Jim Goulart

We'll set you up for the evening action later on, but you have Brevard County audio this morning as a nice warm-up for the Brewers -- check it out! Brevard County: LHP Steve Garrison at Palm Beach (Cardinals), pre-game 9:20 AM Central, 9:30 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp UPDATE: LHP Steve Garrison, not RHP Jesse Harper, is your Manatee starter this morning...

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Link while active, text follows: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Inman enjoys another gem against Jupiter By Shane Figueroa / Special to MLB.com Will Inman yielded just one hit over six scoreless innings as Brevard County defeated Jupiter, 10-3, on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. Inman (1-1) struck out seven, walked two and hit a batter. The 20-year-old right-hander fanned the side in the third inning and now has 22 strikeouts in three starts covering 16 2/3 frames. The Manatees (6-6) scored six runs over the first three innings to back Inman, who lowered his ERA from 0.84 to 0.54. "It was nice to get runs early," said Inman, who took a hard-luck loss against Jupiter on April 12 after giving up one unearned run while striking out nine in five innings. "It made my job a little easier and I could focus on throwing strikes and not having to be perfect with every pitch." Inman worked around a leadoff walk in the first and a two-out single in the second before finding his groove in the third. "I tried to pitch carefully early," he said. "They've got a great hitting team, so I tried to get the ball inside and I ended up getting too picky. "But I definitely found a groove in the third. I had a good changeup, and that helped me control my fastball and curve a little more. I had better command after that." Charlie Fermaint went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs for Brevard County, who banged out 18 hits. Alcides Escobar and Ned Yost each collected three hits, and Carlos Corporan, Mat Gamel and Lorenzo Cain had two apiece. Hitting coach Ken Berry, in a post game interview on Manatees Radio said. "Our guys are really working in the box to get good pitches to hit. We are seeing the ball really well and it is showing. They are really making good contact." Lorenzo Scott Jr. smacked an RBI single in the seventh for the Hammerheads (7-6). Will Inman, who lowered his ERA to 0.54, has now struck out 22 batters in 16 2/3 innings. (Jerry Hale/MLB.com) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/04/18/rEd9erRE.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Stars stumble, yet win Team loses lead in ninth, comes back for 5-4 victory By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com What kind of lessons are our kids learning? There it was, the bottom of the ninth, tie game, winning run on second, nobody out. In the stands, teachers and chaperones who had accompanied hundreds of school children to a rare mid-morning Huntsville Stars game were herding students toward waiting buses, oblivious to the drama. Of course, what kind of lessons had they learned on the field? It was a gumbo of five errors, several "gimmie" runs, hapless bunting, a grossly misplayed fly ball and, ultimately, a wild pitch that brought home the winning run in a 5-4 Stars' triumph over Jacksonville. "A thriller," said pitching coach Rich Sauveur. "Of course, we made it a thriller." Shortstop Yohannis Perez and second baseman Hernan Iribarren each had three hits and starting pitcher Adam Pettyjohn had a solid start, scattering eight hits and striking out six in 6 1/3 innings. The Stars, 6-5 after back-to-back wins, host Jacksonville again tonight and Friday at 7:05 to wrap up the homestand. Huntsville carried a 4-2 lead into the ninth, the game capably in the hands of reliever Grant Balfour, with a 1.42 ERA and two saves already. However, he gave up two hits and a walk, then Marshall McDougall singled into center to drive in a pair of runs. Jacksonville brought on its ace, Jonathan Meloan, who hadn't given up a run all year and had struck out 12 in seven innings. Perez greeted him with a single, then Guilder Rodriguez beat out a bunt. After Mel Stocker failed in a bunt attempt - the Stars had bunted into a double play in fourth - Iribarren advanced the runners with a grounder. Meloan then uncorked his wild pitch, enabling Perez to score from third. The Suns took a 2-0 lead when Brendan Katin dropped a Chin-Lung Hu fly to open the game, with Hu scoring on a Corey Dunlap grounder, then center fielder Steve Moss misplayed a Hu fly into a two-out RBI triple in the second. The Stars went ahead 3-2 in the third on RBI singles by Stocker and Steve Sollman and an Iribarren groundout, then Perez singled home Adam Heether in the fourth after a Jacksonville error.

