Jim Goulart

Once minor league season rolls around, I have enough trouble keeping up with the Major League Forum, so I've definitely said goodbye to the IGT's. However, I will read the first page of each and then the final couple of pages -- I do find that some of the more insightful game-related thoughts are posted in the hour or two just after the game.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/200604054/ Power ready to surge Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter Angel Salome likely wishes all of his at-bats could be his first. In his first at-bat at Appalachian Power Park this spring, Salome hit a two-run homer for the West Virginia Power in the first inning of its 9-1 win over Shawnee State University on Tuesday in an exhibition game. Call it deja vu all over again. The 19-year-old Salome, a 5-foot-7, 190-pound catcher, made an instant impact and began a fan favorite as soon as he joined the Power last year, collecting his first two homers in his first two days. He smashed a solo shot in his first at-bat, then smacked a two-run, game-winning dinger the next day -- both part of an impressive debut that earned him the Topps Player of the Week award for the first week of August. Salome (pronounced Sal-O-may) cooled off, of course, but he still hit .254 with four homers, seven doubles and 21 RBI in 29 games with the Power last year. No wonder he has high expectations for himself this year. "(Last season) was good," said Salome, who will hit in the No. 5 spot Thursday night when West Virginia opens its season against Delmarva in the first of a four-game homestand at Appalachian Power Park. "I was getting used to the league (when the season ended)," he added. "Finally, I got it. Now, I recognize the league a little bit more. Hopefully, I can do better. I'm pretty excited. I know I can do a little bit better." The Milwaukee Brewers sent five of their top 30 minor league prospects -- Salome among them -- to Charleston to start the season with the Power, their low Class A affiliate. They also sent 11 of their draft picks from 2005. Salome thinks the young but talented team can hold its own in the South Atlantic League. "Player by player, you can take a look at it, we have one of the best teams in the league," Salome said. "You can imagine as a team what we can do. "Thank God, we can do way better this year (than we did last year, when the Power finished 25-45 in the first half and 35-33 in the second half)." The Brewers picked Salome in the fifth round two years ago, snatching him from New York City's George Washington High School -- also the alma mater of Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez. He is their No. 21 prospect and their second-best at his position, according to the 2006 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, which rates all of the minor league prospects for all of the Major League teams. Salome hit .415 with eight homers, 17 doubles and 50 RBI in 37 games with Helena (Mont.) last year. He earned the Pioneer League's Most Valuable Player award despite the fact that he missed the final month of its season after Milwaukee promoted him to West Virginia in July. He hit .235 with seven doubles and eight RBI in 20 games with Milwaukee's rookie team in the Arizona League two years ago. "I think he is a very talented kid," Power Manager Mike Guerrero said. "I think he can be a five-tool player. He can run for a catcher. He has power for a catcher. He has a cannon (for an arm). He can be a really good defensive catcher. He just needs to work at it." Salome is looking forward to this season, one in which he can continue to improve, one in which he hopes to take another step toward the Major Leagues. "Every swing you take, every ball you throw," Salome said, "it gives you confidence that you can do this. "You have to learn every day. Even if you are 40 years old, you still have to learn."

Link for Dave Krynzel photo while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Krynzel determined to play again for Sounds Outfielder's collarbone has been slow to heal By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer For Dave Krynzel, being in a uniform last night was enough. The fact that it was a Nashville Sounds uniform, and not a Milwaukee Brewers outfit, was hardly a bother. If the 2005 season Krynzel had wasn't disappointing enough, the offseason was arguably worse. After hitting just .256 ? with 138 strikeouts ? in 115 games, while committing 10 errors, the 24-year-old outfielder broke his right collarbone in a Nov. 9 motorbike accident. He didn't disclose the injury to the Brewers for weeks, until he realized it had failed to heal properly. Krynzel underwent corrective surgery on Jan. 12, then went through intensive rehabilitation so he could return to play in time for Nashville's Pacific Coast League season opener tomorrow at Omaha. "I'd never had baseball taken away from me," said Krynzel, the Brewers' first-round selection and the 11th overall pick in the 2000 draft, prior to last night's 10-0 exhibition win over Belmont at Greer Stadium. "I didn't know if I'd be able to play again. I gained a feeling for what I really wanted to do for my life. It's all about baseball ? the guys, conversing, the workplace. This is what we do for a living, and it's unbelievable to have the job I do." Held out of major league camp during spring training, as much for his '05 performance as for his physical status, Krynzel had little opportunity to show the Milwaukee brass what he could do this year. "Obviously, the accident set him back a little bit," General Manager Doug Melvin said. "But he's still got some things he needs to work on. We still think a lot of David; he's still got good physical skills, still got ability. He's just being pushed a little harder. Some guys are coming on as outfield prospects; we're a little deeper. While he hasn't advanced, other guys have come on." And though team officials weren't happy with their being kept in the dark initially about his injury, everyone has moved forward. "We've talked to him," Melvin said. "He was reprimanded, he was talked to, he was told. He knows he made a mistake. I think from that standpoint, it's over and done with. The biggest penalty was not being in big-league camp." The way Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas sees it, the woes of '05 might have Krynzel set for a big payoff. "I see him ready to make a change in his mental approach to the game, so that he can play to his full potential," Kremblas said. "I think you always need something to kinda push you ? something that makes you go 'I need to change.' He just wasn't mentally ready to focus on the kind of player he needs to be. If you don't know who you are, it's hard to be who you are." The injury, Krynzel said, gave him time to reflect. "It was the toughest offseason I've ever had," he said. "But one of the positives was that I finally rested, because I couldn't move. I was doing stuff, I was moving around; I never gave myself a chance to rest. This year, with the injury that happened, I couldn't do anything. It kinda promoted me sitting down, being inside, finding myself a little more." Though his numbers were a little off kilter last year, Krynzel can't find fault with the season he and his team had as the Sounds won the PCL championship. "That's as good as it gets for me," he said. "Personal stats? Of course I want to do better; I want to do better every day. Ending totals? That's last year. It doesn't matter. "I'm just working every day, understanding myself and just working. This is not a bad thing, to make a Triple-A team when you're 24 years old. I've got a spot in the outfield still. People look at me like 'You messed up.' Who doesn't make a mistake? But look at me now. I made a uniform. I've got it on again. I'm playing."

