Jim Goulart

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Dennis Sarfate at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP's Travis Phelps and Carlos Villanueva in a double-dip at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ Brevard County: LHP Manny Parra at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:00 PM Audio link (opponent's): voiceoftherepublic.com/live.asx West Virginia: Idle

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Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006053117/ Power infielder makes up for glove with bat Michael Dailey Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter A hot bat and a steady glove are very important attributes for any minor league baseball player. Without them, players don't play for pay very long. But sometimes the ability to forget a play or two during the long, grueling summer season is a player's strongest trait. On Tuesday evening, the latter was true for West Virginia Power third baseman Mat Gamel. After booting a pair of routine ground balls in the first inning, Gamel could have buried his head and bolted for the nearest exit. Instead, the 20-year old Florida native shook off the early mistakes, continued to play his game and crushed a two-out pitch over the right centerfield fence with a pair of teammates on the bases. One night after hitting a grand slam against the same team, Gamel's three-run blast highlighted a six-run seventh inning and helped propel the Power to an 11-5 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws at Appalachian Power Park. A crowd of 2,729 looked on as the Power improved to 27-23. Lakewood dropped to 26-25. "Things didn't go well early, but that's how it goes sometimes," said Gamel, a fourth-round selection in last year's June baseball draft. "I was thinking, ?God help me' after the errors, but I wasn't really down. "I could feel myself pressing a little. I was trying hard all night to make up for it." For good measure, Gamel added a third error in the eighth inning, but by then the Power had already sewn up the win. And Gamel wasn't the only one doing damage with his bat. The Power pounded out 16 hits against five different Lakewood pitchers. Ned Yost led all hitters with four hits, while Nestor Corredor chipped in with three. Outfielders Darren Ford, Michael Brantley and Lorenzo Cain each added two hits, while combining to score five runs with four RBI. On the mound for the Power, starter Derek Miller didn't figure in the decision but pitched six strong innings, allowing just five hits and a pair of earned runs. "It wasn't too bad considering I had a little adversity," said Miller of his performance. "My stomach was hurting through the first five innings, but it started feeling better before the sixth. "It stopped hurting after the fifth inning and that's what helped me convince them to let me go out for the sixth inning." Robbie Wooley allowed a hit, two walks and three runs without recording an out in the seventh inning, before giving way to Wilfredo Laureano. Laureano (3-1), who picked up the win in tossing two hitless innings, gave way to Joe Thatcher, who worked a perfect ninth. West Virginia will take today off before beginning a four-game road trip against Lake County on Thursday. The first pitch in that game is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central) at Classic Park, with the Captains' Albert Vargas (4-5, 3.61) on the mound against the Power's Dave Welch (1-3, 3.44). Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Bob Wojcieszak The West Virginia Power?s Mat Gamel (center) is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the bottom half of the eighth inning Tuesday against the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Power won, 11-5. http://www.dailymail.com/images/0531power.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars fans have a ball, thanks to lefty Rohlicek takes it upon himself to keep rain-soaked crowd happy By BRAD SHEPARD For The Huntsville Times Scanning the scant Joe Davis Stadium crowd Tuesday night, Russ Rohlicek noticed several antsy youngsters wondering if the rain delay would end. So the 26-year-old Huntsville Stars relief pitcher decided to stir up some excitement. He grabbed a cart full of batting-practice balls and began pitching them into the stands. Quickly, the cluster of kids grew, started screaming and holding up their gloves with the slightest of Rohlicek's prompts. On a night when there wouldn't be any baseball, many youngsters still left the ballpark with memories. "I've always been good at stuff like that," Rohlicek said. "We've had delays and crowds a lot bigger than that at other places I've been, and I've started waves, things like that. It entertains the crowd, and it entertains me. "It's fun." His teammates and coaches say Rohlicek lives for fun. He often livens the clubhouse, and though he was a late addition to this year's Stars arriving in late April, he fits in quite nicely. Rohlicek is known as being the team's Court Jester, and during the current 12-game losing streak, attitudes like his have been therapeutic. "I'd say he's pretty much the clown of the clubhouse," Stars infielder Jeff Eure said. "It seems like right now, nothing's helping, but he keeps everybody on their toes, for sure." The left-hander also has done a good job keeping opponents on their heels. Rohlicek is 0-1 with a 1.52 earned run average in 16 appearances so far and has been a dependable cog in Huntsville's bullpen. That is, unless he's facing his old mates from West Tenn, as he did on Monday. Half of the runs, hits, walks and hit-batsmen Rohlicek has allowed in his 23 2/3 innings this year have come against the team he played for in 2003-04. Back then, he was a rising star in the Chicago Cubs organization. Having been released by the Cubs near the end of spring training this year, Rohlicek is starting to feel some career urgency. When he was exploring his options after being let go, the Milwaukee Brewers organization sounded appealing. These days, there are worse jobs than a pitcher in the Brewers' system. They've already called up Joe Winkelsas and Carlos Villanueva from Huntsville for major-league stints this year. "That was one of the kickers for me," Rohlicek said. "They told me I was going to go back to the Southern League after being in Triple-A last year. That was disappointing, but they've told me - and I think they've shown it - you're only one call away here." Until that call comes, Rohlicek will try to keep the Stars loose, even during losing times. After Tuesday's game was rained out, he coordinated a dinner with teammates. He has told pitching coach Rich Sauveur he can pitch every night, so even though he threw Monday, he could pitch in tonight's doubleheader with West Tenn slated to start at 6:05. He'll certainly be into something. "I've only had him for a month," Sauveur said of his only lefty in the pen, "but he's been a pleasure to work with." Even when he's throwing out expensive baseballs. Rohlicek didn't want to say how many he tossed into the stands for fear of being billed. Sauveur just chuckled when told of his pitcher's rain-delay antics. "We'll figure out how many he threw up there," he said with a joking grin, "because they're $8 a piece."

