Jim Goulart

Link, text follows: Rogers back where he belongs By John Torenli / Special to MLB.com It had been two years and eight months since Mark Rogers had thrown a pitch in a professional game. The Milwaukee Brewers had to like what they saw from the former fifth overall pick when he took the mound for the Brevard County Manatees on Friday night against the Daytona Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. He did, too. "I was excited," Rogers admitted after pitching in a Minor League game for the first time since Aug. 18, 2006 with the Arizona League Brewers. "I'm just very, very happy to have this opportunity again. It's great to be back on the mound facing this level of competition. I tried to settle myself down on the mound because there was a lot of anticipation. It would have been very easy to get ahead myself." Rogers, who battled his way back from a pair of shoulder surgeries, the second of which allowed him to finally pitch pain-free, certainly didn't appear to let the excitement get to him on the hill. Heralded as a potential ace of the future when the Brewers selected him in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, the 23-year-old right-hander fired three scoreless innings in the Manatees' 7-6 loss to the Cubs. "I just slowed the game down," Rogers said after allowing two hits and a walk with one strikeout before approaching his 50-pitch limit for the night. "That's the beauty of being a pitcher. You can make the game work at your own pace." After surrendering a one-out single to Marwin Gonzalez in the opening frame, Rogers escaped trouble when he stranded Gonzalez at second by striking out Jovan Rosa to end the inning. A leadoff walk to Dylan Johnston in the second was erased when Rogers got Marquez Smith to hit into a double play before Andrew Rundle lined out to second base. Rogers yielded another one-out single to Starlin Castro in the third, but Nate Samson flied out and Castro was caught stealing, capping a confidence-building performance for the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Brunswick, Maine native. "It was awesome," Rogers said. "You can't expect to go out there and go three-up, three-down every time. It's all about staying in the moment. The one thing this process has taught me is to feel comfortable out there and enjoy playing baseball." While fulfilling his ultimate dream of making the Major Leagues is still off in the distance, Rogers is looking forward to working his way up through the Brewers' system. He's also glad the organization continued to have faith in him. "The Brewers had a lot of patience with me," he said. "I was never at the point where I was pain-free after the first surgery. After they cleaned up some scar tissue, I came back and started throwing bullpens again last December. "The first time I went out there and felt great was Spring Training, and tonight was the first real test. My arm answered the test." Rogers also admitted that for now his top priority is remaining healthy, but he indicated that Double-A Huntsville would be a great place to finish up his first full season in the Minors since 2006. "I just want to go out and take the ball every fifth day," he said. "Tonight was a step in the right direction. I'd like to advance levels, but that's one of the things that's out of my hands. If I pitch well, I can move up and perhaps pitch at Huntsville by the end of year." Former fifth overall pick Mark Rogers saw his first pro action since Aug. 18, 2006 on Friday. (Photo by Jerry Hale/MiLB.com) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/04/10/xEDcQu6I.jpg

Link while active, text follows: My friend Nick Green has gone through a lot at a young age By Steve Carter/Tifton (GA) Gazette News Editor I am not going to sit here and deny it, I consider Nick Green to be my friend. I think he is a great person, and I admire him for working hard to try to live out his dreams of being a big league baseball player. Nick is with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds this season, hoping to get a shot at pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers sometime in 2009. He starts his first game Sunday, and has spent this week getting adjusted to living in Nashville. But something has happened to put a lot on anyone's mind, especially a young man who is trying to live out his dream. Nick's roommate from last season, Nick Adenhart, was killed in an early morning hit-and-run wreck Thursday morning in California. Adenhart had just pitched six scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Angels in a game against the Oakland Athletics. The report has Adenhart and three friends hit by a drunk driver, who was charged with murder Friday. I have not talked to Nick Green, but Adenhart's death means Nick has lost two very close friends in five years due to car wrecks. The other is Stefanie ten Hoope, who died in 2004. Nick thought so much of Stefanie he has done his best to wear the same No. 23 she wore as an ABAC Fillie softball player during his career in minor league baseball. Nick also saw a coach killed by a line drive two years ago during a game in Arkansas. The first base coach, Mike Coolbaugh, was hit in a temple by a line drive, and is the reason you see base coaches wearing batting helmets in professional baseball now. That's a lot of death for one person to have seen in five short years, especially for a person who is only 24 years old. I would love for Nick to get a chance to make the Major Leagues, but I am also going to be praying that he will be able to live a good long time now without having death hanging over his head. He is too good of a person to have had to live with what he has gone through in a span of five years. I am also going to be praying for Nick Adenhart and his family, and I will also be praying that folks will finally learn that you shouldn't drink and drive. It is just too deadly of a proposition.

The always detailed Nashville site game summary is now available.

Final: Huntsville 2, Mobile (Diamondbacks) 1 Full details from the Huntsville site a bit later... Huntsville Box Score Mobile strands 12; Stars managed only five hits and did not score after the 1st; Huntsville has turned four inning-ending double plays in two games, two with the bases loaded, two with runners on 1st and 3rd... Huntsville Game Log Orlando Mercado grounds into a force out, center fielder Chuck Caufield to catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Gerardo Parra out at home. You read that right. It was part of Juan Sandoval's Houdini act in the 8th. With the bases loaded, it was difficult for the man on third to judge whether a sinking line drive to center would be caught (so tag up) or fall. Huge, weird play. Ricardo Sosa grounds into double play, third baseman Kevin Melillo to first baseman Vinny Rottino. Evan Frey out at 3rd. That's how the game ended, with the bags juiced, ground ball to 3rd, step on the bag, then throw home for the tag. Deserves another "wow". Great calls by Brett, as usual.

