Jim Goulart

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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lose fourth straight By Post-Crescent staff and wire services A loss is nothing to celebrate, and a four-game losing streak is worse, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers may have found some relief in scoring a run. The Timber Rattlers fell to the Clinton LumberKings 7-1 in a Midwest League game at Clinton, Iowa, on Thursday, but Wisconsin broke a scoreless streak of 20 2/3 innings. Until John Delaney crossed the plate in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Sean McCraw, the Timber Rattlers hadn't scored since the third |inning on Tuesday. Wisconsin left nine runners on base on Thursday, and the LumberKings turned three double plays. The Timber Rattlers lost an excellent scoring opportunity in the second, when Brock Kjeldgaard led off with a double and moved to third on Delaney's single to center. Juan Sanchez, however, hit into double play. Shortstop Terry Serrano threw to Luis Nunez to get the out at second, and the second baseman then caught Kjeldgaard at home trying to score on the play. By the time Delaney scored on a bases-loaded sac fly with no outs in the seventh, the LumberKings led 6-0. Trey Watten started on the mound for Wisconsin and allowed four hits and three runs - two earned - through four innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Final: Clinton (Mariners) 7, Wisconsin 1 Wisconsin Site Game Summary: Rattlers drop fourth straight By Chris Mehring / MLB.com CLINTON, IA -- The Clinton LumberKings got a couple of home runs and 5 2/3 innings of shutout pitching from starting pitcher Steve Hensley to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7-1. Hensley struck out eight to win his second straight start. The Rattlers have lost four straight games. Clinton (5-2) loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning on a pair of singles and an error. Kalian Sams drew a walk to force in a run from third and keep the bases loaded. A fielder's choice by Terry Serrano knocked in the second run of the inning. The LumberKings got their third run on a two-out solo homer by Nate Tenbrink in the third inning. A two-run homer by Travis Howell in the sixth inning put Clinton up 5-0. One out later, Kalian Sams tripled. Serrano knocked in Sams with a single for a 6-0 advantage. Wisconsin (3-4) broke a scoreless streak of 20 2/3 innings with a run in the top of the seventh inning. The Rattlers loaded the bases with no outs. Sean McCraw's sacrifice fly knocked in the run from third. But, Wisconsin could not sustain the rally as reliever Keith Meyer got a popout and a force out to end the threat. Clinton tacked on a run in the eighth when Sams doubled in a run for a 7-1 lead. Wisconsin had opportunities in the game, but wound up stranding nine runners on the base paths. Plus, the LumberKing defense turned three double plays in the game. Game two of the series is Friday night. Lefty Dan Merklinger (0-0, 3.86) gets the start for Wisconsin. Former Timber Rattler pitcher Brett Lorin (1-0, 1.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Clinton. Game time is 6:30 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Discouraging relief stint for Evan Frederickson; Rattlers 1-for-10 with RISP... Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Brevard County 4, Tampa (Yankees) 0 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Manatees Blank Tampa, 4-0 Take Two Out of Three By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees (Viera, FL) Five Brevard County pitchers combined for a shutout Thursday night, as the Manatees defeated Tampa, 4-0. Mark Rogers got the start for Brevard County, followed by winning pitcher John Axford (1-0), Lucas Luetge, Rigaberto Almonte, and Rob Wooten. The team allowed just five hits for the game. Dellin Betances (1-1) took the loss for Tampa, allowing four runs (two earned) in 5.1 innings. The win also gave the Manatees a series victory, as they took two out of three. The Manatees offense got on the scoreboard in the third inning, using two singles from Steffan Wilson and Martin Maldonado combined with two Yankee errors to put a pair of runs on the board. They tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning, powered by a double from Brent Brewer, followed by singles from Caleb Gindl, Zelous Wheeler, and Lee Haydel. The balanced offensive attack from the Manatees saw seven of the nine starters get a hit in the game, including two hits each from Haydel and Maldonado. Brevard County welcomes their new division rivals, the Dunedin Blue Jays, to Space Coast Stadium for a three-game set beginning Friday. The Blue Jays are coming off a 2008 FSL West second half championship, and currently lead the Manatees by one game in the reconfigured FSL North Division. Friday night's game will feature Evan Anundsen of the Manatees taking on Marcus Walden of the Blue Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). Brevard County Box Score Huge bounceback mound effort from Lucas Luetge; both John Axford and Rigo Almone stranded two inherited runners... Brevard County Game Log Steffan Wilson rounds third on his way to scoring the first run of the game for Brevard County. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/04/16/fQCjp9EO.jpg

