A place to follow the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Midwest League, Minor League baseball, Major League Baseball, and everything in between in that order.
Greetings, Timber Rattler fans. Carl, the rain-hating camel here. Yes, it's raining. Yes, I hate it. Yes, Mehring said he had to do some "other things" today. Like what, I wonder?
Yes, I have graciously decided to step in for the morning posting. But, I do not have a lot of time. So,
"No question," said Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, when asked if he was showing what the Brewers saw in him. "You're looking at a first-year kid, didn't even have a professional at-bat until the start of this season and he's hitting over .300 right now, has four home runs and leading our team in RBIs. That's what we've expected out of him.
Well, hello there! Remember me? I'm the Sun! Giver of light and warmth.
Mehring is actually out enjoying the weather. He may actually be wearing shorts...which is scary in and of itself.
Anyways, there is some actual news out there, but wanted to do it himself. I guess my job is to just stop in an let you know that he'll be around later today with those newsbits. Check back during the Pro Bowl. It's not like you'll be watching that today.
As for me, I need to get back to melting snow. That is something that I love to do!
Also, I'm a big Beatles fan. Especially this song. It starts around 3:00...
Hi, kids. It's me. Broomy McSweep. I'll make occasional appearances during the season. Usually after the Timber Rattlers sweep a doubleheader or a series.
But, today I'm here to represent the cold weather getting swept out of the Midwest. It was actually 17 degrees above zero when I was outside. I am also here to represent sweeping out the inbox of the guy who writes this blog.
First: Lara lost 4-2 to Caracas. Ivan Blanco ('05) 2-1/3IP, 2H, 0R, 3K got in the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional Playoffs.
The NHL hit one out of the park when it staged an outdoor regular-season game last season and again this season.
How about an outdoor hockey game in Peoria?
It’s something the Peoria Chiefs are considering. They’d like to play host to a Winter Classic, American Hockey League style, at O’Brien Field.
Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen and Peoria Rivermen chief operating officer Josh Morin have talked, only informally, about the logistics of having the Rivermen play an outdoor game at O’Brien Field next winter.
It’s only exploratory. But as the NHL event continues to grow in popularity, it’s a matter of time before someone in the minors pulls this off, too.
Third: The important part about Scott Steinmann taking over as the manager of the Clinton LumberKings...what Ted thinks.
"He probably knows the bus routes by heart. We’re excited to have him. I enjoyed getting to know Scott when he was on the other side of the field,” Clinton general manager Ted Tornow said.
“He’s had some success at higher levels and as Seattle reorganizes its organization, they obviously believe he has something to offer in terms of educating and guiding their younger players.”
Fourth: Never leave like this...ever. Mehring jumped in with a few comments, those are in italics. I bolded the really relevant thing.
New Curve broadcaster Ron Potesta, like owner Bob Lozinak, spent the past six years in a place where fans don't care much about minor league baseball.
Radio announcers are like players (editor: We are?), Potesta said, in that they don't get too enthused going to the ballpark and performing when there are 200 people in the stands (editor: We don't?). That was the norm when Potesta worked for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in Jackson, Tenn.(editor: except for last year when attendance jumped over 25% over the 2007 season to 2,096 per game), but he knows things will be very different with the Curve at Blair County Ballpark.
''I am so excited to see 5,000, 6,000, 7,000 people at the ballpark,'' Potesta said. ''It puts an extra spring in your step.''
Potesta, who replaces Jason Dambach as the voice of the Curve, comes to Altoona with 12 years of minor league broadcasting experience. He worked for Lozinak's former team in Tennessee, and prior to that he had career stops in Lubbock and Abilene, Texas, Elmira, N.Y., and Vero Beach, Fla.
''In my 12 years of broadcasting, this is probably going to be the first year where the fan base is actually relevant,'' said the 44-year-old Potesta, who earned Southern League Broadcaster of the Year honors in 2007 with West Tenn.
So long, Diamond Jaxx and thanks for the memories.
[T]he Aug. 22 event will boast an Art at the Park show with exhibits and sales of original paintings, sculptures, jewelry, fabric, ceramics and pottery, along with performances by popular Celtic acts The Elders, Screaming Orphans, Stephen's Green and balladeer Brendan Nolan, who will emcee.
