The Micro Brew Review: 8/20/10

Recap

Nashville (AAA): The Sounds started off their week pretty slowly by losing three in a row to the Salt Lake Bees (LAA). They managed to avoid the sweep by beating the Bees on Tuesday. The Sounds then won two of their first three against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (COL) to finish 3-4 for the week. Now at 65-60, the Sounds have fallen all the way back to six games back of the first place Iowa Cubs in the PCL American North Division, and are sitting in last place.

Huntsville (AA): The Stars had a very busy week, with double-headers on both Saturday and Sunday. All four of those games were against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and they split on both days. They won the final game against West Tenn on Tuesday and their first game against the Birmingham Barons (CHW) before losing the second game in that series last night. After going 4-3 last week, the Stars find themselves in second place, but six games back on the first place Tennessee Smokies.

Brevard Co. (A+): The Manatees also had a rather busy week, playing eight games over the last seven days. They started off by splitting the final two games in their series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (DET) and followed that up by splitting a four game series against the Dunedin Blue Jays. In their current series at Lakeland the Manatees have also split the first two games. After going 4-4 over the last week, the Sea Cows are now 31-23 on the second half of the season, good for third place in the FSL North Division, 3.5 games back of the Tampa Yankees.

Wisconsin (A): The Rattlers were looking pretty good to start the week; they won three in a row- one against the Quad Cities River Bandits (STL) and two against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (LAA). But then they lost the finale against the Kernels, and have since lost two in a row to the Beloit Snappers (MIN), including a brutal ninth inning loss last night, which spoiled a great start by Hiram Burgos. After finishing 3-3 this week, the Rattlers are now 24-28, second last place in the Midwest League Western Division, and 8.5 games back of first place QUad Cities.

Helena (R+): The Helena Brewers started off by splitting the final two games in their series against the Missoula Osprey (ARI). After taking Sunday off they played the Casper Ghosts (who have a pretty scary-looking logo) and would end up splitting that four game series. The Helena Brewers are now 9-8 on the second half of the season, which surprisinly is good enough for first place in the Pioneer League North Division. However they are only a half game up on the Missoula Osprey.

Arizona (R): The Baby Brewers officially finished 4-1-1 this week. They beat the Arizona Indians, Royals, Padres, and Angels and lost to the Angels and tied the Indians. At 30-16, the Arizona Brewers are still in first place in the Arizona League Central Division, five games up on the Dodgers.

Transactions

• RHP Mark Rogers and LHP Chuck Lofgren were activated from the DL.
• IF Cutter Dykstra and C Patrick Arlis were placed on the 7-day DL.
• SS Connor Lind was promoted from Helena to Wisconsin.
• RHP Rigo Almonte was promoted from the DSL Brewers to Wisconsin.

Five Up

1. Kentrail Davis: The Wisconsin outfielder went 12-24 this week including two doubles, a triple, and 4 RBIs. He's also doing his best Rickie Weeks impression by being a run-scorer; he's scored 7 runs over the last six games.  
2. Dan Merklinger: The lefty continues to have a very solid season ans is still not getting any recognition for it. Last week he only made one start, but it was a dandy: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, and only 1 ER.
3. Cody Hawn: The Helena 1B and this year's sixth round pick went 10-23 (.435) this week including a double, two homers, 11 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Hawn together with Hunter Morris give the Crew a pair of very interesting 1B prospects.
4. Matt Cline: Cline started off the year on fire, hitting well over .300 into May. He's cooled of a lot since then but pick things up this week. He went 12-27 (.444) last week including 3 doubles, 6 RBI, and 6 runs scored. He also has a seven game hitting streak going for himself.
5. Corey Frerichs: The Manatee reliever made four appearances last week and didn't allow a run in any of them. In fact he didn't even allow a hit in his four innings of work. Frerichs hasn't allowed a run in 9 of his lasy 10 outings. And if you take out his one outing where he allowed 3 ER in 2.1 IP, he hasn't even allowed a hit since Aug. 2nd.

Five Down

1. Matt Miller: The Helena righty has been absolutely dominant all season. Except for his last start. Miller only made it through 2 innings and allowed 7 R (6 ER) on 7 H and 1 BB. 
2. Damon Krestalude: Krestalude's season has been doing downhill hor a while now and his lack of success is starting to become typical. The lanky righty pitched 2.1 innings in his only start this week and allowed 9 ER on 9 H and 2 BB.
3. Shea Vucinich: Vucinich has also been on a downward spiral for a while. The Helena 2B went1-18 (.056) over the last week. He hasn't collected an XBH or an RBI in over 10 games. He's still getting on base consistently, however, and has maintained a .374 OBP.
4. Carlos Villanueva: Remember at the beginning of the year when Villa was almost unhittable for the Brewers? Well, times have certainly changed. He made three appearances for the Sounds this week and allowed at least one run in every outing. Overall he allowed 4 ER in 4.2 IP on 8 H and 4 BB.
5. Jake Odorizzi: It's hard to blame Odorizzi for his late season slide; he's more than double his IP from last year and he's probably tiring. In his one outing this week the young Rattler righty allowed 6 ER in only 4.1 IP on 7 H, 1 BB, and 2 HR.