Jim Goulart

Scroll your mouse over these Rickwood Field photos -- nice... www.ballparkreviews.com/b...ckwood.htm To David Weiser, awesome write-up.

Very cool, here's some details on that game from our Link Report archives -- But I'm not sure what you mean by "purchase this game"? Huntsville Site Game Summary: Perhaps the Stars just needed an escape. From the weight of their seven-game losing streak. From their fall out of the first-half pennant race. Historic Rickwood Field offered such an escape, and Huntsville seemed relaxed and right at home. The Stars snapped their season-high losing streak with an 8-6 win over the Barons on Thursday afternoon in the 9th Annual Rickwood Classic. For the second straight season, Huntsville joined the Barons in celebrating a past era in Birmingham baseball. Clad in throwback uniforms like those worn by Industrial League teams of the 1930?s and 1940?s, the Southern League rivals took fans on a trip back in time at the country?s oldest park, Birmingham?s Rickwood Field, opened in 1910. As if on cue, the Stars crafted one of their most fundamentally complete games in the month of June. Error-free defense, opportunistic offense and one monstrous home run propelled Huntsville into the win column for the first time since a victory over the Barons at Joe Davis Stadium on June 8. With a blast reminiscent of those hit by Rickwood legend Reggie Jackson, the Stars? Brad Nelson opened the Classic with a bang, crushing a two-run homer to deep right-center in the first. Ozzie Chavez?s run-scoring double made it 3-0, Stars. After Birmingham?s Rob Sasser launched a second-inning two-run homer, Huntsville answered in the third. Johnny Raburn?s RBI-single and Kade Johnson?s sacrifice fly put the Stars up, 5-2. In the fourth, Ruddy Yan?s throwing error and Nelson?s sacrifice fly made it 7-2, Huntsville. The Barons trimmed the lead to 7-5, but Joel Alvarado?s run-scoring single pushed Huntsville?s lead back to 8-5 in the fifth. The Stars? bullpen took care of the rest, as lefty Brian Adams and right-hander John Novinsky combined to hold Birmingham at bay. Adams (2-1) picked up his second win, giving up just one hit and one walk while fanning one over his 3 1/3 scoreless frames. Dennis Ulacia (4-4) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in just 2 1/3 innings. Novinsky notched his fourth save, permitting one run, Brian Becker?s ninth-inning solo homer, and two hits with one walk and one strikeout over the final 1 2/3 innings. Stars righty Dennis Sarfate (3-6, 5.14) takes the mound against Barons right-hander Eduardo Villacis (1-1, 4.59) in game two of the series on Friday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The FPH Financial Services Pre-game show starts at 6:45 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com. *** David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: A TRIP BACK IN TIMEMasquerading as an industrial team, the Huntsville Stars won their first Rickwood Classic and broke their seven-game losing streak, their longest since 1999....... Perhaps the Stars should wear the uniforms of the cotton mill teams that played at Huntsville's Optimist Park in the '30s if it works this well. Forget Stars. Forget Barons. Today, it was an homage to the past, and both teams celebrated in vintage uniforms in front of over 7,000 fans, a time when baseball was wildly popular and some 150 industrial teams flourished in and around Birmingham, representing steel mills, paper mills, coal mines, iron works, ethnic associations, and even competing grocery stores. These far-flung semi-pro leagues were united into a single federation, becoming the largest in the nation by 1936, lasting for decades until the workers who played and the fans who came, became a richer, more diverse and mobile middle class in the '50s. No longer part of a decaying neighborhood, and no longer depending on baseball for entertainment, the leagues faded into oblivion........ But those who remembered honored those who played in these leagues on this hot 87° afternoon, where they once competed. About two dozen former Industrial League players were introduced in front of the crowd before the game, some who once played with future major league players in these leagues --- Harry and Dixie Walker, Ben Chapman, Frank House, Willie Mays, Virgil Trucks, Dan Bankhead, and future major league managers Luman Harris and Bobby Bragan. The Rickwood Classic has been a fundraiser to preserve what is the oldest professional ballpark still in use, a working museum --- Rickwood Field, built in 1910 --- laid out by Connie Mack, as a favor to friend and owner Rick Woodward, but modeled after Forbes Field....... Here, where scenes from the movie "Cobb" were shot, nostalgia abounds, and if you can allow yourself, you feel the ghosts of Babe Ruth, Burleigh Grimes, and Dizzy Dean, all of whom played here on the same field as Ryan Costello, Prince Fielder, and Brad Nelson today........ In 1996, the Birmingham Barons agreed to return to Rickwood to play for the first time in nine years, wearing 1948 Barons' uniforms. A sellout crowd of 10,023 came back to Rickwood to enjoy the vintage park to inauguarate the Rickwood Classic --- one of the most symbolic "throwback" games in history. And there exists no better ballpark on earth to play such a game...... I looked around to take mental pictures of the huge wooden overhang, protecting the wraparound grandstand extending from the 3rd base line midway to left field to about 30 feet in back of right field, where African-Americans were once segregated, then without any protection from the sun or the rain......... Distinctive were the unique lightstands on the roof (Rickwood was the first minor league park with lights), the depression and war-era billboards (Burma Shave, Fatima Cigarettes, Grape-Ola, etc.), the hand-operated chalkboard-colored scoreboard (originally 500 feet from home plate) with the clock on top and the scheduled games of the Southern Association and major leagues as it existed in 1948, ready for updates, and the assymetrical outfield design (dead center is 392 ft., but left-center juts out to 399')........ Standards from the '30s were played over the loudspeakers and whenever possible, a dixieland band played from an area behind home plate. The seats were the old-style cast iron that you might find at Fenway or old Tiger stadium (except roomier).......The neighborhood around had seen better days. Several dwellings near the stadium were boarded or bricked up. By 1986, Barons owner Art Clarkson had to face economic realities and the Birmingham Barons left Rickwood for good after the 1987 season for modern, detached Hoover Met....... It's hard to imagine it's lasted this long, and that the Stars played their very first game here in 1985, but it's not hard to imagine that presevationists would fight to keep it, and pay for its upkeep, and that is what the Rickwood Classic is for. The Stars wore the blue caps and white uniforms of U.S. Steel's Fairfield Mills. The logo on the left breast was too small to be seen, except with binoculars, almost looking like plain cotton uniforms. The numbers on the back were large as life though. For some reason, Ryan Knox and Ozzie Chavez exchanged their regular uniform numbers, 36 and 24, for 10 and 12 respectively......... The Birmingham Barons wore the uniforms of Sloss Industries, a prominent coke foundry still operating today now in Hoover...... They also wore white uniforms, but you could plainly see the blue block letters spelling out "SLOSS", so there was really no mistaking the two teams....... Even the umps were dressed in throwback style, wearing the balloon protectors outside their black and white uniforms. The Stars threatened to tie a club record they set at this ballpark in their very first game on April 12, 1985, by scoring in five consecutive innings, falling one inning short........ They were stopped cold by B.J. LaMura, pitching three no-hit innings in relief in his first appearance against the Stars, but by this time, the Stars were in front 8-5 and Brian Adams, the Stars' most effective pitcher this month (2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 IP) was likewise holding the opposition scoreless........ Meanwhile, the Stars were crafting the most fundamentally sound, opportunistic game they had played in awhile, playing error-free nine-innings for the first time since May. It began with a monstrous two-run home run to right-center by Brad Nelson, evoking the memories perhaps of some Barons fans who remember Reggie Jackson when he played here........ In the 2nd inning, Johnny Raburn and Kade Johnson parlayed a succession of perfectly-placed bunts that set up Chavez's RBI double which hugged the left field line........ Rob Sasser's no-out two-run HR in the 2nd inning brought the Barons as close as they would ever get in this game, 3-2. It was a rough inning for Ryan Costello, who was fortunately taken out of this sweltering heat before he could become eligible for the win, but he struck out Scott Bikowski on an 0-2 change and was saved by some good defense from Prince Fielder, who dug out a wide throw from third baseman Raburn....... Prince made a similar, and even better play in the 8th, sprawling in the dirt, while keeping his foot on the first base bag for the first out, presaging a bases-loaded situation. The heat was wilting Dennis Ulacia (2-5, 3.81 vs. Huntsville since 2001). After a Fielder double to the right field corner, two walks, and another hit by Raburn manufactured two more runs, giving the Stars a 5-2 lead, Ulacia was gone........The heat even got the better of catcher Chris Stewart, who was removed in the 7th for heat exhaustion........ Stewart's passed ball put runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 4th inning, setting up two more runs. Fielder hit a 3-1 high hopper to Ruddy Yan. Yan went home to get Rickie Weeks, who drew a one-out walk, but the low throw hopped up on Stewart, bouncing off his mask and eluding him. With Tony Gwynn, Jr. now on 3rd, Brad Nelson was able to get him home, thanks to Gwynn's speed, on a medium fly ball to left........ Brian Adams came in for Costello in the bottom half after Gwynn missed a tumbling attempt at Scott Bikowski's dying pop to shallow center that went to the wall for a triple, followed by a walk and a double to the left field corner by Stewart........ From that point on, things were quiet for both sides......... Adams retired three of the four batters to face him in the 4th, then retired eight straight batters before Brian Becker, making his Birmingham debut, hit his second double of the day. In the 9th inning Becker's home run just cleared the vintage Coca Cola sign in left......... B.J. LaMura stopped the Stars from scoring for a club record 6th straight inning in the 6th, and never allowed the Stars to hit one ball out of the infield, and that was to second baseman Yan on the outfield grass. For the Stars, it was the most runs scored since a May 22 10-1 win over Jacksonville. Prince Fielder hit his 7th double of the month -- as many as he had in April and May combined......... Johnny Raburn had the third four-hit game by a Huntsville Star this year, the last coming from Kade Johnson on April 26. The Chattanooga Lookouts added outfielder Bobby Darula to their roster. Darula hit .325 for the Lookouts in 2002 and was a Southern League all-star that year, but Stars fans might remember he played for us in 2000 (hitting. 239) and 2001 (.277 in 22 games before his demotion to High Desert)........ The Philadelphia Phillies promoted outfielder Chris Cosbey to their Class AA Eastern League farm club in Reading, then went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his debut for Reading on Thursday, as they beat Erie, 7-5......... Cosbey was hitting just .216 with 1 HR and 19 RBIs at Class A-Clearwater (Fla. St.). Last year, Cosbey, signed by the Brewers off the independent rolls, hit .171 in 33 games for the Stars, then was sold to the Phillies on June 3. Last year, he hit .246 for Clearwater with no home runs and 16 RBIs. The High Desert Mavericks will send two possibly future Huntsville Stars to the Calilfornia League All-Star game --- first baseman Travis Hinton and second baseman Callix Crabbe. Hinton is hitting .317 with nine HRs and 19 doubles for the Mavs. Crabbe is hitting .305 with 11 doubles and five triples. High Desert has three of the Cal League's top four stolen base leaders. In addition to Crabbe, who's 4th, there's Chris Morris with 24 and Kennard Bibbs with 22. High Desert leads the California League in stolen bases....... Ben Hendrickson slipped from 1st to 3rd among International League ERA leaders. Hendrickson is 6-2 with a 2.54 ERA for Indy......... Jason Belcher went 3-for-4 and hit his 1st HR for Harrisburg, Thursday, as they beat Altoona, 11-2 in Eastern League action. Belcher is hitting .310 for them. ***Final: Huntsville 8, Birmingham (White Sox) 6 Huntsville Box Score: GAME DATE: 6/17/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 8 AT BIRMINGHAM 6 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 4 1 0 0 .244 M.Spidale CF 3 0 1 0 .300 A.Gwynn CF 5 2 2 0 .245 R.Yan 2B 5 0 0 1 .257 P.Fielder 1B 5 1 1 0 .272 M.Morse SS 5 0 1 1 .286 B.Nelson RF 2 2 1 3 .288 B.Becker 1B 5 1 3 1 .600 R.Knox LF 4 0 0 0 .274 N.Murphy LF 5 1 1 0 .290 J.Raburn 3B 5 1 4 1 .262 R.Sasser 3B 5 1 1 2 .225 K.Johnson DH 3 1 1 1 .235 S.Bikowski RF 3 1 1 0 .271 O.Chavez SS 5 0 1 1 .207 C.Maldonado DH 3 1 2 0 .255 J.Alvarado CAT 3 0 1 1 .146 C.Maldonado CAT 0 0 0 0 .255 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Stewart CAT 3 1 1 0 .238 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Martel PH 1 0 0 0 .307 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Ulacia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Bullard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.LaMura PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Fields PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 8 11 7 TOTALS 38 6 11 5 HUNTSVILLE 2 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0- 8 11 0 BIRMINGHAM 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 1- 6 11 3 E--R.Yan 2, R.Sasser. DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 1. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 9, BIRMINGHAM 9. 2B--P.Fielder (14), O.Chavez (6), B.Becker 2 (2), N.Murphy (7), C.Maldonado (10), C.Stewart (8). 3B--S.Bikowski (1). HR--B.Nelson (12), B.Becker (1), R.Sasser (4). SB--A.Gwynn (16). CS--B.Nelson. SF--B.Nelson, K.Johnson. SH--K.Johnson. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE R.Costello 4.0 8 5 5 2 3 1 5.28 B.Adams (W,2-1) 3.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.24 J.Novinsky (S,4) 1.2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3.66 BIRMINGHAM D.Ulacia (L,4-4) 2.1 6 5 5 2 2 1 4.23 J.Bullard 2.2 4 3 1 1 2 0 4.17 B.LaMura 3.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0.00 J.Fields 1.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.60 WP--R.Costello, J.Fields. PB--C.Stewart. SO--R.Weeks 2, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, R.Knox 2, K.Johnson, O.Chavez, J.Alvarado, M.Spidale, M.Morse, S.Bikowski 2, N.Martel. BB--R.Weeks, B.Nelson 2, R.Knox, J.Alvarado, M.Spidale 2, S.Bikowski, C.Maldonado. T--3:26. A--7165

