Jim Goulart

Final: Biloxi 5, Mobile 4, 14 innings Shuckers Open MGM Park With Dramatic Walk-off Win in 14 innings Sold out crowd of 5,065 witness Inaugural Game in Biloxi Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/0/6/129110006/cuts/BRP_7781_2viemxb5_m8kjgkpw.jpg The Shuckers celebrate a walkoff win over the Mobile BayBears at MGM Park Saturday night BILOXI, MS - Baseball came back to Biloxi for the first time since 1908 Saturday and the fans got a little something extra for the wait. The Shuckers treated a sold out crowd of 5,065 to an Opening Night, 5-4 walk-off win over the Mobile BayBears at MGM Park. Nick Shaw (1x3, RBI) drilled a single to right that scored pinch runner Brent Suter and send the crowd into a frenzy, capping off the inaugural game in 14 innings. The win places Biloxi 3.5 games in front of the Mississippi Braves for first place in the Southern League South division. Saturday's game was Biloxi's second-straight extra-inning affair after winning last night 6-2 at Birmingham in 10 innings. Biloxi is now 4-3 in extra-inning contests. Mobile (28-26) pulled ahead in the top of the 14th on an RBI single by former Brewer farmhand Mitch Haniger against Biloxi reliever Trevor Seidenberger (W, 1-0, 2 IP, R, 2 H, SO) to bring in Sean Jamieson with two outs. Orlando Arcia (1x4, RBI, R) led off the bottom-half of the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error off the glove of Adam Miller at second by Nick Ramirez (0x5, BB). Parker Berberet (0x1, RBI) put down a bunt and placed it along the first-base line, making for a bang-bang play at the plate that worked in the Shuckers' favor as Arcia slid in safely to tie the game at four and set up the dramatic finish by Shaw. Mobile tied the game at three in the ninth off of reliever Austin Ross (IP, R), Ronnie Freeman sacrificed the runner to second and Haniger dropped a two-out single to left to tie the game at three apiece. Biloxi (34-21) took the lead in the sixth after Tyler Wagner roped a double to center to lead off the frame and advanced to third when Kyle Wren (2x6, R) reached on an error to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Tyrone Taylor's (0x5, RBI) RBI groundout scored Wagner and moved Wren over to third, and Arcia's sacrifice fly to left plated Wren to give the Shuckers a 3-1 advantage. Wagner was making his 10th start of the year and first since his start for the Brewers on Sunday in Milwaukee. That game resulted in a 7-6 win for the Brewers in 17 innings. The Las Vegas native allowed the lone run on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts. The righty picked up his seventh quality start of the season and the Shuckers are now 7-3 in his outings. Biloxi will try for its third straight win on Sunday night in game two against Mobile. LHP Hobbs Johnson (3-2, 3.26) will start for the Shuckers, while the BayBears will counter with RHP Aaron Blair (5-2, 2.56). First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM, with coverage beginning at 4:55 on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com.

