Jim Goulart

By the way, we may have to poke around to learn about Taylor Green, but he was conspicuously absent in Huntsville tonight after leaving Wednesday's doubleheader opener with an unknown injury. Perhaps something was mentioned in the early stages of the broadcast...

Catcher Michael Melillo has been on the Helena roster since Day One, but has yet to appear in a game. That's why when Brent Dean got nicked up, they brought Gerald Ogrinc up from Maryvale to back up Tony Pechek. Maybe the only two sentences you'll see all season with the names of all four Helena catchers squished in...

To lighten the load this evening, please enjoy a two-part Stu Paul Nashville interview with the amazing Famous San Diego Chicken, now in his 36th year and fifth decade of visiting Nashville and other outposts. This is one dude that won't collapse like Iron Man did in Appleton last week. Chat with the Famous San Diego Chicken (parts I and II) Wonderful trivia you'd never imagine about Nick Swisher and Tony Gwynn, Jr. A must-listen, thanks for grabbing him, Stu. Plus, Stu returns to the blogosphere.

He left too early, and the pitcher saw him take off and stepped off to trap him in a rundown. You only run on 3-2 with two outs if it's a force play, this wasn't.

As bad as the Rattlers loss was, the Stars just fell in 15 innings in what has to be just as bitter a defeat (shut out for two innings by a position player on the mound). You'll read about it either in the overnight or the early morning...

Final: Nashville 10, New Orleans (Marlins) 3 Sounds Take Series Opener From Z's, 10-3 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds won their fourth straight game on Thursday evening at historic Greer Stadium, posting a 10-3 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs in front of 7,790 fans in the opener of a three-game series. Left-hander Chris Waters (5-4) turned in his team-leading eighth quality start for the Sounds to snap a seven-start winless stretch. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 6 2/3 innings of work. The southpaw lowered his rotation-leading ERA to 3.31 with the victorious effort. Center fielder Norris Hopper led the offensive charge for Nashville, turning in a 4-for-5 evening with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Johnny Raburn belted a pinch-hit, three-run homer for the Sounds late in the contest. Nashville (44-36) improved to 5-0 against New Orleans this season and went 8-for-13 with runners in scoring position on the night. The Sounds grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against New Orleans starter Wes Whisler. Hopper led off with bunt single, stole second, and scored the game's first run on Mat Gamel's RBI double to right. Zephyrs right fielder Scott Cousins powered the visitors to a 2-1 lead in the second when he slugged his fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to right-center off Waters. Brad Davis, who preceded Cousins by drawing a walk, also scored on the blast. Nashville pulled back into the lead in the third with three unearned runs stemming from a Whisler throwing error. Gamel lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right to plate Waters, who had reached earlier in the frame when Whisler misfired to first on his sacrifice bunt attempt. Brendan Katin and Joe Koshansky followed with back-to-back RBI singles to left to push the Sounds back in front by a 4-2 count (Katin's go-ahead single currently available on audio via the Sounds' home page). The Sounds upped the lead to 6-2 in the fourth. Anderson De La Rosa doubled with one out and scored on Hopper's single to right. After the swift outfielder stole second and third, he came home on a Ray Olmedo RBI single. New Orleans got a run back in the fifth when Mark Saccomanno scored on a Logan Morrison groundout. Nashville wrapped up the evening's scoring with a four-run eighth inning off former Major Leaguer Armando Benitez. Raburn belted a pinch-hit, two-out, three-run homer in the frame, the infielder's second roundtripper of the year. Whisler (0-1) took the loss in his first decision of the year for the Z's after allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits over four innings of work. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 PM contest on Friday night. Left-hander Chuck Löfgren (7-4, 4.29) will man the bump for the Sounds to face New Orleans southpaw Sean West (3-2, 4.00). A spectacular Firestone Fireworks show will follow the on-field action. Nashville Box Score Wow, 37-year-old Armando Benitez in his 3rd appearance of the season, who knew he was still alive? RHP Jeff Bennett allowed two hits in a scoreless 9th in his return to the team after serving a five-game league suspension; LHP Mitch Stetter stranded a Chris Waters baserunner when he retired his only batter in the 7th when the score was still at 6-3.. Just a coincidence that OF Trent Oeltjen did not play on the day when he has the right to opt-out of his contract? Norris Hopper stole three bases as well in his 4-for-5 night; Mat Gamel doubled, drove in two, and committed his 7th error in 28 AAA games, although it doesn't seem like that's been an overriding theme of his season; catcher Anderson De La Rosa doubled as he reached three times on the night -- what is the state of the organization's upper level catching based on all the injuries? Guys like De La Rosa, Patrick Arlis, and/or Huntsville's Dayton Buller are just one Milwaukee injury away from being the unlikeliest of big leaguers for 2010; Sounds were 8-for-13 with RISP and stranded only three... Nashville Game Log Johnny Raburn deserves some online game log love for his three-run blast to blow it open in the 8th -- Nashville Bottom 8th Pitcher Change: Armando Benitez replaces Dan Meyer, batting 9th. Brendan Katin grounds out, shortstop Donnie Murphy to first baseman Logan Morrison. Joe Koshansky walks. Luis Cruz singles on a line drive to right fielder Scott Cousins. Joe Koshansky to 2nd. Adam Stern called out on strikes. Anderson De La Rosa singles on a ground ball to left fielder Bryan Petersen. Joe Koshansky scores. Luis Cruz to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Johnny Raburn replaces Mike McClendon. Johnny Raburn homers (2) on a line drive to right field. Luis Cruz scores. Anderson De La Rosa scores. Norris Hopper grounds out, shortstop Donnie Murphy to first baseman Logan Morrison.

