Jim Goulart

Final: Arizona Royals 7, Arizona Brewers 0 Arizona Box Score: Brewer batters struck out 15 times while working one base on balls, sigh; Joey Paciorek had two of the team's three singles; glad you made the effort, Boy Jeenius -- that's diehard stuff... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_brrrok_royrok_1 Arizona Game Log: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_brrrok_royrok_1

Helena up 5-0 after four, but Caleb Gindl nights off are sad... 18-year-old RHP Joel Morales of Puerto Rico hoping to impress Brewerfan poster "Boy Jeenius" at the Arizona Rookie game tonight -- Jeenius, we guarantee there will be no competition for foul balls. Looking forward to that report, that must be one of the most unique experiences you can have related to an affiliated professional organization, literally less than 20 in attendance for nearly each and every game... Will catch you all in the AM...

Final: Savannah (Mets) 6, West Virginia 4 West Virginia Site Game Summary: Power Lose Early Lead Brent Brewer and Steve Chapman homered in the first two innings of Thursday's game at Appalachian Power Park to give the Power a 3-0 lead, but the Savannah Sand Gnats rallied back and outscored the Power 6-1 the rest of the way to take the second game of the series 6-4. Brewer's home run was a solo shot in the bottom of the first, it was his tenth of the year and his fourth over the last week. Chapman's homer was a two-run blast in the second inning, and it was his 19th, one shy of the franchise record. The Sand Gnats got on the board in the top of the fourth inning on Francisco Pena's solo home run. Savannah did most of their damage in the fifth inning where they scored three times to take the lead. Joe Holden hit a two-run home run to tie the game and Jonathan Sanchez ripped an RBI single to plate the final run of the inning. Holden struck again in the sixth inning with an RBI triple and the Sand Gnats scored their final run on Pena's single in the sixth. The Power plated their final run on Chapman's RBI groundout in the ninth inning. The Power had the tying run at the plate when Andy Bouchie ended the game as he smashed a one-hopper that was handled by third baseman Leivi Ventura. Jonathan Castillo (4-3) got the win, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts over six innings and retired the last ten batters he faced. David Koons (5) got the save and Alex Periard (5-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering four runs on eleven hits through five innings. The Power fell to 68-46 overall and 20-26 in the second half, while the Sand Gnats improved to 35-80 overall and 15-39 in the second half with the win. Andrew Lefave, Taylor Green and Brent Brewer all had two hits for the Power. The Power will continue the four game series with Savannah Friday night. The Power will start right hander Chris Toneguzzi (4-3, 6.07) and the Sand Gnats will counter with right hander Greg Mullens (4-3, 4.38). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Alex Periard got much too much of the plate tonight, but coming into the game he had only allowed 75 hits and 20 walks in 84 innings; don't look now, but Charlie Fermaint's lost season is spiraling again, now just 7-for-his-last-40; when doesn't Andrew Lefave have two hits? Nice to see Taylor Green still keeping his OPS north of .900 with a second consecutive two-hit game... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_savafx_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_09_savafx_wvaafx_1

Final: Fort Myers (Twins) 6, Brevard County 4 Brevard County Box Score: Lorenzo Cain 3-for-5 including a double; Cole Gillespie doubles and walks; SS Yohannis Perez with only his 4th error in 42 games at Brevard; reliever Josh Wahpepah has allowed only one earned run in his last 17.1 IP... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_breafa_ftmafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503 Brevard County Game Log: Starter Rafael Lluberes was your "TBD" starter, with an uneven performance, although a Cain error in right field really hurt in the first inning, as did Perez' error in the fifth -- in between those innings, wow; potentially huge Manatee rally in the 8th fizzled at just one run... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_09_breafa_ftmafa_1

Only the 5th inning in Huntsville, and Hernan Iribarren is already 3-for-4 with two triples and a double, a stolen base, four RBI, and is now batting over .300. The ultra-impressive Stars lead 10-3. After rotating mascots for a bit, Homer and the Stars have earned the right to grace the Link Report posts for a while -- until the Stars lose, anyway http://static.yuku.com/v2//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif -- Homer the Polecat (skunk) was born in 1995 after skunks were seen coming out from behind the outfield wall and running past the outfielders. The players are very grateful to have Homer close by instead of the skunks that preceeded him!! Homer resides behind the center field wall and loves to participate in his favorite promotion, the BASE RACE. Unfortunately, Homer is 0-585 against the fans here at Joe Davis Stadium in the nightly run around the bases.

