TheCrew07

Final: Nashville 3, Iowa 0 Sounds Blank I-Cubs For Fourth Straight Victory Hiram Burgos Tosses Six Shutout Innings For Quality Start Victory NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Starting pitcher Hiram Burgos tossed six shutout innings of four-hit ball as the Nashville Sounds handed the division-rival Iowa Cubs a 3-0 shutout defeat on Wednesday night at Greer Stadium. The shutout victory was Nashville's PCL co-leading 12th of the season. The 24-year-old Burgos (2-2) struck out four and walked zero in his fifth quality start in seven PCL outings. The victory was the Sounds' ninth over the Cubs this season, which gave Nashville its seventh winning season series in the last eight years over Iowa since become a Brewers affiliate in 2005. Shortstop Eric Farris led the Sounds offense, going 2-for-4 with a homer and a double. Farris' two-hits also moved the infielder past Brad Nelson for 10th place on the Sounds all-time list with 345 hits. Nashville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Logan Schafer's 10th homer of the season. The long ball to right field was the center fielder's first since July 15 at Albuquerque. · AUDIO: Logan Schafer Homer The Sounds pushed the lead to 2-0 in the next frame, beginning with a leadoff walk by third baseman Andy Gonzalez. After right fielder Jordan Brown moved Gonzalez to second on a base hit, Burgos hit a weak sacrifice to the pitcher, who airmailed the throw into the outfield. Gonzalez then walked home from third. · AUDIO: Gonzalez Scores On Error Nashville scored its final run in the bottom of the eighth as Farris belted his career high-tying seventh homer down the left field line off Iowa reliever Jeff Beliveau. · AUDIO: Eric Farris Goes Way Back Three Nashville relievers followed Burgos for the combination shutout. Donovan Hand worked around a pair hits for a scoreless inning, stranding both runners in scoring position. Mitch Stetter struck out two in one scoreless inning. Robert Wooten closed out the contest with his seventh save. Iowa starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-6) came away with the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks in five innings. Nashville and Iowa will "turn back the clock" while the two teams conclude their season series at 7:05 p.m. on Taco Bell Throwback Thursday. Right-hander Claudio Vargas will make his final start of the season for the Sounds against Iowa righty Yoanner Negrin (0-0, 3.60). The Sounds will be wearing retro 1980s-style uniforms for the final time in 2012. Iowa will be sporting retro green and yellow 1970s-style uniforms representing the Iowa Oaks, which played in Iowa's capital city from 1969-1980. Nashville Box Score Hiram Burgos is such a fascinating pitcher, the only thing that's really changed for him is his H/9, he's just killing it this year. He's basically a slightly more talented Dave Bush from where I'm sitting, he just gets after it on the mound. Josh Bulter was the last prospect to have such a meteoric rise from A+ to AAA in a single season, but that hasn't turned out very well. I want to believe in Hiram, but I've read so much about regression over the years that I am a tad worried. Like all of the pitchers on this AAA staff whom are performing, 2013 will likely tell the tale in what we have. It's probably obvious that Eric Farris has never been nor will ever be one of my favorite prospects, to me he always profiled as a utility guy, except he doesn't have the physical arm strength to play anywhere but 2nd which is extremely unfortunate. He's been absolutely raking lately, his OPS over his last 10 is very good. He's a productive enough hitter, but his defensive limitations just kill any chance he has to be a MLB regular with the Brewers, perhaps if he were with a different organization he'd get a legit shot to be a big league player. Nashville Play By Play

That was a well reasoned response... I love the "I'm glad you're not our GM" line, it adds so much to the discussion. You want to sign Hart to backloaded market value 3 year contract with a 4th option year? So basically you want to extend him until his age 34 season and have to buy him out of the age 35 season because you're more comfortable with him? I think you're only considering about 1/4 of the total picture here, if that. If you could sign healthy and peforming players in their early 30s to a 2 year contract each time I could be convinced it was good idea for certain players. However we literally have a plethora of 1B options between Nashville and Huntsville that's probably our deepest position in the organization, though admittedly that's not saying much these days. However 1 of Gamel, Halton, and Morris will be a successful MLB player, I'd even throw Khris Davis into that discussion as well.

In the end it doesn't matter where Thornburg goes, he's likely not going to make it to last year's inning count.

Looks like Thornburg is going to end up in Milwaukee or get shut down.

