4/30/2009

Pre-game show guest today -- April 30, 2009

Corey Kemp, he of the homer and four RBI last night, is the pre-game show guest tonight.

Show starts at 6:15pm. Game time is 6:35pm.

Enjoy the game.

April 30, 2009 Starting Lineup

Cutter Dykstra....CF
Juan Sanchez
......LF
Brett Lawrie......2B
Corey Kemp
........DH
Brock Kjeldgaard..1B

Erik Miller
.......RF
Edgar Trejo.......3B
Sean McCraw........C
Michael Marseco...SS

M
ichael Bowman....SP

April 30, 2009 Timber Rattler Starting Pitcher

RHP MICHAEL BOWMAN: Selected by Milwaukee in the ninth round of the 2008 draft out of Virginia Military Institute.

AS A KEYDET: Bowman was 4-6 in 18 games (13 starts) in his final season at VMI. Bowman struck out 82 and walked 25 in 91-2/3 innings while picking up an ERA of 3.44.

NICE COLLEGE CAREER: In three seasons at VMI, Bowman won 14 games, struck out 209 batters, and compiled an ERA of 3.32. All of those numbers are top five in the career categories at VMI.

BIG IN THE BIG SOUTH: Bowman was Second Team All-Big South Conference as a sophomore in 2007. He was also named Big South Pitcher of the Week on May 19, 2008.

ALL-AROUND: Was a three-year letter winner and earned Honorable mention all-district and all-academic at Deep Run High School in Richmond, Virginia. Also won a pair of letters as a high school quarterback at DRHS.

LAST SEASON: Bowman made four starts for the Helena Brewers before being promoted to West Virginia. He made eight appearances (four starts) for the Power. Combined for a 4-2 record with a 3.68ERA on the two stops in the Milwaukee system in 2009.

LAST START: Bowman allowed two runs on three hits over five innings at Quad Cities on April 25. He walked four and struck out six and left the game with a 4-2 lead. But, the Rattlers could not hold on to the lead and lost the game 9-8. Bowman got a no decision.

VS. GREAT LAKES: Tonight is Bowman’s first appearance against the Loons.

VS. DODGERS: Bowman did not face the Ogden Raptors, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Dodgers, in any of his four appearances in 2009.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (vs. Missoula 6/29/08)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (@Great Falls 6/24/08)

April 30, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers beat the Great Lakes Loons 6-3. Corey Kemp homered and drove in four runs to pace the offense. Cody Adams scattered 10 hits over five innings to earn the win. Wily Peralta and Jim Henderson combined to work the final four innings to close out the Loons.

ROUGH START: Adams allowed four first inning hits to the first five batters he faced. But, he escaped with only two runs scored against him. Dee Gordon reached on a single, but was erased on a force play at second. Then, Adams picked Jaime Pedroza off first base. But, Austin Gallagher followed with a single and Kyle Russell lined a homer to left for a 2-0 lead. Tony Delmonico singled to extend the inning, but Adams got out of the frame with no more damage.

THE COMEBACK: Wisconsin got to Great Lakes starter Kyle Smit right away in the bottom of the first. Juan Sanchez and Brett Lawrie singled with one out. Then, Kemp launched his first Midwest League home run and the Rattlers led 3-2.

XBH: Lawrie made the score 4-2 with an RBI double in the third inning. Lawrie has 10 extra base hits this season – four doubles, three triples, and three home runs. He is tied with six other players in the MWL for second in that category. Russell leads the league with 11.

SIGN OF RESPECT: Lawrie was walked intentionally with runners at second and third with one out in the sixth. It was the first intentional pass give to a Rattler hitter this season.

MY SACRIFICE: Kemp followed Lawrie’s intentional walk with a sacrifice fly to knock in a run. The 4 RBI for Kemp is a high by a Rattler hitter this season.

WORTH MENTIONING: Wisconsin pitchers had given out 89 walks to lead the Midwest League in that category heading into last night’s game. None of the three Rattler hurlers in the game issued a walk.

EIGHT BALL: Rattler outfielder Erik Miller went 1-for-4 last night to extend his current hitting streak to eight games, the longest streak by a Rattler this season. He is 11-for-32 (.344) during the streak. This hitting streak is Miller’s longest streak as a professional. He had a six-game hitting streak from July 14 to July 20 while playing for the Arizona League Brewers.

DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM: Henderson pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout to get his fifth save in five opportunities this season.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is the third season for the Loons in the Midwest League. The franchise had been based in Battle Creek, Michigan from 1995 through 2006. The Loons have been a Dodgers affiliate since they entered the league in 2007. In their first two seasons, the Loons have not made the playoffs and compiled a record of 111-167. Juan Bustabad is in his second season at the helm. Former major league pitcher Danny Darwin is in his second season as the pitching coach for the Loons. Great Lakes is off to a 10-9 start to the 2009 season. In their most recent series, the Loons dropped three out of four games in a home series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .227 as a team. They have scored 72 runs (4.0/game) and hit eight home runs. The Loons are hitting .273 as a team. They have scored 88 runs (4.6/game) and hit ten homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.55 while allowing a total of 89 runs (4.9/game). Great Lakes pitchers have a team ERA of 4.06 while allowing 84 runs (4.4/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 21 errors. The Loon defense has committed 18 errors. Wisconsin is 7-3 at Time Warner Cable Field this season. The Loons are 5-3 away from Dow Diamond this season.

GREAT LAKES STARTING PITCHER: RHP Justin Miller was the 6th round pick of the Dodgers in the 2007 draft out of Johnson County Community College in Kansas. Miller spent 2007 in the Gulf Coast League and was with the Loons all of 2008. He went 4-11 in 27 games (25 starts) with a 3.99 ERA. Miller walked 74 and struck out 82 in 140 innings. He is 1-1 this season, but picked up a no decision his last time out. A 4-1/3 inning outing at Dayton on April 24 in which he gave up four runs on five hits with four walks. Miller has never faced an affiliate of the Brewers, but he did pick up a win against the Rattlers last season. On August 1, 2008 he gave up five runs on six hits over five innings with a walk and seven K’s.

Odd Man Out reaction

The book
“Odd Man Out” by Yale graduate Matt McCarthy, who spent one season in the Angels’ minor-league system pitching for the Rookie-level Provo Angels.
It's been out for a while now.

I haven't commented, because, well...I'm not inclined to read it. But, Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette asks one of the subjects in the book for a reaction in this story from this morning.
Kernan Ronan stood and contemplated the question, his eyes looking toward the ceiling of the Cedar Rapids Kernels clubhouse.

