Jim Goulart

Tuesday's AAA Game (link while active, text follows): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1872 Sounds Drop 2nd Straight To I-Cubs MESA, Ariz. -- The Nashville Sounds were shut out by Iowa Cubs pitching for the second straight afternoon on Tuesday, falling 5-0 to their PCL division rivals. Rick Helling, who is in the running for a starting spot on the Brewers this spring, made the start for Nashville and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Khalid Ballouli hurled three scoreless frames following Helling before Iowa finally broke through against Mike Meyers, who surrendered five runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings of work and took the loss. The Sounds' offense was held scoreless on seven hits by Cubs pitching. Brad Nelson continued his solid spring with a 2-for-4 effort that included a double. Chris Barnwell went 2-for-2 with a double. Tony Gwynn, Jr. (1-for-3), Brandon Gemoll (1-for-3), and Jean Boscan (1-for-2) contributed the other Nashville hits. Nashville (4-2) continues its spring slate on Wednesday with a road game against the Portland Beavers (AAA-Padres) in Peoria, Ariz.

Only Bill Hall and Brady Clark have more plate appearances than Gabe Gross this spring... Drew Olson: Phoenix - - Right-hander Tomo Ohka struggled to command his pitches last week and the results weren't pretty; he gave up seven runs and 11 hits in four innings against Kansas City. "The quality strikes weren't there today,'' manager Ned Yost said after Ohka's outing. "He was throwing too many pitches down the middle. He threw the ball fine. He threw too many pitches down the middle...You can fine-tune off that... it's just part of the process of spring training.'' Ohka will continue the fine-tuning process with a five-inning, 80-pitch stint against Texas today at Maryvale Baseball Park. Here is the Brewers' lineup for today: 1, Brady Clark, cf 2, J.J. Hardy, ss 3, Corey Koskie, 3b 4, Geoff Jenkins, rf 5, Bill Hall, 2b 6, Jeff Cirillo, 1b 7, Gabe Gross, lf 8, Damian Miller, c 9, Tomo Ohka, p

The Brewer press notes indicate today's game will not be webcast, but MLB Gameday Audio indicates otherwise -- we'll see... Brewers Bullpen Coach returns to camp from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) . . . Castro served as the Pitching Coach for the Dominican Republic. Drew Olson of the JS: Phoenix - - A week ago, the muscles in J.J. Hardy's lower back were so tight he had trouble pulling on his uniform pants and walking across the clubhouse. This afternoon, he'll be the Milwaukee Brewers starting shortstop for an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs at HoHoKam Park in Mesa. Hardy has been working on a strengthening program to avoid a recurrence of the back spasms that sidelined him a week. "It's something I'll do the rest of my season and probably the rest of my career,'' he said. In other injury news, right-hander Ben Sheets will throw on the side today as he continues his comeback from a strained back muscle. Sheets is not expected to be ready for opening day, but there is a chance he may open the season on the 25-man roster rather than the disabled list. Right-hander Rick Helling, a long reliever who could be put into the starting rotation if Sheets isn't ready, will throw two innings / 35 pitches in a minor-league game today. Helling has been slowed by arm soreness this spring. The Brewers, who were off on Monday, will start lefty Chris Capauno, who is slated to throw five innings or 80 pitches. Milwaukee also will be without rookie first baseman Prince Fielder, who is in Florida for the birth of his second child. Here is the Brewers' lineup for the game against the Cubs: 1. Brady Clark, cf. 2. J.J. Hardy, ss 3. Geoff Jenkins, rf 4. Carlos Lee, lf 5. Bill Hall, 3b 6. Jeff Cirillo, 2b 7. Corey Hart, 1b 8. Chad Moeller, c 9. Chris Capuano, p. Relievers: Justin Lehr, Jared Fernandez. More Brewer site notes: Traveling to Mesa from Brewers Minor League camp are: IF Ozzie Chavez (#25) and OF Charlie Fermaint (#33).

The Brewers officially optioned RHP Carlos Villanueva to AA Huntsville today.