LHP Steve Garrison, with only six hits allowed (15 IP) in two wonderful starts thus far for Lake Elsinore, pitches Thursday night at Inland Empire (brings back memories of late nights listening to the wonderfully entertaining Mike Lindskog, former voice of the Mavs in High Desert -- by the way, Mike's now with the AA Springfield Cardinals): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_lesafa_inlafa_1

Link, text follows: http://southcoastleague.com/news/?id=629 The independent South Coast League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce that Aiken (South Carolina) Foxhounds outfielder Scott Houin has been signed by the Milwaukee Brewers. "I just think it's great to have an opportunity to be able to play at the next level and go on," said Houin. Houin, 22, batted .359 with 8 home runs, 40 RBI's, and 20 stolen bases in only 46 games this season and won SCL Player of the Month honors for July. Houin is 3rd in the league in steals, 5th in OBP (.418), and 2nd in slugging percentage (.586). Originally drafted in the 44th round of the 2003 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles (a draft-and-follow, he did not sign), Houin exploded for the Foxhounds during the month of July. Houin went .371/.422/.629 for the 'Hounds, along with five home runs and twenty-nine RBI's. He was also a menace on the base paths, swiping twelve bases without being caught. A centerfielder from Colorado Springs, Colo., Houin earned All-America honorable mention honors as a junior in 2007, his only year at Mount Olive University, a four-year school in North Carolina. A first team All-Region selection, Houin was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2007 NCAA II South Atlantic Regional. Houin hit 11 home runs, batted .322 and was ranked nationally with nine triples during his lone campaign with the Trojans. Previously Houin played at Central Missouri State. When asked about how the South Coast League has changed him as a player, Houin had this to say about his experiences: "Coach (Chris) Bando and Anthony Telford really helped me out with my life and moving on in baseball," shared Houin. "I am learning new things about myself to prepare me for the next level." Houin will travel to Phoenix, AZ this weekend and play with the Arizona Brewers in the Rookie League for the remainder of 2007. http://www.mountolivecollege.edu/home/dshulimson/images_athletics/Baseball/houin.jpg http://southcoastleague.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/306.gif.300.gif

Joe Thatcher has allowed two hits and no runs (no inherited runners have scored) since his transfer back to AAA. It seems all three kids are really struggling since the trade, huh?

Yeah, just Will being Will -- here's the box score / game log from that game, wow: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t510&gid=2007_08_06_friaax_sanaax_1&cid=510&t=g_box Minor League Baseball: Missions' Inman shines in home debut Matt Muench Special to the San Antonio Express-News Will Inman is going to like pitching in Wolff Stadium. But if he keeps pitching like he did Monday night, he won't be at the Double-A level for long. Inman, who was making his home debut, pitched seven-plus strong innings as he shut down the Texas League's best offense to lead the Missions to a 5-1 victory over Frisco. His present after the game was a shaving cream pie to the face. Welcome to San Antonio, Will. "It's worth it," Inman said about the shaving cream. "I wanted to come in here and get a big win in a big series. And it happened." The victory couldn't have come at a better time for the slumping Missions, as it left them in a tie for first place in the Texas League South with Frisco. Inman's curveball was his secret weapon as he allowed three hits and struck out eight during 7/61/3 innings of work. He left in the seventh with the applause of a standing ovation in his ears. But it wasn't the first time Inman (2-0) heard cheers Monday night. It didn't take long for him to impress as he struck out the side in the second and he retired the first nine batters he faced. Inman said Monday was his best outing of the season. "My curveball was definitely working for me tonight," said Inman, who was sent to the Padres' organization July 24 in trade with the Brewers. "It is probably the best that I have thrown it in a while." His battery mate, Nick Hundley, agreed. "He was fun to watch out there. He was a stud," Hundley said. "He was changing speeds real well. He was tough tonight." Frisco finally found the base path in the fourth when Anthony Webster hit a slow chopper up the middle and scored on a flare single to right off the bat of Chris Davis. Inman responded by retiring the next 12 batters in a row.

