Jim Goulart

RHP Garrett Sherrill, released just prior to spring training this year, has found an independent ball home with the Lake County (Gurnee, IL) Fielders, the new expansion team of the independent Northern League. That team's claim to fame? It's co-owned by actor Kevin Costner.

The recently-released Rapoza has signed with the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Fighting Pheasants of the independent American Association. Hope to see him back in affiliated ball soon.

The recently-released Rapoza has signed with the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Fighting Pheasants of the independent American Association. Hope to see him back in affiliated ball soon.

On this page, you'll find a 20-minute video interview Stephen Smith conducted with Brevard County Manager Bob Miscik -- the two reflect on Miscik's pro career and baseball background, and then they discuss specific Manatees (RHP's Michael Fiers and Nick Green, OK Kentrail Davis, 1B/OF Brock Kjeldgaard) beginning just after the 11:00 minute mark.

Thanks to Stephen Smith -- watch two videos from Wednesday's game Slight misprint on Wily Peralta's name, Peralta video does not include all the time in-between pitches, so things move quickly -- rough inning for Wily, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old is still a stud. In the second video, Stephen pieces the Brevard rally together nicely with his editing -- Brock Kjeldgaard is a mountain of a young man.

Link while active, text follows: Smiles at Joe Davis Visit Mark McCarter's blog at blog.al.com/mccarter Huntsville Times Pardon my optimism for a moment. It's a bit uncharacteristic when it comes to the Huntsville Stars, who frequently prompt the tag-team of pessimism and skepticism. Not now. Not on a night like this. Warm-and-fuzzy covered Joe Davis Stadium like the yellow film of pollen on your car hood. This was a night, as the Stars made their 2010 debut with a 7-1 win in the celestial paring with the Suns of Jacksonville, for the tag team of optimism and glee. How good a night was this? Just a reassurance of baseball's future here, a fourth straight win, a mid-week crowd of 4,327 and even a pitcher - Jim Henderson - called in to pinch-hit and lashing a double off the wall. Other than that, what to get excited about? "We always love playing in front of a lot of people," said catcher Jonathan Lucroy. "It's tough coming out sometimes and playing in front of 10. I hope every night is like this." The evening began with owner Miles Prentice announcing the team had exercised its option with the city of Huntsville to extend the lease for five more years. So much for the naysayers who have been writing the eulogies for professional baseball in Huntsville. First, the team itself. It rang up 13 hits to score seven runs against a Jacksonville team whose starter was the pennant-clinching pitcher last September. There was a home run from Caleb Gindl, 5-foot-9 but packed with more power than a spinach can. Starter Amaury Rivas, Henderson and Robert Hinton held the Suns to four hits, with an 0-for-3 day from the uber-prospect Mike Stanton. Now, let's take a walk around the stadium. Look at that line outside. The national anthem is being sung, and people are still in line for tickets to get into the place. Bite into that Philly cheesesteak - you can have your hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks - and forget all the fat grams. The only numbers that matter tonight are in red lights on the scoreboard. There's a kid with a pacifier in his mouth, eyes wide and posing for a picture as he pokes his face through a hole in a board where a baseball player's body is painted. The Stars' souvenir store, a handsome improvement to the stadium, has a gaggle of customers. A lady holds up a T-shirt to check the size. A youngster tries on an oversized batting helmet. A man ponders the cap selection. Three people leave with shopping bags stuffed. There's a kid with an airhorn and a voice to match up in the back row, taunting a whiffing Sun. It's families and dates and the familiar faces who wouldn't miss a game for anything less than major surgery. It's the sort of night that does give hope. The stadium lease is still a story that will unfold for a long time. Without some action, it's little more than dried ink with a lot of legalese. There will need to be commitment from both sides to some stadium improvements. City and civic leaders need to put some imagination to work to figure how to make that work. Team officials need to put some imagination to work to grow more consistent crowds. Team ownership needs to look at the old "gotta spend money to make money" philosophy. Yes, you hope like Jonathan Lucroy that every night is like this. You know it won't be. But knowing there are more nights to come brings with it optimism that's been in small quantities at Joe Davis Stadium.

