Jim Goulart

Your Southern League Pitcher of the Week Amaury Rivas, Huntsville 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 9 SO Brewers prospect Amaury Rivas is blowing through hitters in his first Double-A season, and he's shown that he's building stamina with his two starts this week. After two fine five-inning starts, Rivas stepped it up with six solid innings on Monday, allowing a run on three walks and a pair of hits while striking out four. He followed up that outing with a complete game seven-inning appearance on Sunday. He walked three again and relented three hits, but the only run Chattanooga scored off him was unearned. He struck out five in the contest.

Link while active, text follows: Motor running fine for Wheeler Stars like energy of their infielder, born in Alabama By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Sports Staff The old Childersburg High linebacker might have been too short to play college football. Especially at the University of Alabama, the program Zelous Wheeler grew up following. It must be noted, though, in all modesty, "I had a pretty good nose for the football." A stocky 5-foot-10, 215 pounds is a pretty good fit for baseball, though, "His enthusiasm, all the energy he has in his body" is what appeals to Huntsville Stars manager Mike Guerrero. "He plays hard all the time." There was plenty of evidence to that Monday night as Wheeler stood outside the Stars' dugout with some detergent-defying dirt caked all over his uniform and a grin on his face after Huntsville's 8-2 win over the error-plagued Chattanooga Lookouts. Wheeler, a 23-year-old from Sylacauga by way of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, socked his first Class AA homer, a three-run shot in the second that helped starter Alex Periard to his first Double-A win. Wheeler finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs - after coming in with five RBIs for the season, and a .283 average in 14 games. Wheeler's home run was hardly a fluke, even though he noted "I had the wind blowing out" as it sliced over the right-field wall. He's hit 23 in three pro seasons. Old stories about Wheeler frequently refer to him as "Wallace State slugger" in the days he was leading the team to third place in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Despite growing up in Alabama, Wheeler wasn't intimately familiar with the Southern League. "I knew about the Birmingham Barons. I didn't know what league they were in," he said. "I'd go down there to see Michael Jordan play a couple of times." Even when Wheeler was drafted in the 19th round by Milwaukee, it never sunk in that he might be in Huntsville eventually. "They said I was going to be in Montana two days after I signed. That's all I knew," he said. It was a big adjustment, geographical and lifestyle, "being away from home. You had to be responsible, be a grown-up." Not so far away from home now, he's beginning to look more at home at the plate - and even at shortstop, though his versatility might be his strong suit. "I started off slow, but never give up," he said. "Just hard work. It's either hang it up or play hard. Things will come around."

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/ohwell.gif Huntsville Times: Outfielder Lorenzo Cain was placed on the disabled list after suffering a groin injury on Sunday. No replacement had been named late Monday night, according to Manager Mike Guerrero. *** The Brewers aren't traditionally very deep witrh outfielders organizationally, anyway -- often when one goes down, it's a utility type of player filling in. Chuckie Caufield will see additional action, but it's been tough to keep outfielders healthy just far.

Stars score early and often on their way to victory By Aaron Morse, Huntsville Stars The Huntsville Stars (11-7) scored runs in four of the first five innings to defeat the Chattanooga Lookouts (8-10) by a final score of 8-2 Monday night. The Lookouts were a mess in the field as they committed four errors. Only two of the eight Stars’ runs were earned. The Stars have been getting off to fast starts all year long and Monday was no different. With one out in the first inning Brett Lawrie singled to left. He’d advance to third on a wild pitch from Lookouts’ starter Mario Alvarez (2-2), and he’d score on a RBI single from red-hot Zelous Wheeler. Wheeler would finish the game with two hits, two runs scored, and four RBI. The Stars would run away and hide from the Lookouts in the second frame. The inning started innocently enough with a groundout and a strikeout. But Lee Haydel reached on an error, and the floodgates opened. A wild pick-off attempt from Alvarez allowed the speedy Haydel to scamper around to third. After Lawrie drew a walk, Caleb Gindl hit what looked like a routine grounder to short. Shortstop Elian Herrera looked to toss it to second base for the force, but no one was covering, so he re-adjusted and fired to first. Gindl would have beat it out anyways, but the throw was low, allowing Lawrie to advance to third and Gindl to second. Meanwhile, Haydel crossed the plate with the game’s second run. Then Wheeler went the opposite way for his first homer of the year, a three run blast to extend the lead to 5-0. The Lookouts would get two runs back in the top of the fourth off Stars’ pitcher Alex Periard (1-2). A one-out double from Andrew Lambo put the Lookouts in business. After a Mike Rivera (yes, that Mike Rivera) single, Lambo came around to score on a Eduardo Perez base hit up the middle. Scott Van Slyke grounded into a fielder’s choice, which plated Rivera. But that’s all the offense the Lookouts could muster as Periard went five strong innings to pick up his first win of the year. The Stars would get the runs back in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a bizarre single from Taylor Green. With runners on first and second, Green hit a line drive to left field, Gindl was held up at third base at first, but he strayed a bit off the bag. A snap throw attempt back to third got away, allowing Gindl and Wheeler to come around to score. A Haydel RBI single in the fifth concluded the scoring for the Stars. Mike McClendon and Brandon Kintzler combined to toss four shutout innings out of the ‘pen as Stars kept pace with the torrid Tennessee Smokies. The Stars look to clinch yet another series victory Tuesday night as former first round draft pick Mark Rogers (1-1, 1.98) will be on the hill. You can tune in by going to www.huntsvillestars.com . First pitch is at 7:00 PM Central Time, with the Window World Pre-Game Report beginning at 6:45.

