Jim Goulart

Orlando Arcia on fire at plate as Shuckers start SLCS Shuckers SS Arcia on fire at plate as championship series starts By Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald BILOXI -- Biloxi Shuckers shortstop Orlando Arcia has had some amazing moments on the baseball diamond this season, but he topped himself last week in the Southern League South playoffs. Arcia batted .615 with two homers, six RBIs and five runs scored in the Shuckers' three-game sweep of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. With Arcia's glove and bat, along with an outstanding pitching staff, the Shuckers have a shot at winning the Southern League title in their inaugural season. The Southern League Championship Series starts at 7:10 p.m. today at MGM Park against the Chattanooga Lookouts. On Tuesday, Arcia was in his usual good mood, wearing a sly smile while he went through batting practice with teammates. Well-rounded player The 21-year-old can clear the left field fence, shoot it into the gap in right center or just push the ball through the right side of the infield. Fans who were lucky enough to see Arcia play this season were witness to one of the best performances by a player not suited up at the Major League level. He made the jump from Class-A to Double-A with ease and improved his batting average by nearly 20 points at .307. But Shuckers manager Carlos Subero was reluctant to say that the native of Venezuela surpassed expectations this season. "We all know what we have in Arcia," Subero said. "I don't think he necessarily exceeded expectations. I think he lived up to the expectations and put himself in a great position with his future in this organization. We all know Arcia was gifted talent wise. From the mental standpoint, he's one of best I've managed at that age, without a doubt." Speaking through Subero as his translator, Arcia pointed to his manager and hitting coach Sandy Guerrero as playing a big role in his development this season. Listing off areas where he thinks he's improved the most, Arcia pointed to his approach at the plate and better mechanics on defense. "He's able to get himself in a better fielding position," Subero said. "He has better foot work. He's allowing his hands to work with his good foot work." Subero and Arcia studied film prior to the Pensacola series and the two noticed that the Blue Wahoos' had a specific approach against him at the plate. "There were some obvious sequences of pitches," Subero said. "He had two home runs because he knew they were coming in. Before, he was trying to hit that ball opposite field. He had a plan and stuck with that approach. Things fell into place." Strong mind That improved mental approach is where Guerrero believes Arcia has made the most progress. "Before, he'd just go and swing without understanding what they're trying to do," Guerrero said. "Now, he doesn't do that. He kind of analyzes the pitcher even before he gets there based on what he's throwing the guy before him. He has a better idea that every at-bat is important." Arcia had a career-high eight home runs in the regular season, giving reason to believe that the 6-foot, 165-pound shortstop could only add more pop as he matures. Subero believes Arcia may be better off sticking to his current approach of working the gaps for doubles. Arcia led the Southern League in doubles this season with 37. "He has enough sock (to hit more home runs)," Subero said. "Is that what we want him thinking? He can take some average off in the leagues by trying to do that. As he matures, he could add more power to it. He's just gifted at hand-eye coordination, putting that barrel on the baseball with some consistency. Hopefully, he's a line drive hitter, a doubles guy. He has the ability to hit home runs. You give him a hitter's count and he knows a fastball coming, he's going to get it." It's been a special campaign for Arcia in Double-A, earning a spot in the All-Star Futures Game in July and becoming a Southern League All-Star. He was ranked the No. 8 prospect in the minor leagues by Baseball America. When asked if he's had a chance to enjoy what has been an outstanding season, he offered a smile and a laugh. "That's just part of him," Subero said. "You can see he laughs about it. That's part of him, having fun while he plays. He just enjoys the daily competition. That's what he enjoys the most. That's why we get so excited about him. Any time he can go out there and compete, he'll try to beat you."

Kicked off the thread a day early as the Shuck Dynasty Blog linked above has already kicked off its preview coverage. We'll likely have other tidbits here prior to Game One Wednesday evening.

Biloxi: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Chattanooga (Twins), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime; Game One of a Best-of-Five Series Free Live Audio Link MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them! Unfortunately, Chattanooga is not. *** Box Score / Game Log / Game Day Link *** Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog *** Weather forecast: Biloxi, MS

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Here's your playoff schedule -- plan accordingly !

FANGRAPHS -- Tossed: Court Dismisses Minor League Wage Increase Important last couple of paragraphs, battle not over yet -- On the other hand, even if the Supreme Court does not agree to overturn baseball’s exemption in the San Jose or Miranda suits, that does not mean that the battle for higher minor league wages is doomed. Indeed, Monday’s decision has no bearing on the two cases seeking to challenge MLB’s minor league pay practices under the nation’s minimum wage laws. And while the minimum wage cases face potential challenges of their own, they nevertheless have always had a much stronger chance of success than the Miranda suit in light of baseball’s antitrust immunity. So despite Monday’s decision, the fight over MLB’s minor league pay scale is likely to continue on well into the foreseeable future.

