Jim Goulart

Even if he was waived, if he cleared, he'd still be Brewer property for 2009. And certainly there are those now in Milwaukee (Laynce Nix) who will be leaving as well, but that's not what this thread was about. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Steve Hammond's final regular season start for 2008 -- seven quality, gutsy innings (two runs, nine hits) Matt LaPorta's Akron team will be in the playoffs. San Jose will be playing postseason ball as well. Darren Ford not excelling in the offensive-crazy Cal League. Zach Jackson -- apparently Cliff Lee is not rubbing off in Cleveland.

Will Inman allows only four baserunners (one hit) over five shutout innings (75 pitches) in his final regular season start for 2008.

The Brewers will have exclusive rights until mid-October to sign (or add to the 40-man roster) the following players who otherwise will become minor league free agents. As per usual, if we've included or failed to include someone in error, let us know. BOLD = resigned RHP Joe Bateman -- re-signed, big league training camp, non-roster invite RHP Troy Cate -- officially a free agent RHP Derrick Turnbow -- officially a free agent RHP Nic Ungs -- officially a free agent RHP Mike Jones -- re-signed to a minor league deal RHP Juan Sandoval -- re-signed to a minor league deal RHP John Axford LHP Randy Choate -- officially a free agent LHP Lindsay Gulin -- re-signed, big league training camp, non-roster invite LHP Sam Narron -- re-signed, big league training camp, non-roster invite LHP Chris Narveson -- re-signed, big league training camp, non-roster invite LHP Erasmo Ramirez -- officially a free agent LHP Derrick Ellison LHP Rafael Lluberes -- re-signed to a minor league deal INF Chris Woodward -- officially a free agent INF Ozzie Chavez -- officially a free agent INF Guilder Rodriguez UT Callix Crabbe -- officially a free agent UT Michael Garciaparra -- re-signed to a minor league deal OF Jay Gibbons -- officially a free agent OF Mel Stocker -- officially a free agent C Eric Munson -- officially a free agent

MiLB.com: Helena Brewers (Milwaukee Brewers) WEEK IN REVIEW: Helena didn't score more than five runs once in seven games on the week, but the team still managed a 4-3 record. Credit the pitching staff for a series win over Great Falls to start the week. When the staff did struggle in a pair of games against Missoula, the offense didn't back them out and the team lost both games. A win Saturday salvaged the week, but Helena still stands six games out of first place in the North. STREAKING: On July 27, RHP Brandon Rapoza made his debut with Helena, allowing two runs in two innings. Since then, Rapoza has pitched in 10 consecutive games without allowing a run, a streak spanning 20 1/3 innings. He was his best this week, with seven scoreless innings in three appearances. On Monday, Rapoza had his first save of the season with two no-hit innings against Great Falls. On Aug. 28, Rapoza pitched four shutout innings, giving up one hit and lowering his ERA to 0.81. SLUMPING: There is not a single member of the Brewers offense hitting right now. In their last five games, Helena is batting .137 as a team. No one on the team has hit above .250 during that span. In their last 10 games, it's just as bad, with a .205 batting average. 1B Brock Kjeldgaard hit .275 over the 10 games, which ended up as the team high. The pitchers had a 3.79 ERA during that span, holding the team up on their shoulders. IN COMMAND: LHP Efrain Nieves had the start of the week on Tuesday against Great Falls, giving up one hit in eight scoreless innings. Nieves faced one batter over the minimum as he didn't give up a walk and struck out nine. Nieves earned his second win of the week Saturday, allowing three runs in six innings and not giving up a walk for a third straight appearance. He now has a 15-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 70 1/3 innings this season.

As we did with Nashville's Chuck Valenches, a big thanks to Huntsville's Brett Pollock, for his contributions, both heard, and behind the scenes, again this season. Enjoy your offseason, Brett, too bad it comes too soon this season.

