Jim Goulart

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Soundcloud: "Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson sat down with Chris Mehring and Kyle Lobner on September 10, 2018 to discuss a variety of topics: The game that knocked the Rattlers out of playoff contention, the terrific run the team had in August, some of the players, and what's ahead for him in 2018." A worthwhile listen, we're spoiled by this podcast all season, thanks guys.

Ever in the Shadow of the Durham Bulls, the Carolina Mudcats—the Triangle’s Other Minor League Team—Want to Get Your Attention By Samuel Evers, indyweek.com Not player-specific in the least, but an interesting read on the history of an state of the affiliate and where they stand in the area's marketing.

VIDEOS via WXXV: Zack Brown pre-game interview Rain delay fun *** Early Runs Bury Shuckers in Game Three Of Championship Series Jackson Comes Within One Win of Southern League Title *** Box Score / Game Log

I dislike starting a thread for this, but I don't want it to get lost within a specific Link Report. I post it at the risk of sounding like I have too high a sense of importance here (I really don't, just having fun following a specific passion with high enthusiasm all these years). At the same time, I didn't want to just drop out of the online world completely with nothing said. You may have noticed that my attendance here at Brewerfan and online with Twitter has been very minimal and sporadic as of late (hey, first extended time lapse in 19 years here on the Minor League Forum, hope you've enjoyed the break!). But actually, that extended absence is going to continue for some time, probably right through the Brewers' playoff chase, and I apologize to those who have counted on my specific updates. When we all get a chance, I'd like to see backfilled missing Link Report games that weren't detailed going back to Sat. the 25th, just for our record-keeping. Our "staff' here at Brewerfan is the best, the moderators throughout are awesome, and the contributors and Link Reporters here on the minor league side are as well. I can't thank them enough. I'll say nothing more than I am attending to serious issues that require 99.9% of my focus, and I appreciate your respect of my privacy at this time, and that my personal health is OK, not so bad for a 55-year-old. I will be following every step of the Brewers big league and minor league chases with every bit of that extra sliver of my focus. It will just be silently from afar in regards to this forum and maybe I'll sneak in the occasional tweet, but even that is unlikely. In essence, it's just a leave of absence for a while. Not a big deal. Since there is nothing specific to wish me well on that I'm mentioning here, let's just say I know that those who would like to wish me well in general are doing so. I'll be back, you'll be here, and the Brewers will win the pennant (at the minimum). So I'm also closing this thread -- talk to you all some time hopefully by late this fall, no need to reply now, because I already hear ya'. Go Brewers! Thanks, Jim G. (Mass Haas)

SUNDAY 8/26: AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: "The Brewers take two of three against both the Reds and Pirates this week and continue to sit in playoff position. In the two games that the Brewers lost, certain bullpen pitchers did not pitch well and that continues to be an area of concern for many Brewers fans. Will the Crew get the bullpen humming along again? Do they have enough wins left in them to stay in playoff position. Those are just a couple of the questions that get addressed on this week's Podcast. Brew Crew Ball Managing Editor Kyle Lesniewski will join Matt to give his take on the current state of the Brewers. The Biloxi Shuckers are getting ready to open their playoff run. Biloxi radio broadcaster Garrett Greene joins Matt to preview the playoffs and go through some of the various players on the team." Enjoy the full podcast, but for the focus of this specific Minor League Forum, Biloxi discussion begins at the 41:25 minute mark.

SUNDAY 8/26: AUDIO via Matt Pauley's Brewers Extra Innings Podcast: "The Brewers take two of three against both the Reds and Pirates this week and continue to sit in playoff position. In the two games that the Brewers lost, certain bullpen pitchers did not pitch well and that continues to be an area of concern for many Brewers fans. Will the Crew get the bullpen humming along again? Do they have enough wins left in them to stay in playoff position. Those are just a couple of the questions that get addressed on this week's Podcast. Brew Crew Ball Managing Editor Kyle Lesniewski will join Matt to give his take on the current state of the Brewers. The Biloxi Shuckers are getting ready to open their playoff run. Biloxi radio broadcaster Garrett Greene joins Matt to preview the playoffs and go through some of the various players on the team."

Final: Wisconsin 3, Clinton 2, ten innings Wisconsin Wins 3-2 in Ten Innings at Clinton Rattlers are just one-half game back in Wild Card with seven games left By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers *** AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Sundcloud: "The Timber Rattlers beat the Clinton LumberKings 3-2 in ten innings at Clinton on Sunday afternoon. Chris Mehring decided to put together the audio highlights from the big moments in the 9th and 10th innings of this nerve-wracking victory that pulled Wisconsin to within a 1/2 game in the Wild Card race with seven games left in the season." *** Box Score / Game Log What an addition undrafted Eddie Silva has been...