Link for Mike Rivera photo while active, text follows: www.tennessean.com/apps/p...328/SPORTS Sounds strike out against Iowa Cubs pitcher records PCL-leading 14 K's By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer On the day Minor League Baseball announced the end of its umpires' strike, two pitchers took the field at Greer Stadium ready with strikes of their own. Iowa's Rich Hill and Nashville's Ben Hendrickson put on a pitching clinic Tuesday night, combining for 24 strikeouts and seven scoreless innings. But in the top of the eighth, Iowa scored a pair of runs en route to a 2-1 victory in front of 2,599 fans at Greer Stadium. Nashville (28-24) has now lost four of its last five to the Cubs (23-27). The Sounds lost three of the four games in Iowa last week, before returning home to start Tuesday's four-game series. It was tough to get through it last night as Hill recorded a Pacific Coast League season-high 14 strikeouts. The previous high was also thrown in Greer Stadium when Tacoma pitcher Francisco Cruceta struck out 11 Sounds in 6-2/3 innings on May 19. "(Hill's) breaking ball was electric and his fastball was very alive," said Tony Gwynn, who collected two of the Sounds' four hits and scored Nashville's only run in the bottom of the ninth. "On the flip side we have to do a better job making adjustments at the plate." The Cubs scored in the eighth when pinch hitter Michael Restovich hit an RBI single down the third base line. As the Sounds attempted to get the out at first base, Ryan Theriot kept running from second and sprinted in from third with the game's first run. It marked the end of a solid outing by Hendrickson, who pitched 7-2/3 innings, giving up three hits, one run, two walks and collecting a Sounds season-high 10 strikeouts. Jason Kershner replaced Hendrickson, but gave up an RBI-single to Micah Hoffpauir for a 2-0 lead. The Sounds tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, as Gwynn hit his second triple of the season with one out. Chris Barnwell drove in Gwynn with a single to make the score 2-1, but Barnwell was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game. ***Link while active, text follows: www.tennessean.com/apps/p...328/SPORTS Umpires to return with higher salaries By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer Minor League Baseball announced Tuesday it reached a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with its umpires, ending a strike that began April 6. In the Pacific Coast League the striking umpires will not be back until June 12, which is the start of the Sounds' next homestand. The end of the strike was good news to Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas, who earlier this year had expressed his concern about the replacement umpires with regard to the size of the strike zone. "There was a difference and that was just experience at this level," Kremblas said Tuesday after the Sounds' 2-1 loss to Iowa. "I am happy that it's over and they got what they wanted." Kremblas added that, in general, he thought the replacement umpires had improved as the season has progressed. The new agreement for the Minor League umpires provides a $100 monthly salary increase and also increases the per diem given for meals in each year of the agreement, beginning with a $3 daily increase to $28 this year. Before the new deal was reached, umpires reported their average salary as $15,000 at Triple-A, $12,000 at Double-A, $10,000 in full-season A-ball and $5,500 in rookie leagues. No May heyday: The Sounds are not known for their May performances. With a 12-17 record so far this month, the team will record its seventh-consecutive losing May performance. The Sounds' final May game will be played against Iowa at 7 p.m. today. Iowa has contributed significantly to this month's poor outings, handing Nashville five losses, including four in the last five games. The Sounds started the month with a 7-4 loss to Iowa on May 1, and then dropped three to the Cubs in a four-game stand in Iowa starting May 26. The last time Nashville had a winning record during May was in 1999 when it was 17-13. In 2005 the Sounds were 14-16 in May but went on to with the PCL title. Two to AA: Milko Jaramillo and Brad Nelson will be assigned to the Brewers Double-A affiliate in Huntsville today, and Zach Sorensen will replace Jaramillo on the Nashville roster when he is activated from the disabled list. Sorensen had right biceps tendinitis and was placed on the DL in mid-April. His only appearance for the Sounds was April 8, when he went 0-3. The Sounds will also make an additional transaction to fill Nelson's roster spot today. Restovich revives: Iowa's Michael Restovich has proven to be a big hitter for Iowa as of late. In the four-game series Nashville just completed in Iowa, he hit four home runs. Last night Restovich came in as a pinch hitter for second baseman Mike Fontenot and hit an RBI single to drive in Iowa's first run.