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=48949 Sounds down Belmont, prep for season opener By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent In the last inconsequential game of the spring, Nashville defeated Belmont 10-0 Tuesday in the Sounds? exhibition opener at Greer Stadium. The Sounds open the regular season Thursday in Omaha. Although the victory over their Greer Stadium co-tenants doesn?t mean anything, the team?s performance against BU could be indicative of the sort of team Nashville has in 2006. The Sounds displayed plenty of good pitching, solid defense and a healthy dosage of small ball. The team, which is without the services of star prospects Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart ? who are now all in the big leagues ? is hoping to hang its hat on pitching, speed and defense. ?Last year, it was the quote unquote ?Prospect Team,?? Sounds first baseman Brad Nelson said. ?This year we have more veteran guys who definitely know how to play the game.? Although several of the top prospects have been promoted to Milwaukee, the cupboard is not bare this year in Music City. The starting rotation in particular is loaded with talent featuring three players on Milwaukee?s 40-man roster (Dana Eveland, Ben Hendrickson and Dennis Sarfate). Another member of the rotation is promising prospect Zach Jackson, who was acquired from Toronto in the Brewers? trade of Lyle Overbay. Against Belmont, Eveland got the start and threw a scoreless first inning and Sarfate followed with a scoreless second. For the game, Sounds pitchers allowed just five hits including none for extra bases. ?Four of our starting pitchers will be young guys, but I think we?re a little more talented in that area as far as the youth is concerned,? Sounds pitching coach Stan Kyles said. Versatile veterans who can play several positions highlight the rest of the roster. That?s a plus, because Manager Frank Kremblas likes to shuffle his lineup and try players at several positions. Brent Abernathy, Jermaine Clark and Chris Barnwell are veteran infielders who will be used in a variety of roles. Barnwell was stellar against BU, finishing a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. He went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Speed is another strength. Outfielders Dave Krynzel, Tony Gwynn Jr. and infielder Zach Sorensen each had over 20 stolen bases in 2005. Gwynn, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs against BU, had 34 last year. ?We definitely have plenty of speed, whereas last year was more of a power team,? Krynzel said. The Sounds collected six extra-base hits against the Bruins ? highlighted by a line-drive home run to left field by third baseman Vinny Rotino. Nelson Cruz, Krynzel, Barnwell and Nelson all added doubles. With all the exhibition games out of the way, the team is eager to start playing for real and begin defense of its 2006 Pacific Coast League championship. ?Oh yeah,? Hendrickson said when asked if the team was excited for the regular season to begin. ?That?s what spring?s for but now it?s for the games to count. It doesn?t matter if you gave up 50 runs or throw a no-hitter [in exhibition games], it doesn?t count for anything.?

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=48949 Sounds down Belmont, prep for season opener By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent In the last inconsequential game of the spring, Nashville defeated Belmont 10-0 Tuesday in the Sounds? exhibition opener at Greer Stadium. The Sounds open the regular season Thursday in Omaha. Although the victory over their Greer Stadium co-tenants doesn?t mean anything, the team?s performance against BU could be indicative of the sort of team Nashville has in 2006. The Sounds displayed plenty of good pitching, solid defense and a healthy dosage of small ball. The team, which is without the services of star prospects Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart ? who are now all in the big leagues ? is hoping to hang its hat on pitching, speed and defense. ?Last year, it was the quote unquote ?Prospect Team,?? Sounds first baseman Brad Nelson said. ?This year we have more veteran guys who definitely know how to play the game.? Although several of the top prospects have been promoted to Milwaukee, the cupboard is not bare this year in Music City. The starting rotation in particular is loaded with talent featuring three players on Milwaukee?s 40-man roster (Dana Eveland, Ben Hendrickson and Dennis Sarfate). Another member of the rotation is promising prospect Zach Jackson, who was acquired from Toronto in the Brewers? trade of Lyle Overbay. Against Belmont, Eveland got the start and threw a scoreless first inning and Sarfate followed with a scoreless second. For the game, Sounds pitchers allowed just five hits including none for extra bases. ?Four of our starting pitchers will be young guys, but I think we?re a little more talented in that area as far as the youth is concerned,? Sounds pitching coach Stan Kyles said. Versatile veterans who can play several positions highlight the rest of the roster. That?s a plus, because Manager Frank Kremblas likes to shuffle his lineup and try players at several positions. Brent Abernathy, Jermaine Clark and Chris Barnwell are veteran infielders who will be used in a variety of roles. Barnwell was stellar against BU, finishing a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. He went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Speed is another strength. Outfielders Dave Krynzel, Tony Gwynn Jr. and infielder Zach Sorensen each had over 20 stolen bases in 2005. Gwynn, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs against BU, had 34 last year. ?We definitely have plenty of speed, whereas last year was more of a power team,? Krynzel said. The Sounds collected six extra-base hits against the Bruins ? highlighted by a line-drive home run to left field by third baseman Vinny Rotino. Nelson Cruz, Krynzel, Barnwell and Nelson all added doubles. With all the exhibition games out of the way, the team is eager to start playing for real and begin defense of its 2006 Pacific Coast League championship. ?Oh yeah,? Hendrickson said when asked if the team was excited for the regular season to begin. ?That?s what spring?s for but now it?s for the games to count. It doesn?t matter if you gave up 50 runs or throw a no-hitter [in exhibition games], it doesn?t count for anything.?

