Jim Goulart

Jake Gatewood feeling comfortable in new position with Timber Rattlers by Josh Moser, Fox11Online GRAND CHUTE — It's completely new positioning, footwork and timing. Jake Gatewood is making the switch from shortstop to third base now in his second season of professional baseball. "At first I had really never played third," said the Timber Rattler. "I played a few games when I was like 13. The first week of spring training I was all over the place. I feel like it was the timing for me, sometimes you're waiting on the first baseman to get to first. Once I get that I feel like it will be a lot easier." "He's that prototypical third base body," added Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson. "If you look at our organization right now we do have a lot of shortstops and if you look up the chain there's not a lot of bodies like that playing third base." Since the move, Gatewood has been paired on the left side of the infield with another top prospect Isan Diaz. The two have become very close and now make up one of the best five-six combinations at this level. "It's always fun to have him on that side and hopefully well be on that side together in the big leagues someday," said Diaz, a Brewers Top 20 minor league prospect. Just sitting here in the stands watching Gatewood play at third base you can really see him starting to find himself. He really has only been playing the position for about three months and that comfort level at that third base bag is translating to his play at the plate. "I feel more comfortable in the box. the ball looks like bigger, last year it looked like a golf ball at times, but I think the more you prepare the more comfortable you are in the game," added Gatewood. Gatewood says it's about being comfortable when you're uncomfortable. The Brewers organization definitely seems comfortable with him and is expecting big things from the former first round compensatory pick.

AUDIO: Recent Sky Sox pre-game interview with 1B/OF Andy Wilkins *** AUDIO: Thursday's pre-game Sky Sox visit with Manager Rick Sweet

Final: Las Vegas 7, Colorado Springs 6 Sky Sox Comeback Bid Falls Short 7-6 Sky Sox come back to tie game, but 51s score late to win series opener By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/0/0/179155300/cuts/04_21_0698_pk_sxa08a7o_9d0qj7l4.jpg Brent Suter pitched 3.2 scoreless relief innings for the Sky Sox in Thursday's loss. (Paat Kelly photo) *** Colorado Springs Box Score This is becoming just sad -- pick a name, Daniel Bard, perhaps, although that's from a reliever perspective. Any "improvement" now would be so incremental, you can't sink lower than this, right? Right? "In the first inning, Sky Sox starter Taylor Jungmann (1-2, 14.85) got off to a rough start. Travis Taijeron blasted a three run home run to make it 5-0 51s.Then Ty Kelly followed with a home run of his own to make it 6-0 Las Vegas before Jungmann recorded an out. Jungmann lasted just one third of an inning, allowing six runs on four hits." Las Vegas Top of the 1st Dilson Herrera walks. Brandon Nimmo walks. Dilson Herrera to 2nd. T. J. Rivera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Eric Young Jr. Dilson Herrera scores. Brandon Nimmo to 2nd. Johnny Monell singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Reed. Brandon Nimmo scores. T. Rivera to 3rd. Travis Taijeron homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field. J. Rivera scores. Johnny Monell scores. Ty Kelly homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Roger Bernadina flies out to left fielder Eric Young Jr. Niuman Romero walks. Rafael Montero hit by pitch. Niuman Romero to 2nd. Pitching Change: Brent Suter replaces Taylor Jungmann, batting 9th. Dilson Herrera strikes out swinging. Brandon Nimmo grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Orlando Arcia. Rafael Montero out at 2nd. Colorado Springs Game Log Nice to see Yadiel Rivera on base four times and Michael Reed with no concussion after-effects; kudos to everyone who nearly picked up Mr. Jungmann's mess...

AUDIO via WTMJ Wed. AM 5/18: Jeff Levering *** AUDIO via WTMJ: Craig Coshun on "Brewers Extra Innings" (after the Wednesday night 2-1 13-inning loss) -- begins at the 02:15 minute mark *** AUDIO via WTMJ Thurs. AM 5/19: GM David Stearns *** AUDIO via WTMJ Thurs. 5/19: Former Brewer Mark Knudson on Brewers Weekly *** AUDIO via the Mike Heller Show Thurs. 5/20: Adam Rygg (@BrewerNation) - go to the 11:00 minute mark

Our best to Ben, seemed to be a good dude, worked hard to overcome his major hamstring injury last year. *** The Brewers also announced moves at AA, as RHP Daniel Tillman (oblique, out since April 17th) was activated from the DL, while LHP Hobbs Johnson was placed on the 7-day DL for the second time this season (was out April 21st through the 28th).