There was an awkward silence, then more awkward silence. Then some more.

Finally, the Los Angeles Angels minor-league roving pitching instructor said, “I don’t think I want to comment. Is that OK?”
Ronan, according to Jeff, comes off a a pretty good guy in the book. But, there is a lot of other stuff flying around like:
McCarthy gets more controversial when describing Latin players in less-than-flattering terms. He suggests a huge disconnect between them and the American players, writing that American players call all Latin players ”Dominicans,” even though they may be from Venezuela, Mexico or Puerto Rico, and not the Dominican Republic.

He recalled a vague conversation at a restaurant that involved former Marion High School, University of Iowa and Northern Iowa player Alex Dvorsky. McCarthy intimated Dvorsky was being pressured by Kotchman to take steroids if he ever wanted to make the major leagues. One of McCarthy’s friends on the team, referred to only as “Sunshine”, was trying to talk Dvorsky into doing it.

Dvorsky has said the conversation McCarthy described never happened.

It’s excerpts like that that have the Angels miffed.
Abe Flores, the director of player development for the Angels has another reaction at the link.

Midwest League Action: Games of April 29, 2009

Complete Scoreboard

@Wisconsin 6, Great Lakes 3: The secret to Corey Kemp's success is tuna and hot sauce.

@Quad Cities 3, South Bend 1: One jam didn't prove to be as sticky as another Wednesday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park, separating the Quad-Cities River Bandits from South Bend.

Lansing 2, @ Kane County 1: Cougar Version | Lugnut version

Dayton 2, @Beloit 1: Dragons version

Fort Wayne 6, @Clinton 3: L-Kings version

Peoria 9, @Burlington 0: Burlington has now gone 22 innings without scoring a run. The Chiefs have notched three straight shut outs

@Cedar Rapids 3, West Michigan 0: Here’s a wildly bold prediction. If Tyler Chatwood gives up a hit per outing, he’s going to win a lot of pro baseball games.

Milwaukee Brewer Report: Games of April 29, 2009

MILWAUKEE (MAJ: 11-10; 2nd National League Central): The Brewers beat the Pirates 1-0. Yovani Gallardo hit a solo homer in the seventh inning and pitched eight shutout innings with 11 strikeouts for Milwaukee.

NASHVILLE (AAA: 11-9; 4th Pacific Coast League American North Division): The Sounds were off on Wednesday.

HUNTSVILLE (AA: 10-10; 2nd Southern League South Division): The Stars lost 7-6 in 10 innings at Chattanooga. The Lookouts scored two in the bottom of the eighth and game winning homer from Andrew Lambo in the tenth.

BREVARD COUNTY (High-A: 13-6; 1st Florida State League East Division): The Manatees beat the Daytona Cubs 5-2. Steffan Wilson homered and drove in a pair for Brevard County. Mike Jones allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings for the win to run his record to 3-0.

BREWER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Arizona (Max Scherzer 0-2) at Milwaukee (Jeff Suppan 1-2) 7:05pm CDT
Omaha (Bruce Chen 0-1) at Nashville (Lindsay Gulin 1-0) 7:00pm CDT
Tennessee (Casey Lambert 1-1) at Huntsville (Jeremy Jeffress 1-1) 7:00pm CDT
Brevard County (Amaury Rivas 1-1) at Daytona (James Leverton 1-1) 6:05pm CDT

4/29/2009

April 29, 2009 Starting Lineup

Cutter Dykstra....CF
Juan Sanchez......3B
Brett Lawrie......2B
Corey Kemp.........C
Brock Kjeldgaard..1B
Michael Vass......LF
Erik Miller.......RF
Shawn Zarraga.....DH
Michael Marseco...SS

Cody Adams........SP

April 29, 2009 Timber Rattler Pitchers

STARTING PITCHER

RHP CODY ADAMS: Selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Southern Illinois University.

SALUKI: Adams was 6-4 in 14 starts in his last season at SIU. He had an ERA of 3.75 and a pair of complete games. In his career at SIU, Adams went 21-13 with a 3.64ERA in 57 career appearances (36 starts). He went 11-5 as a sophomore in 2007.

FIRST SINCE: Adams was the first Southern Illinois University baseball player to be selected in the top three rounds of the draft since pitcher Eric Haberer was a third round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 draft.

SCHOOL DAYS: While pitching for Sherarrd (IL) High School, Adams was a four-time All-Conference and All-Area pick. As a senior, Adams was a First Team All-State selection.

LAST SEASON: Adams was a member of the Helena Brewers in the Pioneer League for his first pro season. Adams made 14 appearances (five starts) and was 5-4 with a 3.48ERA for Helena.

RANKING: Baseball America rated Adams as the #28 prospect in the Milwaukee minor league system heading into the 2009 season.

LAST START: Adams took the loss at Clinton on April 18. He allowed three runs on five hits over five innings in a 4-1 Timber Rattler loss. Adams walked one and struck out seven. All three runs off Adams scored in the third inning.

LAST APPEARANCE: Adams pitched three innings of scoreless relief on April 24 at Miller Park against the Peoria Chiefs. He allowed three hits and walked three hitters while striking out one. Adams received a hold in the game.

VS. GREAT LAKES: Adams has never faced the Loons.

VS.DODGERS: Adams made the start against the Ogden Raptors, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, on August 20, 2008. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and took the loss. Adams struck out seven Raptors to set a professional high for strikeouts in a game.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 8.0 (@ Billings 9/5/08)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (2x; Last: @ Clinton 4/18/09)

SCHEDULED RELIEVER:
RHP WILY PERALTA:
Signed by Milwaukee as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on November 26, 2005.


DEBUT SEASON: Peralta was 2-5 with a 6.63 ERA for the Arizona League affiliate of the Brewers in 2006. He made 14 appearances (six starts) in that season.

MISSING TIME: Peralta did not pitch in 2007 due to Tommy John surgery.

BACK ON THE HILL: Peralta started the 2008 season with Helena in the Pioneer League. He was 1-1 in 15 games (two starts) with a 3.07 ERA and 36 strikeouts over 29-1/3 innings pitched. Peralta also walked just eight batters in those games for Helena.

PROMOTED: Peralta made a pair of starts for West Virginia at the tail end of the 2008 season. He was 0-1 with a 10.80ERA for the power.

RANKING: Baseball America ranked Peralta as the #16 prospect in the Pioneer League after the 2008 season. Baseball America rates Peralta as the # 22 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewer system heading into the 2009 season.