Can't stop shaking my head after reading the Rattler write-up -- the gulf in effectiveness and confidence level between the Rattler starting staff (stellar) and bullpen right now (not so much) is deep. Meanwhile, top of the 14th at the Joe...

Final: DSL Brewers 4, DSL Mariners 3 The league did not schedule a doubleheader today -- this was a nine-inning contest... DSL Brewers Box Score Brewers scored in three of the first four innings to grab a 4-0 lead and held on late; the D-Crew outhit the Mariners 9-3 in this sloppy game (three errors for each squad), and the boys managed a win despite issuing seven free passes while not working a single one for themselves; RHP Leonard Lorenzo is still just 18 years old (19 in two weeks), and he worked around three hits and five walks pretty well, tossing seven innings, allowing two runs, both unearned -- in fact, all three runs allowed by the Brewers on the night were unearned; RHP Rigoberto Almonte, the wily "veteran", stranded two baserunners in the 8th and closed out the night for the well-deserved save... As an astute reader noted above, former bonus baby Rolando Pascual singled in four trips as the DH, batting 3rd, no less -- it will be interesting to see if Pascual ever sees the mound again, with 16 walks in 18 innings this year, the decision may have been made to see what else the 6'6", 245 lb. switch-hitter can do; 3B Juan de Leon (18 years old, 6'4", 217, what a specimen) doubled and singled in three trips, then was pinch-hit for in the top of the 9th -- hey, everybody plays in these DSL box scores; SS Andres Martinez was 2-for-4 with a double of his own, which immediately followed a Jose Garcia triple in the team's two-run 2nd inning; newcomer Raul Mondesi, Jr. had an RBI single in four trips, batting 2nd in the lineup... DSL Brewers Game Log

Brett Lawrie a hideous baserunning gaffe to end the 11th, he took off for third base and was picked off as Lorenzo Cain was about to see a 3-2 pitch -- there were two outs, but no one on 1st base, so Lawrie had no business running. Lawrie was actually picked off moving from 1st to 2nd earlier in the inning, but beat the throw to 2nd. Despite a good stolen base count, his baserunning intellect is still developing, which is saying it nicely.

It's 10:15 Central, and this Huntsville game is pretty intense as it's 1-1, bottom of the 11th -- audio available, join in the fun, Aaron Morse has got it going on the call tonight (in for Chad), and he's just waiting for the third straight walkoff win.

2B Brett Lawrie and CF Lorenzo Cain will not only be All-Stars, but starters, in the Southern League All-Star Game July 12th in Huntsville. They will bat 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Make us proud, Huntsville, and bang out ol' Joe Davis that night.

Rattler Radio: July 1, 2010: Tonight's Starting Pitcher Heckathorn is a fun word to say, isn't it? And Kyle's school, too -- Kennesaw State. "Hi, I'm Kyle Heckathorn, and I went to Kennesaw State." Yeah, it'd be fun to be him...it helps that he appears to be the real deal. July 1, 2010: Game Notes July 1, 2010: Starting Lineup

Detailed history on Nashville Pitching Coach Rich Gale's career -- I liked this: MOUND VISITS So, as a pitching coach, what are the conversations on the mound during a timeout? "Every situation is different," Gale said. "Sometimes you just want to go out and remind somebody of something simple. You go out and say, 'hey, remember what we talked about earlier. You're messing up by overthrowing.' A guy might be in a jam with the bases loaded and nobody out. You walk out and say, 'you've got them right where you want them kiddo.' You are teasing them. You try to calm them down. They think you are going to do something else and you burst their bubble. "Or you say something like, 'man, I had to get away from Don (Money) on the bench. Holy Cow he is killing me there.' I try not to talk about mechanics. I want to talk about a concept, a mindset, or just say, 'hey I just want to give you a breather.' There are times I go out to talk because I want to wait for the umpire to come out so I can ask him about a couple of pitches. I may or may not have a legitimate complaint, but I want my pitcher to know that I am backing him up.

