Jim Goulart

By Marty James, Napa Valley Register Tyler Cravy, a former Napa Valley College baseball star, will make his major league pitching debut when he starts Tuesday for the Milwaukee Brewers in a game against St. Louis at Busch Stadium. “It’s great to see the transformation from a kid that was a thrower with a real good arm who now has learned how to pitch, and has definitely taken it to the next level,” said Warren Brusstar, Napa Valley’s pitching coach, who spent nine years in the major leagues. “Now he’s gotten to the highest level you can get to. I can’t wait to see him pitch.” Maintaining his composure and being able to command the ball will be key for Cravy, 25, who has been in in the minor leagues for the last seven years, said Brusstar, a member of the 1980 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. “The biggest thing is being in a big ballpark with 50,000 people there and making your major league debut,” said Brusstar. “There will be a lot of nerves. But once he settles in and gets rolling, he’ll be all right. “If he hits his spots he’ll be fine. Once he gets the first guy out, then he’ll settle in and realize that he belongs there.” Cravy has pitched at all levels of minor league ball. He has a 33-26 record and 3.71 ERA in 131 games, with 60 starts over that time. He was a non-roster invitee to the Brewers spring training camp, which began in February at the organization’s facility in Maryvale, Arizona. “It seems like a short time ago he was pitching for us and dominating at our level,” said Bob Freschi, Napa Valley’s head coach. “We’re just all very proud of Tyler.” Cravy pitched for three teams in the Brewers’ minor league system last year. He was a combined 8-2 with a 1.63 ERA in 17 games, 15 of which were starts. Last year, he was the starting pitcher for the North Division in the Double-A Southern League All-Star Game. He was then promoted to Triple-A Nashville, Tennessee, of the Pacific Coast League. Cravy returned to the Bay Area in December after spending six weeks pitching for Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuela Winter League. He made six starts. “It will be fun to watch him tonight,” said Freschi. “He can throw and every year he’s made that step up. “He’s a major leaguer tonight and I know he’s going to go out there and compete and have a good time. It’s one pitch at a time and one game and see where it leads him. I’m sure he has a good game plan.” Cravy will be opposed Tuesday by Lance Lynn. St. Louis leads the National League’s Central Division with Milwaukee in last place. “He’s kind of been an under-the-radar guy who’s kept performing,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Cravy on MLB.com. “He does it with deception.” Cravy is a Hogan High School-Vallejo graduate who was a team leader for Napa Valley. He also played shortstop and hit third in the order. “I told (Freschi) when we had him, ‘This kid is going to pitch in the big leagues someday, because he’s got an ideal pitching body. He’s long and lean. He fits right in,’ ” said Brusstar. “He never really said much. But he was the real leader of our ball club. He did it by example. You marveled at the things that he did. “He’s put the work in. Every year he was getting bigger and bigger. He’s filled out and has become a man now.”

Final: DSL Rangers #2 Squad 10, DSL Brewers 5 DSL Brewers Box Score Cerveceritos fall to 0-3; 1st win for this Rangers club. Game was tied 4-4 through five innings. Rookie SS Ignacio Otano, DH'ing in the leadoff spot in this one, singled four times in five at bats and scored two runs, but also took himself out of play twice with a caught stealing and a pickoff. Actual SS Franly Mallen was 3-for-5 (R, RBI). Former three-year DSL Tigers 3B Yerison Pena doubled twice and drove in four. Pena, the only switch-hitter on the club, will turn 24 in July, and I'll try and avoid reminding everyone of that each time he has a big game. DSL Brewers Game Log On the mound, 3rd year LH Boanerges Nova got the start, followed up by a former Cardinal, a former Diamondback, and another former Cardinal. Now that first former Cardinal, RHP Joaquin De La Cruz, made his pro pitching debut in this game; formerly a corner infielder.