One of Mr. Dillard's Best Ever

Final: Oklahoma City 4, Colorado Springs 2 Looks like we're you only online home for the summary -- DODGERS RETAKE DIVISION LEAD; EVEN SERIES AT 1-1 Oklahoma City Rallied for Two Late Runs to Even the Series and Retake a Slim Division Lead OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Sky Sox relinquished their division lead Saturday night, dropping game two of this critical four-game series against the Dodgers 4-2, after the Dodgers rallied late with two runs in the seventh to crack a tense 2-2 tie. After a scoreless first frame, both teams scored a pair of runs in the second inning. In the top of the second, Richie Shaffer drew a one-out walk to put one on for Andres Blanco, who promptly homered on the first pitch he saw all evening to give the Sky Sox an early 2-0 lead. It was Blanco's ninth longball of the season. In the bottom half of the frame, Oklahoma City fired back with two runs of their own. Edwin Rios led off with his 23rd double of the 2018 campaign for the Dodgers, before Will Smith drew a walk to put two on with no outs. Matt Beady grounded out for the first out of the inning, advancing both baserunners into scoring position for Rocky Gale, who singled home Rios for Oklahoma City's first run of the contest. Jake Peter then lined out for the second out of the inning, allowing Smith to score and tie the game at two runs apiece. Both starting pitchers settled in for the remainder of their outings, as both hurlers produced quality starts, leaving the game after six innings of work. Paolo Espino, who started for Colorado Springs, allowed just the two runs on four hits with two walks and a trio of strikeouts. Conversely, Oklahoma starter Daniel Corcino also allowed just two runs on five hits with a pair of walks while striking out seven Sky Sox batters. There wouldn't be another run scored in the game until the seventh inning, when the home team tacked on another two runs. Beaty led off with a double, advancing to third on a ground out. With two outs on the board, Kyle Farmer drew a four-pitch walk to put two on for Tim Locastro, who hit an RBI double to score Beaty and put Farmer 90 feet from home. Alex Verdugo then hit a sharp single to plate Farmer and extend the Dodgers' lead to 4-2. After a quick and quiet eighth inning, the Sky Sox went into the ninth down to their final three outs as they tried to retain the division lead. Shaffer led off with a walk for Colorado Springs, giving the Sky Sox some life, before the next three batters were retired to give the Dodgers control of the division once again by half a game, evening the series at 1-1. The Sky Sox continue into game three of the four-game set against the Dodgers tomorrow with a 6:05 PM CT first pitch. Sunday's Preview: In game three of Colorado Springs' final road trip of 2018 and this four-game series against the Dodgers in Oklahoma City, the Sky Sox are sending righty Aaron Wilkerson to the mound to face off against southpaw Kyle Lobstein for the Dodgers. Box Score / Game Log

VIDEO: You'll find Mudcats road game highlights here, none of RHP Bowden Francis' fine mound work, though.

Huge! Final: Wisconsin 5, Clinton 4 García's Ninth Inning Blast Stuns Clinton Rattlers win 5-4 on last-ditch homer to pick up ground in playoff chase By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Read up, that's why we link! *** AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Soundcloud: Via Chris -- "The two-out, two-run homer by Gabriel García in the ninth inning to turn a 4-3 deficit at Clinton into a 5-4 lead. García had been hitless in his last 18 at bats before this clutch home run. The Rattlers would go on to win the game 5-4 and they now trail Kane County and Beloit by 1-1/2 games for the Second Half Western Division Wild Card. So....not an over-reaction on my part. I stand by this call." *** Box Score / Game Log Fun-diggity, folks...

Max Lazar may have to take this from Dustin Pedroia eventually:

Final: Helena 2, Billings 1 Brewers Buck Mustangs In Pitchers Duel Helena Breaks Scoreless Tie In Seventh, Get To Within Two In Division By Greg Mroz / Helena Brewers Brewers Max Lazar pitched 5 innings of Saturday's game against Grand Junction allowing only 1 run. *** *** Box Score / Game Log

Final: AZL Reds 2, AZL Brewers 0 Box Score / Game Log Teams combined for 25 K's but only two walks in this hack-tastic contest. Nick Franklin survived Thursday's rehab and played again.

FOLLOWUP: I'm hearing that whatever the cause of Roegner's DL placement, it was not related to this at-bat, and the nature of his placement is unclear. So hopefully Cam's back in time for Biloxi's postseason run. I'm still done with pitchers batting, though...