Halton, Green Power Sounds Past I-Cubs, 7-3 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sean Halton and Taylor Green each belted a three-run homer to power the Nashville Sounds to a 7-3 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium. The win was the fourth in the last five games for Nashville (65-73). In the contest, the Sounds' two through five hitters combined to go 9-for-13 with seven RBIs and seven runs scored. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (2-2) picked up the win for the Sounds after holding Iowa to one run on seven hits over five frames of work, walking one batter and striking out a pair. He has allowed two runs or less in six of his seven Triple-A outings this season and lowered his ERA to 2.65 with the effort. Halton (2-for-3) gave the Sounds a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when he crushed a three-run homer to left off Iowa starter Horacio Ramirez. The blast was the slugger's team-leading 16th roundtripper of the season. Logan Schafer (2-for-3) and Khris Davis (3-for-3), who had opened the frame with consecutive singles, also scored on the blast. The I-Cubs got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth that made it a 3-1 contest. Matt Tolbert led off the inning with a double to right-center and later scored when Alfredo Amezaga, who drove in all three Iowa runs on the night, hit a two-out chopper to the right side of the infield that glanced off a leaping Thornburg's glove for an RBI single. The Sounds extended their lead to 7-1 with four two-out runs off Ramirez in the home half of the fifth. After the first two batters were retired, Schafer singled to start the rally and scored when Davis followed with an RBI double to the right-center wall. After the I-Cubs elected to intentionally walk Halton, Green (2-for-4) made them pay by lining a three-run homer over the right field wall for his seventh longball of the year, which chased the Iowa left-hander from the contest. Ramirez (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year after surrendering seven runs on nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work. Amezaga reduced the Cubs' deficit to 7-3 in the seventh when he slugged a two-out, two-run homer to left off Sounds reliever Juan Perez. The blast was the infielder's sixth of the year. Nashville's attempt to get one of the runs back in the home half of the frame was stifled by Cubs left fielder Dave Sappelt, who threw out Davis at the plate as he attempted to score from second on Taylor Green's opposite-field two-out single. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. contest on Wednesday evening. Right-hander Hiram Burgos (1-2, 3.93) will make the start for the Sounds and face Iowa left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-5, 4.09). Nashville Box Score Tyler Thornburg's ERA and peripherals would suggest he's been dominant, but yet he hasn't had a dominant AAA start yet, he's been on this strange plateau since May going back to Huntsville. Every game it's something different, 1 game it's walks, the next it's XBHs, tonight it's just hits, nothing like the night he flirted with perfection... It's like he's in one of those Loony Toon cartoons where the dyke keeps springing a different leak every time he plugs one. However when you put it all together he still has a mighty fine line. I'm not sure it's progress, especially since he's stuck on the low pitch count and sitting 123 IP on the year after tonight, but he's certainly not regressing at all either. 2013 will be a huge a year for all of our young pitchers on this AAA staff, it will be time to find out what we have. Speaking of low pitch counts and tired arms, I wonder if anything changed with the off day throwing regimen this year? Specifically I wonder what they are doing with long toss and for the workout the day after a pitcher has his start? A light workout of the affected muscle groups the day after pitching helps get lactic acid out of the muscles and significantly aids the recovery process, a limited long toss session is even effective from my experience and my preferred method when I'm asked for guidance. I know most pitching programs have running built in for stamina as part of the day after routine, but I love to get information on the complete 5 day cycle. Nashville Play By Play

Sounds Open Homestand With 4-3 Win Over Cubs Brian Baker Tosses His Fifth Quality Start NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds opened their final homestand of the season with a 4-3 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Monday at Greer Stadium. The one-run victory was Nashville's PCL-leading 28th of the season. Iowa suffered its 32nd one-run defeat. Seven of the 13 games between the two clubs in the series have been decided by one run. Nashville starter Brian Baker pitched well to collect his fourth victory of the season. The 29-year-old allowed one run on a solo homer in six innings of work, fanning six in 82 pitches (60 strikes). Baker has posted a 2.62 ERA (18er/61.2ip) in his last 12 PCL outings (10 starts). First baseman Jordan Brown went 3-for-4 to lead the Sounds offense. Second baseman Taylor Green added two hits, including a double. Shortstop Eric Farris also singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-best 11 games. The Sounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against former Sound Seth McClung. Outfielder Khris Davis worked a two-out walk, moved to second on a single from Brown, and scored Green when blooped an RBI single to right field. Reigning PCL Batter of the Week Caleb Gindl went yard in the next frame off McClung for a 2-0 advantage. The long ball from Gindl was his 12th homer of the season, which landed just beyond the right field wall. Iowa cut the lead in half at 2-1 in the fourth as Greg Rohan crushed a solo homer down the left field line. Nashville added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. With the bases loaded and two out, catcher Dayton Buller lined a two-run single over the second baseman and into right field to score both Davis and Brown. After a Rohan had two-out single in the ninth, Dave Sappelt hit two-run homer over the left field wall to bring the Cubs within one run at 4-3. Robert Wooten then got James Adduci to ground out and end the game for his sixth save of the season. Reliever Brandon Kintzler fanned three over two scoreless innings. Wooten was charged with two runs in an inning. McClung scattered eight hits for four runs while walking four and striking out five in five innings for his league-leading 15th loss of the season. The Sounds and Cubs continue their series at 7:05 pm CT on Tuesday night at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (1-2, 2.79) takes the mound for Nashville against Iowa southpaw Horacio Ramirez (0-0, 1.38). Nashville Box Score Beat! The! Cubs! After listening to Brad Nelson beat the hell out of Nashville pitching all season I was worried that Seth McClung would get the best of the Sounds as well, but thankfully that didn't happen. Brian Baker is making an interesting late season push... in his last 10 games he's only had 1 poor start (5R in 5.2IP on 7/28) and has pitched to a 2.72 ERA over that span allowing 51 hits, 22 walks, and 17 earned runs over 56.1 innings. He's been HR prone, giving up 7, but he's also struck out 51 batters. Tyler and his 85 pitch limit is up next, and I'm not cracking on him, it just is what it is... he has 2 more starts left in the season with Nashville. He's only pitched 118 innings so far this season after pitching 136 last year. I would have liked to see him push to 160 this season but 2 minor injuries and Melvin messing around putting him in the bullpen while the Brewers made their big "push" has him way off track. He will need Sept MLB starts or AFL starts to even match last year's total. Nashville Play By Play

