Former Sounds in the MLB Playoffs – World Series

The World Series begins tonight as the Braves and Astros take the field for Game 1 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Once again this year it’s been a postseason filled with former Sounds, even after the parent-club Brewers were eliminated in the NLDS. That trend will continue in the Fall Classic, though this year it’s one-sided in terms of where to find the former Sounds in the World Series. Here’s who to watch and listen for…

(Previous post: former Sounds in the LCS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the NLDS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the ALDS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the NL Wild Card Game: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the AL Wild Card Game: HERE)

Houston Astros
Record: 95-67
How they made it: Won the AL West; Defeated the White Sox 3-1 in the ALDS; Defeated the Red Sox 4-2 in the ALCS
Fun fact: The Astros now have made five consecutive trips to the postseason, continuing to set a franchise record. After reaching the World Series once in their first 55 seasons (’05), they’re in a World Series for the third time in the last five years.

The Astros have three former Sounds as players and one as a coach. Behind the plate is catcher Martin Maldonado (’09-’12), a former Gold Glove award winner with the Angels and a mainstay in Houston the past few years. Maldonado played in 125 games this year for Houston, and while he only batted .172, he continued his defensive prowess by throwing out 40% of base stealers. That trend has continued this postseason, as he’s 2-for-29 at the plate but also 2-for-4 in throwing out base stealers, including one in a big spot against Boston in Game 6 of the ALCS with fellow former Sound Kendall Graveman (’15, ’17-’18) on the hill. Graveman has enjoyed a career resurgence as a reliever after many years as a starter. He pitched parts of three years with the Sounds when they were an A’s affiliate and had some bright moments in the big leagues, including as Oakland’s Opening Day starter in ’17 when Sonny Gray was hurt and after Graveman had made 31 starts in ’16. He pitched in three games for the Sounds in ’17 on a rehab assignment, and then in ’18 was optioned to the Sounds, made four starts and later landed on the injured list before an eventual Tommy John surgery. He missed most of ’19 and spent time in the Cubs organization, then landed with Seattle in ’20 and posted a 5.79 ERA. Now a full-time reliever and fully healthy, he had a ridiculous 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 games this year for the Mariners when the Astros acquired him on July 27. He worked in 23 games for Houston in the regular season with a 3.13 ERA and has given up just one run in seven innings over six outings this postseason. The Astros also have a former Sound from a rehab assignment in Zack Greinke (’11), who made two starts for the Sounds in ’11 as part of a rehab assignment with the Brewers when he was coming back from a rib injury. Part of the story for Houston lately has been trying to get more length out of their starters, especially with Lance McCullers hurt, and Greinke has worked in two games – one start – in the playoffs but totaled just 2 1/3 innings. One notable former Sound on the Astros coaching staff is longtime third base coach Gary Pettis (’05). He was a hitting coach for the Sounds the first year of their first affiliation with the Brewers that ended with a PCL title. Pettis joined the Astros in ‘17 after spending several seasons as a third base coach with the Rangers under Ron Washington. It’s great to see that Pettis back on the field, as he was away from the club most of last year undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma before returning this season.

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Atlanta Braves
Record: 88-73
How they made it: Won the NL East; Defeated the Brewers 3-1 in the NLDS; Defeated the Dodgers 4-2 in the NLCS
Fun fact: The Braves are in the postseason for the fourth year in a row and this is their first World Series appearance since 1999.

We know many of you in Middle Tennessee are pulling for the Braves, but interestingly they do not have any former Sounds on their team, though they do have a local connection in former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson, who hit 27 home runs during the regular season, one of five Braves to belt 20-plus this year. And the Braves have several players they’ve used in the playoffs who the Sounds faced this year in their 30 games against Gwinnett, including Christian Pache, Jesse Chavez, Ian Anderson, Dylan Lee, Terrance Gore and Orlando Arcia.

