Jim Goulart

Various media reports that have been included in the Link Reports recently have him starting Tuesday in Kannapolis.

When did Corey Hart become Craig Counsell? Has anybody seen him swing with any authority all season? Where was Gabe Gross in the 9th?!?! Awful, just awful, just awful, just awful...

albanyprobaseball.com/new...icle_id=91 JARED SUTTON SIGNED BY BREWERS The South Georgia Peanuts are pleased to announce that pitcher Jared Sutton?s contract has been purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Sutton appeared in three games for the Peanuts. He posted a 2.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in nine innings of work. ?I am really excited, there are a bunch of things going through my head,? Sutton said. ?This is pretty much all of our goals to get back to affiliated ball. For me, it is just getting there for the first time and I am really excited right now.? Sutton?s signing ends a whirlwind three weeks for the right-handed pitcher. Sutton was one of three pitchers signed at a local tryout camp that took place in Albany, Georgia a few days prior to spring training. Sutton also had to finish some classes during the few days between the tryout camp and spring training beginning. Sutton, in his short time with the Peanuts, became one of the top strikeout pitchers in the South Coast League. He led the league in strikeouts for a number of days. His game high for strikeouts came on May 21 when he struck out seven against the Anderson Joes. Sutton and his teammates found out the news during the ballgame on Saturday night. A member of the Peanuts organization got the phone call from the Brewers and then went to the team?s dugout to tell manager Wally Backman who then gave the news to Sutton and the rest of the team. ?It?s a great thing for a good person,? Peanuts catcher Tug Gillingham said. ?That?s what we are all kind of here for. To know that someone is getting picked off our team shows that people are watching and it drives us and fuels us a little bit more.? Sutton has been assigned to the West Virginia Power. The Power is the Brewers? Class A team which plays in the South Atlantic League. Sutton is the first player to appear in a game for the Peanuts to be signed by a major league organization. Sutton is 24 years old, a RHP, having just celebrated a birthday this month. His college numbers which wrapped up in spring 2006, weren't overwhelming, but it's always nice to see the Brewers proactive on the independent league front. They've certainly gleaned a few nuggets in recent years, and it's particularly exciting when a player earns his first affiliated contract (Joe Thatcher and Jimmy Mojica come to mind as recent examples.) www.thebaseballcube.com/p...tton.shtml Earlier notes: Jared Sutton is the lone right-handed pitcher signed from the tryout. He most recently pitched at the University of North Carolina ? Wilmington. Sutton finished his career with a 5.23 ERA. Sutton has not pitched competitively since the end of last year?s collegiate season. Despite his inactivity for close to a year, he consistently hit 94 mph on the radar gun during the tryout. ?This is very exciting,? Sutton said. ?I am ready to learn and see what (Backman) can show me.? ***Stocked in arms Although no local players are signed, the South Georgia Peanuts add three pitchers to their roster after an open tryout. Paul Dehner Jr. AlbanyHerald.com ALBANY ? If the first official on-field event in the history of the South Georgia Peanuts is any indication, Albany?s new baseball team will be exciting to watch. Holding an open tryout in which manager Wally Backman hoped to find a few players he could add to the roster, three players left Paul Eames Sports Complex with contracts and two more with a promise to return after the first cuts of spring training. None of the five were from the area on a day where about 40 players turned out. None of the position players were impressive enough to earn a spot on a day where most of the talent stood 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. ?The pitching (Saturday) was outstanding,? Backman said. At the head of that class was right-hander Jared Sutton. After pitching to just five batters, topping out at 94 mph on his fastball and throwing equally impressive breaking pitches, Sutton left Backman and a scout from the Philadelphia Phillies in attendance baffled. ?How that kid never got signed, I can?t figure that out,? Backman said. ?That?s exciting to get a guy like that.? The UNC-Wilmington product had been offered to play last year in the Continental League in Texas, but turned it down because of poor pay and distance from his home of North Carolina. Backman and the Peanuts didn?t make the same mistake. But if he continues throwing as he did Saturday, he may not be in Albany long, instead moving on to affiliated baseball. Sutton knows that being able to play under a manager like Backman makes the Peanuts a perfect fit. ?I?m excited,? he said. ?I?m ready to learn and for him to show me and help me out whenever he can.? http://albanyprobaseball.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/thumbcache/722e168b13465973d8c87a21404169eb.300.jpg http://southcoastleague.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/267.jpeg

Thanks, Patrick -- we have a new Link Report opening post!

