 games. That number goes up when facing southpaws. “You’re just looking for one pitch,” Walker explained. “Before you go up to the plate, you have an idea of what you want to hit. Most times it’s a fastball. A lot of the time in this league a guy won’t throw you a fastball for the first one or two pitches and he ends up getting behind (in the count). “Honestly, I’ve taken a lot of pretty simple walks. I just take a couple of balls inside and end up at first base.” Walker admits being patient at the plate takes practice. Many rookies would rather swing at anything that comes their way. He feels waiting for his pitch is just somewhat innate. “I’m not trying to be cocky or anything, it’s not like I’m hitting .400,” Walker said. “It’s just looking for pitches you want to hit and if you don’t get them you’ve just got to be disciplined enough to take them.” Walker has just eight hits in his last 10 games, while drawing six walks over that time period. “It’s been an up and down season but that’s just the way baseball is,” he said. “A big part of it is just trying to stay sane during the parts you’re not doing so well.” *** NOTE: Walker went 4-for-5 in the game after this interview -- three-run home run, three singles (no walks).

Link while active, text follows: Hanging on to first By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers were Ghost busters Thursday in the series finale against Casper at Kindrick Legion Field. The Brewers got another strong night from their pitchers, Brandon Sizemore and Mike Walker both went deep and Helena pounded out 14 hits en route to a 12-2 Pioneer League win over the Ghosts. The blowout victory helped Helena (28-27, 9-8) to a series split as the Brewers maintained their grip on first place in the Pioneer League North Division. “It was a well-played game all around,” said Helena skipper Joe Ayrault. “(Tyler) Cravy did a nice job of working out of a jam in the fourth.” Trailing 5-1, the Ghosts had three straight singles to lead off the fourth frame. Ryan Casteel’s RBI base hit scored Robert De La Cruz to trim the visitors’ deficit, and a stolen base left runners on second and third. But after pitching coach Elvin Nina came to the mound, Cravy settled down and struck out the side — including Casper’s best hitter, Rafael Ortega. “I didn’t start off too good (that inning),” said Cravy (5-5). “I left a couple pitches up there and they took advantage of it.” Casper (26-30, 9-9) was just 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. The Brewers, meanwhile, could seemingly not be stopped. Helena had six two-out RBIs, Sizemore hit a two-run shot as part of a four-run third inning and Walker sent a fastball flying over the net in right field to score three during a six-run sixth. “It was one of those ones, you just knew it was gone,” Walker said of his homer, one of four hits by the third baseman. “It always feels good, you can’t attribute it to anything. Sometimes you’re just fortunate enough.” The Ghosts tied the game at 1-all in the second, when 18-year-old Will Swanner hit his first professional homer on an 0-2 count from Cravy. But Greg Hopkins’ RBI single up the middle helped the Brewers regain the lead an inning later, and it was all Helena from there. Cravy earned the win, striking out nine through six innings, and Tyler Thornburg earned his first save with three near-perfect innings of relief. Thornburg retired nine of 10, allowing the lone baserunner when Yafistel Roja reached on a Carlos George error. The Brewers scored their final run in a strange eighth inning, when Sizemore reached first after striking out. Casteel, playing catcher, appeared to tag Sizemore on the dropped third strike, but home plate umpire Ramon Hernandez ruled that the ball wasn’t in his glove when the tag was made. George’s RBI fielder’s choice ended Helena’s scoring outburst. “They did a great job getting runs,” Cravy said of his teammates. “It always makes things easier on a pitcher.” Casper starter Alejandro Barraza (1-5) lasted just three innings, after giving up five earned runs on six hits. Barraza walked three while fanning four. The Brewers host Idaho Falls for a three-game set beginning today, the first time Helena has seen the Chukars this season. “We literally know nothing about Idaho Falls,” Walker said. “We’ll just play to our strengths and keep doing what we have been.” All photos by Dylan Brown Independent Record Brewers' John Dishon hits a line drive Thursday night against Casper at Kindrick Legion Field http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/0/6d/e67/06de67e8-ac10-11df-8f46-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6dfed01b073.image.jpg Casper's Rafael Ortega slides under Brewers' Carlos George for a steal http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/1/4f/dab/14fdab5e-ac10-11df-89f5-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6dfee880f2a.image.jpg Casper's Rafael Ortega slides past Helena's Cody Hawn, after a pop-fly was caught. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/3a/56c/23a56cdc-ac10-11df-95a4-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6dff00ccfd2.image.jpg Brewers' Mike Walker comes across home plate at Kindrick Legion Field to celebrate with teammates after he hit a home run to score three runs. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/3/cb/a99/3cba997c-ac10-11df-a8f0-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6dff2a8f3db.image.jpg Brewers' Cody Hawn scrambles past Casper's Ryan Casteel for a run. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/3/04/d82/304d828a-ac10-11df-9323-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6dff1634493.image.jpg