MiLB.com: Manatees clip Cardinals Mat Gamel extended his Florida State League-leading hitting streak to 29 games as visiting Brevard County rallied past Palm Beach, 6-3, on Sunday. After striking out in the first inning, the 21-year-old third baseman ripped a leadoff double in the third. Gamel struck out again in the fifth, delivered a sacrifice bunt in the seventh and was intentionally walked to load the bases in the ninth. Gamel is batting .425 with 21 RBIs, 15 doubles, four triples and two homers during the streak that began on May 28. Casey Blake had a 31-game hitting streak with Dunedin in 1998. Angel Salome lined a two-run single and Chris Errecart hit a sacrifice fly to snap a 3-3 tie in the ninth for Brevard County (6-5). Salome also lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh to knot the score. Darren Ford walked with the bases loaded in a two-run second. Manatees reliever Kevin Roberts (3-1) struck out four over two perfect innings. E.J. Shanks picked up his fourth save, despite yielding two walks in the ninth. Starter Steve Garrison gave up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts over six frames. Cardinals reliever Luke Gregerson (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth. Starter Eddie Degerman surrendered two runs on three hits while fanning six and walking four over four innings. Dan Nelson smacked a two-run single in the first and Nathan Southard stroked an RBI double in the sixth for Palm Beach (7-4). -- Marissa Rega/MLB.com