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars look prime in exhibition Huntsville hands UAH10-1 setback in exhibition at Joe Davis Stadium By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com Maybe it wasn't exactly edge-of-your-seat baseball but it worked for both teams. The Huntsville Stars appear ready to start the 2006 season and the UAH Chargers had a lot of fun. And that's how Tuesday night's exhibition game at Joe Davis Stadium between the Stars and the Chargers played out as the Stars scored a 10-1 victory in the seven-inning game before a crowd of 598 at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars certainly appeared prime to open the season Thursday at Mississippi in putting the game away with seven runs in the third inning. And UAH, in the words of coach Lowell Mooneyham, enjoyed "the experience of a lifetime" in playing against the pros. Greg Sain hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to lead the Stars while Drew Anderson was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs knocked in. "Our last game against another team was last Saturday," Stars manager Don Money said. "It was nice to play somebody else. We got good pitching and got a chance to get our feet wet. "Maybe some of the guys got some of the jumpiness out off their system. A game is a game." But it quickly became a lopsided game when the UAH pitchers lost sight of the strike zone. In allowing seven runs in the second, Charger pitchers walked five batters and hit a sixth. Guilder Rodriguez and Anderson each knocked in two runs in the second. "Other than the walks in the second, we played OK," Mooneyham said. "Maybe (the pitchers) were a little bit nervous against (the Stars) compared to the caliber of hitting they're used to facing." The Stars added three more runs in the second on Sain's three-run blast to left field. Sain was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. But Sain, who hit 28 home runs for Mobile in 2004, is nursing a sore hamstring and was playing his first game in a week. In fact, on a long drive off the wall in right in the first inning, Sain made it only to first base. Meanwhile, the Stars used six pitchers and allowed nine hits and one run without walking a batter. "That's what we stress," Money said of throwing strikes. "If you don't throw strikes, you see what (UAH) did (with the walks). I don't care what level you're in. If you throw strikes, we have a chance to catch it. We threw it over the plate and you saw what happened." UAH scored its run in the fourth inning when Blake Heym singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Bowerman. Mooneyham employed 19 of his 22 position players. "It was a memorable event for our guys, especially with the way the year has been going," said Mooneyham, whose team is 9-27 so far. "It was the experience of a lifetime for a lot of these kids. "We tried to get everybody in the game." From David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ (Link includes box score) The Huntsville Stars opened the 2006 season with a 10-1 exhibition victory over the UAH Chargers on a pleasant, but cool night before 598 fans, many of whom chose to pay $4 for parking even though the paper said $1 and cheer for the Chargers, who are 9-27 in Division II play this year, one of the worst seasons for them in many years......... Playing a professional team for the first time, the results are hardly surprising......... After Greg Sain got UAH starter Daniel Jasper out of a 1st-and-3rd, one out pickle by hitting into a double play in the 1st, the Stars took advantage of the wildness and poor defense that has marked the UAH misfortunes this season......... Jasper, Dustin Davenport (2-2, 7.79), and Jordan Steele (0-4, 2.70) combined to walk eight batters in three innings, five of them coming in a seven-run 2nd for the Stars. Jasper (1-2, 6.08) was charged with four of those runs and was chased after going 0-and-2 on leadoff hitter Callix Crabbe........ The big blows were a two-run single by Ozzie Chavez. (Guilder Rodriguez, despite other reports, didn't come on until the 3rd inning) and a two-run double by left fielder Drew Anderson, who went 3-for-4......... With 2 out and Anderson on 2nd, Steve Moss's hard hit grounder went under the glove of Tony Rogowski into left field for an error that scored Anderson. Moss, who reached 2nd on the throw, then scored on a long single off the right-center field wall. After Jose Acuna grounded to short, three straight walks forced in Sain with the 7th run........ Sain finished the scoring for the Stars in the 3rd inning with a two-out, three-run HR by Sain off the second wall in left-center field......... UAH made it 10-1 in the 4th inning on a long fly ball by Ryan Bowerman (3, 13, .299) to Anderson in left in front of the warning track. That scored Blake Heym (6, 21, .336), who led off with a hard single up the middle off Gerrit Simpson........ Jeff Housman was the winning pitcher for the Stars, and although his line won't show it, he didn't look impressive out there. Of the nine pitches he threw in the 1st inning, only four were for strikes and they were all hit off the bat and the first two batters for UAH singled. A soft liner that Sain turned into a double play saved him. The 2nd inning was a little smoother, with a strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play getting him out of the inning....... Matt Yeatman was particularly impressive among the five relievers, striking out the side in the 5th, his fast ball topping at 92 mph, according to the gun on the scoreboard. The game was a fundraiser for UAH. Their next game is Saturday against Montevallo while the Stars are on the road in Mississippi.......... Thursday, Ben Sheets has the honor of the first starting assignment as the Stars kick off their 2006 season. He is on a 50-pitch count........ He becomes the 2nd major league pitcher on a rehab assignment to take on that role for the Stars in their history. In 1999, Cal Eldred made the first of two starts for the Stars as they began their Milwaukee Brewer era......... It will be Sheets' first appearance for the Stars since June 8, 2000, when he pitched six innings, giving up three hits in a loss to Carolina.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars look prime in exhibition Huntsville hands UAH10-1 setback in exhibition at Joe Davis Stadium By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com Maybe it wasn't exactly edge-of-your-seat baseball but it worked for both teams. The Huntsville Stars appear ready to start the 2006 season and the UAH Chargers had a lot of fun. And that's how Tuesday night's exhibition game at Joe Davis Stadium between the Stars and the Chargers played out as the Stars scored a 10-1 victory in the seven-inning game before a crowd of 598 at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars certainly appeared prime to open the season Thursday at Mississippi in putting the game away with seven runs in the third inning. And UAH, in the words of coach Lowell Mooneyham, enjoyed "the experience of a lifetime" in playing against the pros. Greg Sain hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to lead the Stars while Drew Anderson was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs knocked in. "Our last game against another team was last Saturday," Stars manager Don Money said. "It was nice to play somebody else. We got good pitching and got a chance to get our feet wet. "Maybe some of the guys got some of the jumpiness out off their system. A game is a game." But it quickly became a lopsided game when the UAH pitchers lost sight of the strike zone. In allowing seven runs in the second, Charger pitchers walked five batters and hit a sixth. Guilder Rodriguez and Anderson each knocked in two runs in the second. "Other than the walks in the second, we played OK," Mooneyham said. "Maybe (the pitchers) were a little bit nervous against (the Stars) compared to the caliber of hitting they're used to facing." The Stars added three more runs in the second on Sain's three-run blast to left field. Sain was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. But Sain, who hit 28 home runs for Mobile in 2004, is nursing a sore hamstring and was playing his first game in a week. In fact, on a long drive off the wall in right in the first inning, Sain made it only to first base. Meanwhile, the Stars used six pitchers and allowed nine hits and one run without walking a batter. "That's what we stress," Money said of throwing strikes. "If you don't throw strikes, you see what (UAH) did (with the walks). I don't care what level you're in. If you throw strikes, we have a chance to catch it. We threw it over the plate and you saw what happened." UAH scored its run in the fourth inning when Blake Heym singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Bowerman. Mooneyham employed 19 of his 22 position players. "It was a memorable event for our guys, especially with the way the year has been going," said Mooneyham, whose team is 9-27 so far. "It was the experience of a lifetime for a lot of these kids. "We tried to get everybody in the game." From David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ (Link includes box score) The Huntsville Stars opened the 2006 season with a 10-1 exhibition victory over the UAH Chargers on a pleasant, but cool night before 598 fans, many of whom chose to pay $4 for parking even though the paper said $1 and cheer for the Chargers, who are 9-27 in Division II play this year, one of the worst seasons for them in many years......... Playing a professional team for the first time, the results are hardly surprising......... After Greg Sain got UAH starter Daniel Jasper out of a 1st-and-3rd, one out pickle by hitting into a double play in the 1st, the Stars took advantage of the wildness and poor defense that has marked the UAH misfortunes this season......... Jasper, Dustin Davenport (2-2, 7.79), and Jordan Steele (0-4, 2.70) combined to walk eight batters in three innings, five of them coming in a seven-run 2nd for the Stars. Jasper (1-2, 6.08) was charged with four of those runs and was chased after going 0-and-2 on leadoff hitter Callix Crabbe........ The big blows were a two-run single by Ozzie Chavez. (Guilder Rodriguez, despite other reports, didn't come on until the 3rd inning) and a two-run double by left fielder Drew Anderson, who went 3-for-4......... With 2 out and Anderson on 2nd, Steve Moss's hard hit grounder went under the glove of Tony Rogowski into left field for an error that scored Anderson. Moss, who reached 2nd on the throw, then scored on a long single off the right-center field wall. After Jose Acuna grounded to short, three straight walks forced in Sain with the 7th run........ Sain finished the scoring for the Stars in the 3rd inning with a two-out, three-run HR by Sain off the second wall in left-center field......... UAH made it 10-1 in the 4th inning on a long fly ball by Ryan Bowerman (3, 13, .299) to Anderson in left in front of the warning track. That scored Blake Heym (6, 21, .336), who led off with a hard single up the middle off Gerrit Simpson........ Jeff Housman was the winning pitcher for the Stars, and although his line won't show it, he didn't look impressive out there. Of the nine pitches he threw in the 1st inning, only four were for strikes and they were all hit off the bat and the first two batters for UAH singled. A soft liner that Sain turned into a double play saved him. The 2nd inning was a little smoother, with a strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play getting him out of the inning....... Matt Yeatman was particularly impressive among the five relievers, striking out the side in the 5th, his fast ball topping at 92 mph, according to the gun on the scoreboard. The game was a fundraiser for UAH. Their next game is Saturday against Montevallo while the Stars are on the road in Mississippi.......... Thursday, Ben Sheets has the honor of the first starting assignment as the Stars kick off their 2006 season. He is on a 50-pitch count........ He becomes the 2nd major league pitcher on a rehab assignment to take on that role for the Stars in their history. In 1999, Cal Eldred made the first of two starts for the Stars as they began their Milwaukee Brewer era......... It will be Sheets' first appearance for the Stars since June 8, 2000, when he pitched six innings, giving up three hits in a loss to Carolina.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2006040436 More pop for Power? Numbers suggest West Virginia offense will improve By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff writer A good part of Mike Lum?s offseason was spent doing research on the Internet. After learning he would spend the baseball season in Charleston as the West Virginia Power?s new hitting instructor, Lum checked out Google images and saw striking photos of the Capitol and other landmarks. ?I looked at all the pictures and tried to get familiar with the city,?? Lum said Tuesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, ?because I knew I was going to be here all summer. I was very impressed. I?m looking forward to it.?? He also explored the Internet for Charleston-area golf courses. During the summer, he likes to arise early, tee off at 7 a.m. and still be at the ballpark at 12:30 p.m., giving him plenty of time to prepare for night games. On Tuesday afternoon ? his first full day in West Virginia ? Lum met with his players, worked with them in their first batting-practice session at Appalachian Power Park and asked the locals about restaurants. Later in the day, he planned to move into his new South Ruffner apartment, which he hopes will offer a view of the Capitol. Now that he?s learned a new city, Lum is learning a new lineup of hitters and will share with them the knowledge he accumulated in 15 seasons as a major-league hitter with the Braves and Reds and another 15 seasons as the White Sox organizational hitting instructor. It?s a Power lineup that?s almost totally different from the one that played here last year. All the evidence suggests the offense will be livelier, make more consistent contact and, most important, score more runs. After all, the 2005 Power scored the fewest runs in the 16-team South Atlantic League, ranked 15th in homers and dead last in slugging percentage and on-base percentage. ?This is a very mature bunch of kids,?? said Lum, ?and they know how to go about the game.?? The bulk of this season?s Power lineup played last year at Helena (Mont.), which won both the first-half and second-half championships of the Pioneer League and, among other things, produced a nice assortment of .300 hitters. Second baseman Kenny Holmberg of Dunedin, Fla., led the league in on-base and slugging percentage at .450 and .526, respectively, and batted .372. He also hit 12 home runs and collected 51 RBIs in 59 games. Holmberg admits, however, that the Pioneer League lends itself to hitting and that he and his teammates will need to make an adjustment this year. ?The hitting might not be there early,?? said Holmberg, ?but it?ll be there in the long run. We?ve got a bunch of guys who can scrap and a bunch of guys who can drive the ball and run the bases.?? Other Helena hitters assigned to the Power this year are shortstop Ryan Crew (.346), third baseman Mat Gamel (327), first baseman Ned Yost (.302) and center fielder Darren Ford (.271). Catcher Angel Salome, who split the season between Helena and the Power, batted .415 in 37 games at Helena. Left fielder Michael Brantley batted .347 for the Brewers rookie team in the Arizona League and .324 in 10 games at Helena. Right fielder Lorenzo Cain spent most of the season in the Arizona League and earned MVP honors with a .356 average and 37 RBIs in 50 games. Manager Mike Guerrero, who managed the Brewers? team in the Arizona League last season, liked what he saw in spring training. He?ll learn more in the coming months. ?They?re a good bunch of kids,?? said Guerrero. ?I?m really high on the talent we have. It?s going to be interesting. We?re going to see how mentally tough they are. We?re going to see how prepared they are.?? BRIEFLY: The Power will open its second season as Milwaukee?s South Atlantic League affiliate beginning at 7:05 p.m. Thursday (6:05 Central) against Delmarva at Appalachian Power Park. The Power will play 7:05 games against the Shorebirds Friday and Saturday and conclude the homestand with a 2:05 game Sunday. ... The Power defeated Shawnee State 9-1 in an exhibition game Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. The first five hitters in the lineup ? Ford, Holmberg, Cain, Gamel and Salome ? had two hits apiece, with Gamel and Salome smacking home runs. Lum ranks 11th in major league history with 103 pinch hits. He spent three seasons, 1976 through 1978, with the Reds during the Big Red Machine era. He was also a teammate of Hank Aaron. ... Yost is the son of Brewers manager Ned Yost. Power?s projected batting order Player Ht. Wt. 2005 numbers 1. Darren Ford, cf 6-1 195 .271, 18-22 steals at Helena 2. Kenny Holmberg, 2b 5-9 175 .372, .450 OBP at Helena 3. Lorenzo Cain, rf 6-2 170 MVP of Arizona League 4. Matt Gamel, 3b 6-0 205 .327 at Helena 5. Angel Salome, c 5-7 190 .415 in 37 games at Helena 6. Ryan Crew, ss 6-0 175 .346 at Helena 7. Tony Festa, DH 6-2 200 .287 for three teams 8. Ned Yost, 1b 6-2 195 .302 at Helena 9. Michael Brantley, lf l6-2 180 .343 for two teams Kevin Roberts, p 6-0 190 3.99 ERA Helena and Power http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/pow2.jpg Power second baseman Kenny Holmberg (left) makes a force out on Shawnee State?s Zac Shoaf during an exhibition game Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. Charleston Gazette Photographer: M.K. McFarland

