Jim Goulart

22-year-old Northwestern University senior left fielder Anthony Wycklendt has been signed by the Brewers as a non-drafted free agent and assigned to Maryvale to begin 2006. Wycklendt is from Glendale, Wisconsin. Anthony Wycklendt Northwestern Player Page: nusports.cstv.com/sports/...ony00.html Link while active, text follows: www.cstv.com/sports/m-bas...06aad.html Senior Anthony Wycklendt has had a 'tough' season for NU By David Morrison, Daily Northwestern April 25, 2006 Evanston, IL (CSTV U-WIRE) -- In his first three years at Northwestern, left fielder Anthony Wycklendt hit .322 and drove in 109 runs in 135 games. Last year, he became the first NU player in six years to hit 10 home runs in a season. But the numbers haven't been there this year. "I feel like I've been seeing the ball well and hitting it well," he said. "Sometimes the balls are going in for me, but there's other times where balls that I hit pretty well and deep end up getting caught. "It's tough. But I know from what I've done here that sooner or later I'll find gaps and holes, and it's all back to normal." Wycklendt is hitting .217 this season, with four home runs and 13 RBI in 36 games. Even without the offensive production of years past, the senior has found ways to help win games for the Wildcats (14-22, 11-5 Big Ten), who are tied with Michigan for the Big Ten lead. Coach Paul Stevens said pitchers still respect Wycklendt's ability at the plate. "You look at his size and understand that here's a guy who has tremendous natural power," he said. "If he does connect with something, it can go a long, long way." In last Saturday's win against Penn State, the Nittany Lions intentionally walked Wycklendt in the Cats' last at-bat to face third baseman Caleb Fields. Fields delivered the game-winning single. Wycklendt was hitless going into that at-bat. "That gives us a situation to win that game because Caleb's one of our hottest hitters," Stevens said. "That's pure respect. No matter what the statistics say, this is a guy you always have to be aware of. He can change the complexion of any game." He has also stepped up his performance in the field. Wycklendt, who came to NU as an infielder, has adapted to his new position well over the last two years. "When he came in here, he wasn't a good defensive player at all," Stevens said. "You could have rolled a basketball to him and he would have probably missed it five out of 10 times. (Now) he is an awfully solid defensive player: running down baseballs and having the arm strength to throw people out from left field." Wycklendt has committed only three errors this year and made three outfield assists. He said not letting his defense falter as a function of his hitting troubles is important to him. "I take a lot of pride in my defense," he said. "It took a lot of work to learn the position and get comfortable out there. If you start tanking on defense, then your confidence as a whole can get shot down." Stevens said Wycklendt's main problem right now is patience at the plate. Wycklendt leads the team in strikeouts, with 31. Wycklendt said he needs to take what the pitchers give him. "I see a lot of junk pitches: sliders, curveballs, changeups, a lot of stuff on corners. Nothing really over the center of the plate," he said. "You have to be a real disciplined hitter." Wycklendt has shown signs of breaking from the slump, like hitting .333 in the four-game set against Michigan and launching a moon shot to left field to open up the scoring in last Saturday's first game against Penn State. "I'm pretty confident that if I keep the same stroke, it'll come around," he said. "It's worked in the past so there's no reason it shouldn't work again in the future."

The Brewers have signed LHP Brian Logan, undrafted in 2006, to a contract. The 5'11" 20-year-old played the past two seasons for Louisburg College, a two-year school in North Carolina. Logan was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 11th round of the 2004 amateur entry draft out of high school, and then by the Baltimore Orioles in the 21st round of the 2005 amateur entry draft after his freshman college season. A quick scan of the Louisburg 2006 box scores doesn't reveal much in terms of overall success about Logan, who's from Richmond, Virginia. www.louisburg.edu/athleti...lstats.htm Logan will pitch in Maryvale to begin 2006.

Through seven in Mobile and well, let's get as many folks listening in as possible. By the way, let's not forget that Tim Dillard's last start was seven innings of two-hit shutout ball -- he's dialing in, nice. There's a big thunderstorm heading my way. If my PC blows up so I can listen to Brett on the Stars' broadcast, hopefully it will be worth it http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif .

The Official Draft Pick thread was updated to reflect the signing of 39th round outfielder Chuckie Caufield of the University of Oklahoma.

Outfielder Chuckie Caufield, the soon-to-be 23-year-old 39th round draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma, has signed with the Brewers. He's currently in Maryvale. Chuckie Caufield's Oklahoma Player Page: www.soonersports.com/View...EASON=2005

Brett Pollock with a very carefully crafted, cautiously excited call of a very "nice" Tim Dillard start, now through six innings, and you guys are listening to dead air from Helena? Go Tim!

Folks might want to peek at Tim Dillard's line through five innings -- that's all I'll say...

Given the sorry state of the parent club tonight, a perfect night to check out Helena, but unfortunately getting nothing but dead air. Please chime in if that changes for anyone. In the meantime, I'll jump on the Huntsville 2nd half audio bandwagon while there's plenty of room http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

We have a few bits of conflicting roster spot information from our various sources for the Helena squad, but we'll do our best here. This team lacks high-profile draft picks to start, although 2006 3rd round pick, Oregon State outfielder Cole Gillespie, should sign shortly after the College World Seies tournament concludes play. Pitchers: Have spent time in West Virginia: RHP Steve Palazzolo, undrafted free agent, (24) LHP Brandon Parillo, 8th round '04 (20) Back to Helena: RHP Chris Jean, 38th round '05 (23) Moving up from Arizona Rookie's 2005 squad -- RHP Jose Beltre, Dominican Republic '04 (21 years old) RHP Roque Mercedes, Dominican Republic '04 (19) Draft-and-follows from 2005: LHP Zach Braddock, 18th round (18) RHP Brock Kjeldgaard, 34th round (20) LHP Mike Ramlow, 24th round (20) 2006 Draft Class: RHP Shawn Ferguson, 9th round (23) RHP J.T. King, 22nd round (21) RHP Mike McClendon, 10th round (21) RHP Stuart Sutherland, 34th round (22) RHP Chris Toneguzzi, 13th round (23) RHP Travis Wendte, 24th round (23) LHP Brae Wright, 6th round (22) Catchers: Five for now... Andy Bouchie, 7th round '06 (20) J.R. Hopf, undrafted free agent '06 (23) D.J. Neyens, undrafted free agent '06 (22) Garry Savas, undrafted free agent '05 (23) Jordan Swayden, 30th round '06 (22) Infielders: Is Carlos de la Cruz a player / coach? Carlos de la Cruz, Dominican Republic '04 (24) Fredy de la Cruz, Dominican Republic '03 (20) Taylor Green, 25th round '05 draft-and-follow (19) Brad Miller, 39th round '05 draft-and-follow (19) Eric Newton, 33rd round '06 (22) David Parker, minor league free agent, Padres '05 (23) Outfielders: Only three on the team as of now... Stephen Chapman, 6th round '04 (20) Zach Clem, 11th round '06 (22) Chris Errecart, 5th round '06 (21)

Just added Helena audio and box score links above -- almost forgot! Believe it or not, we do have updated Helena roster information that I'll be providing this evening. How dare life and "real" work get in the way of Brewerfan duties sometimes. Thanks for your patience, Helena fans....

