Jim Goulart

News-Herald in Cleveland: Rob Bryson, the promising right-handed reliever who was one of three prospects sent to the Indians from the Milwaukee system in the CC Sabathia deal, was forced out of Sunday's game in the eighth inning. Bryson reported discomfort in his shoulder and elbow. He will be examined today by Tribe team doctors.

Link while active, text follows: Sounds suffer meltdown in extra-inning defeat By STEVE SILVER Tennessean Staff Writer The Nashville Sounds and extra innings do not mix well. After starting pitcher Mark DiFelice turned in an eight-inning, two-hit outing, the Sounds allowed nine runs in the 11th inning as the Portland Beavers routed the Sounds 10-1 at Greer Stadium on Sunday night. The Sounds have lost all five of their home extra-inning games in large part to Luis Pena's inability to close games. Pena, who allowed four runs in the ninth inning of an extra-inning loss to Tacoma last Friday, entered Sunday's game with the score tied 1-1 in the 11th. After getting two outs, he then gave up six runs on five hits, including Luke Carlin's home run onto Chestnut Street. "His command was clearly off," Manager Frank Kremblas said of his closer. "It comes down to execution big time late in the game, especially with pitching. If you don't execute you are in trouble." Pena, who pitched in the Triple-A All-Star Game, is 0-2 with a 29.08 ERA in his last five appearances. He is still third in the Pacific Coast League with 15 saves. Following Pena's meltdown, shortstop Adam Heether took over on the mound. Heether gave up two home runs. Gibbons suits up: Veteran outfielder Jay Gibbons made his first appearance in a Sounds uniform Sunday, and helped his new team score its only run. In the eighth inning, he singled to advance Tony Gwynn to third. Gwynn scored on a fielder's choice. Gibbons, who spent the previous seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, fielded just one ball while starting in right field for injured Brendan Katin. "I'm glad I'm moving up and not down," Gibbons said. "It's good to be here. I'm just trying to blend in." The Orioles released Gibbons, who was named in the Mitchell Report on steroids, in spring training. Welcome back: The Sounds placed infielder Callix Crabbe on the disabled list because of a case of the chicken pox and called up catcher J.R. Hopf from Huntsville on Sunday. Hopf batted .324 (11-for-34) in 15 games for the Sounds earlier this season, but he spent the last three weeks in Huntsville where he hit .182 (8-for-44) in 15 games. July woes: The Sounds are 9-15 in July, with the worst team batting average in the PCL (.247) and a league-low 13 home runs for the month. What they said: "He was effectively wild and did a nice job," - Kremblas on Portland starting pitcher Cesar Ramos, who held the Sounds scoreless in 6 2/3 innings.

Nashville Photo Gallery from the Tennessean

Link while active, text follows: Brewers outlast Osprey in extra innings By CASEY TRANG - The Missoulian The Missoula Osprey made one last try to fly North in the Pioneer League standings Sunday as the first half of the season came to a close, but Helena's Mike Roberts grounded the Birds with a three-run homer in the top of the 14th to set up a 10-7 win for the Brewers. Helena's Chris Dennis helped stage the win for his team with a leadoff single in the top of the 14th, which bounced off the shoulder of Missoula first baseman Ryne White. Erik Miller then reached first off of a sacrifice bunt to give the Brewers a pair of runners at first and second and Roberts cleaned up the bases with a towering shot over left-center field. Roberts' homer capped a 19-hit performance for Helena, which ended its opening half of the season in second place of the Northern Division standings with a 20-18 record. The Osprey finished with a league-worst 9-29 mark, but come Monday, the Birds along with the rest of the league squads will reset their records for the second and final installment of the season. Of course this bodes well for Missoula. "You know it's nice to get a second start at this," said Osprey left fielder Bobby Stone, "but you know if we were in first place in the first half I probably wouldn't want to do it. We struggled a little in the first half so we are excited for the second half." Missoula didn't exactly look like a cellar-dwelling squad against Helena. The Osprey came back twice in the game to force extra innings. Isaias Ascencio and White each had line drives to right field in the bottom of the ninth to drive in a run apiece and lead the Osprey to their first comeback, which knotted the game up at 6-6. Helena's John Delaney returned the favor in the top of the 12th with a single that drove in Derrick Alfonso and gave the Brewers a 7-6 lead. The one-run cushion wasn't enough to interrupt the Osprey's extra-inning flight. Missoula once again erased the Brewers lead in the bottom of the 12th, this time behind the bats of Tyrell Worthington and Bobby Stone. Worthington, Missoula's No. 9 hitter, slapped a two-out single to right field to score Stone, who was sitting on third after belting a lead-off triple to center. The bottom of both teams' lineups came on strong in the game. Roberts, who bats in the seven spot, was 3-for-5. Helena's No. 8 hitter Alfonso had a pair of singles and Mike Marseco, who hits at the bottom of the order, doubled and finished with a team-high four hits. Brock Kjeldgaard also had an impressive night for the Brewers. The cleanup hitter was a triple shy of the cycle and knocked in four runs. Alberto Diaz , Kyle Green, Ascencio and White finished with three hits apiece for Missoula. White's three knocks included a home run and a double. Monday is the beginning of the second half of the season for the Osprey as they once again host the Brewers. "Spending as much time as we have with each other everyday we are starting to figure out what we need to do to play better baseball," Missoula third baseman Kyle Greene said. "We are definitely picking up a little bit." Notes: Roberts' 3-run shot to end the game was just his second home run of the season and accounted for a third of his RBI on the year ... Kjeldgaard entered the game third in the league for extra-base hits and runs scored and second in doubles. He tacked on a pair of extra-base hits, a double and a run scored to his tally Sunday ... Missoula went from a record Sunday crowd of 3,194 fans two weeks ago to just 1,655 in this most recent game. Helena Box Score Mike Marseco (5'9", 145) can review the 14-year big league career of Freddie Patek here, who was actually four inches shorter, so as Marseco fills out, this comp may not be a valid; Nick Tyson proves again he has this Helena thing down; RHP Garrett Sherrill was something -- he worked out of a man-on-third, no out jam in the 11th to keep the game going, then almost did the same in the 12th... Helena Game Log

