Jim Goulart

Speaking of alumni, how about RHP Dustin Molleken? 13 long years rewarded...

As posted in our David Denson thread tonight, this from the All-Star Game locale

Midwest League All-Star David Denson gay, accepted Wisconsin's David Denson wants to be known for hitting, not sexual orientation Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette http://www.thegazette.com/storyimage/GA/20160621/ARTICLE/160629905/AR/0/AR-160629905.jpg&MaxH=1400&MaxW=1596 The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' David Denson (second from right) smiles as he watches the action during the home run derby before the Midwest League All-Star Game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids Tuesday. (Jim Slosiarek photo / The Gazette) CEDAR RAPIDS – As a high school baseball player, David Denson hit a 515-foot home run that has been seen by over 1.2 million people via Youtube. Yet, that’s not the most-famous thing about him. One day, though, maybe Denson will do things in ballparks that will get him more recognition than what he’s received for being the first openly gay player in a Major League Baseball organization. The 21-year-old (Appleton) Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outfielder made national sports news last August when, as a player for the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate in Helena, Mont., he made it public that he was gay. Denson was featured in stories in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He was the subject of a segment on ESPN’s Sunday morning talk show “The Sports Reporters.” “David Denson’s life just got a lot harder,” panelist Mike Lupica said. “I think way too many people in the professional sports and in the culture of the locker room are as closed-minded on this subject as any politician who opposes same-sex marriage.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_vYToLccmo Homosexuality is more accepted in most walks of American life than it is in sports. Only two former MLB players – Glenn Burke and Billy Bean – publicly stated they were gay after their playing careers ended. Bean now works for MLB as its Ambassador for Inclusion. Times clearly have changed from when those two were in the big leagues, though Denson was concerned about how his fellow Brewers farmhands would respond after his announcement. “It turned out to be nothing like I expected,” Denson said Tuesday afternoon after taking batting practice at the Midwest League’s All-Star Game in Cedar Rapids. Denson was a Western Division reserve who also participated in the event’s pregame home run derby. “I expected worse,” he said. “I thought my teammates would be weirded out, be a little disgusted. “I thought it would basically be me on my own. But all I’ve gotten from teammates was support. They’ve had my back through everything. They’ve said they respect me as a player and a person. “The game of baseball is hard in itself. For six or seven months a year you’re with guys who have got to become a family. In a situation like that, if you’re alone or pushed to the side, it makes it 10 times harder. You feel there’s nowhere to go, no one to talk to. To feel alone, this would be very tough.” So, progress. Still, that Youtube video of Denson’s moonshot homer at Miami’s Marlins Park at the Power Showcase Home Run Derby in late 2012 has a few ugly comments attached from anonymous half-wits. “Everybody can have an opinion on something,” said Denson, “but what if it was your son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, whatever? You wouldn’t want someone to be degrading them as a person when they’re not doing anything to anyone, just being themselves.” Today obviously isn’t free of prejudice and hate. But had Denson been an active player who made a similar announcement 20, 10, even five years ago, his baseball life would surely have rougher and lonelier than it is in 2016. “At the end of the day, it had to do with my own happiness,” Denson said. “It was more like a life decision rather than a baseball decision. It affects not only your career, but your family, your friends. “I thought ‘Why am I trying to hide the person I am?’ It didn’t matter if (he said he was gay) the next day or two, the next year or in 10 years, I’d still be the person I am at the end of the day.” This is Denson’s fourth year of pro ball. He passed up a baseball scholarship with the University of Hawaii to sign with Milwaukee directly out of high school as a 15th-round draft pick. He has never ended a pro season with a batting average over .250, and has struck out a lot. But his results have improved this year. He’s batting .263 with 14 doubles, five homers (three against the Cedar Rapids Kernels) and 27 RBIs, and leads his team in walks with 31. He homered in his most-recent game, Sunday at Beloit. Like most Class A players, the odds are against him. But being named to the MWL All-Star team was validation to him. “Honestly, it’s a blessing,” Denson said. “It was eye-opening. It’s showing me my hard work is paying off. “Playing in the majors is my ultimate dream, my ultimate goal. I was always raised not to quit, not to sell myself short, to not get pushed to the side for anything or anyone.” But if Denson does play his way to the bigs, he will be subject to a lot more attention than the typical rookie. “I’d handle it as I’ve handled everything so far,” he said. “I try to keep focused on the game. “We are all people. If you judge me, judge me by how I treat other people.”