I'm not sure what's been said about me or what I think as I've had that poster on ignore for months. However, just to be clear and in a succinct manner as possible: I do not favor trading everyone, I've never been in favor of firesale, in fact I'm fiercely opposed to team management concepts that make a firesale necessary. This is why I think a continual youth movement is necessary and the best way to ensure the team remains competitive. I am not in favor signing any player into their mid 30s. I can grudgingly get on board with exceptions for special talent like Braun, but for the most part I'm looking to control a player through his age 30-32 (depending on when he breaks in) season and move on. I want a player only through his peak performance years and then I'm willing to let someone else pay him to decline. Of course the risk of injury also goes up significantly and becomes exponential into the mid 30s, and I'm into minimizing the potential for dead money on the payroll. So the double whammy of declining performance and greater injury risk is enough for me to be willing to move on. As far as trading Hart, if you aren't going to compete for anything with him and he's only signed for 1 more year, why not recycle fresh talent back into the system? I'm not saying the Brewers won't be able to compete in 2013 but the season will hinge largely on young pitching and young players are impossible to predict from a performance standpoint. If the Brewers aren't sure what kind of performance they are going to get out of the pitching, why not move him? For example what would it matter if we win 79 games instead of 76? If a good deal came along I'd personally part with Hart, but it has to be a the right kind of deal. I have a list of untouchable players which is very short (Lucroy, Braun, and Gallardo) but I'll trade anyone else, especially an overvalued closer/relief pitcher if the price is right. If not I'm happy to retain the talent and move forward in a different manner. A player's production does not equal his "value". A player's ultimate value is his production and service time vs his injury risk and cost. For example, a pre arby 4 WAR player is much more valuable than 32 year old 4 WAR player in the last year of his contract. Ultimately in baseball the most valuable commodities are pre arby players who are performing at an elite level. As such I favor signing core players to early contracts which buy them out (with option years) through their age 30-32 seasons, then I'm happy recycling fresh talent back. I've loved James Shields' contract since 2008 (Gallardo's is similar), that's my benchmark for pitchers, and I liked Longoria's contract for position players (Braun's original contract was similar). Anyone who won't sign that kind of contract or who's just an average to above average player, ride out their 6-7 years and say goodbye. My attachment is to the franchise and not to any particular player. I'm value orientated, I want to buy wins far below market rate and I want to build a deep and productive farm system which should enable the MLB team to remain competitive and relevant for a very long time.

You should probably throw out the start where he got tossed after four pitches, and the next start where he only went 3 because of the start the day before and getting other guys some work before the All-Star break. Excluding those two starts he was at 6.32 for the Brewers. You make a legitimate point, but I did post his career number as well. I pulled the relief years out for him but I'm not playing the what if game and cherry picking starts for any reason, it's just not something I believe in doing for anyone, and he got tossed for throwing a tantrum on the field by spiking the ball. I would classify it as poor judgement both ways, but he still got tossed. The point is that both guys go 7 full innings in less than half their starts, neither is a 7 inning guy, they simply aren't efficient enough with their pitches, and it's not so much that both guys are strike out pitchers, it's that they both waste too many pitches which is a topic I've posted quite a bit about on the MiLB forum. It is also one of the reasons I can't stand Rock, he doesn't get that pitchers on a pitch count simply don't have the luxury of spiking a pitch in the dirt to every batter, that's an inning+ of pitches right there. He called games in a different era and hasn't put 2 and 2 together yet.

Final: Nashville 11, Round Rock 5 Sounds Score Six In 9th To Take Road Finale Farris Goes 4-for-6 With Homer To Extend Hit Streak To 10 Games ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds plated six runs in the top of the ninth inning, capped by a two-run Eric Farris homer, to record an 11-5 victory on Sunday evening at The Dell Diamond in the club's final road game of the season. The Sounds (63-73), who rapped out 15 hits and were not retired in order in any of the nine innings in the contest, recorded their 23rd last at-bat win of the season to finish their final road trip with a 4-5 record. The 11 runs marked just the fourth double-digit scoring total for Nashville this year. Nashville plated all six of its ninth-inning runs off Round Rock left-hander Ben Snyder (3-6), who took the loss. After retiring Khris Davis on a groundout to start the ninth, Snyder proceeded to walk the next three Nashville batters to load the bases. Andy Gonzalez stepped to the plate and lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right that plated Corey Patterson with the go-ahead run. The Sounds followed with three consecutive extra-base hits off Snyder to turn a nailbiter into a rout. Caleb Gindl, who kept the game tied with an outstanding throw to the plate in the bottom of the eighth, delivered a two-run triple into the right field corner and Humberto Quintero drove a 1-0 offering from Snyder into right-center, just past a diving Leonys Martin, to plate the fourth run of the frame. Farris capped off the six-run outburst by crushing a two-run homer to left, his sixth roundtripper of the year, to bring the score to its final 11-5 standing. Farris went 4-for-6 with three RBIs on the night to up his hitting streak to 10 games, matching the infielder's best effort of the season. Gindl went 3-for-5 with three RBIs to finish an outstanding series in Round Rock with 11 hits in 21 at-bats, including six extra-base knocks. Nashville took a 1-0 lead in the second when Taylor Green led off with a single against Express starter Zach Jackson, moved to second on a balk, and came around to score on Gindl's one-out RBI double to right. The Express responded immediately, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame against Wily Peralta to grab a 2-1 advantage. Former Sound Brad Nelson evened the contest when he led off with his 23rd home run of the year, a solo shot to left. The Express took the lead with back-to-back two-out hits off the Sounds right-hander. With two down, Ryan Spilborghs doubled and scored when Brandon Snyder followed with a broken-bat RBI single to center. The Sounds rallied to tie the contest in the fourth. Gindl singled with one out and hustled to score all the way from first on a Farris double down the left field line. On the play, Gindl adeptly slip around an attempted tag by Round Rock catcher Koyie Hill. Peralta walked the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fourth but was able to escape the jam by striking out Snyder and inducing an inning-ending comebacker from Hill to keep the game deadlocked. Nashville reclaimed the lead in the fifth with a three-run frame against Jackson that was highlighted by Jordan Brown's two-run homer that sailed over the Sounds' bullpen in right-center. Davis led off with a double to left-center and scored when Sean Halton, who reached base in all five of his plate appearances on the night, followed with a one-hop single up the middle that deflected off the glove of shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Brown followed by crushing his eighth big fly of the year to make it a 5-2 contest. Peralta, who took a no-decision, gave the runs right back to Round Rock in the bottom of the frame as the Express rallied for three two-out scores to tie the contest at 5-5. After the first two batters were retired, Leonys Martin singled, swiped second, and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Nelson. Peralta then walked the next two batters on a combined nine pitches to fill the bases with Round Rock runners. With two down and the bases loaded, Spilborghs turned an 0-2 Peralta offering into a game-tying, two-run double onto the warning track in the right field corner. Gindl kept the game at a 5-5 deadlock in the bottom of the eighth when he threw out Spilborghs at the plate to end the inning as he attempted to score from second on an Alberto Gonzalez single to right. Spilborghs had led off the frame with a double to right-center off Fautino De Los Santos that was nearly snared by a diving Schafer. The Sounds begin a season-ending, eight-game homestand with on Monday with the 7:05 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the division-rival Iowa Cubs. Right-hander Brian Baker (3-4, 4.39) will man the bump for the Sounds. Iowa will counter with former Sounds right-hander Seth McClung (3-14, 6.32), who started 20 games for Nashville earlier this season before being released by the Brewers organization. Nashville Box Score Quite the finish after an uninspiring 5 innings from Peralta, I actually quit listening during the 5th so I missed the 6 run 9th as I just got back to the computer now. Interesting that the Sounds will be facing Seth McClung tomorrow. Nashville Play By Play