Monday's AAA Game (link while active, text follows): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1870 Sounds Blanked By I-Cubs 9-0 In First Loss MARYVALE, Ariz. -- The Nashville Sounds suffered their first spring loss on Monday afternoon when they were held to only three hits in a 9-0 defeat at the hands of the division-rival Iowa Cubs. Shortstop Enrique Cruz, outfielder Kennard Bibbs, and catcher C.J. Medlin all singled to provide the only offense for Nashville, which fell to 4-1 in spring action. Sounds hurlers gave up nine runs on 14 hits on the afternoon. Major-leaguer Doug Davis got the start and surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits over four innings to take the loss. Left-hander Wilton Chavez followed and was tagged for three runs on six hits over his three frames. Southpaw Wil Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER) and right-hander Corey Thurman (1.0 scoreless IP) finished the game from the Nashville hill. The teams meet again on Tuesday afternoon in the second game of a home-and home meeting. Tuesday's contest will take place at the Cubs' spring headquarters in Mesa, Ariz.

Monday's AAA Game (link while active, text follows): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1870 Sounds Blanked By I-Cubs 9-0 In First Loss MARYVALE, Ariz. -- The Nashville Sounds suffered their first spring loss on Monday afternoon when they were held to only three hits in a 9-0 defeat at the hands of the division-rival Iowa Cubs. Shortstop Enrique Cruz, outfielder Kennard Bibbs, and catcher C.J. Medlin all singled to provide the only offense for Nashville, which fell to 4-1 in spring action. Sounds hurlers gave up nine runs on 14 hits on the afternoon. Major-leaguer Doug Davis got the start and surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits over four innings to take the loss. Left-hander Wilton Chavez followed and was tagged for three runs on six hits over his three frames. Southpaw Wil Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER) and right-hander Corey Thurman (1.0 scoreless IP) finished the game from the Nashville hill. The teams meet again on Tuesday afternoon in the second game of a home-and home meeting. Tuesday's contest will take place at the Cubs' spring headquarters in Mesa, Ariz.

Sunday's and Monday's AA Games (link while active, text follows): www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=766 Stars Blank Jaxx Tim Dillard tossed four shutout frames and five pitchers combined to shutout West Tenn in Huntsville's 6-0 win Monday afternoon in Maryvale, Arizona. The win ended a two-game losing streak and lifted the Stars spring record to 3-2 with a rematch scheduled against the Diamond Jaxx on Tuesday in Mesa. Huntsville fell to the San Antonio Missions, Seattle's double-A affiliate, 2-1, in a game shortened to four and a half innings by rain on Sunday. Dillard, the son of former major league utility infielder Steve Dilard, yielded two hits and struck out one in his second spring appearance. He has now allowed only one run on six hits over seven innings. The right-hander has not walked a batter in his first two outings and has struck out five. Mitch Stetter, who finished last season in triple-A after going 2-3 with 8 saves and a 2.61 earned run average for the Stars, followed with two scoreless frames before Chris Demaria, Gerritt Simpson and Stephen Bray each tossed one scoreless inning to preserve the shutout. Carlos Corporan, a catcher who batted .239 with nine home runs and 38 runs driven in for low class-A West Virginia last season, knocked in a pair of runs to pace the Stars offense. Jeff Eure contributed a pair of doubles, a run batted in and a run scored and Travis Ezi and Steve Sollman also knocked in runs for Huntsville, which collected nine hits.

Sunday's and Monday's AA Games (link while active, text follows): www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=766 Stars Blank Jaxx Tim Dillard tossed four shutout frames and five pitchers combined to shutout West Tenn in Huntsville's 6-0 win Monday afternoon in Maryvale, Arizona. The win ended a two-game losing streak and lifted the Stars spring record to 3-2 with a rematch scheduled against the Diamond Jaxx on Tuesday in Mesa. Huntsville fell to the San Antonio Missions, Seattle's double-A affiliate, 2-1, in a game shortened to four and a half innings by rain on Sunday. Dillard, the son of former major league utility infielder Steve Dilard, yielded two hits and struck out one in his second spring appearance. He has now allowed only one run on six hits over seven innings. The right-hander has not walked a batter in his first two outings and has struck out five. Mitch Stetter, who finished last season in triple-A after going 2-3 with 8 saves and a 2.61 earned run average for the Stars, followed with two scoreless frames before Chris Demaria, Gerritt Simpson and Stephen Bray each tossed one scoreless inning to preserve the shutout. Carlos Corporan, a catcher who batted .239 with nine home runs and 38 runs driven in for low class-A West Virginia last season, knocked in a pair of runs to pace the Stars offense. Jeff Eure contributed a pair of doubles, a run batted in and a run scored and Travis Ezi and Steve Sollman also knocked in runs for Huntsville, which collected nine hits.