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Periard makes his Stars debut Alexandre Periard, a 23rd round draft pick in 2003 in his 4th year in the Brewers' system, made it to Huntsville, Saturday night, becoming the 23rd pitcher used by the Stars this season, six shy of the record set in 2006, and the 10th starter. The Tennessean reports that the Sounds will recall 1st baseman J.R. Hopf. Nashville has a shortage with Callix Crabbe and Carlos Corporan sidelined with chicken pox and Brendan Katin on the disabled list. How have the losses of Matt LaPorta and Chris Errecart affected the club? In all fairness, it should be asked how have injuries affected the club with Alcides Escobar on the bench with a hurt forefinger and Michael Brantley who aggravated a sore ankle......... Since Errecart was placed on the DL on July 5 and LaPorta's trade to the Cleveland Indians the next day, the Stars were 8-3 immediately afterwards, but were humbled after the Southern League All-Star break, and have gone 4-6 since. With the absence of both players, the Stars have hit .298 -- which was their average, plus or minus some small change -- at the time of the deal. Since the All-Star break, however, the Stars have hit just .248 and .230 in their last six games, owing much to the additional losses of Brantley and Escobar........ Brantley has had just six at-bats all of July as it comes to a close. Out of that comes two singles and a triple........Injuries aren't all that have affected the Stars' offense in July. Carlos Corporan was promoted to Nashville on June 30. He was 10-for-22 in his last five games. The Stars on Monday start a five-game series with a double-header thrown in against Montgomery at The Joe. The opener will be a mismatch, with Mike Jones (0-3, 7.43) facing David Price (4-0, 2.19). The Vandy product was the #1 pick in the nation in the 2007 June draft. Surpassing the wildest hype, he won his first eight professional appearances, first at Class A-Vero Beach (FSL), then at Montgomery. Cocky? He said he expected to go 10-0 with an ERA of 0.00 in his first ten appearances. Can you believe it?....... He's not that good, but in a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees last March, he struck out the side on just 12 pitches........ His strikeout-walk ratio with the Biscuits (31:12) hasn't as impressive as it was when he left Vero (37:7), and Southern League batters have hit .241 against him, and he's come up without a decision in his last two starts, so he is human, but opponents are hitting just .214 against him when he's on the road with the Biscuits...... Fans will see Rocco Baldelli this homestand, who is on the comeback trail for the Tampa Bay Rays. Baldelli had been recovering at Vero Beach from a groin injury, but his comeback journey has been more involved. He had a rare mitochondrial disorder, which causes muscle fatigue in his legs, and threatened his career....... Smokies reliever Darin Downs, who's pitched twice against the Stars this season, was traded to the Rays for a PTBNL and he will be in a Biscuits uniform for this upcoming series. Lorenzo Cain helped give Periard a 1-0 lead in the 1st...... He met Aaron Thompson's 2-1 pitch with a line drive single to left. Mike Bell (.261), followed with a double to right-center that moved the speedy Cain to third. Bell was supposed to serve out his suspension Friday and Saturday, but because of the Stars' injury problems, he received special permission from the league to play in this game. Bell made the most of it....... Mat Gamel enjoyed his 23rd birthday this date with a 2-for-4 game. Neither of his hits drove in a run, but his grounder to short drove in Cain gave the Stars a 1-0 lead....... Gamel has hit safely in four straight, including his first two-hit game since July 17, after ending an 0-for-15 slump, his longest of the season. In the bottom of the 1st, Periard, with a 1-0 lead, was greeted by a leadoff double to left by John Raynor, the league's stolen base leader, in the 1st, but the Stars defense (a nifty play by Guilder Rodriguez and a throw to erase Dante Brinkley on a stolen base try) got Periard out of trouble........ In the top of the 2nd, G.Rod picked up just his 2nd extra-base hit of the year when he lined a pitch down the right field line which bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double. A sacrifice that moved him to third was wasted when Cain was doubled up on a freakish double play when he hit what looked to be going foul, but hit the 1st base bag instead and conveniently popped in the air to meet Gaby Sanchez's glove. Sanchez tagged the bag, and threw to the plate where Andrew Jenkins tagged G.Rod for the 3rd out....... The Stars also hit into double plays in the 3rd and 4th innings. The Mudcats tied the game in the 5th and went ahead for good in the 6th on a one-out double by Chris Coghlan that scored Raynor, who singled to right to leadoff the inning, stole 2nd, then went to third on a balk by Periard with Coghlan at bat. After a 3-1 changeup for a strike, Coghlan ripped a ball down the right field line for an RBI double. The Stars scored their final run on a home run by Angel Salome, which bounced off the top of the wall in right field. It was only the 4th home run hit off Mobley (19 saves) all season in 43 2/3 innings....... Cole Gillespie hit two of the other three hit by Huntsville hitters (May 16 and June 24)....... Gillespie hit 3-for-16 in the series and 8-for-40 vs. Carolina at Five County Stadium this season........ Gillespie picked up his 100th hit of the season, Thursday. Salome will be the 5th Huntsville Stars to get 100 hits with his next one, presumably against Montgomery........ Waiting in the wings is Mike Bell, who has 90........ The last Stars team that had six or more hitters with 100 or more hits, was surprisingly the 1996 Stars with Mark Bellhorn (117), Steve Cox (107), David Francisco (100), Willie Morales (110), Charles Poe (110), Demond Smith (116), and Jason Wood (128)......... Salome had three passed balls in the game, the most since Jeff Winchester set a record four in a game against Mississippi, August 5, 2005. That gives Salome 12 for the season, the most since Winchester's 14 that same season..... Former Huntsville Stars J.C. Boscan is leading Southern League catchers in fielding with a .996 pct.. Omar Aguilar, who walked three hitters in Carolina's 3-run 7th, has walked 9 in 8 innings of relief in July....... Steve Bray, who finished the game for the Stars, has now thrown 10 consecutive scoreless innings in relief. The Stars have committed 22 errors this month, down from 35 in June, their highest total in four years........ The Stars have also had eight games in July with 10 or more hits. Since 1998, they've only had one July with 10 or more....... The Stars are 9-18 in one-run games in the last three months. They were 5-2 in April....... They are 11-11 in July, threatening their streak of five consecutive winning months, going back to last year. Carolina pitcher Willie Glen (6-3, x.xx) was sent to Class A-Jamestown (NYP) following his three-inning starting appearance in the Stars' 3-0 win (their only win of this series), Thursday........ David Welch and Juan Sandoval spun the first one-hitter in Stars history since May 11 of last year. Welch also became the 2nd pitcher in Stars history to be part of a no-hitter and a one-hitter in the same season. So here's my trivia question of the week: Who was the first? Drop me a line at dweiser26@hotmail.com ........ The Diamond Jaxx released pitchers Craig James (1-4, 6.23) and Jason Mackintosh (5-4, 2.86). One of James' losses came against Huntsville in relief, June 9. Mackintosh's release is mysterious. He had a 1.59 ERA in 11+ innings in July...... The Dodgers released former Huntsville Stars shortstop Mark Bellhorn last Thursday. He was hitting .242 with 7 home runs in 59 games for the Jacksonville Suns........ The Dodgers traded former Jacksonville pitcher Jackson Meloan to the Cleveland Indians.