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...r-rallies/ First-place Power rallies Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter Like its injured starting pitcher, who last was seen limping off the field and into the clubhouse, the West Virginia Power absorbed but survived the Greenville Drive's best shot Sunday. Greenville tagged West Virginia starter Mike Ramlow for four runs in the third inning, then forced him from the mound in the fifth when a line drive caromed off his right knee. The Power (32-15) made sure the Drive (20-29) didn't add insult to injury by rallying for a 5-4 South Atlantic League victory at Appalachian Power Park, where a crowd of 2,480 watched the afternoon affair. "These guys have a lot of fight in them," West Virginia hitting coach Corey Hart said. Power relievers Travis Wendte, J.T. King and E.J. Shanks combined to shut out Greenville over the final 4 2/3 innings. King (5-1) recorded the win. Shanks, who induced a game-ending double play, earned his seventh save. "The bullpen gave us an opportunity to rally it out," West Virginia Manager Mike Guerrero said. Ramlow allowed four runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, with all of those runs and six of those hits coming in the third. However, it appeared he had recovered from that abysmal inning. After he pitched a scoreless fourth, Ramlow retired Manny Arambarris to start the fifth. But Lars Anderson followed with a line drive that struck Ramlow so hard the ball bounced all of the way to the bag at third base. "I won't know until (today)," West Virginia pitching coach John Curtis said of Ramlow's status. "We'll see if he has any soreness or any fluid on the knee. It was a pretty good shot. He has it wrapped up because there is some swelling." The Power surge featured a one-run fourth, two-run sixth and two-run eighth. Michael Brantley scored West Virginia's first run on Chuckie Caufield's sacrifice fly in the fourth. With Caufield on second after a two-out single and stolen base in the sixth, Andrew LeFave smashed a 3-2 changeup over the right-field fence for a two-run homer off Greenville starter Travis Beazley. Darren Ford started the eighth with an infield single that bounced off the glove of Greenville closer Josh Papelbon, who argued with scorekeeper Michael Hutchinson after the game that the play should have been ruled an error instead of a hit. Brent Brewer followed Ford with a sacrifice bunt. Brantley delivered an RBI double to score Ford, then stole third to set up Caufield for another sacrifice fly. However, Greenville center fielder Jason Place made an outstanding play on Caufield's shallow popup behind second base, catching the ball on the run and at his feet. In the end, it didn't matter. Jimmy Mojica capped the comeback with a two-out single that barely scooted under the glove of diving Greenville second baseman Kris Negron, allowing Brantley to score the game-winning run. Blowing a save opportunity for the second time this season, Papelbohn (2-1) took the loss. Coming through in the clutch is nothing new for Mojica, who has five hits and six RBI in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position and two outs this season. "I'm happy we won," Mojica said. "I'm happy I had the game-winning RBI, but I would have been happy if somebody else did it, too." Brantley, LeFave and Mojica each had two hits to pace the Power, which had only one hit in the first three innings. "He was doing a pretty good job of spotting the ball on the outside corner," LeFave said of Beazley, who allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings. "We were an inch or two off because he kept hitting it. "As the game wore on, he started leaving more balls over the plate. The second and third time around, we started getting used to it. It was just a matter of time until we had some big innings." Power plugs -- The teams will conclude their four-game series today at 1:05 PM (12:05 Central). West Virginia will start right-hander Mike McClendon (4-1, 2.08). Greenville will throw left-hander Felix Doubront (0-1, 11.25) ... In arguably the best rendition this season, Yolanda Jeffress wowed the crowd with her performance of the National Anthem. She is the mother of Jeremy Jeffress, the Milwaukee Brewers' 2006 first-round draft pick who was promoted to West Virginia on Thursday and arrived Friday in Charleston ... Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun became the first Power player to make the Major Leagues when Milwaukee promoted him from Class AAA Nashville (Tenn.) on Thursday. He is 4-for-11 (.364) with one double, one homer, one stolen base, two runs and three RBI in three games (all losses to San Diego).