Enjoy the Fall Classic!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Former Sounds in the MLB Playoffs – League Championship Series

The League Championship Series round of the MLB playoffs gets underway tonight with the American League showdown between the Red Sox and the Astros. Both clubs have multiple former Sounds, continuing the trend of this postseason being filled with former Sounds. Then tomorrow it’s Braves-Dodgers in the NLCS. Here’s who to watch for in the LCS round…

(Previous post: former Sounds in the NLDS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the ALDS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the NL Wild Card Game: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the AL Wild Card Game: HERE)

Houston Astros
Record: 95-67
How they made it: Won the AL West; Defeated the White Sox 3-1 in the ALDS
Fun fact: The Astros now have made five consecutive trips to the postseason, continuing to set a franchise record.

The Astros have three former Sounds as players and one as a coach. Behind the plate is catcher Martin Maldonado (’09-’12), a former Gold Glove award winner with the Angels and a mainstay in Houston the past few years. Maldonado played in 125 games this year for Houston, and while he only batted .172, he continued his defensive prowess by throwing out 40% of base stealers. That trend continued in the ALDS against the White Sox, as he went 1-for-15 at the plate but also shut down any potential Chicago run game by throwing out the one base stealer who tried. Maldonado’s frequent battery mate late in games is former Sound Kendall Graveman (’15, ’17-’18), who has enjoyed a career resurgence as a reliever after many years as a starter. Graveman pitched parts of three years with the Sounds when they were an A’s affiliate and had some bright moments in the big leagues, including as Oakland’s Opening Day starter in ’17 after he’d made 31 starts for them in ’16. He pitched in three games for the Sounds in ’17 on a rehab assignment, and then in ’18 was optioned to the Sounds, made four starts and later landed on the injured list for an eventual Tommy John surgery. He missed most of ’19 and spent time in the Cubs organization, then landed with Seattle in ’20 and posted a 5.79 ERA. Now a full-time reliever and fully healthy, he had a 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 games this year for the Mariners when the Astros acquired him on July 27. He worked in 23 games for Houston in the regular season with a 3.13 ERA and gave up one run in three innings in the ALDS. The Astros also have a former Sound from a rehab assignment in Zack Greinke (’11), who made two starts for the Sounds in ’11 as part of a rehab assignment with the Brewers when he was coming back from a rib injury. Greinke worked a scoreless relief inning in his lone ALDS appearance. One notable former Sound on the Astros coaching staff is third base coach Gary Pettis (’05). He was a hitting coach for the Sounds the first year of their first affiliation with the Brewers that ended with a PCL title. Pettis joined the Astros in ‘17 after spending several seasons as a third base coach with the Rangers under Ron Washington. It’s great to see that Pettis back on the field, as he was away from the club a good bit of last year for treatment for multiple myeloma before returning this season.

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Boston Red Sox
Record: 92-70
How they made it: Won the top Wild Card spot; Beat the Yankees in the AL Wild Card game; Defeated the Rays 3-1 in the ALDS
Fun fact: This is Boston’s first playoff appearance since ’18 when they won a franchise-record 108 games and won the World Series, their fourth title this century.

The Red Sox have a pair of former Sounds, including one from this season in Travis Shaw (’21). He appeared in 11 games for the Sounds on a rehab assignment for the Brewers and hit two homers before being designated for assignment and latching on for a reunion with Boston where he’d spent ’15-’16. Shaw went 1-for-2 as a pinch-hitter in the ALDS against Tampa Bay. The other former Sound on the Red Sox player roster is Ryan Brasier (’15-’16), who has been an important Red Sox reliever the last several years when healthy. This year he owned a 1.50 ERA in 13 games in the regular season after missing several months with a calf strain. He worked in each of the four games against the Rays in the ALDS. Brasier was a central figure on the Sounds’ division-championship team in ’16. The Red Sox also have a former Sound on manager Alex Cora’s staff in pitching coach Dave Bush (’08), who pitched in 200+ games in the big leagues in his career, mostly with the Brewers. He had a cameo with the Sounds in ’08 on a rehab appearance, giving up three runs over six innings en route to getting healthy and ultimately making a postseason start for The Crew that year.