The Nashville roster spots will be filled by newcomer Graham Koonce at first base, and Zach Sorensen in the infield. Sorensen comes off the disabled list (right biceps tendinitis). Does this officially put an end to Brad Nelson as a Brewer? Of course not. He's still on the 40-man roster, although his spot is tenuous at best. This move is as much about assisting Huntsville as anything. Many would say Brad's outlook had been murky regardless, but to say that it officially ends his Milwaukee chances is premature and inaccurate.

Final: Daytona (Cubs) 8, Brevard County 5 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Spearman, Cubs drop Manatees Jemel Spearman cranked a homer and drove in two runs to lead visiting Daytona past Brevard County, 8-5, on Tuesday. Spearman, who also had an RBI single, blasted a shot to center field in the first inning to give the Cubs an early lead. Ryan Harvey and Nick Spears each collected two hits and two RBIs to help Daytona (26-25) snap a two-game skid. Cubs center fielder Sam Fuld went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 17 games. Justin Berg (3-4) yielded three runs on five hits in five innings to notch the win, striking out seven and issuing two walks. Adalberto Mendez struck out four in the final two innings to earn his 10th save. Manatees starter Josh Wahpepah (3-2) surrendered five runs on six hits over three innings to suffer the loss, issuing four walks without a strikeout. Brendan Katin had a solo homer and four RBIs to lead the attack for Brevard County (26-24). -- Christopher Heine/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: We've said it before, but reliever Bo Hall needs to be rewarded with a AA bump at some point; Brendan Katin rocks -- it's so fun to follow a power corner outfield prospect in this system -- the rarest of all assets since Brewerfan's inception in 2001... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 Brevard County Game Log: Just a crushing Hasan Rasheed GIDP to end the 7th... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

Nashville Site: Following Tuesday night's game, first baseman Brad Nelson and infielder Milko Jaramillo were transferred to Double-A Huntsville. Their roster spots with the Sounds will be filled on Wednesday. Nelson spent the entire season with Nashville and batted only .215 (28-for-130) with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 39 games. Two of those longballs came in the same game on Sunday at Iowa. Jaramillo, who joined the Sounds in mid-May after being signed out of the independent Golden Baseball League, batted .214 (3-for-14) with three RBIs in seven contests for Nashville, including an 0-for-3 evening Tuesday night.