It's early to say Kottaras is a black hole, and he is out of options as well. By the way, shouldn't Angel be back by now? Here's hoping there have been no complications, but this is a bit much already.

PDF document: Huntsville Media Notes

PDF document: Nashville Media Notes

Former All-Star Chris Capuano to pitch for Brevard County Manatees By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, FL - The Milwaukee Brewers have announced left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano, a former 18-game winner and 2006 National League All-Star, will be making a start for the Brevard County Manatees on Tuesday, April 27 at Clearwater. Capuano, 31, is recovering from the second Tommy John surgery of his career that took place prior to the 2008 season. The left-hander made two appearances during spring training in 2010 and threw 4 1/3 innings with a 4.14 earned run average and five strikeouts. In 2009, Capuano split time between the two rookie league teams in the Milwaukee organization, the Arizona League Brewers and the Helena Brewers. He started six games and threw nine innings with a 3.00 ERA. He allowed eight hits and two walks and struck out eight. The Brewers acquired Capuano in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2003 and Capuano won 40 games for Milwaukee from 2004-2007. His best season with the Brewers was in 2005, when he went 18-12 with a 3.99 ERA and 176 strikeouts over 219 innings in 35 starts. Capuano's 35 starts in '05 led the National League. Capuano went 10-4 with a 3.21 ERA in the first half of the 2006 season and earned his first All-Star game selection.

MID Western (click column headers to sort) Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 14 4 .778 - 8-1 6-3 7-3 W3 Beloit 10 7 .588 3.5 5-4 5-3 7-3 W3 Peoria 10 8 .556 4.0 6-0 4-8 7-3 L3 Cedar Rapids 8 10 .444 6.0 4-2 4-8 4-6 W1 Clinton 8 10 .444 6.0 6-6 2-4 4-6 L1 Kane County 8 10 .444 6.0 5-4 3-6 3-7 W1 Wisconsin 7 10 .412 6.5 5-6 2-4 4-6 L2 Burlington 6 12 .333 8.0 5-4 1-8 3-7 L1

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 12 6 .667 - 3-5 9-1 W3 Memphis 8 10 .444 4.0 4-4 4-6 L3 Omaha 8 10 .444 4.0 3-7 5-3 W1 Iowa 7 10 .412 4.5 3-6 4-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 14 3 .824 - 5-2 9-1 W1 Huntsville 10 7 .588 4.0 4-3 6-4 L1 Chattanooga 8 9 .471 6.0 6-4 2-5 W1 West Tenn 7 10 .412 7.0 3-7 4-3 L1 Carolina 6 11 .353 8.0 2-8 4-3 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 11 6 .647 - 7-1 4-5 W3 Tampa 10 8 .556 1.5 6-3 4-5 W1 Dunedin 9 8 .529 2.0 5-4 4-4 L2 Lakeland 9 8 .529 2.0 6-2 3-6 L1 Daytona 7 11 .389 4.5 2-6 5-5 L1 Brevard County 6 11 .353 5.0 4-6 2-5 W1

Follow Monday'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)

Monday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chris Waters at New Orleans (Marlins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: Idle Wisconsin: Idle

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

At Brevard, the Brewers gave 22-year-old RHP Nick Tyson (career stats) his release. Drafted in the 32nd round in 2006 and inked as a draft-and-follow out of a Florida community college, Tyson posted a pretty impressive 153-to-39 K-to-BB rate during his time in the system (187.2 IP). He did hit a few too many bats (210 hits in those innings). Outside of a rough 16-game stretch in his first taste of full-season ball with West Virginia in '08, Tyson posted a respectable ERA as well. It's almost a case of debate -- higher upside in a kid who may not be able to show command but has "stuff" that can possibly be harnessed, vs. a young pitcher who shows that command, but his pitches don't fool enough opposing batters. *** Tyson was released to free up a spot for LHP Chris Capuano, who was activated from Nashville's DL and assigned to the Manatees. Cappy may make his first appearance as early as the 'Tees next game, Tuesday the 27th.