Final: Chattanooga (Reds ) 2, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Chattanooga Closes Season With Win Stars Miss Post-Season for First Time in Three Years By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Pedro Viola worked 6 1/3 strong innings to pitch Chattanooga to a 2-1 win Monday afternoon in the last regular season game of the 2008 campaign at AT&T Field. The Stars finished the second half at 32-38 and with an overall mark of 73-67, while the Lookouts ended with a 30-39 record in the second half and 67-72 overall. The Stars took the season series 14-11, winning eight of 15 in Chattanooga. Chattanooga loaded the bases in the fourth inning on a single by Chris Heisey and two walks. Drew Anderson legged out an infield hit to first base to knock in Heisey with the game's first run and an Eric Eymann sacrifice fly chased home Tonys Gutierrez to make it a two-run rally. Stars' starter Alex Periard was taken out after five frames, giving up five hits, walking a pair and fanning three. He suffered the loss to finish at 2-4 and 0-2 against the Looks. Steve Bray tossed two scoreless innings and Omar Aguilar one to finish off the season. Viola had blanked the Stars on three hits through six innings before Michael Garciaparra doubled to lead off the seventh, and push his hitting streak to 12 games, and came in to score when Cole Gillespie followed with a two-base hit to knock in his 79th run. Viola struck out Mike Bell for the first out and was lifted in favor of Michael Hrynio, who got two ground outs to end the frame and keep the Looks in the lead. Viola gave up five hits, walked one and struck out a season-best 11 to earn his fourth win. Hyrnio and Lee Tabor retired the Stars in order in the eighth and Joe Valentine had a perfect ninth inning to record the save and bring the season to a close. Angel Salome, who was promoted to Milwaukee after Saturday's game, wound up leading the Southern League in hitting with a .360 average, while Alcides Escobar, who was also promoted to big leagues, and Michael Brantley each finished in the top ten in hitting. Check the Stars web site for further information about where players ranked in the final offensive and pitching categories. Huntsville Box Score Mike Jones a pinch-hitter in the 6th with the short bench... Huntsville Game Log

Final: West Virginia 4, Kannapolis (White Sox) 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER FINISH REGULAR SEASON WITH A WALK OFF VICTORY The West Virginia Power snapped a three-game losing streak on Monday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park as Matt Cline scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a ground ball hit by Lee Haydel in a 4-3 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators. West Virginia took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Steffan Wilson knocked in his 100th run of the season on an RBI single and he scored later in the inning when Zelous Wheeler grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. The Intimidators cut the deficit in half in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Brent Morel. Morel struck again in the eighth inning on a two-run homer to give the Intimidators their first lead of the game. Curt Rindal delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cline started the ninth inning with a base hit, and moved to second on Eric Farris's infield single. With runners on second and first, Jeff Isom called for a double steal. On the first pitch of Lee Haydel's at bat, he hit a ground ball to second baseman Eduardo Escobar. Escobar flipped to second base to record the out, but Gordon Beckham's relay throw was late to first base and Cline scored from second base to end the game. Jose Garcia (3-2) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to get the victory. Tyson Corley (0-5) allowed the winning run to score in the ninth inning and was tagged with the loss. Dan Merklinger pitched well enough to get the win but didn't factor into the decision. He allowed just a run on four hits over six innings of work and struck out seven batters. The Power improved to 77-62 on the year and 45-25 in the second half with the win. The Intimidators fell to 67-68 on the year and 36-29 in the second half with the loss. Four Power players turned in multi-hit games, including Farris who extended his hitting streak to nine games. Eric Fryer went 1-for-4, finishing the year at .335, good enough to capture the 2008 South Atlantic League Batting Title. A Power player has captured that crown two years in a row now (Andrew Lefave). The Power will begin their best of three game series in the first round of the playoffs against the Lake County Captains at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday night. The Power will start right hander R.J. Seidel (9-5, 4.51) and the Captains will counter with right hander Joey Mahalic (7-6, 4.19. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Caleb Gindl (.307) on base three times, finishes with a .388 OBP and .862 OPS -- nice for a kid who turned 20 on Sunday... West Virginia Game Log Bring on the playoffs against the Indians' kids...