Final: Greenville (Red Sox) 7, West Virginia 1 West Virginia Site Game Summary: DRIVE SCORE SIX IN THE THIRD TO SNAP POWER WIN STREAK The Greenville Drive scored six of their seven runs in the third inning of Sunday evening?s game at West End Field and snapped West Virginia?s four game winning streak with a 7-1 victory over the Power. Chih-Hsien Chiang?s sacrifice fly plated the first of six runs in the third. Josh Reddick knocked in Lars Anderson with a double and Reid Engel followed with a three-run homer. Brad Miller?s throwing error allowed Paul Smyth to score the final run of the inning. The throwing error was one of four errors in the bottom of the third. Kenny Holmberg scored West Virginia?s only run in the top of the fifth inning on Charlie Fermaint?s sacrifice fly. Greenville added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run from Matt Sheely. The Power committed five errors in the game, and they?ve committed 22 over their last seven games. Dustin Richardson (4-5) allowed just a run on three hits over five innings to get the win while Jeremy Jeffress (4-2) allowed six unearned runs on seven hits and struck out five through four innings and was tagged with the loss. Jeffress registered triple digits on the radar gun several times throughout the game. The Power fell to 54-25 overall and 6-5 in the second half, while the Drive improved to 36-44 overall and 7-4 in the second half with the win. Andrew Lefave went 2-for-2 and reached base all four times up. Lefave is 14-for-26 on the road trip and his .350 batting average still leads the league. The Power will finish the four game series against the Drive Monday night. The Power will start left hander Brae Wright (5-4, 6.00) and Greenville will start right hander Travis Beazley (6-6, 4.93). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Shortstop Brent Brewer's three errors make it 30 on the season; Taylor Green has struggled defensively in his first year as a third baseman -- year in and year out, third base defense always seems to be an issue up and down the chain, making Huntsville's Adam Heether a very notable and appreciated exception... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

Sorry, we're not going to rehash it, back to the Reid Nichols talk if folks wish...

Final: Arizona Rangers 12, Arizona Brewers 6 Arizona Brewer Box Score: Brewers lose despite seven Ranger errors (only two unearned runs scored by the Crew); finally an attendance figure! web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1 Arizona Brewer Game Log: Ugly as expected... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Final: Brevard County 6, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 3 Nice picture on MiLB.com's home page of Mat Gamel now among the rotating banner stories: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?cid=milb Brevard County Box Score: Manatees score three in the top of the 9th to win, Angel Salome driving in two with a go-ahead single; closer E.J. Shanks survives two one-out walks in the 9th, getting his patented three ground ball outs - his GB/FO ratio going in to the game was 5.20... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 Brevard County Game Log: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1

In progress: Arizona Rangers 2, Arizona Brewers 0, after two innings Your A-Crew starter today is Milwaukee's 2007 9th round draft pick, 18-year-old LHP Texas high-schooler Kristian Bueno.

In progress: Brevard County 2, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 2, after four innings LHP Steve Garrison is your Manatee starter today; and yes, with a double, Mat Gamel has now hit in 29 straight games...