Final: Iowa (Cubs) 2, Nashville 1 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Ben Hendrickson photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1978 Sounds Drop Homestand Opener To I-Cubs, 2-1 NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Iowa left-hander Rich Hill struck out 14 batters, the most by a PCL hurler this season, over seven scoreless innings to lead the visiting Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. Hill (2-1), who retired 16 straight batters at one point, allowed only a pair of singles over his seven frames to earn the victory. His 14 K?s were two shy of the Iowa franchise record and the most by a Pacific Coast League hurler this season. The one-run game was the eighth such contest of the 13 played between Iowa and Nashville this season. The Sounds? seven losses to the Cubs in 2006 have come by a cumulative 10 runs. Tony Gwynn (triple, single) and Chris Barnwell (two singles) recorded the only hits on the evening for Nashville (28-24). The four knocks matched the club?s lowest output of the year. Sounds batters combined to strike out 17 times, matching the 2nd-highest single-game total in club history. Iowa broke a scoreless tie with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the eighth inning. After the first two batters of the frame were retired, Ryan Theriot ripped his second double of the contest into the left field corner to chase Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson, who turned in his second consecutive solid performance from the hill. Jason Kershner came on in relief for Nashville and walked Buck Coats before allowing an infield single to pinch-hitter Michael Restovich. Theriot rounded third on the play and scored without a throw to give the Cubs a 1-0 advantage. Micah Hoffpauir followed with a single up the middle to double the visitors? lead to 2-0. Hendrickson (2-1) was nearly as impressive as Hill on the evening, holding the Cubs to one run on three hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out a Sounds season-high 10 batters. After allowing a game-opening double to Theriot, the right-hander retired 18 consecutive Iowa batters before issuing a pair of walks in the seventh. Despite suffering the tough-luck loss, Hendrickson?s seasonal ERA dropped to 1.89 through six starts for Nashville. The Sounds rallied to break up the shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth against Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz. With one out, Gwynn tripled off the right-center wall and scored a batter later when Barnwell ripped an RBI single to center off Wuertz. AUDIO: Tony Gwynn's 9th-Inning Triple -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-30.wma Gwynn went 2-for-4 for the Sounds to extend his hitting streak to five games. He is batting a solid .388 (31-for-80) over his last 19 games. Wuertz worked the final two innings for Iowa, allowing a run on two hits, to earn his third save of the year. The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Wednesday evening. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (2-2, 3.26) takes the hill for the Sounds to face Iowa southpaw Ryan O?Malley (3-2, 3.05). ***Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50138 Hendrickson?s gem ends in loss By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent Ben Hendrickson turned in another brilliant outing for the Nashville Sounds, but was one-upped by Iowa starter Rich Hill, who propelled the Cubs to a 2-1 victory on Tuesday. Hendrickson threw 7.2 innings and allowed just three hits while striking out ten. But as good as Nashville?s ace pitched, Iowa?s was even better. Hill went seven innings, surrendered just two hits and struck out 14 Sounds batters. At one stretch, Hendrickson had retired 18 Iowa batters in a row, while Hill had a streak of 16 consecutive outs. ?Going out and throwing strike one is the key,? Hendrickson said. ?I threw all three of my pitches on both sides of the plate for strikes.? Hendrickson exited the game after allowing a double to Ryan Theriot with two outs in the the eighth. He was spelled by Jason Kershner, who allowed an infield single to Iowa pinch hitter Michael Restovich, which plated Theriot. Iowa added an insurance run off Kershner Hoffpauir later in the inning. Despite the loss, Hendrickson turned in his second straight stellar performance since being demoted by Milwaukee last week. Hendrickson has given up only four hits in his 14 innings since rejoining the Sounds. His ERA has dwindled to 1.89. ?Ben?s pitched good for us, especially his last two outings,? Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell said. ?Any time you can hold a team to [three hits], you expect to get a win. On the other hand, the other guy?s doing the same exact thing.? The Sounds (28-24) notched their only run in the bottom of the ninth when Tony Gwynn tripled and then scored off the bat of Barnwell. Gwynn and Barnwell accounted for all four Nashville hits. Umps reach deal: The labor dispute between Minor League Baseball and its umpires ended Tuesday when the two sides ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement. The umps will return to the field on or before June 12. Nashville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Final: West Virginia 11, Lakewood (Phillies) 5 West Virginia Site Game Summary: Power score six in the seventh to beat Lakewood Mike Bell provided the go-ahead run on an RBI single and Mat Gamel put the icing on the cake with a three-run homer in a six-run seventh inning for the Power as they went on the beat the Lakewood BlueClaws by the final score of 11-5 at Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday night. The Power scored first on Lorenzo Cain?s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Lakewood tied the game in the third on John Urick?s sacrifice fly. Lakewood took their only lead of the game in the fourth inning on Fidel Hernandez?s run-scoring single. The Power scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth on three consecutive two-out RBI singles from Darren Ford, Michael Brantley and Angel Salome. One of Ned Yost?s four hits was