Brewers split series By Brett Billings/Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers unloaded for 12 runs on 14 hits en route to a ten-run victory over the Casper Ghosts. The win gives the Brewers the series split and keeps them atop first place in the Pioneer League North. The bulk of the Brewers' runs came in innings three and six, when they scored four and six respectively. Greg Hopkins had an RBI single in the third. A batter later, Brandon Sizemore hit a three-run homer over the left field fence to give the Brewers a 5-1 advantage at the time. It was his second of the series and fourth of the year. The Brewers entered the sixth up 5-2. That wasn't comfortable enough for Mike Walker as he belted a three-run moon shot over the "helenet" in right field. Cody Hawn, Hopkins, and Brent Dean each had RBI singles earlier in the inning. Tyler Cravy (5-5, 6.79) earned the win tonight. He tossed 5.2 innings and allowed two runs. He struck out a season-high nine Ghosts and didn't surrender a walk. Ryan Bernal relieved Cravy in the sixth inning. He only threw one pitch, but it was effective, as he stranded a runner at second with a soft ground out. Tyler Thornburg threw the final three frames to earn his first professional save. He struck out three and didn't walk anybody. The Brewers stay at home tomorrow night to face Idaho Falls for the first game of a three-game series. RHP Greg Billo is scheduled to start for the Chukars. RHP Jose Oviedo will start for Helena. First pitch will be at 7:05 (8:05 Central).

Link while active, text follows: Manatees Hand Wilk Rare Loss By DAVID YATES, LAKELAND LEDGER CORRESPONDENT LAKELAND | Lakeland ace Adam Wilk lost for the first time in nearly two months as Brevard County defeated the Flying Tigers, 5-2, in Florida State League baseball at Marchant Stadium on Thursday night. The Manatees collected seven hits and scored five times on Wilk (9-5) in the first three innings, although four of the runs were unearned. The 22-year-old California southpaw had not been defeated since the Daytona Cubs turned the trick with a 2-1 seven-inning win over Lakeland on June 22. Matt Cline led off the game with a single, Juan Sanchez reached on an error, Erik Komatsu singled in Cline and Sean Halton brought Komatsu home with a sacrifice fly. The Flying Tigers came right back to tie the game in the home half of the first. Gustavo Nunez and Francisco Martinez singled around a Jordan Lennerton double. The hit extended Lennerton's hitting streak to 10 games, during which he is batting .429 (15-for-35). The Manatees went back ahead with a run in the second when Scott Krieger doubled and Cline singled him home. The visitors from the East Coast scored their last two runs in the third inning on Shawn Zarraga's two-out, two-run double. The inning had been prolonged by Lakeland's second error so both of those runs were also unearned. The game featured outstanding relief pitching on both sides. Matt Little, who was making his Lakeland debut, and Shawn Teufel combined for seven strikeouts over four scoreless innings out of the Lakeland bullpen. Daniel Meadows and Corey Frerichs were just as effective for Brevard County, fanning five over the last three innings of the game. Still winners of eight of their past 12 games, the Flying Tigers (26-26) will close out their season series against the Manatees (31-23) tonight at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central) in Viera. FSL pitcher of the week for August 9-15, Jon Kibler (4-4, 3.44) is expected to start for Lakeland. *** Friday night's game will be the second this week with audio provided by Stephen C. Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com.