Toby, this one's for you! AUDIO: Via today's Bill Michaels Show, Ed Sedar reflects on the young outfield quartet of Darren Ford, Lorenzo Cain, Michael Brantley and Charlie Fermaint, believing Fermaint was going to the star of that group (go to the 5:10 minute mark). Charlie Fermaint Power 50 History

RHP Jordan Yamamoto, who we'll see in Helena shortly, takes a spot in MLB Pipeline's Top 30 thanks to graduating Jason Rogers' vacancy. Top 30 Link

Do you remember when debuting big league Dodger RHP Josh Ravin was on the Brewers' 40-man? You do? Good for you. Via MLB Trade Rumors

Little known fact: When affiliate assignments were made prior to the 2013 season, Tyler Cravy was going to be sent to Wisconsin after having already spent a full year and a half there, basically from a numbers crunch, something we see most every year. Let's just say that through his own "persuasive efforts", he fought for (nothing wrong with that) and won literally a last-minute 25th-man addition to the Brevard County roster instead. And on June 2nd, 2015, he's starting against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium. Regardless of the outcome tonight and beyond, congratulations young man, these are the kind of moments we Link Report readers live vocariously for.

Fun looking back: Tyler Cravy was drafted six years ago, here's the first article written after, with his quotes (& dreams)

PHOTO GALLERY: Timber Rattlers game Sunday (Devin Williams' fine start)

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Colorado Springs Media Notes - Home games only, it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Sky Sox' site. 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. *** 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 Birmingham, AL Daytona Beach, FL 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 Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Colorado Springs Biloxi Brevard County DSL Brewers MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

DVR ALERT! Starting Wednesday evening, the Timber Rattlers are on local TV five times in six days. Refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Fresno (Astros), 7:35 PM pre-game, 8:05 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 Jorge Lopez at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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. NOTE: This series is available online for MiLB.TV subscribers. ********** Brevard County: RHP Javi Salas at Daytona (Reds), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime 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: Idle *** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Rangers #2 team, 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

Original note was from May 22nd, the day after the injury occurred while running out a groundout. It is a leg injury for Guez, sorry no more specific... Wow, in the we linked to Friday, Colorado Springs Manager Rick Sweet indicates that Ben Guez' leg injury (still no exact details) was likely season-ending. Just an awful blow for the 28-year-old; Sweet indicates how much the Brewers like him, and that Milwaukee would like to continue with him (Guez would once again be a minor league free agent this fall). *** UPDATE: Apparently Guez' injury is similar to that suffered by Rickie Weeks in August of 2013 (Adam McCalvy article from that time that provides quite a bit of detail). Obviously a major injury, and we wish Ben the very best, as noted earlier.

Final, Game Two: DSL Red Sox #2 squad 6, DSL Brewers 5 DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score Brewers, road team in their home ballpark for the makeup game, scored four in the 2nd to take a 4-2 lead, but once again were nickeled-and-dimed, allowing runs in four of six innings. The final run allowed, in the 6th breaking a 5-5 tie, was unearned. Each of the three Brewer pitchers used, including RHP Nattino Diplan (not to be confused with Gallardo-trade piece Marcos, who will pitch stateside this summer), all had prior pro experience. 21-year-old CF Ariel Estades, with just over three years of pro experience in the Royals' system, was 3-for-3 with two doubles to complete a 5-for-6 Opening Day. Estades stole two bases in three attempts in this game. Pro debuts for two 17-year-olds: SS Javier Castillo 0-for-3 (sacrifice bunt); LF Adolfo Morillo (1-for-3, double, run, K). DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log The four-run good frame, with assists from the Red Sox -- DSL Brewers Top of the 2nd Henry Correa grounds out, second baseman Freiberg Marin to first baseman Gerardo Carrizalez. Adolfo Morillo doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Hernandez. Josue Herrera hit by pitch. Dilson Fernandez reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Imeldo Diaz. Adolfo Morillo scores. Josue Herrera to 2nd. Roosevert Chal singles on a ground ball to center fielder Juan Hernandez. Josue Herrera scores. Dilson Fernandez to 2nd. With Javier Castillo batting, throwing error by Denyi Reyes on the pickoff attempt, Dilson Fernandez scores. Roosevert Chal to 2nd. Javier Castillo flies out to right fielder Ramfis Berroa. Ariel Estades doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Hernandez. Roosevert Chal scores. Ariel Estades out at 3rd, center fielder Juan Hernandez to third baseman Stanley Espinal. *** And how the 5-5 game became 6-5: DSL Red Sox2 Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Jesus Brea replaces Yan De La Cruz. Jose Lozada grounds out, third baseman Josue Herrera to first baseman Nicol Valderrey. Carlos Pulido singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ariel Estades. With Freiberg Marin batting, throwing error by Jesus Brea on the pickoff attempt, Carlos Pulido to 3rd. Freiberg Marin singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ariel Estades. Carlos Pulido scores. Juan Hernandez grounds into a force out, shortstop Javier Castillo to second baseman Roosevert Chal. Freiberg Marin out at 2nd. Juan Hernandez advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by second baseman Roosevert Chal. Imeldo Diaz flies out to center fielder Ariel Estades.