Press Release: Brewers' Labor Day Game Postponed Double-header scheduled for Tuesday at 5:05 PM (6:05 Central) Helena, MT: The Helena Brewers have announced that Monday's game versus the Missoula Osprey has been postponed due to rain and field conditions. The contest will be made up on Tuesday, September 2nd as part of a double-header starting at 5:05 PM (6:05 Central). "We really regret not being able to play tonight's holiday game," Brewers' General Manager / President Paul Fetz said. "Our regular season home-schedule will finish off with a double-header that will also serve as our fan appreciation day." Game one of the twin-bill will feature Brewers' right-hander Rico Salmon starting on the mound versus Missoula's righty Brett Reynolds. Game two is scheduled to have Helena right-hander Cody Scarpetta versus Missoula righty Trevor Harden.

Link while active, text follows: Power losing skid doesn't concern Isom West Virginia manager says team ready for playoffs starting Wednesday by Christopher Wade For the Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After seeing his team go through the grind of playing 135 games in the season, Power manager Jeff Isom understands why the mindset might not be the same for the last four games. After all, the hard work put in throughout the season has paid off for the Power, which clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season Friday night. That's why despite obviously wanting to win every game, Isom isn't too upset with the fact that the Power took a three-game losing streak into today's holiday regular-season finale. The Power have lost the last three games to the Kannapolis Intimidators, including Sunday's 9-8 defeat at Appalachian Power Park in front of a crowd of 3,028. "Your mental mindset is different after grinding it out all season long and where every game means something," said Isom, whose team opens the South Atlantic League Northern Division best-of-three playoff series at home Wednesday night against Lake County. "After clinching Friday, it's understandable. "We've did a few things differently with our pitching staff than we normally wouldn't have done." Despite Isom understanding his players' minds may not be in the regular season's final four games as much after clinching the playoff berth, the players insist they are still playing the game the same way. "We want to get something going into the playoffs," Power outfielder Caleb Gindl said. "We are still coming out here every day to try and win. We are doing everything we do like it would be any other day." Power catcher Eric Fryer said there's no panic. "We have been loose, and haven't been pressing," Fryer said. "That can be good or bad but obviously we want to win some games. You don't want to be stumbling going into the playoffs." Despite the rough stretch the last few games both Isom and the players also know that the main thing is that the team is in the playoffs with an opportunity for an SAL title. "From where we started at the beginning of the year, we knew what we had to do," Gindl said. "It hasn't been an easy road at all. We have done a great job battling through that and coming out and making the playoffs." "It's been a long grind," Fryer said. "We have come a long way from where we were at the beginning of the year. It's a credit to our team playing hard day in and day out. It's a huge tribute for us to make the playoffs." Added Isom, "It's a nice reward as things started clicking in the second half and I'm real pleased the way the guys played. They improved over the course of the season and they got the job done and now we are in the playoffs." Over the last few games, Isom has been able to give some guys some much needed rest to try and get his players in the best possible position for a deep playoff run. With today being the last day of the regular season, Fryer, who should easily clinch the SAL batting title, sat out Saturday's game and Gindl, the league's ninth best hitter, didn't play Sunday. "We want to make sure everyone is healthy," Fryer said. " We want people to get some work in still but its nice to be able to give some guys a day off and get some guys in that don't get to play a lot." Isom is glad he has been able to get some of his key guys some rest, but in today's afternoon Labor Day game, he will play his postseason lineup in an effort to get them prepared for Wednesday's playoff opener. "Some guys needed some rest as that was Caleb's first game that he didn't have action in all season long," Isom said. "And with what Fryer has done, behind the plate, he has wore down a bit. "It is nice to clinch early and have the luxury of a few extra days to work with to align your pitching and get some guys some much needed rest."