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007052715 Timely hitting propels Power West Virginia rallies from four-run deficit to defeat Greenville 5-4 Sunday By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff Writer After nearly two months of the season, the Power still leads the league in hitting and, most notably, has demonstrated a knack for producing in the clutch. Thus, the Power?s ability to erase ? slowly but surely ? a four-run deficit and collect a 5-4 victory over the Greenville Drive Sunday afternoon was hardly a surprise. A crowd of 2,480 attended at Appalachian Power Park. ?We put a couple of clutch hits together,?? said Power left fielder Michael Brantley. ?We were lucky to come back.?? Brantley played a major role in the comeback activity. With his team trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, he lined a one-out double to right center that brought home Darren Ford, who had opened the inning with an infield single and advanced on Brent Brewer?s sacrifice. Living dangerously, Brantley promptly stole third. ?I had a green light if I had a good jump,?? he said with a smile. And with two out, he trotted home with the go-ahead run when Jimmy Mojica poked an opposite-field single past a diving Kris Negron, the Drive?s second baseman. The Power, who hold a 4 1/2-game lead over Greensboro in the Northern Division, owns a .295 batting average that easily leads the 16-team league, and the team is hitting .320 with runners in scoring position. In addition, the Power ranks second in runs, averaging 6.2 a game. ?We swing the bats very well,?? said Brantley. ?We can get seven or eight runs in an inning.?? After the Drive scored four runs in the third for a 4-0 lead, the Power began chipping away, though Greenville right-hander Travis Beazley presented problems with his pinpoint control and off-speed pitches. Brantley doubled in the fourth and eventually scored on Chuckie Caufield?s sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Caufield singled with two out and came home on Andrew Lefave?s home run to right, cutting the Greenville lead to 4-3. Three Power relievers ? Travis Wendte, J.T. King and E.J. Shanks ? blanked the Drive on three hits through the final 4 2/3 innings. King picked up the win, his fifth in six decisions, and Shanks earned his seventh save. The Power?s two-run, game-winning rally came against Josh Papelbon, who entered the game with a 1.04 ERA, a 2-0 record and eight saves. Papelbon is the brother of Red Sox closer Jonathan. POWER POINTS: The Power will conclude the homestand with a 1:05 PM (12:05 Central) game today against the Drive. ... The Power will travel to Kannapolis to begin a six-game road trip to Tuesday. The trip includes two games in Greensboro. ... Yolanda Jeffress, mother of Power pitcher Jeremy Jeffress, sang the national anthem at Sunday?s game. Jeffress, Milwaukee?s No. 1 draft pick in 2006, joined the team on Friday and is scheduled to make his South Atlantic League debut Tuesday against Kannapolis. ... Brewer entered Sunday?s game with eight hits in his previous three games, which raised his average to .289 after a slow start. Brewer was hitless Sunday but contributed a key sacrifice bunt in the eighth. ... Despite a cold, snowy start to the season, the Power is averaging 3,415 fans a game and is a good bet to surpass last season?s total of 239,722, which is a Charleston record. The team averaged nearly 3,500 a game last year. Charleston Gazette Photographer: Kenny Kemp West Virginia?s Chuckie Caufield (20) steals second base as Greenville?s Kris Negron lunges to catch the throw from the catcher during Sunday?s game. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/SLIDE1.jpg

Unfortunately, little discussion here of current Manatees... Link while active, text follows: www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS Brewers' farmhands impress general manager Streaking Manatees become instant hit with Melvin BY JIM CAWLEY FLORIDA TODAY It's always good when the boss catches you at your best. Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin paid a visit to Space Coast Stadium to check out the Manatees -- the organization's High Class-A representative -- and it couldn't have come at a better time for one of the hottest teams in the Florida State League. Brevard County has lost just four times in its past 20 games and has a three-game lead over Palm Beach in the East Division. In reality, Melvin's visit was part of a pre-draft trip that included stops in Triple-A Nashville and Double-A Huntsville (Ala.). But success rarely leaves a bad impression. "I really like their approach to hitting," Melvin said on Friday at Space Coast Stadium. "I like the way they go up the middle and they go the other way with authority. They're an athletic-looking club." Melvin also was treated to a solid pitching performance by top Manatees prospect Will Inman, who struck out 12 in six innings against Sarasota. However, the fifth-year Milwaukee GM had his eye on the bigger picture. "People think you come in to see a certain player and that's not the case," said Melvin, who pitched for two seasons in the FSL. "You come in to see the entire team; see how they're operating. "You have to do that if you're a general manager at the big-league level. You can't lose touch of your minor league system, especially a club like ours that really uses our system the way that we do." Sometimes that means putting young players on the fast track. At this time last year, Ryan Braun was Brevard County's starting third baseman. On Friday, Braun was the starting third baseman for the Brewers against the San Diego Padres. Right-handed starter Yovani Gallardo -- who dazzled fans in Brevard County a season ago -- is shining for Nashville and is "very close" to making the big-league club, according to Melvin. Such stories breathe enthusiasm into people like Josh Larson, a Brewers fan who made the one-hour trek from Orlando on his birthday to watch the stars of tomorrow at Space Coast Stadium. Larson, who was born in Milwaukee, attended Friday's game with his wife, Heather, and his twin 2 1/2-year-old sons, Jacob and Jackson. (Note: the link includes a photo of Larson and the boys.) The trip proved to be a bonus for the Larson family, who unexpectedly encountered Melvin and snagged a photo for the scrapbook. "It's exciting to see the guys on this stage and then to see them in the bigs," Josh said. "Just last year, Ryan Braun was playing on this field. So to come out and watch him play here and then to know he's playing up in Miller Park this year, it's pretty exciting." In 34 games with Nashville this season, Braun batted .342 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs. He went 1-for-4 in his major-league debut on Friday, including a two-run double in the seventh inning. On Saturday, he homered off of Padres starter Justin Germano in the third inning. "He's very talented," Melvin said. "He can run, he's got good power and he's a very confident player. We expect him to have success at the big leagues." Braun joins Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and former Eau Gallie and Florida Air star Prince Fielder in an infield comprised entirely of players who have come up through the Brewers farm system. "I'm not sure anybody in baseball has done that in a long time," Melvin said. "That's a real credit to our development staff and our scouting." That infield also boasts surprising power with Hardy and Fielder leading the National League in home runs with 15. "(Fielder) can flat-out hit," Melvin said. "He always could hit when he was younger and I think people are starting to recognize how talented he is at the age of 23." Melvin also has been impressed with Fielder's work ethic at first base. "The concern always was is he going to be a good defensive player," Melvin said. "Well, he worked extremely hard at it. Nobody even talks about it anymore. He has become a good defensive player." Only time well tell if the next Fielder, Braun or Gallardo is honing his skills in Brevard County. "They play the game hard," Melvin said. "They'll make mistakes -- we make mistakes at the big-league level -- but their approach is very good. This club here has got some good players."