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Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 106-56
How they made it: Won the top NL Wild Card spot; beat the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card game; beat the Giants 3-2 in the NLDS
Fun fact: The reigning World Series champs are in the playoffs for a franchise-record ninth straight season, and now they’ve reached at least the LCS round six times in the past seven years.

Another year, another loaded Dodgers roster. And again this season it featured former Sound Max Muncy (’15-’16), though he suffered an injury against the Brewers at the end of the regular season and missed the NLDS. As of a couple days ago, Muncy had not resumed baseball activities and would seem unlikely to be available for the NLCS. Muncy was an NL all-star again this season and hit .249 with 36 homers and 94 RBIs, his the third time in recent years he’s hit 30+ homers and second time he’s had 90+ RBIs. He totaled 124 games as a Sound over a two-year stretch during the A’s affiliation and had some big-league opportunities then too, but by early ’17 he was an unsigned minor league free agent. Now he’s a two-time all-star and has a World Series ring. The Dodgers continue to boast several other local connections, including Nashville native and superstar Mookie Betts, Murfreesboro native and Vanderbilt alum David Price, who is back this year after opting out last year, all-star fellow former Commodore Walker Buehler, and Belmont alum Matt Beaty, who hit .270 in 120 games.

Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (Courtesy Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

Atlanta Braves
Record: 88-73
How they made it: Won the NL East; Defeated the Brewers 3-1 in the NLDS
Fun fact: The Braves are in the postseason for the fourth year in a row and seeking their first World Series appearance since 1999.

The Braves do not have any former Sounds on their team, though they do have a local connection in former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson, who hit 27 home runs, one of five Braves to belt 20-plus this year. And the Braves have several players the Sounds faced this year in their 30 games against Gwinnett, including Christian Pache, Jesse Chavez, Ian Anderson, Dylan Lee, Terrance Gore and Orlando Arcia.

Enjoy the playoffs!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Former Sounds in the MLB Playoffs – NL Division Series

Welcome to one of the great days in the baseball calendar – a quadruple-header of postseason baseball with Day 2 of the ALDS and Day One of the NLDS. The Sounds’ parent-club Brewers get underway against Atlanta in the second game of the day. As usual the playoffs are full of former Sounds, and here’s who to watch for in the NLDS…

(Previous post: former Sounds in the ALDS: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the NL Wild Card Game: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the AL Wild Card Game: HERE)

Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 95-67
How they made it: Won the NL Central
Fun fact: The Brewers are making a franchise-record fourth straight postseason appearance, and their 95 wins are one shy of matching a franchise record (’11 and ’18).