Standings through Wednesday's action: Arizona League Standings: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...;period=h2 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 71 47 .602 - 37-17 34-30 L1 Iowa 65 54 .546 6.5 39-25 26-29 W1 Omaha 59 60 .496 12.5 38-21 21-39 L1 Memphis 48 71 .403 23.5 26-34 22-37 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 29 17 .630 - 14-7 15-10 W7 Chattanooga 26 20 .565 3.0 14-11 12-9 W3 Tennessee 24 22 .522 5.0 17-9 7-13 W2 Carolina 22 24 .478 7.0 14-11 8-13 L1 West Tenn 18 28 .391 11.0 9-16 9-12 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 25 18 .581 - 15-9 10-9 L1 St. Lucie 21 23 .477 4.5 9-13 12-10 L1 Jupiter 19 23 .452 5.5 10-9 9-14 L1 Palm Beach 20 25 .444 6.0 11-15 9-10 L1 Daytona 18 28 .391 8.5 10-16 8-12 L5 Vero Beach 11 31 .262 13.5 6-16 5-15 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 29 17 .630 - 16-9 13-8 W3 Lakewood 23 21 .523 5.0 13-10 10-11 W1 Lake County 22 22 .500 6.0 10-14 12-8 W1 Delmarva 22 23 .489 6.5 9-15 13-8 W4 Greensboro 21 25 .457 8.0 13-7 8-18 W1 West Virginia 20 26 .435 9.0 11-9 9-17 W1 Lexington 19 27 .413 10.0 12-11 7-16 L5 Hagerstown 14 31 .311 14.5 9-15 5-16 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 6 3 .667 - 2-0 4-3 L1 Billings 5 4 .556 1.0 2-1 3-3 W3 Missoula 5 4 .556 1.0 4-2 1-2 W1 Helena 2 7 .222 4.0 2-5 0-2 L6

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier: Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Choose "Log". 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=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_biraax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_breafa_ftmafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_savafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_helrok_orerok_1 Arizona: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_09_brrrok_royrok_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Idle Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: TBD at Fort Myers (Twins), 5:50 pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: http://miraclebaseball.com/ NOTE: This link is for the Miracle's broadcast team. West Virginia: RHP Alex Periard at home vs. Savannah (Mets), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp Helena: RHP R.J. Seidel returns to the starting rotation at Orem (Angels), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp Arizona: TBD at the Royals' complex in Surprise, 7:00 PM local time in Arizona, 9:00 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

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

RHP Gerry Oakes, (now 25, he was dealt away in the Matt Kinney trade way back when), has been released by the Giants. He must have an amazing arm, because he has cycled through five affiliated organizations now, while consistently posting horrendous numbers, particularly when it comes to control (263 walks in 287 IP): http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/O/Gerry-Oakes.shtml

At Nashville, Tony Gwynn has been placed on the disabled list retroactive to 8/5 with a left hamstring strain. RHP Dennis Sarfate has been activated from the D.L.

Some insight from Tacoma as to why the Sounds were able to score early and often: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/128277.html

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Infielder/Outfielder Brad Nelson: Third base talk... http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-7.mp3 Final: Nashville 6, Tacoma (Mariners) 3 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Brad Nelson photo, text follows -- http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2495 Nelson Powers Sounds Past Rainiers, 6-3 TACOMA, Wash. - Brad Nelson belted two home runs to power the Nashville Sounds to a 6-3 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday evening at Cheney Stadium. With the win, Nashville (71-46) extended its lead to seven games over Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division. The Cubs' game against Las Vegas was suspended due to rain earlier in the evening. The Sounds got off to a fast start against Tacoma spot starter Jon Huber, plating five runs in the top of the first inning. Callix Crabbe opened the contest with a walk and moved to third when Gabe Gross extended his hitting streak to seven games with a double. Rickie Weeks followed with a two-run two-bagger to center to put the Sounds on the board and later scored the frame's third run on an Andy Abad sacrifice fly, giving Nashville a 3-0 lead. After Laynce Nix drew a walk, Nelson belted his 17th home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot to right that chased Huber from the contest and made it a 5-0 game. Nelson homered again in the fourth, walloping Tacoma reliever Jorge Campillo's 1-0 offering out of the ballpark to right for his 18th roundtripper of the year and his second two-homer contest of the year. Audio: Brad Nelson's Second HR -- http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Highlight%208-7.mp3 Tacoma halved the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs against Sounds starter R.A. Dickey. Nick Green led off with a single and moved to third on a one-out Mike Morse double. Bryan LaHair put the Rainiers on the board by plating both runners with a single to center, then made it a 6-3 game later in the frame when he scored on a Jeff Clement RBI single. The Rainiers brought the potential tying run to the plate with no outs in the bottom of the ninth against Greg Aquino when Brant Ust singled and Sebastien Boucher drew a walk. The Sounds worked out of the jam, however, as three pitchers retired the next three batters in order. Aquino induced an infield fly popout from Green, Mitch Stetter retired Jeremy Reed on an infield fly popout, and Luther Hackman closed out the victory by drawing a game-ending groundout from Morse to notch his 17th save. Dickey (9-5) worked eight innings for the Sounds and allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out seven batters to earn the win, improving to 5-1 in his last 10 starts. Huber (1-3) took the loss after surrendering five runs in only two-thirds of an inning of work on the evening. The teams wrap up the series with a 2:05 p.m. CT meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Left-hander Zach Jackson (9-7, 4.71) will make the start for Nashville and face Tacoma southpaw Robert Rohrbaugh (5-1, 2.77). Nashville Box Score: Kudos to inning-eater R.A. Dickey; this will spice up the Brad Nelson thread on this forum even further... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_07_nasaaa_tacaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_07_nasaaa_tacaaa_1