LAST APPEARANCE: Peralta got the start at Miller Park in the game against the Peoria Chiefs on April 24. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks over four innings. Peralta struck out three Chiefs and got a no decision in the game

VS. GREAT LAKES: Peralta is facing the Loons for the first time in his career.

VS. DODGERS: Peralta made the start against Ogden, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Dodgers, on August 19, 2008. He allowed three runs on four hits with no walks over 3-2/3 innings. Peralta received a no decision in the game.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (2x – Last: vs. Fort Wayne 4/13/09)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (vs. AZL Angels 8/12/06)

April 29, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers lost 4-2 to the River Bandits. Quad Cities scored three times in the third inning and held off Wisconsin.

SWEEPS SEASON: All five Timber Rattler series in 2009 have been sweeps. Wisconsin has swept a three game series from Quad Cities to open the year and a four game series from the Peoria Chiefs April 22-24. Wisconsin has been swept in a three game series by Fort Wayne at home, a three game set at Clinton, and the recently completed four game set at Quad Cities.

ROAD WOES: The Rattlers are 0-7 in road games.

THEY SCORED HOW? Quad Cities scored their three runs in the third inning last night on a bases loaded wild pitch, a bases loaded walk, and a bases loaded hit batsman.

BASES LOADED ISSUES: Opponents have had 28 plate appearances with the bases loaded against Timber Rattler pitching this season. They are 7-for-21 with a home run with the bases juiced. Timber Rattler pitchers have forced in seven runs with six bases loaded walks and that one hit batsman.

ON THE FLIP SIDE: Wisconsin batters have had 13 plate appearances with the bases loaded this season. They are 1-for-10 with a pair of sacrifice flies and a walk.

RATTLERS GET THEIR RUNS: Michael Vass tripled in a run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the River Bandit lead to 3-1. After Quad Cities scored in the bottom of the seventh, Brock Kjeldgaard drove in a run with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-2.

DEBUT EVENING: Jose Duran made his Midwest League debut last night with a start at third base. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.

SEVENTH HEAVEN: Rattler outfielder Erik Miller went 1-for-5 in Tuesday’s game to extend his current hitting streak to seven games, the longest streak by a Rattler this season. He is 10-for-28 (.357) during the streak. This hitting streak is Miller’s longest streak as a professional. He had a six-game hitting streak from July 14 to July 20 while playing for the Arizona League Brewers.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is the third season for the Loons in the Midwest League. The franchise had been based in Battle Creek, Michigan from 1995 through 2006. The Loons have been a Dodgers affiliate since they entered the league in 2007. In their first two seasons, the Loons have not made the playoffs and compiled a record of 111-167. Juan Bustabad is in his second season at the helm. Former major league pitcher Danny Darwin is in his second season as the pitching coach for the Loons. Great Lakes is off to a 10-8 start to the 2009 season. In their most recent series, the Loons dropped three out of four games in a home series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .224 as a team. They have scored 66 runs (3.9/game) and hit seven home runs. The Loons are hitting .271 as a team. They have scored 85 runs (4.7/game) and hit nine homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.72 while allowing a total of 86 runs (5.1/game). Great Lakes pitchers have a team ERA of 3.92 while allowing 78 runs (4.3/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 19 errors. The Loon defense has committed 17 errors. Wisconsin is 6-3 at Time Warner Cable Field this season. The Loons are 5-2 away from Dow Diamond this season.

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed 10 members of the current Great Lakes roster on their list of the top 30 prospects in the Dodger system before the start of the season. Pitchers Ethan Martin (#3) and Nathan Eovaldi (#10) are ranked the highest. Other pitchers on the list are: JonMichael Redding (#18), Justin Miller (#20), Javy Guerra (#25), and Jordan Pratt (#30). The highest rated position player is infielder Austin Gallagher (#11). Other position players include: Kyle Russell (#17), Tony Delmonico (#19), and Alfredo Silverio (#27).

OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The Dodgers have placed seven players from their 2008 draft class on the current Great Lakes roster. Martin was their #1 pick in 2008. Russell (3rd round), Infielder Dee Gordon (4th), Redding (5th), and Delmonico (6th) were all top ten picks. Eovaldi (11th) and outfielder Jerry Sands (25th) were also 2008 selections by Los Angeles.

RETURNING ALUMNI: There are eight players on the current Loons roster that also spent at least some time with Great Lakes in 2008. Pitchers Bobby Blevins, Blake Brannon, Kyle Smit, and Miller were Loons in ’08. Catcher Estaban Lopez; infielder Parker Dalton; and outfielders Travis Vetters and Silverio also wore a Great Lakes jersey last season.

GREAT LAKES STARTING PITCHER: RHP Kyle Smit was selected by the Dodgers in the 5th round of the 2006 draft out of Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nevada. Smit is on his third tour of duty with the Loons. He went 0-5 in five starts with a 8.34 ERA for part of the 2007 season. Last year, he made 16 appearances (12 starts) for the Loons and went 1-4 with a 6.55ERA while also spending time with Ogden in the Pioneer League. Smit is making his first start of 2009 after making three relief outings to start his season. Smit’s last appearance was two innings of relief against the Dayton Dragons on April 22. He allowed one run on three hits over two innings. Smit has made one prior start against the Timber Rattlers. On May 4, 2008 at Dow Diamond, Smit allowed one run on five hits over five innings for a no decision. He walked two and struck out four in that game. Smit has pitched twice against a Milwaukee Brewer minor league affiliate. In 2008, he faced Helena in a pair of starts. Smit received a no decision in both games. He totaled seven innings in those starts and allowed four runs on seven hits with six walks and three strikeouts.

Milwaukee Brewer Report: Games of April 28, 2009

MILWAUKEE (MAJ: 10-10; T-4th National League Central): The Brewers beat the Pirates 6-5. Milwaukee rallied from a 5-1 deficit to pick up the win over Pittsburgh at Miller Park.

NASHVILLE (AAA: 11-9; 4th Pacific Coast League American North Division): The Sounds beat Iowa 7-4. Tim Dillard pitched six scoreless innings to run his record to 4-0. Angel Salome drove in a pair of runs for Nashville.

HUNTSVILLE (AA: 10-9; 1st Southern League South Division): The Stars lost 10-2 at Chattanooga.

BREVARD COUNTY (High-A: 12-6; 1st Florida State League East Division): The Manatees beat the Daytona Cubs 1-0. Evan Anundsen pitched the first solo 9-inning no-hitter in the minor leagues this season. He struck out 10 and walked one. Caleb Gindl drove in the only run of the game in the eighth inning.