Omaha's day spent chasing equipment, Sky Sox By Tony Boone / Omaha World-Herald staff writer On a wacky, windy night at Werner Park, the last player to enter the game finally settled things down. Colorado Springs reliever Jaye Chapman came on in the bottom of the eighth inning with his team leading by two runs. But Omaha had the bases loaded with two outs, and Paulo Orlando was due up. “Those situations can speed up on you pretty quick, so you’ve just got to do your best to slow it down and take it one pitch at a time,” Chapman said. “That’s what we tried to do, attack him with sliders and throw one good pitch at a time. Count-control is huge. When you get behind, these guys are good and they’ll make you pay for it. To get ahead with good pitches is everything. It makes the whole at-bat.” The right-hander quickly dealt the Storm Chasers outfielder two called strikes. After wasting a pitch, he then got Orlando, who was sent back to Omaha by Kansas City last week, to chase one to end the threat. Chapman then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to cap a wild 9-7 win by Colorado Springs in the series opener. The Sky Sox had leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 6-5 during the first three innings. Matt Long hit a two-run homer and Matt Clark had a pair of sacrifice flies for Colorado Springs. Rey Fuentes tripled in three runs and Orlando Calixte had an RBI triple for the Chasers, who rallied to tie the game or take the lead each time. Moises Sierra pulled Omaha even, at 7-7, for a fourth time later with his first homer of the season in the fifth. Starting pitchers Tim Dillard and John Lamb entered the night with earned run averages of 2.40 and 2.74, respectively. Neither factored in the decision. Dillard lasted only four innings, and Lamb went five. Both were nearly hit by a line drive while facing their first batter of the night. Chasers reliever Brian Broderick did get drilled in the eighth after serving up consecutive doubles that put the Sox up to stay. Elian Herrera’s run-scoring hit broke the tie, then Colorado Springs added an insurance run. Michael Kirkman earned the win, but not before leaving with three on for Chapman to deal with in the eighth. The reliever promptly struck out Orlando en route to his first save of the year. Omaha was charged with two errors in the game, which led to four unearned runs. The Chasers also had another ball bounce off the head of Fuentes in center field that allowed another base runner to score. The loss capped a wild travel day for Omaha. The equipment the Chasers had in El Paso on Friday night didn’t arrive at the ballpark until nearly 30 minutes before the first pitch. Then a crazy game came after. “It’s been a strange day from the get-go,” Omaha manager Brian Poldberg said. “Our bags didn’t get here until 6:30, so we almost didn’t start on time. It’s been a rough day, but that’s no excuse for the game. Guys went out and played hard. We just didn’t get a hit or make a couple of plays, and the wind was a factor. There were a lot of things that went into it.”

Final: Colorado Springs 9, Omaha 7 Sky Sox Outlast Storm Chasers in 9-7 Win Colorado Springs Pounds Out 15 Hits As Bullpen Bests Omaha In See-Saw Battle By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/5/8/129106758/cuts/05_14_120sm_pk_jcqpi8hl_lt3iwzce.jpg Michael Kirkman's 1.2 innings of scoreless relief helped stabilize the ballgame in the Sox 9-7 win on Saturday. (File Photo from prior game) COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox scored early and often in Saturday's 9-7 win over the defending PCL champion Omaha Storm Chasers before a crowd of 6,321 at Werner Park. In what would be a see-saw battle for the entirety of the ballgame, Colorado Springs would battle their way to a 6-5 lead heading into the home third. Sox starter Tim Dillard would be tagged for his sixth run in the third, the last he allowed in a four-inning start where the usual reliever gave up seven hits and four free passes while striking out two. The Sox offense got to Omaha starter John Lamb for seven runs (three earned) over his five innings of work thanks primarily to two RBI sacrifice flies by Matt Clark and a two-out, two-run home run by Matt Long in the top of the third. The Storm Chasers would tie the game at seven in the bottom of the fifth, immediately after the Sox regained it in the top half of the frame, against reliever Wirfin Obispo. The right-hander would work two innings, giving up just the one run on three hits while striking out three to maintain the tie. The Sox would break the tie for good in the top of the eighth inning against Omaha reliever Brian Broderick (3-2, 2.84) thanks to an Elian Herrera RBI double that scored Scooter Gennett to give the visiting side an 8-7 lead. Colorado Springs tacked on another run in the frame on a Robinzon Diaz double play groundout. Michael Kirkman (1-0, 3.55) came out of the Sox bullpen, replacing Obispo in hopes of maintaining the tie and eventual lead. The left-hander tossed 1.2 innings of one hit ball, striking out three along the way to earning the victory. Recently promoted reliever Jaye Chapman came in to close out the ballgame with a scoreless ninth to earn his first Sky Sox save while helping the team to a great start to the road trip. The Sky Sox move to 22-32 with their second straight victory as the Storm Chasers fall to 29-28. After a tough luck loss in an MLB debut that saw him toss seven innings of one-run ball against the powerhouse St. Louis Cardinals, Tyler Cravy (5-4, 4.04) is set to lead the charge against Omaha righty Casey Coleman (0-1, 4.45) in game two of this four-game set on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:05 PM MDT (2:05 Central) at Werner Park in Omaha. Colorado Springs Box Score Not a misprint -- in his 50 Sky Sox AB's, Elian Herrera, playing LF here, has a 1.226 OPS. That's insane. Big three-hit nights for 2B Scooter Gennett (two 2B's, BB, RBI), 3B Donnie Murphy (2B, BB, RBI), and RF Matt Long (HR, 2B, three RBI). Long batted 9th as all the PCL box score averages look good overall, save for Logan Schafer's .222. Colorado Springs Game Log Pitching details were covered sufficiently for this "bullpen game" in the summary above...

