Jim Goulart

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Betcha didn't know who is now normally based out of Idaho Falls (site of Helena's sad series sweep losses) -- The Chukars’ pitching coach Friday was not Jeff Suppan. In his stead was Royals minor league pitching coordinator Larry Carter. Suppan is visiting St. Louis this weekend for a reunion with his former teammates on the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Suppan started game four of that World Series, allowing three earned runs in six innings. The Cardinals won that game 5-4 and closed out the series a game later.

Sorry for singling out a 21-year-old, but what has happened to OF Brandon Diaz? The young man had a respectable .719 OPS as a 20-year-old Timber Rattler. His line this year split between the two A-ball levels: a .411 OPS over 165 at-bats. That's hard to do.

Catching up - this is Thursday night's wrap-up of the 3-2 win:

Doing yourself a disservice if you don't make use of Donny's write-ups, with quotes and other first-hand insights not available elsewhere. This season's Brevard coverage would be a black hole without his work available to us. We'll see what awaits us from some unknown high-A destination in 2017 (Kissimmee or elsewhere). That being said, one other nugget from the Manatees' site provides a possible insight into better at-bats as of late -- "Our hitters did a much better job of commanding the zone, as far as swinging at their pitches and not giving away at-bats." Manager Joe Ayrault said, "Our hitting coordinator Jeremy Reed is in town, and I had a conversation with him about that today. Trying eliminate chasing pitches and getting your pitch to drive. You could see a difference in our guys tonight."

In the DSL game, 17-year-old 6'3" Venezuelan LHP Luis Cordero got the one-innings start (scoreless), his first appearance since his June 9th debut. He's one of only two LH arms (recently-signed Wilfred Salaman) on the team.

Final: Idaho Falls 9, Helena 2 Gee, heck of a Southern Swing road trip thus far -- not... Chukars Complete Sweep Brewers Drop Fifth Straight Helena Brewers IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Falls Chukars completed a three game sweep of the Helena Brewers with a 9-2 thumping on Friday night in front 3,280 at Melaleuca Field. The Chukars chased Brewers starter Wuilder Rodriguez (2-1) from the game in the 4th inning, when they scored five runs on five hits, the big blow coming in the form of a three run home run from Yeison Melo. Trailing 8-0, the Brewers bats came to life in the 5th, when they scored on a Franly Mallen double and Yeraldy Martinez single. That would amount to nearly all of the Helena offense however, as the team finished the game with just three hits - all in the 5th inning. Jordan Desguin dominated the Chukars out of the bullpen, going four strong innings with six strikeouts, no walks and just two hits allowed. Friday's loss was the Brewers 11th straight on the road, and 13th in the last 15 games overall. Saturday will see the start of a four game series with the Ogden Raptors. First pitch at Lindquist Field is scheduled for 7:00 PM (8:00 Central). *** The Helena Independent Record wrote up this road game from a distance thusly -- IDAHO FALLS -- Talk about a woeful stretch. The Helena Brewers dropped a 9-2 decision to the Idaho Falls Chukars Friday night at Melaleuca Field, getting swept in the three-game series. The Brewers (10-17) have been outscored 44-9 in a five-game losing streak and have lost 16 of their last 21 games. A five-run fourth inning boosted the Chukars (16-11), who held the Brewers to a meager three hits. Matt Portland earned the win, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out seven in five innings. Idaho Falls made quick work of Brewers starter Wuilder Rodriguez, tallying eight runs and 10 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. The Chukars had three home runs in the contest. Brewers reliever Jordan Desquin had a solid four innings, though, giving up just two hits, one earned run and struck out six. Helena scored both of its runs in the second inning, courtesy of a Franly Mallen double and Yeraldy Martinez single. Helena Box Score 22-year-old RHP Jordan Desguin (36th round, 2015, Florida Gulf Coast University) has it working -- two most recent appearances: 10 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 13 K's. Helena Game Log Lucas Erceg (DH'ing here, so no errors tonight) walked and singled, OBP now .446.