Gallardo's average innings per start season is 6.21, and that's not 6.2 as in 6 and 2/3, that's a true decimal, as in less than a third of an inning into the 7th. Last year Gallardo was at 6.28 innings per start. Greinke was at 5.85 innings in Milwaukee this season. Neither is a guy who's going to regularly give you 7 innings. Gallardo has done it 11 times in 26 starts this season, but 6 of those have come in his last 8 starts, he's been really hot. For his career he's at 6.07, and that's with some bullpen innings thrown into the total. I pulled out 2006 and 2007 for Greinke and his career number is 6.26 innings per start. More often than not you're going to need at least 3 bullpen guys regardless who starts for the Brewers, we don't have a very efficient starting pitching staff, with or without Greinke. With better defense I wouldn't mind fewer strike outs and more balls in play but with Yuni B and McGehee on the left side and Prince at 1B I was pretty happy getting strike outs.

No doubt, that was an excellent read.

Round Rock Scores Late To Win 6-5 Over Nashville Halton Homers And Drives In Three ROUND ROCK, Tex. - Ryan Spilborghs slid under the tag of catcher Humberto Quintero in the 8th inning to give the Round Rock Express a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Saturday night at The Dell Diamond. Spilborghs led off the eighth with single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a Koyie Hill single, and came home on Julio Borbon's infield groundout. Nashville (62-73) has lost three of the first four in the series and 18 of their last 23 games at The Dell Diamond since the beginning of the 2010 season. First baseman Sean Halton went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs on the night. Nashville was the only PCL club without a player with at least 50 RBIs this season until Halton's three runs batted in. Third baseman Taylor Green and second baseman Eric Farris each added two hits. The Sounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Round Rock starter Martin Perez, beginning with a leadoff single from second baseman Eric Farris. After a walk to Khris Davis, Halton lined an RBI single to center. Two batters later, shortstop Andy Gonzalez hit a two-run single. The Express got two runs back in the next frame against starter Claudio Vargas. Borbon led off with a double and scored on a Leonys Martin single to center. Former Sound Brand Nelson later walked and scored on a Joey Butler RBI base hit. Two doubles form Martin and former Vanderbilt star Matt Kata evened the score at 3-3 in the second inning. Nashville went back ahead at 5-3 in the fifth. After outfielder Khris Davis hit a two-out base hit to center, Halton blasted his team-leading 15th homer of the season over the left field wall. Butler brought the contest back to a 5-5 tie in the home half of the sixth with his 18th homer of the season off Vargas. After Kata was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, Butler hammered the long ball off the grounds shed in center. Both teams' starting pitchers factored into no-decision. Vargas scattered nine hits for five runs while striking out six in six innings in a no-decision. Perez allowed five runs on eight hits in seven frames. Jesus Sanchez (4-1) suffered his first Triple-A loss with a run give up in two innings of work. Fabio Castillo (2-0) threw a scoreless inning for the win while Joe Ortiz worked around a leadoff double from Caleb Gindl to notch his second save. The Sounds and Express conclude their season series at 6:05 pm CT on Sunday night at the Dell Diamond. Right-hander Wily Peralta (7-10, 4.58) makes the start in the finale for Nashville against former Sound Zach Jackson (7-12, 4.53). Nashville Box Score I was pretty exited when the Sounds jumped all over Martin Perez early, but the end of the game was just blech... strike out, fly out to CF, strike out after Gindl's double. Speaking of Perez he's only 21 years old, some day he might harness his filthy stuff but we have an avalanche of pitchers that have put up better K/9s than he has the last 2 years in AAA, especially the 4.9 this season. I hadn't looked that closely at his numbers this year, but yikes that's a putrid K/9. Peralta and the boys match up against Zach friggen Jackson tomorrow... please oh please pummel him. I have no rational explanation for why I dislike Jackson as much as I do, it's just 100 little things that would take me way too long to explain... Nashville Play By Play

