The Nashville Sounds are just one-half game behind the division leading Redbirds as they start their final four-game series on the road today against the New Orleans Zephyrs. Nashville’s hopes will be on the very capable shoulders of lefty Chris Cody (8-7, 4.77).   RHP Clay Hensley (8-4, 3.74) – of New Orleans – is expected to make the start in opposition.

The Brewster, New York native has been a pleasant surprise for the Nashville rotation in 2009 as Cody was a June 5th call-up from Huntsville. Cody has pitched in 16 games for Nashville, in 88.2 innings.

According to the Sounds game notes:

Sounds left-hander Chris Cody has worked quality starts in seven of his 15 starts for the Sounds and in 12 of his 25 starts overall this season. The left-hander is averaging 5.7 runs of support while in the game in his last six starts (4-1 over that stretch) after receiving only six total runs in his previous six starts (1-5). Cody also co-leads Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguers with 13 total victories this season (tied with Daniel Meadows of Wisconsin and Amaury Rivas of Brevard County).

Brewster, NY native Chris Cody of the Nashville Sounds.

Adam Heether slammed two home runs tonight at Greer Stadium to propel Nashville to a come-from-behind win against first-place division rivals Memphis Redbirds. Nashville was behind 6-1 when they came to the plate in the bottom of the 7th. The Sounds scored six runs in the inning to take a 7-6 lead.  The big blow as Heether’s 2-run left field blast to make it 7-6.  WATCH the video.

The Nashville Sounds pulled out a late-game victory over American North Division rivals Memphis Redbirds in the final game of the four-game home stand tonight at Greer to pull within one-half game of first place with just four regular season games to go.

Heroics were provided by Adam Heether, who hit two home runs (2-for-4, 3 RBIs), including a two-run blast to left in the bottom of the 7th [LISTEN] to give the Sounds a 7-6 edge. Johnny Raburn also went 2-for-4 and slammed a two-run homer in the 7th as well.

Adam Heether steps to the plate in the 7th and slams his 2nd home run of the night.

The Redbird’s manager – Chris Maloney – was not happy all evening with calls made by home plate umpire Mike Jarboe. Of course, Maloney tends to whine more than most PCL managers I’ve noticed this season.

Anyway, the Redbirds lost the lead tonight in the bottom of the 7th when Adam Heether hit a two-run homer to make it 7-6.

Memphis came to the plate in the top of the 9th and Maloney – who was serving as the 3B coach – started jawing with Jarboe about some called strikes.  I was right behind the plate and the calls were solid.

After Shane Robinson popped out in foul territory to Mat Gamel at third (for out #2), Maloney ran toward home and lost his lid.

Watch the scene yourself.

Erick Almonte

Erick Almonte’s 2-for-5 (4-RBI) led the spiraling Nashville Sounds to victory tonight to halt a season-high seven game slide against Albuquerque.  Almonte has been hitting solidly all year, mostly in a pinch hit role, and continued his hot bat in the starting position tonight at 1B. He slammed his first HR of the season [LISTEN].

J.J. Hardy also supplied some firepower by going 3-for-5. Adam Heether went 2-for-4 and hit his 14th homer. Nashville eeked out the victory even though they were only 2-for-10 with RISP.

It was Joe Koshansky’s two out pinch hit home run (21) that provided the eventual game-winning run for the Sounds.

Chase Wright took the win (W, 8-7) by going six strong innings, yielding three runs, on six hits, walking two. Chris Smith earned his 15th save of the season.

Game did not play. Katin was 0-for-3. Arlis caught and went 0-for-3. The Sounds were 12-for-38 at the plate tonight.

I’ve been following the Nashville Sounds all season very close. I’ve attended probaly 90-95% of all the home games.

The current losing-slide is hard to watch.  I’m sure it does not compare to what the guys in uniform feel like, but it’s painful as an uber-fan nonetheless.

Will Adam Heether finish batting over .300?

What could still redeem the season for me, in terms of a fan?

I’d love to see . . .

1. Nashville finish 75-69 (they’d have to run out at 10-6).
2. Nashville finish in first place in the American North (down 2.5 games now . . . yeah right).
3. Don Money win Manager-of-the-Year (he deserves it).
4. Adam Heether finish over .300 and J.J. Hardy over .200.
5. Mat Gamel finish strong, at least over .290.
6. Brendan Katin hit one more home run (he’s hit one since 7/12).
7. Dillard win twelve games.
8. Cody, Wright or Gulin win their 10th game.

It almost could not be worse.

The Nashville Sounds (65-63) are suffering a seven-game slide that has them 2.5 games behind division leading Memphis Redbirds (67-60). With just 16 games remaining, only four of them home games, it appears Nashville will be hard-pressed to not slip into third place in their division before the season ends.