MiLB Feature: Here's the background on the "veteran" Blue Jay farmhand who nearly no-hit the Manatees in the doubleheader nightcap.

Putting this in a separate post so all his future announcers know, for Dominican middle infielder Franly Mallen ($800,000 bonus), Mallen's last name is pronounced "my'-enn", as per the Brewers.

Final: DSL Tigers 4, DSL Brewers 2 DSL Brewers Box Score Each team managed just seven hits as the Cerveceritos fall to 2-5. Super-encouraging was the work of 2nd-year 18-year-old Panamanian Brewers RHP Carlos Luna - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 9 K. Luna has yet to walk a batter in his two starts, covering 10.2 innings (just two earned runs). Luna had made 12 solid relief appearances at age 17 last summer (ERA 3.51). Former Phillies RHP Yan De La Cruz took the loss, and hulking 6'3", 245 lb. 19-year-old RHP Jesus Brea struck out the side in his only inning, a scoreless frame. (We're listing height/weight numbers provided to us by the Brewers). DSL Brewers Game Log Puerto Rican CF Ariel Estades has already attempted six stolen bases (4-for-6). Catcher Sandy Martinez, the former stateside Angel, made his Brewer debut (0-for-3, HBP). The offensive star was just-turned 18-year-old 2B Franly Mallen, 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

AUDIO: In his first game with Brevard County, Michael Ratterree launches a walk-off homer to defeat Dunedin

Both will begin play with one of the two rookie teams, guessing perhaps Helena for both. We'll see. Neither will be in the DSL.

Prospect watchers (and why else would you be reading the Link Report?!), be sure to read this update on injury status and such posted in the now-updated April extended spring training thread.

Original post from April 13th: Thought we'd bump this thread as the draft and the rookie seasons approach. Players from this document who have seen action in Wisconsin and/or Brevard: RHP's Joshua Torres and Mark Williams, IF/OF Francisco Castillo, 1B Alan Sharkey, OF Mitch Meyer Players who were listed in the "rehab" portion of extended spring who have also graduated to full-season ball: 3B Sthervin Matos, OF Michael Ratterree, RHP Josh Roenicke, RHP Devin Williams The remainder of the kids on the worksheet will either repeat Maryvale or be assigned to Helena (RHP Brandon Moore retired, RHP Chad Thompson was released). From the still-pending rehab names, in alphabetical order, we know LHP Joan De La Cruz had Tommy John surgery last October, RHP Johnny Hellweg will begin his post-Tommy John work soon in Brevard County, catcher Dustin Houle should be good to go now that his own Tommy John rehab is complete, LHP Jarrett Martin is slated for a July return to work from a shoulder procedure, and promising RHP Taylor Williams is still being treated for elbow discomfort. That leaves the following three question marks from the "rehab" portion of the extended spring training roster, and hopefully all three players will be assigned to the active Maryvale or Helena rosters to start their seasons -- Brewers MLB Pipeline #15 prospect, 20-year-old RHP Miguel Diaz Switch-hitting 23-year-old catcher Connor Narron 18-year-old 6'3" DSL outfielder and $800,000 bonus baby Nicolas Pierre

ONLINE AUCTION: Four of the Timber Rattlers' Appleton Foxes Throwback Jerseys are available in an online auction, including Dustin DeMuth's.

