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August 3, 2007 - Southern League (SL1) News Release


The Huntsville Stars family has had to contend with some hardships during the 2007 season, manager Don Money has seen to it that on-field performance has not been one of them. The Stars recently rattled off 12 consecutive victories to tie for the longest winning streak in franchise history. The streak also matched the longest in the Southern League this season, equalling the run assembled by the Jacksonville Suns in June. It was Jacksonville which ended Huntsville's longest winning streak since 1988 with a 2-1 victory on July 23. However, the defeat in that night's game was far overshadowed by the loss of an esteemed Stars alumnus. Mike Coolbaugh, who enjoyed a distinguished minor league playing career that included a season for the ages with the Stars in 1997, died on July 22 after being hit with a foul ball. He was 35 and left behind sons Joseph and Jacob and wife Mandy, who is pregnant with a third child. Coolbaugh was in just his third week as hitting coach of the Texas League's Tulsa Drillers when the tragedy that stunned the baseball world occurred. Positioned in the first base coaching box, Coolbaugh was hit by a line drive off the bat of fellow former Southern Leaguer Tino Sanchez in the ninth inning. The impact caused an artery to rupture in Coolbaugh's neck, giving paramedics no chance to revive him. In memory of their hero from a decade earlier, the Stars raised money for the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Fund during their series against the Chattanooga Lookouts from July 28-August 1. A moment of silence was observed before the opening game of that series. Coolbaugh batted .308 with 30 homers and tied the then-Southern League record with 132 RBI in 1997, helping Huntsville win a circuit-best 77 games and emerge Western Division champions. One of only 30 players to reach 30 homers in a Southern League season, Coolbaugh established a Stars record with 303 total bases. The Stars lost to Greenville, three games to two, that year's league championship series. Although Money never coached Coolbaugh or even knew him personally, he and the Stars felt the impact of the loss. "A lot of the players and a lot of coaches were just in shock that something like that could happen," said Money, who doubles as the third base coach like many other minor league managers. "It's very unfortunate. It's sad for his family." Money's family suffered a more personal loss on April 18, when his father Robert died weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 88. Money's father had lived with a tumor on his lung for several years, but cancer was not revealed until he was hospitalized for leg pain. Money was away from the Stars for three weeks before resuming his managerial duties in the opener of a five-game series at Birmingham on April 26. Hitting coach Sandy Guerrero had skippered the team to a 9-9 record to that point, but Huntsville dropped its first three games after Money's return to the dugout. Before Money's fourth game back, there was a moment of silence observed at Regions Park for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and Auburn alum Josh Hancock. Early that morning, Hancock was killed in a traffic accident at the age of 29. During the moment of silence, Money could not help but remember his father. "I was thinking about my father standing out there (in the coach's box)," Money said. "He lived right up the street from me, two houses up, so when you'd go in the house he'd always be sitting in his chair there. That ran through my mind a lot." Immediately after play began that day, the Stars seemed to show renewed focus. They scored three times in the first inning and cruised to an 8-0 victory. Steve Hammond pitched a six-hitter as Huntsville began a four-game winning streak that vaulted them into first place in the North Division. Weeks later, Huntsville and Tennessee became embroiled in a thrilling battle for the first-half title. Both teams shared the top spot in the standings for 11 consecutive days before the Stars claimed a one-game lead on June 10. One week later, the two clubs again were tied for first place entering the final day of the first half. Hunstville's 3-2 victory against Birmingham coupled with Tennessee's 4-3 loss at West Tenn gave the Stars the title. The chase for the first-half title in the North Division provided the Southern League with plenty of excitement. The playoff atmosphere also was therapeutic for Money. "I was just trying to get back into the mode of being a manager again and trying to get (my father's death) off my mind while at the ballpark," Money said. "When you're home, you're thinking about it a lot more." "The last three weeks of the first half was just like a playoff game because every time we won, Tennessee won and when we lost, Tennessee lost." Despite a lengthy second-half winning streak, the Stars entered August tied with Chattanooga for first place in the division. Without All-Star pitchers Mark DiFelice, Manny Parra and Marino Salas, who were promoted after combined for a 13-4 record, a 2.04 ERA and 17 saves, Money undoubtedly will face some challenges over the final month of the regular season and beyond. "There's a lot of movement (in the minor leagues)," Money said. "Players up and down, and if I went over the roster here (I'd find) we have only about half of the ones we started with. "We're still searching for roles in the bullpen. We've got some guys who can't pitch every day." Lefthander Sam Narron took the depleted bullpen situation into his own hands against the Lookouts on August 1, pitching a four-hitter and singling home the game's only run to give the Stars sole possession of first place. Huntsville is attempting to become the first Southern League team since Jacksonville in 2000-01 to win three consecutive halves. The string of titles began on the heels of a forgettable first half to the 2006 season, when the Stars lost 14 straight games en route to a league-worst 24-45 mark. Undaunted, Huntsville was the league's best team in the second half and emerged division champs before falling to Montgomery in the Southern League Championship Series. If Money is to guide Huntsville into the finals again this year, he will have to overcome a different kind of hardship. Although thoughts of his father remain fresh when he's away from the ballpark, Money has committed full attention to developing Stars players into winners while on the job. "Like for any major league team, from the first day of spring training, you strive to win the World Series at the end of the year," said Money, who played in the World Series with Milwaukee in 1982. "I think every player, if they don't have that in their mind, then their mind's somewhere else." Keeping his head in the game amid the sorrow of his father's death, Money has fueled the 2007 Stars with the determination of champions.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH

CHARLTON JIMERSON - WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX

West Tenn Diamond Jaxx outfielder Charlton Jimerson was named the Topps Player of the Month for July, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Jimerson feasted on Southern League pitching in July, batting .343 (34-for-99) and leading the circuit with eight home runs, 27 RBI and 67 total bases. It was the second consecutive month in which he topped the league in homers and total bases. The 27-year-old Jimerson began the month with five hits and six RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Huntsville on July 2. It was the beginning of a 14-game hitting streak for Jimerson, who batted .404 (21-for-52) and scored 13 runs during that stretch. Although the hitting streak ended on July 19, Jimerson launched a pair of two-run homers in an 8-2 victory at Mobile the following evening en route to Southern League Hitter of the Week honors. A native of San Leandro, CA, Jimerson belted a grand slam against Birmingham on July 25 and added a two-run shot four days later. Despite not joining the circuit until the second week of May, Jimerson was tied for the Southern League lead with 21 home runs through the end of July. In six professional seasons entering 2007, Jimerson never had reached the 20-homer plateau. In addition to being a force at the plate, Jimerson was a terror on the basepaths in July. He swiped eight bases during the month, giving him 30 for the season. Jimerson has a chance to become the first Southern League player with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season since 1981, when Willie Royster had 31 homers and 53 steals for the Charlotte O's. Jimerson played in 17 major league games last year for the Houston Astros, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. One month after being released by the Astros in late March, Jimerson signed a one-year minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. Through the end of July, Jimerson was leading his new organization in stolen bases while ranking third in home runs.

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Charlton Jimerson .343 99 24 34 7 1 8 27 8

SOUTHERN LEAGUE NOTES

1B Michael Myers hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning to lift Birmingham to a 6-3 victory at West Tenn on July 26. It was Myers' first home run since May 29. ... After going 0-5 with an 8.83 ERA in his previous seven starts, LHP Wes Whisler went back-to-back starts without allowing an earned run. The 2004 second-round pick allowed a pair of unearned runs in six innings at West Tenn on July 23 but was denied a win when the Diamond Jaxx scored twice in the ninth for a 4-3 victory. Five days later, Whisler worked 7 2/3 innings in a 2-0 triumph against Montgomery, posting his first win since June 11. ... RHP Kris Honel, who was drafted 16th overall in 2001, announced his retirement on July 31. The 24-year-old was 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA this year after missing 2006 while recovering from "Tommy John" surgery.

- The first 1,500 fans arriving for the game on Friday, August 17 will receive a figurine of Bo Jackson playing both baseball and football. A Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, Jackson was a two-time All-Star in the major leagues. He played in four games with the Barons in 1991.