Final: Helena 10, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 7, 14 innings Mike Roberts hit a three-run HR in the top of the 14th for the game-winner; very eventful, obviously, and we'll wait for the media report summaries in the AM...

Final: Portland (Padres) 10, Nashville 1, 11 innings Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Mark DiFelice photo, text follows -- Sounds Give Up Nine In 11th Inning, Lose 10-1 NASHVILLE - The Portland Beavers erupted for nine runs with two outs in the top of the eleventh inning to hang a 10-1 defeat on the Nashville Sounds on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium. With the loss, Nashville (42-66) fell to 0-5 at home in extra-inning contests this season. Peter Ciofrone led off the eleventh with a walk against Sounds reliever Luis Pena, then Will Venable singled and Justin Huber was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Pena induced a rare 4-2-3 double play grounder from Vince Sinisi to put two outs up on the board before Brett Dowdy jumped on the first pitch he saw from the right-hander and roped a two-run single to left to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Beavers reliever Edwin Moreno stepped into the box and helped his own cause when he followed with a bouncing RBI single up the middle to plate Dowdy and extend the lead to 4-1. After a Matt Antonelli single, Portland catcher Luke Carlin crushed a mammoth three-run homer to right field that landed on Chestnut Street, well beyond the outfield wall. Shortstop Adam Heether took over on the Nashville hill to make his third pitching appearance of the year and was greeted by a Craig Stansberry solo homer to right, his seventh longball of the year. The inning continued as Ciofrone cheaply extended Portland's longest hitting streak of the year to 24 games with a ducksnort to left off Heether after opening the game 0-for-3 against regular Nashville pitchers. The 24-game streak matches Sounds catcher Vinny Rottino and Iowa's Andres Torres for the longest by a PCL player this season. Venable - the 11th Beaver hitter of the frame - then capped the onslaught with a two-run homer to right off Heether, his tenth roundtripper of the season. The nine runs in the 11th frame were the second-most allowed by Nashville in a single inning this season; the Sounds surrendered 10 to Albuquerque during the second inning on April 19 at Isotopes Park. Moreno (5-2) was the beneficiary of the Portland outburst and picked up the win after working two scoreless innings. Pena (1-2) was tagged with his second loss in his last five outings after giving up six runs on five hits and a walk in two-thirds of a frame. Sinisi put the visitors on the board in the top of the second inning when he belted a leadoff solo homer to right off Sounds starter Mark DiFelice. The blast was his third of the season. Nashville rallied to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth against former Sound Joe Thatcher. With one out, Tony Gwynn and Jay Gibbons put together back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners for Joe Dillon, who delivered an RBI fielder's choice grounder to plate Gwynn with the tying run. Both starters left with no-decisions despite a pair of outstanding efforts. DiFelice allowed one run on only two hits while walking two batters and striking out seven in eight innings of work, his longest outing of the year. He threw 96 pitches (70 strikes) and lowered his ERA to 2.63 through nine starts with Nashville. Beavers starter Cesar Ramos worked 6 2/3 innings of scoreless, three-hit ball but took a no-decision for the visitors. He walked three batters and struck out seven in his 99-pitch outing. With the effort, the left-hander extended his current streak to 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. The teams continue their series with 7 p.m. meeting on Monday. Left-hander Lindsay Gulin (5-4, 3.48) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Portland southpaw Wade LeBlanc (8-7, 6.17). Nashville Box Score Mark DiFelice could conceivingly be a big part of the 2009 Milwaukee staff -- I realize it's tough to focus attention on that right now... Nashville Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Laynce Nix

Just a bizarre game going on in Missoula tonight -- hope some of you are listening, they're in the 12th as of 9:45 Central...