Sunday's AAA Game (link while active, text follows): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1868 Eveland Leads Perfect Sounds To 5-0 Win PEORIA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Dana Eveland, who will be in the Nashville starting rotation at the start of the 2006 season, tossed four innings of two-hit shutout ball to lead the Sounds to a 5-0, rain-shortened victory over the Tacoma Rainiers on Sunday afternoon. The game was halted in the top of the fifth. Nashville improved to 4-0 in spring action with the victory over their 2005 PCL Championship Series foe. The 22-year-old Eveland split the 2005 campaign between Double-A Huntsville, where he was voted a mid-season Southern League All-Star, and Milwaukee, finishing the year in the Brewers' bullpen. Brad Nelson was one of seven Nashville players to record a hit in the contest, ripping an RBI triple during a 1-for-3 afternoon. Five different Sounds players scored the club's five runs. No player had more than one RBI on the day. Tony Gwynn, Jr. led off and went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base. The Sounds continue their spring slate on Monday afternoon with a home contest against the PCL divisional rival Iowa Cubs, who they'll face in the first of four meetings between the clubs this spring.

Sunday's AAA Game (link while active, text follows): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1868 Eveland Leads Perfect Sounds To 5-0 Win PEORIA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Dana Eveland, who will be in the Nashville starting rotation at the start of the 2006 season, tossed four innings of two-hit shutout ball to lead the Sounds to a 5-0, rain-shortened victory over the Tacoma Rainiers on Sunday afternoon. The game was halted in the top of the fifth. Nashville improved to 4-0 in spring action with the victory over their 2005 PCL Championship Series foe. The 22-year-old Eveland split the 2005 campaign between Double-A Huntsville, where he was voted a mid-season Southern League All-Star, and Milwaukee, finishing the year in the Brewers' bullpen. Brad Nelson was one of seven Nashville players to record a hit in the contest, ripping an RBI triple during a 1-for-3 afternoon. Five different Sounds players scored the club's five runs. No player had more than one RBI on the day. Tony Gwynn, Jr. led off and went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base. The Sounds continue their spring slate on Monday afternoon with a home contest against the PCL divisional rival Iowa Cubs, who they'll face in the first of four meetings between the clubs this spring.

Saturday's AA game (link while active, text follows): www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=764 Navigators Navigate Past Stars The Norwich Navigators, double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, knocked off the Stars, 10-4, Saturday afternoon in Maryvale, Arizona. Huntsville dropped to 2-1 in spring training action with 12 games still scheduled. Steve Hammond started on the hill for Huntsville and the southpaw was charged with two unearned runs over three innings of work. He allowed one hit, walked one and fanned two. Eric Thomas allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in the fourth inning and Ken Durost was tagged for three runs on three hits and a pair of free passes in 1 2/3 frames of relief work. Steve Moss, projected to be the Huntsville center fielder, knocked in a pair of runs with a double and score once, while first baseman Jeff Eure added three singles and scored a run. Huntsville totaled 10 hits in the loss and has collected 33 in the first three games of exhibition play.

Saturday's AA game (link while active, text follows): www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=764 Navigators Navigate Past Stars The Norwich Navigators, double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, knocked off the Stars, 10-4, Saturday afternoon in Maryvale, Arizona. Huntsville dropped to 2-1 in spring training action with 12 games still scheduled. Steve Hammond started on the hill for Huntsville and the southpaw was charged with two unearned runs over three innings of work. He allowed one hit, walked one and fanned two. Eric Thomas allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in the fourth inning and Ken Durost was tagged for three runs on three hits and a pair of free passes in 1 2/3 frames of relief work. Steve Moss, projected to be the Huntsville center fielder, knocked in a pair of runs with a double and score once, while first baseman Jeff Eure added three singles and scored a run. Huntsville totaled 10 hits in the loss and has collected 33 in the first three games of exhibition play.