BREWER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Pittsburgh 0, @ Milwaukee 1 -- FINAL
Nashville – OFF DAY
Huntsville 6, @Chattanooga 7 -- FINAL/ 10 INNINGS
Daytona at Brevard County 6:05pm CDT

Check back this afternoon

Sorry for the delay. Life would be so much easier if sleep weren't necessary.

But, then I'd wind up like Tony Todd in that one X-Files episode.

4/28/2009

Pitching Matchups (vs. Great Lakes)

WED: RHP Cody Adams (0-1, 3.27) vs. RHP Kyle Smit (0-0, 3.24)
THU: RHP Michael Bowman (0-0, 4.00) vs. RHP Justin Miller (1-1, 4.24)
FRI: RHP Cody Scarpetta (0-1, 5,11) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 6.57)

NOTE: Wily Peralta is scheduled to pitch in relief of Adams on Wednesday.

April 28, 2009 Starting Lineups

Erik Miller........CF
Juan Sanchez.......LF
Brett Lawrie.......2B
Corey Kemp.........DH
Brock Kjeldgaard...1B
Michael Vass.......RF
Jose Duran.........3B
Sean McCraw.........C
Michael Marseco....SS

Evan Frederickson..SP

OF NOTE: Welcome to town, Jose Duran. You're starting at third and batting 7th in your first day with the team. Tonight is going to be the first time since game #1 that Brock Kjeldgaard has not hit cleanup.

April 28, 2009 Timber Rattler Pitchers

STARTING PITCHER: RHP EVAN FREDERICKSON

ACQUIRED: Selected by Milwaukee as a supplemental first round pick (35th overall) in the 2008 draft out of the University of San Francisco.

LAST SEASON: Frederickson began his pro career with three starts for Helena, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Brewers. He had no record, walked five and struck out 16 over 11-2/3 innings. Frederickson was promoted to West Virginia and wrapped up his season with the Power in the South Atlantic League by going 0-1 over nine games (four starts) with a 6.20 ERA. He struck out 18 and walked 26 in 20-1/3 innings for the Power

LAST START: Frederickson made the start in game two of the doubleheader against the Peoria Chiefs on April 23. He allowed seven runs on five hits and seven walks over 4-1/3 innings. Frederickson got a no decision as the Rattlers rallied to win 8-7. He set a new single game high as a professional with seven walks.

VS. QUAD CITIES: Frederickson made his Rattler debut with a start against the Quad Cities River Bandits on April 10. He picked up the win as he allowed one unearned run on three hits over five innings. Frederickson walked three and struck out seven. He matched his single game high as a professional with those seven strikeouts.

VS. CARDINALS: That start on April 10th is Frederickson’s only appearance against an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

THE DON: Frederickson transferred to the University of San Francisco for his junior season. He was 5-3 with a 4.54 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) for the Diamond Dons. Frederickson walked 61 batters and struck out 109 over 75-1/3 innings for USF.

THE HOKIE: Frederickson began his college career at Virginia Tech. He compiled a 2-4 record and struck out 68 batters in 56-2/3 innings for the Hokies.

MY OLD SCHOOL: Frederickson was a two-time First Team All-Region and All-District selection as a high school player for Oakton (VA) High.

NOT A TWIN: The Minnesota Twins drafted Frederickson with a selection in the 27th round of the 2005 draft. He did not sign.

RATED: Baseball America ranked Frederickson as the #24 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewer organization before the 2009 season.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 5.2 IP (6/23/08 @Great Falls)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (3x – Last: 4/10/09 vs. Quad Cities)

SCHEDULED RELIEVER: LHP EFRAIN NIEVES

ACQUIRED: Selected by Milwaukee in the 7th round of the 2007 draft out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

LAST SEASON: Nieves went 6-3 with a 4.48 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) at Helena. He walked 10 and struck out 66 over 76-1/3 innings.

LAST APPEARANCE: Nieves made the start in the first game of the doubleheader against the Peoria Chiefs on April 23. He allowed five runs on eight hits over 4-2/3 innings. Nieves did not walk a batter and struck out one in a no decision. He left the game with the Rattlers trailing 5-2, but the Rattlers rallied to a 7-6 win.

VS. QUAD CITIES: Nieves got his first Midwest League victory against the River Bandits. He pitched three scoreless innings on Opening Night at Time Warner Cable Field. Nieves struck out six and walked one as got the win when the Rattlers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 2-1 win.

VS. CARDINALS: That one appearance against the River Bandits is the only time Nieves has faced an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Nieves was fifth in the Pioneer League in innings pitched and fifth in the Pioneer League in wins.

STREAKING: Nieves won four consecutive decisions between June 22 and July 13, 2008.

AWARD WINNING: Nieves was the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for his performances July 7-13.

WHAT A GAME! Nieves tossed eight innings without allowing a run and striking out nine at Great Falls on August 25. He retired the side in order in the first inning. The Voyagers picked up a leadoff double in the second inning. Then, Nieves retired the next 21 batters in a row.

WORKING VACATION: Nieves pitched for Arecibo in the Puerto Rican Winter League during the off season.

RATED: Baseball America ranked Nieves as the #23 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewer organization before the 2009 season.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 8.0 (8/25/08 at Great Falls)
STRIKEOUTS: 9 (8/25/08 at Great Falls)

April 28, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT MONDAY: The Timber Rattlers dropped a pair of games to the River Bandits. Quad Cities won game one 4-2 and game two 17-7.

GAME ONE RECAP: The Rattlers grabbed a 2-1 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings. But, the River Bandits scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning off Rattler starting pitcher Trey Watten to grab a 4-2 lead.

GAME TWO RECAP: Wisconsin had a 1-0 lead after scoring a run in the top of the first inning. But, the River Bandits scored six times in the bottom of the first and knocked Wisconsin starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta out of the game after just 2/3 of an inning. Quad Cities scored twice in the second, three times in the third, five times in the fourth, and one more time in the fifth to pull away from the Rattlers. Charles Cutler drove in five runs, including a grand slam, for the River Bandits. Brett Lawrie had two hits and three RBI for the Rattlers.

SIX PACK: Rattler outfielder Erik Miller had one hit in both games of Monday’s doubleheader. He has extended his current hitting streak to six games, the longest streak by a Rattler this season. He is 9-for-23 (.391) during the streak. This hitting streak matches Miller’s longest streak as a pro. He also had a six-game hitting streak from July 14 to July 20 while playing for the Arizona League Brewers.