Like so many others, little surprise here from Biloxi -- VIDEO via WLOX: The figures are in: MGM Park's financial impact on Biloxi

Love the indy-ball-back-to-affiliated ball stories for former Milwaukee farmhands -- RED SOX PICK UP RAILCATS INF JOSE SERMO Baseball Reference

No Tuesday farmhand birthdays, but in yesterday's mad dash, we missed Monday birthdays for: Biloxi RHP Jorge Ortega, 23 Rehabbing OF Rymer Liriano turned 25

RHP Eric Hanhold came off the Manatees' Temp Inactive List to make the start Tuesday night. A pitcher is going to come off the roster somehow, but that move wasn't announced today.

Laid-back left-hander Josh Hader on the fast track for Colorado Springs Sky Sox Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette Josh Hader looks more like a surfer than baseball player, and that appearance is only exaggerated when he starts talking in a slow, laid-back cadence. It's that personality that helps shield Hader from the pressures of the game and has the new Sky Sox lefty riding a wave that could soon land him in the major leagues. "I don't think anything fazes him," Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet said. "He's got that carefree attitude. He's a good competitor, but he has that carefree attitude where pressure is not really part of his game." Hader, 22, earned a promotion to Triple-A early this month after dominating in Double-A with a 0.95 ERA through 11 starts. He struck out 88 in 69 innings. In two starts with the Sky Sox he has given up four runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts. MLB.com lists Hader as the No. 4 prospect in Milwaukee's organization and No. 61 in all of baseball, but those rankings were established before this season and before Hader made adjustments that have helped him turn a corner. Hader said his laid-back attitude helps him focus, and he turned that focus this year toward refining his change-up and slider to better complement a mid-90s fastball that, when delivered from his lanky 6-foot-3 frame has drawn comparisons to Chris Sale. "It was good to see the numbers, you can see your hard work is paying off," said Hader, who rocks back and forth on the mound before firing pitches from a three-quarters arm angle. "But it's one of those things that you've just got to keep going with that flow." If Hader were the type to be easily rattled, there has been plenty in his career that could have already gotten to him. The Maryland native was drafted by the nearby Orioles out of high school, but has since been traded twice in deals to Houston for Bud Norris and to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez. He's played for 11 teams in a professional career that has not yet spanned five full seasons. Now comes the chance to pitch in the highest professional park in the nation, which has a reputation for its cruelty to pitchers' numbers and for testing everybody's lung capacity. "It got me my first two innings. It was something to get used to. My first two innings I was gassed. You've got to really focus on your breathing," Hader said. "But as far as the altitude, if it just happens that a fly ball goes out, you can't really control it. I'm not going to worry about it. "You can't put too much pressure on yourself. You've already got to worry about executing the pitch, so if you just put too much pressure on you that's when you're going to worry about things you can't control and you're going to make mistakes. That's the thing for me, I mean, it's a kids' game."

DSL PHOTOS!: Not captioned, and no uniform numbers we can go by (turn around guys!), looks like the Rockies have the white pants and the Brewers gray, so of the home-and-home series, these shots look to be from Thursday's game, a 10-5 Rockies win should you wish to try and identify a few. Smiles & Dreams -- http://www.dominicansummerleague.com/www/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/MILWAUKEE%20BREWERS%20vs%20COLORADO%20ROCKIES/ILC_6170.JPG

Att: 2,007. That was Helena's attendance for Monday's game wow, impressive. Plenty of Opening Night photos at the link to this story, as early crowds have been impressive -- Helena Brewers break game attendance record

VIDEO: Report on new Helena Brewers' broadcaster Craig Durham

Via the Sky Sox Blog -- Garcia Filling In Well Behind Plate By Aaron Cheris Rene Garcia has performed well in his first week in Colorado Springs. (Paat Kelly photo)

Also posted in our Helena / Maryvale thread for archiving purposes -- From PDX to Pioneer College teammates, friends reunite in Brewers organization Story and photo by Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record