Dykstra was sidetracked briefly in July with a groin injury, which resulted in a short rehab assignment in Arizona, but he returned quickly to Helena. He played SS in high school, but was moved to CF late in his senior year, which allowed scouts to get a look at the position he’ll play in the pro’s. The most obvious flaw in Dykstra's game is his below average arm, which could limit his ability to play CF. If his arm can be playable in CF, he has a good shot to be an everyday player in the big leagues at some point. If he isn’t able to do that, he will probably become a 4th OF “tweener” type, because he lacks LF power and obviously couldn’t play everyday in right. He’s got the makeup of a Dykstra, which was obviously something that intrigued the Brewers and is a good enough reason to give him the benefit of the doubt on making the adjustments he’ll need to make to get to the big leagues. Unless something unforeseen happens, you can probably count on him being the lead-off hitter for the Appleton Timber Rattlers next year.
That's WISCONSIN Timber Rattlers, Ryan. But, otherwise good stuff.
Eighth: Last week, Tom Hardricourt revealed his Top 10 Prospects in the Brewer system as he put it together (with one tweak by the editors) for Baseball America. BA will be putting up that list along with 11-20 and some scouting reports tomorrow at some time. But, since the cat is out of the bag...
1. SS Alcides Escobar 2. 3B Mat Gamel 3. C Brett Lawrie 4. RHP Jeremy Jeffress 5. C Angel Salome 6. OF Lorenzo Cain 7. OF Cutter Dykstra 8. 3B Taylor Green 9. OF Cole Gillespie 10. C Jonathan Lucroy
Mehring is watching football. And, since I'm a Paul Tagliabue football, I'm not really doing anything. Not like I'm wanted or needed or anything like that. Besides, why would I want to freeze my laces off in New Jersey or Pittsburgh today?
Now, here is a guest blogger for the results from the Claxton Shield in Australia.
G'day. Aussie Football here. No need for a signature on me. Anyway, my mates on the Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- along with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- beat the Victoria Aces again and picked up the sweep in the three-game series.
The victory over the Aces clinches a spot in the GRAND FINAL of the Claxton Shield for the HEAT!
Now, for my guest blogger.
Good afternoon to you. The Tonbridge Angels, the team of football players in the Ryman Premier League whom the regular blogger of this blog follows, had their game with second place Staines postponed due to poor pitch conditions. A make up date for the important tie near the top the table has not yet been announced. Now, back to my American Cousin. Mehring will be back tomorrow to play catch up with a lot of the news from the last few days. So, start your work week off with a healthy dose of Rattler Radio.
Hello, good readers of Rattler Radio. Mehring wanted one more day to relax before hitting the blogging and the selling and the researching hard over the next 90 days or so. I threatened to put him in THE CLAW! But he laughed, pointed at his head, and said something about cement. So, I showed some mercy.
While I have this platform, why don't you check out my website. I am also on facebook. And did you hear about my well-received debut on the stage?
The Baron makes his theater stage debut in 'The Baron' on April 14, 2007 at the History Theatrein St. Paul, Minnesota. The play written by Corey McCloud (with Jim and Karl Raschke) charts Raschke's transformation from little Jimmy Raschke to Baron von Raschke and offers a look back at what many consider the golden age of wrestling. The show closes on May, 20, 2007 after a critically acclaimed, well-attended run.
Mehring is looking for the script right now.
I'll close out this post to warn, er, let you know there will be plenty of posts tomorrow to start your work week. So, check back in the morning! Or, I'll give you THE CLAW!
95 dies insquequo Oris Dies quod ut est totus vos postulo scio!*
*95 days until Opening Day and that is all you need to know!
Mehring asked for the day off today because he's on one of them, whatchacallits, sabbaticals. Something about gathering his forces and becoming a little more intense as the season approaches.
Personally, I think he just slept in, ran out to do some errands, and got distracted by something shiny. Now, he wants to watch some football afternoon.
By the way, I can give you some good numbers on the Colts @ Chargers this afternoon and Ravens @ Dolphins tomorrow. Call me. Looking for action on Eagles @ Falcons? The heck with that. I wouldn't touch those purple-wearing...Oh, I apologize. Gotta remember my manners since this is a family blog.
So with that in mind, I'm gonna leave you with this thought:
You add up all your mortal sins, multiply that number by 50, then you add up all your venial sins and multiply that by 25. You add them together, and that's your sentence. I figure I'm gonna have to do about 6,000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6,000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I could do that standing on my head. It's like a couple of days here.
Oh, and I'm supposed to say something in Latin at the end of this post. The only Latin I usually know is nomine patris et fillis et spiritus sanctum, but here goes:
Greetings, Timber Rattler fans. Carl, the rain-hating camel here. Yes, it's raining. Yes, I hate it. Yes, Mehring said he had to do some "other things" today. Like what, I wonder? 