Manatees' GM Buck Rogers: The Brevard County Manatees are now in control of their own destiny for the 1st half championship of the Florida State League's Eastern Division. By virtue of a Palm Beach Cardinals loss to Daytona in 10 innings last night, coupled with the Manatees 7-0 win over the 1st place St Lucie Mets, the 'Tees have climbed into second place in the FSL's Eastern Division by a mere 3/1000ths of a point with only two games to go. No matter how the Palm Beach Cardinals season plays out, if the Manatees win the final two games (tonight and tomorrow night) the 'tees will lock up post-season play in the FSL Playoffs. Tonight's game is set for 7:00 pm at Tradition Field in Port St Lucie...it's Dollar Day at the Mets Ballpark with $1 Hot Dogs, $1 Budweiser and $1 Pepsi all night long. Head south on I-95 to Exit 121. Turn left (east) and cross the interstate to the 1st traffic light. Turn left (north) on Peacock Blvd. The stadium in 3/4 mile north on your right. All-Star Pitcher Michael Devaney is on the mound for the Mets, Steve Hammond for the Manatees. Devaney pitched an inning this past weekend in Lakeland during the All-Star game and struck out two...he's simply en fuego with a buck-seventy-eight ERA. Hammond is holding at a modest 2.49 ERA with 22 walks to 66 strike outs. This is a critical game and we need all Manatees fans to make the 70-mile trip to St Lucie to support the team. Season Ticket Holders, you're in for free with your season ticket holder cards; just present 'em at the Box Office Window at Tradition Field. If the Manatees win tonight look for a crazy day tomorrow back at Space Coast Stadium when the series concludes here..not only will we have a large contingent of Health First customers and employees in the ballpark, but we'll have some crazed die-hard fans watching what will essentially be a home playoff game, and it's going to be wild. If you live for excitement, drama, tension, and that's just sitting in the stands chewing your fingernails, then you gotta sacrifice a couple hours sleep and make the trip to Port St Lucie tonight. See you at Tradition Field tonight; see you at Space Coast Stadium tomorrow night.

Standings through Monday's action: West Virginia and Helena at 0-0... Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 39 31 .557 - 26-13 13-18 L1[/b] Iowa 32 38 .457 7.0 17-17 15-21 L1 Omaha 28 43 .394 11.5 16-19 12-24 W1 Memphis 26 44 .371 13.0 14-22 12-22 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 West Tenn 0 0 - 0.5 0-0 0-0 - Chattanooga 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 [b]Huntsville 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1[/b] Tennessee 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 38 30 .559 - 20-15 18-15 L6 [b]Brevard County 35 29 .547 1.0 18-15 17-14 W1[/b] Palm Beach 37 31 .544 1.0 20-15 17-16 L1 Daytona 35 33 .515 3.0 20-12 15-21 W3 Jupiter 29 38 .433 8.5 13-19 16-19 L3 Vero Beach 26 40 .394 11.0 16-17 10-23 W3

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime: Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf (We will note that Huntsville broadcaster Brett Pollock has had some issues as of late updating this while on-the-road, FYI.)

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. It's sweet! Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sluafa_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Idle Huntsville: RHP Tim Dillard at Mobile (Padres), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ Brevard County: LHP Steve Hammond at St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM; it's a must-win-the-remaining-two-games-series, and it's not available via audio, sorry West Virginia: Please follow and comment on tonight's All-Star Game in the "Your 2006 W.V. Power" thread, thanks Helena: TBD at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 8:05 PM; we welcome broadcaster Steve Wendt (who has been heard locally doing the games in Helena for a couple of years now) to our Link Report links Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

