Jim Goulart

Via @BrewersPD:

Looks like there's hope for a Carolina League affiliation for the Brewers. The High-A dance of musical chairs is winding down. Just this week, Arizona re-upped with Visalia and San Diego renewed with Lake Elsinore, thankfully taking two of the three available California League affiliations off the market. As you can see here at Ballpark Digest, there are only three open slots left for the Brewers, Braves, and Rockies. Tampa Bay (Charlotte) and Seattle (Modesto) aren't quite official yet, but it appears ownership ties will keep them in their current locations. Which leaves -- -- The new Kissimmee Florida State League location being adopted by the Brevard County affiliate -- Lancaster in the California League, a noted windblown offensive environment -- Carolina in the Carolina League - the Mudcats are based in Zebulon, NC (suburb of Raleigh) You'll find a blurb or two like this on Braves' fan sites like "Tomahawk Take" -- LINK: "With the Braves likely done in Carolina, they sure sent their affiliation out with the Mudcats out with a bang offensively"... There had been much speculation all summer, and more recently, that the Rockies will be going to Lancaster (if so, "whew!"). Here's a brief (and bit dated) review of Five County Stadium in Zebulon. If I'm reading Advanced Ballpark Effects data correctly, the Carolina League is certainly the most neutral of the three High-A leagues, although Carolina's park tends to suppress offense within the context of the league. So as long as Colorado saves the Brewers from Lancaster, looks like this may come down to whether Manatees ownership wants to jump to the Braves or stay with their 12-year partner in Milwaukee. The Brewers relationship has produced miserable W-L results but has the promise of a ton of exciting talent moving up to High-A in 2017-18, and a partnership with the current "#1 system in baseball", as per MLB Pipeline.

Wisconsin 2B Isan Diaz and closer Nate Griep, Helena 1B Ronnie Gideon -- http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2016-minor-league-classification-star-teams/#u77s6guZIojejFc4.97

ARTICLE: Tom Haudricourt caught up with minor league hitting coordinator Jeremy Reed, now with the big league club for a week, to discuss the AFL bats.

AUDIO via Dan Karcher and the Sky Sox pre-game: Wrap-up with Manager Rick Sweet

AUDIO via the Shuckers' Chris Harris: RHP Brandon Woodruff

Remember, the Brewers will be holding a club option on Garza for 2018 at just $5M. Not quite John Lackey at $507,000, but potentially still valuable in a deal.

I'm pulling this post from this season's final Link Report, I hope people see it for what it is, just a little self-indulgent trip down memory lane for me. And special kudos to Brian, Patrick, Toby, Hawing, Casey, and others I haven't listed but who are so appreciated from those early days on Brewerfan's "staff". Sweet 16 (!), but who's counting? When I think of just the technological updates, how if I wanted to listen to a Brewer broadcast via Jim Powell (remember, I'm not local), I'd have to tie up my land line for hours via the dial-up. Minor league baseball teams had their own sites (maybe) of obviously varying degrees of helpfulness (remember, I would even grade them in a feature article). Before the MiLB hub (and even in the early days of MiLB's hub site), if you knew the browsing shortcuts you could find where transactions were filed before they even had a chance to announce it to the players (yes, a player or two learned via our site they had been released, to the Brewers' consternation). Remember the absolutely awesome David Weiser and his starsboxscore.com site (now defunct) from Huntsville. David was the goods, my goodness what a great resource he was. Others too from over the years, but none like David. My restaurant sit-down with an old-timey tape recorder for my very first player interview feature on A-ball LHP Justin Gordon. Here's what Justin is up to today. The piece I'm still most proud of and had the most fun doing back in the 2001-02 offseason, with the Brewers' Northeast Scout Tommy Tanous, who is now the Amateur Scouting Director for the Mets. We did a slew of "Behind the Microphone" feature articles like this one, chatting with the affiliate broadcasters. Speaking of Jim Powell earlier, remember when he penned his own goodbye to Brewerfan? Geez, there's so much backroom Brewerfan staff goodies and nuggets we could share from over 16 years (but we won't). If you only knew the ... There is so much available now to Brewer fans in terms of incredible Twitter follows, dozens of in-season archived audio interview archives weekly on the major and minor league level, spectacular Brewer-based fan sites, it's such a great time to invest oneself in the rebuild, and so much of that comes through following the minor leagues, and if we're still filling a niche for everyone here, then great. Who everyone should really thank is Mrs. Haas (29 years married this month). A non-sports fan, she's allowed me to pursue this passion, probably because it's an inexpensive hobby . Somehow I've managed to still be (I think) a pretty cool husband and dad, and to be honest, my time commitment isn't nearly what it was in the early days, even though it may seem like it. Here's to the minor league offseason! The first 2017 Link Report will be Thursday, April 6th.