PAINFUL HISTORY: Brett Lilley was hit by a pitch three times, including twice in the first inning, in the second game of the doubleheader. He shares the Midwest League record with 10 other players for most times hit by pitch in a game. Former Timber Rattler Andy Augustine (July 25, 1995) is one of those players. The last Midwest Leaguer to be hit by a pitch three times in a game was Eric Verbryke of the Battle Creek Yankees on May 24, 2003 against the South Bend Silver Hawks. Getting hit is nothing new to Lilley. He was hit by a pitch 109 times in 231 games as an infielder at the University of Notre Dame.

TRANSACTIONS: The Timber Rattlers have placed infielder John Delaney on the disabled list retroactive to April 26. Infielder Jose Duran has joined the Timber Rattlers in Quad Cities and will be eligible for play tonight.

MEET THE NEW GUY: Duran was a sixth round pick of the Brewers in the 2008 draft out of Texas A&M. He hit .372 and was the Big 12 Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2008. Duran hit .211 in 36 games for Helena in the Pioneer League after signing with the Rattlers. He is the brother of German Duran, who played 60 games for the Texas Rangers in 2008 and is currently playing for the Oklahoma City Red Hawks of the Pacific Coast League.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Quad Cities River Bandits are the Midwest League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. This is the fifth season of the partnership between the River Bandits and the Cardinals. Last season, Quad Cities missed the playoffs. They were 33-31 in the first half and 35-35 in the second half for an overall record of 68-66. They are off to a 9-7 start this season. In their most recent series, Quad Cities split a four game set at Beloit. The River Bandits won the first two games, but they blew a pair of early leads in the last two games of the series at Pohlman Field and took losses in both games.

2009 SERIES: The Rattlers swept a season opening series from Quad Cities at Time Warner Cable Field. The Rattlers won by scores of 2-1, 10-1, and 3-2. The season series is tied at 3-3. This is the final game of the first half between the teams. This is also the final regular season game in the series here at Modern Woodmen Park. The next time the teams meet is July 31-August 2 at Time Warner Cable Field.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .227 as a team. They have scored 64 runs (4.0/game) and hit seven home runs. The Bandits are hitting .244 as a team. They have scored 95 runs (5.9/game) and hit 11 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.73 while allowing a total of 82 runs (5.1/game). Quad Cities pitchers have a team ERA of 3.98 while allowing 79 runs (4.9/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 19 errors. The River Bandit defense has committed 32 errors. Wisconsin is 0-6 on the road this season. The River Bandits are 7-2 at Modern Woodmen Park this season.

QUAD CITIES STARTING PITCHER: RHP Miguel Tapia was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic by the Cardinals in April of 2006. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2006 and 2007 before starting the 2008 season with the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League in 2008. Tapia went 4-2 with a 3.86ERA with 28 walks and 36 strikeouts in 53-2/3 innings pitched for Batavia. He made 15 appearances (nine starts) for the Muckdogs. Tapia’s appearance prior to this evening for the River Bandits was on April 23 at Beloit. He took the loss as he allowed three runs on three hits over three innings of relief work with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. Tapia has made one other start this season for the River Bandits. On April 16 against Peoria at Modern Woodmen Park, Tapia allowed one unearned run on four hits over four innings and picked up a no decision. Tapia faced the Timber Rattlers on April 10 and pitched two innings in relief. He gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits, a walk, and three strikeouts. That is his only appearance against the Rattlers and his only appearance against an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Transaction (4/28)

IF John Delaney placed on the DL retroactive to April 26

IF Jose Duran transferred to Wisconsin from Helena

Choose your Bobblehead

Here is a little promotion cooked up by the Timber Rattlers.
Help the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pick which former or current player should be immortalized as a bobblehead. The winning selection will be given away on Thursday, September 3, at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Voting will run through the end of the Midwest League All Star Break on June 24.
Vote at the link. Here are the players for whom you may vote.

Felix Hernandez - P - 2003

Gil Meche - P - 1997-98

Cutter Dykstra - OF - 2009

Adam Jones - SS - 2004

Phillippe Aumont - P - 2008

Chris Tillman - P - 2007

Brett Lawrie - 2B - 2009

Jeff Clement - C - 2005

J.J. Putz - P - 2000
Details on each player are at the link, too. I think we all know The Kid's vote (coughCuttercough)...and also his complaint (ahemNo Tuicough). But try not to let that deter you.

Project continues

Thank you to the two people who popped into the comments yesterday regarding Wisconsin natives in organized ball.

They made sure to mention Jason Jaramillo of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He is a Racine native and got this story in the Racine Journal-Times after last night's game.
The 2001 Case High School graduate appears to have arrived as catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates — at least until starter Ryan Doumit is expected to return from a broken bone in his right wrist around midseason — and Jaramillo has arrived with a smile.
He has done pretty well with the Pirates. What does his manager think?
So delighted is Pirates manager John Russell, who managed Jaramillo with the Class AAA Ottawa Lynx in 2007, that he only could think of one complaint.

“The only knock I have on him is he’s from Oklahoma State,” joked Russell, who was a catcher for arch-rival Oklahoma from 1979-82.
Makes sense. There is this little bit of trivia, too.
Jaramillo, a Franksville native who becomes the first position player from Racine County to start for a major league team since Case graduate Duane Kuiper started 18 games at second base for the 1984 San Francisco Giants.
Yes, Duane Kuiper. What's he doing now?

Prodigal Beat writer delivers

And eventually, I get around to linking to it. The Rattler Blog had this story from the Miller Park game that is interesting.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hitting coach Matt Erickson shared an interesting and little-known anecdote about his brief major league career Friday night.

"My first swing here (at Miller Park), my first at-bat here, I sprained my AC joint (in my right shoulder). Not many people even know that. I don't know if I've even shared that story with anyone other than my family. I pinch hit on a Friday night in the ninth off of (Cincinnati's) Aaron Harang. And he threw me a slider, and I took a pretty big swing -- my top hand slipped off the bat a little bit.
Read the rest over there.

Road stories (Quad Cities)

This is the fourth different team hotel for the River Bandits since I've been covering the team. (NOTE: Each one gets farther away from the ballpark with fewer and fewer places to eat, but that's a different story.) I really wish my camera still took decent pictures because I would have a beauty for you.

No, not the art on the wall. Those are still the same. The view out the hotel window is the same, too.

I would have a shot of the ashtray and the book of matches that is sitting on the tray with the ice bucket and plastic glasses.