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South Atlantic League All-Star preview article: Mat Gamel participating in the home run derby... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Box score and game log links available via this link later on: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=116 The game is not available via MiLB.TV. Live and archived audio of the game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2006061925 Another Sally all-star game here? Perhaps By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff writer In gaining approval to host this year?s South Atlantic League All-Star Game, officials in Eastlake, Ohio, had a built-in advantage. Eastlake, home of the Lake County Captains, is less than an hour?s drive from Cleveland, making it easy for the two all-star teams to visit Jacobs Field and be recognized at Monday night?s Indians-Cubs game. Tonight, the Northern and Southern division stars will compete in the league?s 47th all-star game beginning at 7:35 Pm (6:35 Central) at 7,000-seat Classic Park in Eastlake. The West Virginia Power representatives are catcher Angel Salome, third baseman Mat Gamel, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and batting coach Mike Lum. Attracting an all-star game to one?s city is much like attracting a convention. The city submits a bid, specifying such things as the ballpark, hotels, restaurants and other perks, and hopes for the best. Next year?s all-star game is scheduled to be played in Rome, Ga. With its new East End ballpark and its distinction as an outstanding convention city, Charleston seems like a logical candidate to host a South Atlantic League All-Star Game. ?I?m sure we could put together a really nice package,?? said Charleston deputy mayor Rod Blackstone, ?and with the new ballpark, we can be more competitive for the game than we were before. I don?t see any problem. I think it?s a great idea.?? Charleston has not played host to the SAL game since 1989 ? three seasons after it joined the league ? when a crowd of 6,500 jammed Watt Powell Park, many of them seated in the wooden bleachers that extended far down the third-base line in those days. Paid attendance for the game was 7,318. ?All-star games are increasingly big business,?? said Blackstone, ?and that?s partly because of the attractiveness of minor-league baseball in general. More and more major-league fans are following their minor-league affiliates on-line.?? In the 1989 game in Charleston, Gov. Gaston Caperton threw out the first ball, the North won 14-4 and future major leaguer Reggie Sanders, who played for Cincinnati?s Greensboro affiliate, earned MVP honors by rapping out a single, double and two triples. Fans chanted ?Reggie! Reggie!?? To gain approval to host the game, the city and the Wheelers paid the league $30,000.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006062012/ Gamel getting it done Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter Ask West Virginia Power Manager Mike Guerrero about Mat Gamel, and he gets excited because of the potential he sees in his player. Gamel has talent, Guerrero said, but lacks experience. When Gamel gets that, Guerrero said, "watch out." "He's raw because he doesn't have the experience of other guys," Guerrero said of the 20-year-old Gamel, a 6-foot, 205-pound third baseman who is in his second season of professional baseball. "I think he will be a really, really exciting player once he gets all of that experience behind him. I would like to see where he is at three years from now. I would be willing to bet money he is pretty close to the big leagues." Gamel is one of three Power players who will appear in the 47th annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game tonight at 7:35 PM (6:35 Central) at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio. The others are catcher Angel Salome and outfielder Lorenzo Cain. Hitting coach Mike Lum, who helped Northern Division runner-up West Virginia (39-30) finish the first half with the league's highest team batting average, also was chosen. "It's an honor (to be selected)," Gamel said. He is an all-around talent who can hit for power and average, plus can run fairly well for his size. Gamel finished first among his teammates in slugging percentage (.485), first in homers (nine), first in triples (three), second in doubles (19), second in RBI (44), third in hits (75), fourth in batting average (.286), fourth in walks (22) and fifth in runs (32). "I have just been working hard," said Gamel, whom Lum has helped improve his approach and refine his swing. "That's pretty much it." "He has a pretty good approach at the plate," Guerrero added. On the other hand, Gamel also was second in errors (25) and third in strikeouts (51). "I don't know," Gamel said when asked to explain the abundance of errors. "We have always been told that errors are going to happen. You just have to limit them. I just need to take more groundballs and concentrate more." "On the defensive side, he has the ability," Guerrero added. "He makes great defensive plays out there. But he also makes easy errors. But that's part of the (learning) process in this game." The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Gamel, who bats left and throws right, in the fourth round last year despite the fact that his only standout seasons came in his senior season at Bishop Kenny High School (.420 batting average and eight homers) and his sophomore season at Chipola Junior College (.446 batting average and 64 RBI), both of which are located in his home state of Florida. Gamel is the Brewers' No. 26 minor-league prospect and their third-best at his position, according to the 2006 Baseball America Prospect Handbook. Gamel, a Jacksonville native, initially attended Daytona Beach Junior College but transferred after one season for personal reasons. Chipola Coach Jeff Johnson welcomed Gamel into the Indians' lineup and offered him an opportunity to play -- an opportunity he didn't receive at Daytona Beach. Gamel made the most of it, leading the Indians to within one game of the Junior College World Series. Gamel posted a .327 batting average with two triples, five homers, 15 doubles, 34 runs and 37 RBI in 50 games with the Helena (Mont.) Brewers of the rookie Pioneer League last season, his first in professional baseball. "It's up to him," Guerrero said of Gamel's ascension through Milwaukee's farm system. "We are trying to teach him the adjustments he needs to make offensively and defensively. If he can take that information and process it in his mind and use it on the field, then the sky is the limit for him." West Virginia Power third basebman Mat Gamel gets some kudos from teammates after hitting a home run earlier this season. Gamel is one of three Power players who, along with hitting coach Mike Lum, is taking part in tonight?s South Atlantic League All-Star game in Eastlake, Ohio. http://www.dailymail.com/images/gamel0620.jpg