More video here, including one of Corey Ray's singles

VIDEO via KCRG from the Rattlers loss *** CEDAR RAPIDS — It was gratifying enough to win their first Midwest League playoff series in sweep style. But the way the Cedar Rapids Kernels were able to overcome a couple of “ringers” to do it had to feel even better. Yeah, the Kernels didn't appreciate Marcos Diplan and Corey Ray's presence, you can read about that here.

Catching up from the Labor Day finales -- Ramon Flores a minor league free agent unless he's re-signed...

Link includes video interview as well -- Brewers’ No. 1 pick Ray adjusts to pro game Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

Final: Billings 7, Helena 1 And Link Report season ends with a whimper, unfortunately... As has been the case for 95% of the season, no quotes, no audio interviews, but another set of photos from the I-R to savor out of Kindrick Legion Field, consistently the best galleries of well-captioned photos we've seen from any outpost over the years. Helena Box Score Ronnie Gideon hits his 17th HR on the final night to take the Pioneer League HR title outright with 17, sweet! Helena Game Log Adding on to prior thank you's, to reillymcshane for stepping up for Sky Sox coverage, and to TheCrew07 (Seth) for double-duty with Biloxi and Wisconsin, where do I begin? Behind the scenes I beg these guys to let me know about taking the occasional days off and yet they just plug away. I truly hope we add to our "linkers" next year and lighten the load for everyone. Like most years, as the summer rolls on, yours truly finds himself running on fumes by August 1st, and admittedly real life distractions had me hitting the veteran wall by mid-July this season, but thanks to all for your patience and faithfulness. The Brewers blogosphere community has exploded in recent years, and kudos to all the other sites who provide such awesome daily coverage. You're all an asset for what we do here, and apologies if we didn't always link to your minor league coverage. Hopefully our readers know all about your efforts as well, pretty sure they do. Stay tuned for all the offseason minor league stuff, folks, you know the routine on our forums here...have a great "offseason".

RHP Conor Harber gets the start in Game Three (think positive!) on Friday. Remember subscribers, synch up MiLB.TV with Chris Mehring's audio best you can.

Wisconsin Lineup and Game Notes Out of the box for leadoff? Not really -- Max is .359 OBP, 21 of 24 in SB attempts.

Helena photos from Wednesday

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Wisconsin Helena MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Wisconsin: RHP Marcos Diplan at Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; Game Two of a Best-Of-Three League Quarterfinal Series; win or go home for the Timber Rattlers Free Live Audio Link Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. ********** Helena: RHP Gentry Fortuno at home vs. Billings (Reds) in the season finale, 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Added newly-acquired OF Ryan Cordell to the initial post in this thread

Final: Billings 3, Helena 1 Helena's Aaron Myers (3-1) was the hard-luck loser. He allowed one run -- it was unearned -- in five innings, and struck out seven, and walked only one. Helena Box Score 19-year-old 2B Franly Mallen only 2-for-6 in SB attempts; Ronnie Gideon the lone multi-hit game; OF Joantgel Segovia hasn't played since 9/1... Helena Game Log RHP Michael Petersen last pitched on 8/14; 25 pitchers have seen action in Helena this summer...

Burgos, Brinson Earn Final Monthly Honors Sky Sox outfielder, righty handed starter earn monthly honors for August/September By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/2/6/199852126/cuts/Aug_Sep_POTM_43rpkg4w_dptuumrv.jpg *** Arcia, Burgos Earn Sky Sox Yearly Honors Sky Sox shortstop, righty handed starter earn Player of the Year honors for 2016 By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/3/2/186232432/cuts/06_15_3551_pk_8m2p56c3_ti1r5hr2.jpg Orlando Arcia and Hiram Burgos were two of the Sky Sox biggest contributors in 2016. (Paat Kelly photo)

Tim Froberg with Post-Crescent coverage of the Rattler loss *** For those with MiLB.TV, Cedar Rapids does provide coverage. Manage to synch things up with Chris Mehring's call, and you're good to go.

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Wisconsin Helena MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Wisconsin: RHP Jordan Yamamoto at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; Game One of a Best-Of-Three League Quarterfinal Series; series shifts to the road after this one Free Live Audio Link Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. ********** Helena: RHP Aaron Myers at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link