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1885 Sounds Warm Up For Season With 10-0 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Six Nashville hurlers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Sounds picked up a 10-0 victory over the Belmont Bruins in a seven-inning exhibition contest on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium. Dana Eveland started for Nashville and tossed a perfect inning. Dennis Sarfate followed with a scoreless second and was awarded the victory. Wilton Chavez threw two scoreless frames, Chris Demaria posted a perfect fifth, Jason Kershner logged a goose egg in the sixth, and Mitch Stetter wrapped things up with a scoreless seventh. Returning infielder Chris Barnwell paced the Nashville offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. He missed hitting for the cycle by a home run before being pulled during a planned defensive switch in the fifth inning. Outfielder Tony Gwynn made a strong debut in a Sounds uniform, driving in three runs during a 2-for-4 evening. Jermaine Clark, another new Sound, went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Dave Krynzel added a multiple-hit effort with a 2-for-3 night that included a double. Nashville batted around in the bottom of the second against Belmont starter Wes Alsup and took a 4-0 lead. The Sounds scored the first run of the contest when catcher Mike Rivera, who opened the inning with a walk, scored on a wild throw by Alsup while the right-hander attempted to throw out Clark on a bunt single. One batter later, Barnwell ripped a two-run triple to deep center to score Brent Abernathy and Clark. Gwynn followed with an RBI single to right that upped the Sounds? advantage to 4-0. The Sounds added five more in the third with a two-out rally against Belmont reliever French Hobbs. Gwynn struck again, delivering a two-out, two-run single to increase the lead to 6-0. Krynzel plated Gwynn with an RBI double before third baseman Vinny Rottino smacked a two-run homer to left to push the Sounds ahead by a 9-0 margin. Barnwell came within a homer of the cycle in the fourth when his two-out RBI single brought home Brad Nelson to give Nashville its final 10-0 lead. The defending Pacific Coast League champion Sounds depart for Omaha, Nebraska tomorrow and will open their 2006 regular season on Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. against the division-rival Omaha Royals at Rosenblatt Stadium. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson, who spent the entire with Nashville and went 6-12 with a 4.97 ERA in 28 games, will make the Opening Day start for the Sounds. Omaha will counter with PCL veteran right-hander Kyle Snyder. Box Score: Vinny Rottino couldn't catch a few innings of this one? www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1886