Huntsville Site: The Stars and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx have been rained out on Sunday afternoon after persistent rain throughout the morning and early afternoon. The game will be made up as part of doubleheader beginning Monday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. The broadcast schedule for the game will be determined Monday morning.

Hey, Capellan's our long guy today, right? Uh, wait...

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/sports.aol.com/fanhouse/media/2007/01/rache.jpg Patriot receiver Reche Caldwell has the biggest eyes I've ever seen in sports (nickname is headlights), but Ryan is a close second. Not Reche Caldwell below: http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h305/Roto-Mat/blackguys.gif

From a Detroit Minor League Report on Cody's one and only Florida State League outing thus far: Lakeland took a 9-2 beating from the Jupiter Hammerheads yesterday. There was an hour and seven minute rain delay in the middle of the game, and it's assumed that?s the reason Chris Cody only threw four innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three, but the second run scored after he allowed a single and was taken out of the game in the fifth. Chris Cody was 5-5 with a 1.77 ERA for West Michigan before a promotion to Lakeland. (Photo by Chris Proctor/MLB.com) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/01/xSNGGeRG.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.manchestersilkworms.o...cody3.html Chris Cody..... Eye on the Tigers February 10th, 2007 by Don Leypoldt It's lefty Chris Cody's nature to open an interview discussing one of his earned runs. Cody posted a 2.38 ERA and a strikeout-walk ratio of nearly 6:1 in his 11 starts for the short season New York-Penn Leagues Oneonta Tigers last summer. Despite such an impressive professional debut, there are deer ticks that are bigger than Cody's ego. But then again, his miscue on July 20th against Brooklyn was no ordinary run. "I hung a curveball. The batter knocked it down the line into a corner and the runner came around to score," Cody recalled. "At first I didn't think much of it. I went through six innings and I thought 'Wow, one run. That's a pretty good start." "About three hours later-in the 20th inning or so-I'm thinking to myself 'Man, if I had just not given up that run in the first inning, we'd be home by now.'" In a 26 inning marathon that lasted over six and a half hours, featured 206 plate appearances and had 21 consecutive scoreless frames, the Tigers were eventual 5-1 winners. For the record, Cody's father and college coaches lasted all twenty-six innings. But Cody's family played an important role in his adjustment to the minors, so it is no surprise that they showed unwavering support during the Oneonta-Brooklyn epic. "I'm familiar with Oneonta because I have a lot of family there. Another thing that was special was being able to play in front of family, see them and get a home cooked meal every now and then," Cody commented. The marathon was one more memory in a fabulous 2006 for the Brewster, N.Y. native. Cody ended his senior year at Manhattan College with a 12- 2 record, a 1.42 ERA, nine complete games and nearly a strikeout per inning. He left as the school's all time leader in wins (29), ERA (2.94) and strikeouts (295). While Cody's success stunned the college baseball world, it did not surprise Manchester (CT) Silkworm fans (of the wood bat New England Collegiate Baseball League). In his 2003 summer at Manchester, freshman Cody posted a 4-2 record, a typo-like 0.91 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. He also demonstrated the calm, cerebral persona that he would use - along with a mid 80's fastball and tremendous command - to eventually dominate both Division 1 and New York-Penn League batters. The rubber armed Cody permanently elevated his game in the opening round of the 2006 College World Series. Manhattan, making their first CWS appearance in nearly half a century, sojourned to Lincoln, Nebraska for a date with the #7 ranked and heavily favored Nebraska Cornhuskers. If that wasn't pressure enough, Cody was going to square off against the Huskers' Joba Chamberlain, the New York Yankees' eventual 2006 first round pick. And if that weren't enough, there were over 8,000 screaming partisan fans in attendance. The last time a man had faced such a turbulent Red Sea, Moses was pitching against Pharaoh. But just like the Moses-Pharaoh duel, the underdog won. Cody tossed a complete game, seven strikeout, one-run gem as Manhattan knocked off Nebraska 4-1 in a national-news making upset. The Detroit Tigers rewarded the Brewster (NY) High School graduate by making him their 8th round pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft shortly thereafter. The Nebraska game - as well as his defeat of then 15th ranked Tulane earlier in the year - helped to prepare Cody for professional baseball. "As far as the talent level goes," he observed about the New York-Penn League, "every game I pitched was similar to the nationally ranked teams I played. It was like top college talent every game out. That was intimidating because you can't expect to pitch well against that type of competition every time." Despite the collegiate success he had, Cody adjusted his pitching philosophy upon reaching the minors. "In Oneonta, they preach 'Pitch to contact.'" he said."Try to get hitters out on the first or second pitch instead of wasting four or five pitches trying to get a strikeout. They didn't complain when I stuck guys out! But if you control your fastball and you pitch low in the zone - it can be hittable but it is hit on the ground, which is what they want." The instruction he received kept runners off the base paths; Cody walked just nine in 53 short-season innings. "I had been told by several people to keep your walks down. I have always had pretty decent control, so I was looking to continue that. What (Oneonta) taught me really helped me in terms of keeping my mechanics consistent. Better mechanics led to a better walk ratio," Cody noted. The Tigers have not announced their 2007 plans for Cody, but the southpaw is unfazed. "I'm just aiming to have a really good spring training. I want to go there in shape and show them that I've been working hard," he said. No matter where the Tigers assign Cody, the hurler is where every member of the 2007 Silkworms wants to be. He left this advice for the young arms coming to Northwest Park this summer: "I use this analogy, even though I don't even know how to play chess! But pitching is a chess game, not a checkers game. If I try to blow it by a batter, sooner or later it's going to get hit. But if you hit your spots and keep the hitters off balance, then that is even more important than velocity." He may not be a chess player but Cody said "Checkmate" to many batters in 2006. He is hoping that 2007 sees more of the same.