Final, Game One: DSL Red Sox #2 squad 8, DSL Brewers 1 DSL Brewers Game One Box Score Red Sox scored in each of the final five innings in this seven-inning doubleheader-length game. E: Otano, I (1, fielding), Mendez, J (1, fielding), Jesus (1, fielding). That's errors at SS, 3B, and RF as five of the eight runs allowed were unearned. 18-year-old 2nd-year pro RHP Carlos Luna got the opening game start; RHP Juan Diaz stranded two inherited runners for Luna, but later surrendered one of his own; converted OF Yunior Santana finished up in his pro mound debut, walking three and throwing a wild pitch in his one inning (one run allowed). Offensively, the Brewers had 11 hits (ten of them singles) and one walk in the seven innings, yet managed only the one run; leading off, SS Ignacio Otano had two hits in his first pro game; CF Marcos Pinero singled in his first (and only thus far) pro at-bat; catcher Bismar Nunez was the only other pro debut, 0-for-3. Three Brewers besides Otano had two hits apiece, as you'll see in the box. DSL Brewers Game One Game Log Marcos Pinero, mentioned above, stole second base after his debut single. Two innings later, he was pinch-hit for in the 4th inning, and did not play in game two. The log provides no real clues.

Final: Birmingham 10, Biloxi 0 Shuckers suffer worst loss of season, 10-0 from Barons Despite the loss, Biloxi's first half magic number shrinks to 17 Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/5/2/128031552/cuts/_BRP4608_6thcbhn7_5wapmeiu.jpg Hobbs Johnson suffered the loss despite five strikeouts on Monday night (Benton Reed Photography) BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Biloxi Shuckers' offense had no answer against Birmingham Barons' starting pitcher Myles Jaye on Monday night, suffering a 10-0 defeat at Regions Field. The Shuckers tied a season-low with three hits and lost by five or more runs for the first time during their 54-game road trip to start the season. Despite the loss, Biloxi remains three games better than the Mississippi Braves in the South standings and the first half magic number shrinks to 17 thanks to a Braves loss. Birmingham (24-25) grabbed an early lead in the bottom-half of the first inning when an RBI groundout by Brian Fletcher scored Tim Anderson to give the Barons a 1-0 lead. Biloxi (30-20) squandered early chances to hop in the game, but left runners stranded in scoring position in the first, second and third innings. On the night, the Shuckers left eight men on base and ended up 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Hobbs Johnson (L, 3-2) fell short of his first quality start of the season, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings. The southpaw did strike out five, compared to just one walk, on 96 pitches - 68 for strikes. Biloxi's bullpen struggled in the opener after dominating the Chattanooga Lookouts for four games. Jaye Chapman (0.2 IP, H) allowed two inherited runners to score in the sixth after coming in for Johnson, Martin Viramontes (1.1 IP, 6 R, 4 H, 2 BB, SO) and Manny Barreda 0.2 IP, H, BB) allowed six runs to score in 2.2 innings. Michael Reed's (0x4) hitting and on-base streaks were snapped at 10 after failing to reach base on Monday night. The Shuckers will look to even the series at a game apiece with RHP Jorge Lopez (3-2, 3.92) taking the mound against RHP Mark Blackmar (0-3, 4.59). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:50 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 We've pointed it out all season, but LHP Hobbs Johnson just hasn't been able to get through six innings yet, check out that game log link. Compare that to Jorge Ortega and Javi Salas' extreme depth work at Brevard. RH reliever Martin Viramontes cruised through five April appearances, but it's been rough going since... Biloxi Game Log