Final: Arizona Indians 4, Arizona Brewers 3 Maryvale Box Score A-Crew scored single runs in the 8th and 9th but couldn't overcome. 18-year-old Carlos Herrera was plucked as the youngest of the three pieces in the Adam Lind trade based partly on his control and command, and now sports a 19-to-3 K-to-BB ratio in 20 innings this summer (career 92-to-16 in 100 innings), so he's not disappointing early in his Brewers' tenure. 2nd year RHP Jack Finnegan made his first sppearance since his move down from Helena, he had last pitched on July 4th. This was the pro debut of 20-year-old RHP Jake Smith, an undrafted free agent out of Nicholls State (LA). He struck out he side in his first pro inning, but also walked two and surrendered an unearned run. Maryvale Game Log 3B Chad McClanahan, the 2nd most expensive piece of the 2016 draft class, is only 2-for-24 since homering in his first pro at-bat, but he's only K'd four times. That's a 2015 interview that was posted in the Draft Forum on the 11th. Aguilar is 3-for-8 in his first two pro games, playing first base Friday night. 18-year-old corner infielder Gabriel Garcia played third base in this game, doubled twice, and is now 7-for-21 with five doubles (sweet) in his early pro career. Brutal end to the game with a man on 3rd and less than two outs -- AZL Brewers Bottom of the 9th Pitching Change: Dalbert Siri replaces Ben Krauth. Gabriel Garcia strikes out swinging. Jay Feliciano hit by pitch. Nick Cain doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Will Benson. Jay Feliciano scores. Julio Mendez singles on a line drive to left fielder Oscar Gonzalez. Nick Cain to 3rd. Nic Pierre grounds into a double play, shortstop Elvis Perez to second baseman Jorma Rodriguez to first baseman Jose Vicente. Julio Mendez out at 2nd.

Final: Tacoma 4, Colorado Springs 1 Sky Sox Silenced 4-1 By Hernandez, Rainiers Manny Pina's home run isn't enough as Sky Sox drop second straight By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox *** Colorado Springs Box Score Seventy-one pitches in 4.1 innings for Wily Peralta; as you read, Michael Blazek's 2.1 innings were helped by defense, Blazek also stranded two runners he inherited... Colorado Springs Game Log

Originally posted on July 6th -- And now, Part Two of the conversation Interesting discussion of playing outfield in Colorado Springs...

Sky Sox taking on rehabbing King Felix tonight.

Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet -- Which Brewer lands at #15?

From Thursday night in Idaho Falls, our first MiLB Helena video of the season -- Caleb Whalen

RHP Preston Gainey has completed his Maryvale rehab stint (stress fracture in his back) and has been activated from the disabled list and assigned to Brevard County. His arrival gives the Manatees 14 pitchers on their 25-man roster.

OF Omar Garcia gets another bump to Biloxi, where he spent three weeks earlier this season. The Shuckers will need to drop a player somehow by Saturday, likely a pitcher, as Garcia's arrival gives the team a 14-12 pitcher-position player mix.

The Sky Sox placed RHP Tim Dillard on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to July 13th. Even after that move and the recall of RHP Corey Knebel, the Sky Sox are carrying 14 pitchers and 11 position players. One of the 14 arms is RHP Zach Davies, set to be recalled shortly.

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Thank you all -- I am involved in important matters that will keep me from kicking Link Report things off as you're accustomed to again this evening. However, at this time, these matters are obviously not so critical that we haven't filled things in during the overnight and early AM without hardship on myself or others (in other words, I'm still following along like everybody else). Should things change in the coming days, we'll provide a heads-up and the Link Report will become a bit more "community-contributory". So until then, no more commentary from me each day other than to say "Let's Go, Brewer Farmhands, you've got some work to do in this second half". Thanks again, Jim G.

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AUDIO via WTMJ, all from Thursday -- GM David Stearns Todd Rosiak of the J-S Jerry Augustine

Two new features added to the Helena / Maryvale thread

Ex-Murphy star Trever Morrison signs first pro baseball contract Rich Myhre, HeraldNet.com (WA) Includes -- Already Morrison has seen one difference between college and pro baseball. Pro ball “is a little more laid back than collegiate baseball,” he explained. “The practices are kind of like you’re on your own time, and if you want to get better, you go ahead and put in the work. In collegiate baseball, it’s like you have to do this, this and this, and you also have to do it 100 percent or you’re going to run (disciplinary sprints). But that’s not how it is here.” *** Whoa, really Nestor Corredor? (Helena manager)

NCCU pitcher forges path into pro baseball Pitcher Andrew Vernon selected in 28th round in 2016 MLB draft First N.C. Central player and Knightdale High alumnus ever drafted Now settling into Arizona League with Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate Ben Pope, NewsObserver.com (NC) Hat tip to Kyle Lobner for pointing out this feature on RHP Andrew Vernon

Frosty Microbrews: The Whirlwind Four 2016 draft picks have joined the Rattlers in the last week By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Awesome job collecting all the quotes, Kyle...

Personal reasons was the update for the miss, as reported I now see, by Tom H. among others; don't hesitate to chime in when I ask, folks