Link while active, text follows: Football days behind him, Caufield tackles the minors By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff, paul.gattis@htimes.com Huntsville Stars outfielder Chuck Caufield prefers you didn't pay much attention to the fact he raised his batting average 350 points in three days. "That's what happens when you don't have very many at-bats," said Caufield. It was also the product of getting off to a slow start in this week-old season. "He's more concerned with the process than the result," Stars manager Bob Miscik said. If that sounds like a certain football coach in the state, it should be noted that Caufield was a highly recruited football player coming out of Ada, Okla. A quarterback and defensive back in high school, Caufield was rated the state's No. 10 football prospect as a senior and entertained scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tennessee, among others. "I was decent," Caufield said. And he had decent football bloodlines, considering his father, Charles, played for the NFL's Houston Oilers and Philadelphia Eagles. Yet Caufield said his father encouraged him to play baseball. A high school knee injury also made baseball more appealing. A 39th-round pick in 2006, Caufield started the season 0-for-7, but has gone 7-for-13 in the next three outings, including two hits in Thursday night's win over the Mississippi Braves. That's a batting average jump from .000 to .350. "I've just been trying to do the same thing, put the barrel on the ball and I caught a few breaks with a couple of infield hits," Caufield said. "I try to stay humble as possible in anything I do. You don't want to go around rah-rah or parading around about it. It's coming to come sometimes and sometimes it's not going to be there. I try to stay on an even keel." He's got a fan in Miscik - and not just because Caufield's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth yielded a 4-3 Stars win on Wednesday. "He's a first-class individual and his make-up is off the charts," Miscik said. "The way he works and approaches games is how you would like all players to work and approach games. He's perfect in that area. "Does whatever you ask him. You don't have to tell him a second time. And he does it the best he can and he does it with enthusiasm."

Final: Huntsville 4, Mississippi (Braves) 3 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Another Dramatic Win for Huntsville Ninth Inning Magic for Second Straight Night for Stars By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Chris Errecart's two-out, two-run bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth chased home the decisive runs in Huntsville's 4-3 victory over Mississippi Thursday night in the middle of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have come from behind to win all three games in their last at-bat to improve to 4-4, while the Braves have dropped four in a row to fall to 2-6. All four of the Stars wins this season have come by a run and seven of their eight games have been decided by three runs or less. Mississippi, which had been blanked on two hits over eight innings, tallied three times in the ninth inning to grab a 3-2 lead. Kala Ka'aihue led off with a double and scored on an Eric Campbell single to cut the Stars' lead to one. Willie Cabrera then sent a line drive off of pitcher Mike McClendon, who picked up the ball and threw to force Campbell at second for the first out of the frame. McClendon was removed from the game for Casey Baron, who gave up two singles to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Concepcion Rodriguez popped out before Gorkys Hernandez doubled in a pair to give the visitors their first lead. Jose Camarena was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base for the third out. Rafael Cruz, who gave up the tying home run in the ninth inning on Tuesday, opened the home ninth on the hill for Mississippi and gave up a one-out single to Adam Stern that extended his hitting streak to eight games and walked pinch-hitter Kevin Melillo before Jonathan Lucroy bounced into a force out at second base. Vinny Rottino walked to load the bases and Errecart followed by looping a 2-2 pitch into right field to deliver Stern and Lucroy with the tying and winning runs. Shane Justis and Rottino had doubled in runs against Brian Dumensil in the seventh to break up a scoreless game. Baron grabbed his second win of the series, as he and McClendon have all four of the Huntsville wins to this point in the season. Mark Holliman tossed six scoreless innings in the Stars' longest start of the season, allowing two hits, walking two and fanning four. Robert Hinton worked two scoreless before turning things over to McClendon in a save situation. Braves' starter Scott Diamond worked five shutout innings, yielding three hits, walking four and fanning five. The series continues on Friday morning with left-hander Bobby Bramhall taking the hill for Huntsville against Braves' right-hander and Gadsden, AL native Kyle Cofield. Coverage of the game begins at 10:15 AM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score Mark Holliman and Robert Hinton fantastic over eight innings, yet the win goes elsewhere -- it's a team game when it comes to W's; Chris Errecart was 0-for-4 with two K's before the game-winner; Chuck Caufield off to a nice start (.809 OPS)... Huntsville Game Log