Update on unsigned Brewer draft pick Andrew Clark (18th round, 2006, non-DFE), as discussed earlier in this thread: www.clarionledger.com/app...3/70417036 Ole Miss baseball player says he skipped classes, will transfer to Louisville By Robbie Neiswanger rneiswanger@clarionledger.com OXFORD ? Starting first baseman Andrew Clark said he wasn?t happy at Ole Miss, so his dismissal from the baseball team by coach Mike Bianco was ?for the best.? Clark, from New Palenstine, Ind., said today he was dismissed primarily because he was ?slipping up in school.? Clark said his grades are good, but that he missed several classes and showed up late to others, drawing the ire of the coaching staff. Bianco, who announced the dismissal Monday, would not say why Clark was kicked off the team. The freshman started 30 games and was batting .311 with four home runs. He said family issues played a role in his problems as well as his unhappiness at Ole Miss, and that he wants to be closer to his home. ?I think that maybe I should?ve been a little better as far as handling stuff,? said Clark, who indicated some off-the-field issues had been bothering him. ?But it wouldn?t have happened if I liked being down here and was happy with everything.? Clark was suspended from the team before Ole Miss? four-game road trip last week. Before the road trip, Bianco told him to take the time to think about his future and the two would meet Monday. Clark was surprised Bianco dismissed him, but said the decision made things easier. ?To be honest, I was going in (the meeting) with the intention of letting (Bianco) know that I wanted to transfer,? Clark said. ?I wanted to play and try to finish the season out. ... I wanted to help the team and stuff, but he kind of thought it would be the opposite. So I was released and it was for the better.? Clark said he?ll probably transfer to Louisville, which is 90 minutes from his home and is coached by former Ole Miss assistant Dan McDonnell. ?It?s where I want to go because of Coach Mac, the relationships that my parents have with him and I?ve got a good relationship with him,? Clark said. ?I think going there would work out the best.?

Final: West Virginia 4, Greensboro (Marlins) 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: FOUR RUN FIFTH PROVIDES POWER WITH FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN The West Virginia Power scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning of Wednesday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park to win their fifth game in a row as they defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 4-3, to create a tie for first place between the two teams in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division. Jacob Blackwood?s solo home run in the second inning put the Grasshoppers ahead 1-0. Greensboro took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Colin Roberson blasted a solo shot off of Power pitcher Brae Wright, but Wright settled down after that. The big four-run inning for the Power began on Andrew Lefave?s 12 pitch at bat which resulted in an opposite field single. Darren Ford?s sacrifice fly scored Lefave to cut the deficit in half. The Power tied the game later in the inning on Chuckie Caufield?s RBI double and took the lead on Michael Brantley?s two-run single with two outs. Greensboro scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning on Chris Hatcher?s double. Brae Wright (1-0) gave up two runs on six hits through six innings to earn the win, Omar Aguilar (2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get the save and Michael Hyle (1-1) took the loss. Jimmy Mojica paced the Power with three hits, while Lefave, Brantley and Caufield all recorded two hits apiece. In the middle of the eighth inning Greensboro Manager Edwin Rodriguez and first baseman Logan Morrison were ejected by field umpire Matt Pridemore for arguing a call at first base. The Power improved to 7-3 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 8-4 with the loss. The 4-3 victory for the Power was their sixth decided by a run. The Power will continue the three game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday night. Greensboro will start right hander Kyle Winters (0-0, 8.31) and the Power will counter with right hander Mike McClendon (0-0, 1.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Hey, this fairly unheralded bunch is making us all proud with their play thus far; Jimmy Mojica well on his way to winning the Brewerfan Rookie of the Month Award for April -- OPS now at 1.174; just-turned 22-year-old RH closer Omar Aguilar isn't imposing size-wise (6'0", 220), but it's been clear he was being groomed for a closer's spot in the spring training games... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: D.J. Lidyard pitches out of his own bases loaded, one-out jam in the 7th... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis Wearing a pink uniform in honor of the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure, left-hander Brae Wright picked up his first win. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Power.jpg