- RHP Will Inman allowed just three hits in 7 1/3 innings but was saddled with a 2-1 loss at Jacksonville on July 23, snapping the Stars' franchise record-tying 12-game winning streak. It ended up being the last start in the Milwaukee Brewers system for Inman, who was traded along with a pair of fellow minor league pitchers to the San Diego Padres for Scott Linebrink on July 25. Inman was leading the minors with 140 strikeouts at the time of the trade. ... 3B Adam Heether (.359), OF Michael Brantley (.351) and 2B Hernan Iribarren (.344) all ranked among the Southern League's top five in batting average during July. It was quite a turnaround for Brantley, who batted just .169 for the Stars in June.

- The first 1,500 fans arriving for the game against the Birmingham Barons on Saturday, August 11 will receive a Don Money Wobbler Doll. In Sunday's finale of the five-game series against the Barons, the first 2,000 fans will receive a five-player card strip. The players depicted on the strip will be second baseman Hernan Iribarren, pitchers Robert Hinton, David Johnson and Luis Pena and recently engaged outfielder Ryan Crew.

- OF Jai Miller tied two club records in a 12-5 victory at Tennessee. In a game that began on July 24, Miller hit a solo homer in the second inning, a two-run blast in the fourth and a grand slam in the seventh. Miller joined George Canale, who did it in 1995, as the only Mudcats with three homers in a game. He also became Carolina's second player with seven RBI in one contest, matching Jose Reyes' club record set in 1998. ... RHP Chris Volstad, drafted 16th overall in 2005, carried a shutout into the eighth inning of his Double-A debut against Jacksonville on July 29. He was the victim of three unearned runs, however, and took a 3-1 loss.

- Mudcats mascot Muddy will celebrate his sixth birthday on Friday, August 3. Several local mascots, including Stormy from the Carolina Hurricanes, will be on hand to participate in a number of mascot competitions. Muddy will be sung "Happy Birthday" in the top of the fifth inning before a giant cake is cut and distributed.

- OF James Tomlin delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning as Jacksonville rebounded from an early four-run deficit to post a 5-4 victory over Huntsville on July 25. The Suns also found themselves in a four-run hole against the Stars the following evening before erupting for a 14-4 victory. Tomlin again emerged an unlikely hero, going 4-for-5 with three RBI. Prior to the four-RBI outburst in two games against Huntsville, Tomlin managed just one RBI in his first 19 games at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville this season. ... One inning after OF Anthony Raglani's leaping catch robbed Huntsville's Steve Moss of a go-ahead two-run homer, 1B Cory Dunlap produced a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the 10th to give the Suns a 2-1 triumph on July 27. It was Jacksonville's fifth victory in as many extra-inning games this season.

- Bring your dog to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Sunday, August 12 when the Suns host Birmingham. Tickets for dogs are just $1 and there will be a special area for fans to watch the game with their canine companions. All kids will receive a free Southpaw Piggy Bank upon arriving and are invited to run the bases after the game.

- LHP Tyler Pelland struck out seven batters in three scoreless innings to record the save in the Lookouts' 4-2 victory against Mississippi on July 25. After posting a 6.92 ERA with more walks (9) than strikeouts (8) in June, Pelland sported a 0.93 ERA with 19 strikeouts and four walks in July before being promoted to Triple-A Louisville. ... Two days after being acquired in the deal that sent Kyle Lohse to the Philadelphia Phillies, LHP Matt Maloney allowed just one run and matched a season high with 10 strikeouts in seven innings at Huntsville on August 1. Maloney was outdueled by Sam Narron, however, and saddled with a 1-0 loss.

- The first 1,000 kids ages 12 and under arriving for the game against the Jacksonville Suns on Friday, August 3 will receive a free baseball bat courtesy of US101 and Coca-Cola. The Clown Prince of Baseball since 2004, Myron Noodleman will entertain fans at AT&T Field that night. Two Fridays later - August 17 - will be used car night when the Lookouts host the Tennessee Smokies. One preowned vehicle, donated by a local dealer, will be given away to a lucky fan in attendance during each regularly scheduled inning.

- After producing the Southern League's best record in the season's first half (42-28), the Braves have been saddled with the circuit's worst mark through 40 games of the second half (14-26). ... Despite posting a respectable 3.22 ERA, LHP Matt Harrison went 0-6 in his first eight starts of the second half before landing on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Mississippi averaged just 1.87 runs per game in the second half for Harrison, who was included in the seven-player deal that sent slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira to Atlanta at the end of July.