From PDX to Pioneer College teammates, friends reunite in Brewers organization Story and photo by Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/71/171f5404-e39b-5b74-8414-4b7f28c4dc86/5768b9e84a873.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C900 During a West Coast Conference road trip this past spring, catcher Cooper Hummel and outfielder Caleb Whalen -- then mainstays and travel roommates at the University of Portland -- tossed around hypotheticals. Being selected in the forthcoming MLB Draft was a foregone conclusion for the two seniors, but they couldn't gauge in which of the 40 rounds they'd be taken. Hummel had no inclination of where he'd end up, as a grip of organizations exhibited interest. Whalen, however, had already been picked once in the late rounds of the 2011 draft out of nearby Union High School in Vancouver, but opted for a collegiate career. It was the Milwaukee Brewers, where his father, Shawn, is a junior scout, who took him in the 42nd round, the final year of the 50-round draft. "Hey, what if somehow we were taken by the same organization?," Hummel asked Whalen, rhetorically. On June 11, the third day of the 2016 draft, the Brewers selected Hummel in 18th round, making a next-level reunion a distinct possibility. Hours after Whalen sent his friend a congratulatory text -- the two were in contact the duration of the draft -- he heard his own name called. This time, he was plucked in the 38th round, and it was surprisingly his father announcing the draft pick -- the Brewers had selected him again. "As soon as I heard (the pick), I knew it was his voice and knew where I was going," said Whalen, whose younger brother, Brady, was selected in 12th round by the Cardinals in the same draft out of Union High. "A good memory I can look back on, for sure." Hummel and Whalen are the only two draft picks out the University of Portland since 2014. "I was beyond stoked we were both picked by the Brewers," said Hummel, who prepped in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego. "On Day 2 of the draft, we were both talking to similar teams, so it was great it worked out this way." The onset of their professional careers beginning in the Northwest also suited their pair. Since being assigned to the Pioneer League's Helena Brewers, a club based a 10-hour drive from Portland, they've able to take in scenery and temperatures akin to home. "This is similar to home," Whalen said. "There's trees and the weather is similar. I'm definitely happy to be here. " In the third game of the Brewers' four-game series with the Great Falls Voyagers on Sunday, Hummel and Whalen made the most of their first professional starts. Hummel went 1 for 3, roping a double in the second inning, had a run and gunned down a would-be base stealer and a potential tying run in a 5-4 win. Whalen knocked in a pair of RBIs. The two batted back-to-back at the 3 and 4 spots in college. They batted in succession on Sunday, too, at 7 and 8. "It was good to have each other's back, back each other up and hold each other accountable," Whalen said. "That was a good thing about keeping us both going."

Shuckers begin search for 2nd half title by Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald PHOTOS of SS Gabriel Noriega and LHP Stephen Peterson at the link Biloxi will have to replace of ace Josh Hader Hader, Jaye Chapman both at Triple-A Colorado Springs Jacob Nottingham, others should have best hitting ahead of them The first half of the season came to a close Sunday with no Southern League South title for the Biloxi Shuckers, but the first 69 games of the season proved to be a nice run. Pensacola (41-29) edged the Shuckers (39-30) by 1 ½ games for the first half title in the South, putting Biloxi in a position where it will either need to win the second half title or finish second to Pensacola in the second half standings to reach the playoffs. Biloxi won the first-half title a year ago despite spending the first 54 games of the season on the road, taking the pressure off for the final 70 games of the season. This time, the Shuckers will have to earn a spot in the postseason without their best starting pitcher and closer from the first half of the season. Left-handed ace Josh Hader and right-handed reliever Jaye Chapman are both at Triple-A Colorado Springs after dominating the Southern League in the first half of the season. The numbers were stunning for the two men at the Double-A level this season when you consider they combined to allow just six earned runs in 68.1 innings. Chapman didn't allow a single run in 12 appears for Biloxi this season, going 1-0 with 0.00 ERA. He has been at Colorado Springs since May 4, but his 10 saves are still good enough to rank third in the Southern League. The only pitchers with more saves than Chapman in the Southern League are Pensacola's Alejandro Chasin and Chattanooga's Trevor Hildenberger, who both have 11 saves. Chapman hasn't had nearly as much luck this season at Triple-A, going 4-1 with a 6.41 ERA in 17 appearances for the Sky Sox. Hader proved to be the hardest starting pitcher to hit in the Southern League in the first half of the season, allowing just 38 hits in 57 innings. He struck out 73 batters and walked 19. He had a hard time factoring into decisions, but finished 2-1 with a sparkling ERA of 0.95. The lefty has two starts so far at Triple-A and is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 15 and walking seven. There's no clear replacement for Hader as the Shuckers' starting ace, but the bullpen appears to be just fine without Chapman. Right-hander Daniel Tillman had an impressive close to the first half and is 3-0 with a 0.46 ERA and six saves. Stephen Kohlscheen also proved adequate in the closer role with six saves and a 2.70 ERA in 22 appearances. The good news for the Shuckers is that some of their hitters' better days are likely still ahead of them this season. Catcher Jacob Nottingham went from .159 through the first 18 games to .255 with seven homers and 21 RBIs at the end of the first half. Nick Ramirez (.212), Brandon Macias (.198), Chris McFarland (.188), Javier Betancourt (.215) and Tyrone Taylor (.217) are almost sure to improve on their numbers at the plate in the second half of the season. Hader will be missed, but the Shuckers likely have enough to contend in the second half.