Standings through Sunday's action (Arizona League standings represent entire season): Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 83 58 .589 - 48-23 35-35 L1 Memphis 74 67 .525 9.0 36-33 38-34 L2 Omaha 62 81 .434 22.0 30-42 32-39 W1 Nashville 59 81 .421 23.5 29-42 30-39 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 41 28 .594 - 22-12 19-16 W1 Tennessee 35 33 .515 5.5 15-19 20-14 L1 Huntsville 32 37 .464 9.0 17-18 15-19 W1 Chattanooga 29 39 .426 11.5 15-19 14-20 L1 West Tenn 29 39 .426 11.5 14-20 15-19 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 38 24 .613 - 24-9 14-15 L1 Jupiter 41 28 .594 0.5 21-16 20-12 W1 St. Lucie 34 31 .523 5.5 15-16 19-15 W2 Palm Beach 33 34 .493 7.5 18-15 15-19 W1 Brevard County 31 38 .449 10.5 14-19 17-19 L2 Vero Beach 20 46 .303 20.0 8-23 12-23 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 44 25 .638 - 22-12 22-13 L3 Lakewood 42 27 .609 2.0 20-15 22-12 W2 Delmarva 39 30 .565 5.0 18-16 21-14 L2 Lake County 33 36 .478 11.0 18-17 15-19 L4 Greensboro 27 40 .403 16.0 14-20 13-20 W1 Hagerstown 27 42 .391 17.0 14-20 13-22 W3 Lexington 24 44 .353 19.5 12-23 12-21 L1 Hickory 21 47 .309 22.5 8-25 13-22 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 17 14 .548 - 13-5 4-9 L1 Great Falls 17 16 .515 1.0 9-7 8-9 W1 Helena 12 21 .364 6.0 4-12 8-9 L1 Missoula 10 22 .313 7.5 8-7 2-15 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 39 17 .696 - 21-7 18-10 W7 AZL Giants 36 20 .643 3.0 19-9 17-11 W2 AZL Rangers 34 22 .607 5.0 18-10 16-12 W4 AZL Padres 33 23 .589 6.0 18-10 15-13 L2 AZL Cubs 31 24 .564 7.5 20-8 11-16 L5 AZL Royals 23 33 .411 16.0 13-15 10-18 W1 AZL Athletics 21 35 .375 18.0 11-17 10-18 W1 AZL Mariners 21 35 .375 18.0 11-17 10-18 L2 AZL Brewers 13 42 .236 25.5 9-18 4-24 L2

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 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. Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_09_01_hunaax_cngaax_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_09_01_kanafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_09_01_misrok_helrok_1

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Season complete Huntsville: RHP Alex Periard at Chattanooga (Reds), 1:00 PM pre-game; 1:15 gametime; season finale Audio link via WUMP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: Season complete West Virginia: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Kannapolis (White Sox), 11:55 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime; regular season finale Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525 Helena: RHP Rico Salmon at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:55 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Audio link via KCAP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433 Arizona: Season complete

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New photos, profiles on Power site