Including rehab assignments, there are 11 former Sounds on the Brewers’ roster for the NLDS, so they were going to filled with former and recent Sounds regardless of some final roster decisions, especially following the volume of players both levels went through this year and the constant flow of transactions during the season. There are a couple of Brewers who had played for the Sounds before this season and the re-affiliation, including outfielder Lorenzo Cain (’08, ’10, ’21) who played for the Sounds during the last affiliation with The Crew and then donned a Sounds jersey for nine games again this season during a rehab assignment. In total, the accomplished LoCain has played in 37 games for the Sounds over three separate seasons. The other former Sound from pre-’21 is veteran lefty Brett Anderson (’18), stemming from the Oakland affiliation, though he was left off the roster at least for this round. The A’s suffered some injuries in the spring of ’18 and signed Anderson and Trevor Cahill to minor league deals, so both started that season with the Sounds. Anderson had a 2.71 ERA in seven starts with the Sounds before joining the A’s the rest of that season and in ’19. He’s been in Milwaukee the past two seasons and is a valuable arm in their rotation when healthy. There are seven players on the Brewers’ NLDS roster who were regular members of the Sounds roster at some point in ’21, including prospect Aaron Ashby, who made headlines numerous times for his dominance on the mound. He finished 5-4 with a 4.41 in 21 games – 12 starts – for the Sounds with a whopping 100 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings. Others in that group from this season include: outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who hit three homers with 10 RBIs in nine games; infielder Jace Peterson, who hit five homers in 17 games for the Sounds and proved to be incredibly valuable for the Brewers; catcher Luke Maile, who played in 46 games for the Sounds and becomes a valuable piece for late-game substituting as a third catcher with Omar Narvaez and Manny Pina; reliever Jake Cousins, who had a 1.86 ERA in nine games and may handle a big role in the postseason bullpen following the injury to setup man Devin Williams; reliever Jandel Gustave, who had a 1.50 ERA in six games for the Sounds after being acquired from Pittsburgh; and starter Eric Lauer, who struck out 12 batters over five innings on May 20 in his lone Sounds outing. Right-hander Colin Rea, who went 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA in seven starts for the Sounds after signing late in the year with the Brewers and before a call-up the last weekend of the regular season, was not included on the playoff roster. While some of the previous names also had rehab assignment time, such as Peterson, Taylor, Cousins and Gustave, three other Brewers were Sounds this season exclusively on rehab assignment, including outfielder and recent NL MVP Christian Yelich (3 games in May), first baseman Daniel Vogelbach (18 games in July/August) and first baseman Rowdy Tellez (2 games in September). The Brewers have a few other former Sounds and/or local connections. Former Sounds athletic trainer Dave Yeager (’10-’11) is in his ninth year as the assistant athletic trainer for the Brewers, and each of Milwaukee’s bullpen catchers is a former Sound – Adam Weisenburger (’14) and Nestor Corredor (’05). Additionally, their hitting coach is Andy Haines, who took over in that role two years ago for former Sound Darnell Coles (’92). Haines, who managed in the PCL for the Marlins at New Orleans in ’14 and ’15, earned his master’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University and was an assistant coach for the Blue Raiders from ’00-’05. He and his family reside in nearby Columbia, TN.

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Atlanta Braves
Record: 88-73
How they made it: Won the NL East
Fun fact: The Braves are in the postseason for the fourth year in a row and seeking their first World Series appearance since 1999.

The Braves do not have any former Sounds on their team, though do have a local connection in former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson, who hit 27 home runs, one of five Braves to belt 20-plus this year.

San Francisco Giants
Record: 107-55
How they made it: Won the NL West
Fun fact: The Giants are in the postseason for the first time since 2016 and their 107 wins were the most in franchise history and their 8th 100-win campaign. They reached the World Series four times in the previous seven 100-win seasons.

The Giants do not have any former Sounds on their team, though do have a few local connections. Reliever Tyler Rogers played college ball at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, and catcher Curt Casali and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski played at Vanderbilt.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 106-56
How they made it: Won the top NL Wild Card spot; beat the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card game
Fun fact: The reigning World Series champs are in the playoffs for a franchise-record ninth straight season, and they’ve reached at least the LCS round five times in the past six years.

Another year, another loaded Dodgers roster. And again this season it featured former Sound Max Muncy (’15-’16), though he suffered an injury against the Brewers last Sunday and his postseason health picture is unclear. Muncy was an NL all-star again this season and hit .249 with 36 homers and 94 RBIs, his the third time in recent years he’s hit 30+ homers and second time he’s had 90+ RBIs. He totaled 124 games as a Sound over a two-year stretch during the A’s affiliation and had some big-league opportunities then too, but by early ’17 he was an unsigned minor league free agent. Now he’s a two-time all-star and has a World Series ring. The Dodgers continue to boast several other local connections, including Nashville native and superstar Mookie Betts, Murfreesboro native and Vanderbilt alum David Price, who is back this year after opting out last year, all-star fellow former Commodore Walker Buehler, and Belmont alum Matt Beaty, who hit .270 in 120 games.

Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (Courtesy Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

Enjoy the playoffs!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Former Sounds in the Playoffs – AL Division Series

With the MLB Wild Card games complete, it’s time for the Division Series round. Today, the American League, tomorrow the National League, including the parent-club Brewers. The postseason is loaded with former Sounds, and we’ll keep you updated here as the playoffs roll on. Here’s who is involved today…

(Previous post: former Sounds in the AL Wild Card Game: HERE)
(Previous post: former Sounds in the NL Wild Card Game: HERE)

Chicago White Sox
Record: 93-69
How they made it: Won the AL Central
Fun fact: The White Sox have been around since 1905, and this is the first time in franchise history they’ve reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

The White Sox bullpen has been anchored this season by former Sound Liam Hendriks (’16, ’18), who signed with the team as a free agent after several years with Oakland. Hendriks saved 38 games and made 69 appearances for the Sox this year and was an AL all-star for the second time in three seasons, continuing an impressive run that really began in ’18 in a Sounds uniform. He rehabbed with the Sounds in ’16 and had an ERA over 4.00 for the A’s in ’17 and over 6.00 in ’18 when he was designated for assignment. He joined the Sounds mid-season in ’18 and got to work. It led to a 2.84 ERA with six saves over 23 appearances, earning his way back to Oakland in September with better results and blooming into an all-star in ’19 who’s never looked back. The White Sox also have a former Sound on Tony La Russa’s staff in hitting coach Frank Menechino (’97), who played in 37 games for the Sounds when they were a White Sox affiliate in the mid-90s. He joined the White Sox as a coach in ’19 as the hitting coach at Triple-A Charlotte and then took over as major league hitting coach last year.

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Houston Astros
Record: 95-67
How they made it: Won the AL West
Fun fact: The Astros now have made five consecutive trips to the postseason, continuing to set a franchise record.

The Astros have three former Sounds as players and one as a coach. Behind the plate is catcher Martin Maldonado (’09-’12), a former Gold Glove award winner with the Angels and a mainstay in Houston the past few years. Maldonado played in 125 games this year for Houston, and while he only batted .172, he continued his defensive prowess by throwing out 40% of base stealers. Maldonado’s frequent battery mate late in games is former Sound Kendall Graveman (’15, ’17-’18), who has enjoyed a career resurgence as a reliever after many years as a starter. Graveman pitched parts of three years with the Sounds when they were an A’s affiliate and had some bright moments in the big leagues, including as Oakland’s Opening Day starter in ’17 after he’d made 31 starts for them in ’16. He pitched in three games for the Sounds in ’17 on a rehab assignment, and then in ’18 was optioned to the Sounds, made four starts and later landed on the injured list for an eventual Tommy John surgery. He missed most of ’19 and spent time in the Cubs organization, then landed with Seattle in ’20 and posted a 5.79 ERA. Now a full-time reliever and fully healthy, he had a 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 games this year for the Mariners when the Astros acquired him on July 27. He worked in 23 games for Houston in the regular season with a 3.13 ERA. The Astros also have a former Sound from a rehab assignment in Zack Greinke (’11), who made two starts for the Sounds in ’11 as part of a rehab assignment with the Brewers when he was coming back from a rib injury. One notable former Sound on the Astros coaching staff is third base coach Gary Pettis (’05). He was a hitting coach for the Sounds the first year of their first affiliation with the Brewers that ended with a PCL title. Pettis joined the Astros in ‘17 after spending several seasons as a third base coach with the Rangers under Ron Washington. It’s great to see that Pettis back on the field, as he was away from the club a good bit of last year for treatment for multiple myeloma before returning this season.

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Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 100-62
How they made it: Won the AL East
Fun fact: The reigning AL champs have reached the postseason a franchise-record three consecutive years, and this was their first 100-win season in franchise history.