an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to put the Power up 5-2. Lakewood scored three times in the seventh to tie the game. Urick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate the first run, Lou Marson walked with the bases loaded to score the second run and Sean Gamble knocked in the final run on an RBI groundout. The Power scored six times in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good. Bell gave the Power the lead on a pinch-hit RBI single. Brantley walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run, Salome knocked a run in on a sacrifice fly and Gamel finished off the seventh with a three-run homer, his ninth of the year. Wil Laureano (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win, and Michael Zagurski (2-3) obtained the loss. The Power are 27-23 after the win and the BlueClaws fell to 26-25 with the loss. The Power will take Wednesday off and then start a four game series against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio on Thursday night. Lake County will start right hander Albert Vargas (4-5, 3.61) and the Power will counter with left hander Dave Welch (1-3, 3.44). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). ***Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section.../200605311 Gamel atones for errors in Power win By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff writer When the top of the first inning was finished Tuesday, Mat Gamel probably wished he could stay in the dugout for the rest of the night. The West Virginia Power third baseman committed two errors in the first, but more than made up for his miscues with a three-run home run to help propel the Power past the Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws 11-5. A paid crowd of 2,729 attended the South Atlantic League Northern Division matchup at Appalachian Power Park. The Power (27-23) snapped a 5-all tie after batting around in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring six runs to take an 11-5 lead. Gamel came through with the big blow to help the Power win its third straight in the four-game series. After working a 1-1 count, the 6-foot, 205-pound redhead muscled the next pitch over the right-field wall for a two-out, three-run homer. The first inning wasn?t a harbinger of things to come from Gamel. He allowed Lakewood?s leadoff hitter to reach after failing to come up with a lazy chopper and, two batters later, he didn?t get his glove down on a ground ball to left field to load the bases. Gamel accounted for all of his team?s three errors, adding a bad throw wide of first in the eighth. Gamel?s teammates picked him up as catcher Nestor Corredor, who made his first start since joining the team Monday, threw out a base runner at second and starter Derek Miller ended the threat with a strikeout and groundout. ?Oh no, God help me,?? said Gamel of his reaction after the first inning. ?Sometimes that?s how it goes. Hopefully I?ll limit that. I was kind of pressing the whole night, trying to do a little too much to make up for it. Finally I let it go and settled in there.?? Gamel?s only hit of the night turned out to be his ninth homer of the season. The 21-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., resident belted a grand slam and finished with five RBIs in Monday?s 10-8 come-from-behind win. Gamel, the Milwaukee Brewers? fourth-round draft pick in last June?s amateur draft, entered Tuesday?s play with a team-best .316 batting average. Gamel?s hot bat helped the Power win the last three games against Lakewood (26-25). West Virginia was coming off a road trip where it dropped three out of four against the Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators, who own the worst record in the league. ?We?re playing as a team and stringing hits together, which we didn?t do at Kannapolis,?? said Gamel. ?It?s good to see that we?re starting to do that again.?? Power leadoff hitter Darren Ford went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three walks. Michael Brantley pounded out a pair of hits and two RBIs and Angel Salome drove in two runs. Ned Yost turned in a 4-of-5 performance while Corredor added three hits, including a double that just missed being a two-run homer by a few feet. Power reliever Wilfredo Laureano (3-1) earned the win with two shutout innings. Miller did not figure in the decision but allowed only two earned runs on five hits in six innings. Power points West Virginia only had two extra base hits among its 16 hits. ... Yost continued his hot streak, reaching base in eight of his last 10 plate appearances. ... The Power is off today and hits the road for a four-game set beginning Thursday against the Lake County Captains at Eastlake, Ohio. West Virginia is on the road because the state high school baseball tournament begins its three-day run at Appalachian Power Park Thursday. The Power returns June 5 for a brief two-game homestand against the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns before embarking on a five-game road trip. West Virginia Box Score: Speedster Darren Ford on base all five plate appearances -- wonderful... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Huntsville Site Update: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=856 Stars Game Postponed Tonight's game between the Stars and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx was postponed because of a flooded first base dugout after heavy rain fell in Huntsville two hours prior to the original start time of 7:05. The rains lasted 45 minutes and dumped a tremendous amount of water on the playing field and dugouts and the first base dugout was not draining quickly enough to allow the game to go on as scheduled. The Stars will send right-handers Travis Phelps and Carlos Villanueva to the mound and the Diamond Jaxx will counter with left-hander Chris Shaver and right-hander Randy Wells. The doubleheader will begin at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Tickets for Tuesday's game will be honored at any other Stars home game during the rest of the 2006 season and can be redeemed and exchanged at the Joe Davis Stadium box office.