We'll finalize our Helena roster and detail it for you later today.

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...006_03.txt Cool under fire Brewer pitcher has unique way of dealing with pressure By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor Being a closer can be a stressful proposition. They are called upon to come in with runners on base and are asked to keep the opposition at bay late in the game when they have only a slim lead to work with. Chris Toneguzzi has a perfect solution to get into what he calls his 'comfortable place'. The 13th round draft pick from Purdue University will start his professional baseball career with the Helena Brewers. If you look under his cap, he has some key words written down on his brim to keep him cool and collected. Some of the words (visualize and breathe) help him with his mechanics, but he also has letters that describe his state of mind such as F.I.P (focus, intent and purpose) or G.O. (game over). The technique came at the suggestion of a sports psychologist who met with Toneguzzi during his freshman year with the Boilermakers. "They are trigger words that help me clear my mind," he said. The burly 6-foot-5, 250 pound product from Thunder Bay, Ontario may not have to turn to trigger words for help too much this season as he should be a mainstay on the Brewers pitching staff. He is coming off a season where he posted a record 4-0 and five saves. He had a sparkling ERA of 2.10. Toneguzzi's fastball will be tough for hitters to catch up with as it reaches the low 90s on the radar gun. However, for him to have a short stint in Helena he said he will have to develop a second pitch. That shouldn't be a problem, however, as he said he plans on listening intently to the advice of Helena pitching coach Mark Littell. "For me to move on I will need to get a power second pitch with control," he said. His fastball has served him well up to this point, ever since he was a young boy in hockey-crazy Thunder Bay. As is the case with most Canadian youth, he played hockey and still loves the sport. He is good friends with Eric Staal, who is currently playing for the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, as he matured, his physical tools were better suited for the diamond, not the rink. "When I was 10 or 12, I was one of the better (hockey) players in the city," he said. "I never was that good at baseball, and then my speed and arm strength increased big time." He was good enough in high school to earn a spot on Canada's National Junior Team and get drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2002. However, he and his family felt furthering his education was more important than going pro right after high school. "I sat down with my family and decided mentally I wasn't ready to go pro," he said. The Pirates' loss turned out to be Purdue's gain as a coach offered him a scholarship after seeing him pitch at a baseball camp. It took some time for him to develop into the closer for Purdue. The Boilermaker's staff needed some arms and he was the No. 2 starter as a freshman and sophomore. However a summer stint in the wood-bat Northwoods League convinced him that his place was coming out of the bullpen. He played for his hometown Thunder Bay Border Cats in the league, an independent league with teams in the northern midwest and southern Canada. He notched a team record 16 saves that season for Thunder Bay and when he returned to college, he had a new role on Purdue's pitching staff. It was a role he would quickly learn to relish. "My personality and character fit so well with being a closer, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," he said. "I like pressure and I like to have the game on my shoulders." He had six saves in 2005 and a miniscule 0.53 ERA in Big 10 contests. One of Toneguzzi's fondest memories came against Ohio State that season, when he preserved a one-run win by striking out two batters. "It was almost a blur," he said. "I don't remember what happened, but the coaches said they have never seen someone so intense." Toneguzzi admits he can be a bit of a grizzly on the mound, but really a teddy bear off it. If things get too intense, he said he can just look at the brim of his cap and get to his comfortable place. If he gets there, opposing batters won't ease into the batters box during the late innings this season at Kindrick Legion Field. "My future in baseball is coming out of the bullpen in my opinion," he said. "I am not limiting myself though. Whatever they want from me I will take with open arms."