Link while active, text follows: Stars in high gear By Brad Shepard, for The Huntsville Times They're not quite Murderer's Row, but if they keep hitting like this, the first five in the Huntsville Stars batting order may have their own catchy nickname by season's end. With a combination of talent, experience, power and speed, the prospect-laden terror at the top has feasted on opposing pitchers so far this season. Wednesday's 7-1 home-opening win over Jacksonville in front of 4,327 fans was no different. The quintet of Lorenzo Cain, Brett Lawrie, Caleb Gindl, Jonathan Lucroy and Taylor Green combined to go 10-for-22 and produced every run Huntsville (4-2) hung on the Joe Davis Stadium scoreboard. All but Lawrie - the second-rated prospect in the Milwaukee organization according to Baseball America - are hitting over .310 for the young season. "If I don't get you, Taylor Green's going to get you," said Lucroy, who was 3-for-5 with three runs scored to raise his average to .444. "If Lorenzo Cain doesn't get you, Caleb Gindl is going to get you. We've got a lot of weapons. "I'll tell you this is the best hitting team I've ever played on in the regular season. One-through-nine are going to be in the big leagues." The top of Mike Guerrero's lineup provided more than enough breathing room for Stars starter Amaury Rivas (1-0), who registered his first win of the year. And they produced in multiple ways. From infield hits to stealing bases to extra-base hits to laying down bunts to Gindl's mammoth sixth-inning home run to dead-center field, the Stars loaded the score sheet with zigs, zags and filled-in diamonds. It was plenty enough to impress Brewers vice president/assistant general manager Gord Ash, who is in town for the first two games of the series. "This is a very talented group," Ash said from his seat in Section 224. "I think they play the game with a lot of energy, and I think the fans of Huntsville will see a very entertaining brand of baseball. They make things happen, and they've done that tonight." That's been the standard for the Brewers' farm system over the past several seasons, and this group combines enough savvy to make another Southern League run. They got started early Wednesday. Cain sent the first of his three hits up the middle off Jacksonville starter Elih Villanueva to begin the game, and Green - who finished 2-of-5 with three RBIs - set the tone of the night with a two-run double later in the opening inning. What followed was a cruise-control latest in a four-game winning streak after an 0-2 season start. By the looks of this lineup, it won't be the last such streak. "I think it's a pretty good ball club all-around," Guerrero said. "Yes, one-through-five produced this game, but in the last game, it was the bottom of the order. "Our guys have been playing outstanding all the way around."

Going forward, the Link Report will point to the MiLB.com link for audio, not the radio station's.

Tomorrow we'll read about Hawkins having arm pain. Disgusting, macha, disgusting.

Zaun -- yeah, because Lucroy or Salome couldn't guide Brewer pitchers to a 5.00+ ERA like Gregg can. He's great in the clubhouse.

Huntsville GM Buck Rogers psyching up the locals on the TV news

PDF documents: Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes

Final: Lakeland (Tigers) 8, Brevard County 3 After a 2-0 start, Brevard now has lost five in a row.... Box Score A very uneven outing for Wily Peralta, who allowed nine baserunners and three runs in his five-inning outing, both walking and striking out four; Nick Tyson tossed two scoreless which allowed the Manatees to tie it at 3-3 in the 6th; lefty Brandon Ritchie's difficulties were documented in the prior post; all three hits Evan Frederickson allowed (one run) in the 9th were described as "line drives" in the game log; Brock Kjeldgaard had a nice game in the field and at the plate, as we'll show below; Brent Brewer and Matt Cline both out stealing against former Brewer farmhand catcher Andy Bouchie, team 0-for-2 on the day in that department; Brevard's boys fanned 14 times, drew two walks... Game Log Wily Peralta not a morning person, as the first inning indicates, although he escaped a 2nd and 3rd, one-out jam in the 3rd; a Sergio Miranda leadoff double in the 4th was wasted... Brock Kjeldgaard in the field to end the 5th to also help Peralta out -- Lakeland Top 5th Ben Guez flies out to center fielder Erik Miller. Kody Kaiser flies out to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Rawley Bishop doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Erik Komatsu. Bryan Pounds singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Rawley Bishop out at home on the throw, left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard to catcher Martin Maldonado. And then Brock tied things up -- Brevard County Bottom 6th Juan Sanchez strikes out swinging. Brent Brewer reaches on fielding error by shortstop Carmelo Jaime. Sergio Miranda singles on a line drive to center fielder Ben Guez. Brent Brewer to 2nd. Erik Komatsu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Guez. Brent Brewer scores. Sergio Miranda to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Erik Crichton replaces Mark Sorensen. Brock Kjeldgaard doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Joshua Workman. Sergio Miranda scores. Erik Komatsu scores. Erik Miller pops out to pitcher Erik Crichton. Anderson De La Rosa grounds out, shortstop Carmelo Jaime to first baseman Rawley Bishop. With the lack of regular audio access, media notes, newspaper coverage, and to be frank, star-power, this could be one of the more anonymous affiliate seasons we've seen in a while, particularly offensively. Not that we couldn't see a breakout season or two, even with Florida State League park factors at play. C'mon, boys, pick it up! Unless I'm told otherwise, battlekow returns this evening. My first recap of the year, believe me, I'm appreciate of his evening efforts!