Link while active, text follows: Friend's death still haunts Sounds pitcher Green was close to Angels' Adenhart By Maurice Patton THE TENNESSEAN Nick Green and Nick Adenhart shared more than a first name. The two grew up together as professional baseball players, rooming together last season as members of the Angels' Triple-A affiliate at Salt Lake. So it will be a grief-stricken Green who is scheduled to take the mound tonight for the Nashville Sounds at New Orleans, just hours after his friend - the victim of a car crash allegedly caused by a drunk driver - is buried in Maryland. Just as he did in his initial start last Sunday, Green will have "NA34" just above the right corner of the bill on his cap. "Each time I put the hat on, it's for him," said Green, who struggled through that first start, giving up five earned runs over five innings. "Me and Nick were in the same draft class, 2004. We came up in the minor leagues. We were actually competing against each other, year-in and year-out. At the same time, even though he was my competition ... we're all in the minor leagues for the same reason, to get to the big leagues. To see him get up there and have a great game and then have that happen, was heartbreaking." On April 8, Adenhart started for the Angels and threw six shutout innings against the visiting Athletics. In the early-morning hours of April 9, the vehicle in which Adenhart was a passenger was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Two passengers were pronounced dead on the scene. Adenhart was transported to a hospital, where he died. Green was still getting settled into his Nashville apartment and preparing for the Sounds' season opener when he received the news. "I was on the phone trying to get cable hooked up and in two or three minutes, I had 8 or 10 text messages," he recalled nearly a week later, pausing periodically to stop the trickle of tears. "I knew something wasn't right. I read one of them and saw what happened. That hurt." "I actually didn't break down then. It just seemed unreal. I'd just seen him pitch that (previous) night. After a while, maybe two or three hours later when I sat down and thought to myself about the situation, that's when it hit me." Adding to the pain was that Green, claimed off waivers by the Brewers in February after being released by the Angels, was virtually alone in his suffering. "It's tough, being over here, in a new organization," he said. "No one's really feeling the situation. I think it would have been easier there. All those guys would be feeling the same thing I'm feeling. Being the lone guy over here that knew him very well, I'm like the oddball of the group. But everybody, from (Milwaukee General Manager Doug Melvin) down has been comforting. Everybody was respectful about the situation." Being the competitor that he is - a trait he said Adenhart helped him to develop - Green stopped short of blaming his shaky first outing on his emotional state. "I'm sure he won't use that as an excuse, but if he does, it's certainly OK by me," Sounds outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. said. "If you're a human being and you have any type of heart, you can definitely be impacted. You've got to be able to find a way to separate the two. I don't know anybody who does it 100 percent successfully." Rather than shutting off his emotions, Nashville pitching coach Chris Bosio hopes to help Green direct them positively during games. "Some people say you've got to move on, you've got to forget about it," said Bosio, whose mother died this past Christmas. "That's not the way it works. Everybody says 'time will heal.' But it's hard to forget loved ones and friends that pass away. We're not asking you to. "He'll remember that the rest of his life, and that's alright, as long as you can channel that. He'll continue to carry that with him. But along with that will come some strength and some power." Before he throws his first pitch tonight, just as he did last Sunday, Green will mark Adenhart's initials and jersey number in the dirt on the back of the mound. "I won't forget about him," he said. "I want to make sure I keep his name alive. "It's going to be tough. The only thing to help a situation like this is time. I think it'll be easier for me as time goes on." Sounds pitcher Nick Green was close friends with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed last week in an automobile accident. Photo by SAMUEL M. SIMPKINS / THE TENNESSEAN http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20090417&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=904170378&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

With R.J. Swindle's recall to Milwaukee opening up a roster spot at AAA, RHP Ryan Houston was activated at Nashville.