First a link to the April / May transaction thread, now closed: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=40 And a link to the June transaction thread, also now closed: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=40 As being discussed here on the Major League Forum, LHP Chris Cody acquired from the Tigers organization for RHP Jose Capellan: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...5789.topic Recent MiLB.com article (thanks to our reader "molitor fan" for the find): www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Cody climbing ladder with finesse 06/22/2007 By Evan Mohl / MLB.com Throwing the ball hard has become an obsession in baseball. Scoreboards that show pitch speed are requisite for any game and can be found at every niche and corner of baseball stadiums. Last year, fans and announcers marveled at Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers touching 102 mph on the radar gun. At the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, visitors can stick their hand in a catcher's mitt and feel the power of a Nolan Ryan fastball. It seems strange that in a game Yogi Berra once described as 90 percent mental, scouts, analysts and fans are infatuated with a purely physical ability such as pitch speed. Nonetheless, player-development personnel time and time again shy away from players who can't throw the ball 95 mph. None of this seems to bother Chris Cody, who has often been labeled a "soft-tossing lefty" and a "finesse" pitcher. Instead, he takes the mound every fifth day with his high-80s fastball, doing what he does best: pitching. The Brewster, N.Y., native is just as effective by painting the corners, hitting his spots and changing speeds. "The room for error is greater the harder you throw," admitted Cody. "So, naturally, you have a little bit of advantage if you can throw the ball 95 miles per hour. But velocity is pretty much the least important thing when you look at all the ingredients for a successful pitcher." So while most young ballplayers try to be the next Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez, Cody looks to different pitchers. He aspires to be like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer, who all rarely hit 85 on the radar gun. Despite their speed "deficiencies," these pitchers have had success in the Major Leagues by making up for what they lack in velocity with control, changing speeds and deception. "Those guys go out there every night and make it look easy while throwing nothing over 85 miles per hour," said Cody. "They're true pitchers. That's kind of the inspiration I look at. I see those guys going out there every night, and there's no real reason why anybody can't do that." That attitude has made Cody successful as a professional ballplayer. The 23-year-old has dominated at every stop he's made -- from Oneonta of the New York-Penn League to West Michigan of the Midwest League. This year Cody boasts a 1.77 ERA, which ranks second in the MWL. In 91 1/3 innings, he's struck out 92 batters while allowing just 15 walks. Opponents are hitting a paltry .215 against Cody, who has failed to pitch six innings in just two of his 14 starts. So much for pitch speed and radar guns. Cody's filthy stats earned him a spot in the Midwest League All-Star Game and a promotion to Class A Advanced Lakeland. But truth be told, it wasn't always this easy for Cody. He had trouble getting recruited in high school because of his low velocity. He also suffered an injury to his elbow that forced him to sit out of baseball during the summer of his junior year, when most big-time baseball colleges and universities do their heavy recruiting. "I wasn't highly recruited by any college coaches," said Cody. "I guess I kind of scared them away. I didn't play that junior summer, which is a big time for college coaches to recruit you." For Cody, however, playing baseball was life. His father had taught him the game when he was 8 years old, and Cody loved it. So when then Manhattan Jaspers Coach Steve Trimper offered him a Division I scholarship, Cody said it was a "no-brainer." "Coach Trimper gave me a shot, gave me a scholarship," said Cody. "He didn't think my injury or velocity was that big of a deal." Cody proved his coach right and excelled for the Jaspers. He set school records in wins, complete games, and strikeouts . In his final season, Cody compiled a 12-2 record with a 1.42 ERA. He pitched nine complete games while fanning 105 batters over 108 innings. But Cody had to demonstrate he could play with the best. So in the summer of his sophomore year, Cody received an invitation to play in the Cape Cod League under legendary Chatham A's Coach John Schiffner. During that summer in New England, Cody established himself as a true prospect. "I had some success there," said Cody. "That's when I started believing that if the chips fell in the right spot, I'd get a pretty decent shot at playing pro ball." And in 2006, after Cody's stellar senior year at Manhattan, the Detroit Tigers selected him in the eighth round. As he makes his ascent up the baseball ladder to the big leagues, Cody continues to rely on more than his physical gifts. On the mound, he prides himself on being poised, refusing to give anything to the opposing team. One sign of weakness could cost him the upper hand in the battle between pitcher and batter. "I don't get rattled easily," said Cody. "I try to have the same look on my face whether I'm throwing a nine-inning shutout or if I've given up five runs in the first two innings. I try to stay the same, keep even-keeled." In trying to explain all his success, Cody says it's nothing more than working hard, listening to coaches, being astute and hitting the corners. "I'd say consistency is the biggest thing," said Cody. "That's what separates the big leaguers from the Minor Leaguers -- being able to repeat something 90 or 100 percent of the time, that's what I'm striving for. To throw a fastball on the outside corner at the knees once is great. If you can do it 10 more times in a row, then you're doing something special." Having a devastating changeup helps, too. But either way, Cody is headed in the right direction, proving once again that velocity isn't everything. LHP Chris Cody Career Statistics (2006 on final stat line): www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=501866 Chris Cody compiled a 1.17 ERA in 14 starts with West Michigan before his promotion. (Photo by Emily Smith/MLB.com) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/06/21/nMtzOLwz.jpg