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1885 Sounds Warm Up For Season With 10-0 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Six Nashville hurlers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Sounds picked up a 10-0 victory over the Belmont Bruins in a seven-inning exhibition contest on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium. Dana Eveland started for Nashville and tossed a perfect inning. Dennis Sarfate followed with a scoreless second and was awarded the victory. Wilton Chavez threw two scoreless frames, Chris Demaria posted a perfect fifth, Jason Kershner logged a goose egg in the sixth, and Mitch Stetter wrapped things up with a scoreless seventh. Returning infielder Chris Barnwell paced the Nashville offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. He missed hitting for the cycle by a home run before being pulled during a planned defensive switch in the fifth inning. Outfielder Tony Gwynn made a strong debut in a Sounds uniform, driving in three runs during a 2-for-4 evening. Jermaine Clark, another new Sound, went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Dave Krynzel added a multiple-hit effort with a 2-for-3 night that included a double. Nashville batted around in the bottom of the second against Belmont starter Wes Alsup and took a 4-0 lead. The Sounds scored the first run of the contest when catcher Mike Rivera, who opened the inning with a walk, scored on a wild throw by Alsup while the right-hander attempted to throw out Clark on a bunt single. One batter later, Barnwell ripped a two-run triple to deep center to score Brent Abernathy and Clark. Gwynn followed with an RBI single to right that upped the Sounds? advantage to 4-0. The Sounds added five more in the third with a two-out rally against Belmont reliever French Hobbs. Gwynn struck again, delivering a two-out, two-run single to increase the lead to 6-0. Krynzel plated Gwynn with an RBI double before third baseman Vinny Rottino smacked a two-run homer to left to push the Sounds ahead by a 9-0 margin. Barnwell came within a homer of the cycle in the fourth when his two-out RBI single brought home Brad Nelson to give Nashville its final 10-0 lead. The defending Pacific Coast League champion Sounds depart for Omaha, Nebraska tomorrow and will open their 2006 regular season on Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. against the division-rival Omaha Royals at Rosenblatt Stadium. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson, who spent the entire with Nashville and went 6-12 with a 4.97 ERA in 28 games, will make the Opening Day start for the Sounds. Omaha will counter with PCL veteran right-hander Kyle Snyder. Box Score: Vinny Rottino couldn't catch a few innings of this one? www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1886