Final: Nashville 9, Albuquerque (Marlins) 7 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Mike Rivera photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2346 Rivera Homers Twice, Gallardo Earns 7th Victory ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. ? Catcher Mike Rivera enjoyed his second two-homer game of the season and Yovani Gallardo picked up his PCL-leading seventh victory in the Nashville Sounds? 9-7 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday evening at Isotopes Park. The win was the fourth in the last six games for Nashville (27-23). Rivera (3-for-5) recorded five RBIs on the evening, matching the most by a Sound all season, and upped his longball total to eight, which ranks second on the club to the recently-promoted Ryan Braun. Gallardo (7-1), who allowed three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings, reclaimed the minor-league strikeout lead with eight punchouts on the evening, leapfrogging over fellow Brewers farmhand Will Inman. The 21-year-old has 84 strikeouts in his 10 starts this season. The Isotopes grabbed a 1-0 lead against Gallardo in the bottom of the first inning. After Robert Andino and Eric Reed (3-for-5) opened the contest with singles then executed a double steal of second and third, Andino put the home team on the board by scoring on a groundout. Nashville tied the contest at 1-1 with a two-out rally against Albuquerque starter Chris George in the fourth, the first of five consecutive innings in which the Sounds plated runs. After the first two batters were retired, Joe Dillon reached on a throwing error by Andino, the Isotopes? shortstop. The red-hot Andy Abad following with a single to extend his hitting streak to eight games, matching his best effort of the season. Rivera evened things by plating Dillon in unearned fashion with an RBI single to center. Dillon, who was hit safely in 13 of his last 15 contests, continued to haunt his former team in the fifth when he delivered a two-out, bases-loaded ground-rule double off George to left to give Nashville a 3-1 lead. Gallardo and Callix Crabbe, who had each drawn a walk, scored on the play. Rivera struck again for the Sounds in the sixth when he opened the inning with his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to center off George. The blast increased the Nashville lead to 4-1. After allowing a run in the first, Gallardo cruised through the next four innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the sixth. He walked in two runs in the frame, the second with two outs, before being removed by Sounds skipper Frank Kremblas after throwing his 102nd pitch of the night. Joe Thatcher replaced the prospect on the hill and retired former Sound Andrew Beattie on a flyout to escape the jam with Nashville?s 4-3 lead intact. Rivera made Albuquerque pay for issuing a two-out intentional walk to Abad in front of him in the seventh. The Nashville backstop belted his second home run of the contest, a three-run shot to center off Isotopes reliever Harvey Garcia that extended the visitors? advantage to 7-3. AUDIO: Mike Rivera's Second HR -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-27.mp3 The Isotopes rallied to get a run back in the bottom of the seventh when Andino scampered home from third to score on a Greg Aquino wild pitch. Nashville added a pair of runs against Garcia in the eighth. Crabbe contributed a one-out RBI single to plate Charles Thomas before bringing the score to 9-4 when he came home on a Chris Barnwell triple to right one batter later. Barnwell (4-for-5) matched the Nashville season high for hits in a game and missed the cycle by a homer. PCL home run leader Val Pascucci brought Albuquerque within two at 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth by belting a two-out, three-run homer to center off Sounds reliever R.A. Dickey. The blast, which scored Reed and former Sound Chad Hermansen, was the slugger?s 13th of the year. George (3-4) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings of work. The teams wrap up the series with a 2:35 p.m. CT Memorial Day finale on Monday afternoon. Left-hander Zach Jackson (5-3, 4.61) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Isotopes right-hander Jeff Fulchino (3-0, 4.75). Nashville Box Score: Given the current state of catching, particularly in the National League, it's still a surprise Mike Rivera cleared waivers at the end of spring training -- the Yankees went with AA-like Wil Nieves, for pete's sake... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_albaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: With nine different half-innings producing runs, are you up to the challenge here? www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_albaaa_1