Another Manatees jerseys auction, all you collectible folks! Habitat for Humanity Toolkit Jerseys -- deadline is 10:59 PM Central Saturday night. http://manatees.milbauctions.com/images/stores/87/500/Front_500.jpg

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog Brevard County Media Notes - It's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' site. 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: Omaha, NE Biloxi, MS Viera, FL Grand Chute, WI San Pedro de Macoris, DR

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.

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

Especially with a big league day game out of the way Saturday, I'm sure many of us would like to watch this evening's Biloxi Grand Opening via MiLB.TV. We have a note into Chris Harris, but the MiLB.TV website doesn't list a link for tonight, and with so many new things to work out, it will likely be a bit before the Shuckers games are available (other than audio, of course). If we get news that things change prior to tonight's opener, we'll let you know. A reminder that MiLB.TV games archive as well -- all with your necessary subscription.

DVR ALERT! The Timber Rattlers are nearing the end of a stretch of being on local TV five times in six days. Tonight's game is on MyNew32 TV, 6:30 PM airtime. Refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Tim Dillard at Omaha (Royals), 6:35 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link We welcome Dan Karcher, who is the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox; follow him on Twitter @SkySoxKarch 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 Tyler Wagner at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime Free Live Audio Link We also welcome Chris Harris as the very first play-by-play voice of the Shuckers! Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be looking off to his very promising "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast. MiLB.TV - Seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi staff indicates it is hopeful it will be eight when the new stadium opens. ********** Brevard County: LHP Wei-Chung Wang and RHP Javi Salas in a doubleheader at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Free Live Audio Link Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio, as all home games and the "commuter" road games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2015. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Devin Williams at home vs. Fort Wayne (Padres), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; expect to see RHP Angel Ventura pitch in a tandem role Free Live Audio Link - WNAM 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. NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) 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. So, for the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sky Sox games, most Shuckers games, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. *** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Tigers, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day We'll link to this Dominican Summer League Brewers' thread as part of the Daily Menu all season to assist you with your familiarity with these young men.

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

Miller Park Prospects -- Highlighting Who Is Hot In The System

Three Twitter timelines you have to check from last night and all day long today -- Announcer Chris Harris GM Buck Rogers Shuckers Official Account

