Jim Goulart

Keep in mind that the Brewers formal official affiliation with the Brevard County Manatees ends after this season, but could be extended. If so, Milwaukee could avoid a potential assignment to a California League High-A affiliate. The Houston Astros are leaving their spring training home in Kissimmee, heading to a new shared complex with the Nationals in Palm Beach in 2016. If the report below is accurate (seemingly so), both the Manatees and the Florida State League will have resolved their need to maintain a home for one of the league's 12 franchises, stabilizing that situation. It would mean that the new shared facility in Palm Beach may not be hosting Florida State League teams. This next sentence is just conjecture on my part, but the California League has been looking for new homes for at least two of its franchises, and while the focus has been on the Carolina League for that, the new Palm Beach complex would at least open the possibility of migrating two teams to an expanded Florida State League. The Kissimmee affiliate would seem to have its choice of partners now, the Astros would be particularly interested, one would think. So the Brewers 2017 High-A situation is still very much up in the air, even if the Manatees themselves now know where they will be playing. Fascinating from the start. Finally, it looks like a resolution -- Minor-league baseball returning in 2017 The Kissimmee Cobras last played at Osceola County Stadium in 2000 By Ken Jackson, Osceola News-Gazette Staff Writer Professional baseball will return to Osceola County in 2017, but the games will begin in April instead of March. Following a spring training love-fest this year connected to the Houston Astros final appearance that ended a 31-year run, minor league baseball will return after a 16-year hiatus. County officials confirmed this week a three-year deal has been signed to bring a Class A Florida State League team to Osceola County Stadium starting in the 2017 season. County officials declined to say what team would relocate, but the Brevard County Manatees, the Milwaukee Brewers’ FSL affiliate, would be a strong possibility. They currently play at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, but the Washington Nationals are joining the Astros for spring training at West Palm Beach next year, and the United States Specialty Sports Association is moving its national headquarters from Kissimmee to Viera, leaving the Manatees seeking a home. Don Miers, Osceola County’s director of events and facilities, said the deal has been in the works for several months but had recently been vetted by the county and Experience Kissimmee, its tourism marketing arm. He said hosting a full-season baseball team benefits the community. “It’s good for our locals for pro baseball to be here, and it’s something different and inexpensive for our tourists to do at night,” he said. “And it keeps our foot in the door for attracting another major-league franchise for spring training. The minor team’s major-league personnel will be coming through here to look at prospects, and other teams’ scouts and personnel will be here, too.” County staff said the deal became a better fit after being shortened from 10 to three years and getting assurances that the complex will remain available for youth and amateur events. “It’s a brilliant partnership,” County Manager Don Fisher said. “We have a shorter deal and the assurances there won’t be conflicts.” Miers said the professional team will actually enhance the youth and amateur events. “The kids and amateurs who play here on the back fields will be able to see how the pros do it,” he said. “And they’ll be here to work with the amateur events for trophy presentations and such. This will bring a year-round professional baseball presence that has been lacking since the (Kissimmee) Cobras left.” Kissimmee hosted the Osceola Astros, later the Cobras, from 1985-2000, winning the FSL championship in 1999. Among the players who played here on their way to the major leagues were 1996 National League MVP Ken Caminiti, Tony Eusebio, Bobby Abreu, Kenny Lofton, Roy Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg, Brad Lidge, Tim Redding, Julio Lugo and Lance Berkman.

Rattler Radio Blog - Several audio interviews, including pre-game with Isan Diaz ***