PDF Documents: Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes

Tom H. touched on this in the JS blog today, here's the full report from the Sounds' site: Luis Cruz Named To All-Star Team Shortstop To Represent Sounds, Pacific Coast League At Triple-A All-Star Game On July 14 In Lehigh Valley

Left over from Wednesday's action -- link while active, text follows: Stars find reason to celebrate after doubleheader sweep The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, AL - It was just two wins. But with the way the Huntsville Stars clubhouse featured music blaring, players hugging and coaches joking with the team about today's batting practice times, it felt more like relief. A forgettable first half and a 2-5 start to the second half disappeared in Wednesday's double header sweep of Chattanooga that featured two walk-off wins and a big jolt of momentum. "Anytime you can win ball games as a team the way we did tonight, it has an effect on everyone," Stars manager Mike Guerrero said. "Wins like this can turn it around." In the first game, Chuckie Caufield's RBI single through the left side gave Amaury Rivas and Huntsville a 1-0 win. Rivas was in all-star form, working a four-hit shutout for his seventh win. Then, after the Stars (4-5) blew a four-run cushion, Anderson Machado drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to give Huntsville a 5-4 game-two win. It was Machado's costly fifth-inning error that could have turned into an inning-ending double play that helped three runs score and tie the game for the Southern League North division-leading Lookouts. "I'm a positive guy," Machado said. "When I commit an error or something, I never get down because I know I'm going to have the opportunity to be a hitter, too. When you have that positive attitude, good things happen." Stars first baseman Steffan Wilson will try to turn his positive vibes from Wednesday night into a personal second-half surge. The 24-year-old's .208 batting average entering Wednesday was worst among Stars with at least 100 at-bats, but he raised his average eight points by going 5-for-6 with three doubles and an RBI in the two games. He also reached base in the final inning of both games to extend the rallies. "We're ready to put that first half behind us and team wins like this gets on you the right track," Wilson said. "This game is too tough to say just because of one good night, I'm going to do it from now on, but this is what I've been looking for. You can carry streaks like this a long time or struggle the next night. I'm trying to carry this into the first at-bat tomorrow night." If the Stars are going to completely erase the bitter taste of a lackluster first half, they're going to have to rely on guys like Wilson, who got off to a rough start last year in Brevard County only to rebound to hit .272 with 13 homers, 60 RBIs and 14 steals. Batting in the middle of the lineup, Wilson must produce. His manager was excited about his big night and the team's. "Hopefully now that he's seen the league, he can start relaxing a little more, making adjustments and swinging the bat the way we expect him to," Guerrero said of Wilson. "We rely on him a lot as a team, and we are looking for him to have a good second half if we're going to win." The Stars' Amaury Rivas throws a four-hit shutout in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader http://media.al.com/huntsville-times-sports/photo/amaury-rivas2jpg-94be6f7c45930853_small.jpg

Not a true transaction, but Brevard infielder Matt Cline and his .395 OBP is fighting a quad injury, hasn't played since the 26th, hoping to avoid the DL. Sorry, no word on 2nd year pro Chad Stang yet, but if you notice any player who is idle for more than 4-5 days and you haven't seen an update, post a message and we'll see if we have info on him.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Nashville 43 36 .544 - - 22-16 21-20 6-4 W3 Iowa 42 36 .538 0.5 66 22-20 20-16 5-5 L1 Omaha 41 36 .532 1.0 66 19-19 22-17 4-6 W1 Memphis 42 37 .532 1.0 65 21-16 21-21 5-5 L2 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 6 3 .667 - - 5-1 1-2 6-3 L2 * Tennessee 5 4 .556 1.0 61 4-2 1-2 5-4 W1 Carolina 4 5 .444 2.0 60 2-1 2-4 4-5 W2 Huntsville 4 5 .444 2.0 60 2-1 2-4 4-5 W2 West Tenn 4 5 .444 2.0 60 2-1 2-4 4-5 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 4 1 .800 - - 2-1 2-0 4-1 W3 Daytona 5 2 .714 - - 2-0 3-2 5-2 L1 Brevard County 3 4 .429 2.0 62 3-2 0-2 3-4 W1 Clearwater 3 4 .429 2.0 62 2-1 1-3 3-4 W1 * Dunedin 3 4 .429 2.0 62 2-2 1-2 3-4 L1 Lakeland 1 4 .200 3.0 62 0-2 1-2 1-4 L4 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Clinton 4 2 .667 - - 4-2 0-0 4-2 W2 Quad Cities 4 2 .667 - - 2-1 2-1 4-2 L1 Wisconsin 4 2 .667 - - 4-2 0-0 4-2 W1 Beloit 3 3 .500 1.0 64 2-1 1-2 3-3 L1 * Cedar Rapids 3 3 .500 1.0 64 0-0 3-3 3-3 W1 Burlington 2 4 .333 2.0 63 2-1 0-3 2-4 W2 Kane County 2 4 .333 2.0 63 0-0 2-4 2-4 L2 Peoria 2 4 .333 2.0 63 1-2 1-2 2-4 L2 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 8 2 .800 - - 6-1 2-1 8-2 L1 Great Falls 6 4 .600 2.0 27 1-2 5-2 6-4 W2 Billings 3 7 .300 5.0 24 1-3 2-4 3-7 W1 Missoula 3 7 .300 5.0 24 3-3 0-4 3-7 L2 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 8 0 1.000 - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 W8 AZL Dodgers 4 4 .500 4.0 45 0-0 0-0 0-0 L1 AZL Reds 4 4 .500 4.0 45 0-0 0-0 0-0 L2 AZL Indians 2 6 .250 6.0 43 0-0 0-0 0-0 W1 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Cardinals 16 12 .571 - - 12-2 4-10 4-6 W2 DSL Athletics 14 13 .519 1.5 44 8-5 6-8 6-4 L1 DSL Mariners 14 14 .500 2.0 43 9-5 5-9 5-5 L2 DSL Brewers 11 16 .407 4.5 41 9-5 2-11 5-5 W1