- Giveaways will highlight a 10-game homestand that begins on Friday, August 3. The first 1,500 fans arriving for the opener of a fivegame set against Huntsville on August 3 will receive a player statue of Chipper Jones. A similar promotion will take place the next night, with the first 1,500 fans receiving a player statue of Andruw Jones. The opener of a five-game set with Mobile on Wednesday, August 8 will include the first 1,500 fans receiving a souvenir baseball.

- One night after hitting a pair of two-run homers in the completion of a suspended game, 1B Jemel Spearman ripped a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Smokies a 3-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Carolina on July 26. Spearman's clutch double made a winner out of All-Star RHP Mark Holliman, who went the distance for his first win since pitching a seven-inning no-hitter on June 21. In the second game, SS Robinson Chirinos ended an 0-for- 16 start to his Double-A tenure with a two-run homer that broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. The Smokies cruised to a 3-0 triumph, dropping Carolina to 0-6 in doubleheader games this season. ... Playing in just his third Double-A game, 3B Kyle Reynolds homered twice and drove in six runs in a 14-1 rout of Carolina on July 27. It was the second two-homer, six-RBI game in under three weeks for Reynolds, who also did it with Class-A Daytona on July 9.

- At the conclusion of Tennessee's game against Montgomery on Sunday, August 5, Mark Schultz will perform a Christian concert at Smokies Park. Schultz' "A Night of Stories & Songs" won the 2006 Dove Award for Long Form Music Video of the Year.

- Manager Brett Butler suffered a mild stroke after the BayBears' game on July 26. Though Butler has shown signs of a quick recovery, fellow former major league star Matt Williams has been named interim manager. Hitting coach Dave Hansen guided Mobile to three wins before Williams made his managerial debut on July 30. A one-time teammate of Butler who hit 387 major league home runs, Williams was working as a television analyst for the Diamondbacks before joining the managerial ranks. ... OF Carlos Gonzalez recorded four of Mobile's season-high 17 hits in a 12-5 victory at Montgomery. All- Star 1B Javier Brito, who drove in five runs, and OF Justin Upton each connected for a three-run homer in the triumph. It was Upton's third home run in a span of six road games after he began his Double-A career homerless in 28 games away from Hank Aaron Stadium. Upton was promoted to the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 2.

- Sunday, August 5 will be Bark in the Park at Hank Aaron Stadium as fans are encouraged to bring their pets to the game. Fans also will be invited to play catch on the field before the BayBears host Birmingham.

- The Diamond Jaxx kicked off a 10- game homestand in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to post a 4-3 victory over Birmingham on July 23. OF Mike Wilson grounded into a fielder's choice to plate the tying run and later scored the winner on a double by C Rene Rivera. It was the first time in 47 tries this season that the Diamond Jaxx won despite trailing after eight innings. West Tenn had been the only team in the Southern League without a victory under those circumstances this year. ... RHP Andy Baldwin allowed just one run and five hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win against Birmingham on July 27. Baldwin went 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in July after going 0-5 with a 5.02 ERA in June.

- Wednesday, August 15 will mark the third of four Sara Lee Bread Giveaways at Pringles Park this season. Sara Lee has teamed with Minor League Baseball to distribute coupons and loaves of bread throughout minor league parks in 2007. ... Outback Steakhouse will have dinner plates available for $12 on Thursday, August 16. It also will be a Thirsty Thursday, with fans able to purchase one draft beer or 16- ounce fountain drink and get one free.

- 1B Gabriel Martinez delivered a one-out RBI single off Mark Rosen in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Montgomery a 6-5 victory over Mobile on July 25. It was the second gamewinning hit against Rosen this season for Martinez, who homered in the 10th inning to provide a 5-4 triumph over the BayBears on June 23. ... 3B Evan Longoria established the Biscuits' single-season record with his 21st home run, a grand slam that capped a six-run 10th inning at Birmingham on July 30. It came in Longoria's final Southern League at-bat before being promoted to Triple-A Durham.