Link includes video interview with RHP Jordan Yamamoto Timber Rattlers shut out Peoria *** Rattlers' Rubio proving worthy of 2nd chance Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent GRAND CHUTE - Elvis Rubio opened the season with his status in limbo. The 21-year-old outfielder is hitting like a man who doesn’t want to deal with that type of uncertainty again. A day after going 3-for-5 in his 2016 Wisconsin debut, Rubio gave the Timber Rattlers some early juice with a two-run homer and the Rattlers’ pitching took care of the rest in a 4-0 win over Peoria on Thursday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Rubio, who spent all of 2015 with Wisconsin, was part of Helena’s roster when the Rattlers opened the season April 7. However, Rubio never played a game for Helena, which doesn’t open its advanced rookie league season until June. Instead, Rubio was assigned to the Rattlers on Wednesday to replace outfielder Troy Stokes Jr., who went on the disabled list with an ankle sprain. Rubio started fast with the three-hit performance against Burlington and kept his momentum going by drilling a two-run laser shot over the left-field wall in the bottom of the second off Peoria starter Jake Woodford, the 39th overall selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2015 draft. “It was a fastball, low and in, and that’s what I was looking for,” said Rubio. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Rubio has the body type to generate power and should put up better numbers in Grand Chute this season after hitting .247 with just four homers and 38 RBI in 124 games and 459 at-bats with Wisconsin in 2015. “Last year was a new experience for me,” Rubio said. “This year I know what to expect and what the league is about. I’m ready.” Rubio, a native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, was signed by Milwaukee at the age of 17 as a non-drafted free agent and is already in his sixth professional season. Rubio had 95 strikeouts with the Rattlers in 2015, and making better contact is a priority for him. “He’s got some bat speed and he can hit a fastball,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “The key for him is to stay disciplined in the strike zone, and get into fastball counts. He’s a guy who has to get himself in position and recognize the breaking ball. Sometimes when he gets in trouble, he chases out of the zone with off-speed stuff.” Rubio had help in the offensive department. Second baseman Tucker Neuhaus went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple to lead an 11-hit attack. Designated hitter David Denson and outfielder Carlos Belonis added two hits apiece. “I had a rough day yesterday, so I kind of expanded my zone,” said Neuhaus. “When you have a bad day like that, you have to flush it, trash it. Act like it never happened. You have to do that on good games, too, because every day is a new day, a new opportunity.” The Rattlers (3-5) received outstanding pitching from the trio of Jordan Yamamoto, Nate Griep and David Burkhalter. The three combined on a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and only one walk. Yamamoto, the starter, was especially impressive. The right-hander out of St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, allowed singles on two of the first three pitches he threw, but then settled down and didn’t allow another hit in his four innings of work. Reaching 93 mph on the radar gun, Yamamoto struck out five and had one walk. “I just went after the hitters, threw strikes and kept the ball down in the zone,” said Yamamoto, a 12th-round pick by the Brewers in the 2014 draft. “That’s what our coaches preach. And our defense helped me out big-time, making some diving plays. I think we have a very good pitching staff here. I have high hopes for this pitching staff.” So does Erickson, who was impressed with his team’s work on the mound. “Really a nice job by all three,” said Erickson. “Yamamoto did a great job of attacking the hitters. He kept up his tempo and rhythm even after they got those first two hits off him. He and Burky were pitching on three days rest because of some weather issues and we needed some efficiency from them.”

Wet grounds halt Shuckers, BayBears Thursday Game to be made up as part of a Friday doubleheader Friday pitching details at the link...

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter. *** Miscellaneous notes from the Sky Sox Blog *** Big day Friday for the Manatees -- Jackie Robinson Game set for April 15 Brevard County, St. Lucie to play in third-annual event at Dodgertown *** Pointer this out on Twitter as well, but tonight's David Denson's 5th start, all at designated hitter

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: Nashville, TN Mobile, AL Fort Myers, 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! (INCLUDING TONIGHT!) Timber Rattlers Games Thursday April 14th, 6:30 PM -- TWC SportsChannel Friday April 15th, 6:30 PM -- MyNew32 TV

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: LHP Brent Suter at Nashville (Athletics), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:35 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 Adrian Houser at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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: LHP Kodi Medeiros at Fort Myers (Twins), 6:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link (Fort Myers feed) 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: RHP Jordan Yamamoto at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; expect RHP David Burkhalter to pitch in a tandem role 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. 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.

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

AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM Wed. 4/13: Post-Game Show with Tim Allen; audio from Craig Counsell's press comments at the 24:30 minute mark; Adam McCalvy joins the show at 43:30. *** AUDIO via WTMJ Thurs. 4/14: David Stearns' regular Thursday AM appearance

AUDIO: Sky Sox pre-game interview with Eric Young, Jr.