Video of Michael Brantley's ankle injury -- not a pleasant sight, hopefully OK...

Nashville interview with "the Barber", catcher Martin Maldonado -- impresed with his command of the language, tossing words around in the proper context like "mentality". To be honest, the guy is a Jonathan Lucroy or George Kottaras injury from the big leagues, although for a second consecutive season, it appears the Brewers will be among the few teams not to call up a 3rd catcher when rosters expand -- there are none on the 40-man below the majors.

From MiLB.com: Last year there was talk of a Junior Arizona Fall League to replace Hawaii Winter Baseball. There was an informal league between some teams at their Phoenix area complexes. Is there going to be a formal league this year for Class A players? If not, is MLB still considering it? You're right, there were some rumors about a second AFL floating around last fall once the Hawaiian program ended. Word is that it will not happen this year. The Arizona Fall League program is run by Major League Baseball, though -- it's not MiLB's call.

Scooter leads off tonight for the Rattlers -- the lineup, notes, etc. can all be found within the latest posts on the Radio Blog.

PDF document: Huntsville Media Notes Confirmation that Mark Rogers tosses tonight...

PDF document: Nashville Media Notes

The beat goes on (box score) for the lefty Romanski (YTD stats), although his offense did him no favors. I thought perhaps with so many opportunities to speak with Bruce Seid over the past week re: the Dylan Covey non-signing, and with him singing the praises on the early work of guys like Nelson, Thornburg, and Miller, that someone in the mainstream media would have broached the Romanski subject with Seid or others in the front office. The folks I have heard from on this will only say that the organization wishes Josh well. Oh well, as duly noted above, next April, Josh will simply blend into the Alumni thread.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 70 54 .565 - - 35-29 35-25 4-6 L2 Omaha 69 56 .552 1.5 19 32-27 37-29 8-2 W1 Memphis 68 57 .544 2.5 18 38-25 30-32 6-4 W1 Nashville 64 59 .520 5.5 16 33-29 31-30 5-5 W2 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Tennessee 33 19 .635 - - 19-8 14-11 7-3 L2 Huntsville 28 24 .538 5.0 14 17-11 11-13 4-6 W2 West Tenn 24 28 .462 9.0 10 11-10 13-18 5-5 L2 Chattanooga 23 28 .451 9.5 10 12-15 11-13 6-4 W2 Carolina 23 29 .442 10.0 9 10-14 13-15 3-7 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 32 18 .640 - - 17-8 15-10 5-5 L1 Daytona 32 20 .615 1.0 18 18-8 14-12 5-5 W1 Brevard County 30 23 .566 3.5 16 16-11 14-12 4-6 L2 Lakeland 26 25 .510 6.5 14 14-9 12-16 7-3 W2 Clearwater 23 30 .434 10.5 9 15-12 8-18 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 22 31 .415 11.5 8 11-14 11-17 4-6 L1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 32 18 .640 - - 11-13 21-5 8-2 W5 * Cedar Rapids 29 21 .580 3.0 - 15-10 14-11 6-4 W2 Clinton 27 23 .540 5.0 19 14-11 13-12 5-5 L1 Kane County 27 23 .540 5.0 18 16-9 11-14 4-6 L6 Beloit 25 23 .521 6.0 16 14-11 11-12 5-5 W1 Peoria 24 24 .500 7.0 17 12-12 12-12 5-5 W4 Wisconsin 24 27 .471 8.5 15 14-12 10-15 6-4 L2 Burlington 16 33 .327 15.5 7 11-13 5-20 1-9 L5 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 8 8 .500 - - 4-4 4-4 5-5 L2 * Great Falls 8 9 .471 0.5 22 5-3 3-6 4-6 L3 Missoula 8 9 .471 0.5 22 4-5 4-4 6-4 W1 Billings 7 9 .438 1.0 22 4-4 3-5 4-6 L2 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 29 16 .644 - - 9-9 11-7 6-4 W2 AZL Dodgers 25 20 .556 4.0 7 10-8 10-6 8-2 W1 AZL Reds 25 22 .532 5.0 5 9-7 11-8 7-3 W3 AZL Indians 19 28 .404 11.0 E 7-12 9-8 0-10 L10 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 41 26 .612 - - 23-11 18-15 5-4 W3 DSL Cardinals 37 30 .552 4.0 2 24-10 13-20 5-5 W1 DSL Athletics 30 38 .441 11.5 E 16-18 14-20 6-4 L2 DSL Brewers 27 41 .397 14.5 E 16-17 11-24 3-7 L1