Final: Nashville 9, Oklahoma (Rangers) 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for a photo of the homer-happy Vinny Rottino, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2271 Rottino, Nelson Power Sounds To 9-2 Victory OKLAHOMA CITY ? Vinny Rottino and Brad Nelson belted home runs and Chris Oxspring worked five strong innings to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 9-2 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Every Sounds batter except Callix Crabbe (0-for-4) recorded a hit in the contest as Nashville (7-6) snapped a two-game skid. It was a story of missed opportunities for Oklahoma as the home team left 14 runners on base against Sounds pitching on the afternoon. Nashville, meanwhile, left a season-low two runners on the basepaths in the contest. Oxspring (1-1) held the RedHawks to one run on six hits over five innings of work to earn his first victory of the season. The Aussie walked four batters while striking out six. Nashville continued its early pattern of first-inning success by grabbing a 2-0 lead against RedHawks starter Doug Mathis in the top half of the contest?s initial frame. Jose Macias and Drew Anderson (2-for-4) opened the game with consecutive doubles to plate the first run. Ryan Braun followed with a fielder?s choice comebacker to Mathis. Anderson maintained a rundown long enough to allow Braun to reach second before being tagged out. After a steal of third base, Braun made it a 2-0 contest when he scored on a Joe Dillon groundout. Oklahoma got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Miguel Ojeda drew a two-out bases-loaded walk from Oxspring on a near-miss 3-2 pitch to drive in Freddy Guzman. The base on balls was the third issued by the Sounds starter in the frame. The Sounds pulled away with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings against Mathis (0-3), who surrendered eight runs over his five innings of work to take the loss. Rottino accounted for the scoring in the fourth when he smashed his fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot to left that plated Dillon (walk) and Andy Abad (single). AUDIO: Vinny Rottino Three-Run HR -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-18.mp3 Braun increased the Nashville lead to 6-1 in the fifth with an RBI double. Anderson scampered home on a Mathis wild pitch for the second run of the frame before Dillon plated Braun with a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 8-1. Oklahoma had its chances to climb back in to the game against the Nashville bullpen in the late innings leaving the sacks full in the sixth and two on in the seventh before breaking through with a two-out run against Chris Spurling on Victor Diaz?s eighth-inning RBI single. Nelson (2-for-4) wrapped up the afternoon?s scoring with an opposite-field solo homer to left off RedHawks reliever Wes Littleton in the top of the ninth. His first roundtripper of the season increased the Nashville lead to 9-2. Nelson had singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to six games, matching the longest of the year by a Sounds player (Braun). Braun, who has hit safely in seven of the last eight games, now has five doubles, five home runs, and four singles among his 14 hits on the year. His .298 average currently leads all Nashville players. Marlon Byrd paced Oklahoma with a 3-for-5 afternoon. The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting on Thursday evening. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (1-1, 3.27), who fanned 12 batters over six scoreless innings to earn his first career Triple-A win in his last outing, will make the start for the Sounds. Oklahoma will counter with right-hander Alfredo Simon (1-1, 2.70). Nashville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

Final: Brevard County 10, Jupiter (Marlins) 3 Brevard County Box Score: Will Inman has twice as many K's as hits allowed (22 vs. 11 in 16.2 IP) -- what a prospect; Alcides Escobar raking at .373 (two walks in 51 AB's, but all 19 base hits singles -- with his speed, you'd figure he'd stretch one out by now); has catcher Carlos Corporan figured it out at age 23 -- OPS still at 1.055; Charlie Fermaint and Ned Yost three hits apiece, as the 'Tees garner 18 hits total... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

Perfect 5-0 day for the organization, details forthcoming...