This may be one of the last hotels with a smoking room in the league. It's a good thing I have a three-pack-a-day habit.

Awards for the Week (4/27)

MiLB.com announced the Pitchers and Batters of the Week for the various leagues yesterday.

Midwest League
Matt Fairel, Dayton
1-0, 1.38 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 20 SO
Matt Fairel was dominant in two starts for the Dayton Dragons last week. Facing Great Lakes, the Reds' 35th-round selection struck out 12 batters in his third career start. He then picked up his first pro win against South Bend on April 26, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while fanning eight in seven innings. He leads the Midwest League with 20 2/3 innings pitched and is second with 24 strikeouts.

Johermyn Chavez, Lansing
.421 (8-19), 7 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0 SB, 1.158 SLG
Johermyn Chavez started the week with a homer in three consecutive games, followed by a 3-for-5 performance in which he fell a homer short of the cycle and plated four runs. The Blue Jays prospect leads the Midwest League with four homers and nine extra-base hits. The Venezuelan native had an eight-game hitting streak snapped on April 26.

BREWER FARMHANDS:
Southern League
Chris Cody, Huntsville
2-0, 0.75 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Brewers prospect Chris Cody opened his two-start week by holding Carolina to an unearned run in six innings on April 21. He capped it off with six more dominant innings against Chattanooga, holding the Lookouts to a run on just two hits. The lefty didn't allow a walk in either outing and lowered his ERA to 1.29, tied for fifth in the Southern League.

Florida State League
Caleb Gindl, Brevard County
.522 (12-23), 6 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB, .783 SLG
The Brewers' Caleb Gindl cleaned up at the plate this week for Brevard County. The '07 fifth-round pick started the week going 4-for-4 with three RBIs on April 21 and capped it off with a homer, three runs scored and two RBIs on April 26. He broke out against Dunedin on April 24 with a homer and four RBIs, while going 3-for-4 at the plate. The shortstop prospect leads the FSL with a .397 average and 23 hits.

Ex-Brewer farmhands:
International League
Matt LaPorta , Columbus
.520 (13-25), 10 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 1 SO, 0 SB, .840 SLG
Indians top prospect Matt LaPorta swung a hot bat this week, collecting a hit in every game to extend his hitting streak to seven games. The outfielder homered in back-to-back games against Indianapolis on April 24 and 25. He also had four multi-hit games, including a 3-for-3 effort on April 25. LaPorta, a 2008 Southern League All-Star, leads the International League with 19 runs scored and a .767 slugging percentage.

Ex-Rattler:
California League
Kuo Hui Lo, High Desert
.429 (9-21), 7 R, 0 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 SB, 1.190 SLG
Taiwan native Kuo Hui Lo ripped apart Cal League pitchers this week, with four homers in five games -- including a pair of roundtrippers to cap off the week on April 26. The Mariners prospect hit safely and had at least one RBI in each game this week. He currently leads the circuit with six triples and an .811 slugging percentage. Lo is riding a six-game hitting streak into the third week of the season.

Midwest League Action: Game of April 27, 2009

Complete scoreboard

@Quad Cities 4, Wisconsin 2
@Quad Cities 17, Wisconsin 7: Quad-Cities and Wisconsin started their Midwest League doubleheader at 11 a.m. Monday morning. Batting practice started about 2 1/2 hours later.

@Kane County 10, Beloit 6: The Cougars' hitters delivered, Scott Deal dealt and the wind blew out at Elfstrom Stadium. The first part of another winning equation for Kane County worked better because of the third on Monday, while the second worked out just to spite it.

@West Michigan 5, Lansing 1: "I got stronger as the game went on," Putkonen said. "I just wanted to go out and get our team back in the dugout."

Fort Wayne 15, @Great Lakes 8: Looooooons version

@Clinton 10, Burlington 2: L-Kings version | Bees version

Dayton @ South Bend: PPD

Cedar Rapids @ Peoria: PPD

Milwaukee Brewer Report: Games of April 27, 2009

MILWAUKEE (MAJ: 9-10; 5th National League Central): The Brewers beat Pittsburgh 10-5. The Brewers snapped a 5-5 tie with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rickie Weeks homered and drove in four runs for Milwaukee. Ryan Braun and Mike Cameron also homered for Milwaukee.

NASHVILLE (AAA: 10-9; 4th Pacific Coast League American North Division): The Sounds lost 7-3 to Iowa. Mat Gamel homered for Nashville, but the Cubs, who hit four home runs in the game, broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the top of the sixth and three more in the top of the eighth.

HUNTSVILLE (AA: 10-8; 1st Southern League South Division): The Stars lost 6-3 at Chattanooga. The Lookouts scored six runs in the second inning for an early lead.

BREVARD COUNTY (High-A: 11-6; 1st Florida State League East Division): The Manatees lost 4-2 to Daytona. The Cubs scored twice in the first and twice in the second to build the early lead.

BREWER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Pittsburgh (Jeff Karstens 1-0) at Milwaukee (Braden Looper 2-0) 7:05pm CDT
Iowa (JR Mathes 3-1) at Nashville (Tim Dillard 3-0) 11:00am CDT
Huntsville (David Welch 0-2) at Chattanooga (Francisco Felix 1-0) 6:15pm CDT
Brevard County (Evan Anundsen 1-2) at Daytona (Craig Muschko 1-1) 9:35am CDT

4/27/2009

What do you say, Ernie?

LET'S PLAY TWO TODAY!

Can you go home again?

Well, not to pitch this time.
Cody Adams won't get the chance to pitch for visiting Wisconsin during its series against the Quad-Cities River Bandits.

He can live with his consolation prize, however.

The Sherrard grad took the mound for the Timber Rattlers on Friday at Milwaukee's Miller Park, working three innings of relief in Wisconsin's 5-3 win over Peoria.

A crowd of 17,880 watched Adams and his teammates make the most of a one-night taste of life in the big leagues.

"If I can't pitch here, that's not a bad trade-off," said Adams, a second-round pick of the Brewers in the 2008 draft out of Southern Illinois who is 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in three Midwest League appearances this season.