Time Warner Cable Sports 32 for the locals -- set your DVR's Minor League Baseball: Beloit Snappers @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday, August 19: 7-10pm LIVE Repeated broadcasts -- Friday, August 20: 9am-12pm Saturday, August 21: 12-3pm Sunday, August 22: 7-10pm

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville Game One (Gameday also available) Nashville Game Two (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Sam Narron and RHP Josh Butler in a doubleheader at home vs. Colorado Springs (Rockies), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link Huntsville: TBD (likely RHP Mark Rogers) at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 gametime Sorry, no audio for this game... Wisconsin: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Beloit (Twins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Tyler Cravy at home vs. Casper (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Angels' complex in Tempe; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Mariners, 9:30 AM

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RHP Mark Rogers (blister) activated from the Huntsville DL; perpetually reserved / phantom-injuried catcher Patrick Arlis heads to the DL to make room.

At least eight Rattlers are caught on film in the latest Post-Crescent photo gallery.

Link while active, text follows: Despite loss, Timber Rattlers don't lose ground in Midwest League West Division playoff chase By Jim Oskola, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — Not much good came out of Wednesday's game between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Beloit Snappers. Not much can in a 14-7 loss other than perhaps this: Despite the setback, the Rattlers did not lose any ground to either Kane County or Clinton in the Midwest League West Division wild card race. The Rattlers trail the Cougars and LumberKings by 3½ games. The Rattlers did lose a game in the standings to Beloit and Peoria. The Snappers lead the Rattlers by 2½ games. The Chiefs lead Wisconsin by 1½ games. "Go out there tomorrow and get our work in," Rattlers manager Jeff Isom said following the loss. "We'll take our batting practice and try to get the next two. We're right in the middle of a playoff run and we're doing everything we can. Unfortunately, we hit a speed bump." Like speed bumps in the highway, you hit them and move on. "I think the most important thing to know is that we have 19 games left," Wisconsin shortstop Michael Marseco said. "We still have a shot to make the playoffs. Bad nights are going to happen. As long as you have another chance to redeem yourself tomorrow and still have a shot at making the playoffs, I don't think it's a total failure as long as you learn something." Rattlers first baseman Chris Dennis said one has to take the loss the same way one takes an at-bat. "We've played a hundred-some games," he said. "We still got a couple more to play (against Beloit). You can't let one at-bat effect your next at-bat or your future at-bats because you've got tons of them coming." Dennis said he and his teammates will show up for today's game and do the work that will garner a win. "I think Wednesday, it was just mental preparation," he said. "We didn't come mentally prepared to win. Hopefully, we come ready to go Thursday." Factoring in the loss, the Rattlers have won six of their last nine games. "We've been playing a lot better," Marseco said. "We've been swinging it good, pitching it well, minus tonight. As long as we keep playing as a team and battling one through nine, all of our starters give us a good outing, we have a shot to make the playoffs and at the end of the year, that's what it's all about." It's important for the Rattlers to win the next two games against Beloit at Fox Cities Stadium before they embark on a seven-game road trip to Cedar Rapids and Burlington. Winning those two games could prove difficult with the Snappers having won 11 of 15 games against Wisconsin this season. "Some teams give us fits, others give us little ones and some give us big ones," Isom said. "Beloit has had our number. We just have to take care of our business."