Link while active, text follows: See you in September Rottino called up by Brewers By Peter Jackel, Racine Journal Times First came the word. Then came the chaos. Shortly after Vinny Rottino arrived in New Orleans Friday with his Nashville Sounds teammates for a season-ending series, he was informed by manager Frank Kremblas that he would be called up by the Milwaukee Brewers Sept. 1 when major league baseball teams can expand their rosters. That night, while catching against the Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs, Rottino learned Saturday's scheduled night game was being moved up to 11 a.m. because of the threat from approaching Hurricane Gustav. Before long, word came that the three remaining games of the series were being cancelled altogether. "If we would have played (Saturday), there would have been horrible traffic coming out of there," Rottino said. "They said last time with Hurricane Katrina (in 2005), it took 15 hours to get from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Usually, it's a two- or three-hour trip. "People who are leaving now are going to be struggling to get out of there. I mean, that thing is headed right for the coast." At 9 a.m. Saturday, Rottino boarded a charter bus with his teammates for a nine-hour trip back to Nashville because Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans was being closed. Upon arriving at Nashville at around 6 p.m., Rottino immediately loaded his Mitsubishi Galant and drove five hours to Indianapolis, where he stayed the night. And early Sunday morning, he was back on the road, with plans to make a quick visit in Racine with his parents, Tony and Marcia, before heading to Milwaukee. Rottino will be in a Brewers uniform Monday when the Brewers continue their chase for the playoffs with a 1:05 p.m. game against the New York Mets at Miller Park. Also included in the Brewers' September call-up were pitchers Tim Dillard, Mark DiFelice and Mitch Stetter, center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr., first baseman Brad Nelson and third basemen Joe Dillon and Mat Gamel of Class AAA Nashville and shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Angel Salome of Class AA Huntsville. Roving infield coordinator Garth Iorg also is joining the Brewers' staff for the remainder of the season. Is Rottino gassed after such a hectic weekend, during which he saw about 100 buses lined up in the Zephyrs Stadium parking lot to assist in the mandatory evacuation, intensifying traffic jams and closed down ATM machines? Actually, he probably has enough adrenalin to catch a doubleheader, with both games going into extra innings. Joining a team with a good chance to secure its first playoff berth since 1982, when Rottino was 2 years old, and getting a chance to learn from veteran catcher Jason Kendall offers an exhilaration that dwarfs fatigue. "It's extremely thrilling," said Rottino, a 1998 St. Catherine's High School graduate and former UW-La Crosse standout. "For cryin' out loud, the Brewers haven't had this kind of season since when? "I'm just going to go in and do what they need me to do. I feel confident in however they need to use me. I'm able to catch, I'm able to play third, first and outfield as well, I can come off the bench and hit. "Just whatever they need me to do - and I'll be taking it all in, of course." But if the Racine native does feel some fatigue, he has every right to feel that way. When the Brewers' season ended last fall, he reported to the Dominican Republic Oct. 12 for an instructional league that ended Dec. 24. After working out for a month in January, Rottino maintained a week-long hospital vigil with Jack Schiestle, his former coach with the Racine Kiwanis, after Schiestle's wife was diagnosed with cancer. Then he reported to the Brewers' training camp and went on to catch 118 games this year for the Sounds. His offensive numbers were decent this season, but not quite at the level they were at during his previous five years in the Brewers' minor-league organization. He hit .260 with 59 runs scored, 112 hits, 30 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 55 RBIs. Also, Rottino drew 31 walks, struck out 72 times and had a .313 on-base average. But if Rottino wasn't the hitter he's been in the past, he was twice the catcher. "I caught last year, then I caught 40 games down in the Dominican and then I caught another 100-plus games here with not a whole lot of break in between," he said. "It was definitely a good learning experience here. I was up and down with the bat , but I feel I learned how to call a good game. "When I watch a game now, all I watch is the catcher. How is he doing the fundamentals? How is he receiving the ball? How is blocking the ball and how is he throwing the ball? That's all just second nature to me now. "But that's not as important as what a catcher does behind the plate as far as dealing with a pitching staff. That's the most important thing. And I've learned how to do that a lot better." Rottino's education will be accelerated starting today when he gets the chance to learn from Kendall, a 13-year major-league veteran. "He's the best at dealing with pitching staffs, with calling a game," Rottino said. "Every pitcher loves throwing to him. That's the kind of catcher that I'd love to be." Rottino has appeared in 17 games for the Brewers during the last two September call-ups. In 23 at-bats, he has five hits with two doubles and four RBIs.

Indications are RHP Wily Peralta (early exit from Saturday's Power game, possible leg injury) is fine.

Evan Anundsen went 2-4 with a 6.35 ERA in August -- the 20-year-old 2006 4th round pick out of Columbine High pitched 77.1 innings at Helena in '07 and now has 145 innings in with the Power plus any postseason to come. Even allowing for innings unofficially thrown in Maryvale before the Pioneer League season last year, has any pitcher been over-used more than the promising Anundsen?

