ABOUT LAST SEASON: The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 58-81. The team went 34-36 in the first half, 24-45 in the second half, and did not make the playoffs.
PROSPECTING: There are seven members of the active Timber Rattler roster who are rated as top 30 prospects in the Milwaukee system by Baseball America in their 2010 Prospect Handbook. Pitchers Eric Arnett (#4), Jake Odorizzi (#9) and Kyle Heckathorn (#10) are all rated in the top 10. Outfielder D’Vontrey Richardson (#18) is the only position player to make the list. Pitchers Del Howell (#22), Nick Bucci (#29), and Maverick Lasker (#30) are the other three players on the top 30 list.
HOW THEY DID LAST YEAR: The majority of this year’s Timber Rattlers played for either Helena in the Pioneer League or Milwaukee’s affiliate in the Arizona League. Helena finished with an overall record of 32-44 and missed the playoffs. Their first half record of 20-18 was good for third place in their division and their 12-26 record in the second half was fourth best in their division. The Arizona League affiliate of the Brewers went 25-31 (12-16 first half; 13-15 second half) and missed the playoffs.
REHABBING: Jeff Suppan is making his second rehabilitation start for the Timber Rattlers. On August 15, 2009, Suppan pitched 3-1/3 innings against the Beloit Snappers at Time Warner Cable Field. Tonight’s game one starter allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeout and took the loss.
FIRST TIME SINCE: Yesterday was the first Wisconsin home opener to be postponed since April 3, 2003. The Timber Rattlers were to play the Beloit Snappers on that date, but the teams did not play any of the four games on their series.
SOMETHING ABOUT 4/9? Wisconsin has not had a season opening doubleheader since 2003. The Rattlers began that season with a twinbill against the Clinton LumberKings on Wednesday, April 9. Wisconsin opened their 2002 home schedule with a doubleheader when they faced the Burlington Bees on Tuesday, April 9.
SINCE ’00: In the last ten Opening Days, the Timber Rattlers are 6-4.
DATE....OPP...RESULT...SCORE
4/8/00..BEL...Win......10-6
4/8/01..KC....Win.......7-6
4/9/02*.BUR...Loss......5-2
4/9/03*.CLN...Win.......2-1
4/8/04..CLN...Loss......5-1
4/7/05..PEO...Win.......1-0
4/6/06..PEO...Win.......4-2
4/5/07..PEO...Loss......9-5
4/7/08..CLN...Loss......8-1
4/9/09..QC....Win.......3-2
Key: BEL-Beloit, KC-Kane County, BUR-Burlington, CLN-Clinton, PEO-Peoria, QC-Quad Cities
*-Game one of a doubleheader
WELCOME ALUMNI: There are five Rattlers on the active roster that spent at least some time with Wisconsin last season. Pitchers Maverick Lasker and Efrain Nieves are joined by infielders Pete Fatse, Chris Dennis and Michael Marseco.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Kane County made the 2009 Midwest League Playoffs as the First Half Western Division with a record of 41-29. They finished the regular season with a 76-64 record. The Cougars lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Burlington Bees. Aaron Nieckula is the manager of the Cougars. He managed Kane County from 2006 to 2008 before managing Stockton in the California League in 2009.
2009 SEASON SERIES: Kane County won the season series with the Timber Rattlers in 2009. They were 12-7 against Wisconsin, including a 5-3 record at Time Warner Cable Field.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: In 2009, the Timber Rattlers hit .236 as a team. They scored 546 runs (3.9/game) and hit 62 home runs. The Cougars hit .243 as a team. They scored 598 runs (4.3/game) and hit 80 homers. Wisconsin pitchers had a team ERA of 4.34 while allowing a total of 691 runs (5.0/game) last season. Kane County pitchers had a team ERA of 3.63 while allowing 585 runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattler defense committed 169 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 171 errors. Wisconsin was 37-34 at home. Kane County was 35-35 on the road in 2009.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed five member of the current Kane County roster on their top 30 list of Athletics prospects. Catcher Max Stassi (#4) is the highest rated Cougar. Pitchers Connor Hoehn (#22), Jonathan Joseph (#23), and Justin Marks (#27) are joined by outfielder Tyreace House (#28) on the list.
GAME ONE KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jonathan Joseph was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006 by the A’s. He was 0-2 in 18 games (six starts) for the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League in 2009. In his minor league career, Joseph is 8-8 with six saves and a 4.96ERA in 64 games (20 starts). In 178 career innings, he has struck out 164 hitters and walked 74. Tonight is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers. Joseph has made three relief appearances against a Brewers affiliate. He took the loss against the Brewers Arizona League affiliate on August 20, 2007. In 2008, he picked up a save and a no decision against the AZ Brewers.
GAME TWO KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: RHP Robert Gilliam was selected by Oakland in the 8th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He was 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 26 games (4 starts) for the Spartans. Gilliam made two relief appearances with the AZL A’s and six relief appearances for Vancouver. In his first pro season, he was 2-1 with a 3.86ERA with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 11-2/3 innings. Tonight is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers. On July 10, 2009, the Gilliam allowed three unearned runs on four hits over two innings in a relief appearance against the Arizona League Brewers.
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