The Micro Brew Review: 7/16/10

Recap

Nashville (AAA): The Sounds has a decent week, going 3-2 overall. They started their week by taking both games in a double-header (the second game was the completion of a game from June 17th) against the Memphis RedBirds. They lost the final game against the RedBirds before taking a three day break for the AAA All-Star Game (which the PCL lost), before losing the first game in a series against the Omaha Royals. At 48-43,the Sounds are still in last place in the PCL American North Division, but only 1.5 games back from the first place Omaha Royals.

Huntsville (AA): The Stars played four games this week and won them all; two against the Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) and two against the Mississippi Braves. Huntsville also took a a three day break for the Southern League All-Star Game, which the Stars hosted. At 12-9 on the second half of the season, the Stars are sitting in first place in the Southern League North Division, one game ahead of the Carolina Mudcats (CIN).

Brevard Co. (A+): The Manatees had a rare nice week, going 4-2 overall. They took one from the Dunedin Blue Jays and two of three against the Tampa Yankees. So far in their series against the Charlotte Stone Crabs (TB) they have won one and lost one. At 11-9 on the second half of the season, the Manatees are in third place in the Florida State League North Division, two games back of the Tampa Yankees.

Wisconsin (A): The Rattlers also had a pretty decent week, going 4-2 overall. They lost their last game in a series against the Beloit Snappers (MIN) before sweeping the Burlington Bees (KC) in three game series. Wednesday's game was rained, out so they made it up with a double-header yesterday, splitting with the Lansing Lugnuts (TOR). At an even 10-10 in the second half ofthe season, the Rattlers are in fifth place in the Midwest League Western Division, two games back of the Quad Cities River Bandits (STL).

Helena (R+): Unlike the rest of the affiliates, the Helena Brewers had a pretty crappy week. They won last Friday against the Great Falls Voyagers, but they haven't won since, currently riding a four-game losing streak. They were swept by the Billings Mustangs (CIN) and lost the first game in their series against the Ogden Raptors (LAD). The Helena Brewers haven't quite lived up the first week of their season, and have fallen all the way back to an even 12-12 record, second last in the Pioneer League North Division, but only one game back of first place Great Falls.

Arizona (R): Unlike the Helena Brewers, the Arizona Brewers haven't had much of a problem winning at all. They went 4-1 this week, beating the Arizona Dodgers, Rangers, Reds, and Cubs, with their only loss being to the Arizona Indians. At 15-5, the Baby Brewers are sitting comfortably in first place in the Arizona League Central Division, five games ahead of the Arizona Dodgers.

Transactions

• RHP Donovan Hand was promoted from Huntsville to Nashville.
• After starting the year in Wisconsin, RHP Andre Lamontagne was once again promoted, this time from Brevard Co. to Huntsville.
• RHP Trey Watten returned to Brevard Co. after being activated from the 7-day DL.
• RHPs Amaury Rivas and Jeff Bennett were placed on the 7-day DL.
• RHP Adrian Rosario was promoted from Helena to Wisconsin.
• Minor league free agent and Milwaukee native Chris Nowak was signed and assigned to Huntsville.
• Eric Arnett was promoted from to Wisconsin after being extremely under-whelming in Arizona.

Five Up

1. Khris Davis: What more can you ask of Khris Davis? He must have kept the Griffey swing he tried out during the MWL Home Run Derby because he hit three more homers this week. He also collected seven more hits, going 10-17 (.588) overall. He now has 16 homers and has raised his average to .312.
2. Brent Dean: Who, you ask? The Helena catcher was signed as a minor league free agent in February and is currently hitting .412. This week Dean went11-20 (.550) with 3 doubles and 5 RBIs.
3. Jake Odorizzi: Another excellent start for Odorizzi. 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 0 ER against the Burlington Bees to earn his fifth win of the season. The Rattler's righty has been on fire lately; over his past four starts, Odorizzi has allowed only 1 ER in 25 innings. Am I the only one who gets excited for his starts?
4. Joey Paciorek: The Arizona 3B went 9-21 (.429) this week with two doubles, a triple, and seven RBIs. It may be his third trip through the Arizona League, but Paciorek is hitting .341/.420/.455 in Rookie Ball after starting the year off in Wisconsin.
5. Scott Krieger: Krieger has only played about a half a season with the Manatees and he is already second in homers. This week Krieger went 11-27 (.408) with a double, a triple, two home runs and four RBIs.

Five Down

1. Jimmy Nelson: This year's second round pick is performing about as good as last year's first round pick. In two outing this week, Nelson pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 9 R (8 ER). Maybe he'll be promoted to Wisconsin too.
2. Dayton Buller: The Huntsville catcher collected only one hit this week, going 1-15 (.067) overall. He's hitting only .204/.316/.316 this year.
3. Scooter Gennett: It was both a good and bad week for Scooter. The good part is that the tiny 2B hit two homers this week. The bad part is that he only collected three more hits, going 5-24 (.208) overall.
4. John Bivens: The Helena OF only collected one hit this week in 17 ABs (.059). He's hitting only .149 this year.
5. Tyler Cravy: It was between Eric Arnett and Tyler Cravy for the number five spot this week, and Cravy won. The righty only pitched 2.1 innings this week, but he managed to give up 8 R (6 ER) on 5 H and 3 BB.