Folks, we really, really have to step back here. Somehow this thread has spun towards treating the "explanations" given by certain posters earlier as gospel. The fact is, and it is the only fact we know, is that MLB found cause to suspend Angel Salome. That's it. Period. You can choose to read into what some have said as you wish, but remember, all we know is that MLB found cause to suspend Angel Salome. That's it. Period. One opinion line forms to the left, another to the right. I imagine few are in between.

The Sounds with a nice 6-3 win. I can't give the game justice right now, on my way to my "real" job, but I hope to chime in later this AM with all the details, if not at lunch time. Thanks.

Final: Huntsville 7, Mississippi (Braves) 5 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1312 Stars Comeback to Sweep Away Braves Brendan Katin's two-run single capped off a four-run eighth inning rally that lifted Huntsville to a 7-5 come from behind win Tuesday night to complete a five-game series sweep over Mississippi at Trustmark Park. The Stars won their sixth straight game to push their second half record to 28-17 and their lead over Chattanooga in the North Division to three games, while the Braves slumped to14-31 in the second half and fell 15 games behind division leading Jacksonville in the South. The Stars claimed the season series by winning seven of the ten contests and left town with a 26-24 mark against the Braves since they relocated to Mississippi in 2005. Steve Sollmann, hitless in his last 11 at-bats, started the winning rally with a bunt base hit, moved to second base on a walk to Adam Heether and to third base on a looping single to right field by Lou Palmisano that loaded the bases. Hernan Iribarren ripped a double down the right field line to chase home Sollmann and Heether to trim the Braves' lead to 5-4. Katin then ripped the first offering from Wes Wilkerson into center field for a base hit to give the visitors their first lead of the night and take over the league lead in RBI with 77. The Stars tacked on an unearned run in the ninth for the final margin. David Johnson worked two scoreless innings to record his second save of the series and fourth since joining the Stars, who recorded a save in all five games. Huntsville won four times by two runs and once by a run to finish off their third five-game series sweep in the second half. Bo Hall worked a perfect sixth inning and E.J. Shanks earned his first win at the double-A level with a perfect seventh inning in relief. The Braves plated four runs in the second inning on run-producing hits by Mark Jurich and Clint Sammons and a two-run single by J.C. Holt against Stars' starter Sam Narron, who had allowed only four earned runs over his last five starts covering 35 2/3 frames. The southpaw allowed five runs, four earned, over five frames and has not lost since June 23 at Tennessee. He allowed eight hits, struck out one and issued his first walk in 38 innings when he put Kala Ka'aihue on with one out in the third. Braves' starter Francisely Bueno allowed seven hits, all singles, did not walk a batter and did not allow a runner to advance past second base in his six shutout innings of work. He struck out four and left with a 5-0 lead but remains winless since July 3. Brad Nelson gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a pinch-hit run-scoring triple by Mel Stocker, who broke up an 82 at-bat drought without an extra-base hit, and a two-out, run-scoring single by Alcides Escobar, who left the game with an injury after being thrown out trying to steal to end the frame. The Stars return home to begin a five-game series with Birmingham Wednesday night with right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill for Huntsville against Barons' left-hander Wes Whisler. Coverage begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Hopefully Alcides is OK, he was 4-for-4 prior to the injury; LHP Steve Hammond grounds out as a pinch-hitter; 98 degree heat for this one... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_07_hunaax_msbaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_07_hunaax_msbaax_1