Castaneda works out of an independent training academy in Mexico, and similar to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez' tweet about RHP Mario Perez back on July 4th, Castaneda has no formal affiliation with the professional Mexican League, and thus was eligible for the Crew to sign. MLB has placed a moratorium on signing professional Mexican League players while improprieties in that system are worked out. Here's Castaneda, you can follow (and translate) the Twitter thread above and below this link. Is this a relative of Helena Brewers RHP Victor Castaneda? Victor was one of the last Mexican League players signed by MLB when the Crew purchased his contract last summer.

At Biloxi, LHP Cam Roegner lands on the 7-day DL, while RHP Danny Reynolds is activated from the same list. Roegner's injury happened Thursday, and darn it, I am so done with pitchers batting already. I was a holdout for a long time, but the Guerra / Nelson / Anderson 2017 Brewers injuries just finally knocked me to my senses. Biloxi Bottom of the 3rd Max McDowell pops out to second baseman Taylor Featherston. Cameron Roegner strikes out swinging. Corey Ray flies out to center fielder Jose Siri. Pensacola Top of the 4th Pitching Change: Cody Ponce replaces Cameron Roegner, batting 9th. The announcer at Biloxi's WXXV was having some fun with it here, but certainly didn't realize the awkward swing prompted an exit. Granted, even Roegner walked off with a smile, but that sure looked like one of those oblique swings (total conjecture on my part). You can find the video along with other game highlights from Thursday at this link.

Final: Colorado Springs 6, Oklahoma City 5 SKY SOX PULL INTO FIRST PLACE WITH 6-5 WIN OVER DODGERS Late Offense and Clutch Defense Earns Seventh Straight Win For Sky Sox By Shane Philipps / Colorado Springs Sky Sox So much info within... *** No word on the lingering status of Jacob Nottingham's wrist. Brewers really need a 3rd catcher for September, there's a 40-man roster crunch, but can you wait on Nottingham? Will Bandy or Christian Bethancourt get the call? *** Box Score / Game Log Seeing LHP Dan Jennings' big league struggles remind us that 23-year-old LHP Quintin Torres-Costa, who has to be added to the 40-man this fall regardless, has been spectacular all season. WHIP of 0.92 across 50 innings, and has been equally effective at both the AA and AAA levels regardless of RH or LH bats. See you in the big leagues September 1 regardless of the Sky Sox playoff status, Quintin.

Frosty Microbrew: Timber Rattlers Embrace the Grind of a Long Season By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

As also posted in our season-long Timber Rattler feature article thread for easier archiving purposes -- Frosty Microbrew: Timber Rattlers Embrace the Grind of a Long Season By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Final: Wisconsin 4, Clinton 3 Rattlers Hang On to Beat Clinton Ashby strikes out twelve as Rattlers pick up ground in playoff chase By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers *** VIDEO: Final out of the game *** Box Score / Game Log LHP Aaron Ashby's JUCO strikeout numbers were insane, and he's fashioning that reputation with the Brewers. How did this guy last until late in the 4th round? Biggest hit of Chad McClanahan's brief Wisconsin tenure, for sure, as you just read. We'll arbitrarily have you look at June 21st and forward in Gilbert Lara's game log. See you consistently .250-ish his batting average has been.

These are excellent game summary write-ups coming your way below. It was a big night for Colorado Springs, Wisconsin, and Helena in terms of playoff contention and positioning. The evening could not have gone better score-wise for these teams and within their respective leagues.

Speaking of schedules wrapping up, Maryvale is done after Sunday's action.

In the next to last DSL games this summer for each squad: Final: DSL Rangers #2 Squad 11, DSL Brewers 3 Box Score / Game Log Growing pains in the lineup wrapping up, particularly after stronger players have been brought stateside. 20-year-old RHP Jose Romero improved on his rookie 2017 season, but was only middling here, also victimized by his defense. 17-year-old RHP Ariel Vega's first three pro innings have been hitless (one BB). RHP Victor Vasquez' 2nd appearance after a long injury layoff was a tough one. *** Final: DSL Rangers # 1 Squad 3, DSL Brewers / Indians 0 Nice start by 18-year-old LHP Joandris Tolentino to end his campaign. Another southpaw, 17-year-old Starling Javier, allowed an unearned run in his inning, which was his 9th appearance of the season. Six Brewers in the starting lineup, only one hit among them. 18-year-old catcher Roberto Molina is from Venezuela, not Puerto Rico, so his catching bloodlines don't trace back to Yadier and his brothers, which depending on your anti-Cardinals bias, is either a good or bad thing.

VIDEO via WXXV: Several puns and previously unseen highlights included from Thursday's game EDIT: See transaction thread update