Shuckers remain loose ahead of SL title series By Patrick Ochs, Biloxi Sun-Herald BILOXI -- Monday was just another day on the job for the Biloxi Shuckers. With the salsa Pandora Internet radio station blasting over the speakers, the Southern League's South Division Champs remained loose -- and why not? After dispatching the second-half champion Pensacola Blue Wahoos in three games, Biloxi's road warriors are set up to face the winner of the Chattanooga-Montgomery series in the league's championship game. For a guy like Michael Reed, who played in 38 games in the second half for Triple-A Colorado Springs, he jumped at the chance to rejoin a group of guys who seem to always have fun no matter what's at stake. "This is an awesome team to be a part of. I missed them when I went up to Triple-A. I really did," Reed said after Monday's practice. "When they asked me if I wanted to come back and play, I said absolutely. I love playing with these guys. We have good chemistry. We just have fun out there. That's why there's no pressure. These are just like any other games. "I've never been a part of the playoffs. This is the first time for me. That's more how I viewed it. It's an opportunity to experience something I haven't experienced before." Adding Reed, who is hitting .278 with five homers and 49 RBIs in Biloxi, was a welcomed addition for a team that was inconsistent much of the month of August. Once they added Reed and infielder Garrett Cooper, who is hitting .552 in nine games, the offense started to click again. "I think if you saw how we played in July and August there was some inconsistencies and then it seemed like, 'OK, playoff, let's turn it up and go back to our first-half caliber of baseball,'" manager Carlos Subero said. "I think that's what happened." Same rotation Subero said the team will keep the same rotation that shut down the Blue Wahoos, with Jorge Lopez getting the Game 1 start. Adrian Houser and Tyler Wagner will follow, with Josh Hader and Jorge Ortega ready if needed. Lopez, the Southern League's Pitcher of the Year, threw 6 2/3 hitless innings in his last start and really showed his manager another side of his repertoire. "It seems every time he goes out there he gets an inch closer to the big leagues. He does something different that's going to light up your eyes," Subero said. "Even when he hasn't had his best stuff the last couple of times he comes out almost untouched. That tells you it's not only that he throws had and has a good changeup, but he's able to pitch now and go to his strength of that particularly day. "Like the last time out, he went to his changeup. He didn't have much of a curveball but was able to get by with 40 changeups total in the game. It's good to see him grow."

Reviewing the Brew -- Know Your Enemy: Chattanooga Lookouts

VIDEO via WLOX: Interview from Monday's practice *** MORE VIDEO: Via WXXV

Adam Brett Walker helps guide Lookouts into SL Finals No. 10 Twins prospect and Milwaukee native goes yard in second straight postseason game By Alex Kraft / MiLB.com *** Game One in Biloxi 7:10 Wednesday night. One of these clubs will be celebrating the best-of-five series win in Chattanooga.

Does Ortega (if he doesn't make a start) get a ring if the Shuckers win the title? That'd be sweet.

Miller Park Prospects - 2015 DSL Brewers Season Review

A wonderfully detailed Shuck Dynasty blog entry discusses the latest in the Chattanooga - Montgomery series, AUDIO with Game Two shutout stud RHP Adrian Houser, notes on the status of the designated hitter for the championship series, and more. GM Buck Rogers notes travel distances for fans, how old fans from Huntsville are planning to support the team, and a Carlos Subero historical connection (back when Chattanooga was a Dodgers affiliate, now Twins). Still rooting for Montgomery, hoping to synch up Chris Harris' audio with the Biscuits' MiLB.TV feed. Chattanooga with no MiLB.TV, and the series will definitely be decided away from Biloxi, and Chris Harris explains why here.

On Saturday, new 40-man roster OF Daniel Fields was activated on the Biloxi roster. To make room Taylor Green was transferred to the Brevard County roster.

With Biloxi the only Brewers team standing, feel free to post comments in the Link Report, even just little enthusiastic ones like above, thanks.

AUDIO: Via Chris Harris' radio calls of the highlights

JP at BrewCrewBall summarizes the waiting game here -- "Biloxi will now wait and see who wins the Chattanooga-Montgomery series for their opponent in the championship series. Their series is tied at 1 game each entering game three on Sunday, with Montgomery set to host the remaining three games. The championship series is tentatively scheduled to start on September 16, with the first two games hosted by Biloxi and the remaining three by their opponent." We'll post score updates from that series here in this thread, but there will not be a new Link Report until the Championship Series begins.

Via the Pensacola News Journal: So confident were the Shuckers heading into the game, leading 2-0 in the best-of-five series, they did not book a hotel room in Pensacola. "I did not bring any change of clothes and I told my wife, no change of clothes, either. I said if we lose, I go to the mall and buy you clothes," Manager Carlos Subero said. *** "In reality, they out pitched us," Blue Wahoos Manager Pat Kelly said. "You have to tip your cap. The first two nights, there is not a whole lot we could do. "But Tyler Wagner wasn't sharp. And we let him off the hook. He walked four. We could have picked up a couple runs and then it gets really interesting." *** The day began with Bubba Watson, the world's No. 4 ranked pro golfer and one of the biggest PGA Tour stars, returning to his hometown for the game and providing a pep talk to the players about just enjoying the opportunity to play pro baseball. Watson dreamed of playing baseball and following his boyhood hero Don Mattingly. "I told them before the playoffs started, I love the playoffs, it is my favorite time of the year.. because there are no stats," said Kelly. "You just go out to win. The problem with the playoffs is there is a finality to it. Only one team goes home happy. "And unfortunately things didn't go our way. But I was very proud of the character they showed, the perseverance and that's what it takes to be big league player. The chemistry is what allowed us to play the way we did in the second half."