The Brewers have released two more pitchers: RHP Tyler Morrison had just turned 21 on May 1st. Drafted out of a California high school in the 10th round in 2003, Morrison never made it out of rookie ball, allowing 91 hits in 67 Helena innings in 2005. Tyler Morrison Brewerfan Player Index Page: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=572 RHP Miguel Parejo turns 20 next week. Signed out of Venezuela in 2004, Parejo appeared in relief in 19 games in the Arizona Rookie League last season. Miguel Parejo Brewerfan Player Index Page: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=683

As colbyjack noted in the Draft Forum today, draft-and-follow # 5 from the 2005 draft has signed with the Crew, LHP Michael Ramlow, taken in the 24th round: 24. Michael Ramlow, LHP (Owens CC, OH) http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/michael_ramlow.jpg Ramlow is the second of three intriguing, projectable left-handers the Brewers will follow this spring with an athletic and wiry 6'7", 165 pound frame. He was named the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2005 after posting a 7-2 record his freshman season with an ERA just above 1.00. Ramlow's fastball sits in the 89 range, and with his frame he could easily add a few more ticks, and is expected to throw in the low-90s this spring. He also throws a very good curveball and a polished changeup, both of which he throws for strikes, and he has shown a propensity for missing bats. The biggest knock on Ramlow is his stature, given his weight relative to height, although he has worked hard to add strength. His mechanics at this point in time are clean, but given his lanky frame he will need to continue to keep his mechanics in check to avoid injury.