Final: Huntsville 5, Jacksonville (Dodgers) 4 Huntsville Site game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1115 Perez Caps "Wild" Ninth With Winning Run Yohannis Perez scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to carry the Stars to a 5-4 win over Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon in the middle game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have won the last two games to improve to 6-5 on the season and 4-4 at home, while the Suns dropped to 6-7 on the year. The Stars have won back-to-back games against the Suns for the first time since May 22-23, 2004 at home. Marshall McDougal?s two-out, two-run bases loaded single in the top half of the ninth against Grant Balfour got the game tied at four. The veteran right-hander walked Anthony Raglani to reload the bases and was taken out of the game and replaced by Robert Hinton, who got Luke Allen to ground into a fielder?s choice to end the inning. Jon Meloan took over on the hill for the Suns in the home half and gave up a leadoff single to Perez and a bunt base hit to Guilder Rodriguez before striking out Mel Stocker for the first out of the frame. Hernan Iribarren?s ground out to second base advanced the runners and Perez was able to dash home without a throw when Meloan?s first pitch to Steve Moss got past the catcher Alberto Concepcion. Perez and Iribarren each had their first three-hit games of the season and each knocked in a run. The Stars collected 12 hits for a second straight day and have scored five or more runs in five of their last six games. Stars? starter Adam Pettyjohn went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in his third turn of the season. Jacksonville scored single runs in the first and second innings before the Stars rallied for three in the home third to take the lead. Stocker singled in the first run, Iribarren?s fielder?s choice grounder brought home the second and Steve Sollmann?s infield hit plated Iribarren to give the Stars their first lead. Perez delivered an RBI single in the fourth that scored Adam Heether, who had reached on a McDougal fielding error at third base. The series continues Thursday night with Huntsville left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill against Suns? right-hander Alvis Ojeda. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 AM WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Huntsville Site: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1114 Huntsville Roster Moves The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that Stars? outfielder Ulyses Davenport has been placed on the disabled with a right calf injury and that first baseman Mike Carlin has been activated from the disabled list. Davenport is batting .148 (4-for-27) with one run batted in over the first nine games of the season, including five starts in left field. Three of his four hits have been doubles. Carlin started the season in Arizona at the Brewers training facility in Maryvale recovering from a spring training injury. He was selected by Milwaukee from the Pirates in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December after spending the first four years of his career in the Pittsburgh organization. He has hit 38 home runs and knocked in 186 runs in his career and will be playing at the double-A level for the first time.

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Second Baseman Callix Crabbe: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-18.mp3 Nashville's audio "Play of the Game" highlights haven't always been available immediately during the Link Report overnight. You can catch up on those you've missed here: www.nashvillesounds.com/l...lights.asp