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 (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 Chris Waters at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Josh Butler at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: TBD at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:00 PM gametime -- RHP Cody Scarpetta has not pitched since last Thursday the 24th Sorry, no audio for this game -- there will be audio from the Dunedin feed for Friday's game, however... Wisconsin: RHP Jake Odorizzi at Burlington (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Tyler Cravy at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the mini-Mariners; games begin at 7:00 local time in the desert; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at the DSL Athletics, 9:30 AM -- chances are good this will be a doubleheader, two seven-inning games (June 25th rainout)

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

MiLB.com confirms this now, Jones a Timber Rattler.

Link while active, text follows: Lutz’s 4 RBIs halts Brewers’ streak By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers’ six-game home win streak at Kindrick Field came to an end as Billings Mustangs designated hitter Donald Lutz powered the visitors to a close 4-3 win on Wednesday before a crowd of 798. Trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning, the left-handed hitting Mustangs’ clean-up hitter crushed a three-run homer over the right field fence, bringing home Billy Hamilton and Jefry Sierra with what turned out to be the difference. Lutz, who went 2 for 5 on the night, also drove in Billings’ initial tally in the fifth. The Magic City squad used three pitchers — Tanner Robles, Pat Doyle and Poirfirio Martinez — to limit the Brewers to six hits. Doyle fanned six Brewers in his three-inning stint. Helena, which was 6-0 at home before being shaded Wednesday, slips to 8-2, while Billings moves to 3-7. The Cincinnati Reds’ farm team pounded out 13 base knocks, led by Letz, Jonathan Kaskow (3-4), Hamilton (2-4, two runs), Tucker Barnhart (2-4) and Oliver Santos (2-5, double). Stosh Wawrzasek, a 6-foot-1, 225-pounder from Langley, British Columbia, started on the bump for the hosts. He went 4 2/3 innings and gave up seven hits and one run, before giving way to Ryan Bernal. Bernal was tabbed with the loss. Manager Joe Ayrault’s Brewers started out on top, taking a 2-0 lead after three innings. Their first tally in the second came on three walks and a hit batsman. The home team’s second score was compliments of a blast by first baseman Mike Walker in the third stanza. Walker drilled a solo home run that traveled over 400 feet, crashing off the scoreboard in left centerfield. He finished the night with two hits, later driving a double to the gap in left in the sixth. Carlos George also had two hits for the Capital City group. Helena closed to within one in the seventh frame, when Franklin Romero, Jr.’s RBI single plated George. The Brewers came within 90 feet of tying it up in their last at-bat, but Tony Pechek was stranded on third when Martinez struck Romero out to end the game. The Brewers’ defense turned in several web gems on the evening. In the second inning, center fielder Romero electrified the home crowd when he threw out Santos at the plate, who was trying to score from second on David Vidal’s single. Second baseman Connor Lind made a great play in the fifth, ranging far to his left for a ball in the gap, sliding and gloving it, and then spinning to his feet and firing to first to get his man. Brewers third baseman Greg Hopkins, meanwhile, made several Brooks Robinson-type plays at the hot corner.

Excellent first-hand commentary and photos (as always) in Brad's Rattlers blog post here.

More fun tidbits from the Post-Crescent blog -- on all the players named Davis, post-game-spread, etc... By the way, they should have brought former Brewer Dick Davis in for the game...