More on recently signed DFE shortstop Brad Miller: Link while active, text follows: www.adaeveningnews.com/lo...ndarystory Brad now a Brewer By JEFF CALI CNHI News Service LATTA, OK ? The wait is over for Brad Miller. The former Latta High School standout signed a professional contract last week to play baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers. Miller is scheduled to fly to Phoenix on Monday and work out there until joining the Helena Brewers Rookie League team in Helena, Montana next month. Helena?s season begins June 20. Needless to say, Miller is anxious to begin this new stage of his baseball career. ?This is something I?ve been waiting to get the opportunity to do for 20 years. I?ve been wanting to do this my whole life,? he said. ?I wasn?t really expecting it. I was hoping to, but you can?t get your hopes up too high in case you don?t get what you want.? Miller helped lead Latta to three state championships and a handful of runner-up finishes during a stellar prep career before graduating in 2004. He then spent two springs playing at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. Latta head coach Eddie Collins ? also Miller?s uncle ? likes his nephew?s chances at the next level. ?I kind of echo what one of his scouts says. He?s one of those 10 percent that has a chance,? Collins said. ?There are probably people that are faster, a little stronger, and have better feet, but he does all those things pretty good and no matter what happens he can hit. His scout thinks he can hit at the next level, and I think the same thing.? The Brewers' current plan is to develop Miller into a shortstop. ?If the determining factor is work and what he can get done, he will do it,? Collins said. ?Plus there?s one more thing that is very valuable and that is the fact that he can play a lot of different positions. He can play shortstop, second base, third base ... he has the capability of doing a lot of things.? Miller was named the Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year his first season at Cowley, as he batted .379 with eight home runs and 77 RBI?s. He was twice named a first-team all-conference shortstop. This past year he hit .326 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. ?I didn?t have the season I was really wanting, but I guess (the Brewers) liked what they saw,? Miller said. And Miller also pitched for the Tigers and compiled a 12-4 record on the mound in two seasons. ?He?s a special player, he really is. And it?s not just because he?s my nephew,? Collins said. ?He?s smart and has a lot of knowledge of the game. And he has a very good approach to the game. But if all else fails, he can still throw the ball over 90 miles per hour.? Miller, who also stole 44 bases in his career at Cowley, felt the offer from the Brewers was good enough to pass up the opportunity to play baseball at Oklahoma State University. ?I could not be happier for Brad, he is getting to live a dream,? Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. ?He had the best of both worlds, to where if he did not get the package he was looking for he would get to play in the Big 12 with Oklahoma State.? Miller was drafted by the Brewers the 39th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft but had he not been presented with a suitable deal by the Milwaukee organization, he could have re-entered the draft this year. Collins said according to most scouts, Miller would have been picked anywhere from the fifth to ninth rounds in 2006. ?(The Brewers) project where they would draft him again and with them saying he would go so high speaks well,? Collins said. Miller has spend the last week working with some of Latta?s future stars, whether it be coaching first base for a 12-and-under team or just practicing with young Panther players. ?Here his is a pro baseball player and now he?s out hitting fungo with some of our younger players. That tells you what kind of young man he is,? Collins said. The veteran prep coach said Miller?s success and character speaks volumes about Latta?s tradition-rich baseball program. ?He has benefited from coming from a good baseball program and Brad would tell you the same thing. He got a chance to play in front of a lot of people because of his teammates,? Collins said. ?He was a special guy, but they were all special to me. I think his teammates are happy for him and are excited that one of their own has moved on.? Ada (OK) Evening News Photos: Latta High School graduate Brad Miller signed a contract last week to play professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers. http://www.adaeveningnews.com/localsports/images_sizedimage_150160938/xl New Milwaukee Brewers rookie Brad Miller shows 11-year-old Jake Colllins the correct form for fielding ground balls Saturday afternoon at Latta's Panther Park. http://www.adaeveningnews.com/localsports/images_sizedimage_150161051/xl

Baseball America's Daily Dish: Link, text follows -- www.baseballamerica.com/t...61488.html Brewers second baseman Hernan Iribarren burst onto the prospect scene in 2004, grabbing attention when he won the Rookie-level Arizona League batting title and went on to have a red-hot 15-game stint at low Class A Beloit. Now in the high Class A Florida State League, Iribarren garnered more attention over the weekend, but not the kind the Brewers would like to see. Iribarren was ejected by the home-plate umpire in the seventh inning of Brevard County's 10-9 12-inning win against Daytona after his bat cracked, and pieces of cork came flying out--with farm director Reid Nichols in attendance. "It really didn't matter if I was there or not--this was unprofessional from the start regardless of whether anyone from the organization was there," Nichols said. "We are all very disappointed and this is obviously something we don't condone." It is unclear how long Iribarren, who was 0-for-3 on the night, had been using his corked bat. But it wasn't helping him generate power, something that has always been missing from the slap-and-dash middle infielder's game. Through 174 at-bats, Iribarren was hitting .287/.323/.356 with nine extra-base hits, including one homer. "It was drilled and corked through," Nichols said. "He apologized to his teammates and the staff, but this is inexcusable. It's embarrassing to him and it's embarrassing to the organization." Iribarren received just a three-game suspension from the Florida State League for the incident.