Honestly asking this (& a bit ashamed I have to ask), but who aside from Axford is Tunnell credited with turning around or helping along significantly? Well just about any starting pitcher who's had a feature has mentioned his tutelage over the past 3 seasons, after 5 or 6 guys mentioned him I figured my gut feeling from listening to his interviews was pretty much spot on. He impressed me right from the start, I still remember the first interview I listened to that he did with Wendt in Helena. However, it would take a ton of digging and time to go back and search all those articles for specific quotes. This year he spent that week in Nashville helping out Peralta prior to Wily's turn around, that shouldn't be dismissed. The organization hasn't said anything but the MLB bullpen is definitely the "most help needed" area of that team and I'd guess that's what Tunnell's assignment there is all about, though I'm not sure how far he can get with those guys without shutting them down and just working with them out of the pen for a while. It seems like his talents are being wasted, I'd much rather have him working with the AA staff, those guys actually have ceilings we need to be concerned with. I want to like Hook, but I can't think of anyone who blossomed under his watch, but he keeps moving up the chain. I don't know enough about the other pitching coaches to offer an informed opinion on them, Hook is the only one I've specifically followed. I'll say this though, every time I read an article about a pitcher watching video and figuring out something that's wrong with his delivery on his own I cringe, shouldn't that be exactly what the pitching coaches are there for? Or like Marcum this off season talking about how he noticed he really wasn't using his legs or his core for his delivery by looking at a picture... umm really? How many people on this forum broke down the problems with his mechanics but yet the MLB pitching coach is playing "if it's not broke don't fix it?". I realize I'm attached to video because of my background as a football coach but cripes they go through all the trouble to record every pitch of every game from behind home plate, what does that video actually get used for? Aren't they looking at a pitcher's best pitches of each type and comparing them to his worst and saying, "see what you did there and the fantastic result, that's what we're looking to replicate, here's the difference between that pitch and this bad one..." I really don't know what's being done? I just kind of assumed that because they took the video they were actively working it every night and getting cut-ups ready to review with the pitcher the next day? Again that's a football approach to video, but I'm not sure what else they'd do with it? I had the ability to do side by side frame by frame video, professional baseball teams should certainly have that same functionality right? I honestly don't know... The couple of high school pitchers I've worked with (I make an effort not intrude because coaching baseball wouldn't work with my work schedule and the baseball coaches were also on the football staff) I've done that sort of comparison on velocity and location just playing catch and teaching them long toss. It's the same I've always done with my QBs at each level... you'll be more efficient if you do this... can you feel the difference? look at the better result... blah, blah, blah. That's the primary reason I'm so keen on getting all the pitchers, starter and reliever, side bullpen sessions during the week, so they can get individualized coaching of that nature. I had just assumed that's the coaching the pitchers were getting because that's how every good QB coach I've come across has worked on teaching mechanics, but maybe it's not actually the baseball way? I'd love to be a fly on the wall just to see what's going on.

I'm not sure the pitching coaches are the highest quality, but there's no way the Brewers messed him up prior to his first start. It's probably just as simple as he's was trying to do much after the trade and went into a funk or the hold on his control was tenuous at best and he's just regressed. What are the odds that we got 3 MLB regulars for Greinke? I'd guess the odds are pretty low, Pena and Hellweg are nice mid tier pitching prospects with upside, but there just aren't many pitchers who iron out their control to the point they can be successful MLB pitchers. Which is why I'm always so concerned about BB rates and while there are certainly pitchers who do ascend and reach their ceilings, there are many more that just never throw enough strikes to make it. Unfortunately every single one of our big arms has the exact same problem with control and the guys who work 90-92 all have questions about their secondary stuff. Tunnell has done a nice job with a bunch of our pitchers, but until the organization proves it can straighten out a starting pitcher with control problems I'll be concerned about every pitcher who fits that template, and it's part of the reason I was very slow to the Peralta bandwagon and I'm not on the Scarpetta bandwagon at all.

Ya, come on Ted-whatever can't you read a box score?!

Sounds Derail Express, 5-2 Burgos Earns First Career Triple-A Victory ROUND ROCK, Texas - Caleb Gindl went 4-for-4 with three doubles to power the Nashville Sounds to a 5-2 victory over the Round Rock Express on Friday evening at The Dell Diamond. Sounds starter Hiram Burgos (1-2) picked up his first career Triple-A victory after holding the Express to two runs (one earned) on four hits over five-plus innings of work. The right-hander walked four batters and struck out three while throwing 102 pitches on the night, his highest workload in six starts since joining Nashville. Nashville (62-72) grabbed a 1-0 lead against Express starter Justin Grimm in the top of the second inning. Sean Halton led off with a double to center and scored the night's first run on Gindl's two-out RBI single. The Sounds increased the advantage to 3-0 in the third. Eric Farris led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a Corey Patterson single, and scored on a Khris Davis sacrifice fly to right. Patterson then scored the second Nashville run of the frame when Jordan Brown followed Davis with a first-pitch RBI single to right. Gindl continued his solid night in the fourth when he led off with the first of his three two-baggers and later scored on a Patterson groundout to make it a 4-0 contest. Nashville missed a chance to add to the lead in the top of the sixth. After the Sounds placed runners on second and third with no outs, Grimm and reliever Neal Cotts combined to strand the runners there and keep the lead at 4-0. Burgos opened the contest with five scoreless frames for Nashville before running into trouble as he tired in the sixth, when Round Rock halved its deficit to 4-2. The Nashville right-hander walked the first three batters of the frame to load the bases before being replaced on the hill. Reliever Amaury Rivas induced a first-pitch flyout from Matt Kata to record the first out then got a potential double play grounder to short off the bat of Joey Butler, but Farris' throw from second on the play was in the dirt and eluded Halton at first base, allowing a pair of Express runs to score. Gindl struck again for the Sounds in the eighth, ripping his third double of the night off the top of the left field wall to plate Andy Gonzalez to up the Nashville lead to 5-2. Five Nashville relievers combined to work four scoreless innings following Burgos' departure, capped by a 1-2-3 ninth by Rob Wooten, who notched his fifth save. Grimm (2-3) took the loss for the Express after giving up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings of action. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Saturday night. Right-hander Claudio Vargas (6-1, 3.58) will toe the slab for the Sounds and face Round Rock southpaw Martin Perez (7-6, 4.11). Nashville Box Score Nashville Play By Play

Just a FYI, I don't link the weekly BA chat with Jim Callis because much of the information is out repeated in the Hot Sheet chat, but it's out there if you're interested in more reading. BA Hot Sheet Chat August 24, 2012 That's it, really quiet on the division front this week.