Final: Biloxi 6, Birmingham 2, ten innings Shuckers race home after 6-2 victory in extras over Barons Biloxi struck for five runs in the tenth to win fourth straight series Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/4/8/128906148/cuts/DSC_0370_gcbmr587_jp8clflx.JPG Orlando Arcia scored one of Biloxi's five runs in the 10th inning Friday (Photo by Elisabetta Zengarro) BIRMINGHAM, AL. - The Shuckers sent nine batters to the plate in a five-run 10th inning and wrapped up their season-long, 54-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field on Friday night. The win gives the Shuckers four consecutive series triumphs heading into their first-ever home series at MGM Park. The road trek covered over 3,000 miles and eight cities, but the Shuckers, for the 47th straight day will be in first place. Biloxi took the season series over the Barons, 6-4 and improved to 3-3 in extra-inning contests. The league-leading 33rd win allows Biloxi to maintain a 2.5 game lead over Mississippi in the division. Josh Fellhauer (1x3, RBI) led off the 10th with a groundout, but the Shuckers' offense exploded for four runs before recording the second out of the inning and forcing reliever Kyle Hansen from the game. Adam Weisenburger (1x4, R) reached on an error, Nick Shaw (0x3, R, BB) walked, and Kyle Wren (1x5, RBI, R) singled in Weisenburger to Biloxi a 2-1 lead. The line kept moving as Tyrone Taylor (1x5, RBI, R, 2B) doubled home Shaw, Orlando Arcia (1x5, RBI, R) reached on an error to bring home Wren. Taylor scored on a wild pitch during an intentional walk to Nick Ramirez (0x3, 2 BB). New pitcher Sean Hagan gave up a sacrifice fly to Michael Reed (0x3, RBI, R, BB) to give the Shuckers a 6-1 lead before Nathan Orf (2x5) grounded out to end the five-run frame. Orf extended his season-long hitting streak to 10 games on Friday night. Biloxi (33-21) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single by Fellhauer, scoring Reed from second. Birmingham (26-29) tied the game in the bottom-half of the fourth on Christian Marrero's sixth home run of the season. The long ball was the first of the year surrendered by Brent Suter. The 24-year-old out of Harvard settled for a no decision, but logged Biloxi's third-consecutive quality start going six innings, allowing a run on four hits while walking five and striking out four. Jacob Barnes was solid out of the bullpen for Biloxi, giving up just one hit with two walks and a strikeout in two innings. Damien Magnifico (W, 2-0) worked the final two frames, striking out three and allowing one run on a solo homer by Marcus Lemon in the bottom of the 10th. RHP Tyler Wagner (5-1, 2.01) will make his first start since returning from his stint with the Milwaukee Brewers, in the first-ever game at MGM Park on Saturday night against the Mobile BayBears. The Las Vegas native suffered his first loss of the season against the Barons on May 23, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 6.2 innings. Mobile will send out R.J. Hively (1-2, 4.78) in the series opener. The 26-year-old is 1-0 in four relief appearances against the Shuckers this season, allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:55 on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com. Biloxi Box Score Catcher Adam Weisenburger batting .344 in his last ten games, OPS up to .745, sweet. Biloxi Game Log

Final: DSL Brewers 13, DSL Braves 7 13 runs, 16 hits (six for extra bases), 9 players reached by walk or HBP, 6-for-16 with RISP, 3-for-3 in SB attempts -- nice! The position players will have a tough time matching this effort all season. DSL Brewers Box Score Five of the Cerveceritos had multiple base hits, and three of them had three base knocks. More impressively, all nine young men in the lineup, all nine, reached base safely at least twice. Six of them reached base at least thrice, led by cleanup 1B Nicol Valderrey, on base four times, including a double. Through six games (2-4 record), the Brewers are 1st among the 38 DSL clubs with a .325 team batting average (3rd in OBP, 2nd in SLG, 1st in OPS at .840!). If that keeps up, these are going to be fun box scores to follow. While there are some veteran guys on the squad, the 17-and-18-year-olds are off to nice starts as well. DSL Brewers Game Log On the other hand, the club's team ERA of 6.38 is 37th of 38 in the small six-game sample. In this game, 22-year-old RHP Wuilder Rodriguez made his professional debut (3 IP, 2 ER). Three pitchers signed from other organizations this spring finished up. *** The six-run Cerveceritos -- DSL Brewers Bottom of the 5th Anderson Jesus pops out to third baseman Terrence Josephina. Adolfo Morillo walks. Bismar Nunez doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Randy Ventura. Adolfo Morillo scores. Josue Herrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Grendis Ferrer. Bismar Nunez scores. Josue Herrera to 3rd. Fielding error by right fielder Grendis Ferrer. With Javier Castillo batting, wild pitch by Javier Sanchez, Josue Herrera scores. Javier Castillo walks. Ignacio Otano doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Felipe Zorrilla. Javier Castillo scores. With Ariel Estades batting, Ignacio Otano steals (3) 3rd base. Ariel Estades grounds out, shortstop Alex Aquino to first baseman Jan Guerrero. Ignacio Otano scores. Franly Mallen reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Alex Aquino. Nicol Valderrey doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Grendis Ferrer. Franly Mallen scores. Pitching Change: Roy Iriarte replaces Javier Sanchez. Anderson Jesus flies out to center fielder Randy Ventura.