Wow, hope you were listening to Brett in Huntsville -- after his eighth-inning heroics described above, closer Juan Sandoval got himself in a 2nd-and-3rd, no out jam in the 9th, and then proceeded to get out of that as well! It's Fireworks Night in Huntsville -- good for the fans there, what a show...

Final: Nashville 10, New Orleans (Marlins) 6 Full details from the Nashville site a bit later... Nashville Box Score Everyone in the lineup with at least one hit with Mat Gamel leading the way, as you've by now read; Lindsay Gulin effective in four innings of relief for the win; clean defense throughout -- Angel Salome threw out the only baserunner attempting to steal -- nice... Nashville Game Log

Final: Wisconsin 10, Quad Cities (Cardinals) 1 Wisconsin Box Score LHP Evan Frederickson and RHP Trey Watten combine on a six-hitter, no earned runs, 13 K's, three walks; seven Timber Rattlers reached base at least twice, with Brock Kjeldgaard leading the way (four times); just a dominant effort all the way around -- enjoy the box and log Wisconsin Game Log

Wow, Juan Sandoval inherits a bases loaded, no out jam in the 8th, with the Stars clinging to a 2-1 lead, and gets out of it!

Final: Daytona (Cubs) 7, Brevard County 6 Long night for Brent Brewer -- 0-for-5, struck out in a key spot -- 2nd and 3rd, one out in a tie game in the top of the 8th, then committed an error that led to the "losing run" in the bottom of the 8th... Brevard County Box Score Logan Schafer 4-for-5 including a double; Zelous Wheeler double, single, two RBI; catcher Martin Maldonado gunned down three of four baserunners attempting to steal; Mark Rogers a good night, Lucas Luetge not, as discussed above... Brevard County Game Log

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):

Follow Saturday'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. UPDATE: 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_11_nozaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_11_mobaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_11_breafa_dbcafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t572&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_11_qcsafa_wisafa_1

Mat Gamel 3-for-3 already including a double -- the guy is just a hitting machine. Sounds lead, 8-4 after four in a slugfest.

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive. Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Huntsville: RHP Mark Holliman at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Brevard County: RHP Evan Anundsen at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 gametime -- for this game only, click here for the Cubs broadcast Wisconsin: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Quad Cities (Cardinals), 12:55 pre-game, 1:05 gametime

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

The Manatees immediately punish me by posting a sweet five-spot after I bail out. Meanwhile Commander Chris Cody is dealing in Huntsville, having retired his last ten in a row. Brevard County Top 6th Brent Brewer grounds out, pitcher Ryan Searle to second baseman Nate Samson to first baseman Jovan Rosa. Cole Gillespie reaches on fielding error by shortstop Starlin Castro. Caleb Gindl singles on a line drive to right fielder Dylan Johnston. Cole Gillespie to 2nd. Steffan Wilson singles on a line drive to right fielder Dylan Johnston. Cole Gillespie scores. Caleb Gindl to 3rd. Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to left fielder Marwin Gonzalez. Caleb Gindl scores. Steffan Wilson to 2nd. Zelous Wheeler doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Andrew Rundle. Steffan Wilson scores. Lee Haydel scores. Pitcher Change: Craig Muschko replaces Ryan Searle. Martin Maldonado grounds out, third baseman Marquez Smith to first baseman Jovan Rosa. Logan Schafer doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Andrew Rundle. Zelous Wheeler scores. Eric Farris strikes out swinging.

Hi rohan08, welcome aboard. Glad to have you. Please familiarize yourself with the Daily Link Report, pinned to the top of the forum each day. Comments such as this can be posted there. Thanks.

Brevard LHP Lucas Luetge really struggled with his control in a four-run Cub 5th inning, so I'll say goodbye to the Daytona broadcast and join up with old friend Brett Pollock in Huntsville. Manatees trail, 4-0, after five.

Rattler Radio Blog: April 10, 2009 Game Notes April 10, 2009 Timber Rattler Pitchers

Listening to the Daytona broadcast as Mark Rogers just finished up -- I didn't tune in in-time to hear them discuss Rogers in detail, other than to say the Brewers would be pleased with his first appearance in over two seasons -- congrats to Mark! Daytona Bottom 1st Nate Samson grounds out, third baseman Zelous Wheeler to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Marwin Gonzalez singles on a line drive to left fielder Lee Haydel. Tyler Colvin grounds out to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Marwin Gonzalez to 2nd. With Jovan Rosa batting, Marwin Gonzalez steals (1) 3rd base. Jovan Rosa strikes out swinging. Daytona Bottom 2nd Dylan Johnston walks. Marquez Smith grounds into double play, second baseman Eric Farris to shortstop Brent Brewer to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Dylan Johnston out at 2nd. Andrew Rundle lines out to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Daytona Bottom 3rd Robinson Chirinos grounds out, third baseman Zelous Wheeler to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Starlin Castro singles on a line drive to left fielder Lee Haydel. Nate Samson flies out to center fielder Logan Schafer. With Marwin Gonzalez batting, Starlin Castro caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Martin Maldonado to shortstop Brent Brewer.

Midwest League Standings (Brian's working on a techincal fix so I can include it in the post above...)

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Iowa 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Nashville 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 Omaha 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 Carolina 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Chattanooga 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Huntsville 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 Tennessee 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Clearwater 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Lakeland 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Daytona 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Dunedin 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Tampa 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1

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):

Follow Friday'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. UPDATE: MiLB.com apparently 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_10_nozaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_10_mobaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_10_breafa_dbcafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_10_qcsafx_wisafx_1

Friday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Link here for the audio choices this evening -- as reported yesterday, audio apparently will no longer archive. Nashville: RHP Mike Burns at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Huntsville: LHP Chris Cody at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 gametime -- for this game only, click here for the Cubs broadcast Wisconsin: LHP Evan Frederickson at home vs. Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:25 pre-game, 6:35 gametime

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