"I really was looking forward to pitching here, kind of a second home field for me. I've never played on this field and I've had a lot of texts and emails from all sorts of people at home wondering if was going to happen," Adams said.
In case you were wondering:
Driving directions to Modern Woodmen Park
17.5 mi – about 34 mins

Sherrard Senior High School: 4701 176th Ave; Sherrard, IL 61281

1. Head west on 176th Ave/County Rd NN toward 63rd St/County Rd L; 3.9 mi
2. Turn right at US-67/US Route 67; Continue to follow US-67; 7.8 mi
3. Turn left at W 1st Ave/US-67; Continue to follow US-67; 4.1 mi
4. Turn right at 5th Ave/US-67 ; 0.3 mi
5. Turn left at 15th St/US-67; Continue to follow US-67; Entering Iowa; 1.0 mi
6. Turn right at W 2nd St/US-67; Continue to follow US-67; 0.2 mi
7. Turn right at Centennial Bridge/W River Dr/US-61/US-67 ; 420 ft
8. Turn left at S Gaines St; Destination will be on the left; 400 ft


Modern Woodmen Park; 209 S Gaines St; Davenport, IA 52802

A few slide shows

Nicole from Cute Sports was at the Miller Park Game and has some commentary and pictures and more pictures.

MiLB.com's photo gallery is right here.

Tip o' the cap to Right Field Bleachers for the pointer to the Flickr site of Steve Schar with some awesome Robin Yount pictures and a couple Bernie and Fang in the Chalet* photos. One of which is below:



*-I know it says Bernie's Dugout, but it will always be the Chalet to me.

April 27, 2009 Timber Rattler Pitchers

GAME ONE STARTER: RHP TREY WATTEN: Selected by Milwaukee in the 7th round of the 2008 draft out of Abilene Christian University.

LAST SEASON: Watten was 3-2 with a save and a 5.40 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) at Helena. He walked 25 and struck out 40 over 55 innings.

COLLEGIATELY: At Abilene Christian, Watten was 20-3 with a 2.74 ERA over two seasons. He also struck out 188 batters over 167-1/3 innings pitched for the Wildcats.

LONE STAR ALL-STAR: Watten was a First Team All-Lone Star Conference South Division selection as both a pitcher and a utility player in 2007. Watten also played shortstop for the Wildcats.

OLD DAYS: Watten pitched high school baseball for Coppel (TX) High and earned First Team Class 5A All-State selection and a District 6-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2005.

SAVING THE DAY: Watten earned his first professional save on August 30, 2008. He worked three scoreless innings against Great Falls. Watten walked a two and struck out two to close out the Voyagers. Watten also picked up a save in his first appearance as a Timber Rattler. Watten pitched four scoreless innings and struck out a career high six as the Rattlers beat Quad Cities on April 10.

LAST SEASON: Watten was 3-2 with a save and a 5.40 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) at Helena. He walked 25 and struck out 40 over 55 innings.

LAST APPEARANCE: Watten got his first win as a Timber Rattler on April 22. He pitched three innings in relief and allowed one run on five hits against Peoria on April 22. The Chiefs got a run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Wisconsin rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 victory.

LAST START: Watten took the loss at Clinton on April 16. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over four innings. Watten walked one and struck out five in a 4-1 loss to the LumberKings.

VS. QUAD CITIES: Watten got a save with four scoreless innings against the River Bandits on April 10 at Time Warner Cable Field. Watten set a professional single game high for strikeouts with six in a 10-1 Rattler win.

VS. CARDINALS: The save against the River Bandits was the only time Watten has faced an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (6/20/08 vs. Missoula)
STRIKEOUTS: 6 (4/10/09 vs. Quad Cities)

GAME TWO STARTER: RHP CODY SCARPETTA

ACQUIRED: Selected by Milwaukee in the 11th round of the 2007 draft out of Guilford (IL) High School.

LAST SEASON: Scarpetta started his first pro season with the Arizona League affiliate of the Brewers. He went 1-0 in six games (five starts) with a 0.57ERA and struck out 27 with eight walks over 15-2/3 innings. He did not allow a run over his final 15 innings in the Arizona League. Scarpetta was 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in six games (three starts) after being promoted to Helena. Struck out 31 and walked eight in 20-2/3 innings for the Brewers.

LAST START: Scarpetta matched his career high for strikeouts in a single game with 10 K’s against the Peoria Chiefs on April 22. He allowed one run on three hits and walked two, but received a no decision.

VS. QUAD CITIES: Scarpetta made the start on Opening Night against the River Bandits on April 9, 2009. He allowed one run on two his and struck out eight for a no decision in a 2-1 Timber Rattler victory.

VS. CARDINALS: That Opening Night start is the only appearance Scarpetta has against an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Scarpetta’s father Dan was drafted by Milwaukee in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft and pitched in the Brewer organization from 1982-1983 and 1985-1988.

ONE OF 40: Scarpetta is on Milwaukee’s 40-Man Roster

BASEBALL IN PARADISE: Scarpetta pitched for the West Oahu CaneFires in Hawaii Winter Baseball after the 2008 regular season.

RATED: Baseball America ranked Scarpetta as the #15 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewer organization before the 2009 season.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 5.0 IP (2x – 8/2 vs. AZL A’s & 8/23 @ Billings)
STRIKEOUTS: 10 (2x - 8/2/08 vs. AZL Athletics & 4/22 vs. Peoria)

April 27, 2009 Game Notes

A few changes from yesterday's notes:

LAST ACTION: The Timber Rattlers lost 9-8 to the River Bandits on Saturday night. Quad Cities rallied from deficits of 5-2 and 8-6 for the victory. The River Bandits scored twice in the ninth – a game-tying home run by Domnit Bolivar and a game-winning RBI single by Niko Vasquez – to pick up the win. The loss ended Wisconsin’s four-game wining streak.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Rattlers scored eight runs and banged out 10 hits on Saturday. Over the last five games, the Rattlers have scored 31 runs and have tallied 46 hits.

MIGHT AS WELL JUMP: The Rattler team batting average has gone from .189 to .228 over the last five games.

YARD WORK: Brett Lawrie hit a two-out, three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning on Saturday to put the Rattlers in front 8-6. The homer was Lawrie’s third of the season. Wisconsin did not have a player with three home runs in 2008 until Joe Dunigan hit his third of the year on May 6.

POWER SURGE: In 22 games during April of the 2008 season, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hit three home runs. The Rattlers have hit three homers in the last three games. In 14 games during April of 2009, this Timber Rattler team has hit seven homers.

CLOSE SHAVES: Eight of Wisconsin’s games this season have been decided by one run. Five games have been decided in the last at bat with the Rattlers winning three of those games. Saturday was the first walk-off win by an opponent of the Rattlers this season. Wisconsin has one walk-off victory this year.