People, it's called "backing up your statements with facts." I got jumped when I first started posting here because I didn't always bring my facts. Don, on Friday night alone, you made about twenty posts on the Major League Forum (not the game thread, either) that contained nothing but one liners, linked photos attempting humor, and emoticons. I know, because I suffered through them while catching up on that forum Saturday morning. Actually, we're thanking you for that because it became the impetus to move the In-Game Threads out of the Major League Forum, as we're going to tolerate less-and-less of the nonsense posts on the Major League Forum (take them to Off-Topic if you must). The fact that you started the "elitist" thread -- now that's comedy.

Box Score -- Vinny Rottino OPS 1.230 http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...p;c_id=mil

Box Score -- Nelson Cruz OPS 1.263 http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...l#boxscore

Linden, single, Von Schell gunned down at 3rd by Cruz Nelson Cruz is Superman!

MLB.com's Adam McCalvy on catcher Mark Johnson: milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...p;c_id=mil

You'll see Carlos Villanueva, Dan Kolb, Matt Wise and Derrick Turnbow in the White Sox game here, according to Jim Powell. Infielder Ozzie Chavez, catcher Nestor Corredor, outfielder Darren Ford, and RHP Brett Evert are among the minor leaguers available for this game as well.

Awesome job, undertow, hope you're enjoying the broadcast thus far...

LHP Zach Jackson assigned to minor league camp, also -- because he's not on the 40-man roster, they don't have to name the exact squad he's assigned to yet (yes, most likely Nashville, but not etched in stone): The Milwaukee Brewers have signed right-handed pitcher Allan Simpson to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp and assigned left-handed pitcher Zach Jackson to Minor League camp, it was announced today by Doug Melvin, Executive Vice President and General Manager. Simpson will report to Brewers Major League camp on Tuesday, March 21. Simpson, who resides in Apple-ton, Wis., began the spring with the Cincinnati Reds before he was released on March 18. This spring he went 1-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA in five appearances (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). Overall, Simpson owns a 2-2 Major League record alongside a 6.22 ERA in 43 appearances, nine of those for the Reds in 2005. He was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the eighth round of the June 1997 free agent draft. Jackson, 22, made four appearances/one start this spring and compiled a 2-1 mark alongside a 9.00 ERA. He was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on December 8, 2005, as the player to be named later along with right-handed pitcher Dave Bush and outfielder Gabe Gross in exchange for infielder Lyle Overbay and a player to be named later (Ty Taubenheim). The Brewers currently have 41 players in Major League camp, including eight non-roster invitees. RHP Allan Simpson Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...pson.shtml EDIT: Fixed his city of residence. edit: Al didn't edit in ezcodes mode. -ja002h

Nelson Cruz 2-for-2 -- his spring OPS was 1.205 prior to those hits -- if you're going to have a small sample, it might as well be off-the-charts!

Hendrickson getting smoked... Hey, in the past, MLB.com would prompt me as to whether I wanted to make use of their media player or Real Player. That was sweet because I would always first open the audio of Bob and Jim with Real Player, and then I'd open the video with the Windows Media Player. I'll be bumming if I can't pull that trick all season.

Following Bush today will be LHP Justin Thompson (#53); RHP Mike Adams (#46); RHP Jorge De La Rosa (#48); and RHP Jared Fernandez (#50) . . . Adams is scheduled to make his first appearance of the Spring and De La Rosa will be making his first appearance since March 2 . . . De La Rosa was a member of Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Traveling to Scottsdale from Brewers Minor League camp are: (#20) Ned Yost, IV, IF; (#27) Michael Brantley, OF; (#10) Dave Krynzel, OF; (#22) Ryan Crew, IF; (#58) Chris Barnwell, IF; (#37) Ryan Braun, IF; (#65) Brendan Katin, OF; (#60) Luis Lopez, IF; (#70) Alcides Escobar, IF; (#25) Angel Salome, C; (#26) Lorenzo Cain, OF; (#40) Yovani Gallardo, RHP; (#38) Kevin Roberts, RHP; and (#41) Will Inman, RHP.