Final: Mobile 9, Biloxi 3 Guerrero's two-homer game downs Shuckers Shuckers end seven-game homestand at 5-2 *** VIDEO from WLOX: Despite the lopsided score, some highlights *** MiLB.com gave Vlad's nephew (deservedly) the feature article treatment *** Gabriel Guerrero does nice impression of uncle, Vladimir, with two three-run homers Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald BILOXI – Gabriel Guerrero did quite the impression of his future Hall-of-Famer uncle, Vladimir, Wednesday night at MGM Park. Gabriel Guerrero had a .111 batting average entering Wednesday night, but his early struggles at the plate are a distant memory after Mobile's 9-3 win over the Shuckers. The native of the Dominican Republic hit two three-run home runs for six RBIs on a 3-for-4 night at the plate. “It's been a rough start, but I'm starting to feel good,” the right fielder said. “That gave me a breather. Hopefully, everything keeps going good.” His first homer was a third-inning line drive that rattled off the video board in left. “Yeah, I got that pretty good,” he said with a smile. “I tried to look for a good pitch and tried to drive it. That's all I tried to do.” His second three-run bomb easily cleared the right field fence in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for the Shuckers at 9-2. “Sometimes, it just happens,” Gabriel Guerrero said. “I saw a pitch away and I just go with the pitch.” Vladimir Guerrero spent 16 years in the majors, batting .318 with 449 homers. Gabriel Guerrero, 22, is in his fifth year in the minors and has a .276 career average with 45 homers. The Shuckers finished their seven-game homestand to begin the season with a record of 5-2. They are in a three-way tie for first in the Southern League South with Jacksonville and Pensacola. “I take it one day at a time,” Shuckers manager Mike Guerrero said. “We didn't have too much pitching available. We did what we can. They did what's necessary and took advantage of big counts and didn't miss it.” Wednesday night's crowd was 1,219 at MGM Park. Mobile right-hander Yoan Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits in six innings to get the win. He struck out two and walked three. Shuckers starting pitcher Javier Salas (1-1) allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three. “He just ran big counts,” Mike Guerrero said of Salas. “Once we run big counts, hitters can just sit. They had good pitches and took advantage. He had a couple of walks and a 3-run homer. It was a 3-1 count to a fastball hitter. He fell behind in the count and (Gabriel Guerrero) took advantage.” After Gabriel Guerrero's first 3-run bomb, the Shuckers answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth after Nate Orf was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Brett Phillips followed with a double down the right field line. Jacob Nottingham pushed home Orf on a grounder to shortstop Ildemaro Vargas, who threw Phillips out at third. Javier Betancourt later brought home Nottingham on a single through the left side of the infield to set the score at 3-2 after four innings. Mobile stretched its lead to 4-2 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to right field by Gabriel Noriega to score Kevin Cron from third. The BayBears put the game to rest with five runs in the seventh inning. The Shuckers travel to Mobile (4-3) for a 6:35 p.m. game on Thursday at Hank Aaron Stadium. It will be the first of a three-game series in Mobile. Right-hander Adrian Houser (0-1, 10.50) will be the starting pitcher for the Shuckers and right-hander Matt Koch (0-1, 1.29) will go for the BayBears. Rare occurrence: There were a pair of double plays that originated in the outfield in the first inning. Shuckers left fielder Kyle Wren caught a hard hit liner and threw to second to catch Jamie Westbrook off the bag for the double play to end the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, Wren flew out to right fielder Gabriel Guerrero, who caught Orf off first base to end the inning. Favre apperance: NFL and Southern Miss legend Brett Favre will throw out the first pitch for Sunday's 1:10 p.m. Biloxi-Pensacola game at MGM Park. Sunday will be Favre 4 Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the ballpark. *** Biloxi Box Score SS Javier Betancourt, not 21 until May, had the Shuckers' lone two -hit game -- no walks yet (7-for-22). Biloxi Game Log

Final: Nashville 3, Colorado Springs 1 Late Home Run Stuns Sox In 3-1 Loss Junior Guerra's dominant start not enough as Sky Sox fall in Nashville By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox *** Colorado Springs Box Score Super efficient, super effective Junior Guerra, that'll get you a two hour, 17 minute game. Offense strugging... Colorado Springs Game Log

MiLB.com gets their first Brewers feature in today, quotes within -- Diaz leads way at plate for Timber Rattlers Brewers No. 11 prospect gets four hits, three doubles from top spot By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com

Via @BrewersPD -- RHP Martin Viramontes has been placed on the DL in Biloxi, retro to April 11. LHP Jed Bradley has joined the active roster. Viramontes had not pitched since his lone appearance on the 9th.

The Biloxi Sun-Herald's Patrick Ochs with Chattanooga Manager Doug Mientkiewicz -- It should be said the Lookouts (1-4) had nearly been no-hit two nights in a row when I interviewed Mientkiewicz. Still, the reigning Southern League championship manager has seen plenty of the Shuckers since they moved to the Coast. Plenty of folks have asked why Kyle Wren is back in Double-A after dismantling the Southern League a year ago. Mientkiewicz pointed to the Brewers building organizational depth as to why Wren is on his second tour with the Shuckers. "Last year, you blink and don't think they can have the same type of talent and then they're right back in your face six months later," he said. "They're coached well, do the little things well, they have good arms -- a lot of good arms. They have some holdovers from last year, which means they're getting deeper as a system. "When your system is deeper you back the guys up and you end up seeing guys like (Nate) Orf, who should probably be in Triple-A. (Brett) Phillips, too. It won't be long. They're top prospects for a reason. I asked Mientkiewicz if Phillips or new catcher Jacob Nottingham reminded him of anyone he'd played with or against. He didn't bite, saying he doesn't like to do that to kids. Fair enough. Still, he heaped plenty of praise on the Shuckers pair. "They're young and still have a ways to go, but you can see why they're highly touted," he said. "Phillips, in three games you saw him hit a homer to the opposite field, saw him lay a bunt down against the shift and steal second. He's just a baseball player. He's fun to watch."