LET’S NOT MAKE THIS A HABIT: The Timber Rattlers have been rained out of a pair of road games this season; both of them in Iowa and both of them on consecutive Sundays. Wisconsin was rained out in a game at Clinton on April 19. The next Sunday road game of in Iowa this season is June 14 in Burlington.

2009 SERIES: The Rattlers swept a season opening series from Quad Cities at Time Warner Cable Field. The Rattlers won by scores of 2-1, 10-1, and 3-2. Wisconsin leads the season series 3-1.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .228 as a team. They have scored 56 runs (4.0/game) and hit seven home runs. The Bandits are hitting .234 as a team. They have scored 74 runs (5.3/game) and hit eight homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.92 while allowing a total of 61 runs (4.4/game). Quad Cities pitchers have a team ERA of 4.15 while allowing 70 runs (5.0/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 15 errors. The River Bandit defense has committed 27 errors. Wisconsin is 0-4 on the road this season. The River Bandits are 5-2 at Modern Woodmen Park this season.

QUAD CITIES STARTING PITCHER GAME ONE: RHP Arquimedes Nieto was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama by the St. Louis Cardinals on March 3, 2007. After one season in the Dominican Summer League, Nieto pitched for the Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League in 2008. He was 6-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 15 games (nine starts). Nieto’s last appearance was three innings of scoreless relief on April 21 at Beloit. He struck out three, walked one, and gave up two hits. Nieto faced the Timber Rattlers on Opening Night and took the loss when he allowed two unearned runs. Nieto struck out three in 2-2/3 innings against the Rattlers.

QUAD CITITES STARTING PITCHER GAME TWO: RHP Hector Cardenas was signed as a non drafted free agent by the Cardinals on April 20, 2006. He pitched for Cardinal affiliates in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League before pitching for Batavia in 2008. He was 5-0 with a 1.83ERA in 15 games (two starts) for the Muckdogs last season. Cardenas made his Midwest League debut on April 15 in a home game against the Beloit Snappers and he pitched five innings of no-hit ball to pick up the win. Cardenas did not walk a batter and struck out four. His last outing was two innings of relief at the Snappers on April 22 and picked up the win. Cardenas has never faced the Rattlers or an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Midwest League Action: April 26, 2009

Complete scoreboard

Wiscosnin @ Quad Cities: PPD

@Kane County 11, Beloit 6
@Kane County 8, Beloit 7: Sweep.

Fort Wayne 6, @Great Lakes 3
@Great Lakes 2, Fort Wayne 1: Split.

@West Michigan 3, Lansing 2
@West Michigan 4, Lansing 2: A three-hour rain delay Sunday at Fifth Third Ballpark could not put a damper on the best 15-game start in West Michigan Whitecaps history.

Dayton 8, @South Bend 1: It didn’t take long for South Bend manager Mark Haley to zero in on the best news to come out of Sunday’s game against Dayton.

Burlington 6, @Clinton 2: Bees version | L-Kings version

@Peoria 8, Cedar Rapids 7: Harrison...hit a one-out, two-run triple to the right-center-field gap, off Kernels reliever Jeremy Thorne, to score Nelson Perez and Tony Campana in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Milwaukee Brewer Report: Games of April 26, 2009

MILWAUKEE (MAJ: 8-10; 5th National League Central): The Brewers lost 3-2 at Houston. Manny Parra allowed three runs (one earned) over five innings and took the loss.

NASHVILLE (AAA: 10-8; 4th Pacific Coast League American North Division): The Sounds lost 3-0 to Iowa. A three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning gave the Cubs the only runs they needed. The Nashville offense managed just three hits.

HUNTSVILLE (AA: 10-7; 1st Southern League South Division): The Stars won 3-1 at Chattanooga. Chris Cody allowed one run on two hits with five strikeouts over six innings for the win. Chuck Caufield knocked in a pair of runs for Huntsville.

BREVARD COUNTY (High-A: 11-5; 1st Florida State League East Division): The Manatees beat Dunedin 8-3. Brent Brewer drove in four runs. Josh Butler gave up three runs on six hits, but struck out six over five innings for the win and the series sweep.

BREWER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Pittsburgh (Jeff Karstens 1-0) at Milwaukee (Braden Looper 2-0) 7:05pm CDT
Iowa (Randy Wells 2-0) at Nashville (Nick Green 1-1) 6:00pm CDT
Huntsville (Bobby Bramhall 0-1) at Chattanooga (Josh Lindblom 1-2) 6:15pm CDT
Daytona at Brevard County 6:05pm CDT

4/26/2009

A little rainy day project extended

Last Sunday, there was this post about Major Leaguers and minor leaguers with Wisconsin ties.

I stupidly glided right by a few obvious ones.

Eric Hinske of Menasha is with the Pirates

Jarrod Washburn of La Crosse is with the Mariners.

Brewer farmhand Vinny Rottino is from Racine and he is with Huntsville.

Korey Feiner ('08), a native of Sun Prairie, is -- as was mentioned in a comment way below -- on the DL for the Carolina Mudcats in the Southern League.

Anybody else?

Update on the weather (Um, Updated...FINAL UPDATE

The rain has stopped in Davenport for now. However, the field here is notorious for its poor drainage system.

The grounds crew is out looking over the field, but they have not taken the tarp off the field.

The game will not start on time. But, they are going to try to get this one in because there is a decent pre-sold attendance.

Stay tuned. I'll update this post when there is more information.

UPDATE 1:06PM

They are still in the process of taking the tarp off the field. A rough guess is that if we play, it probably won't be until after 2:00pm.

UPDATE 1:26PM

Good thing I didn't go with that first time they told me. In a fit of Optimism that you really have to admire, the first time they told me for a projected start time was 1:45pm. Optimism is nice...until reality slaps you upside the head. Trust me. I know.

Latest word is a 2:00pm start time. So, we'll go with that for now.

UPDATE 1:41PM

Yeah. 2:00pm. Not going to happen. The field conditions are -- how can I put this politely -- crummy? I was just told that the start time is now indefinite. So, hang in there, I guess.

UPDATE 2:00PM

GAME CALLED. Two games tomorrow. First game starts at 11am. Second game will follow...Maybe...The weather forecast doesn't look that good.

April 26, 2009 Starting Lineup

Weather permitting

Cutter Dykstra....CF
Juan Sanchez......LF
Brett Lawrie......2B
Brock Kjeldgaard..1B
Erik Miller.......RF
Corey Kemp.........C
Edgar Trejo.......3B
Shawn Zarraga.....DH
Michael Marseco...SS

Trey Watten.......SP
Site Meter