Their mothers supported them their whole lives, believed in them, brought them to endless practices and games, all to see their sons live the dream. So, on this mothers’ day, what are the Salt Lake Bees doing for their mothers?

Both Gary Patchett and Bobby Wilson are sending their mothers thanks via the good ol’ postal system. That's right, a Hallmark card courtesy of the boys.

A few Bees plan to surprise their mothers with a bit more. Pitcher Nick Green will wait until Monday so he can send his mom a surprise at work. She's getting flowers from her son. Bees trainer Brian Reinker also has plans to send his mother flowers.

Despite the lovely gestures, all the Bees could learn from general manager Marc Amicone, whose wife will receive a plethora of gifts, including a massage and some smelly stuff.

Inquisitive Tony Sosa emails in about Angels prospect Kendry Morales.

Q) I wanted to have your opinion and detail on what kind of player Kendry Morales is and if he can be a full time major league player. Also, I wanted to know how he has been adapting to the life in this country.

A) "I think his approach to the game is much better than it was a couple of years ago. He is more of a professional than he has ever been and is putting more work into the game than he used to. As far as adapting to life here, he only spends time here during the season. He lives in the Dominican Republic the rest of the year. Like Casey Kotchman, I think Kendry will develop his power, but right now he is concentrating on putting the ball in play. Last year, he hit just .211 with runners in scoring position and this season, he is at .333.  Overall though, I think he'll do well in the majors."

As always, if you want to know insight on Bees baseball, email the "voice of the Bees" Steve Klauke at beesinfo@slbees.com.

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS (Class AA) - Texas League - Record 12-18, 4th

The Arkansas Travelers’ three-game win streak was snapped with an 8-3 loss to the Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis affiliate).  RHP Bobby Mosebach (3-2) lasted just 4.2 innings in the defeat, giving up six run (five earned) on seven hits and five walks.  DH Corey Smith had two hits and SS Hainley Statia added a solo home run.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (Class A) - California League - Record 11-20, 4th

A run-scoring double by LF Anthony Norman snapped a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning and gave the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes a 3-2 win over the Lancaster Jethawks (Boston affiliate).  RHP Sean O’Sullivan (4-2) got the win, pitching four scoreless innings of relief.  O’Sullivan scattered three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out two.  RHP John Lackey, making his third rehab start, went four innings and allowed two runs on four this and one walk with four strikeouts.  2B Howie Kendrick began his rehab assignment, going 2-for-3. 

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (Class A) - Midwest League - Record 15-13, 4th

The Cedar Rapids Kernels snapped a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 win over the Fort Wayne Wizards (San Diego affiliate).  LHP Michael Anton (4-1) pitched well, allowing one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings.  RHP Brian Chambers struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings and RHP Ryan Brasier earned his sixth save with a one-hit ninth.  The Kernels amasses 11 hits, including two each by 2B Ivan Contreras, SS Andrew Romine, 1B Efren Navarro and CF Clay Fuller.

When outfielder Reggie Willits made it to the big leagues with the Halos in 2006 he never imagined the team would burn through his options bouncing him from triple-A to the big leagues and back. “You say to yourself that once you get to the major league level and prove that you can play at that level you won’t ever have to worry about coming back. I’ve found that’s not the case,” Willits said about being sent down to the Salt Lake Bees this month.

There were a few indications that Willits might be making a move this season and he’s been philosophical when considering the change. “It’s nothing I can control. If you look at that outfield, they’ve [Angels] got four outfielders, and two will probably be in the Hall of Fame. I knew if I was with the Angels, playing time would be depleted. I was waiting and watching because I was in virtually every trade rumor you could even imagine. I had no idea where I would be.”

But besides the obvious disappointment of not playing in Anaheim, Willits has also had to struggle with displacing his family from their home in California, “We still have a place there. That’s the hardest part. If it had been me, by myself, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. When you have a wife and two kids, it’s something else.”

Willits has managed to keep a positive attitude, however, recognizing that transactions in baseball are more a numbers game than a measure of playing ability. Instead of begrudging his recent fortunes, Willits has taken the opportunity to get in more playing time. “I get to come here and go play every day and prepare myself to go back if there's an injury. You’ve got to be patient and wait your turn.”

And there’s always the chance of being spotted by another organization. “There are a lot of other teams out there. You’ve got to play hard because they’re watching too. So whenever you step on the field, whether it’s a major league field or a triple-A field, you’ve got to go out there and play with your all. It’s your resume you’re putting on the field that night.”