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ SUNDAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME I guess Mobile was waiting for this chance. For the first time this season, the Stars are playing a team they've already met this season, and the Bay Bears remember Lindsay Gulin....... Gulin, in a sure candidate for my Top 10 games of the year, spun five no-hit innings against this team and Greg Smith on May 11 -- a no-hit bid that ended with two out in the 9th when Mark Reynolds, who has since been promoted to the Diamondbacks, singled over Adam Heether's leaping glove. Smith and the Bay Bears put an end to the Stars streak of six straight Sunday victories, and in the process, dropped the Stars (25-23) a game in back of the Smokies for 1st place in the North....... Smith blanked the Stars for the first three innings, while Mobile batted around in the 3rd, stretching a 1-0 lead to a 5-0 lead -- enough to take the game and the series, as they did at Joe Davis Stadium earlier this month. Justin Upton led things off for Mobile in the 2nd, lifting a double that didn't look like it would carry. But it did....... Left fielder Ruben Mateo tried to catch up to it, making a running, jumping effort at the ball, but it bounced off the wall for a double....... Upton was quickly erased on a pop-out by Chris Rahl to Guilder Rodriguez, who threw to Yohannis Perez for the 2nd out........ It seemed an easy task to end the inning now with the wind seemingly extinguished from Mobile's sails, even after Josh Ford singled and Jarred Ball walked...... But Greg Smith, who has one of the best pickoff moves in the minors, evidenced in part in the 1st inning, drove in Ford with a single through the right side. It was the 2nd time in this series a Mobile pitcher had knocked in a run, and the 9th run a Mobile pitcher had driven in this year. Stars pitchers, by comparison, have knocked in four. The Stars put a runner in scoring position in the 2nd when Mateo, who snapped an 0-for-11 slump, singled to center and was moved to 2nd on a sac bunt by Carlos Corporan....... But Adam Heether, looking to extend his hitting streak, grounded out and Brendan Katin struck out for the 60th time this year. In the bottom of the 3rd, Mobile plastered Gulin, sending nine men to the plate, and getting one hit after another...... After getting leadoff hitter Wilkin Castillo on a pop out to short, Javier Brito doubled to left, Cesar Nicolas walked and Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks' top prospect, drove in both runners to make it 3-0 with his 2nd double of the day, going deep to centerfield and off the wall....... Chris Rahl sent Gulin's 1-2 pitch to left, over the glove of Mateo to make it 4-0, and Josh Ford's line drive single made it 5-0....... Out came Don Money and in came the bullpen to the rescue once again, and it was hoped that once again, they didn't come too late....... The pen has been called upon to repair damage from a rotation that has logged a 5.13 ERA this month. (Last month, the rotation finished with a 4.65 ERA in 124 innings....... And like April, the pen has been very effective, posing a 2.73 ERA this month, not far from April's 2.67. Jarred Ball reached base on a bunt single off Mark DiFelice, but DiFelice, who has held opposing hitters to a .216 average with runners on base, retired Smith on a strikeout and Emilio Bonifacio on a ground out to end the inning....... From thereon, Huntsville's relief corps allowed just four hits through the remaining five innings. I'm not going to question manager Don Money's timing in calling for the pen, though........ The bats just came up short this night, and Mobile's relief corps, which held the Stars to just one run in 13 innings the first go-around, was tough........ The Stars were able to peck away at the lead........ An RBI double by Steve Sollmann in the 4th made it 5-1 and Sollmann advanced on a pair of ground outs to make it 5-2....... In the 6th, Brendan Katin's RBI double made it 5-3 and in the 9th, Drew Anderson doubled in his 5th consecutive game (one short of the club record) to drive in Yohannis Perez with the final run....... But Mobile's bullpen, led by Mark Rosen, retired eight in a row before Perez singled in the 9th....... With Anderson on 2nd, Steve Moss was beaten out on a grounder by a step to end the game. Stars fans get a look at Montgomery for the first time this year at Joe Davis Stadium, as Chris Seddon (3-3, 4.65) faces Sam Narron (1-3, 4.72)....... Narron was hit on the leg by a Jarred Ball line drive in the first game of this recent series against Mobile, but apparently he's OK. He has a string of 11 scoreless innings over three starts....... Fans will also get to see if Drew Anderson can make it six straight games with a double. That hasn't been done since Mickey Lopez established the record, August 13-20, 2000, in the midst of his record 22-game hitting streak. Steve Hammond's streak of nine straight starts with a decision ended Saturday with the Stars' 8th inning five-run rally to beat Mobile, 7-4...... No one had done that from the start of a season since Doug Johnston in 1999....... Adam Heether stretched his hitting streak to a new personal high of 10 games with a 4th inning two-out single. Heether has hit .368 during the streak (14-for-38) with seven RBIs, raising his average from .155 at its start to .226....... Streaky Steve Moss was 4-for-17 (.235) this series and is 5-for-31 (.161) for the season vs. the Bay Bears....... Yohannis Perez, for the first time this season, had a two-hit night for the 2nd consecutive game..... Guilder Rodriguez also had another consecutive two-hit performance to raise his average to .288. Rodriguez, who hit .167 in April, is hitting .372 this month in 43 at-bats....... Despite losing this series, the Stars hit .279, their 2nd best average for any five-gamer this year......... Mel Stocker is 8-for-16 in his last seven games with three doubles, a triple, and seven RBIs. Friday, the Stars will don pink jerseys which will be auctioned off with a starting bid of $25 in honor of breast cancer awareness. Fans with winning bids can choose to have the shirt off the player's back or have it washed, and for an additional $10, have it autographed......... All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. The Corpus Christi Hooks, the Astros' AA affiliate in the Texas League, released pitcher Travis Phelps, May 22. Phelps had given up nine runs on 11 hits in five innings over as many appearances since coming down from Class AAA-Round Rock (PCL). Phelps was 5-8 for the Stars last year with five saves, four of them coming in August when he logged a 0.59 ERA in 15 1/3 innings.