BA Hot Sheet August 24, 2012 No. 9 SHELBY MILLER, RHP CARDINALS Team: Triple-A Memphis (Pacific Coast) Age: 21 Why He's Here: 0-1, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 12 SO The Scoop: Touted as one of the game's elite pitching prospects, Miller reported to spring training with a thinned physique and reduced velocity. Disappointing results followed, as Miller posted a 6.17 first-half ERA and walked more than 11 percent of hitters. Around midseason, the Cardinals gave him a brief respite from pitching and made mechanical tweaks. Upon his return they instituted a rule forbidding him from shaking off the catcher's sign. The results have been night and day. Miller's 92-95 mph fastball velocity returned and his command sharpened. In 48 second-half innings, Miller has 3.21 ERA and a cartoonish 52-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Miller turned in arguably his strongest start of the season this week with 12 strikeouts and nary a walk on Tuesday. No. 13 BILLY HAMILTON, SS REDS Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern) Age: 21 Why He's Here: .435/.567/.522 (10-for-23), 1 R, 1 3B, 3 RBIs, 7 BB, 5 SO, 7-for-11 SB The Scoop: Hamilton gets plenty of attention for his wheels. He made history this week by breaking Vince Coleman's minor league stolen-base record and even leads the Southern League with 44 stolen bases despite having been there for just 41 games. What doesn't get enough attention is the improvement that Hamilton has made at the plate to be able to get on base and steal all those bags. With just two home runs this year, Hamilton's power is at the bottom of the scale, but he's done an outstanding job of making adjustments that best suit his skill set. He's cut down on his strikeout rate, increased his walk rate and shown a better overall plan when he's in the batter's box. Hamilton has 45 more stolen bases in 2012 in 12 fewer games than he played in 2011, and it's not because he's getting any faster. It's because he's getting on base at a .419 clip this year compared to .340 a year ago, a testament to his growth as a hitter. In the Team Photo Reds RHP Daniel Corcino turns 22 on Sunday, and there's a chance he may be in Cincinnati before his next birthday. Corcino allowed only one run in 11 innings over two starts this week, strikeout out 10 with just four hits, though he did walk seven. His ERA dropped to 3.06 through 138 1/3 innings for Double-A Pensacola. MAN AMONG BOYS • Boone Whiting, rhp, Cardinals: A shoulder injury has wiped out much of Whiting's season, which explains why he's back in low Class A Quad Cities after an excellent 2011 season there. He's showing no signs of rust. In two outings this week, Whiting, 23, allowed one run in 12 innings, lowering his ERA in three Midwest League outings to 0.56. Whiting's returning feel for his solid stuff means that this season will likely end before he's ready for it to wrap up. While everyone else is battling the grind of their 130th game of the season, Whiting is just warming up.

You summed it up well MH, Francisco Castillo or Juan Ortiz might be players to watch, but the positional performances were not very inspiring this season.

Final: DSL Braves 9, DSL Brewers 5 DSL Brewers Box Score Miguel Diaz started this one and went 4 innings allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits, a wild pitch, and 3 walks against 6 strike outs. Melvin Tejada pitched the next 2.2 allowing 3 runs, 1 earned. Joan De La Cruz came on to finish Tejada's 7th recording the final out and pitching the 8th, striking out 3 of the 4 batters he faced. Marcus Padilla gave up 2 in the 9th, outside of De La Cruz it was a pretty bad day on the mound. Juan De Leon (2-4,HR) had the only multi-hit game and Kevin Martinez (1-3,2B) added the other XBH. Once again the Brewers filled up the box score: BASERUNNING SB: Castillo, F (30, 3rd base off Flores/De La Cruz, A), Belonis (25, 3rd base off Concepcion/De La Cruz, A). CS: Mejia, N (2, 3rd base by Caballero/De La Cruz, A). FIELDING E: De Leon, J 3 (4, fielding, fielding, fielding), Belonis (15, throw). Outfield assists: Santana, Y (Obregon at 2nd base). Pickoffs: Mejia, N (Monasterio at 2nd base). DSL Brewers Play By Play

Sounds Drop Second Straight In Round Rock, 5-1 Thornburg Comes Away With Loss For Second Start In A Row ROUND ROCK, Tex. - Chad Bell pitched five scoreless innings as the Round Rock Express handed the Nashville Sounds a 5-1 defeat on Thursday night at The Dell Diamond. The Sounds have dropped the first two games of the five-game series and 17 of their last 21 games at The Dell Diamond since the beginning of the 2010 season. Bell (4-4) scattered five hits while striking out five in five frames for the victory. Outfielder Khris Davis snapped out of an 0-for-16 slump to double twice. Shortstop Andy Gonzalez and catcher Dayton Buller each had two hits. Second baseman Eric Farris (1-for-4) singled to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Ryan Spilborghs gave the Express a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run double. Two innings later, Matt Kata belted a solo homer in the fourth for the club's third run. Former Sound Brad Nelson led off the sixth with a solo home run for a 4-0 Round Rock advantage. The long ball was Nelson's team-leading 22nd of the season. Robinson Diaz would tack on a two-out, RBI single later in the frame to conclude Round Rock's scoring. The Sounds loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but only came away with one run in the process. Reliever Derek Hankins allowed an inning-opening walk and two singles before outfielder Logan Schafer hit a sacrifice fly to right to score outfielder Caleb Gindl. Coming away with the loss in his second straight start, Nashville starter Tyler Thornburg (1-2) gave up three runs on three hits and a pair of walks in five innings of work. The 23-year-old also fanned six in 81 pitches, 50 for strikes. Donovan Hand was charged with two runs in two innings. Jesus Sanchez allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. The Sounds and Express continue their series at 7:05 pm CT at the Dell Diamond on Friday night. Right-hander Hiram Burgos (0-2, 4.30) seeks his first Triple-A win against Round Rock righty and Tennessee native Justin Grimm (2-2, 4.37). Nashville Box Score According to what Jeff said Tyler Thornburg isn't going past 85 for the remainder (unless I misunderstood what he said). Tyler only gave up 3 hits, but 2 were for extra bases including the HR, and a walk cost him a run on that 2B. Kind of the same story just cycling itself back around each time out... The Sounds wasted plenty of opportunities with Andy Gonzalesz/b] (apparently) missing some signs, once on a hit and run when Taylor Green got caught stealing and once when apparently he thought a hit and run was on and got gunned at 2nd. Gonzalez got hurt later in the game, I think it was on the steal attempt, but I know he left the game. Unfortunately I was only paying half attention at the time. Nashville Play By Play Tyler doesn't give up many but this generally the scenario. Round Rock Bottom of the 2nd Brad Nelson walks. Matt Kata singles on a ground ball to right fielder Caleb Gindl. Brad Nelson to 2nd. Joey Butler strikes out swinging. Ryan Spilborghs doubles (20) on a ground ball to left fielder Khris Davis. Brad Nelson scores. Matt Kata scores. Alberto Gonzalez grounds out, third baseman Taylor Green to first baseman Sean Halton. Robinzon Diaz grounds out, third baseman Taylor Green to first baseman Sean Halton.