PHOTO GALLERY: You'll find Colorado Springs photos at the same link as the Dillard /McGehee article

Friends on opposite sides create interesting game within game in Sky Sox victory By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette Tim Dillard and Casey McGehee are good friends. "We're good friends," said Dillard, the Sky Sox pitcher stressing the change in tense. "We were good friends." That friendship was put to the test a bit Monday, when McGehee, batting for visiting Sacramento, picked up two of his three hits against his former teammate. McGehee even launched a three-run home run off Dillard, which proved to be the River Cats' lone bit of offense in a 5-3 loss that closed out a four-game series at Security Service Field. The matchup was one of those fun game-within-a-game scenarios that happens so often in baseball as players shift around from franchise to franchise but don't lose the personal connections they gain along the way. These two were teammates for three seasons and four spring trainings with Milwaukee from 2008 through 2011. They grew close enough that Dillard and his family lived in McGehee's empty house last year when he was in Double-A Huntsville. And on Sunday night the families dined together at the On the Border location off Powers and Barnes. "Tim's a good dude. He's one of my all-time favorites, so it's always good to see him," McGehee said. "He's one of those guys who, even though you've got your job to do, you kind of pull for him. Hopefully someone will give him another shot. He's still a pretty darn good pitcher." Dillard got the best of the matchup earlier in the series, as Dillard struck him out looking. But on Monday it was all McGehee. The only time in three plate appearances Dillard retired him came on a line drive to third that left the bat at 106 mph. McGehee hit a 390-foot home run to left in his second at-bat and added a single to right. The line drive came on a change-up, the home run on a curveball and the single on a fastball. "He's hitting everything I've got," Dillard said. Dillard said he doesn't change his approach for anyone, classifying hitters only as righties or lefties. When a friend steps in the box, as McGehee did Monday, he just doesn't look at him. "I knew he was up there, but I didn't want to look at his face," Dillard said. Dillard, who made his first start in five years after scheduled starter Tyler Cravy's promotion to Milwaukee last night created the need for a "bullpen day," gave the team four innings. The three-run deficit created by McGehee's home run was erased by a five-run fourth inning that was highlighted by a three-run double from Chris Nelson. "They asked me to do it and I said, 'Sure, anything to help the team,'" Dillard said. "I'll play second base, I'll go get the bats after we hit if they need me to do that. Anything I can do to help put the team in position to win I'll do it and try not to screw it up. And we scored more runs than they did today, so I guess it worked."

VIDEO: Colorado Springs' Chris Nelson hits a pinch hit three-run double as the Sky Sox top Sacramento, 5-3.

Hopefully everyone took advantage of clicking on the Rattler Radio blog entry link above. In addition to audio interview clips, Chris Mehring did a great job of explaining the supposed balk as it happened (not easy), and the video of Monte Harrison's flip is insane.