Yes, it's come to this -- Face it: Sky Sox are a 'hairy group' By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette http://cdn.csgazette.biz/cache/r620-2201e14fc328b3d6145f6e055a3e81ce.jpg (Top row) Bryan Peterson, Taylor Jungmann, Shane Peterson; (middle row) Yadiel Rivera, Matt Long, Nevin Ashley; (bottom row) Tim Dillard, Jim Henderson, Matt Long of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team show off their luscious beards during gameplay. Photos by Logan Riely, The Gazette *** VIDEO: Outfielder Matt Long discusses his own beard and those of his Sky Sox teammates. This was also archived in full in our season-long Sky Sox feature thread...

Face it: Sky Sox are a 'hairy group' By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette http://cdn.csgazette.biz/cache/r620-2201e14fc328b3d6145f6e055a3e81ce.jpg (Top row) Bryan Peterson, Taylor Jungmann, Shane Peterson; (middle row) Yadiel Rivera, Matt Long, Nevin Ashley; (bottom row) Tim Dillard, Jim Henderson, Matt Long of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team show off their luscious beards during gameplay. Photos by Logan Riely, The Gazette Tim Dillard grew the beard to overhaul his image. The veteran pitcher had been a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization since 2001, but he hadn't appeared in the majors since 2012. He felt it was time to show the club a different side of himself, and he decided the easiest way to accomplish this would be to arrive at spring training with an altered appearance. "I thought it would make me look a little older, a little wise and more confident," Dillard said. "Then I turn around and everyone has a beard on. I was like, 'Well, at least I'll fit in.'" The Colorado Springs community has spent the past two months getting to know a new roster now that the Sky Sox are the top affiliate of the Brewers instead of the Colorado Rockies. That process has been complicated by the fact that so many of these players are difficult to tell apart because of the abundance of beards on the team. Throw in the fact that manager Rick Sweet rocks a famous mustache, and this team is quickly becoming known as much for its facial hair as anything else. "We are a hairy group, there's no doubt about it," Sweet said. The beards were not the result of a plan or a brainchild hatched in some team meeting. It's just the fad among ballplayers and it worked out this way on its own. Dillard made his decision while at home in the offseason. Bryan Petersen, who has the best beard on the club according to his teammates, has sported one for several seasons and began working on his current one after shaving clean for his wedding in January. Matt Long has had one ever since he was a member of the Angels' system and the team lifted its restriction on facial hair. As for Sweet, whose mustachioed look has been his trademark since his playing days in the 1980s, he had actually been mustache-free for the past several years. He grew the new one only because his son and his friends wanted to see it and talked his wife into allowing him to regrow it. "It will be shortlived," Sweet said. "The biggest thing I've got to worry about is food still in it, so I've got to make sure I keep it clean. I can't put anything in my mouth that doesn't go through my mustache. It's like a strainer." The players have reported no such problems and aren't concerned that the extra hair might cause discomfort during the hot summer months. They've also reported no problems from the opposite sex. "My ex-girlfriend actually loved it," Long said. "When I would trim it she would get mad at me. That wasn't the reason I kept it or anything, it's just personal preference." Added Petersen: "My wife has only ever known me with a beard. Maybe not necessarily this long, but there's always been something on my face. She's alright with it. I'm sure she wishes I was clean shaven, but she's good with it." Not quite everyone on the team has a beard, but it's close. Pete Orr keeps growing one and shaving it. Donnie Murphy is the only one that teammates report having issues growing out a full one, as they note he gets a little spotty through the cheeks. There are no universal rules, but Petersen said his personal standard is to stick with a no grooming policy. Trimming is not allowed. If it's going to be cut, it's all coming off. And he doesn't plan to do that anytime soon. "It's done well for me so far, so I think I'll keep it," he said. "And I think it looks good on the guys. It might confuse some people and people mix us up a lot, but it's fun. We have strength in numbers." *** VIDEO: Outfielder Matt Long discusses his own beard and those of his Sky Sox teammates.