Link while active, text follows: Defense betrays Brewers in loss to Casper By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record As they have so many times this season, the Helena Brewers brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. But Shea Vucinich, who is hitless in the series against Casper, grounded out to shortstop Jeff Squier as the Ghosts held on to win their second straight Pioneer League contest, 8-6, Wednesday night at Kindrick Legion Field. On a night when the Brewers pitching staff was as good as it has been, striking out 16, the defense self-destructed. Helena (27-27, 8-8 second half) has now committed eight errors over the last two games. “We make the plays in the field we win that ball game,” Helena manager Joe Ayrault said. “We had a couple balls lost in the outfield and one with the bases loaded definitely hurt us.” With Helena leading 3-2 following Cody Hawn’s second home run of the series, Brewers pitcher Rob Currie relieved Austin Ross in the top of the sixth. Ross had a career night, striking out a season-best 10 and giving up just four hits and two earned runs, but was pulled when his pitch count hit 81. The Ghosts took advantage of the new arm, hitting three singles off Currie (1-2) to load the bases. Then, with two outs and three on, Rafael Ortega hit a bases-clearing double to right field to help Casper regain the lead. John Dishon made a diving play on the ball but couldn’t get it in the glove. “Sometimes, you’ve kind of gotta get lucky,” Casper manager Tony Diaz said referring to that ball by Ortega that dropped for a double. “But I always tell the guys, for you to get lucky, you’ve gotta make contact, then something may happen. We did that tonight.” The Brewers tied it up at 5-all in their half of the inning with a two-run single by catcher Gerald Ogrinc, but the visitors tacked on three more in the eighth. The Ghosts (26-29, 9-8) outhit Helena 11-6. “You can’t expect to win too many ballgames when you do that, get outhit and make more errors than they do,” the Brewers skipper said. Ortega, who entered the game in the league’s top five in hits, stolen bases and on-base percentage, was 3 for 5 with four RBIs to up his average to .376. “He’s just a solid hitter,” Ayrault said of the Casper outfielder. “For a young guy (Ortega is 19) he’s got a good approach at the plate. He just sprays balls all over the field.” Casper reliever Kenneth Roberts (3-1) earned his third win of the season. The southpaw set down six straight before giving up a double to Brandon Sizemore, who then came home on a wild pitch to trim the deficit. Currie recorded his first blown save, combined with his first defeat of the season. “Tonight we were able to really execute in key situations,” Diaz said. “When you are able to do that as a team, you put yourself in a position to win ballgames.” DIAMOND NOTES: Helena infielder Connor Lind was promoted to Class A Wisconsin, after Cutter Dykstra took a ball to the head and was placed on the disabled list. Lind will likely be a backup in Wisconsin ... Casper’s Will Swanner was activated before Wednesday’s game after signing with the Colorado Rockies five days earlier. The 15th-round draft pick was committed to Pepperdine but chose instead to join the Rockies organization. The catcher was the designated hitter Wednesday and was 2 for 5 with a run scored in his pro debut.

Huntsville outfielder Lee Haydel is interviewed pre-game Thursday. Prounounce "Hy-del" perhaps? News to me. Discusses playing LF / CF (stats for the recently-turned 23-year-old).

Stars Close To Wild Card Connor Shreve, Huntsville Stars The Huntsville Stars set season highs Wednesday night at Regions Field in beating up on the Birmingham Barons 17-4. Taylor Green extended his team RBI lead, now at 75, with six runs knocked in as part of a perfect 5-5 night from the plate. Green helped spur the team to the season's best run output (17) and hit total (22). Birmingham attempted to take advantage of two Stars miscues in the second which built a 2-1 home club lead. But the Barons luck was not enough for a bullpen that has been shaky all season long. The Stars brought ten batters to the plate in a six-run fifth inning that only proved to be the beginning of the Stars scoring frenzy. Green's 11th home run added three runs to the sixth inning total of five. The rest of the offense would not be outdone, continuing to gush through the nozzle that is the Barons' pen until the final out mercifully ended a contest that neared the three and one half hour mark. Not one offensive player left the field without at least one hit. Overshadowed perhaps was the work of Huntsville hurler Michael Bowman, who rebounded from a rough performance last time out to pick up his ninth win of the year. Bowman gave up only the two unearned runs on seven hits. He picked up three punch outs and gave out two free passes to first base. Huntsville also received some help from the division and wild card leaders and now sit 2.5 games back of the wild card heading into Thursday's game two. The Stars rotation is set up well; Mark Rogers (coming off the DL soon; blister) and Amaury Rivas are set to throw at some point in the next three days. Thursday's game begins at 7:05 (CDT) on the Stars Radio Network and www.huntsvillestars.com.