No one is playing worse baseball in the Pacific Coast League than Nashville right now.

Here’s the anatomy of the current-worst team in the PCL:

• Lost seven-straight games (not including today’s game).
• Won only two of last eight, lost ten of last 14.
• During last seven-game loss:
  • Combined 13-for58 with RISP (.224).
  • Gave up 57 runs (8.1 game)
  • Scored only 27 runs (3.8 game)
• Combined team hitting of 24-for-127 or just .188

Omnious clouds formed on Aug 17th vs Fresno that portended a really horrible next six games for Nashville.

The Nashville Sounds were swept by the Sacramento Rivercats at Nashville recently (Aug 18-21). They were outscored 35 to 16.

Several Nashville Sounds players went 0-forever in the series, including:

• Adam Heether 0-for-13
• Johnny Raburn 0-for-5
• Patrick Arlis 0-for-7
• Carlos Corporan 0-for6

That’s a combined pathetic 0-for-31!!

Brett Wallace swings against Nashville recently.

The Nashville Sounds clearly do not have what Milwaukee Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin wants to see: consistency.  That’s the bad news.  The good news, at least for now, is that the Memphis Redbirds lack it as well.

Doug Melvin recently made these comments, published on the TMJ4 web site:

“You look for consistency in this game, and we’re looking at consistency on the positive side of well pitched games, good defense, timely hitting and all that which you need to win,” explained Melvin.

“I saw the consistency, but it was all the things I didn’t want to see, and I was continuing to see. That was pitching that wasn’t getting big outs. It was a defense play that looked lethargic. It was offensive play that looked lethargic.”

“When that happened, I tried to give it as much time as I could. I thought our road trip wasn’t a bad road trip, but coming home to a homestand against a team that I felt we should be beating, and we just looked very flat, I felt something needed to be done.”

Nashville retains a half game lead in the American North division of the Pacific Coast League . . . but it’s not their fault.  The Sounds have lost three straight at home but Memphis has lost four. The real question right now in this division is who wants it?

A lot of fans, and apparently players, think this game is about pizzaz and flair.  The mega-home run shot over the guitar scoreboard, the 7-14 performance in a series, back-to-back multi-hit games, etc. As much as I like those things gimme plain ole fashion consistency.

There are just twenty games remaining for the Sounds. It’s real simple.  If Nashville can win 12 or 13 of these games, they will win their division.  If they stumble around .500 or go 8-12 they do NOT deserve to be division champs. It’s consistency that wins the day!

The Nashville Sounds in April 2009

There have been some very consistent players this season for the Sounds and look where they are today:

• Tony Gwynn was arguably the most consistent Sounds player when he was traded to the Padres on 5/21. Many Brewers fans thought he was not major league material but he’s proved everyone wrong.  Before he was traded, he was batting .309, with nine RBIs, 34 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. He had hit safely in 15 of his last 17 contests. He immediately went in to the Padres starting line-up in late May and has performed solidly all year, batting .278 right now.
• Alcides Escobar was called up to Milwaukee on August 12th. When he was called up he had hit safely in 55 of his last 74 contests at a .317 clip (92-for-290), ranking 8th in the PCL in hits (128). In just six games so far with the Brewers he is batting .263.  Consistency will keep him in the line-up.
• Jason Bourgeois was probably the single most consistent player all year for Nashville by mid-August. He was also called up on August 12th. He was batting .316 with two homers, had 41 RBIs, 36 stolen bases in 105 games for Nashville.  He has not gotten much playing time yet in Milwaukee but Ken Macha says he will against left-handed pitchers.

Other notable-mentions for playing fairly consistent ball for Nashville this year must mention the likes of P Mike Burns, INF Hernan Iribarren, all-around-utility player Adam Heether, and P Chris Smith.

There are also some players who have not been very onconsistent,  and have thus been disappointing this season: Mat Gamel (right), Brendan Katin, Tim Dillard, Joe Koshansky, J.J. Hardy, and I could go on.

There have been some very young talented guys watching events unfold this year at Nashville, many waiting for their big break.  People like Chris Cody, Adam Stern, Corey Patterson, Angel Salome, etc.

There was a 90+ year old gentleman who threw out the first pitch last night at Greer.  He was a scout, mainly for the Boston Red Sox, from 1944 – 1994.  50 years of scouting baseball!  I bet he saw a lot of one-hit-wonders come and go during his five decade career.

There is no big secret to making it to the big leagues.  Assuming one has talent – and what Triple-A player thinks he does not – the real key to getting the big break and finally playing at the highest level is day-in-day-out, good old fashion, and almost boring . . .  consistency!

The struggling J.J. Hardy made a statement tonight with is bat by going 2-for-5 with an RBI.