- Biscuits fans will get the chance to enjoy Beach Party Thursdays in back-toback weeks as Montgomery kicks off a 10-game homestand on August 8. The first Beach Party Thursday of the homestand will be August 9, when the Biscuits host Chattanooga. Fans are encouraged to sport beach gear and grab a 12-ounce specialty drink for only $3 as Riverwalk Stadium takes on the appearance of Margaritaville. Fans can enjoy the same ambience when Montgomery hosts Jacksonville on August 16.

WEEKLY AWARDS

SOUTHERN LEAGUE HITTER AND PITCHER OF THE WEEK

JULY 16-22, 2007

HITTER OF THE WEEK

CHARLTON JIMERSON ~ WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX

Outfielder Charlton Jimerson helped the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx turn the tables on the Mobile BayBears, belting three home runs and collecting seven RBI in a five-game series sweep at Hank Aaron Stadium. Exactly three weeks after the BayBears put the finishing touches on a six-game sweep of the Diamond Jaxx at "The Hank," Jimerson belted a pair of two-run homers to power West Tenn to an 8-2 victory on July 20. The next night, Jimerson doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Diamond Jaxx cruised to a 9-4 triumph that completed their first series sweep of the season. The 27-year-old Jimerson topped the Southern League in home runs and RBI during the week while tying for the circuit lead with six runs and a 1.000 slugging percentage. It was the second weekly award of the season for the native of San Leandro, CA.

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Jimerson .389 18 6 7 2 0 3 7 3

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

CARLOS FISHER ~ CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS

Righthander Carlos Fisher was an early riser to the occasion, breaking a personal four-game losing streak in style. In a Wednesday game that began at 11:05 a.m. CDT to honor Kids Day at Regions Park, Fisher allowed just one hit in seven innings of a 5-0 win against the Birmingham Barons on July 18. It was the first win since June 10 for the 24-year-old Fisher, who had gone 0-4 with a 9.55 ERA in between his most recent triumphs. Fisher, who allowed a leadoff double in the second inning and a pair of walks, matched a season high with eight strikeouts and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. A native of Duarte, CA, Fisher was among the Chattanooga Lookouts' representatives at the Southern League All-Star Game on July 9.

W-L SV ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR

Fisher 1-0 0 0.00 7.0 1 0 0 2 8 0

SOUTHERN LEAGUE HITTER AND PITCHER OF THE WEEK

JULY 22-29, 2007

HITTER OF THE WEEK

CAONABO COSME ~ CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS

First baseman Caonabo Cosme was instrumental in the Lookouts winning six straight games to climb atop the Southern League's North Division standings. The 28-year-old Cosme led the circuit with 11 RBI during the week on the strength of seven extra-base hits, including three home runs. Cosme delivered an RBI double and a game-tying two-run single as Chattanooga rallied for a 6-5 victory against Mississippi on July 23. The next night, Cosme went 4-for-4 with an RBI double and a two-run homer in a 7-5 triumph over the Braves. A native of La Vega in the Dominican Republic, Cosme collected three more hits, including a homer, as the Lookouts completed a five-game sweep of the Braves with an 11-10 victory on July 27. With Chattanooga and Huntsville entering a five-game set tied for first place, Cosme hit a three-run homer to help the Lookouts strike first with an 8-3 triumph in the series opener on July 28. In seven games during the week, Cosme tied for the league lead with 12 hits and ranked second with an .862 slugging percentage.

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Cosme .414 29 7 12 4 0 3 11 0

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

DEREK MILLER ~ HUNTSVILLE STARS

The Stars hit a speed bump on the heels of their franchise record-tying winning streak, but lefthander Derek Miller helped the club conclude the week with a share of first place in the North Division. The 25-year-old Miller accounted for both of Huntsville's wins during the week while ranking fifth in the circuit with 12 strikeouts during that span. One night after the Stars' 12-game winning streak was snapped, Miller allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win at South Division-leading Jacksonville on July 24. Huntsville then dropped its next four games to fall one game behind Chattanooga in the division race before Miller came to the rescue on July 29. A resident of Palm Bay, FL, Miller allowed just four hits in seven innings to outduel reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week Carlos Fisher in a 1-0 victory over the Lookouts. It was the third straight winning start for Miller, who posted a 3.23 ERA in his first five outings since being promoted from Class-A Brevard County in early July.

W-L SV ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR

Miller 2-0 0 2.13 12.2 8 3 3 2 12 2

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