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....1/SPORTS04 TIMEOUT WITH ... Chuck Valenches Sounds Play-By-Play Announcer By BRYAN MULLEN Tennessean Staff Writer Chuck Valenches is a study in determination. The Sounds' radio play-by-play man didn't attend college. He worked in the bar scene for years, then decided he wanted a career in baseball. He lied to get his first job with the Single-A King County Cougars in his home state of Illinois, and eventually worked his way along to become one of minor league baseball's most colorful and informative broadcasters. The 40-year-old is now in his 10th season with the Sounds after stints in Adelanto, Calif., and Jacksonville, Fla. He recently spoke with The Tennessean's Bryan Mullen about the best minor league player he's seen, Jane's Addiction, Field of Dreams and buffalo grouper fingers. On the best minor league player he's seen: "David Ortiz. He was originally a Twins farmhand and was playing here with Salt Lake. He hit a home run that not only cleared the wall, but it cleared Chestnut Street and hit the building on the other side of the road. You were like, 'OK, this guy knows what he's doing.' " On the best Sounds player he's seen: "It's probably a tie between Prince Fielder and Bronson Arroyo. Prince, you could just tell he had the pedigree to be a big-league ballplayer. When he went up there, you could tell he would be able to handle big-league pitching." On where he's bartended in the offseason: "I bartended at The Stage, bartended at Bar Nashville, helped open Red Door East, then I also worked at The Yellow Porch. I always went back to The Acorn because the owners were always great. Every time a season would start, they would say, 'Let us know when the season is over, and we'll have a spot for you.' " On his baseball playing days: "I played through high school and was a fairly good player. I was a left-handed hitter and played first base and the outfield. I wasn't good enough to get scouted or even think about turning pro. I had a lot of holes in my game. I couldn't hit a breaking ball." On his musical interests: "I like to go see bands play live in Nashville. My three favorite are probably november, Walls of White, and Magnolia. They're all friends of mine, and they're great live. Mainstream-wise, I'm a huge Ben Folds fan and a gigantic Jane's Addiction fan." On his favorite places to eat in town: "I'm probably being biased, but I have to say The Acorn. I like the salmon there, and the risotto that comes with it is awesome. For cheap eats, I'm a big fan of Batter'd & Fried (on Woodland Street). They have Buffalo grouper tenders. It's one of my favorite things to eat. They're incredible." On a good book he recently read: "I just finished reading After Jackie, the Cal Fussman book. It's a collection of stories about the experience of black ballplayers and what they had to go through even after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. It was amazing some of the stuff they had to go through." On his favorite sports movie: "I have to say Field of Dreams. If I'm doing stuff and that movie pops on, I usually stop and watch it. The Natural is also a big one for me. Both of them represent the best parts of baseball." On the best ballpark in the PCL: "Memphis is great. It's so close to being a big-league ballpark, and it's better than some big-league ballparks. But my favorite is probably PGE Park in Portland, Ore. It fits into the downtown there so well. The place has a great vibe." On his favorite teams: "I kind of grew up more or less a Cubs fan. Those are a lot of my earliest memories. I got the love of the game from my dad. On weekends when we would work in the yard, I would have my old AM radio in my bedroom window so I could hear the Cubs game." On current events he follows: "I'm kind of an information junkie. I usually read The Tennessean and USA Today from cover to cover every day. I follow politics pretty closely, and I follow the war in Iraq." http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/valenches_tenn.jpg

Walk off wild pitch! Or passed ball (waiting on ruling). Stars win, 5-4! UPDATE: It was a wild pitch...