Full report shortly, but in a 3-3 game, the 'Tees dropped a wonderful chance to grab the lead in the bottom of the 7th -- Brevard County Bottom 7th Martin Maldonado hit by pitch. Matt Cline hit by pitch. Martin Maldonado to 2nd. Juan Sanchez strikes out on foul bunt. Brent Brewer called out on strikes. Sergio Miranda flies out to right fielder Kody Kaiser. Then, with that opportunity behind them, sloppy disaster in the top of the 8th -- Lakeland Top 8th Pitcher Change: Brandon Ritchie replaces Nick Tyson. Bryan Pounds singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. With Billy Nowlin batting, wild pitch by Brandon Ritchie, Bryan Pounds to 2nd. Billy Nowlin walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Christopher White replaces Billy Nowlin. Alden Carrithers singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Brandon Ritchie. Bryan Pounds scores. Christopher White to 3rd. Alden Carrithers to 2nd. Throwing error by pitcher Brandon Ritchie. Brandon Ritchie intentionally walks Andy Bouchie. Carmelo Jaime singles on a ground ball to center fielder Erik Miller. Christopher White scores. Alden Carrithers scores. Andy Bouchie to 3rd. Joshua Workman grounds into double play, second baseman Sergio Miranda to shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Anderson De La Rosa. Andy Bouchie scores. Carmelo Jaime out at 2nd. Ben Guez grounds out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Anderson De La Rosa. Yes, that's former Brewer farmhand catcher Andy Bouchie now in the Tigers system at high-A. More on this game in just a bit -- just went final...

Thanks a lot for the quick response!

In past years the Sports Bubbler site would archive the pre-game Macha interviews along with Corey's guest interview. Haven't located them this year. I'm an MLB audio/video subscriber, so I could go in and play the beginning of the archived full broadcasts, but that's not as convenient for a few reasons. If anybody stumbles on a link, please let us know, thanks.

Huntsville Times: Here are former Huntsville Stars players who began the 2010 season with major league teams. (Does not include players sent to Huntsville on major league rehab assignment) P Mike Adams, San Diego P Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay OF Michael Brantley, Cleveland OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee * 3B Eric Chavez, Oakland OF Nelson Cruz, Texas P Doug Davis, Milwaukee SS Alcides Escobar, Milwaukee P Dana Eveland, Toronto 1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee * P Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee 3B Mat Gamel, Milwaukee (DL) 1B Jason Giambi, Colorado * OF Tony Gwynn Jr., San Diego Util Bill Hall, Boston SS J.J. Hardy, Minnesota * OF Corey Hart, Milwaukee * C Ramon Hernandez, Cincinnati * P Tim Hudson, Atlanta * OF Matt LaPorta, Cleveland P Manny Parra, Milwaukee P Ben Sheets, Oakland * P Mitch Stetter, Milwaukee SS Miguel Tejada, Baltimore* P Joe Thatcher, San Diego P Carlos Villanueva, Milwaukee 2B Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee * An MLB All-Star selection