Final: Kannapolis (White Sox) 9, West Virginia 8 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER FALL IN SLUGFEST AGAINST KANNAPOLIS The West Virginia Power and Kannapolis Intimidators combined to score 17 runs on 26 hits on Sunday night at Appalachian Power Park. The Intimidators erased a pair of early deficits and sent the Power to their third straight loss with a 9-8 victory. West Virginia took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI doubles from Eric Fryer and Curt Rindal. Kannapolis tied the game just a half inning later with a run-scoring double from Brent Morel and an RBI single from Christian Marrero. The Power took their final lead of the game in the bottom of the second on Mike Vass' two-run homer, his first with the Power. Kannapolis scored four runs on six hits in the third inning to take the lead and never looked back. The first six batters hit safely. Gordon Beckham singled in the first run, Jorge Castillo's base hit scored the next two and Morel drove in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. Morel struck again in the sixth inning on a solo homer to give Kannapolis a three-run lead. The Power scored twice with two outs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one. Zelous Wheeler doubled in the first run and scored on Matt Cline's base hit. Beckham belted a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Kannapolis a 9-6 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Fryer walked with the bases loaded to bring the Power within two before Steffan Wilson reached on a fielder's choice to plate the final run of the night. The game ended with the tying run at third base. Levi Maxwell (15-5) did well enough to get the win. He allowed six runs on ten hits over five and two-thirds to get his 15th victory. His 15 wins are tied for the most in the league. Tyson Corley tossed the final two-thirds of the ninth and got his second save of the season. Evan Anundsen (12-8) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits over three innings. The Power fell to 76-62 on the year and 44-25 in the second half with the loss. The Intimidators improved to 67-67 on the year and 36-28 in the second half with the win. Four Power players turned in multi-hit games, including Eric Farris who paced the Power with a 3-for-5 performance, extending his hitting streak to eight games. Steffan Wilson has knocked in 99 runs and needs three tomorrow afternoon to tie the franchise record. The Power will finish the five game series and the regular season against the Kannapolis Intimidators at Appalachian Power Park on Monday afternoon. The Power will start left hander Dan Merklinger (7-9, 6.03) and the Intimidators will counter with right hander Jason Rice (8-8, 4.47). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM (12:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Eric Fryer had a throwing error from left field, his 14th error overall -- it'd be interesting to know the breakdown LF vs. C vs. 1B (I seem to remember a disastrous experiment at first base, a three-error game, perhaps); Caleb Gindl's turn for a day off; Lee Haydel at .298 heading into Monday's regular season finale; despite the nine runs allowed, Power pitchers Evan Anundsen, Roque Mercedes, and Curtis Pasma walked none and struck out 12... West Virginia Game Log

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 4, Brevard County 0 Brevard County Box Score Hang in there, Mel Stocker -- a minor league free agent once the official deadline comes in October -- we'll begin work for our readers in indentifying all who fall under that category; simply too many Manatee box scores looked exactly like this one in 2008; the Brewers are committed to Space Coast Stadium and the 'Tees through 2010 -- we'll see how right-handed bats like Eric Fryer and Steffan Wilson fare there next year... Brevard County Game Log

Helena Independent Record Photos by Cliff Pfenning - Helena center fielder Cutter Dykstra looks on in disbelief after the Brewers loss to Great Falls 6-5 in 10 innings Sunday. http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2008/09/01/sports/top/50spl_080901_brewers.jpg The Brewers huddle in the dugout at Kindrick Legion Field. http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/09/01/sports/top/50spl_080901_brewers-2.jpg "The plug on the life support is ready to wriggle out of the outlet." -- Helena announcer Steve Wendt.