Final: Lake County (Indians) 7, West Virginia 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: CAPTAINS' BROWN SLAMS POWER Matt Brown knocked in six of Lake County's seven runs against the Power at Classic Park on Sunday night and delivered the knockout punch with a grand slam in the fifth inning as the Captains ended West Virginia's five-game winning streak with a 7-3 victory. The Captains struck first in the bottom of the first inning on Brown's two-out RBI single. West Virginia tied the game a half-inning later on Logan Schafer's RBI double. Lake County took their second lead of the game in the second on Cristo Arnal's solo home run. The Power took their only lead of the night when Steffan Wilson extended his road hitting streak to 21 games with a two-run single in the third. Lake County tied it in the bottom of the inning on Brown's two-out RBI double. The bases were loaded with nobody out in the fifth inning when Brown struck again with a grand slam to put the game away. Gary Campfield (5-3) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and got the victory. Roque Mercedes (5-5) was tagged for all seven runs on nine hits through four innings of work and got the loss. Pedro Lambertus and Rob Wooten combined to toss four scoreless innings of relief. The Power fell to 58-47 on the year and 26-10 in the second half with the loss. The Captains improved to 54-52 on the year and 13-23 in the second half with the win. Every Power player reached safely and Schafer turned in the only multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance. Eric Farris went 1-for-4 and has hit safely in 12 straight games since his 15-game hitting streak was snapped. Caleb Gindl went 0-for-2 and walked twice, extending his on base streak to 19 games. The Power will finish the four-game series against Lake County Monday night. The Power will start right hander R.J. Seidel (7-4, 5.09) and the Captains will counter with right hander Chris Archer (2-8, 3.98). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Every Power in the lineup reached at least once, as West Virginia stranded three; Roque Mercedes' June and July success somewhat overshadowed by this effort; Pedro Lambertus' relief outing encouraging -- he hasn't allowed an earned run all month (12 innings); Rob Wooten allowed one hit in a scoreless inning in his West Virginia debut; Lee Haydel back in the leadoff spot for this one; former Power pitcher Rob Bryson retired all five batters he faced, as we re-capped in another thread on this forum... West Virginia Game Log

Where was this Zach Jackson the past two seasons? Matt LaPorta had a two-out RBI single, 1-for-4 with two K's on the day. Darren Ford 0-for-3 with a K, but walks twice

Rob Bryson retired all five batters he faced today against his former mates -- not sure why he was pulled for another RHP just prior to having to face Eric Fryer. West Virginia Top 7th - Pitcher Change: Rob Bryson replaces Garrison Campfield. - Curt Rindal strikes out swinging. - Ulrich Snijders strikes out swinging. - Lee Haydel flies out to center fielder Adam White. West Virginia Top 8th - Eric Farris flies out to center fielder Adam White. - Caleb Gindl grounds out, first baseman Cristo Arnal to pitcher Rob Bryson.

Egads, Luis Pena -- details later...

Nashville Media Notes: KATIN, CRABBE PLACED ON D.L.: Outfielder Brendan Katin and infielder Callix Crabbe have been placed on the Sounds' disabled list. Katin suffered a left hamstring strain while racing to field a Will Venable double in the first inning last night. Crabbe, who was placed on the D.L. retroactive to Friday, has been diagnosed with the chicken pox. GIBBONS JOINS SOUNDS: Veteran outfielder Jay Gibbons has been promoted to Nashville from Double-A Huntsville to fill Katin's roster spot. Gibbons, who hit .273 (3-for-11) with two RBIs in five games for the Stars, had his contract purchased by the Brewers from the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League on July 22nd. He batted .280 (30-for-107) with nine doubles, five home runs, and 19 RBIs in 27 contests for Long Island after signing with that club in mid-June. Gibbons had spent the previous seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles before being released at the conclusion of 2008 spring training. He made his big league debut with Baltimore in 2001, hitting 15 home runs while appearing in 73 games. His best season came in 2003, when he batted .277 with 23 homers and 100 RBIs. Gibbons played in a career-high 160 games that year and also clubbed 39 doubles. The Michigan native was originally selected by Toronto in the 14th round of the 1998 draft. HOPF REJOINS SOUNDS: Catcher J.R. Hopf rejoins the Nashville roster to fill Crabbe's spot. The 25-year-old has spent the past three weeks with Double-A Huntsville, where he batted .182 (8-for-44) with three RBIs in 15 contests since joining the Stars on July 4th. Hopf batted .324 (11-for-34) with one home run and three RBIs in 15 games for the Sounds earlier this season. *** Also, nice bonus -- Huntsville's Chris Errecart is off the DL, as the bone in his hand has healed sufficiently. Finally, Michael Garciaparra has landed on the Huntsville DL, and Yohannis Perez has been brought up from Brevard County to fill that spot. No word on a corresponding Brevard move.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 63 44 .589 - 38-18 25-26 L1 Memphis 58 49 .542 5.0 28-24 30-25 L2 Omaha 48 59 .449 15.0 22-29 26-30 L4 Nashville 42 65 .393 21.0 21-30 21-35 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 19 16 .543 - 9-6 10-10 W2 Tennessee 19 16 .543 - 10-10 9-6 L3 Huntsville 18 17 .514 1.0 8-7 10-10 L2 Chattanooga 15 20 .429 4.0 8-12 7-8 W1 West Tenn 14 21 .400 5.0 4-11 10-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 19 13 .594 - 9-5 10-8 W1 St. Lucie 19 14 .576 0.5 9-7 10-7 W1 Jupiter 18 15 .545 1.5 9-6 9-9 L1 Palm Beach 17 17 .500 3.0 12-7 5-10 W2 Brevard County 14 21 .400 6.5 6-10 8-11 L2 Vero Beach 12 23 .343 8.5 6-14 6-9 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 26 9 .743 - 14-4 12-5 W5 Lakewood 22 13 .629 4.0 10-6 12-7 W1 Delmarva 19 16 .543 7.0 6-10 13-6 L2 Hagerstown 17 18 .486 9.0 7-10 10-8 W3 Greensboro 13 22 .371 13.0 7-11 6-11 L3 Lexington 12 22 .353 13.5 7-12 5-10 W3 Hickory 12 23 .343 14.0 3-14 9-9 W1 Lake County 12 23 .343 14.0 5-12 7-11 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 23 14 .622 - 10-4 13-10 L1 Helena 19 18 .514 4.0 9-11 10-7 W1 Great Falls 18 19 .486 5.0 10-9 8-10 W1 Missoula 9 28 .243 14.0 5-16 4-12 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 20 7 .741 - 10-4 10-3 W2 AZL Cubs 17 10 .630 3.0 12-2 5-8 W2 AZL Rangers 17 10 .630 3.0 8-6 9-4 L1 AZL Giants 15 13 .536 5.5 8-6 7-7 L1 AZL Royals 15 13 .536 5.5 10-4 5-9 W1 AZL Padres 14 14 .500 6.5 9-5 5-9 L1 AZL Athletics 10 17 .370 10.0 5-8 5-9 W1 AZL Mariners 9 18 .333 11.0 5-7 4-11 L4 AZL Brewers 6 21 .222 14.0 6-8 0-13 L3