Link while active, text follows: If Brewers and Stars split, it's sign of more serious woes Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- There are cozy old analogies that are dragged out when it comes to minor league baseball teams and their major league affiliates. It's high school all over again. It's some bad teen-angst movie. The Homecoming Queen pairs up with The Football Hero. And then pairings neatly line up all the way down the food chain. The Huntsville Stars organization is the nerd, with glasses taped together, clumsy personality and pants cuffs three inches north of their appropriate longitude. Thing is, the Milwaukee Brewers aren't exactly the head cheerleader either. The Brewers have concerns about Huntsville and Joe W. Davis Stadium. Many Huntsville fans have long voiced displeasure over the affiliation with Milwaukee. But with closer examination, they may be a good couple. Continuing the relationship that began in 1999 might prove the best alternatives for both, despite their respective flaws. The Stars and Brewers are among eight sets of partners who have not yet announced the renewal of their Class AA-level player development contract (PDC) for next season, or are not on the cusp of doing so. Miles Prentice, the team's majority owner, didn't project any sense of urgency or concern in re-upping with the Brewers before the Sept. 11 deadline to notify the Southern League of his intentions. If not Milwaukee, the likely options for Huntsville would be the California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants or Seattle Mariners. The Brewers are looking pretty hot all of a sudden, huh? If not Huntsville, the likely options for Milwaukee would be places like Jackson, Tenn., Harrisburg, Pa., Erie, Pa., or Zebulon, N.C., 25 miles from the nearest city and 350 miles from the nearest Southern League rival. Huntsville's looking pretty handsome, huh? Though they'd prefer to stay here, the Brewers have been vocal with complaints about the stadium since they arrived in 1999. That plays nicely for Prentice. He can let the Brewers gripe, and he doesn't become the greedy owner wanting handouts. A desperately needed home clubhouse was finally built, though the visitors' locker room remains an embarrassment. They'd like a better batting practice area under the stands. The playing surface has deteriorated with the passage of time and, mostly, the shrinking of the Stars' budget. It finally rolls back around to the long-time problem. No support. If fans don't come watch the team, the city panjandrums aren't going to throw taxpayer money at a new or renovated park or make even the most humble changes. But a bad park hurts attendance. If the Stars don't market better, crowds shrink. But without paying customers the fans don't have the staff to adequately promote. There is no city to which Prentice could feasibly move the Stars immediately. But Panama City is making noise about building a stadium. Ditto Biloxi. Either would welcome him, perhaps as early as 2012. Eventually, the Stars' collection of millionaire owners may realize their team is a business, not a hobby. That's been the blessing and curse. The curse is their apathy in running the organization properly. The blessing is, if they truly cared about making money, they'd have long ago looked for a more supportive community and generous government. Losing the Brewers is one thing. Losing baseball is another. One sooner, the other later, they both seem more likely with each passing day.

Getting To Know Shortstop Luis Cruz

A sharp-eyed reader has pointed out that Arizona (Maryvale) outfielder Max Walla will be sidelined by surgery on a broken finger. Walla was last seen in the box scores leaving a game after a play at home plate last week. Given the timing, it'd seem the 19-year-old 2009 2nd round pick would be unable to take part fully in any instructional league action that takes place in September. Walla made some incremental gains over his rough 2009 numbers this season (stats for both years can be found at bottom of linked page). See you next spring, Max.