Thanks for posting. The Pacific Association would be considered a "low-end" independent league, not near the history nor stature of the Atlantic League, American Association, or Can-Am and Frontier Leagues. Saldivar, out of Southern University, (Baseball Reference) started one Frontier League game for River City (Sauget, IL) before moving west to the Pacific Association and his 2015 success. Here's the text for archiving purposes. Spreadsheet Success Saldivar Signed By Brewers James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers Theo Fightmaster, General Manager http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56faeb1160b5e91eb04bfd6e/t/573e44402b8dde4d0db71eaa/1463698584673/?format=1000w The Milwaukee Brewers have purchased the contract of Sonoma Stompers ace right-hander, Santos Saldivar, the team’s general manager Theo Fightmaster announced Thursday. Saldivar started the Pacific Association championship game for the Stompers last season thanks to his brilliant second-half run. He had a 2.05 ERA in 13 appearances, including five starts, and across his 48 1/3 innings, he struck out 58 and walked 17 while allowing only 44 hits. Advanced metrics showed how dominant he was in such a short time, as his 2.23 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) was the best in the Pacific Association for players with at least 40 innings. He also had the best strikeout rate in that sample size at 28.9%. He placed fourth in the year-end awards for Pitcher of the Year, the only player in the Top 5 to pitch fewer than 75 innings. “I’m excited for this opportunity, and I have to thank the Stompers for giving me this chance,” Saldivar said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have this chance. ... I’m also going to miss Sonoma, and my host mom, Ms. Sandy (Popovich), and Ms. Gail (Brodkey, who I stayed with last summer).” Saldivar was originally identified by the Stompers by the work of authors Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller, who took over baseball operations for the team in 2015, and chronicled their experience in a New York Time Best-Selling book, “The Only Rule is it Has to Work.” “We couldn't be happier for Santos. He's a great guy with awesome stuff and amazing makeup, and we loved him from the second we saw his name (and his eye-popping stats!) on a spreadsheet,” Lindbergh said. “Both the Stompers and the Brewers signed him without ever seeing him pitch in person, because his performance is impressive enough to stand out from across the country.” The 5-foot-10-inch right-hander will be only 23 years old this season and has a great four-pitch mix, with a fastball that can sit in the low 90’s to go along with a great curveball, change-up and slider. Saldivar joins Sonoma’s own Jayce Ray as the first Stompers players to be signed by a Major League organization. The Stompers open the season May 31, 2016, and start their home season in Sonoma on Tuesday, June 7, at 6 p.m. against the Vallejo Admirals. *** Here is an extensive sample of his work, it's as if the league posted this as a promotional video -- *** Story on Saldivar's final college game last spring *** Today's Knuckleball with more on the signing

More on LHP Josh Hader via 27OutsBaseball.com, quotes from Josh

Home run # 6 for the LH-hitting Delmonico on Wednesday - I, too, believe there's much that we don't know, however, with the option for the restricted list option for non-reporting, there will always be room for second-guessing. Guess we'll truly be able to pout should he reach the majors, although Delmonico has value even now in trade should the White Sox pursue that option, which is more than the Brewers have at this time.

Brewers wasted little time in picking up recently-released RH reliever Gage Smith, the 2014 25th round pick out of Florida State by the Tigers. Smith has posted a 2.01 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 121 pro innings, topping out at High-A. The 25-year-old likely will head to Maryvale for a bit before being formally assigned to an affiliate. Smith joins Biloxi RHP Stephen Kohlscheen and LHP Brett Lee as other relievers scooped up shortly after their releases this spring.

OF Brett Phillips' hamstring strain has landed him on Biloxi's 7-day DL as of 5/18; 22-year-old OF Omar Garcia and his .443 2016 OPS is brought up from Brevard County to backfill. Guess with Johnny Davis bypassed for the bump up, perhaps the Brewers know Phillips' absence will be brief. OF Malik Collymore joins the Manatees from extended spring training.

Here's a second look at Wednesday's 9-1 Wisconsin win, this via the MyNew32 TV game broadcast

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog *** STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League South Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division *** Sortable individual stat pages: Colorado Springs Biloxi Brevard County Wisconsin *** Weather.com: Colorado Springs, CO Kodak, TN Viera, FL Grand Chute, WI

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

DVR ALERTS! Timber Rattlers Games Friday May 20th, 6:30 PM -- MyNew32 TV Saturday May 21st, 6:30 PM -- MyNew32 TV Monday May 23rd, 12:00 PM -- TWC SportsChannel

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Las Vegas (Mets), 7:00 PM pre-game, 7:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson) MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup. ********** Biloxi: RHP Brandon Woodruff at Tennessee (Cubs), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Chris Harris is the play-by-play voice of the Shuckers. Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. Thaddeus Krzus (@Shucks1stIntern) joins Chris often. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast. MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them. ********** Brevard County: RHP Angel Ventura at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 5:35 PM gametime Sorry, there is no audio available for this series... Unfortunately, the Manatees have dropped their broadcast coverage for 2016. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. Ten of the 12 Florida State League teams provide audio (some only for home games), we'll do our best to let you know when an opponent's audio is going to be available. ********** Wisconsin: LHP Drake Owenby at home vs. Burlington (Angels), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime 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. MiLB.TV - Eight of the 16 Midwest League teams telecast their home games, and Wisconsin, once again, is among them. We'll let you know when a road TV feed is available. NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on local TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (10) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (29) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

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VIDEO via Fox21 News in Colorado Springs: "Tim Dillard – Sky Sox pitcher, Dubsmash master"

Ghelfi earning his keep with Timber Rattlers Tim Froberg, Appleton Post Crescent Nice feature article, includes video interview with the Wisconsin native...

Ghelfi earning his keep with Timber Rattlers Tim Froberg, Appleton Post Crescent Nice feature article, includes video interview with the Wisconsin native...

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi game highlights (go to the 1:00 minute mark)

Scout Bernie Pleskoff -- HADER IN A WORD OR PHRASE: A real prize SCOUTING GRADE FOR HADER: 60 – An occasional all-star

Happy 19th Birthday to RHP Nash Walters, last year's 3rd rounder, who we will likely see in Helena in June.

Don't sleep on Manatee catcher Dustin Houle, that OBP and OPS super-solid after a rough start, the XBH's will come down the road, likely post-Brevard. Just his age 22 season, could have been a 40-man roster choice last fall, almost certainly will be next fall.

Yes, Kramer & Newman vs. the 'Tees tonight, atop the lineup, in fact. Hoochie-mama!