Follow Sunday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_27_poraaa_nasaaa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_27_wvaafx_lcoafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_27_helrok_misrok_1

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

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at home vs. Portland (Padres), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Audio link via WNSR, 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=t556 Huntsville: Idle Brevard County: Idle West Virginia: RHP Roque Mercedes at Lake County (Indians), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime 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: LHP Daniel Meadows at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 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: Idle

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

Link while active, text follows: Pitcher takes slow track to big leagues At 31, Sounds pitcher Lindsay Gulin is chasing the majors despite a not-so-fast fastball By PETER COOPER Tennessean Staff Writer A gun without a barrel menaces Lindsay Gulin. Gulin, the Nashville Sounds' extraordinary left-handed pitcher, won't say as much. He'll talk about the mechanics of pitching. He'll talk about how much he's enjoying this, the 14th season in which he's been paid to play a game. He'll talk about his father's influence, and how hundreds of hours playing catch with his dad were as valuable as anything he's learned as a pro. What he won't do is blame a radar gun for keeping him out of the major leagues. Gulin (it's pronounced "guh-LEEN") is an all-star this year in Triple-A, the minor-league level that's closest to the bigs. Since signing a pro contract in 1995, he has made five all-star teams, thrown two no-hitters and a one-hitter, won games consistently and bested future major-league stars such as Matt Holliday, Andruw Jones and Adrian Beltre. That's what the record states. But when Gulin, 31, winds up and throws a fastball at Greer Stadium, a scout sits in the stands and points a bulky plastic apparatus toward home plate. That apparatus - the radar gun - states "82," as in 82 miles per hour. The consensus opinion is that Gulin shouldn't be able to succeed with what scouts describe as a "very below average" fastball in a league where many dominating pitchers throw in the mid- to high 90s. "The knock on him has always been that he doesn't throw very hard," said Sounds pitching coach Stan Kyles. Here's the knock on the knock: Lindsey Gulin gets the job done. He weighs about 170 pounds, and in his own assessment he's "kind of goofy looking," but he gets hitters out. To hit a baseball, a person must anticipate where the ball will be at a split second in time and then swing the bat so that it meets the ball in the correctly anticipated spot. Gulin's game is about deception: His windup, countenance and arm motion are the same when throwing the 82 mph fastball as when throwing a 71 mph change-up, and his pitches dart in unpredictable directions. That turns an at-bat into a guessing game, and hitters find guessing games neither enjoyable nor productive. The difference between striking out on a Mariano Rivera high heater and striking out on a syrupy Gulin pitch is the difference in feeling overmatched and feeling stupid. Gulin has spent 14 professional seasons lowering IQs, but the decision-makers remain wary. Slow-throwing major- league pitchers have gone the way of country music starlets who don't look like Malibu Barbie: They exist as exceptions. "There's only one guy up there throwing like I throw," Gulin said, referring to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer, who'll make $6 million this year in the majors. "But that guy has won more games than most of them over the last 10 years." Umpires, rulebooks and federal steroid investigations exist because baseball, of all things, should be fair. In the national pastime, progress is measurable and success is rewarded, and Lindsey Gulin is successful. And so, logically, he should be afforded an opportunity to ply his artful trade at the highest level. Radar guns aren't swayed by logic. Dad was big supporter, adviser At home in Issaquah, Wash., just outside Seattle, Chris Gulin would throw the baseball at odd angles against the house, and Lindsay would dive to make catches. In the yard, it was ground balls hit from the father's bat and into the son's glove. At the park, it was long tosses in baseball season, pass routes in football season. "My dad has always been my biggest supporter and adviser," said Gulin, sitting outside a Louisville, Ky., Starbucks this month, on the morning of his Triple-A All Star Game appearance. "The hours were endless. I think about that time we spent every day." In high school, Gulin wasn't a hard thrower, but he dominated with his curveball. He gave up one run during his entire senior season, and the New York Mets organization was impressed enough to take him in the 16th round of the 1995 amateur draft. "Once I got drafted, I figured I would come in, have a good season and get moved up to a higher level," he said. "Then I figured I'd put in another good season and get moved up again, until I got to pitch in the big leagues. My first year, I was something like 7-0, and they held me back. My line has zigzagged all over the place since then." Thus began the zigzag ascendance of Lindsay Gulin. He pitched well in the low minors, calling his father after each game and receiving reminders from Dad that the best pitches were down and away from a power hitter: Throwing an 80 mph "fastball" over the plate to a brawny slugger isn't pitching, it's batting practice. After five years, nine teams and three organizations, Gulin reached Double-A ball in 2000. He worked construction that offseason, signed with the Dodgers organization and put together a marvelous campaign for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. In 2002, his eighth year as a pro, he moved to Triple-A Las Vegas, one step away from the majors. Some numbers to ponder: Each year, roughly 12 million people play organized baseball. Of the 120,000 players eligible for the yearly baseball draft (and this is players: We're not counting the millions who weren't good enough to make their high school or college teams), about 1,200, or 1 percent, are drafted into the minors. Of that 