Stars split DH with Lookouts By: Connor Shreve The Huntsville Stars split Sunday’s doubleheader with the Chattanooga lookouts to kick off a five game series at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. Behind ace Amaury Rivas (3-0 0.78), the Stars put on a well rounded show. Rivas tossed a complete game gem in the seven inning contest allowing only one run, it came in the first and was unearned. Three Stars added multi hit efforts including Lorenzo Cain, who knocked three hits. Chris Withrow (1-2 9.00) threw for the Lookouts and lasted only one out in to the third inning. He gave up seven runs on seven hits while striking out four. Huntsville’s 10th win had eluded them through the final two games of the previous series in West Tennessee but the squads’ season long losing streak stayed at two games with the 7-1 win. Chattanooga did manage to hold on to a precarious lead in game two to salvage the split. After blasting Stars starter Mike Jones for five runs in the first inning, Chattanooga gave up runs in the third, fourth and fifth to lead by just one by the time Alberto Bastardo departed. Huntsville’s best rally came in the sixth with one run but it was cut short by back to back strike outs. Jones (0-1 8.08), being used as a starter for the first time this season, left after finishing the third having given up five earned runs on five hits. He struck out two and walked three Lookouts batters. Bastardo (2-1 4.95) worked through five innings, allowing four runs and striking out four. Stars center fielder Lorenzo Cain departed in the fourth inning after pulling up with an unknown injury while running in to second base on a two RBI double. Game three between the Stars and Lookouts is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Pre-game coverage on www.huntsvillestars.com begins at 6:50.

Wow, that's insane. We'll make sure Chris Mehring sees this so he can pursue it with Kyle for us.

Chad in Huntsville with starter Michael Bowman -- working on a change-up

Been listening to the Manatees (now tied at 3-3, bottom of the 10th) -- switched to the Cubs' broadcast when it was clear this Cubs' game was much more compelling than the one in Miller Park. For nine innings in a scoreless game, the Manatees couldn't even hit a line out in the game log. Then they score three two-out runs in the 10th after Buddy Flores had a miserable top of the 10th. Odd game, this thing called baseball...

Rattlers & Snappers rained out on Sunday By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Sunday's scheduled game between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Beloit Snappers at Time Warner Cable Field has been rained out. The teams will make up the game on Friday, May 14 as part of a doubleheader. The first seven-inning game will start at 5:05 PM. The second game of the twinbill will follow the conclusion of game one after a 30 minute break. Tickets for Sunday's game may be exchanged for a ticket of the same price to any regular season Timber Rattlers home game - excluding special events - during 2010. Tickets must be exchanged at the Timber Rattler ticket office. The Timber Rattlers begin a seven game road trip on Tuesday evening. Wisconsin plays three games at Peoria April 27-29 and four games at Beloit from April 30 to May 3. Wisconsin's next home game is Tuesday, May 4 on a Bang For Your Buck Night with $1 soda, hotdogs, and Miller beer. Tickets for that game against the Quad Cities River Bandits and for all remaining home games this season are available three ways. Fans may order tickets over the phone at (920) 733-4152 or 1-800-WI-TIMBER; online, or and in person at the Time Warner Cable Field Box Office.

Update from Brevard County: OF Kentrail Davis (ankle sprain) has been activated from the seven-day DL -- to free up that spot, IF Brent Brewer (.344 OPS after 39 AB's) has been placed on the DL, retroactive to 4/22 with an undisclosed injury. Davis had been excellent in his first six pro games.

Check for updated links shortly before game time for media notes -- PDF documents: Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes *** Rattler Radio

MID Western (click column headers to sort) Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 12 4 .750 - 6-1 6-3 7-3 W1 Peoria 10 6 .625 2.0 6-0 4-6 7-3 L1 Beloit 10 7 .588 2.5 5-4 5-3 7-3 W3 Clinton 7 9 .438 5.0 5-5 2-4 3-7 L2 Kane County 7 9 .438 5.0 5-4 2-5 3-7 W1 Cedar Rapids 7 10 .412 5.5 4-2 3-8 4-6 L4 Wisconsin 7 10 .412 5.5 5-6 2-4 4-6 L2 Burlington 6 11 .353 6.5 5-3 1-8 4-6 W3

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 11 6 .647 - 3-5 8-1 W2 Memphis 8 9 .471 3.0 4-4 4-5 L2 Iowa 7 9 .438 3.5 3-5 4-4 W1 Omaha 7 10 .412 4.0 2-7 5-3 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 13 2 .867 - 4-1 9-1 W7 Huntsville 9 6 .600 4.0 3-2 6-4 L2 Chattanooga 7 8 .467 6.0 6-4 1-4 W3 West Tenn 7 9 .438 6.5 3-7 4-2 W3 Carolina 6 10 .375 7.5 2-8 4-2 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 11 6 .647 - 7-1 4-5 W3 Lakeland 9 7 .563 1.5 6-2 3-5 W1 Dunedin 9 8 .529 2.0 5-4 4-4 L2 Tampa 9 8 .529 2.0 5-3 4-5 L1 Daytona 7 10 .412 4.0 2-6 5-4 W1 Brevard County 5 11 .313 5.5 3-6 2-5 L1

Follow Sunday'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 Game One (Gameday also available) Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin

Sunday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Marco Estrada at New Orleans (Marlins), 1:45 PM pre-game; 2:00 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP's Amaury Rivas and Alex Periard in a doubleheader at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 12:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Cubs' feed) Wisconsin: RHP Damon Krestalude at home vs. Beloit (Twins), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime; Live Audio Link