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Brendan Katin Some light moments, good stuff... Final: Oklahoma City (Rangers) 17, Nashville 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Mat Gamel photo, text follows -- Sounds Routed 17-3 In Homestand Finale NASHVILLE - The Oklahoma City RedHawks handed the Nashville Sounds their worst loss in six seasons on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium, defeating the home club by a 17-3 count in the finale of a four-game series. Nashville wrapped up its season-opening homestand with a 3-5 record, including a split of the four-game series with Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City's 17 runs in the game -- the largest scoring total in the Pacific Coast League so far this season -- were the most scored against a Nashville club since the RedHawks plated 16 at Greer Stadium on August 19, 2003, a 16-2 win. The 14-run margin of defeat for the Sounds was their largest since that 16-2 loss against Oklahoma City in 2003. The RedHawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against Sounds starter Chase Wright with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. The two first-inning scores resulted from a fielding error by Nashville shortstop Alcides Escobar. In the second, Oklahoma City third baseman Esteban German (3-for-7) ripped a two-out RBI single and Scott Thorman (3-for-4) drew a bases-loaded walk from Wright to force in the visitors' fourth run of the night. Oklahoma City put the game out of reach in the fifth when they sent 17 batters to the plate to produce a 12-run outburst against three different Nashville pitchers. The rally included three home runs as the visitors increased the lead to 16-0. The 12-run inning was the largest against the Sounds since the franchise joined the Pacific Coast League. Thorman belted a solo shot to left before Casey Benjamin chased Wright from the contest with a two-out, two-run blast to right. Sounds reliever Wes Littleton came on and didn't fare much better, failing to retire any of his six batters faced in the frame. After he issued a walk to Julio Borbon, German touched the right-hander for a two-run homer to left, his first roundtripper of the year. Matt Ginter relieved Littelton, inherited a bases-loaded jam, and ultimately allowed five total runners to come plateward before the inning came to its conclusion. The Sounds got onto the board in the bottom of the fifth when Angel Salome led off with a walk against RedHawks starter Neftali Feliz then scored on Hernan Iribarren's RBI triple to right. The three-bagger extended the infielder's hitting streak to seven games. Jason Bourgeois followed with a run-scoring groundout that made it a 16-2 game. Nashville added another run in the sixth against RedHawks reliever Kason Gabbard when Mat Gamel stroked his team-leading fifth double of the year and scored one batter later on Brendan Katin's RBI single. Gamel (2-for-4) extended his season-opening hit streak to seven games in the contest, while Katin stretched his string to five straight. Oklahoma City added one final run in the ninth against Sounds infielder Adam Heether, who pitched the final inning and walked in a run. Despite all the offensive fireworks for the RedHawks, Oklahoma City right fielder Brandon Boggs might have made the play of the night for the visitors with a spectacular leaping catch at the wall to rob Katin of a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Feliz (1-0) picked up his first win of the year after allowing two runs on three hits and fanning five over five innings of work. Wright (0-1) took the loss after surrendering eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 frames. The Sounds hit the road for New Orleans on Friday, when they'll participate in the Zephyrs' 7:00 PM. home opener at Zephyr Field. Right-hander Nick Green (0-0, 9.00) will take the hill for the Sounds to face New Orleans right-hander Dallas Trahern (0-0, 4.76). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Saturday, April 25, when the Sounds open an eight-game homestand by hosting the division-rival Iowa Cubs at 6 p.m. Nashville Box Score Evident that Chase Wright is not AAA rotation "depth" for the big league club; could have been worse - OKC stranded 13... Nashville Game Log Amazingly, there were two outs, no one on, and only one run in -- Oklahoma City Top 5th - Scott Thorman homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. - Max Ramirez strikes out swinging. - Royce Huffman grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Joe Koshansky. - Joaquin Arias hit by pitch. - Greg Golson doubles (2) on a line drive to center fielder Jason Bourgeois. Joaquin Arias scores. - Casey Benjamin homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Greg Golson scores. - Pitcher Change: Wes Littleton replaces Chase Wright. - Julio Borbon walks. - Esteban German homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Julio Borbon scores. - Brandon Boggs singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brendan Katin. - With Scott Thorman batting, wild pitch by Wes Littleton, Brandon Boggs to 2nd. - Scott Thorman doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Brendan Katin. Brandon Boggs scores. - Max Ramirez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Tony Gwynn. Scott Thorman to 3rd. - Coaching visit to mound. - Royce Huffman walks. Max Ramirez to 2nd. - Pitcher Change: Matt Ginter replaces Wes Littleton. - Joaquin Arias singles on a line drive to right fielder Brendan Katin. Scott Thorman scores. Max Ramirez to 3rd. Royce Huffman to 2nd. - Greg Golson singles on a line drive to left fielder Tony Gwynn. Max Ramirez scores. Royce Huffman scores. Joaquin Arias to 2nd. - Casey Benjamin reaches on fielding error by third baseman Mat Gamel. Joaquin Arias scores. Greg Golson to 3rd. - Julio Borbon singles on a line drive to left fielder Tony Gwynn. Greg Golson scores. Casey Benjamin to 2nd. - Esteban German flies out to center fielder Jason Bourgeois.