Click on this link (also in the Forum here). Scroll it down and you can see pitchers by type and hand and sort the stats by any column you'd like, clicking the player names will zero in on their specific stats. We had 6 left handed starting pitchers in the entire organization prior to Wolf's release: Narveson and Wolf in MLB, Bradley in A+, Juan Santiago in the DSL (still as a 21 year old) and then both Will West and Taylor Wall in Helena. The only projectable LHP in the system above A was Bradley but with his decline in velocity he loses quite a bit of his luster. West has a frame that he could grow into and add velocity but doesn't have a big arm today, Wall was a 22nd round pick this summer who isn't going to blow anyone away but is a good pitchability guy. So going into 2013 we'll have the enigma that is Bradley in BC or Huntsville, West and Wall in WI, and maybe Santiago in R ball if the organization hangs onto him. Unless Bradley takes off and regains velocity we don't currently have anyone in the system who matches Parra's FB velocity or stuff as a prospect today.

I would expect the young players to have ups and downs but gradually ascend through out the season. I'm not sure Segura is ready for MLB, but the team made a decision to go with him. As such, we might see an extended time of "Hardyesque" craptitude for his first 3-6 months (counting his playing time this year) but hopefully he'll figure it out just like JJ did. Since they apparently had Jean slated to be the everyday SS in 2013 I don't have a problem with him getting some experience in a season that no longer matters. With Wolf and Greinke gone, I'm still not sold that Estrada is any kind of long-term answer, he tends to get through the order once or twice before running into problems which suggests he'd make a pretty darn good reliever. I think people want to rush to judgement on players both ways, if they hit the ground running or not, as in the various conversations about Gamel and Fiers. I'm willing to be patient and let the situations play themselves out for at least a full season before getting too excited either way. I'd be shocked if Fiers proved to be a low 3 ERA type of guy but he just may be, it's too early to make any definitive statements either way but he's someone whom Brewer fans should feel legitimately excited about. Posters that have read my thoughts on Rogers over the years know that I love the young man but his BB rate has always concerned me. Which Wily Peralta will show up? The one who pitched horribly in the first half or the one who pitched pretty well in the second half? He also has a walk rate that concerns me. Tyler Thornburg tends to leave very hittable balls up over the plate and as excited as I am about him if he doesn't clean up his walks and XBHs allowed he won't reach his ceiling either. Is Hiram Burgos the pitcher who allowed less than 7 hits per 9 innings this season or is the truth somewhere between this season and the rest of his career? I'm all for a continued youth movement, but there are simply too many questions that the young pitchers have to answer for me to make a reasonable guess how any of those guys will/would do in the rotation next year. That's not even taking into consideration pitchers like Hellweg and Pena whom i doubt will be MLB starting pitchers even though they have the stuff to be or Jungmann who's big test will come next season in AA. We have plenty of big arms but all of them have pretty much the same control issues that need to be ironed out, who sticks and who doesn't?

Final: DSL Tigers 6, DSL Brewers 3 DSL Brewers Box Score This had all the makings a great game for the Brewers until the 6th when some questionable pitching and shoddy defense led to back to back 3 run innings for the Tigers. Angel Ventura was in and out of trouble only pitching 1 clean inning through 5 and couldn't keep the train rolling through the 6th. In all he went 6 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits, a wild pitch, a balk, and 2 walks while striking out 8. He was followed by Junior Flores who managed to hit 3 batters and walked 1 in just 1 inning of work, and of course the defense fell apart as well. Somehow Junior only managed to give up 3 runs, with 1 being earned, but he obviously didn't pitch well. Orlando Torres pitched a clean 8th to close out the pitching... All 3 Brewer pitchers who appeared today have a season ERA over 7... it's tough to be excited about any of these guys (small sample alert), Ventura does have a K/9 right around 9, which is at least something to hang a hat on if you're looking for something positive. A relative offensive explosion was wasted as the Brewers pounded out 11 and 5 players had multiple hit games. Francisco Castillo (2-5), Juan Ortiz (2-5,2B), Jose Dicent (2-4), Sthervin Matos (3-4), and Alejandro Mendoza (2-2,2B) all nice games at the plate. The rest of the box score was pretty busy: BASERUNNING SB: Ortiz, Ju 2 (18, 3rd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S, 2nd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S), Castillo, F (29, 2nd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S). CS: Dicent, Js (2, 2nd base by Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S). PO: Dicent, Js (1st base by Lara, Ca). FIELDING E: Otano (5, throw), Belonis (14, throw), Matos (3, throw). PB: De La Cruz, Y (6). Outfield assists: Castillo, F (Santana, Fel A at home). Pickoffs: Ventura (Oses at 1st base). DSL Brewers Play By Play DSL Tigers Bottom of the 6th Victor Ovalles singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Lenny Pena doubles (10) on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Victor Ovalles to 3rd. Yerison Pena singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Victor Ovalles scores. Lenny Pena to 3rd. Sandy Acevedo grounds into a force out, shortstop Carlos Belonis to second baseman Leudi Otano. Lenny Pena scores. Yerison Pena out at 2nd. Sandy Acevedo advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by second baseman Leudi Otano. Albertin Chavez pops out to second baseman Leudi Otano. Sandy Rodriguez reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Carlos Belonis. Sandy Acevedo scores. Sandy Rodriguez to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Felix A. Santana replaces Sandy Rodriguez. Omar Oses singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Felix A. Santana out at home on the throw, center fielder Francisco Castillo to catcher Yunior De La Cruz. DSL Tigers Bottom of the 7th Alejandro Mendoza remains in the game as the second baseman. Pitching Change: Junior Flores replaces Angel Ventura. Anderson Yance hit by pitch. Francisco Contreras hit by pitch. Anderson Yance to 2nd. With Victor Ovalles batting, passed ball by Yunior De La Cruz, Anderson Yance to 3rd. Francisco Contreras to 2nd. Victor Ovalles reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Sthervin Matos. Lenny Pena walks. Anderson Yance scores. Francisco Contreras to 3rd. Victor Ovalles to 2nd. Yerison Pena out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Francisco Contreras scores. Sandy Acevedo hit by pitch. Victor Ovalles to 3rd. Lenny Pena to 2nd. Albertin Chavez grounds into a force out, shortstop Carlos Belonis to second baseman Alejandro Mendoza. Victor Ovalles scores. Lenny Pena to 3rd. Sandy Acevedo out at 2nd. Albertin Chavez to 1st. Felix A. Santana flies out to center fielder Francisco Castillo.