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...his+Power/ New GM enjoys his Power by Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter Looking out the window in his Morris Street office Tuesday morning, Ryan Gates could see the sun shining on and warming up the Appalachian Power Park baseball field. Considering the weather Charleston has endured the past couple of weeks, it was a rare but beautiful sight ? and one Gates hopes to see again today, when the West Virginia Power begins a seven-game homestand with the first of a three-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Unfortunately for the Power and Gates, who is in his first season as the team?s general manager, The Weather Channel meteorologists called for a high of 61 degrees today with a 30-percent chance of evening showers. The Power lost two openings (and one game) ? the first to snow; the second to rain ? in its initial homestand April 5-12. The Power drew 10,142 fans over five openings, including two doubleheaders, for an average of 2,028 ? far below its average of 3,746 last season. Keep in mind that those totals reflect paid attendance, not actual attendance, which was much lower. ?Unfortunately, the crowds weren?t where we want them to be,? said Gates, who was the Power?s director of business development last year. ?But I don?t blame the fans. No one really wants to be out here when we have 30-degree temperatures with a 15-degree wind chill. ?Someone asked the question this morning: Can you all come back from that? The answer is yes. We can definitely make that up. One homestand does not a season make. ?As it is, April is never really a strong month (for attendance) because the weather usually isn?t ideal and people are still getting back into the swing of things. We have plenty of beautiful days and big dates ahead of us. We will have plenty of big crowds out here.? Although this season is his first as general manager, it is his fourth with the team. His new role means more responsibilities, but he doesn?t mind. ?I was looking for the opportunity to run a ballclub on a day-to-day basis,? said Gates, 30, who has a bachelor?s degree in marketing (1998) and a master?s degree in business administration (2004) from Indiana University. ?I?m thankful to our owners for allowing me that opportunity. ?It?s like they say: Be careful what you wish for. There?s definitely more on my plate. But it?s a learning experience. You don?t grow without being thrown into the fire a little bit.? Gates replaced Andy Milovich, who received a promotion that made him executive vice president of Palisades Baseball Inc. ?I have known him for a long time and I have a lot of confidence in him,? said Milovich, who works in Charleston and oversees the Power Alley Grill. ?He has done some incredible things in terms of sales, management, marketing and promotions. ?When we brought him down here to be my right-hand guy, he was somebody we felt would someday assume the reigns of the GM position.? Gates? employees are impressed by and pleased with the way he runs the operation. ?He doesn?t micro-manage,? said Andy ?Bull? Barch, who is the Power?s director of media relations and radio announcer. ?That can be the toughest thing for a general manager. ?There has to be some kind of balance. How much do you get involved with concessions? Promotions? ?Tickets? You?re in charge, but you have to let the directors in those areas do their own thing. He has done a real good job of that.? Gates? lifelong love for baseball has helped him during his transition. ?You have to have a passion for it,? Gates said, ?because of the hours and stress that come with this job.? Growing up, he spent each school year with his mother in Boonton, N.J. But he spent each summer with his father in Cincinnati, where his passion was fostered. ?I was there during the baseball season,? said Gates, who enjoys reading novels and playing basketball in his spare time. ?That?s how I got to be such a big fan of the Reds. I went to my first game at age 4. My father was big on baseball when I was growing up. His love of baseball was passed down to me. We spent a lot of time at Riverfront Stadium and other ballparks.? Gates? resume also includes a two-year stint with the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves and a three-year stay with Learfield Sports/Indiana University Sports Properties. Gates began his career in sports in 1996 via an unpaid internship with the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, where he worked with the ticket department for a series of Olympic soccer qualifying matches and a National Football League exhibition game. ?I worked 14- and 16-hour days that summer,? he said, ?but I walked away from that job saying, ?Wow. I love this.? That was when I knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.? Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Bob Wojcieszak Ryan Gates, the general manager of the West Virginia Power, is hoping for better weather ahead when the Power can make up for below-average attendance figures for the first month of the season. Link for Photo

The Suns score two in the top of the ninth to tie Huntsville at 4-4. Heading to the bottom of the ninth as of 1:20 Central -- tune in! mmslb.eonstreams.com/wump.asf

Standings through Tuesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 6 6 .500 - 3-2 3-4 L2 Nashville 6 6 .500 - 3-4 3-2 L2 Memphis 6 7 .462 0.5 5-3 1-4 L1 Omaha 5 8 .385 1.5 3-2 2-6 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 5 5 .500 - 3-4 2-1 W1 Tennessee 5 5 .500 - 1-2 4-3 W3 Chattanooga 5 7 .417 1.0 3-4 2-3 L3 Carolina 4 8 .333 2.0 2-0 2-8 W2 West Tenn 4 8 .333 2.0 0-2 4-6 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 7 5 .583 - 5-2 2-3 W3 Jupiter 7 5 .583 - 2-2 5-3 W1 Palm Beach 6 5 .545 0.5 3-4 3-1 W3 St. Lucie 6 5 .545 0.5 2-3 4-2 L3 Brevard County 5 6 .455 1.5 2-4 3-2 L1 Vero Beach 3 8 .273 3.5 2-3 1-5 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greensboro 8 3 .727 - 6-2 2-1 W1 West Virginia 6 3 .667 1.0 4-3 2-0 W4 Lexington 7 5 .583 1.5 5-3 2-2 W1 Hickory 5 4 .556 2.0 2-3 3-1 L2 Lakewood 4 4 .500 2.5 1-2 3-2 W1 Lake County 4 7 .364 4.0 2-2 2-5 L1 Hagerstown 4 8 .333 4.5 1-3 3-5 L1 Delmarva 3 7 .300 4.5 0-2 3-5 L2