Batman's series preview, written prior to last night's game: www.brewerfan.net/ViewDai...portId=440

Link, text follows: www.oursportscentral.com/...id=3318850 The independent Golden Baseball League today announced that San Diego Surf Dawgs first baseman Graham Koonce has had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers and will report to their Triple-A ballclub in Nashville, Tennessee. Koonce, 31, signed with the Yankees this spring and was slated for Triple A Columbus. He later requested his release in order to find a team that would offer him a more substantial playing opportunity. He initially signed with the independent Surf Dawgs in an effort to be closer to his family, but his strong performance during Spring Training with the Surf Dawgs caught the attention and opportunity of the Brewers Organization. "It's been a pleasure to have Graham in Spring Training," said Surf Dawgs Manager Terry Kennedy. "With his skills, work ethic, and leadership it was only a matter of time before his contract was acquired. I hope that the Brewers provide him the opportunity he was looking for, and I believe we are going to see him in a major league uniform soon." Koonce has been one of the most accomplished hitters in the minor leagues for the last five years. He won home run and RBI titles in both the AA Texas League and AAA Pacific Coast League. In 2003 he was voted MVP of the Pacific Coast League and named Minor League Player of the Year. Originally signed in 1993 by the Detroit Tigers out of UCLA, the 2006 season with the Surf Dawgs was to be his second stint in independent pro baseball as he played two seasons in the old Western League for Tri-City and Chico. "Graham is the fourth player that we have sold in the last 10 days," said Kevin Outcalt, GBL Commissioner. "The remarkable thing is that three of those have gone straight to Triple A and one to Double A which represents a significant increase in the skill level of our players for this season." ***We'll build a Brewerfan Player Index Page for Koonce this week -- until then, here are his career statistics. Will he indeed be headed to Nashville as stated, and if so, does this somehow trigger help for Huntsville? www.thebaseballcube.com/p...once.shtml

Nashville Pre-Game (from Monday) Audio Chat with First Baseman Brad Nelson: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-29.wma

Yo, yo, Yovani! Look where Mr. Gallardo sits on Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet this week: www.baseballamerica.com/t...61475.html

Standings through Monday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 28 23 .549 - 16-8 12-15 W1[/b] Iowa 22 27 .449 5.0 12-13 10-14 L1 Omaha 20 31 .392 8.0 13-14 7-17 W1 Memphis 18 32 .360 9.5 11-13 7-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 33 19 .635 - 20-7 13-12 L1 West Tenn 30 22 .577 3.0 12-13 18-9 W2 Carolina 26 26 .500 7.0 15-10 11-16 W1 Tennessee 24 28 .462 9.0 15-12 9-16 L1 [b]Huntsville 20 31 .392 12.5 9-17 11-14 L11[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 28 21 .571 - 14-13 14-8 W3 [b]Brevard County 26 23 .531 2.0 12-10 14-13 W2[/b] Daytona 25 25 .500 3.5 15-10 10-15 L2 Palm Beach 24 25 .490 4.0 11-13 13-12 L1 Jupiter 21 28 .429 7.0 10-15 11-13 W1 Vero Beach 19 31 .380 9.5 11-14 8-17 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexington 31 19 .620 - 19-9 12-10 W2 Delmarva 30 19 .612 0.5 16-9 14-10 L2 Greensboro 27 23 .540 4.0 19-9 8-14 L1 [b]West Virginia 26 23 .531 4.5 15-11 11-12 W2[/b] Lakewood 26 24 .520 5.0 14-9 12-15 L2 Lake County 24 27 .471 7.5 12-13 12-14 W1 Hickory 21 27 .438 9.0 11-11 10-16 W3 Hagerstown 18 32 .360 13.0 9-11 9-21 L7

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". Activate the Nashville Gameday. For the other links, 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! Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

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: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Four helpings of "home" cookin'! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Travis Phelps at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:00 PM Audio link (opponent's): voiceoftherepublic.com/live.asx West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at home vs. Lakewood (Phillies), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

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Catcher Kyle Phillips joins Brevard County from extended spring training. His signing was discussed April 27th in this post: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=85