Tuesday's game -- *** And defensive fun, too.

Miller Park Prospects -- Game Notes: Biloxi Shuckers 4/12/16 Keeping in mind the one-game sample, of course. And yes, thank you MiLB.TV.

Formal Brewers MiLB report for Tuesday's games via Zach Weber

AUDIO via Brewers.com: "New LHP Sam Freeman joins the podcast and hitting coach Darnell Coles talks about the start to the season at the plate." *** AUDIO via WTMJ: Jeff Levering *** AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM Wed. 4/13: Jerry Augustine *** AUDIO via the Bill Michaels Show Wed. 4/13: Seth Everett

This has been posted, thanks for the reminder.

This text is now pinned to the top of our Major League Forum, bookmark it there for future reference: Whether it was a big league or minor league departure, clicking on the following links will make it hopefully easier for you to check in on 2014-2015 Brewers now elsewhere, MLB page for big leaguers, MiLB page for minor leaguers -- bookmark or favorite this page for future reference, for now it's pinned to the top of our Major League forum. If we end up with too many pinned threads and release it, your bookmark will come in handy. MAJORS: RHP Jonathan Broxton (St. Louis) OF Khris Davis (Oakland) LHP Zach Duke (Chicago White Sox) RHP Marco Estrada (Toronto) RHP Mike Fiers (Houston) RHP Yovani Gallardo (Baltimore) OF Carlos Gomez (Houston) RHP Jim Henderson (New York Mets) 1B Adam Lind (Seattle) LHP Franklin Morales (Toronto) OF Gerardo Parra (Colorado) 1B/3B Mark Reynolds (Colorado) RHP Francisco Rodriguez (Detroit) IF Luis Sardinas (Seattle) IF Jean Segura (Arizona) 2B/LF Rickie Weeks (Arizona) MINORS: C Nevin Ashley (New York Mets, AAA disabled list) RHP Barrett Astin (Cincinnati, AA) LHP Anthony Banda (Arizona, AA) C Juan Centeno (Minnesota, AAA) LHP Neal Cotts (Los Angeles Angels, AAA) 3B Nicky Delmonico (Chicago White Sox, AA disabled list) C Robinzon Diaz (Toronto, AAA) 3B Matt Dominguez (Toronto, AAA) RHP Rodolfo Fernandez (Oakland, High-A disabled list) OF Daniel Fields (Chicago White Sox, AAA) LHP Tom Gorzelanny (Cleveland) RHP Preston Guilmet (Detroit, AAA) OF Mitch Haniger (Arizona, AA) RHP Johnny Hellweg (San Diego, AA) UT Elian Herrera (Los Angeles Dodgers, AAA) RHP Brandon Kintzler (Minnesota, AAA) RHP Chris Leroux (Toronto, AAA) RHP Zach Quintana (Atlanta, High-A) IF/OF Jason Rogers (Pittsburgh, AAA) LHP Trevor Seidenberger (San Diego, High-A) RHP Kevin Shackelford (Cincinnati, AA disabled list) RHP Cy Sneed (Houston, AA) LHP Mike Strong (Minnesota, AAA) RHP Tyler Wagner (Arizona, AAA) RHP Rob Wooten (Atlanta, AAA disabled list) C Shawn Zarraga (Los Angeles Dodgers, AAA)

3/4 of the way, just needs the home run, now in the 5th...

On Tuesday, the Brewers announced one retirement and three releases (the releases all Dominican Summer League players) -- Catcher Milan Post certainly has an interesting backstory, here's the post that introduced him to us. The recently-turned 22-year-old Dutchman may have decided to call it a career when he wasn't assigned to Wisconsin to begin 2016. *** Also released were: RHP Yomelbin Almonte - Now 23 years old, we introduced Almonte to you in this post last May. INF Henry Correa - Just entering his age 19 season, the LH bat struggled in his two prior teenage DSL campaigns. INF Roosevert Chal turned 22 earlier this week. In limited action over three years, Chal posted a .525 OPS in 179 AB's. Chal (now listed at 5'10", 158) is another in a long line of undersized young Dominican kids the Brewers have hoped would develop over the years, perhaps both physically and on the field. In the future, size on a middle infielder (along with defensive ability) might give us more hope for progression. From Chal's debut season in 2013: Brad Krause told us about new DSL infielder Roosevert Chal Friday night in his Link Report entry which included a unique DSL scouting video peek (no cage, good contact every pitch).