Reading that article from MiLB.com, and you can't help but see the parallels with Chris Capuano (we can hope). Edit: As usual, briggs, we think alike http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

For me, the cube is fine for pre-2007 stats, and then MiLB.com's fine for 2007.

Standings through Saturday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 49 33 .598 - 27-12 22-21 W4 Iowa 45 36 .556 3.5 25-18 20-18 L4 Omaha 39 44 .470 10.5 26-14 13-30 L2 Memphis 34 49 .410 15.5 18-25 16-24 L8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 9 4 .692 - 5-2 4-2 L1 Tennessee 7 6 .538 2.0 5-2 2-4 W1 Carolina 5 8 .385 4.0 4-2 1-6 W3 Huntsville 5 8 .385 4.0 2-4 3-4 W1 West Tenn 3 10 .231 6.0 3-4 0-6 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 7 3 .700 - 4-2 3-1 W2 Brevard County 5 5 .500 2.0 3-2 2-3 W1 Jupiter 5 5 .500 2.0 3-1 2-4 W2 St. Lucie 4 6 .400 3.0 2-4 2-2 W1 Vero Beach 3 7 .300 4.0 1-3 2-4 L7 Daytona 2 8 .200 5.0 1-4 1-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 7 2 .778 - 5-1 2-1 L1 Lakewood 7 2 .778 - 5-1 2-1 L1 Hickory 6 4 .600 1.5 3-3 3-1 W2 West Virginia 6 4 .600 1.5 2-2 4-2 W4 Delmarva 3 6 .333 4.0 1-2 2-4 W1 Lexington 3 7 .300 4.5 2-2 1-5 L1 Greensboro 1 8 .111 6.0 1-3 0-5 L5 Hagerstown 1 8 .111 6.0 1-2 0-6 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 7 5 .583 - 4-2 3-3 W3 Billings 6 6 .500 1.0 4-2 2-4 L3 Helena 6 6 .500 1.0 2-4 4-2 W2 Missoula 5 7 .417 2.0 2-4 3-3 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 7 1 .875 - 4-0 3-1 W6 AZL Angels 5 2 .714 1.5 4-0 1-2 L1 AZL Cubs 4 3 .571 2.5 3-1 1-2 W1 AZL Rangers 4 3 .571 2.5 2-2 2-1 L1 AZL Brewers 3 4 .429 3.5 1-2 2-2 L1 AZL Padres 3 4 .429 3.5 1-2 2-2 L1 AZL Giants 3 5 .375 4.0 2-2 1-3 W1 AZL Athletics 2 5 .286 4.5 1-2 1-3 L3 AZL Royals 2 6 .250 5.0 2-2 0-4 W1

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 "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. Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1 Helena: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_grfrok_1 Arizona: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

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: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at West Tenn (Mariners), 12:50 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: TBD at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 11:55 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp NOTE: It appears the Manatees have reduced their broadcast schedule -- today's link is for the Palm Beach audio. West Virginia: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at Greenville (Red Sox), 2:55 PM pre-game, 3:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp Helena: Exciting RHP Jose Garcia at Great Falls (White Sox), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp Arizona: TBD vs. the Rangers' tykes at home in Maryvale, 10:30 AM local time in Arizona, 12:30 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