Glad I was able to catch up for the most part at lunch today, but this is always a concern when all seven affiliates begin play. Pretty much, I can't wake up each morning and hope to knock out AAA, the two rookie clubs, and the DSL each AM before heading out the door to work. I'm pretty sure we have enough folks out there that could do a fine job -- for instance, the Sky Sox post a detailed write-up each night, which makes posting on them a breeze. And the DSL boxes are posting earlier than ever now, often by suppertime, so if someone wants to take a crack with them -- hey, you'll always have their Sundays off . Reporting on the two stateside rookie clubs can be challenging based on timing and familiarity, I can continue with those two. Keep me posted, thanks.

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers Southern League All-Star Game Midwest League All-Star Game

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

If Manatees ownership decides to re-up with Milwaukee, the Brewers haven't exactly provided them with scintillating teams over the past decade (three winning teams since 2005). Wouldn't it be something to end up in Lancaster or such, the complete opposite of Space Coast.

I'm sorry if I missed this in a different thread, but what happened to Jorge Lopez that caused him to go to the Inactive List? Is this just a mid-season "clear the head" move, or is something going on with him personally? Organization is rotating nearly all their pitchers through mini-breaks at various points in the season; while this could be a legitimate use (perhaps the need to attend a wedding or a funeral or attend to another family matter), this also my be the new "placed on Helena paper roster", which they can't quite do now that the Helena season is underway.

Final: Helena 13, Great Falls 5 Loving the PHOTO GALLERY here Voyagers tee off on Brewers in series finale Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record For the first three games of the Helena Brewers' four-game home stand, the Great Falls Voyagers stranded a lofty 28 baserunners. The visitors atoned for that deficiency Monday night, shelling Helena to the tune of 15 hits in a 13-5 rout at Kindrick Legion Field. In a near four-hour Pioneer League tilt, the Voyagers (1-3) raked from start to finish, slapping a five-run first inning on the Brewers (3-1), who used five arms in the loss, their first of the season. Helena answered with a combined five runs in the first and second frames -- RBI doubles by Nathan Rodriguez and Lucas Erceg leading the surge -- cutting the Voyagers' lead to 6-5, but wouldn't get any closer. Helena was also victim to 13 strikeouts, three by Voyagers hurler Aaron McGree, who earned the win after three innings of work. Great Falls also used five pitchers. Brewers starting pitcher Nattino Diplan and reliever Shawn Clowers gave up a combined eight runs and 10 hits in just three innings. Great Falls put the game away in the eighth inning when Alex Call, a third-round pick out of Ball State, blasted a two-run homer and the Voyagers added an insurance run in the ninth. The Brewers were paced at the plate by Erceg, the 46th overall pick in this year's draft, who went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Rodriguez was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Great Falls was led by Corey Zangar (3 for 4, 3 RBIs), Aaron Schnurbusch (3 for 6, 3 RBI) and Call (2 for 4, 2 RBIs). Helena begins a six-game road trip when it travels to Pioneer League co-leader Billings (3-1) at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central) Tuesday at Dehler Park. Helena Box Score VIDEO Tweets from Ryan Collingwood here and here Fantastic four innings of scoreless relief work by RHP Colton Cross; some highs and lows in the box score, check out the individual efforts for yourself, please... Helena Game Log

Also posted in our Biloxi archive thread -- Very good read with quotes from Biloxi All-Star RHP Tristan Archer

Very good read with quotes from Biloxi All-Star RHP Tristan Archer

And now, just a couple of days later, Mejia is bumped to Wisconsin, where there is now a 14-to-11 position player-to-pitcher ratio, so look for changes there prior to Thursday's return to action.

Infielder Nate Orf back to AAA Colorado Springs now that Biloxi's first-half is done. RHP Jaye Chapman to the 7-day DL to make room. When RHP Corey Knebel arrives from his big league option, a pitcher will have to be shuttled off somewhere to make room. Biloxi has an open roster spot.