Sneed solid for Rattlers, but bullpen roughed up by Snappers Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9fb6a750a67712cc40084eb45505bf6f7ffdac4f/c=124-0-2875-2063&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/06/01/Appleton/B9317551653Z.1_20150601205504_000_GBDAV7EMK.1-0.jpg Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’s Brandon Diaz slides safely back to first base against the Beloit Snappers’s Sandber Pimentel (27) during a game Friday, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. (Photo: Wm.Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media) GRAND CHUTE – Pitching records in minor league baseball can be extremely deceiving. Take Wisconsin starting pitcher Cy Sneed. His 2-7 record is downright ugly, but he has an impressive 2.52 earned run average and should be a legitimate candidate to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game. Sneed delivered another solid start Monday afternoon, only to see Beloit batter the Timber Rattlers’ bullpen in the late innings to pull away for an 8-1 win before a crowd of 3,224 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Sneed allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, but wasn’t hit hard and one of the runs came on a controversial balk that was argued so vociferously by manager Matt Erickson that he was ejected from the game. Sneed exited with the Rattlers facing a 2-1 deficit, and the Snappers smashed the game open with three runs apiece in the seventh and eighth innings. Opponents are hitting just .239 against Sneed and the 22-year right-hander has a fine WHIP of 1.28 (walks plus hits per inning). He is ranked ninth in the Midwest League in ERA and is second on the Rattlers in strikeouts (46) behind Kodi Medeiros, the Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 1 draft pick in 2014. “He’s probably been our most consistent starter,” said Erickson. “He’s kept us in ballgames and has given us a chance to win just about every time he’s gone out there. It was no different today.” The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Sneed was a 24th round pick by the Brewers out of Dallas Baptist University in the 2013 first-year player draft. “We’re allowed to send in our recommendations for the Midwest League all-star game and he was one of mine,” said Erickson. Sneed isn’t overpowering, throwing a low-90s fastball, but locates his pitches well and doesn’t walk many hitters (just 13 in 52 2/3 innings. He threw four shutout innings before giving up his two runs in an interesting fifth inning complete with verbal fireworks. “I didn’t really have my best stuff,” said Sneed. “It was just mainly command and working the ball to both sides and mixing in breaking balls. Greg (McCall, the Rattlers’ catcher) called a pretty good game. He knew I didn’t have my best stuff today and I was going to have to move the ball around. So I was able to get by and then in the fifth it escaped us a little bit.” With Wisconsin clinging to a 1-0 lead, Beloit put runners at the corners with two out in the top of the fifth before things got crazy. Sneed faked a throw to first, then wheeled and fired to third to try and pick off the Snappers’ Jose Chavez. Base umpire Chris Marco ruled that Sneed had committed a balk, sending in Chavez with the tying run. That brought out a hot Erickson, who was eventually tossed by Marco. Sneed didn’t try the pickoff attempt by instinct. It was a planned play called from the bench. “It’s a first and third situational play that we run,” said said Erickson. “We’ve used it in the past and it’s worked OK for us. We try and use it to create a little momentum. We saw the guy on third was a little aggressive down the line, so that was the idea. Obviously the umpire didn’t think he disengaged from the rubber and called a balk..” Erickson was right up against Marco while arguing. If it’s ruled that he made contact with Marco, he could get a brief suspension from the Midwest League. “Our shirts may have grazed, but there was very little contact,” said Erickson. “I was obviously excited and we were close. We’ll see what happens in the report.” Sneed felt he shouldn’t have been called for the balk. “It’s a pick we had set up,” said Sneed. “The pitcher has to disengage from the rubber. I thought I did that. I thought I overexaggerated it. The umpire didn’t think so. That’s just the way it goes.” The Rattlers never recovered. The next hitter — Beloit second baseman Trent Gilbert — ripped an RBI double off Sneed to give the Snappers the lead for good. Gilbert added two more doubles in the seventh and eighth innings and finished a highly productive day with five RBI. It was the third straight loss for Wisconsin (15-37), which also received a strong start from Devin Williams Sunday only to see the bullpen struggle in a 4-1 loss to the Snappers (22-30). The Rattlers were outhit 10-4 and committed three errors. The Wisconsin highlight of the game was provided by right fielder Monte Harrison, who made a terrific catch in foul territory in the bottom of second, flipping over the fence along the right-field line to snag Chavez’s foul ball. “He’s played a lot of center for us, but we want to mix it up a little and get him some work in right,” said Erickson. “He was playing there Sunday and didn’t get a real good jump on one of the balls in foul territory. Today, he looked like he got much better jumps. He looked like he knew the position better. He knew the wind better and there was a sense of urgency to get balls in foul territory. He made a heck of a play.”

No results yet, but the DSL Brewers played two games today at their complex, with the DSL Red Sox #2 squad acting as the home game in the makeup game recap.