He's still on a pitch count of approximately 50.

From the Rattler Radio Blog: April 16, 2009 Starting Lineup - Usual third baseman John Delaney in LF, both catchers, Sean McCraw and Shawn Zarraga (DH) looking for their first base hit -- a third catcher, Corey Kemp, is also now on the active roster. April 16, 2009 Timber Rattler Pitchers (Watten / Frederickson) April 16, 2009 Game Notes Thanks Chris, as always for making these media updates available on your blog.

Chris' insight on injuries is what we've always been told by the affiliates in the past. The only time we can really count on injury detail is when an injury occurs during the course of a game on a specific play.

From Chris Mehring, voice of the Rattlers -- Just got these: OF Erik Komatsu placed on the disabled list (retroactive to 4/13) RHP Garrett Sherrill placed on the disabled list (retroactive to 4/15) C Corey Kemp activated from the DL LHP Brian Meadows activated from the DL Both Kemp and Meadows are eligible for tonight's game. As a note to head off any questions, please don't ask me why this player is going on the DL or what was wrong with this other player. If the team tells me that I can release any of that information, I will do it in the release. If they tell me not to, I won't.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Omaha 5 2 .714 - 0-0 5-2 W1 Memphis 4 2 .667 0.5 4-2 0-0 L1 Iowa 4 3 .571 1.0 0-0 4-3 L1 Nashville 3 4 .429 2.0 3-4 0-0 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 4 3 .571 - 0-0 4-3 L1 West Tenn 4 3 .571 - 0-0 4-3 L2 Huntsville 3 4 .429 1.0 3-4 0-0 W2 Tennessee 2 4 .333 1.5 0-1 2-3 L3 Chattanooga 2 5 .286 2.0 1-1 1-4 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 4 1 .800 - 2-1 2-0 W2 Daytona 3 3 .500 1.5 3-2 0-1 L2 Dunedin 3 3 .500 1.5 0-2 3-1 W2 Tampa 3 3 .500 1.5 2-0 1-3 L1 Lakeland 2 3 .400 2.0 2-0 0-3 L2 Brevard County 2 4 .333 2.5 2-1 0-3 W1