But Willits isn’t looking to make a big league change anytime soon. When asked if he would like to be traded, he responded, “I hope not. I really like the Angels organization. That team will compete for a world championship as long as Mike Scoscia is manager. It just comes down to getting opportunities to play.”

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS (Class AA) - Texas League - Record 8-14, 4th

The Arkansas Travelers lost their fifth straight game with a 6-5 loss in 13 innings to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City affiliate).  The Travelers held a 5-4 lead in the top of the 13th before RHP Jeff Kennard (0-1) gave up three hits and two runs without recording an out.  RHP Brok Butcher started and went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts.  C Ben Johnson had a double, home run and four RBI.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (Class A) - California League - Record 7-17, T4th

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, who have lost five straight, took a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning behind the pitching of RHP Tommy Mendoza but couldn’t hold on, losing 2-1 to the Stockton Ports (Oakland affiliate).   Mendoza pitched seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and one walk while striking out four.  RHP Aaron Cook suffered the blown save, allowing a run on two hits and RHP Kelly Shearer (0-2) took the loss, giving up a run on one hit and one walk with a wild pitch to allow the winning run to score.  The Quakes collected just five hits, including two by 1B Mark Trumbo.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (Class A) - Midwest League - Record 12-10, 4th

The Cedar Rapids Kernels gave up 13 hits en route to a 9-2 loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit affiliate).  RHP Jordan Walden (1-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings.  The Kernels managed just five hits, including a double by 3B Jay Brossman.  Brossman and C Anel de los Santos each drove in a run. 

Baseball isn’t the only talk of the Bees clubhouse these days. From basketball to soccer, you name it and some Bee likes it. And in the case of it being NFL draft weekend, I pulled aside outfielder Dee Brown to get some notes on his unique experience coming out of high school and on this weekend’s draft.

Hours away from starting a life at the University of Maryland as a running back on the Terrapin football team, Brown made the decision to go in a different direction. “I was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Royals and just decided to see where this baseball thing would take me. I really struggled when making that decision because football has always been where my heart lies and I didn’t decide I would play baseball until the morning camp started. It was about 2 a.m. in the morning, but I’ve never regretted that decision.”

The 30-year-old was drafted in 1996 and has seen his share of ups and downs, even considering going back on his decision. “That first year I struggled in the beginning and had thoughts about going back to football while I still could. I actually had some friends who had started in baseball and gone back to the NFL, but I decided to stay with the Royals because I knew I could succeed there.”

Even though he’s not with the Royals anymore, Brown is a part of a team with such success that few, if any, can say they’ve ever been a part of. The Bees are currently on a minor league best-ever 19-1 start.

As far as the 2008 NFL Draft goes, Brown wouldn’t say much concerning the picks but he did say this. “I’m not into all those mock drafts and speculating about who’s going first. I only keep track of what’s happening with the New York Giants. That’s my team!”

What do Salt Lake Bees Nick Adenhart, Nick Green, Matt Brown, Henry Bonilla, Shane Loux, Ryan Budde and Freddy Sandoval all have in common?

They were all born in the month of August.

That's right, 29 percent of the Bees roster was born in the month of August. Mere coincidence…possibly. But is it mere coincidence that this pattern follows in the Majors, where 503 major league baseball players were born in the month of August?

Since 1950, a baby born in the United States in August has a 50 to 60 percent better chance of making the big leagues than a baby born in July.

When analyzing the birthday months of major league players, the pattern is obvious. There is a steady decline in the number of athletes born from the months of August to July.

While seven players born in the same month seems like coincidence, is there a possible reason behind this August baseball baby phenomenon? Could it be the result of a July 31 cutoff date used by most nonschool affiliated baseball leagues in the United States?

Someone born in the month of July would have to play in the older division while being one of the younger players carried on the team. However, those born in August have 12 months of development over their fellow teammates born in July.

Don't start planning the birthday dates just yet. In 2005, USA Baseball, the nation’s governing body for amateur baseball, announced a shift in the league determination date from July 31 to April 30, leaving children born in May with the advantage.

So does this mean that all those August born Bees players were destined for greatness from their birth? Only time will tell.