The Rays are making postseason appearances look routine these days, and former Sounds continue to be involved. It starts with fan favorite and all-time doubles leader, Joey Wendle (’15-’17), whose ascent to household name continued this year with his first all-star appearance. He hit .265 with a career-high 11 homers and drove in 54 runs in 136 games, mostly as a third baseman while also spending time at shortstop and second base. Wendle became an everyday big leaguer in ’18 when he finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He ranks 10th in Sounds history in games played (380) and remains an all-time fan (and broadcaster) favorite. The man who Wendle passed on the franchise doubles list a few years ago is Skeeter Barnes (’79, ’88-’90), the Sounds’ all-time games played leader whose number 00 is retired by the team and who has worked for the Rays for many years. He spent the past 10 years as an outfield and baserunning instructor and this year was a coach for the Rays’ High-A Bowling Green affiliate. Former Sound Nelson Cruz (’05-’06) was a major July acquisition for the Rays coming from Minnesota, and he combined for 32 homers and 86 RBIs, his seventh consecutive 30-homer season. Cruz has 449 homers in his 17 major league seasons, third among active players. He’s played in the postseason several times in his career, including with the Sounds in ’05, when he led them to the Pacific Coast League Championship as a Brewers affiliate and was the championship series MVP after hitting .300 with four homers and 11 RBIs in eight games over the playoffs. The Rays’ typically loaded pitching staff again includes former Sound Pete Fairbanks (’19), who struck out 56 in 42 2/3 innings this year with a 3.59 ERA over 47 outings. He pitched in seven games for the Sounds in ’19 as a Rangers farmhand, joining the Sounds from Double-A Frisco, making his major league debut with Texas a couple weeks later, and ultimately being traded to Tampa Bay by the Rangers on July 13 when they acquired eventual ’19 Sound and infielder Nick Solak. 

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Boston Red Sox
Record: 92-70
How they made it: Won the top Wild Card spot; Beat the Yankees in the AL Wild Card game
Fun fact: This is Boston’s first playoff appearance since ’18 when they won a franchise-record 108 games and won the World Series, their fourth title this century.

The Red Sox have a pair of former Sounds, including one from this season in Travis Shaw (’21). He appeared in 11 games for the Sounds on a rehab assignment for the Brewers and hit two homers before being designated for assignment and latching on for a reunion with Boston where he’d spent ’15-’16. The other former Sound on the Red Sox player roster is Ryan Brasier (’15-’16), who has been an important Red Sox reliever the last several years when healthy. This year he owns a 1.50 ERA in 13 games. Brasier was a central figure on the Sounds’ division-championship team in ’16. The Red Sox also have a former Sound on manager Alex Cora’s staff in pitching coach Dave Bush (’08), who pitched in 200+ games in the big leagues in his career, mostly with the Brewers. He had a cameo with the Sounds in ’08 on a rehab appearance, giving up three runs over six innings en route to getting healthy and ultimately making a postseason start for The Crew that year.

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Enjoy the playoffs!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Former Sounds in the MLB Playoffs — NL Wild Card

Playoff baseball continues today with the National League Wild Card game. The postseason is loaded with former Sounds, and we’ll keep you updated here as the playoffs unfold. Here’s who is involved today…

Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 106-56
How they made it: Won the top NL Wild Card spot
Fun fact: The reigning World Series champs are in the playoffs for a franchise-record ninth straight season, and they’ve reached at least the LCS round five times in the past six years.

Another year, another loaded Dodgers roster. And again this season it featured former Sound Max Muncy (’15-’16), though he suffered an injury against the Brewers last Sunday and his postseason health picture is unclear. Muncy was an NL all-star again this season and hit .249 with 36 homers and 94 RBIs, his the third time in recent years he’s hit 30+ homers and second time he’s had 90+ RBIs. He totaled 124 games as a Sound over a two-year stretch during the A’s affiliation and had some big-league opportunities then too, but by early ’17 he was an unsigned minor league free agent. Now he’s a two-time all-star and has a World Series ring. The Dodgers continue to boast several other local connections, including Nashville native and superstar Mookie Betts, Murfreesboro native and Vanderbilt alum David Price, who is back this year after opting out last year, all-star fellow former Commodore Walker Buehler, and Belmont alum Matt Beaty, who hit .270 in 120 games.

Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (Courtesy Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 90-72
How they made it: Won the second NL Wild Card spot
Fun fact: This is the third consecutive year and eighth time in the last 11 seasons the Cardinals have reached the playoffs.

The Cardinals’ coaching staff under manager Mike Shildt features one of the biggest names in Sounds history in Willie McGee (’80-’81), who’s been an assistant coach for St. Louis the last few years but opted out last year midway through the season and worked remotely. He’s back this season and typically helps with outfield play, base running and hitting, three areas at which he excelled as a player during his 18-year big-league career. He played in 178 games as a Sound as a Yankees minor leaguer in ’80-’81, playing alongside fellow future major leaguers like Steve Balboni, Otis Nixon, Don Mattingly and Buck Showalter.