Link while active, text follows: Brett Christopherson column: Timber Rattlers' strong pitching staff bodes well for future of Brewers GRAND CHUTE - Easter Sunday, 1987. Rob Deer crushes a game-tying, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Dale Sveum belts a two-run shot for the game winner in the same inning. Mass hysteria grips old Milwaukee County Stadium. The Milwaukee Brewers extend their season-opening win streak to 12 straight. One of the greatest moments in Brewers history. Ah, the good old days. Easter Sunday, 2009. Jeff Suppan issues three bases-loaded walks in a godforsaken fourth inning. Reliever Jorge Julio is summoned from the pen and promptly chucks four straight balls to walk in another run. Anger and disbelief percolate inside Miller Park. Milwaukee goes on to drop an 8-5 decision to the Chicago Cubs - another setback in a dreary start to the season. One of the uglier scenes in recent Brewers history. Ah, today's reality. What's plaguing the Crew, you wonder? Sifting through the carnage otherwise known as major league baseball's pitching stats might shed some light. Heading into Wednesday's action, the Brewers' 6.30 team ERA ranked 25th out of the 30 big-league clubs. Meanwhile, they had issued 42 walks through 70 innings - tops in the majors. So, where are the arms, you scream? Wisconsin Timber Rattlers catcher Sean McCraw can handle that one. "They need to come on down to Appleton," he said of a suddenly restless fan base that has gone from thinking playoff chase to the Suppan chase - as in out of the rotation. "If they want to see the future (Brewers) rotation and bullpen, they can come on down." "Frederickson and Scarpetta and there ain't nothing betta!" might one day be the Miller Park battle cry. But for now, they and the others who are tossing strikes for the Rattlers are focused only on what needs to be accomplished so they can ascend through Milwaukee's minor league levels as quickly as possible. Well, sort of. "Maybe 10 times a day," 22-year-old Evan Frederickson said when asked if his thoughts ever turn to the big leagues. "They say to us all the time, if you can't see it before you do it, you're not going to do anything." This year's Rattlers staff includes five starters rated by Baseball America as among the top 30 prospects in the Brewers' minor league system. On that list are right-handers Cody Scarpetta (No. 15), Wily Peralta (22) and Cody Adams (28) and lefty Efrain Nieves (23), who despite pitching well on Wednesday was charged with the loss in a 6-0 setback to Fort Wayne at Fox Cities Stadium. Frederickson, another lefty, checks in at No. 24, although he's not a big believer in rankings. "What can I do best to help my career out, that's all I'm worried about," said Frederickson, one of 34 hurlers selected by the Brewers - he was a supplemental first round choice - in last June's pitching-heavy draft as the club gave new meaning to the phrase "position of need." "All that other stuff will take care of itself. "I'm not going to go ahead and say we're going to be saviors or anything like that. But it's our goal to make it to the big leagues, and that's what we're working for. And that's where I'm planning on being soon." So far, Rattlers pitchers - generally a hard-throwing bunch with the ability to mix in a nasty breaking pitch - have fanned 58 through 55 innings while limiting opponents to a .170 batting average. Their team earned run average is a sparkling 1.80, while the starters have yet to allow more than three runs in an outing. Scarpetta has been known to hum a fastball in the low to mid-90s and is member of the Brewers' 40-man roster, while Peralta, Frederickson and Adams have been clocked anywhere from the mid- to high 90s. Then there's Nieves, who can baffle hitters with a changeup-curveball-slider mix and was likened to two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine by Rattlers skipper Jeff Isom during the team's recent welcome banquet. "I've never had this many power arms," said McCraw, who called the Wisconsin pitching staff the best he has ever caught at the Class A level. The 23-year-old is in his fourth minor league season and first with the Brewers. "And it seems like all of our power guys, they can sink the ball, too. You put that combo, when someone can sink it down in at your back foot and change your eye level and elevate the ball out of the zone, not to mention their breaking stuff is unreal." Added Rattlers pitching coach and former big league hurler Chris Hook: "I think these guys have the stuff to pitch at the big league level. It's just a matter of the attitude and them taking their knowledge as they go up. Once they get their off-speed stuff over, there's no stopping them." Still, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin wasn't ready to crown this class as pitching's version of J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun - homegrown talent charged with putting runs on the board at the big league level. "A-ball to the big leagues is a few steps away," Melvin said during a visit to Fox Cities Stadium on Wednesday. "It takes time with pitching. They need to stay healthy and get their innings in." If so, expect to see a lot of these guys taking up space in the Brewers' clubhouse and pitching in soon enough. Well, maybe not soon enough for all of you suffering fans. "You wouldn't sign a professional contract if you didn't think you'd be in the big leagues," said Scarpetta, 20, an 11th-round selection last June. "But we're at a low level, and it's tough because there are so many great pitchers in the organization that are above us now. We've still got a ways to go." And we'll all be awaiting your arrival - anxiously.

Another Post-Crescent Photo Gallery Not all the photos are ID'd, but you can make educated guesses. The first, with snow pumping from Cutter Dykstra's glove, is unique. Nice first look at Efrain Nieves as well.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers GM Doug Melvin pays visit to Fox Cities Stadium to see Timber Rattlers By Brett Christopherson Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE - A familiar face surprised Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shortstop Michael Marseco on Wednesday morning during a meet-and-greet session inside the team clubhouse. And a pretty important one at that. Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin stopped by Fox Cities Stadium to catch the Rattlers' Midwest League series finale against the Fort Wayne TinCaps - a game that saw Wisconsin finish on the wrong end of a 6-0 decision to complete an unwanted three-game sweep. So, did the 22-year-old Marseco find himself unnerved by the unexpected pit stop? "There are constantly rovers here, higher-up people checking up on us," he said. "We're low man on the totem poll, so we can't afford to take a day off. Every day's a grind, regardless of who's here. You've just got to go out and do it. "So Doug being here maybe influenced us to play a little harder. If anything, it's an incentive to just try to be your best, but we always do." The visit was Melvin's first of the Rattlers-Brewers partnership as he and other Brewers officials watched from their seats - five rows behind home plate. Because the game was a 12:05 p.m. start, Melvin and the others were able to scoot back to Milwaukee in time for Wednesday night's Brewers-Cincinnati Reds matchup at Miller Park. "I had looked on the schedule and planned on coming here, anyway," he said. "But it's good to get outside, to see a game. I saw some of the kids playing down in spring training, but now that the team is assembled, it's good to come here. Anytime I get a chance where there's a day game (here) and a night game at our place, or vice-versa, I'll come here." Off the field, Melvin said he has been pleased with the Brewers' new affiliation with the Rattlers. The two sides agreed last September on a deal that will station Milwaukee's Class A minor league talent in Grand Chute through 2012. Meanwhile, local fan interest has grown - a notion underscored when a sellout crowd of 5,487 packed Fox Cities Stadium for last Thursday's season opener, the largest Opening Day attendance total in stadium history. "I understand that the fans here have really embraced the affiliation," he said. "From that standpoint, I can see it only getting better."