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...006_02.txt Brewers to bring power to Pioneer season By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor The Helena Brewers may have a different look this year. The Pioneer League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers has been noted for creating runs using speed over the past several years. This year the Helena squad may have a little more power in its bats. "As of now it won't be a team with a lot of speed, but it might be one with quite a bit of pop," said Ed Sedar, who in his third season managing the team. "I think we'll be a good contact team with lots of power. The only thing missing right now is team speed, but it may only be hiding a little bit." Heading up the power parade will be a pair of outfielders who played for Pac-10 schools. Chris Errecart a fifth-round draft pick in 2006 out of the University of California and Zach Clem, an 11th round draft pick from Washington will be staples in the Brewer outfield. Errecart had 30 extra base hits in 355 at bats during his two-year career with the Bears. Clem is coming off a season in which he hit 20 home runs. He has 41 round trippers for the Huskies. The third outfielder for Helena will be a familiar face, Stephen Chapman. Chapman appeared in 54 games last year and hit .269 with six home runs in 167 at bats. "I hope he will take on a leadership role with the team," Sedar said. "I hope he is able to get beyond bad days and show the maturity to be a leader with his teammates as well as statistically." The infield will be headed up by Carlos De La Cruz who played for Helena last season. De La Cruz hit a robust .343 last season in 108 at bats. That was good enough to get him a promotion to Class A Brevard County last season. The Brewers pitching staff is a tall, lanky crew with 11 of the 12 pitchers all taller than 6-foot-1 and they have the ability to strike out opposing batters. Some names to watch will be Michael McClendon, a 10th round pick this season who was a top junior college pitcher in Florida last season. McClendon fanned 170 batters in 179 innings during his career at Seminole Community College. Shawn Ferguson, a 9th round pick from Texas Christian should be a name to watch as should be Chris Toneguzzi, a 13th-round pick from Purdue. Toneguzzi could hold down the closer role for the Brewers. "I believe we will have strong pitching, starting as well as relieving," Sedar said. Helena will start the season today when they take on Missoula at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) at Kindrick-Legion Field.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ DUEL OF THE DOORMATSThe Stars now have a clean slate to take advantage of, but can they erase the sour taste of losing 25 of 29 ballgames on so short a break? Is their confidence truly shot? They've had their fill of team meetings with and without manager Don Money and pitching coach Rich Sauveur. They've had hitting instructors. They've tried everything but a psychiatrist, and now on just a day break after losing in the 9th to WT, 6-4, it was back to work ........ The Stars had every advantage in this game but home advantage, which doesn't seem to mean anything, anyway. They started off with Mobile, the first half doormats of the Southern Division behind team ERA leader Corey Thurman (2-5, 1.98)..... Their opponent, Sean Thompson, was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in four previous starts against the Stars going back to last year, with a propensity for being hit hard early. The Stars had collected 32 hits and 13 walks off him in 22 innings........ Since his last win on May 17, he was 0-3 with a 3.26 ERA......... They had more than an even chance and should have beaten them, but perhaps, psychologically, they weren't ready........ Who then are they ready for, if they can't beat Mobile. Like West Tenn's Miguel Negron, Mobile has George Kottaras --- the scourge of Stars' pitching........ Kottaras entered the game hitting .419 vs. the Stars going back to last year with four doubles, three HRs, a triple, and 13 RBIs........ With two out in the 1st inning, Kottaras drove Thurman's 2-1 pitch off the wall over Drew Anderson's glove for an opposite-field double. Joey Gomes, older brother of Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes (who hit 17 HRs for Orlando in 2003) followed Kottaras with with a line drive hit through the middle to give the Bay Bears a 1-0 lead. Gomes wasn't done for the night........ Thurman managed to strike out Kottaras on a curve in the 3rd inning this time, but that came after a line-drive single by Juan Ciriaco and a walk to left fielder Vince Sinisi....... Ahead 0-and-2, Gomes drove a ball deep to left, just the 3rd home run Thurman had given up all year, and the Bay Bears were in front, 4-0. The Stars were held to just five hits, but hit the ball hard occasionally against Thompson....... In the 2nd, Lou Palmisano hit a double off the base of the wall in centerfield, but with two out, Adam Heether popped out to end the inning........ In the 3rd, Ozzie Chavez smoked Thompson with a liner that knocked him down........ But it wasn't until the 5th inning that the Stars were able to score their only run by taking advantage of a throwing error by Ciriaco....... After Heether reached on the error, Chavez singled to right-center on Thompson's first pitch, to extend his hitting streak to five games........ With Heether on 3rd, Thurman, with only one hit in 12 trips and six strikeouts, singled through short and into left for only the 9th RBI by a Stars pitcher this year. That made it 4-1, but Steve Moss hit into a double play to end the inning and the Stars could get only a pair of hits in the next four innings....... Moss is now 0-for-15 over a 5-game stretch. After a 20-20 start to the season, the Stars are 24-46........ Four wins in their last 30 games........ There has been nothing like this, and I've said it before, in their history. But the Stars have lost with less talent than this........ In the 2nd half of the 1988 season, they were 22-50, losing games 13-1, 17-3, 15-4, 12-4, and 12-3 along the way. The '06 Stars have rarely been blown out. Since the start of their 14-game losing streak, they've hit .231. When the Stars lost 18 of 20 games in a July stretch in '88 (Oakland organization), they cold manage a puny .205 average for manager Tommie Reynolds....... Mike Bordick, their All-Star from that season, hit .287 in that cold July, then dropped his average over 100 points for August....... 3rd baseman Scott Hemond hit just .174 in July....... Slugger Steve Howard hit .309 in July with seven HRs, then dropped to .210 in August........ Outfielder Jerry Peguero hit .211 in June, .211 in July, and .177 in August with just nine extra-base hits, all of them doubles........ 1st baseman Greg Sparks hit .184 in July after hitting .275 in June........ Kevin Sliwinski, their other 1st baseman, a free-agent pick-up from the Blue Jays, and a solid hitter at one time with the K-Jays, never got his average above .172, which is where it landed when the season ended......... Outfielder Camilo Veras, who was hot the first month of the season at .313, hit .212 in May, .183 in June, and .193 in July........ This was the Stars top to bottom in the Stars' lineup everyday......... Even the purchase of major league vet Andre Robertson in June didn't help. He hit .167 in July and .217 in August, as he attempted to comeback from the effects of an auto accident while he was a Yankee......... Scott Chiamparino had a fine 3.05 ERA in July, but went 1-4 with the offense behind him....... Relief pitcher Bo Kent had an 8.10 ERA in 21 appearances over the last two months of the season, while Scott Holcomb had a 10.80 ERA in August...... Starter Kirk McDonald wound up in the bullpen and had an ERA of 7.06 in August. No one knows what the future is for the present Stars, but they have a lot more going for them than the the remnants of an A's assembly line that had dried up after producing Jose Canseco, then Terry Steinbach and Mark McGwire, and Walt Weiss, and an '86 team that was hitting .310 as late as May 13th Tomorrow, I'm going to put up on the standings page, the averages and stats for every player who had a part of this 4-26 tailspin. Should be interesting. Right now, you can take a look at averages broken down by lineup strength (1-2-3 hitters, 4-5-6, and so on, since the start of the season at 10-game intervals). www.starsboxscore.com/standing.htm Tuesday, Don will send Tim Dillard (4-4, 3.67) against Michael Ekstrom, making his Double-A debut. Ekstrom was 7-4 with a 2.30 ERA at Class A-Lake Elsinore (Cal.) in 14 starts. On June 8, he pitched a 2-hit shutout over Stockton....... Dillard is coming off a two-hit performance himself....... He did it in seven innings against the Diamond Jaxx last Wednesday in the Stars' only win in their last 13 games, 12-0. Greg Sain signed a minor league contract with the Yankees, June 8......... Sain was assigned to Class A-Tampa........ After a 1-for-19 start with his new team, Sain doubled, homered and drove in four runs last night against Dunedin in a 10-4 victory for his team. Steve Karsay, co-holder of the Stars single-game record for strikeouts (13) with Greg Cadaret and Miguel Jimenez, has announced his retirement........ He came full circle, giving Oakland a win over the Dodgers in 17 innings with two innings of work -- his first victory since September 11, 2002 with the Yankees, then called it quits the next day....... Karsay struck out 13 Lookouts in his Stars' debut on August 6, 1993. He went nine innings, but it took the Stars 10 to win for Steve Phoenix, 5-4.