Looks like the teams scrapped the plans to face their own pitchers in this game -- interesting point about Drew Anderson here as well... Link while active, text follows: www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=773 Stars Sharp in Exhibition Game Greg Sain homered and drove in four runs to power the Stars past the University of Alabama-Huntsville 10-1 Tuesday night in a seven inning exhibition game at Joe Davis Stadium. A crowd of 598 turned out to help raise funds for the local school and to get their first look at the 2006 double-A affiliate of the Brewers. The Stars broke open a scoreless game with seven runs in the second inning, highlghted by a two-run single by Guilder Rodriguez and a two-run double by Drew Anderson, who led the Florida State League with 158 hits last season. Sain capped the rally with a run-scoring single and blasted a three-run home run in the next inning. He was the Southern League home run champion in 2004 after belting 28 with Mobile. The Chargers scored their lone run in the fourth inning when Blake Haym singled, moved to third on a hit and run single and crossed the plate on a Ryan Bowerman sacrifice fly. Jeff Housman started and went two scoreless frames for Huntsville and gave up three hits. Stephen Bray, Matt Yeatman, Alec Zumwalt and Joe Winkelsas all tossed an inning of scoreless relief. The Stars open the 2006 season Thursday night in Pearl, Mississippi against the Braves. Follow all the action by listening live throughout the season locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and throug the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Looks like the teams scrapped the plans to face their own pitchers in this game -- interesting point about Drew Anderson here as well... Link while active, text follows: www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=773 Stars Sharp in Exhibition Game Greg Sain homered and drove in four runs to power the Stars past the University of Alabama-Huntsville 10-1 Tuesday night in a seven inning exhibition game at Joe Davis Stadium. A crowd of 598 turned out to help raise funds for the local school and to get their first look at the 2006 double-A affiliate of the Brewers. The Stars broke open a scoreless game with seven runs in the second inning, highlghted by a two-run single by Guilder Rodriguez and a two-run double by Drew Anderson, who led the Florida State League with 158 hits last season. Sain capped the rally with a run-scoring single and blasted a three-run home run in the next inning. He was the Southern League home run champion in 2004 after belting 28 with Mobile. The Chargers scored their lone run in the fourth inning when Blake Haym singled, moved to third on a hit and run single and crossed the plate on a Ryan Bowerman sacrifice fly. Jeff Housman started and went two scoreless frames for Huntsville and gave up three hits. Stephen Bray, Matt Yeatman, Alec Zumwalt and Joe Winkelsas all tossed an inning of scoreless relief. The Stars open the 2006 season Thursday night in Pearl, Mississippi against the Braves. Follow all the action by listening live throughout the season locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and throug the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

OK, closer Robert Hinton is on the latest Manatees roster we've received.

By the way, RHP Carlos Villanueva will take over for Ben Sheets after Sheeter reaches his approx. 50-pitch limit.

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=48917 Top names gone, but ?06 Sounds show promise By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent There will be no Prince Fielder on the 2006 Nashville Sounds. There won?t be a Rickie Weeks or a Corey Hart, either. This year?s roster doesn?t feature the top-flight prospects who tore through Nashville on their way to the big leagues last season. And you won?t find a former World Series MVP or a former major league 20-game winner, like last year?s opening day roster with Pat Borders and Rick Helling. But the latest edition of the Sounds still has its share of talent and highly-rated prospects who will be looking for an encore performance of last year?s Pacific Coast League Championship. The Sounds face Belmont tonight in an exhibition game, and Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas is eager to see his team playing in games that will actually count in the standings. The team opens its season Thursday in Omaha. ?We?re ready to get out of here and start playing for real,? Kremblas said from Brewers spring training in Arizona. ?We?re obviously not the same team because some of the younger guys have moved on.? Whereas last year?s team boasted its fair share of outstanding position players in Fielder, Weeks and Hart, this year?s team has more talent on the mound. Three of the Brewers? top 10 prospects will open the season as Sounds and two of those players, Dana Eveland and Zach Johnson, are pitchers. Kremblas spent most of spring training in Milwaukee?s big league camp so he didn?t get to keep an eye on many players who will open the season on the Sounds roster. ?Our starters have a little bit more, better arms,? Kremblas said. ?But they?re young arms.? While in big league camp, Kremblas said two of his star pupils, Fielder and Weeks, had improved the area of the game which needed the most work: their defense. The duo will be the starting right side of Milwaukee?s infield. ?Both looked much better,? Kremblas said. ?It wasn?t like they were bad defensively. They just needed to work on it in order to get better and they did.? Outfielder Nelson Cruz, Milwaukee?s No. 8 prospect, returns to the Sounds after a solid first season at Triple-A. Cruz hit 11 homers in 208 at-bats and was known for his strong arm and acrobatic catches in right field. In regards to Cruz and all his top prospects, Kremblas said he doesn?t have any expectations besides hard work and high effort. ?I don?t look at this team as a repeat deal because the guys are different,? Kremblas said. ?Expectations-wise, I expect guys to play hard and get ready to play every day. That?s all I ask.? Eveland will be the Sounds starter for the exhibition tonight, although Kremblas will likely use several pitchers through the course of the game.