Cardinals assistant coach Willie McGee (Courtesy Nashville Sounds)

Enjoy the playoffs!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Former Sounds in the MLB Playoffs — AL Wild Card

Playoff baseball has returned! It officially starts tonight with the American League Wild Card game, returning to some normalcy after last year’s adjusted format which included a best-of-three for the Wild Card round. This season it’s win or go home. The National League Wild Card game arrives tomorrow, and the Sounds’ parent-club Brewers get underway on Friday against the Braves. Once again the postseason is loaded with former Sounds, so keep it here for who to watch for as the playoffs unfolds.

New York Yankees
Record: 92-70
How they made it: Won the 2nd Wild Card spot
Fun fact: This is the fifth year in a row the Yankees have reached the playoffs, giving them 57 postseason appearances in franchise history and only four occasions since ’95 that they did not reach the postseason (’08, ’13-’14, ’16).

The only former Sound on the Yankees stems from a two-game rehab assignment cameo a couple years ago by Rougned Odor (’19), who joined the team in Iowa coming back from the injured list when he was with the Rangers.

Yankees infielder Rougned Odor (Courtesy Brandon Sloter)

Boston Red Sox
Record: 92-70
How they made it: Won the top Wild Card spot
Fun fact: This is Boston’s first playoff appearance since ’18 when they won a franchise-record 108 games and won the World Series, their fourth title this century.

The Red Sox have a pair of former Sounds, including one from this season in Travis Shaw (’21). He appeared in 11 games for the Sounds on a rehab assignment for the Brewers and hit two homers before being designated for assignment and latching on for a reunion with Boston where he’d spent ’15-’16. The other former Sound on the Red Sox is Ryan Brasier (’15-’16), who has been an important Red Sox reliever the last several years when healthy. This year he owns a 1.50 ERA in 13 games. Brasier was a central figure on the Sounds’ division-championship team in ’16.

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Enjoy the playoffs!

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

 

Audio Rewind: Interviews – Sounds at Indianapolis

And just like that, the 2021 Sounds season is in the books after the wrapped up a five-game series in Indianapolis yesterday. My sincere thanks to you all season for listening, following, engaging, liking, sharing, retweeting, etc. And specifically to those of you throughout Middle Tennessee, thank you for attending Sounds games…thanks to you, the Sounds led the minors in per-game and total attendance this year. The Sounds are back at First Horizon Park on April 5, 2022, against the Durham Bulls (Rays). I’ll have blog updates throughout the off-season, including later this week with a look at former Sounds to watch for in the MLB playoffs.

Below is an audio rewind from the pregame interviews in that series, including Indiana native Josh Lindblom on his return to The Hoosier State and pursuit of the league ERA title, right-hander and Indiana native Zack Brown on getting to the Sounds late in the year after an injury-plagued season, coach Ned Yost IV on the Sounds’ season and the Brewers upcoming postseason, and manager Rick Sweet on his final thoughts from the ’21 campaign.

October 3 – MGR Rick Sweet

October 2 – Coach Ned Yost IV

October 1 – RHP Zack Brown

September 30 – RHP Josh Lindblom

Thanks for listening…on the air and off.

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Audio Rewind: Interviews – Sounds vs. Columbus

The Sounds have won three series in a row, five games in a row and 12 of their last 16 after sweeping Columbus on Sunday night in the home finale at First Horizon Park. They’re off again today before starting the final series of the season tomorrow night in Indianapolis against the Indians (Pirates). It’s another five-game set, and first pitch Wednesday night is set for 6:05 CT.

Below is an audio rewind from the pregame interviews in the Columbus series, including interim Sounds pitching coach Nick Childs on what he saw this season at Double-A Biloxi, reliever Peter Strzelecki on his season so far and coming up to Triple-A, infielder Weston Wilson (via Zoom) on being voted Team MVP by his teammates and coaches, and manager Rick Sweet on the Brewers’ division title and the Sounds’ strong season finish.