Final: Mobile (Diamondbacks) 5, Huntsville 4 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1183 Stars' Lose For First Time on Sunday Justin Upton?s two-run double ignited a four-run third inning rally that carried Mobile to a 5-4 win over Huntsville Sunday night in the final game of a five-game set at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears took three out of five to improve to 26-24 on the season and claimed six of the ten games between the teams, while the Stars dropped to 25-23 and fell one game behind victorious Tennessee in the North Division. Huntsville had been a perfect 6-0 in Sunday games before falling in the first Sunday night game of the season. The Mobile bullpen retired eight in a row before Yohannis Perez singled with two outs in the ninth and scored on a pinch-hit double by Drew Anderson that sliced the Mobile lead to 5-4. However, the comeback attempt fizzled when Steve Moss grounded out to end the game. Mobile posted the game?s first run, marking the fourth straight game in which the home side tallied first, in the second inning when starter Greg Smith singled to right field to chase home Josh Ford, who had singled after Chris Rahl had popped out into a double play. Mobile extended the lead to 5-0 in the third on Upton?s two-run double, his second two base hit of the game, that was followed by a run-scoring double by Rahl and a run-producing single by Ford that knocked starter Lindsay Gulin out of the game. Mark DiFelice took over and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief in his second stint of that length in the series. Gulin suffered the loss after allowing eight hits, walking two and not recording a strikeout. Smith blanked the Stars through three innings before the visitors struck for two runs in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Steve Sollmann and a ground ball out by Carlos Corporan that plated Sollmann. The Stars pulled to within 5-3 in the sixth when Brendan Katin doubled home Adam Heether with two outs. Heether finished with two singles in four at-bats to push his hitting streak to ten consecutive games. The Stars return home to open a five-game set against Montgomery Monday night with Sam Narron taking the hill against Biscuits? southpaw Chris Seddon. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_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

Standings through Sunday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 28 21 .571 - 16-7 12-14 W2 Nashville 27 23 .540 1.5 15-8 12-15 W2 Omaha 25 25 .500 3.5 21-10 4-15 W1 Memphis 24 27 .471 5.0 15-9 9-18 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 26 22 .542 - 11-12 15-10 W2 Huntsville 25 23 .521 1.0 13-12 12-11 L1 West Tenn 23 27 .460 4.0 14-11 9-16 L1 Chattanooga 21 29 .420 6.0 12-13 9-16 W1 Carolina 19 31 .380 8.0 11-14 8-17 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 31 19 .620 - 18-7 13-12 L1 Palm Beach 28 22 .560 3.0 13-12 15-10 W2 Daytona 23 26 .469 7.5 13-8 10-18 W1 Vero Beach 23 27 .460 8.0 17-12 6-15 L1 Jupiter 21 29 .420 10.0 9-16 12-13 W1 St. Lucie 21 29 .420 10.0 10-15 11-14 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 32 15 .681 - 17-10 15-5 W2 Greensboro 29 21 .580 4.5 17-8 12-13 L1 Lakewood 25 22 .532 7.0 12-13 13-9 W2 Hagerstown 23 27 .460 10.5 13-12 10-15 W4 Lake County 22 27 .449 11.0 12-13 10-14 L2 Lexington 22 28 .440 11.5 12-16 10-12 L2 Hickory 20 27 .426 12.0 9-11 11-16 W1 Delmarva 20 28 .417 12.5 11-12 9-16 L4

Monday's Daily Menu: Please remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us today. All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Zach Jackson at Albuquerque (Marlins), 2:20 PM pre-game; 2:35 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Montgomery (Devil Rays), 6:55 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: TBD at Daytona (Cubs), 4:55 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; it'll probably be LHP Derek Miller, it's his turn Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp West Virginia: RHP Mike McClendon at home vs. Greenville (Red Sox), 11:55 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Follow Monday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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_albaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

And yes, that's a Brewerfan Link Report T-shirt... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/amilano-linkreport.jpg

The kids are doing fine, but maybe a ladies' touch will bring new karma to the big league Crew today. If someone would photoshop Alyssa Milano into that Link Report shirt, I'd be grateful, although I doubt the mannequin torso does her justice http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif . The image link is from our Brewerfan store: images.cafepress.com/prod...Salmon.jpg