Manatees Site: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 The Brevard County Manatees will host the Florida Tech Panthers in an exhibition game before the 2006 season begins. The game, scheduled for Wednesday, April 5th, at 7:00 pm at Space Coast Stadium, will be free to the public. The Panthers are members of the Sunshine State Conference. Florida Tech, located in Melbourne, FL, is headed up by Coach Paul Knight, in his 4th season with the Panthers. "This is a great opportunity to expose some of the best baseball Brevard County has to offer. The Brevard County Manatees and the Florida Tech Panthers offer many residents in Brevard County an outstanding opportunity to watch great baseball. We're looking forward to playing at Space Coast Stadium, one of the best facilities in the state, and giving the Manatees a great game before they open up their season," said Knight. Immediately following the game the Manatees will have a meet the team/autograph session. "We're pleased to be able to host this game with Florida Tech. Not only will it give our 2006 squad a chance to practice under the lights on our home field, but the Panthers are truly first class competition. We're thankful that Coach Knight and his team have partnered with us. Our parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, have always been strong supporters of community events throughout the organization and this event again shows their commitment to the Space Coast region," Buck Rogers, Manatees General Manager added. The 2006 Florida State League season will begin on Thursday, April 6th with the Manatees traveling to Daytona Beach to face the Cubs in a four-game series. The Manatees home opener at Space Coast Stadium is scheduled for Monday, April 10th, at 7:00 pm against the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Manatees Site: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 The Brevard County Manatees will host the Florida Tech Panthers in an exhibition game before the 2006 season begins. The game, scheduled for Wednesday, April 5th, at 7:00 pm at Space Coast Stadium, will be free to the public. The Panthers are members of the Sunshine State Conference. Florida Tech, located in Melbourne, FL, is headed up by Coach Paul Knight, in his 4th season with the Panthers. "This is a great opportunity to expose some of the best baseball Brevard County has to offer. The Brevard County Manatees and the Florida Tech Panthers offer many residents in Brevard County an outstanding opportunity to watch great baseball. We're looking forward to playing at Space Coast Stadium, one of the best facilities in the state, and giving the Manatees a great game before they open up their season," said Knight. Immediately following the game the Manatees will have a meet the team/autograph session. "We're pleased to be able to host this game with Florida Tech. Not only will it give our 2006 squad a chance to practice under the lights on our home field, but the Panthers are truly first class competition. We're thankful that Coach Knight and his team have partnered with us. Our parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, have always been strong supporters of community events throughout the organization and this event again shows their commitment to the Space Coast region," Buck Rogers, Manatees General Manager added. The 2006 Florida State League season will begin on Thursday, April 6th with the Manatees traveling to Daytona Beach to face the Cubs in a four-game series. The Manatees home opener at Space Coast Stadium is scheduled for Monday, April 10th, at 7:00 pm against the Palm Beach Cardinals.

West Virginia Site: www.wvpower.com/news/deta...?newsID=56 The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers will play an exhibition game against Shawnee State on Tuesday, April 4 at Appalachian Power Park, two days before Opening Night. On Tuesday, April 4, the Power will host an exhibition game against Shawnee State beginning at 7:05pm. The Shawnee State University Baseball Team, led by Coach Tom Bergen, is coming off a 21-20-1 2005 season. The 2006 team features 12 returning players as well as 16 newcomers providing the Bears a mix of experience and young talent. The Power and Shawnee State will play a full nine-inning game with minor league baseball rules. Tickets to the event are $3 dollars and all tickets are general admission. The West Virginia Power are also utilizing this exhibition game to help local high schools with their fundraising efforts. NCAA and SSAC rules prohibited the West Virginia Power from playing any local college or high school teams.

West Virginia Site: www.wvpower.com/news/deta...?newsID=56 The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers will play an exhibition game against Shawnee State on Tuesday, April 4 at Appalachian Power Park, two days before Opening Night. On Tuesday, April 4, the Power will host an exhibition game against Shawnee State beginning at 7:05pm. The Shawnee State University Baseball Team, led by Coach Tom Bergen, is coming off a 21-20-1 2005 season. The 2006 team features 12 returning players as well as 16 newcomers providing the Bears a mix of experience and young talent. The Power and Shawnee State will play a full nine-inning game with minor league baseball rules. Tickets to the event are $3 dollars and all tickets are general admission. The West Virginia Power are also utilizing this exhibition game to help local high schools with their fundraising efforts. NCAA and SSAC rules prohibited the West Virginia Power from playing any local college or high school teams.

Sounds site: The defending Pacific Coast League champion Nashville Sounds will renew their annual rivalry with the Belmont Bruins this spring with a pre-season exhibition game on Tuesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Greer Stadium. The game, which offers Music City its first look at the 2006 Sounds squad, features free admission for all fans. The Division I Bruins, who play the majority of their home schedule at Greer, are a member of the 11-school Atlantic Sun Conference. The teams will meet for the seventh time in the last nine years. The Sounds have won all six previous meetings, including a 9-4 victory last season. The Nashville Sounds open their 2006 regular season with an eight-game road trip to Omaha and Iowa from April 6-13 before returning to Greer Stadium on Friday, April 14th for their 7:00 p.m. home opener against the Oklahoma RedHawks, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Sounds site: The defending Pacific Coast League champion Nashville Sounds will renew their annual rivalry with the Belmont Bruins this spring with a pre-season exhibition game on Tuesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Greer Stadium. The game, which offers Music City its first look at the 2006 Sounds squad, features free admission for all fans. The Division I Bruins, who play the majority of their home schedule at Greer, are a member of the 11-school Atlantic Sun Conference. The teams will meet for the seventh time in the last nine years. The Sounds have won all six previous meetings, including a 9-4 victory last season. The Nashville Sounds open their 2006 regular season with an eight-game road trip to Omaha and Iowa from April 6-13 before returning to Greer Stadium on Friday, April 14th for their 7:00 p.m. home opener against the Oklahoma RedHawks, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars come out early for exhibition against UAH New faces on display as proceeds benefit Chargers By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com It's professional baseball season again in Huntsville. Well, sort of. The Huntsville Stars will make their Joe Davis Stadium debut tonight at 6:05 in an exhibition game against the UAH Chargers. It's a sort of extension of the spring training the Stars have been going through since late February at the Phoenix suburb spring headquarters of the parent club Milwaukee Brewers. The Stars arrived in town on Monday and worked out at the stadium. Then there is today's seven-inning exhibition game, a Media Day on Wednesday before a bus ride to Pearl, Miss., near Jackson to open the season against the Mississippi Braves. But tonight's game against the Chargers offers fans a sneak preview of the 2006 Stars - which feature a roster loaded with new faces. Gone are familiar names such as Tony Gwynn Jr. and Brandon Gemoll, as well as the former prospects - such as Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks - who are now a part of the present for the Brewers. The new names that will soon be familiar include highly regarded catcher Lou Palmisano. Those new names will squeeze in the exhibition game while also getting moved into their apartments and familiarizing themselves with the trappings of Memorial Parkway in preparation for the next five months. "This is a good opportunity for our guys to get one final preseason game under their belts before our opener (Thursday) in Mississippi," said Tom Van Shaack, who is back for his second season as the Stars general manager. "It's something (UAH baseball coach Lowell Mooneyham) and I have talked about since last spring." The game will also benefit the UAH baseball team financially. The Stars will donate 50 percent of the $5 general admission and $1 parking fees to the Chargers. "Fundraising can be a headache at the Division II level," Mooneyham said. "It's tough, and the Stars were good enough to help us, and that says something about them." A significant difference to a typical minor league spring training game will be that the Stars batters will face Stars pitchers and UAH batters will face their own pitchers. The Stars will start the 2006 season at Mississippi with a five-game series - a new twist this season in the Southern League that will allow fans to see the entire starting rotation of an opponent. The Stars open at home a week from tonight with a five-game set against the Birmingham Barons.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars come out early for exhibition against UAH New faces on display as proceeds benefit Chargers By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com It's professional baseball season again in Huntsville. Well, sort of. The Huntsville Stars will make their Joe Davis Stadium debut tonight at 6:05 in an exhibition game against the UAH Chargers. It's a sort of extension of the spring training the Stars have been going through since late February at the Phoenix suburb spring headquarters of the parent club Milwaukee Brewers. The Stars arrived in town on Monday and worked out at the stadium. Then there is today's seven-inning exhibition game, a Media Day on Wednesday before a bus ride to Pearl, Miss., near Jackson to open the season against the Mississippi Braves. But tonight's game against the Chargers offers fans a sneak preview of the 2006 Stars - which feature a roster loaded with new faces. Gone are familiar names such as Tony Gwynn Jr. and Brandon Gemoll, as well as the former prospects - such as Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks - who are now a part of the present for the Brewers. The new names that will soon be familiar include highly regarded catcher Lou Palmisano. Those new names will squeeze in the exhibition game while also getting moved into their apartments and familiarizing themselves with the trappings of Memorial Parkway in preparation for the next five months. "This is a good opportunity for our guys to get one final preseason game under their belts before our opener (Thursday) in Mississippi," said Tom Van Shaack, who is back for his second season as the Stars general manager. "It's something (UAH baseball coach Lowell Mooneyham) and I have talked about since last spring." The game will also benefit the UAH baseball team financially. The Stars will donate 50 percent of the $5 general admission and $1 parking fees to the Chargers. "Fundraising can be a headache at the Division II level," Mooneyham said. "It's tough, and the Stars were good enough to help us, and that says something about them." A significant difference to a typical minor league spring training game will be that the Stars batters will face Stars pitchers and UAH batters will face their own pitchers. The Stars will start the 2006 season at Mississippi with a five-game series - a new twist this season in the Southern League that will allow fans to see the entire starting rotation of an opponent. The Stars open at home a week from tonight with a five-game set against the Birmingham Barons.