1,200, odds are that between 110 and 130 will spend even a day in a major-league uniform. In a world where very few people would ever turn down a chance to play big-league ball, the "If you dream it you can achieve it" speeches ring hollow. That said, reaching Triple-A is a heartening sign. Roughly 70 percent of Triple-A players wind up seeing time in the majors. By the time a player gets to be a Nashville Sound, or, in Gulin's 2003 case, a Las Vegas 51, he has overcome lottery odds. Gulin's achievement was even more notable because he had done so by pitching on guile rather than on speed. And in his first year in Triple-A, Gulin proved that an off-speed, "junkball" specialist could throw a no-hitter in the high minors. He also proved that a no-hitter was no insulation against the tyranny of the radar gun: He was released at season's end. And so he headed to Japan and became a Fukuoka Daiei Hawk. "The thing is, it's really fun to play baseball," he said. "You get hooked on that feeling. When you pitch well, there's nothing like it. You're in complete control, and it's a great rush. The rewards top everything else." In Japan, fans cheered, sang and waved flags throughout the games, and players were treated like rock stars. It was not the least bit similar to, say, a Las Vegas 51s vs. Albuquerque Isotopes contest. And Gulin went from making around $2,000 a month in the minors to six times that in Japan. He and new bride Traci were able to afford a house for the first time. But little boys from Issaquah don't grow up dreaming of being Daiei Hawks. Gulin returned to America in 2006 for another shot at the majors. He was cut by the Seattle Mariners that year in spring training, and he was shaken by the death of his father, Chris. "My dad was out on a run," Gulin said. "He was physically fit, but he had a heart attack and that was it. I still feel like he's watching me, and giving me advice, to this day when I'm on the mound." 'Hey, it can happen' Spurned by major-league organizations, Gulin signed on with the Lincoln Saltdogs in 2006. He won 13 games, lost two and was named the American Association's most valuable player. He then traveled to the Dominican Republic to play in a winter league against lineups peppered with major leaguers. And on Jan. 3, 2007, he signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers assigned Gulin to Triple-A Nashville, but he was demoted after three games to Double-A Huntsville. There, he made the all-star team, posted a 12-6 record and threw a three-hit playoff shutout with his 88-year-old grandfather, Harry Gulin, in the stands. That win came a week after the death of Gulin's grandmother, and both Gulins shed tears that night. The most emotional triumph of Gulin's life came in front of 837 fans, which was 21,921 fewer than saw the Brewers beat the Reds in Cincinnati that same evening, in a game that featured some of Gulin's former teammates. "It's beyond words. I was just out there thinking about family," the pitcher told reporters after the Huntsville win. This season, Gulin has been with the Triple-A Sounds all year, living with wife Traci in a downtown apartment and pitching at a level that made him the Sounds' only starting pitcher elected to the league's all-star game. In minor-league ball, teammates are also competitors, as the Brewers executives determine who will play in musty Greer Stadium and who will be moved up to Milwaukee's gleaming Miller Park. Such a shift is, of course, also a financial boon: The minimum major-league salary is $316,000, while Triple-A players can make as little as $26,000 per year. (The highest-paid major leaguer, Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, makes about $173,000 per game, and he makes more in each at-bat than a Davidson County middle school teacher with a master's degree and nine years of experience makes in a year). In May, Sounds pitcher Mark DiFelice was slated to make a Friday start at Greer against the New Orleans Zephyrs. Instead, the 10-year minor-league veteran was told to fly to Boston and pitch for the Brewers against the Red Sox in Fenway Park. Gulin was the Pacific Coast League's Pitcher of the Week that week, while DiFelice was hit hard in his first Brewers outing. "As players, we spend too much time together not to be rooting for each other," Gulin said. "It was inspirational when Mark got called up: He'd been in the minors a long time without getting a show, so that makes me think, 'Hey, it can happen.' " It can, and it might not. Gulin's may be a dream deferred or denied. Millions of dollars ride in the balance, but, mostly, Gulin would just like to know the truth about this thing. Maybe big-league hitters would shell him like a bag of peanuts. Maybe he'd get the rich and famous out the same way he's gotten the rest of them out over 14 years, with 16 teams, on so many anonymous summer nights. "I think there's frustration in any ballplayer who's had the numbers he's had, the accolades he's earned, and not be able to get the opportunity," said Sounds pitching coach Kyles. "If we're given the opportunity and we fail, it's a lot better being able to deal with that than not to get the opportunity at all." In Louisville, on July 16, Gulin took the mound at the nationally televised Triple-A All-Star Game. Mike Hessman - a former Detroit Tiger who had already slugged 30 home runs this year for Toledo and who will probably be called up to Detroit later this season - walked into the batter's box with a swagger. With the count at one ball and two strikes, Gulin wound up and tossed an aching change-up. Hessman nearly jumped out of his shoes as he swung, far too early, creating a breeze for the ball to sail gently through. Strike three, and Hessman quickly turned his head to Gulin as he walked back to the dugout, shooting a look that said, "This isn't fair." Hessman was probably right, and he was certainly out, as a scoreboard screen flashed the radar gun's assessment: "72." Audio / Photo slideshow about pitcher Lindsay Gulin JOHN PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN Nashville Sounds pitcher Lindsay Gulin, in his 14th year as a minor-league player, says "it's really fun to play baseball." http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20080727&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=807270423&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=318&Border=0