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 6, Helena 5, ten innings Link while active, text follows: Brewers need miracle: Helena's chances of making playoffs plummet after loss to Voyagers By CLIFF PFENNING - Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers did their part to make the Pioneer League playoff race exciting Sunday at Kindrick Legion Field - except they lost. Leading 5-1 entering the ninth, the Brewers gave up four runs, couldn't score with the bases loaded and no outs in their half of the ninth and lost 6-5 in 10 innings to Great Falls. The loss all-but-assured the Voyagers of a spot in the four-team league playoffs. Helena (32-38 overall) needs to win its final five games and have the Voyagers (35-35) lose at least one game for the teams to finish in a tie, which would be broken by their head-to-head record. A win Sunday would have put the Brewers just two games back with five games left. "This is a very frustrating loss," said Helena center fielder Cutter Dykstra. "Every one-run loss is frustrating, but we had a big lead and then had a chance to win and it didn't happen. "It's an especially frustrating loss because of the playoff race." Helena plays host to Missoula Monday at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). The Brewers' home schedule ends Tuesday with another game against Missoula. They close the season with three games at Billings, which is leading the North Division second-half standings. Helena led 3-1 entering the bottom of the fifth when rain caused a two-hour delay, which caused players and coaches in both dugouts to wonder whether the game might be made official. Helena would have won 3-1. But, the umpiring crew, after conferring with league officials by phone, held out long enough for the rain to cease and the field made playable. Still, the Brewers added a run in their half of the fifth and again in the sixth and carried a four-run lead into the ninth. Then, the game slipped away. Reliever Adam Arnold gave up four runs on just three hits in an unfortunate two-thirds of an inning. Arnold appeared to have induced a game-ending double play grounder to second with one out and runners and first and third, but he stabbed at the ball and it fell for a run-scoring single, cutting the lead to 5-2. After a strikeout, Arnold walked two batters to score a run and balked home another run as manager Rene Gonzales headed to the mound to install Brandon Rapoza. Rapoza appeared to have induced a game-ending grounder to second, but he also stabbed at the ball and it fell for a run-scoring single to tie the game. Dykstra made a diving catch of a long fly to end the inning, then reached base on an infield single to open the bottom of the ninth. Dykstra advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch, just 90 feet from scoring the winning run with no outs. "I had some adrenaline going there," Dykstra said. "I had that catch in center and then I was ready to score the winning run, but it just didn't happen." Great Falls put the next two batters on to load the bases, got a force out at home and a double play to end the threat. Johny Celis homered to right to open the 10th and Great Falls headed home with an improbable win. "We've been doing a lot of things like we did in the ninth, so it's not surprising," Great Falls manager Cris Cron said. "We haven't won a lot of games when we're down like that, but we can make things happen, get guys on and keep games going. "And we got a little lucky with a couple breaks." Helena had 12 hits, but left 12 runners on base. Great Falls finished with three errors. "It's a loss like any other," Gonzalez said. "We should have won, just like we should have won other close games earlier in the season." Helena Box Score There probably hasn't been a more painful loss by any affiliate this season, short of the one-game playoff loss suffered by Huntsville to establish the first-half division championship; Chris Dennis and Corey Kemp were the ground ball spoilers in the 9th; RHP Santo Manzanillo pitched two scoreless to open the game, despite walking two and seeing three bases stolen (one double steal); RHP's Cody Adams and Garrett Sherrill threw well in relief; John Delaney 3-for-6, Erik Komatsu on base four times (.404 OBP, .963 OPS); attendance only 245 on a chilly night -- after the rain delay, how many could have possibly been left in the stands? 30? Helena Game Log

The Huntsville Jersey bidding thread has been updated -- you have until midnight Monday night. It has to be asked -- does Monday's game mark the end of the nine-year Huntsville - Milwaukee association? Jacksonville will be a prized alternative across baseball. The Southern League could have a slightly new look after the season. Workings agreements between the Jacksonville Suns and Los Angeles Dodgers, Chattanooga Lookouts and Cincinnati Reds, Carolina Mudcats and Florida Marlins, Huntsville Stars and Milwaukee Brewers and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and Seattle Mariners expire when the season ends. Teams can begin negotiations Sept. 16 and have a two-week period to re-sign. Teams without deals in place by Oct. 1 will be assigned affiliations by Minor League Baseball by Oct. 7.

Updated bidding list: ## Size Player Red Gray Blue 1 L Mike Bell $150 $150 2 L Jay Gibbons, Anderson de la Rosa $150 $150 3 L Matt LaPorta $300 AL SOLD 4 L $150 $150 5 XL Mike Bell, # Retired $150 SOLD $150 Treece Page 6 XL $150 $150 7 XL Don Money $150 $150 8 XL Guilder Rodriguez $150 $150 9 XL Cole Gillespie $150 $150 10 XL Juan Sandoval $150 $150 Jay Saucier 11 XL Michael Garciaparra, Ryan Crew $150 Ralph M. Meza III $150 Ralph M. Meza III 12 XL $150 Tim Harmon $150 13 XL $150 $150 14 XL $150 $150 15 XL Alcides Escobar $325 Louis Kaufman $250 Mark Zook 16 XL Sandy Guerrero $150 $150 17 XL Ozzie Chavez, Mat Gamel $250 Tom Wondra $175 Markys Wagner 18 XL Lorenzo Cain, Steve Hammond $150 $150 19 XL Steve Bray, Thomas Atlee $150 $150 20 XL Jeremy Jeffress, Derek Miller $205 Markys Wagner $150 21 XL Martin Maldonado, Joe Bateman $150 $150 22 XL Chris Errecart $150 $150 23 XL Mike Jones, Rusty Tucker $150 $150 24 XL Michael Brantley $175 Donald Verhesen $150 25 XL Alex Periard, Carlos Corporan $150 $150 26 XL Angel Salome $245 Mark Zook $245 Mark Zook 27 XL Robert Hinton $150 $150 28 XL $150 $150 29 XL Omar Aguilar, EJ Shanks $150 $150 30 XL Brae Wright $150 $150 31 XL Ben Howard $150 $150 32 XL Freddy Parejo $150 $150 33 XL Patrick Ryan $150 Kathleen Wood $150 34 XXL David Johnson $150 $150 35 XXL Yohannis Perez, Troy Cate, JR Hopf $150 $150 36 XXL Nick Ungs, Melqui Torres, Ben Stanczyk $150 $150 37 XXL Chris Hook $150 $150 38 XXL David Welch $150 $150 39 XXL Donovan Hand $150 Louis Kaufman $150 40 XXL Brent Krause, Jason Shiell, Sam Narron $150 MG Stein $150 All jersey sales include free shipping and a 2008 uncut card sheet!