Final: Mobile (Padres) 5, Huntsville 1 Same as it ever was... Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=883 Stars' Struggles Continue in Second Half Opener Joey Gomes hit a home run and knocked in four runs to back the strong pitching of Sean Thompson, as Mobile opened the second half of the season with a 5-1 win over Huntsville Monday night in the first of a five-game set at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears stopped a four-game slide against the Stars and improved to 28-42 overall, while Huntsville fell to 24-46 overall and 14-22 away from home. The Stars have lost 26 of their last 30 games and 12 of their last 15 on the road. George Kottaras doubled with two outs in the first inning and came around to score when Gomes followed with a single to center field to give the home team the early lead. Juan Ciriaco led off the home third with a single, moved to second base when Vincent Sinisi walked and both runners scored one out later when Gomes belted his second round tripper with Mobile over the wall in left field on an 0-2 pitch from Stars? starter Corey Thurman, who gave up just his third long ball of the season. The visitors lone run came in the fifth inning when Adam Heether reached on a throwing error by Ciriaco, the shortstop, moved to third base on an Ozzie Chavez single and scored on a base hit by Thurman, who knocked in his first run of the year. Outside of the two starts in which he has recorded victories, Thurman has received a total of 10 runs of support in his other 10 starts. The Stars? right-hander yielded five runs, matching a season-high, and allowed a season-high nine hits in six innings of work and took the loss to fall to 2-6. Thurman struck out six and walked one and lasted at least six innings for an eighth time in 12 starts. Sean Thompson held Huntsville to the lone run over seven innings, allowing four hits, striking out three and walking one to earn his second win of the season. The southpaw emerged victorious for the first time at home in seven starts and for the first time since May 17. Dirk Hayhurst tossed two scoreless frames in his first outing with Mobile. The series continues Tuesday night with right-hander Tim Dillard getting the starting assignment for the Stars against BayBears right-hander Mike Ekstrom. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_1