Follow Wednesday'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_orhaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_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

On a related but unrelated note, The Helena Brewers have asked city commissioners for $1.6 million in improvements to Kindrick-Legion Field, including new lights, renovations to the infield and outfield, improved seating, expanded restrooms and more.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007041730 Power home, hoping for better weather By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff Writer Early April?s combination of snow and rain produced only a moderate chill at the West Virginia Power box office. Even as players performed in swirling snowflakes and fans generally stayed away, the Power?s advanced ticket sales kept the overall numbers within shouting distance of respectability. In the team?s initial homestand, paid attendance averaged 2,028 for five openings at Appalachian Power Park, though many of the ticket-holders surrendered to the weather and did not attend. Last year, the team averaged nearly 3,500 for the full season. ?Traditionally, April games aren?t big draws anyway,?? said Power general manager Ryan Gates. ?We?ve got a lot of games left, and we?ve got a lot up our sleeves promotionally.?? Amid forecasts of 60-degree temperatures and a solid on-the-field start, the Power (6-3) will open a seven-game homestand beginning at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. After three games with the Grasshoppers, the Power will face the Hickory Crawdads Saturday through Tuesday. In addition to the less-than-expected attendance for the season?s first homestand, the weather also brought two postponements ? one for snow, the other for rain ? forcing the Power to play two doubleheaders. ?Last year we had good weather for that first Thursday, Friday and Saturday,?? said Gates. ?This year, it was cold opening day [Thursday, April 5], we got snowed out on Friday and we played that doubleheader in the snowy wind-chill of 15 degrees on Saturday.?? On April 6, the Power and Lake County Captains started the game but played just two innings before play was suspended because of blinding snow. The following night, paid attendance was 1,127, but only about 200 fans attended. When the weather warmed up somewhat Tuesday April 10, the paid crowd was 2,129 for the Power-Lakewood game and, after a rainout the following night, the team completed the homestand with a twin bill that drew a paid crowd of 2,241. Gates was pleased with last week?s Tuesday and Thursday attendance. ?When we saw a little break in the weather on that Tuesday and Thursday,?? he said, ?you saw the people out here. They were bundled up, but you felt they were eager to get back out here.?? POWER POINTS: Tonight, the Power will wear pink jerseys to promote the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a 5-kilometer race May 5 to raise funds for breast cancer research. The team held a Komen promotion April 7, but snow fell and only about 200 fans attended. ... Power infielder Jimmy Mojica, who did not start the team?s first two games of the season, is hitting .348 with two home runs in 23 at-bats. ... Left-hander Brae Wright, the Power?s opening-night starter, will pitch tonight. The former University of Mississippi and Oklahoma State pitcher is 0-0 with a 2.89 earned run average.