Final: Huntsville 4, Chattanooga (Reds) 3, ten innings Huntsville Site Game Summary: Errecart Helps Stars Earn Win in Extras Sandoval Survives Shaky Tenth to Slam Door Shut By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Chris Errecart knocked in the winning run and Juan Sandoval worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the tenth to preserve Huntsville's 4-3 win Sunday evening in the next to last regular season game at AT&T Field. The Stars improved to 32-37 in the second half and 73-66 overall, while the Lookouts fell to 29-39 in the half and to 66-72 overall. The Stars lead the season series 14-10 and have won eight of 14 in Chattanooga. Ozzie Chavez led off the tenth against Ramon Geronimo with a single, moved to second base on a Freddy Parejo bunt, to third base on a fielding error by shortstop Chris Valaika and came home on Errecart's fly ball to center field. Errecart was up as a pinch-hitter and delivered his first scoring fly ball since July 30. Sandoval took over in the tenth and issued a walk and hit two batters before getting Eric Eymann to pop up and striking out Chris Denove to end the game and earn his 20th save. Cole Gillespie broke up a scoreless game with a home run to straightaway center field in the top half of the sixth inning. It was his 14th of the season and first since July 22 at Carolina. Chris Heisey led off the home half of the inning with an infield hit, moved to second base on a throwing error on the play by second baseman Mike Bell and scored when Justin Turner singled into left field. Lookouts starter Sam LeCure lasted six innings, giving up five hits, walking three and fanning three and finished the season 9-7, including a loss and four no-decisions against the Stars. Justin James and Lee Tabor combined to retire the Stars in order in the seventh. B.J. Szymanski batted for Tabor and delivered a double with two outs in the home half of the innig and came in to score to give the Lookouts a 2-1 on a Sean Henry single to right field. Stars' starter Brae Wright went seven innings, allowing six hits, while walking one and fanning four. He finished the season with four losses and seven no-decisions after grabbing his last win at Carolina on June 26. Joe Valentine took over for the Looks in the eighth and allowed a one-out single to Michael Garciaparra, that pushed his hitting streak to 11 games, before Bell blasted his tenth home run of the season, and first of the month, to give the Stars the lead back at 3-2. Turner led off the home half of the inning with a walk against David Johnson and came in to score to tie the game on a two-out single by Tonys Gutierrez. The Stars loaded the bases in the top of the ninth against Sean Watson but could not score, as Bell popped up to first and Gillespie struck out. Johnson retired the home side in order in the bottom half of the frame and wound up with his fifth win of the year. The 2008 season concludes Monday afternoon with right-hander Alex Periard taking the hill for the Stars against Lookouts' southpaw Pedro Viola. Coverage begins at 1:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com . Huntsville Box Score Should you choose to listen to the August 31st audio archive of the game, RHP Donovan Hand acted as Brett Pollock's color man; Alcides Escobar and Angel Salome did not play, on their way to Milwaukee; Cole Gillespie on base four times, .385 OBP, .854 OPS; closer Juan Sandoval is like a circus act with the hold-your-breath moments, at least this one had a happy ending... Huntsville Game Log