Should be official within a day or so (the Tennessean): With Nashville's Callix Crabbe and Carlos Corporan temporarily sidelined by chicken pox, veteran outfielder Jay Gibbons, who has batted .273 (3-for-11) in five games at Double-A Huntsville since having his contract purchased from the independent Atlantic League, is expected to join the Sounds along with catcher J.R. Hopf. Brendan Katin will be placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, and another move will be made to activate both Hopf and Gibbons.

Link while active, text follows: Sounds nearly run out of players on the bench By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Nashville Sounds leftfielder Brendan Katin left Saturday's game against visiting Portland in the first inning with a pulled left hamstring that he sustained while attempting to field a double by Will Venable, the Beavers' No. 3 hitter. Hernan Iribarren shifted from second base to left field and Ozzie Chavez came into the game at second - resulting in an even shorter bench for the Sounds. Already, the team was without infielder Callix Crabbe and catcher Carlos Corporan as they were both diagnosed with chicken pox. By the end of the first inning, veteran infielder Chris Woodward was the only reserve position player available for Manager Frank Kremblas - presenting a possible problem for Kremblas when Woodward pinch-hit for reliever Troy Cate in the seventh inning of a tie game. Woodward drew a one-out walk, putting runners at first and second. Kremblas decided to force the issue, putting on a hit-and-run with Iribarren, who doubled to score Rottino and move Woodward to third. Tony Gwynn followed with a two-run single. "When Woody walked, I said, 'we've got to go now,' " Kremblas said. "Gwynn had a nice at-bat with two strikes." Crabbe and Corporan are not expected to rejoin the team before the Portland series ends. Quality start: Allowing just two runs in 6 2/3 innings Saturday, Chris Narveson made his longest appearance since working seven innings in back-to-back starts, April 27 at Omaha and May 2 against visiting Salt Lake. It was Narveson's fourth quality start (six innings or more, three earned runs or less) of the season. Triple time: Joe Dillon's first-inning triple was Nashville's 22nd of the year, and every current offensive player for the Sounds has at least one three-bagger. Katin has a team-high four, with Vinny Rottino and Crabbe adding three each.

Link while active, text follows: Pitcher serves up two more Nix HRs By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Laynce Nix isn't much on sentiment. The last time the Nashville Sounds outfielder faced Chad Reineke, he pounded a pair of home runs in a June 29 matchup at Round Rock, the second of back-to-back multi-homer games for the outfielder. Reineke, traded earlier in the week from the Astros organization to the parent club Padres, was making his first start for the Beavers in Saturday's series opener against Nashville. While it may have been a different team for Reineke, the result was the same for Nix, who hit two more solo shots along with a single and an RBI double as the Sounds claimed a 6-2 victory at Greer Stadium. Despite his prior success, though, Nix was more focused on making some improvements at the plate than duplicating his previous performance. Coming into Saturday, he'd had just eight hits in his previous 48 at-bats. "I didn't know he was starting till I saw him warming up," said Nix, whose 19 homers lead the team. "I didn't have too much reaction. I had one good game against him, but he had good stuff. "Seeing pitchers at this park, it's a little different than on the road. I was just trying to make some adjustments, get ready a little earlier. It worked out. When you make some adjustments in practice, sometimes you get instant results." The instant results led to instant offense for the Sounds, who forced a 2-2 deadlock with Nix's sixth-inning homer, his second in as many at-bats following a base hit to lead off the second. Nashville broke the game open in the seventh with a pair of doubles by Vinny Rottino and Hernan Iribarren, a two-run single through a drawn-in infield by Tony Gwynn and Nix's run-scoring double. "He's starting to swing it better," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said. "The (second) homer was off a good pitch, down in the zone, and the double was down as well." What they said: "It's better to hit them in bunches than not, sometimes." - Nix, following his third multi-homer game of the season.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers' offense explodes against Missoula By CHAD DUNDAS Of the Missoulian Now these are the birds we know and love. After a brief flirtation with winning, the Missoula Osprey crashed back to earth on Saturday night, when the pitching got shellacked early, the bats took too long to wake up and a costly error jumpstarted a big Helena rally en route to a 14-4 win for the Brewers at Ogren-Allegiance Park. Helena starter Rico Salmon kept the O's off the board for the first three innings, while the Brewers got three early hits from Chris Dennis and a trio home runs from Corey Kemp, Erik Komatsu and Brock Kjeldgaard to snap Missoula's first three-game win streak of the season. "We just didn't have much going tonight," said designated hitter Kyle Greene, the only Osprey to record multiple hits. "Our team was playing pretty flat. I don't necessarily think that (Salmon) was something special, I think it was just kind of an off day." The loss leaves the troubled O's at 9-28 and deep in the Northern Division cellar with one game remaining in the Pioneer League's first half. Helena already led 4-0 in the fourth inning when shortstop Reynaldo Navarro - who'd looked flawless handling all three outs in the first - booted a one-out grounder by Brewers catcher Mike Roberts. Instead of being left with two down and nobody on, Helena used the gaffe to spark a six-run rally that included matching doubles up the third base line by David Fonseca and Dennis as well as Kemp's 2-run jack off the foul pole in right field. By the time the inning was said and done, the Brewers led 10-0. Komatsu tacked on a three-run shot in the next frame and then Kjeldgaard capped the Helena scoring with another homer in the seventh. Dennis and Kjeldgaard both finished 3-for-5 while Kemp, Komatsu and John Delaney each finished with two hits. Salmon scattered four hits during his time on the mound, striking out three and walking two. Helena chased O's starter Randy Rodriguez after 3 2-3 innings. Rodriguez gave up four earned runs, as did reliever Victor Capellan in an 1 1-3 stanzas. The Osprey's Jesse Orosco Jr. threw a ton of pitches, but looked decent in allowing only one run, striking out five and walking three as he worked the final four innings. Missoula's offense couldn't break into the scoring column until the seventh inning when catcher Chris Davis led off with a walk and went to second on Tyrell Worthington's line drive to right center. Navarro followed with a double off the wall in left to score Davis. Alberto Diaz and Jake Elmore then brought Worthington and Navarro home before Nelson Gomez flew out to end the inning. The O's had chances to get on the board early, but couldn't capitalize. Missoula got two runners on with no outs in the second when Greene led off the inning with a bloop to left and Isaias Ascencio's grounder up the third base line caromed off the bag into the grass for an infield hit. It moved Greene to third, but Davis hit into a double play and Worthington struck out to end the inning. Missoula also had runners at the corners with one down in the third, but again couldn't do anything with it. "Tonight obviously was a setback," Greene said. "But I know there are lot of positive things to come in the second half. We're playing a lot better baseball and we've kind of picked it up as team." Greene finished 2-for-5 with an eighth inning double in his first game back in action after spraining his ACL in his left knee on July 5. The third baseman from Idaho said he'll probably DH a few more games before returning to the field. The Osprey remain home for two more contests - Sunday and Monday against Helena - before four games at Billings next week.