Link while active, text follows: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Seidel holds Osprey hitless By Daren Smith / MLB.com If not for a late-arriving text message, R.J. Seidel might have made Pioneer League history. Seidel tossed six hitless innings for his second straight win Saturday as the Helena Brewers posted an 8-3 victory over the Missoula Osprey. Milwaukee's 16th-round pick in last year's draft, Seidel (2-0) walked two and struck out six in his third start of the season. He had thrown roughly 80 pitches and wasn't sure whether he'd get a chance to take the mound in the seventh. Turns out he wasn't the only one. Members of the Helena staff apparently sent text messages to Brewers Minor League pitching coordinator Jim Rooney. According to Seidel, Rooney gave his approval only after Corey Frerichs came on in relief. "I wanted to go back out there," the Wisconsin native said. "[Rooney] didn't text them back in time. Right after they shut me down, they told me he said to let me [keep going]." Seidel surrendered five runs on 11 hits over five innings in his professional debut on June 20. But he's given up just one hit over 11 frames in his last two outings to lower his ERA to 3.38. "I had my fastball down in the zone, on both sides of the plate," he said of Saturday's performance. "I was just working my off-speed pitches in after that, keeping them off-balance, keeping the ball down and working the corners." With his parents listening to the play-by-play on the internet, Seidel was unaware of his feat. "I didn't even look at the scoreboard until they told me I was done and the rest of the guys were like, 'You threw a no-hitter,'" he said. Anthony Smith broke up the bid with a two-out double off Frerichs in the seventh. Peter Clifford followed with an RBI single and William Musselman delivered a two-run single to cap the Osprey's three-run inning. Zelous Wheeler had two hits, including a two-run homer, and Eric Farris also drove in two runs for Helena (6-6). Starter Santo Baez (0-2) gave up four runs -- two earned -- on five hits and a walk over four innings with four strikeouts for Missoula (5-7).

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Final: Huntsville 7, West Tenn (Mariners) 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1247 Early Offense Supports Inman in First Win Will Inman worked six strong innings to earn his first win at the double-A level and Huntsville tallied in five different innings en route to a 7-1 win over West Tenn in the opener of a four-game set Saturday night at Pringles Park. The Stars improved to 5-8 in the second half and 42-39 overall, while the Diamond Jaxx suffered their seventh straight setback to fall to 3-10 in the second half and 34-49 on the season. Hernan Iribarren opened the game with a triple and scored on a ground ball out by Michael Brantley, who has driven in all five of his runs on the road. Ruben Mateo?s line drive home run to left field extended the Stars lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning. It was his fifth home run of the season, third against West Tenn and second in as many games. Matt Tuiasosopo hit a two-out home run off of Inman, the only hit he allowed, in the fourth to trim the Stars lead to 2-1. Iribarren singled in a run in the fifth and a Lou Palmisano sacrifice fly, his first since April 12, in the sixth pushed the visitors lead to 4-1. Brendan Katin singled in a run and then scored, with Palmisano, on a two-run single by Alicdes Escobar, that broke up a 17 at-bat hitless string, in a three-run eighth that extended the visitors lead to 7-1. Every Stars batter had at least one hit in a 13-hit attack, the most in a game for Huntsville since a 21-hit outburst against Montgomery on May 30. Steve Sollmann singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high seven in a row, while Palmisano pushed his to a season-best nine straight. Inman walked four and struck out six in matching his longest outing with the Stars in his four turns at the double-A level. He ended each of his last three innings with a strikeout before being followed to the hill by Steve Hammond, who was making his first relief appearance since joining the Stars last season. The southpaw went three scoreless innings to earn his first career save. He gave up two infield singles, walked two and struck out three. The series continues Sunday afternoon, as left-hander Sam Narron will take the mound for Huntsville against West Tenn right-hander Joe Woerman. Coverage of the game begins at 12:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Stars thrown out stealing three times, with only Steve Sollmann (SB # 17 in 22 tries) successful; both Will Inman and Steve Hammond even on ground ball / fly out ratios for the game... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1

Final: Arizona Royals 8, Arizona Brewers 7 Arizona Box Score: Just turned 19-year-old OF Jose Rangel activated from the restricted list to make his pro debut; still a month short of turning 18, Venezuelan 3B Edgar Trejo is a strapping 6'3", 200 lbs., and is probably the most exciting Latin America newcomer thus far; three rather middling to below average pitching efforts here... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1 Arizona Game Log: Heart of the order goes down quietly in the 9th on the 100 degree day... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1