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS (Class AA) - Texas League - Record 7-10, 2nd

After winning five straight games, the Arkansas Travelers began the series at the Tulsa Drillers (Colorado affiliate) with a 5-4 loss.  Trailing the entire game, the Travelers battled back to tie the game 4-4 in the ninth but LHP Doug Brandt (0-1) walked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.  The Travelers were held to just one hit through five innings but finished with eight, including two each by 1B Michael Collins and 2B Adam Morrissey.  RHP Fernando Rodriguez started and gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

RHP Bobby Mosebach was named the Texas League’s Pitcher of the Week (April 13-20) after going 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA (9 IP – 1 ER).  Mosebach, who pitched a complete game, allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five. 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (Class A) - California League - Record 6-12, 4th

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes suffered their seventh straight loss, falling 14-5 to the Stockton Ports (Oakland affiliate).  RHP Trevor Bell (1-1) lasted just three innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts.  The Quakes managed just seven hits, including two by DH P.J. Phillips (who doubled).  CF Rian Kiniry added a three-run home run.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (Class A) - Midwest League - Record 9-8, 3rd

The Cedar Rapids Kernels’ three-game win streak was snapped with a 10-3 loss to the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati affiliate).  LHP Robert Fish started and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and four walks with seven strikeouts.  He left the game with a 1-0 lead.  RHP Esmerlin Jimenez (0-1) took the loss, giving up seven runs (four earned) on five hits.  CF Clay Fuller and 2B Jerry Gonzalez-Lopez each had two hits. 

Here's another look at the rest of the Angels affiliates as they enter this week. Check back for periodical updates on the future Bees.

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS (Class AA) - Texas League - Record 2-7, 3rd

The Arkansas Travelers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fifth and then held on to take a 4-3 win over the Frisco Roughriders (Texas affiliate).  3B Corey Smith had two hits, including a solo home run.  1B Michael Collins and RF Cody Fuller also had two hits.  RHP Bobby Mosebach (1-0) went five innings for the win, allowing one run on two hits and four walks with three strikeouts.  After RHP Bill Edwards gave up two runs in two relief innings, LHP Doug Brandt and RHP Francisco Rodriguez (1st save) combined on two scoreless relief innings. 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (Class A) - California League - Record 6-5, 3rd

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes did not allow a hit through 6.1 innings and went on to win 3-2 over the Visalia Oaks (Arizona affiliate).  RHP Sean O’Sullivan (2-1) gave up one unearned run on no hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings for the win.  RHP Aaron Cook earned his first save with a scoreless ninth.  The Quakes amassed just six hits, including two by OF Anthony Norman, who hit a two-run homer in the fifth (the first of his professional career). 

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (Class A) - Midwest League - Record 5-5, T3rd

The Cedar Rapids Kernels pounded out 10 hits en route to a 9-5 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto affiliate).  LF Jeremy Moore was 4-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and one RBI.  He also stole two bases (one caught stealing).  3B Jay Brossman added two hits, including a double, and one RBI.  LHP Trevor Reckling (1-0) gave up one run on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings for the win.

Gary Patchett is a utility player. Put him at second base, put him at third, put him in the lineup tonight, take him out of it tomorrow and that’s okay. He can play his role and that role took over a 400 foot blast in the team’s home opener last Friday night.

Patchett pounded a two-run homer in the sixth inning, recording his first roundtripper in nearly four years. His last home run came on April 18, 2004 for Class A Potomac at Myrtle Beach in a Carolina League game.

And this is what Patchett had to say after his jog around the bases three nights ago. "Every first game, whether it’s the opening day of the season or opening day at home, it's a big deal. You want to get off on the right foot. They (Portland) knew we were 8-0 and they came in here trying to knock us off. Obviously we didn't want that to happen. We kept pounding away. They kept building a lead and we kept trying to close it. We just never quite got there. It was a good game."

Playing his role, whether it was a rare homer or support from the dugout, is what he does best. He may hit one for the team today and take one for the team tomorrow. It’s a big deal for the Bees.

The Bees are on fire. No one can deny that. Salt Lake is off to the franchise’s best start ever, at 7-0 and remains the only undefeated team in the PCL. But what is just as impressive is the amazing start the players are off to this season.

In Wednesday night’s game against Tucson, Matt Brown reached an incredible feat when the third baseman hit for the cycle in the Bees 12-3 win. Brown is just the sixth player to hit for the cycle in franchise history and the first since 2004. He is also the first PCL player to hit for the cycle in 2008.

He singled in the first inning, led off the third inning with a triple and blasted an RBI double in the fourth. In the top of the eighth inning Brown knocked the ball over the left-field wall to complete the cycle.

The Bees remain on the road at Tucson for a game this evening, but return to Salt Lake for the season home opener on Friday at 6:35 p.m.