Final: Brevard County 7, St. Lucie (Mets) 0 One down, two to go for a first-half crown... Brevard County Site Game Summary: Manatees blank Mets Alcides Escobar went 3-for-3 with two RBIs as visiting Brevard County blanked St. Lucie, 7-0, on Monday. Escobar, who also stole two bases and scored a run, had a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a run-scoring single in the fifth. Hernan Iribarren's two-run single highlighted a five-run ninth for the Manatees. Five Brevard County pitchers combined on the 10-hit shutout. Manny Parra started and worked the first 4 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits, struck out four and walked four before Bo Hall retired the only batter he faced. Sam Narron (1-1) picked up the win, yielding two hits and striking out one over two innings. Mike Jones worked the eighth and Josh Alliston preserved the shutout with a scoreless ninth for Brevard County (35-29). Jacob Ruckle (4-3) took the loss after allowing two runs -- one earned -- on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three for the Mets (38-30). Enrique Cruz (no, not the former Brewer) and Jesus Flores each had two hits to lead St. Lucie, which dropped its sixth straight game. -- Chip Haunss/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: Five runs in the 9th to break it open; Alcides Escobar also walked -- what a game; Ryan Braun and Bendan Katin a combined 0-for-10; Braun at a rather ordinary .271 now... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sluafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: Baserunners everywhere, very few runs until the Manatee 9th (shoddy Met defense)... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sluafa_1