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Chris Oxspring at Oklahoma (Rangers), 10:45 AM pre-game; 11:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 10:20 AM pre-game; 10:35 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: RHP Will Inman at Jupiter (Marlins), 6:05 PM From Scott Pinner of the 'Tees: The Manatees game tonight will be broadcast on ESPN Radio Space Coast WIXC AM 1060. The normal web stream of the game through manateesbaseball.com will not be available, but those lstening on the world wide web can still get the game at www.espnflorida.com. Just click the listen live link on their website. The webcast will be available through the radio stations on line stream. This is in cooperation with the radio station to expose more listeners to WIXC and it's programming options. Audio link (choose 1060): www.espnflorida.com/ West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Brewers put burden on Sounds Must upgrade Greer, seek permanent home By BRYAN MULLEN Tennessean Staff Writer The checklist was long for the Nashville Sounds as they attempted to finalize plans for a new downtown ballpark. Now that the deal is dead, the Sounds' main priority is clear: Attempt to appease its parent club ? the Milwaukee Brewers ? by improving Greer Stadium while looking for a permanent home. Sounds simple enough, but little has been simple with the Sounds. The Brewers recently signed an extension with the Sounds to be the team's parent club through the 2010 season. It was predicated on the Sounds' promise to move into a new ballpark beginning in 2008. Brewers officials became irritated when the opening date was pushed back one year to 2009. Then they became all but fed up when Monday's deadline passed and plans for a new downtown ballpark died. Now the Sounds will attempt to upgrade 30-year-old Greer Stadium to keep the Brewers happy. And if the Sounds don't? "It has to happen, quite frankly," said Scott Martens, the Brewers' business manager of minor league operations. Should the Sounds fall short of the Brewers' expectations, the major league club can decide not to extend the contract with the Sounds. The Brewers then would be free to find another minor-league franchise to serve as its Triple-A affiliate. At that point, the Sounds would have to try and convince another MLB franchise to forge a deal to become the Sounds' new parent club. If all else fails, the Sounds could pull up shop and move to another city or shut down altogether. Lease expires in '08 Even with such possible dire consequences, don't expect the Sounds to pour tens of millions of dollars into Greer Stadium. The Sounds' lease with Metro expires on Dec. 31, 2008, and Metro recently informed the Sounds not to ask for an extension to the lease if major renovations aren't done. The Sounds said they are exploring several options beyond 2008 in order to stay in the area ? including the possibility of building a new ballpark somewhere else in Middle Tennessee ? and that spending millions on Greer for the short term would be foolish. "We're very good at dressing up Greer Stadium for the fans, but yet not throwing good money after bad on improvements that we're never going to see the benefit from," Yaeger said. "We might not be at Greer Stadium for the long term." It ultimately will be up to the Brewers to decide if improvements to Greer will be suitable. Yaeger said there are no structural or safety concerns regarding the stadium, but he did admit the home and visitor clubhouses need serious upgrades, as do public restrooms, concessions and other fan amenities. A substandard Greer "As a major league affiliate, we have to do what's in the best interest of our players and our coaching staff and everything else," Martens said. "Currently, Greer Stadium is well below minor league baseball standards. There are a lot of things that need to be addressed with the stadium." At least one prominent Nashville figure believes the Sounds should put millions of the team's own dollars into renovating the stadium. Ronnie Greer, who represents District 17 where Greer Stadium is located, said the Sounds should open up their wallets and get to work. "If they are willing to sign a note to get $20 million to build a downtown ballpark, why don't they sign the same note and do what they need to do with Greer Stadium?" said Greer, who is not related to the stadium's namesake, Herschel Lynn Greer (1906-1976). "If they are intent on staying in Nashville, they need to do whatever it takes." So who pays for the upkeep of Greer Stadium? The city gives the Sounds $250,000 annually for maintenance costs. The Sounds pay for any costs incurred beyond that, including any renovations and upgrades to the facility. The Sounds said the total average annual cost for all maintenance and renovation expenditures is $500,000, which includes the city's $250,000.

MiLB.com: Hutchinson blanks Manatees Trevor Hutchinson and two relievers combined to scatter nine hits as Jupiter blanked visiting Brevard County, 4-0, on Tuesday. Hutchinson (1-0) allowed five hits and three walks with three strikeouts before Jarrett Santos and Jacob Marceaux combined for four innings of four-hit ball. Dante Brinkley went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Hammerheads (7-5), who snapped a two-game skid. Manatees starter Rafael Lluberes (0-1) surrendered four runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts over four innings. Brevard County (5-6) threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with one out, before Hutchinson struck out Charlie Fermaint and Nestor Corredor to escape the inning. Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Cole Gillespie and Carlos Corporan had two hits apiece for the Hammerheads. --Michael Blinn/MLB.com