Friday's AAA Game Recap (link for Corey D. Hart photo): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1866 Sounds Take Down RedHawks, 4-3 SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Nashville Sounds recorded a 4-3 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Friday afternoon in a rematch of last season's American Conference finals. Left-hander Wilton Chavez started the contest and picked up the victory after allowing one run on three hits in his two innings of work. Gerrit Simpson (2.0 IP, 1 ER), Rule 5 selection Stephen Bray (2.0 scoreless IP), Andy Pratt (2.0 IP, 1 ER), and Khalid Ballouli (1.0 scoreless IP) finished out the game from the hill. Corey D. Hart went 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, and run scored to lead the Nashville offensive effort. Dave Krynzel made his first start of the spring and turned in a 1-for-3 afternoon. Chris Barnwell chipped in with a sacrifice fly. The 2-0 Sounds continue their spring slate with a Saturday home contest against the PCL rival Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-Giants). Saturday's AAA Game Recap (link for Brad Nelson photo, circa 2005 physique): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1867 Sounds Remain Perfect In Spring With 7-6 Win MARYVALE, Ariz. -- The defending PCL champs continued their strong start in exhibition play on Saturday, recording a 7-6 victory over the visiting Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-Giants) to up their spring mark to 3-0. Brad Nelson paced a 10-hit Nashville attack with a 2-for-4 afternoon that included a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Free agent signees C J.C. Boscan (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and RF Ronald Acuna (2-for-2, 2B) also turned in multiple-hit efforts. Left-hander Clayton Andrews made the start for Nashville and allowed two runs on four hits in two innings before turning things over to Alec Zumwalt, who twirled three scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Zumwalt fanned two and allowed only two hits in his outing. Josh Habel (2.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER) and Joe Winkelsas (2.0 scoreless IP) finished up from the hill for the Sounds. The Sounds will see another familiar foe in their next spring action when they take on the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA-Mariners) on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of the 2005 Pacific Coast League Championship Series, which Nashville won in a 3-0 sweep to secure its first league title in 23 years.

Friday's AAA Game Recap (link for Corey D. Hart photo): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1866 Sounds Take Down RedHawks, 4-3 SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Nashville Sounds recorded a 4-3 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Friday afternoon in a rematch of last season's American Conference finals. Left-hander Wilton Chavez started the contest and picked up the victory after allowing one run on three hits in his two innings of work. Gerrit Simpson (2.0 IP, 1 ER), Rule 5 selection Stephen Bray (2.0 scoreless IP), Andy Pratt (2.0 IP, 1 ER), and Khalid Ballouli (1.0 scoreless IP) finished out the game from the hill. Corey D. Hart went 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, and run scored to lead the Nashville offensive effort. Dave Krynzel made his first start of the spring and turned in a 1-for-3 afternoon. Chris Barnwell chipped in with a sacrifice fly. The 2-0 Sounds continue their spring slate with a Saturday home contest against the PCL rival Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-Giants). Saturday's AAA Game Recap (link for Brad Nelson photo, circa 2005 physique): www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1867 Sounds Remain Perfect In Spring With 7-6 Win MARYVALE, Ariz. -- The defending PCL champs continued their strong start in exhibition play on Saturday, recording a 7-6 victory over the visiting Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-Giants) to up their spring mark to 3-0. Brad Nelson paced a 10-hit Nashville attack with a 2-for-4 afternoon that included a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Free agent signees C J.C. Boscan (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and RF Ronald Acuna (2-for-2, 2B) also turned in multiple-hit efforts. Left-hander Clayton Andrews made the start for Nashville and allowed two runs on four hits in two innings before turning things over to Alec Zumwalt, who twirled three scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Zumwalt fanned two and allowed only two hits in his outing. Josh Habel (2.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER) and Joe Winkelsas (2.0 scoreless IP) finished up from the hill for the Sounds. The Sounds will see another familiar foe in their next spring action when they take on the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA-Mariners) on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of the 2005 Pacific Coast League Championship Series, which Nashville won in a 3-0 sweep to secure its first league title in 23 years.