With all due respect, Mr. Cawley, when your newspaper chooses to send a reporter to each home game, to provide quotes and analysis, to take more than the occasional photo, perhaps your readers will have additional interest. It certainly would help us out here. Here's the game report from Tuesday night: Manatees rock Yankees BY FLORIDA TODAY In Viera, Brevard County pounded out 17 hits en route to an 11-6 victory against Tampa on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium. Chris Errecart and Cole Gillespie combined to go 8-for-10 with four doubles, a homer and seven RBIs for the Manatees (24-17). Mat Gamel went 3-for-5, including a pair of solo home runs in the win. Austin Jackson, Jose Tabata and Christopher Malec homered for Tampa (30-15). That's just pitiful. How many college students in the Melbourne area would practically "volunteer" to be the Manatees' beat reporter at little or no cost, just for the exposure and experience it would bring? Dozens? Hundreds? Why do sports editors not see that, if we can? -- Jim

Link while active, text follows: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/SPORTS/708080383/1002/SPORTS Area fans missing out on the Manatees BY JIM CAWLEY FLORIDA TODAY Solid pitching, timely hitting, late-inning heroics -- Sunday's Brevard County Manatees-Tampa Yankees game had it all. Except the fans, that is. Fewer than 1,000 people sprinkled the seats at Space Coast Stadium that night to watch the Florida State League rivals and division leaders battle out a nail-biter that ended with a 10th inning walk-off home run by Brevard County catcher J.R. Hopf. Those who have been to a few Manatees games know this is the rule, and not the exception. Non-fireworks games often feature crowds in the hundreds for a ballpark that holds more than 8,000. My family and I have been coming to Manatees games since we moved to the Sunshine State three years ago. Plain and simple -- we love it. And others who attend games seem to feel the same way. So why then are so many other families staying away? Let's break it down: Price? Well, it's only $7 a ticket, and except for a small number of marked seats reserved for season-ticket holders, you can sit anywhere you want. Often times, discount tickets are available. Oh yeah, parking is free. Analysis: It's not the price. Quality? In Class-A Advanced baseball, the talent level is there. That's particularly true in pitching. In some cases, the league features highly-skilled players who are on the fast track to the big leagues. Nowhere is that more prevalent than Brevard County, which boasts three players -- Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra -- who played for the Manatees last season and are making major contributions for the Milwaukee Brewers right now. The playoff-bound Manatees, who won the first half of the regular season, are on top of the Eastern Division again. Analysis: It's not the quality. The ballpark? Some minor-league ballparks are a little rundown. You get to your seat, look around and just don't get the feeling you're in for a professional experience. That's not the case at newly-renovated Space Coast Stadium. From the finely-manicured field right down to the new seats and fresh paint on the stadium walls, the ballpark has a professional feel. Analysis: It's not the ballpark. Entertainment? Every game -- and I mean every single game -- there is some sort of promotion going on. There are giveaways, raffles, on-field contests and prizes launched into the crowd in between innings. For kids, there is an inflatable play area, speed pitch and a friendly Manny the Manatee mascot. There also are opportunities to sprint in the outfield and run the bases. Autographs, along with baseballs that regularly fly into the stands, are within a fan's reach. Analysis: It's definitely not the entertainment. So why then, fellow Brevardians, are you skipping over Space Coast Stadium? Is it the weather? Well there's not much GM Buck Rogers and his staff can do to stop the heat and rainstorms that frequent Florida in the summer months. But with most games starting at 6 or 7 p.m., even that is minimized to a degree. Now I'm officially out of guesses. So how about some help? Come see me at a game sometime and we'll figure it out together.