Link while active, text follows: Hook's failings of yesteryear yielding success with Stars Huntsville pitchers credit new coach with sound counsel By BRAD SHEPARD For The Huntsville Times When Chris Hook talks, Huntsville Stars pitcher David Welch listens. After all, what better person to advise Welch than a former pitcher who used moxy to make up for what he lacked in velocity? "He was a pitcher who was similar to all of us - not a flame-thrower - and he still was able to get out big-leaguers," Welch said of Huntsville's first-year pitching coach. "It makes us all realize we can. "When you're struggling, it's almost like he takes it personally. He'll sit you down and say, 'OK, let's work on this.' " Welch needed some tweaking this season. Before settling in as the Stars' ace, Welch's tendency to overthrow led to high pitch counts and clogged basepaths. Hook settled him down, and Welch tossed a no-hitter June 2. Since then, Welch has stayed hot and is currently 10-1 with a 3.50 earned run average. "Without a doubt, I give a lot of the credit to him," Welch said. "From the way we all have pitched at the start of the year till now, it's got to be attributed to someone, and he's the guy who should get the credit." Hook, 39, made his major league debut in 1995 with San Francisco. He pitched in the Giants' bullpen that season and part of the next before getting demoted. He subsequently bounced around in the Padres, Angels and Astros systems before retiring in 1998 after a second stint in the Giants organization. While in the minors, Hook lost his command and, with it, his hopes of returning to the majors. It was difficult at the time, but Hook said his struggles helped cultivate a more-rounded approach to coaching. "I can always look back and draw experience because I didn't always have success," said Hook, who was 5-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 55 major-league appearances. "I had some success at the pro level, but I had a lot of failures in my career, too. I think that has helped me in my coaching career." Hook felt the desire to coach before his playing career ended. During his second tour of duty with the Giants, he served as a mentor and friend to current major league reliever Scott Linebrink, among others. He tutored Freddy Garcia while with the Astros. When Hook got the opportunity to become the pitching coach at his hometown alma mater, Northern Kentucky University, he jumped at the opportunity. "I couldn't be off the field for long," he said. Three years of coaching for NKU led to five years as the pitching coach of the Frontier League's Florence Freedom. But no matter how much work Hook put into pitcher development, he rarely felt rewarded as countless players gave up baseball to pursue other career opportunities. Hook dabbled in several baseball professions himself - writing about the game for several years on an Internet site that spawned At the Yard magazine. With his independent league frustrations growing and the magazine folded, the Stars' pitching coach vacancy surfaced. Hook knew a jump like that could be difficult on his wife, Toni, and sons Christian, 10, and Brennan, 5, back in Florence, Ky. "It was a family decision to apply for the opening," Hook said. "It was, 'If this is what I think I'm good at, then let's take a gamble.' I put my name in the hat, and luckily I got it." Hook's new boss said the transition from independent ball to Double-A has been seamless. "I think he's done a great job," Stars manager Don Money said. "I think the pitchers have responded to him well, and he's very knowledgeable in talking about all of the small things that go wrong and connecting them." Stars reliever David Johnson will vouch for that. Before going on the disabled list in early June, Johnson was a mess mechanically, with an ERAof 7.43. While he was injured, Johnson sat down with Hook, watching film and dissecting his throwing motion. Hook spotted that Johnson's delivery was too quick, and his arm was late coming through, taking away sharpness from his pitches - especially his curveball. It was a little thing that made a big difference. Since returning, Johnson has allowed one run in 15 1/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 4.70. "Any time something is going wrong, he knows what you're doing wrong, and that's what you want from your pitching coach," Johnson said. "He's really helped get me back on track."