MiLB.com Brevard County Game Notes: Griffin, Szymanski sink Manatees Michael Griffin went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and B.J. Szymanski smacked a two-run homer to lead Sarasota over host Brevard County, 4-1, on Sunday. Griffin smacked RBI singles in the fifth and ninth innings, both times plating Chris Kroski as the Reds snapped the Manatees' four-game win streak. Szymanski belted a home run, his fourth, with Adam Rosales aboard in the second for Sarasota (33-17). Starter Logan Ondrusek (4-2) allowed one run on five hits while striking out two and walking two over six innings for the win. Josh Roenicke worked around one hit in the ninth en route to his 15th save, tops in the Florida State League. Brevard County starter David Welch (1-2) gave up three runs on five hits while fanning three and walking one over five innings for the loss. Michael Bell drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first for the Manatees (31-19). Alcides Escobar chipped in two hits. -- Alan Friedman/MLB.com

West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER COME BACK TO BEAT DRIVE Greenville Drive scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park but West Virginia scored the last five runs of the game to take the third game of the series by the final of 5-4. The Drive scored four runs on six hits and sent eight batters to the plate in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Manny Arambarris and Reid Engel both ripped RBI singles and Lars Anderson doubled in the other two runs. West Virginia began their comeback in the fourth inning when Chuckie Caufield put them on the board with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning Andrew Lefave hit a towering two-run homer, his third of the season, to bring the Power within a run. In the eighth inning, Michael Brantley doubled in Darren Ford to tie the game, and Brantley scored the go-ahead run later in the inning on Jimmy Mojica?s two-out single. J.T. King (5-1) tossed a scoreless eighth inning to get the win, E.J. Shanks (7) got the save and Josh Papelbon (2-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two on three hits over an inning. Travis Wendte provided two and two thirds scoreless innings of relief for the Power. The Power improved to 32-15 with the win and the Drive fell to 20-29 with the loss. Brantley, Mojica and Lefave all had two hits for the Power. The Power will finish the four game series against Greenville Monday afternoon. The Power will start right hander Mike McClendon (4-1, 2.08) and the Drive will counter with left hander Felix Doubront (0-1, 11.25). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM (12:05 Central).

Dan Kolb (24th round, 2001) Jim Callis of Baseball America made the same mistake a couple of weeks ago. That Dan Kolb was floundering in the Brewers' system, coming off two middling-to-poor seasons in High Desert (one as a starter, one as a reliever), when the Nationals made him a surprise pick in the December '04 minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Give Kolb credit, however, he's hung in there, and was recently promoted to AAA for the first time, and is pitching at Columbus for the Nationals. He'll turn 27 next week. The "other" Kolb is over five years older, and to be honest, that kind of mistake should have been caught by both BA and BP.

Can't wait to face Smoltz and Hudson later this week, and to watch the long dormant Mench and Hart struggle tomorrow, and Capuano and Bush serve up more big innings, and Sheets pitch with a blister, and the Marlins, who swept Miller Park last year -- oh yeah, getting back home is going to cure all this team's ills. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif Anybody remember what Turnbow and Coco look like?

Well, I just wasted a holiday weekend afternoon. If I wasn't also a moderator trying to set a good example, I'd be cursing a boatload right now.