VIDEO via WLOX: Game highlights

Via NorthEscambia.com: Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Biloxi easily has five position players that are future Major Leaguers, not to mention its stellar pitching rotation. “That’s a heck of a club,” Kelly said. “They are very talented. Not only can they hit, they got speed and they got defense.”

Arcia leads Shuckers to semifinal sweep Brewers top prospect collects four extra-base hits, scores three runs By Brian Lester / Special to MiLB.com PENSACOLA, Florida -- Marquez Smith stood outside the Pensacola clubhouse late Saturday night wearing a look of disappointment, a special season now a memory for the Blue Wahoos. Smith did what he could to keep Pensacola's championship hopes alive, changing the momentum of the game with one swing of the bat against the Biloxi Shuckers. His grand slam in the seventh inning trimmed a six-run deficit to two and whipped the crowd of 4,104 into a frenzy as the ball sailed over the left-field wall and into the bay. At that point, the Blue Wahoos had a pulse. In the end, the Shuckers held on for a 7-5 win to complete a three-game sweep at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium and advance to the Southern League Championship Series. "It was exciting and it says a lot about this team and the fight we have to come back the way we did," Smith said. "We had a tough first half, but we turned things around in the second half. It was great to have the opportunity to be in the playoffs." Biloxi had won the first two games rather handily, including a 6-0 win on Friday, and breathed a sigh of relief when Alex Blandino struck out to end the game. The Shuckers celebrated on the field and manager Carlos Subero talked about what it meant to win the series as music blared inside the clubhouse. "Anytime you can win a playoff series, it's great," Subero said. "I'm happy for these guys. We were worried when they got that grand slam, but it's a good feeling to move on." Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly also was proud of his team, which won 25 games in the first half but turned things around to capture the second-half South Division crown. "It was a very fulfilling year," Kelly said. "We played tough the whole year and to see these guys to keep fighting and clinch a playoff berth was a great thing. It's nice to see them rewarded for their hard work." The night began with excitement buzzing inside the stadium as the Blue Wahoos played the first postseason home game in the franchise's four-year history. But back-to-back doubles in the third inning by Brewers top prospect Orlando Arcia and Michael Reed put the Shuckers ahead for good. It was the start of a huge night for Arcia, who capped a five-run fourth with a two-run homer that landed in the bay and extended Biloxi's lead to 6-0. Pensacola loaded the bases in the fifth, but Ray Chang -- an 11-year Minor League veteran -- popped up to Shuckers starter Tyler Wagner. Reds No. 11 prospect struck out as the bat went flying out of his hand. The Blue Wahoos left two runners aboard in the sixth before Smith's grand slam cut the margin to 7-5. "We felt confident," Smith said. "I wish we could have kept it going. We battled until the end." Arcia paved the way with four extra-base hits, registering his 49th multi-hit game of the year. He's one of 11 of Milwaukee's top 30 prospects on the Biloxi roster. "They are an unusually deep team for this level, but they made decisions to reinforce their lineup and it's worked out for them," Kelly said. "They have a heck of a club. They can hit, they have speed and they have great pitchers. They are tough to beat." Wagner (1-0) earned the win, allowing three hits and striking out six over six innings. Pensacola starter Tim Adleman (0-1) lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts. For Biloxi, it's on to the championship series. It's a special accomplishment for a first-year franchise that began the year with a 54-game road trip. "Our guys have been resilient all year," Subero said. "We kept grinding all year. I'm happy for our team." In other SL playoff action: Montgomery 6, Chattanooga 5 (11 innings) - Series tied at 1-1 The Biscuits evened the other semifinal series with an extra-inning victory. Dayron Varona capped a three-hit night with an RBI single in the 11th after Rays No. 5 prospect Daniel Robertson's delivered a two-run triple in the 10th. Twins No. 4 prospect Jorge Polanco slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th for the Lookouts

MLB Pipeline honor for Domingo Santana

Biloxi: RHP Tyler Wagner at Pensacola (Reds), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; Game Three of a Best-of-Five Series; Shuckers lead, 2-0 Free Live Audio Link MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Pensacola is among them! By the way, it's Montgomery (Rays) vs. Chattanooga (Twins) in the other semi-final. MiLB.TV subscribers should root for the Biscuits, as Chattanooga does not offer MiLB.TV. That being said, the Lookouts are up one game to none. *** Box Score / Game Log / Game Day Link *** Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog *** Weather forecast: Pensacola, FL

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VIDEO via WLOX: From Biloxi