From Adam McCalvy of MLB.com: Right-hander Ben Sheets threw a successful bullpen session before Monday's game and the team has decided to send him to Jackson, Miss., for a Minor League start Thursday. Double-A Huntsville opens its season that day, on the road against the Mississippi Braves. Sheets will return to Milwaukee after his start to be re-evaluated by Brewers medical staffers before then heading out for another Minor League start at a site to be determined. With Huntsville, Sheets will be monitored by pitching coach Rich Sauveur and athletic trainer Dave Yeager. "They got together [with Brewers trainers] before the end of Spring Training because we knew that was where Ben might be heading," assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "Everyone is on the same page." The Brewers chose the Double-A game over an assignment to Triple-A Nashville, which also opens its season Thursday at Omaha, Neb., because thunderstorms are in the forecast for the Triple-A game. Sheets very likely could return to Huntsville to open their home season Tuesday the 11th against Birmingham, before debuting with Milwaukee on Sunday the 16th in New York. Will be weird seeing Ben's name on those Link Report matchups...

From the latest Power online newsletter: nl.terradon.com/newslette...4MSAg& MIKE GUERRERO Q & A The voice of the Power, Andy "Bull" Barch, sat down with Power Manager Mike Guerrero and discussed his off-field life, playing career, and his managing style. Below is a transcript of the interview. Andy Barch: Before we get into the baseball questions, tell us about your life at home, what kind of family life do you have? Mike Guerrero: My family keeps me very busy in the off-season. I try to spend as much time with my kids Michael (12), Daniel (9) and wife Larissa. I spend a lot of time going to little league games, movies, visiting the grand parents and I am involved with all the activities that they have with school and friends. AB: Take us through your playing career from your days in the Dominican to your final game in the minor leagues, what are some of the things that you remember the most about your playing days? MG: I played nine years in my minor league career. My last year was in 1995 when I played in El Paso, Texas and was released in the middle of May. Three weeks later, I found myself managing the Blue Jays in the Dominican Summer League. I played eight years with the Brewers at the minor league level and one with the Royals. I went to the playoffs five out of the nine years that I played. AB: You've been managing for a long time now, what kinds of lessons have you learned in the process that have helped you become a better manager? MG: I have learned to exercise patience, preparation and communication with the players and the staff. I think that I have been able to teach them to pay attention to small details, get them to understand the benefits of hard work, and I have learned how to recognize weaknesses and strengths of opposition and my team. AB: How would you describe your managing style? MG: My style of managing is a mix between the American and National League styles. I try to put a strong emphasis on the little things that it takes win ball games. AB: Who were your favorite players, teams, and managers growing up? Who would you say had the biggest influence on your life? MG: My favorite player was Damaso Garcia, my favorite team growing up was the Blue Jays and my favorite managers were Sparky Anderson & Tony Larussa. There are a lot of people who have influenced my life in a variety of different ways. There is no one person in particular, there have been so many over the years who have influenced me in life, as a manager and as a teacher, and I tip my hat to them. AB: You've been with the Brewers for a very long time, what excites you about this minor league system, and the roster that you will have to work with this season? MG: This system has put out some very good prospects over the years and I have always admired the players in this system for their hard work and their desire to get better and move up the ladder. I don't think this year will be any different because these guys have had some success at other levels and I think the sky is the limit for these guys. AB: What are some of your off the field hobbies? MG: In the summer time, it's so hard to find time for my off the field hobbies, and during the off-season most of my time is spent with my family. When I do have time to myself, I love fishing, going shopping, heading to the beach, and I also enjoy spending time with kids teaching them about baseball.