Final: West Virginia 5, Greenville (Red Sox) 4 Team Dream to the Extreme pulls out another one... West Virginia Bottom 8th - Pitcher Change: Josh Papelbon replaces Travis Beazley. - Darren Ford singles on a ground ball to pitcher Josh Papelbon. - Brent Brewer out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Josh Papelbon to first baseman Lars Anderson. Darren Ford to 2nd. - Michael Brantley doubles (12) on a line drive to center fielder Jason Place. Darren Ford scores. - With Chuck Caufield batting, Michael Brantley steals (15) 3rd base. - Chuck Caufield flies out to center fielder Jason Place. - Andrew Lefave walks. - Jimmy Mojica singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Reddick. Michael Brantley scores. Andrew Lefave to 2nd. - Stephen Chapman flies out to center fielder Jason Place. West Virginia Box Score: Ground ball machine E.J. Shanks works some of his usual worm-killing magic in the 9th to save it; J.T. King gets an inning in -- is he still part of the rotation mix in Zach Braddock's absence? www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: Another treat of a game for the Charleston fans -- the Brewers building up a lot of goodwill -- that will come in handy at the end of 2008 when it's time to re-up in a ballpark and climate the organization is thrilled with... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Final: Sarasota (Reds) 4, Brevard County 1 Brevard County Box Score: Manatees bats quiet, although seven hits (all singles) and two walks can often produce more than one run, as was the case here; coming back from Tommy John surgery, today's three-inning stint for Vince Perkins may have been his best this season... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: Alcides Escobar on third base with no outs in the 3rd, doesn't score - ugh; Brevard never really threatened after that... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Covering the bases Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times This time a year ago, Corey Thurman was pitching his way to the Southern League All-Star Game. It was the continuation of a wonderful comeback story for a former big leaguer who had undergone surgery and found himself, if not in total oblivion, at least within walking distance. He pitched with guile and elegance, if not major league velocity. He worked out ferociously to regain his arm strength and, in turn, his speed. After pitching in winter ball in Venezuela, he was invited to the Brewers' big league camp. However, he worked only six innings. He hadn't had enough work to start the season in full gear. Then came food poisoning. "My arm feels like it's getting there, slowly but surely. I'm just now basically rounding into shape as far as the arm," said Thurman, who pointed to his winter in Venezuela "against higher level competition" as being a boost to his confidence. ... Thurman had no complaints about being back in a big league camp. "I enjoyed spring training, to sit around and enjoy the team up there (first-place Brewers) that's doing such a great job. And I know why. They've got a great team unit." ... Pitcher Mike Jones, who suffered an elbow strain, has returned to Arizona to the Brewers' headquarters there, for rehab. ... Without Jones, the Stars have the oddity of five left-handers in the starting rotation. ... Twice more Milwaukee showed itself less-than-patient with free-agent acquisitions. Outfielder-third baseman Mike Carlin was let go when Drew Anderson was demoted from Nashville and pitcher Luis Villarreal, who had been in independent ball since 2004, was cut when Luis Pena was promoted. ... Previously, catcher Max St. Pierre (since resigned to extended spring training as a pitcher) and outfielder Ulyses Davenport were released. ... Though injuries might necessitate other moves, few roster changes should be expected until the halfway point of the season in mid-June. ... The Stars staff won't get a break this year when the Southern League All-Star Game rolls around. Manager Don Money, pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Sandy Guerrero and trainer Dave Yeager will serve as the staff for the SL North All-Stars, courtesy of Huntsville's runner-up finish in the league in '06. Around the league A couple of Stars would be no-brainers were the All-Star team to be picked today. Catcher Lou Palmisano, pitcher Manny Parra and outfielder Steve Moss would seem likely picks. Here are some other candidates: Tennessee C Jason Fox, Jacksonville 1B John Lindsey, Mobile 2B Javier Brito, Jacksonville SS Chin Lung Hu, Montgomery 3B Evan Longoria and OFs Matt Esquivel of Mississippi, Thomas Collaro of Birmingham and Josh Kroeger of Tennessee. ... Imagine going 4-for-4 - then being lifted for a pinch-hitter. That happened Wednesday to Tennessee's Issmael Salas, who had a homer, double and two singles to help the Smokies out to a 14-0 lead after four innings. He was given the rest of the night off, and Jacksonville came back to make it "close," with a 16-11 final. ... Matthew Maniscalco, an Oxford native, was a solid player for Montgomery's league championship team. However, he voluntarily retired last week from Triple-A Durham. His father, Charlie, was a well-known football coach in central Alabama, including a stint at Jacksonville State. Matt was the first player honored as Alabama's Mr. Baseball, when the award was introduced in 1999. Brewings Triple-A Nashville Sounds (25-23 before Saturday's play, second place in Pacific Coast League American Division): C Vinny Rotinno batted 2-for-4 in a 5-4 loss to Albuquerque on Friday. Single-A Brevard County Manatees (30-18, first in Florida State East Division): Alcides Escobar .306. Single-A West Virginia Power (30-15, first in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): Chuckie Caufield .317, 31 RBIs. On Deck The Stars end their series at Mobile today, then host Montgomery for five games beginning Monday. It's the Biscuits' only trip to Huntsville this year. All games are at 7:05 except for Wednesday's 12:05 start.

Standings through Saturday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 27 21 .563 - 15-7 12-14 W1 Nashville 26 23 .531 1.5 15-8 11-15 W1 Omaha 24 25 .490 3.5 20-10 4-15 L1 Memphis 23 27 .460 5.0 15-9 8-18 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 25 22 .532 - 13-12 12-10 W2 Tennessee 25 22 .532 - 10-12 15-10 W1 West Tenn 23 26 .469 3.0 14-10 9-16 W4 Chattanooga 20 29 .408 6.0 12-13 8-16 L5 Carolina 19 31 .380 7.5 11-14 8-17 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 31 18 .633 - 18-6 13-12 W4 Palm Beach 27 22 .551 4.0 13-12 14-10 W1 Vero Beach 23 26 .469 8.0 17-11 6-15 W1 Daytona 22 26 .458 8.5 13-8 9-18 L1 Jupiter 20 29 .408 11.0 8-16 12-13 L1 St. Lucie 20 29 .408 11.0 10-15 10-14 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 31 15 .674 - 16-10 15-5 W1 Greensboro 29 20 .592 3.5 17-7 12-13 W2 Lakewood 24 22 .522 7.0 11-13 13-9 W1 Lake County 22 26 .458 10.0 12-13 10-13 L1 Hagerstown 22 27 .449 10.5 12-12 10-15 W3 Lexington 22 27 .449 10.5 12-15 10-12 L1 Delmarva 20 27 .426 11.5 11-12 9-15 L3 Hickory 19 27 .413 12.0 8-11 11-16 L1