Link while active, text follows: Errors continue to plague Timber Rattlers in loss to LumberKings By Brett Christopherson, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — Not that his young club needed another reminder, but Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom thought it best to explain the situation once more. "The spotlight's on them now," he said following Tuesday's error-marred 4-2 Midwest League setback to the Clinton LumberKings at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. "It's professional baseball." In this case, that means it's time to tidy up some defensive shortcomings that has the Rattlers somewhat perplexed as they prepare to hit the road for the first time this year. Wisconsin committed four errors on Tuesday, all coming in an ugly sixth inning that saw the LumberKings score twice to rally from a 2-1 deficit. That gives the Rattlers 15 miscues through the season's first six games — an unacceptable pace for all involved. "Definitely don't want to make any excuses, but I think we're just kind of on our heels a little bit," said a subdued second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was charged with one of the errors. "We're taking enough ground balls before the game, so that's definitely not it. But just staying in the game, really." Two of those sixth-inning gaffes were fielding errors, while the other two were the result of bad throws. Right-hander Kyle Heckathorn, opening the frame in relief as part of the Milwaukee Brewers' tandem system — he'll start the next time through the rotation — ignited the rally with a wild toss to first on an infield single. That runner later scored. Two batters later, Gennett couldn't handle a grounder he tried to bare hand, which preceded an at-bat that saw first baseman Chris Dennis throw high to second on an attempted force play and Heckathorn missing the catch on the relay while covering first. That pushed across what turned out to be the go-ahead run as Clinton scored one unearned run in the inning and capitalized on shoddy Rattlers fielding for the second straight game. Wisconsin committed six errors in Monday's 7-4 loss. "I just misplayed it," Heckathorn said of his dropped catch. "It was a good throw. It was a bang-bang play, and I just misread it and it bounced off my glove. That's on me. I take responsibility on that one." Heckathorn, the losing pitcher in his season debut, called his two-inning outing disappointing. "I kind of let that one slip away. I kind of blew the lead right there, so I'm not real happy about it," he said after allowing three runs and four hits overall. … "You're not going to win ballgames that way. But we're going to keep working and trying and every day, we'll continue to improve. That's why we play so many games." Of the 15 errors, seven have come from the middle infield spots. Gennett has three, while shortstop Carlos George has four. Gennett has started all six games at second, with George seeing action in four. He didn't play on Tuesday. "It's just staying in the game, staying on our toes," Gennett said. "Physical errors are one thing, but mental errors, those another — and that's not staying focused." Which is what Isom wants to hear from a player like Gennett, a late signee after being selected out of high school by the Brewers in the 16th round of the 2009 June draft. The 19-year-old is in his first season of pro ball, while the 21-year-old George – also drafted out of high school in the 46th round in 2008 — is playing in his first full professional season. "We need to see improvement, and we need to see improvement quick," Isom said. "We're going to go out there and continue giving them ground balls and do early work with them on drills and throwing drills. It's a situation where they need to get this quick, figure this out. It's running our pitch counts up on the pitchers. "But they're capable guys. They've just got to learn to slow the game down right now. Everything's going a little bit too quick. It's a little different than high school."

MID Western (click column headers to sort) Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 5 1 .833 - 3-0 2-1 5-1 W4 Clinton 4 2 .667 1.0 2-1 2-1 4-2 W2 Kane County 4 2 .667 1.0 3-0 1-2 4-2 W4 Peoria 3 3 .500 2.0 0-0 3-3 3-3 W1 Wisconsin 3 3 .500 2.0 3-3 0-0 3-3 L2 Beloit 2 4 .333 3.0 1-2 1-2 2-4 L1 Cedar Rapids 2 4 .333 3.0 2-1 0-3 2-4 L3 Burlington 1 5 .167 4.0 1-2 0-3 1-5 L4

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 5 1 .833 - 0-0 5-1 L1 Memphis 4 2 .667 1.0 0-0 4-2 W1 Omaha 2 4 .333 3.0 2-4 0-0 W1 Iowa 1 5 .167 4.0 1-5 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 4 1 .800 - 0-0 4-1 L1 Tennessee 4 1 .800 - 0-0 4-1 L1 Huntsville 3 2 .600 1.0 0-0 3-2 W3 West Tenn 3 2 .600 1.0 0-0 3-2 L1 Chattanooga 2 3 .400 2.0 2-3 0-0 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 4 2 .667 - 3-1 1-1 L1 Tampa 4 2 .667 - 2-0 2-2 W1 Dunedin 3 3 .500 1.0 1-1 2-2 W2 Lakeland 3 3 .500 1.0 1-1 2-2 W2 Brevard County 2 4 .333 2.0 1-3 1-1 L4 Daytona 2 4 .333 2.0 1-3 1-1 L2

The Burlington (Iowa) Bees are the longtime home of the Kansas City Royals in the A-ball Midwest League. The Royals have a rookie ball team (season starts in June) in the Appalachian League out of Burlington, North Carolina, called the Burlington Royals. So rookie ball Royals leave Burlington when they graduate to Burlington. A nightmare for media relations and for broadcasters, as the Rattlers' Chris Mehring likely could imagine if faced with that challenge...

Follow Wednesday'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:

Wednesday's Daily Menu: Once again, three evening audio choices with the Brewers playing a day game Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chuck Lofgren at Omaha (Royals), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Jacksonville (Marlins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime -- Stars' home opener Live Audio Link just click the "UStream" box on the right Brevard County: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 9:35 AM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at Burlington (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime; RHP Nick Bucci is likely to tandem in this game Live Audio Link

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Brett's blog post includes quotes and such from the Rattlers' game -- a more "official" game report will likely be out later this AM when the Post-Crescent site updates for the day.