Final: Round Rock 7, Nashville 6 (11 Innings) Sounds Drop Series Opener To Express In 11 Innings Halton Homers Twice In Losing Effort As Nashville Blows Five-Run Lead ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock overcame a five-run deficit to force extras and a two-out Ryan Spilborghs single in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Express a 7-6 victory over the Nashville Sounds late Wednesday evening at The Dell Diamond in the opener of a five-game series. The contest was the Sounds' PCL-leading 16th extra-inning affair of the year (6-10 in those games). The Sounds (61-71) scored in the top of the first inning, eventually built a five-run advantage, and led for the entire game until Round Rock rallied in the bottom of the ninth against Rob Wooten to send it to extras. Since the promotion of All-Star closer Jim Henderson to Milwaukee on July 26, the Nashville bullpen has nine blown saves in 12 opportunities. In the decisive Round Rock eleventh, Leonys Martin led off with a single to right against Nashville reliever Brandon Kintzler (0-1) and was sacrificed to second. After a fielder's choice advanced Martin to third, Spilborghs ended the contest with a two-out single to left. Third baseman Sean Halton enjoyed his third two-homer game of the season for Nashville and upped his team-leading RBI total to 49 by plating four runs in the contest. Shortstop Eric Farris (4-for-6) led five Nashville players with multi-hit efforts in the game, his second four-hit effort of the year and the seventh by a Sound this season. Sounds starter Brian Baker continued his strong second half, holding Round Rock to two runs in five innings of work and was in line to earn wins in back-to-back starts for the first time all season before the late blown save by the Nashville bullpen. The right-hander has posted a 2.74 ERA (17er/55.2ip) in his last 11 PCL outings. Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Round Rock starter Greg Reynolds. Farris led off the game with a double to left and later scored the game's first run on a Khris Davis sacrifice fly. In the second, Halton -- who made his first professional appearance at third base with a start at the hot corner due to the call-up of Jeff Bianchi and Taylor Green being unavailable due to illness -- doubled the Sounds' lead to 2-0 with a towering solo homer to left. · AUDIO: Sean Halton's 1st HR Halton broke the game open in the fourth when he blasted his second home run of the night, a three-run shot to left-center off Reynolds that extended the Sounds' advantage to 5-0. It was his team-leading 14th roundtripper of the season. · AUDIO: Sean Halton's 2nd HR Baker opened the night with four scoreless frames to run his personal streak to 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings for Nashville before the Express finally broke through in the fifth. Julio Borbon opened the Round Rock fifth with an infield single before shortstop Alberto Gonzalez put the home team on the board when he followed with his first homer of the year, a two-run shot to left that reduced the Nashville lead to 5-2. The Express rally continued as the next three hitters reached base to load the bases with still no outs. Baker recovered to induce a 1-2-3 double play from Yangervis Solarte then struck out Spilborghs to escape the inning with no further damage. Borbon pulled the Express within a pair of runs in the sixth when he ripped a two-out solo homer to right off Sounds reliever Amaury Rivas to make it a 5-3 game. Nashville tacked on an important insurance run in the top of the eighth when second baseman Adrian Williams, who went 2-for-5 in his first career Triple-A start, singled against Fabio Castillo and scored on Logan Schafer's team-leading eighth triple of the year to extend the Sounds' lead to 6-3. · AUDIO: Logan Schafer RBI Triple Round Rock made it a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth when Spilborghs greeted reliever Tim Dillard with a two-run homer to right, his eighth big fly of the year. Solarte, who opened the inning with a double against Juan Perez, also scored on the roundtripper, which reduced the Nashville advantage to 6-5. Later in the eighth, the Express placed the potential tying run into scoring position when Borbon doubled with two outs against Wooten, but the Nashville right-hander punched out Gonzalez for the final out of the frame. The Sounds attempted to tack on a run in the ninth. Jordan Brown doubled and tried to score on catcher Humberto Quintero's two-out single to center but was thrown out at the dish by Martin. The Express rallied to pull even at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth against Wooten. Martin led off with an infield single and moved to third on a Nelson single that deflected off the glove of a diving Williams on the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners. Kata followed with a grounder to second which Williams double-clutched then misfired to the plate to allow Martin to score the tying run. With runners on the corners and no outs, Wooten was able to escape the jam without further damage with the help of an atypical double play. Solarte hit a grounder to first and Brown looked the runner back to third then stepped on the bag for the first out. During the play, Kata made contact with Williams in between first and second and stopped running, allowing Brown to throw him out at second to complete the twin-killing, leading to a lengthy Round Rock argument that culminated in the ejection of Express manager Bobby Jones. After an intentional walk, Wooten struck out Brandon Snyder for the third out of the inning. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Thursday night. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (1-1, 2.25) will toe the rubber for the Sounds. Round Rock will counter with left-hander Chad Bell (3-4, 4.76). Nashville Box Score Nashville Play By Play