Final: Brevard County 11, Tampa (Yankees) 6 MiLB.com: Gillespie, Errecart, Gamel pound Yanks Cole Gillespie homered and drove in four runs and Chris Errecart plated three as host Brevard County outslugged Tampa, 11-6, on Tuesday. Gillespie, who went 4-for-5, ripped an RBI double in the first inning, belted a two-run homer, his 10th, in the third and capped his night with a run-scoring double in the sixth. Errecart, also 4-for-5, smoked a two-RBI double and scored in the first, laced an RBI single in the sixth and another in the eight. He also scored in both innings. Mat Gamel, who was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, slugged two solo homers to bring his season total to nine, and Ryan Barba chipped in two hits and an RBI as the Manatees (24-17) pounded out 17 hits. Lorenzo Cain was hitless in four at-bats, snapping his 14-game hitting streak. Brevard County reliever Ben Stanczyk (7-1) won his sixth straight decision, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, fanning three over four frames. Austin Jackson went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBIs, and Jose Tabata and Christopher Malec added solo shots for the Yankees (30-15). Tampa starter Elvys Quezada (3-3) was roughed up in 2 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs -- four earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out four. --Chip Haunss/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: Some combined batting lines you don't often see in this league, particularly in Space Coast Stadium... http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_07_tbyafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503 Brevard County Game Log: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_07_tbyafa_breafa_1

Link while active, text follows: http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2007080744 Slumping Power back home tonight Charleston Gazette With the start of the South Atlantic League playoffs just four weeks away, the West Virginia Power is looking nothing like a playoff team of late. Maybe the arrival of a slugging first-round draft pick will help turn things around. The Power, which begins an eight-game homestand tonight with the first of four games with the Savannah Sand Gnats, added Matt LaPorta to the roster Tuesday. LaPorta, the first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the June draft, will be in uniform tonight. The Southeastern Conference player of the year in 2005 at Florida, LaPorta played in seven games for the Brewers' rookie-level affiliate at Helena, Montana, batting .259 with two home runs and four RBIs. LaPorta played multiple positions at Florida. The Power plans to use him in left field or at designated hitter. To make room for LaPorta, the Power placed left-handed pitcher Mike Ramlow on the disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 1. Ramlow is 4-5 with a 6.52 ERA. The Power could use some help. The team has lost five in a row - including a four-game sweep at Rome - seven of its last eight and 15 of its last 19. A 19-26 second-half record puts the Power in a tie for sixth place (with Lexington) in the eight-team Northern Division, nine games behind Hickory, which has built a five-game lead in the standings. It's a far cry from the Power's first half, when a 48-20 mark earned the club a playoff game in runaway fashion. The Power's first-half margin over second-place Greensboro was a whopping 11 games. What's gone wrong? Well, having some of the team's best players promoted didn't help. Key offensive producers Darren Ford and Michael Brantley, who both were hitting .335, were bumped up, as were starting pitchers Mike McClendon (5-2, 2.87 with the Power) and reliever E.J. Shanks (3-0, 1.72, nine saves). Zach Braddock (3-1, 1.15) has been sidelined with arm trouble. The Power offense put up 6.72 runs per game and a .305 batting average in the first half. Since then, West Virginia is averaging 4.6 runs and hitting at a .241 clip. The offensive slump can be credited to more than just the loss of Ford and Brantley, but that's a big part of it. Charlie Fermaint, who replaced Ford in center field, is hitting .224 in the second half. Also, though, some players who were part of the hot hitting in the first half have cooled off considerably. For instance, Taylor Green, who hit .339 with nine home runs in 183 at-bats in the first half, is hitting .274 with just three homers in 135 at-bats since the break. The pitching dropoff has been less dramatic, going from a 4.37 first-half ERA to 4.53 after the break. The Power's most consistent and productive hitter in the second half has been Andrew Lefave, who leads the Sally League with a .349 batting average - 20 points higher than second-place John Raynor of Greensboro - and ranks second in on-base percentage at .432, just a point behind Greenville's Jonathan Still. Chuckie Caufield's 77 RBIs are tied for third-best in the league, and Steve Chapman leads the Power with 18 home runs, tied for sixth in the league. The Power opens the best-of-three Northern Division playoffs on Sept. 5 - most likely at Hickory. For now, though, the Power has a chance to get back on a winning track against Savannah, which is 14-29 in the second half and is also in a deep slump. The Sand Gnats have lost six of their last seven and 12 of their last 14. Tonight's 7:05 game (6:05 Central) will be the first meeting of the season between the Power and the Southern Division cellar-dwellars, whose 34-79 overall record is by far the worst in the Sally League. Left-hander Luis Ramirez (1-2, 5.89) will start for the Power tonight. Savannah will counter with right-hander Jeremy Mizell (3-11, 5.65). After four games with Savannah, the Power meets Southern Division-leading Charleston (S.C.) in another four-game set. The RiverDogs are 28-16 in the second half, but four teams are within three games of Charleston.