Broadcast Info for the Indianapolis series:
Radio: ESPN 94.9 (95.1-FM if you’re in Rutherford County) on Thursday and Friday
Radio: ESPN 102.5 The Game (97.5-FM if you’re in Rutherford County) on Wednesday and Sunday
App: The Game Nashville: HERE (Saturday)
App: MiLB First Pitch: HERE
Web: NashvilleSounds.com: HERE
Web: TheGameNashville.com: HERE

September 26 – MGR Rick Sweet

September 25 – INF Weston Wilson

September 24 – RHP Peter Strzelecki

September 23 – Interim Pitching Coach Nick Childs

Thanks for listening…on the air and off.

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Audio Rewind: Interviews – Sounds at Gwinnett

After winning three out of five in Gwinnett last week for a second straight winning series to close out the regular season, the Sounds are off today and tomorrow. They begin the 10-game “Final Stretch” on Wednesday night at First Horizon Park with the start of a five-game series against the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland). First pitch on Wednesday night is set for 7:05 CT.

Below is an audio rewind from the pregame interviews in the Gwinnett series, including infielder/catcher David Fry on coming up from Double-A Biloxi, catcher and Puerto Rico native Mario Feliciano on the significance of Roberto Clemente Day throughout his native country and for all Latin American ballplayers; reliever Connor Sadzeck on his first month with the Sounds since signing with the Brewers and recovery from a second Tommy John surgery, infielder Keston Hiura on his approach at the plate and recent two-homer game, and manager Rick Sweet on the team’s recent success and a career milestone he achieved with Saturday night’s win.

Broadcast Info for the Columbus series:
Radio: ESPN 94.9 (95.1-FM if you’re in Rutherford County) on Thursday and Saturday
Radio: ESPN 102.5 The Game (97.5-FM if you’re in Rutherford County) on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
App: The Game Nashville: HERE
App: MiLB First Pitch: HERE
Web: NashvilleSounds.com: HERE
Web: TheGameNashville.com: HERE

September 19 – MGR Rick Sweet

September 18 – INF Keston Hiura

September 17 – RHP Connor Sadzeck

September 15 – C Mario Feliciano

September 14 – INF/C David Fry

Thanks for listening…on the air and off.

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

Audio Rewind: Interviews – Sounds vs. Memphis

After winning four of six games at home against Memphis (Cardinals) last week, the Sounds are down to just 16 games left and five at home this season. They’re off today and in Gwinnett on Tuesday night to start a six-game series against the Stripers (Braves). First pitch tomorrow night is set for 6:05 CT.

Below is an audio rewind from the pregame interviews in the Memphis series, including infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson (via Zoom) on his recovery from recent season-ending surgery; reliever Luke Barker on his successful season and the evolution of his splitter; Brewers VP of minor league operations Tom Flanagan on the Sounds and other successes this year in the Brewers system; outfielder Matt Lipka on his 20th stolen base of the season and approach to base stealing; Brewers hitting coordinator Sara Goodrum on her new role this season and evaluating success for hitters in the organization; and manager Rick Sweet on the team’s series win over Memphis and outlook for the remaining 16 games.

Broadcast Info for the Gwinnett series (except for Saturday, which airs on 102.5 The Game)
Radio: ESPN 94.9 (95.1-FM if you’re in Rutherford County)
App: The Game Nashville: HERE
App: MiLB First Pitch: HERE
Web: NashvilleSounds.com: HERE
Web: TheGameNashville.com: HERE

September 12 – MGR Rick Sweet

September 11 – Brewers Hitting Coordinator Sara Goodrum

September 10 – OF Matt Lipka

September 9 – Brewers VP of Minor League Ops Tom Flanagan

September 8 – RHP Luke Barker

September 7 – INF/OF Weston Wilson

Thanks for listening…on the air and off.

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @JeffHemPBP
If you want to send me an email: JeffH@NashvilleSounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.