Huntsville Times: A familiar player from the past was batting sixth and playing right field for Huntsville. Drew Anderson, who hit .305 in parts of 2006-07 with the Stars, was re-signed by the Brewers. Cincinnati released Anderson two days before the season started when the Reds reassigned Johnny Gomes to Triple-A Louisville to take his roster spot. "I went home that day and got to talking with my agent and searching for interested teams," he said. "It was really an eventful week."

Transactions from the independent American Association as two recent releases sign: Fort Worth: Signed OF Steve Chapman. St. Paul: Signed OF Brent Krause. Almost every day, former Brewer farmhands make the indy transaction wire -- for now, we only notify you of the most recently released Brewers.

Final: Huntsville 4, Mississippi (Braves) 3 Huntsville Site Game Summary: SECOND STRAIGHT COMEBACK WIN FOR STARS Cardiac Kids Do it Again Chuck Caufield singled in the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Stars their second straight walk off win, a 4-3 decision over Mississippi Wednesday night in the second of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have won back-to-back games for the first time this season to improve to 3-4, while the Braves have lost three in a row to dip to 2-5. All three of the Stars wins this season have come by a run and six of their seven games have been decided by three runs or less. Chris Errecart reached third base with one out in the ninth when Willie Cabrera got to his fly ball in right field but could not make the running catch, as it hit off his glove. Pitcher Mike McClendon was the next scheduled hitter and hit a tapper back to the mound that Steve Marek mishandled allowing McClendon to reach first base. Caufield then belted a fly ball over a drawn in outfield to deliver Errecart with the decisive run. McClendon threw two scoreless frames to grab his second win, as the winning pitcher figured into the winning run for a second straight night. Huntsville tied the game in the eighth against Marek when Yohannis Perez led off with a single, advanced on a Freddy Parejo sacrifice bunt and scored when third baseman Eric Campbell could not handle Adam Stern's sharply hit ground ball. The Braves committed three errors over the final two innings leading directly to the tying and winning runs. Kala Ka'aihue's leadoff home run off of Chris Cody in the fourth inning opened the scoring and ended a stretch of 39 2/3 consecutive frames without giving up a long ball for the Stars' southpaw. Campbell and Matt Young added scoring fly balls to stake the visitors to a 3-0 after five and a half innings. The Stars, who left the bases loaded with one out in the first, stranded runners at second and third and one out in the third and left the bases full again in the fourth against starter Deunte Heath, finally broke through in the sixth against Jeff Lyman with a run-scoring double by Parejo and a Stern sacrifice fly. Cody went 4 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on five hits, walking three and fanning eight. The Stars quartet of pitchers recorded nine strikeouts, giving them 28 in the two games. Heath allowed only two hits in his four frames but issued six of the nine walks by the Braves, who have issued 15 free passes in two games. The series continues on Thursday night with right-hander Mark Holliman taking the hill for Huntsville against Braves' southpaw Scott Diamond. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score Not sure if Jonathan Lucroy is getting the pitching help he needs right now, but the Braves stole six bases, five vs. southpaws; 0-for-3, but welcome back, Drew Anderson... Huntsville Game Log Thank goodness all the early wasted chances you'll see here didn't come back to haunt the Stars...

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime. Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

Midwest League Standings

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. MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_16_orhaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_16_msbaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_16_tbyafa_breafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_04_16_wisafx_cliafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive. Sorry, no audio for this Brevard County series Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:35 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Huntsville: RHP Mark Holliman at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 6:05 PM gametime Wisconsin: RHP Trey Watten at Clinton (Mariners), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

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